Reid tried to wrestle his normal smile into place. One glance at Kerak told him how complete that failure had been. Before Reid could even say anything, Kerak was somehow beside him behind the bar, taking Reid’s face in his hands.
“What’s happened? Are you ill?”
The moment Kerak’s skin touched his, something in Reid unclenched. The horrible dread that had been building in his chest ever since Selin left vanished. He could breathe again.
He opened his eyes. When had he closed them? Kerak’s dark gaze searched his face. There was no lie in the concern there. No lie in the careful grip on Reid’s cheeks. Kerak cared for him, and Reid felt like a fool for ever doubting it. “It’s Selin. He told me to leave.”
Somehow,they’d made it through Reid’s shift. Reid swore Kerak’s jaw hadn’t unclenched from the moment Reid had said Selin’s name earlier.
Finally arriving at the door of his rented room, Reid gladly took out his key and let them inside. Kerak was right on his heels. The door had barely closed behind them when Kerak spun him around and gathered Reid in his arms, holding him close.
“I’m so sorry.”
The last of the tension in Reid’s body drained out of him. He wrapped his arms around Kerak’s waist and buried his face against his shoulder. “It’s not your fault.”
“But it is,” Kerak whispered into his hair. “All these years I’ve stood at his side…”
Reid swallowed. “Surely, you’ve—” He had to pause to take a deep breath before he could continue. “I mean to say, you must have had other?—”
“Yes.” Kerak pulled back, sliding his hands down until he had Reid’s hands in his own. Moonlight filtered through the window beside the door, highlighting a sliver of Kerak’s downturned face. “I’ve been alive a very long time. In that time, I’ve had lovers for a night, for weeks, for months. But for us—paranormals, I mean—much the same as it is for humans, there have been few who’ve truly taken up a place within my heart.”
Reid’s own heart started to sink. Was he one of those? If Kerak decided to spend months or years with Reid, when would he leave? When Reid got too old?
“I can see the fear in your eyes. That’s my fault, too. I should have told you all this sooner. Should never have let you doubt what you mean to me.” Kerak cupped Reid’s cheek. “You, my love, don’t just take up a place in my heart. You have the whole of it.”
“For how long?” Reid tried to keep the tremble out of his voice.
“For eternity if I have anything to say about it.”
Reid pulled back, eyes burning and already shaking his head. “I’m human, Kerak. There is no eternity for me.”
“What if there could be?” Kerak followed him step for step. “What if I told you that plans are already in motion? We’ll have to talk it out, of course, but I want you with me. Not just for this lifetime, but all of them, if you want that, too.”
Reid couldn’t even truly comprehend that, but what he did know was that he wanted Kerak. Right then and for as long as he could have him. “I want you.”
Kerak smiled, a slow stretch of his lips that lit up his eyes. “You have me.”
Reid breathed out the rest of the tension he’d been holding onto and leaned in, letting himself be captured in a scorching kiss.
Kerak undressed him slowly, taking care to touch every inch of him. Moving backwards, Reid sat on the edge of the bed. His cock strained upwards, standing flat against his belly. He’d let go of so much of his shyness over the months he and Kerak had been courting, but tonight he was glad for the dim silver light of the room. He supposed it was no secret how badly he wanted Kerak, but the heat running beneath his skin told him he was flushed all over with it.
“You’re lovely,” Kerak whispered, leaning down to kiss him again.
“So are you.” Reid watched, heart pounding, while Kerak pulled off his own shirt and pants. Every ridge of muscle, every patch of dark hair, every sweep of tanned skin revealed made Reid tingle all over.
Suddenly, the dim light didn’t seem like enough. He wanted to see everything.
“Lay back.”
Reid did as he was asked, only to jolt up again when Kerak licked a strip up his cock.
“Kerak!”
Kerak smiled, pressing a kiss against Reid’s slack lips. “No one’s ever done this for you?”
Reid shook his head. He knew, of course. Stories from other boys and men in the saloon, but he’d never let anyone as close as Kerak was right now. “I’ve never…just what we’ve done.”
Kerak gave him a small, sweet smile. “Okay.”
