Page 23 of The Night Vision
That was exactly what he was afraid of and he was scared he’d made a terrible mistake, leaving the Trail and coming to Georgetown. He’d left to be with Silas because he thought it wastheir fate, but now it appeared that their dreams had not been the same.
Chapter Eleven
Silas had to hand it to Nox and the “old pervert.” He had been deeply concerned as soon as he realized how traumatic the move to Georgetown would be for Tighe but Merlin had been incredibly thoughtful and shockingly respectful toward their guest.
Like Silas, Merlin had predicted that Tighe would be overwhelmed and sensitive to new foods and experiences. As promised, Tighe’s plate featured a serving of jasmine rice and some simply sautéed pieces of chicken. A large side salad of bitter greens, cucumbers, tomatoes, herbs, berries, and mixed mushrooms made Tighe’s eyes light up and he ate every morsel.
After, Merlin plied Tighe with cups of herbal tea while gently gleaning details of his life on the Trail and his time with the Ossors. He helped Tighe select several books from the study and Silas was ordered to deliver them to his room. Anyone would have thought that Tighe had found paradise, the way he hugged his tea cup and traced the books’ spines as he read them.
Tighe was smiling when Silas walked him to his room and wished him a goodnight. But Silas couldn’t shake the feeling that Tighe wasn’t as happy anymore and that he had been expectingsomething else. There was no tellingwhatthat was and Silas felt terrible because Tighe was already making the best of what had to be his worst nightmare.
A quick shower hadn’t taken his mind off his concerns and Silas was feeling antsy as he pulled on a pair of pajama pants, despite the long drive to Mount Rogers and back and the physically demanding hike to find Tighe.
“What a day!” Silas laughed to himself, still reeling as he held the posey Tighe had made. The blue flowers were already wilting and the leaves were curling and wrinkling but Silas focused on the ornately plaited stems and the bow, imagining all the times Tighe had practiced similar braids and marveling at his attention to detail and patience.
He placed the posey in one of the crystal tumblers and added some water, hoping he could preserve it for a few days. But even with the precious posey as proof, Silas couldn’t believe that they had found Tighe and he was in the room next door, safe and hopefully settling in well. At the thought, Silas decided to check on him one more time and opened the dresser for a T-shirt. He paused when he heard a soft tap at the door.
Tighe apologized as soon as Silas opened it. “I’m so sorry but I had to see you!”
“No! I was just about to see how you were doing,” Silas said, stepping aside and pulling Tighe into the room. His hair was wet from a recent shower but his robe was closed wrong and the belt was tied too tight. “Is everything okay?”
Tighe nodded quickly. “Yes. Everything’s good. Very okay,” he said, his nose wrinkling as he edged closer. “Nox and Merlin have been very kind but I can’t stay in there,” he whispered, then looked around nervously. “It’s too much for me and I feel like a clod. I bathed myself but I got water everywhere!”
“It’s fine! Nox is a wizard so he can probably magick it away in the morning,” Silas said and shrugged. “I can’t imagine howoverwhelming this is for you, but I’m here and you can ask me if you need help withanything.”
“Anything?” Tighe chewed on his lip as he stepped closer. “Can I stay in here with you?”
“With me?” Silas’s voice cracked and he coughed awkwardly. “Sure, if you’d feel better.”
Tighe nodded, smiling shyly as he petted the hair between Silas’s pecs. “I would. Did you feel it too, earlier in the woods? Do you feel it now?”
Silas nodded, once again mesmerized and giddy as he tipped Tighe’s chin back and searched his eyes. “I was so desperate to find you before it was too late and then you were there, and you were the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I’ve stared at your skull for…hoursand I could feel something pulling us together and it was like coming home when we touched by the stream.”
“Home,” Tighe laughed softly, brushing his lips against Silas’s. “Is that what home feels like? I’ve never had a home or anyone of my own but it feels like I belong with you.”
“Me too,” Silas agreed clumsily, then groaned as their lips pressed. Their tongues tentatively touched before Tighe grabbed Silas’s face and kissed him ravenously.
A pleading whimper floated from Tighe as he wound an arm around Silas’s neck and sucked on his tongue. Heat and hunger flared between them, bright and wild as Silas lifted him, wrapping Tighe’s legs around his waist as he stumbled toward the bed. Silas’s hands were tight around Tighe’s ass but had to juggle him as he wiggled out of his robe.
“Oh, fuck!” Silas almost dropped Tighe when he realized he was naked under it. He fell back on the bed and rolled them so he was on top. “This is too fast, Tighe,” he panted, pushing off the bed.
“Wait!” Tighe held on and easily flipped Silas onto his back. “I like fast,” he said as he dove at Silas’s lips. His hands scratcheddown Silas’s chest and Tighe growled happily as he nuzzled and licked his neck and ear. “Thisis what I saw in my dreams.Us.”
Silas’s eyes rolled and he swallowed a gasp as Tighe bit and sucked on his shoulder. He felt so good, writhing and grinding against Silas and the need to taste Tigheeverywherewas maddening. But Silas had just enough sense left to grab Tighe’s hand when it pushed down the front of his pajama pants.
“Easy!” It was a ragged, crumbling plea and Silas was shaking as he cupped Tighe’s cheek and found his eyes. Tighe’s hand gripped Silas’s shaft tightly, making it almost impossible to think, let alone speak. “Holy shit, Tighe!” He silently prayed and pushed out a steadying breath. “I think we should…slow down and see what this is between us and what it means. I’ve never feltanythingthis intense and it scares me, if I’m being honest,” he said and Tighe’s eyes widened.
“Why are you scared? I would never hurt you!” he promised, making Silas chuckle as he hushed Tighe.
“You won’t mean to but I don’t think I can love you with just my body. I’m afraid my heart might take over and it’s still tender from the last time I thought I’d found my soulmate,” he said with an apologetic grimace. “I’m not built for flings and one-night stands and we have no idea what Dùbhghlas has planned for you or what will happen next.”
“What happened last time? Did someone hurt you?” Tighe released Silas and pulled his hand free, then fell onto his side.
Silas sighed, rolling toward Tighe and taking his hand. “It’s not much of a story and it’s pretty pathetic. I fell hard for a co-worker and thought we were taking itreallyslow. But Niall was never going to let me in and I didn’t stand a chance after the Father of all Demons showed up. He swept Niall right off his feet. Literally,” he added with a petulant glare over Tighe’s shoulder.
“An actual demon?” Tighe verified, hissing when Silas nodded. “I’m sorry. I wouldn’t choose the demon,” he said but Silas gave him a flat look.
“He can look like anything and he can do anything. He laid the perfect trap by turning himself into a strapping, bearded lumberjack.Iwould have chosen the demon.”
