Page 24 of Something Handsome This Way Comes

My mate. Please. Spare me from this carnal yearning.

Only one thing could stop this raging need. And that was his mate’s body. His submission. His moans as Grievance melted them into one. He reached for the hem of Milo’s sweater, running a hand up his thigh, resting on that biteable hipbone he loved so much.

“So beautiful. Such a perfect mate. How did I get so fortunate to bond my soul to one as lovely as yours?”

“W-what’s gotten into you?” Milo stuttered, his face blooming into a gorgeous shade of pink. Grievance wanted to know what that shade tasted like. Wanted to lick it right off his cheeks.

“Grievance, have you been listening to me?” Milo shouted. “Hey, s-snap out of it!” Milo said, smacking the side of Grievance’s face, hard enough that he flinched.

A fresh wave of lust seized the Chimera’s body until every nerve felt like it was on fire. He turned his head and locked eyes with Milo, who’d stumbled a few shocked steps backward.

He smiled, flashing deadly canines.

“Do that again.”

He was so, so pleased when a frightened little whimper escaped Milo’s throat. Then his mate’s eyes darted to the throbbing erection between his legs. Grievance spread himself obscenely on the sofa, showing off his impressive length. He gave it a few quick pulls for Milo’s viewing pleasure.

“Come have a seat.” He patted his thigh in invitation. “I promise, I’ll only bite when you ask for it. And I promise, you will ask for it.”

Milo just stared at him. Eyes wide, face flushed, and…

Yes. There it is. My needy little witch.

Grievance sucked in a deep breath, nostrils flaring wide, catching all that delicious musky scent. The scent of want. Of arousal. It was tentative, but there. Like Milo wasn’t sure if he was allowed to want this. To take what Grievance was offering.

“What do you say, my beholden? Will you take my seed? Or will you leave me aching? Begging?”

Grievance was desperate. Just the sight of his mate standing there… it was taking all his self-control to stay seated on the sofa. To stop himself from grabbing that body and plunging into it. Then again, he was so dizzy, maybe he couldn’t stand.

What was this terrible, wonderful feeling? One moment it drove him to the brink of unconsciousness, and the next it had him so primed, so consumed by desire, it left his head spinning.

“I’ll beg,” he gasped, stroking himself. “If that is what you want. I’ll get on my knees and beg for a taste of you.”

“Grievance…” Milo panted. He shook himself, then looked to the abandoned pastry box on the table.

How could his mate be thinking about food right now? How could he be hungry for anything besides sweat-slicked bodies and thick, hot cum?

Milo tore open the box and selected a blueberry muffin. He took a bite, and almost instantly spat it out, staring at the crumbs in horror.

“Grievance, did you eat this?” Milo asked. “It’s bitter as all seven hells.”

“I did. It was so delicious. So sweet.”

His head fell back, rolling as another wave of heat pulsed through his body. His eyes fell closed. Cool fingers pressed against his forehead.

Milo.

Grievance made a small sound and instinctively leaned into the touch, desperate for the relief of his mate’s cold skin.

“Fucking hells, you’re burning up.”

Was he? He couldn’t tell anymore.

Everything was hot. His skin. His blood. The air filling his lungs. Even Milo’s fingers seemed to grow warmer against him until Grievance couldn’t feel them at all. He went numb.

His eyes rolled back beneath his lids. His head lolled heavily to one side.

Something was wrong. The room felt very far away. Milo felt very far away.