Page 19 of Entwined

Bram shook his head. “No, you’re amazing and I love you so much.”

Bram offered him a hesitant smile and Darby knew something certainly wasn’t right.

“I can tell something’s bothering you, sweetheart. Please tell me. I’m your alpha, aren’t I?”

He did his best to help lighten the mood by giving Bram the sincerest smile he could manage.

“Can I kiss you?”

Oh hell no. “Let me grab some mouthwash real quick.” He chuckled. “You don’t want to get anywhere near my dragon breath.”

Bram tilted his head. “You never told me you were part dragon.”

Darby held in a snort of laughter so that Bram wouldn’t get his feelings hurt again. “No, I’m not any sort of dragon.”

Bram furrowed his brow. “Only your breath?”

Darby rubbed his forehead. Mouthwash. Tylenol. “No dragon parts, breath or otherwise. It’s just a silly human expression.”

Bram laughed the musical laugh Darby had missed so much. “Oh, I see. A joke.”

“Yes, a joke.” Darby brushed his knuckles down Bram’s cheek and sighed. “I missed you so much.” He rose then gestured to the spot he’d vacated. “Wait here.” As he hurried to the bathroom, he peered over his shoulder. “Don’t go anywhere.”

“I won’t!” Bram called after him.

Darby rinsed out his mouth then splashed cold water on his face. He’d need to have his wits about him so he could discuss their future together. At the very least he needed to understand more about what the limits were of their relationship. Maybe there was a way he could communicate with Bram so he wouldn’t have to worry about him when he wasn’t there. He’d found himself becoming more and more protective of the sweet fae as time had gone on.

After downing a couple of painkillers, Darby made his way back to the main room and exhaled a loud sigh when he spotted Bram right where he’d left him. He broke into a wide smile, and even in the dim lighting, he could detect how much Bram had brightened when he’d returned.

“Hey.” Darby dropped onto the love seat next to him. “I’m ready for that kiss.”

He leaned in and Bram met him halfway. His heart fluttered as their lips met, his relief at having Bram back in his arms all encompassing. The kiss deepened and Bram crawled into his lap until he was straddling him. Bram ground his hardened length against Darby’s and his own cock leaked in the pajama bottoms he’d gone back to wearing.

They fumbled with each other’s clothing as they moaned and thrusted, desperate to get to skin, to feel the heat of their flesh as it touched. Darby gasped for air as he broke the kiss then latched on to Bram’s neck, sucking up a mark as if to claim him, to let whoever the other fae were who Bram lived with know that Bram belonged only to him.

Bram tossed back his head, giving Darby more access. He nibbled his way from the purpled mark he’d left on Bram’s throat up to the sensitive spot behind Bram’s ear. He tasted and kissed everywhere he could reach while shoving his hand between them to fist their erections together. Bram whimpered, fucking Darby’s hand in time with his fevered strokes.

Too soon, Darby reached the point of no return. With an abrupt tightening of his balls, he erupted over his hand, taking Bram with him in a loud culmination of their ecstasy. Bram collapsed against him, panting. Darby rubbed his back in slow circles as his own frantic breathing slowed.

Bram lifted his head and stared into Darby’s eyes. He grinned. “Those were minty kisses. I hope I get to taste them again.”

Darby smiled back as he brushed Bram’s sweaty hair back from his face. “You will. Every time you visit, I’ll be sure to use that mouthwash.”

Bram’s expression darkened and he lowered his head. A horrible sense of foreboding hit Darby.

“What did I say?” He encouraged Bram’s chin up with one finger. “Oh no, why are you crying, sweetheart?”

“I love you, Darby, my alpha…my everything.”

Bram dissolved into sobs and collapsed into Darby’s embrace. As he shook from his weeping, Darby did his best to soothe him, to promise him everything would be okay—even if he wasn’t sure what it was he was promising. But he couldn’t stand the cries being wrenched from Bram.

“Please talk to me, sweetheart. I don’t understand what’s going on.” Darby searched his mind for the right worlds to make Bram stop crying. “You know I’m falling in love with you too, right? Are you worried that I don’t care as much, that I don’t want us to be together?”

Bram sniffed and hiccupped, but lifted his head to consider Darby. “Y-you do?”

“Absolutely. You’ve filled my heart with so much happiness. I’ll do everything I can for us to be together—even if it means getting a second job.” Darby reached for the box of tissues next to the sofa. “Here, take a few of these. Don’t worry, we’ll figure all of this out.”

Bram wiped his face then gave Darby a hopeful smile. “So, you’ll come back with me? Travel beyond the veil?”