Charles fought to control himself, but that single word almost broke him. He surged forward, pressing Tenrael back against the closed door, and he kissed those lush lips he’d been remembering in his dreams. Tenrael whimpered softly and opened his mouth, eagerly allowing entrance to Charles’ tongue. He tasted wonderful.
But Charles wasn’t satisfied. He moved his mouth to Tenrael’s jawline, licking and sucking, and bit the cord of his neck. He left tooth marks on Tenrael’s shoulder and along his collarbone, and he dug his thumbs into Tenrael’s hips hard enough to bruise. In spite of the pain—or maybe because of it—Tenrael clutched Charles’ shirt, keeping him close, and moaned jumbled pleas: “Yes... more... please... please....”
Charles teased Tenrael’s nipples until they were peaked, red, and tender; then he nibbled at his flat belly. Although Tenrael’s cock was hard again, the head red and shining, Charles didn’t touch it. He mouthed Tenrael’s balls instead, and stroked the tender skin behind them. Charles had never been so hungry for anyone, so desperate to taste him, possess him, to—
That last thought made Charles freeze; then he rose back to his feet. He yanked himself from Tenrael’s grip and stepped back. “Why?” he asked for the third time, wiping his mouth with the back of his shaking hand.
According to the Bureau’s mages, repeating an incantation three times made it stronger. Maybe they were right, because now Tenrael took a deep, shuddering breath. “I changed. I don’t know whether it’s my years with humans that did it or my minutes with you, but I’m not what I was. I’m... I’d say I’ve been corrupted, but I’m a demon, so I suppose the opposite is true. There’s no joy for me now in bringing bad dreams and stirring bad thoughts. And when I fly, I don’t feel free.”
“But why come to me?”
Tenrael began to step forward, but then slumped back against the door. “I’m nothing now. An empty shell. But all these weeks, I’ve still tasted your kisses and felt your hands on my body. I’ve dreamed of you—and demons never dream. I want to serve you. I want you to fill me. Be my heart and soul, Charles, and I will be your wings.”
The agony within Charles’ chest was terrible, but it was nothing compared to the pain throbbing along the old scars on his back. He moved closer to Tenrael and traced a fingertip over the bite marks on his collarbone. “I’ll hurt you.”
“I know.”
That wasn’t the response Charles expected, and he shook his head. “I’m not a demon. I’m not anything. And I want to be good. Part of me does. But another part.... Maybe I was corrupted the moment I was conceived.” He licked his dry lips. “If I had you, I’d want to mark you. I’d want to make you cry out.”
Tenrael pushed forward until Charles’ palm was flat against his chest. “But would you also want to kiss me? To stroke me and hold me andwantme, instead of just using me?”
“Yes,” Charles whispered.
“Would I be yours here?” Tenrael placed his hand over Charles’ thudding heart.
“Yes.”
“When you hurt me, would it be to degrade me? Or to please us both? Because I am still a demon, and for me pleasure and pain are very much entwined.”
For a moment, Charles was silent. “I would never degrade you,” he answered honestly.
Tenrael blinked as droplets of water slipped from his eyes. “Would you value me? Because, please, if you’ll let me, I would like to value you.”
In response, Charles reached into his pocket and pulled out the feather. “I would treasure you.”
Tenrael dropped to his knees and smiled up at him. “Master,” he croaked.
The word was surprisingly sweet.
Charles set the feather on a shelf. He took Tenrael’s hand and towed him to the bedroom, where he spent over an hour tormenting his demon deliciously until Tenrael couldn’t even sayplease. Then Charles finally took off his own clothing and with a single, hard thrust sank into Tenrael’s tight, welcoming body. He drove hard and fast, shaking the bed, clutching tightly at the legs slung over his shoulders. And when Tenrael arched his back and came, his scream might have been from ecstasy or agony, or maybe from both. It didn’t matter, because his eyes were wide and grateful. When Charles reached his own climax a few moments later, he remained silent so he could hear Tenrael’s voice: “Yes... thank you... yes, master... yes.”
Charles dropped off to sleep that night to the sound of waves, faint but audible through the open bedroom window, and the warmth of Tenrael, curled around his back. Tenrael had placed soft kisses along Charles’ wing scars, and the eternal itching was gone. A PI, Charles thought, might find it useful to have a partner who could fly silently in the night.
He fell asleep smiling, and he dreamed very well.
