“Yeah.” Benny’s fingers caressed Helio’s cock lightly, bringing him to full hardness in an instant. “But it’s okay because we’re all in love and shit.”
Something settled in Helio, something that had been unmoored since Cyprian’s visit, since Benny had told him they were “dating.” Helio didn’t know anything about human dating. Didn’t know the key to success or failure in that area.
But he knew a thing or two about a fair bargain.
“So be it,” he murmured, fighting back his own smile.
“Cool.” Benny grinned at him, easy as ever, and then slid down Helio’s body, sucking his cock down whole, removing all thoughts of bargains from Helio’s mind.
9
Benny
It was good to be back in Seacliff.
Benny was all for that private island life—or portal to the fae realm life, as it turned out—but there was nothing like home. The beaches may have been more rocky than tropical, but the air still smelled like salt, and it was still summer enough that the weather was warm and sunny.
As Benny waved to another friend across the street, Helio snorted beside him. “Tell me, do you know every single soul who lives here?”
Benny considered. “Well, not the tourists. But otherwise, pretty much.”
Helio snorted again, tucking Benny closer under his arm.
Honestly, he seemed a little nervous in their new digs, lacking the easy confidence he’d had in Miami, and the intense command on their island.In the fae realm, Benny reminded himself.
Benny supposed he could have been a little more freaked out by that revelation, but it didn’t really change much, did it? He’dalready known Helio was a little cagey and a lot possessive and more than a bit lonely and strange. Those things hadn’t changed just because he’d turned out to be a different…species?
Were fae a species?
And maybe Helio had done some shitty things in the past—maybe he’d originally intended to do some shitty things to Benny, even—but…
Well, the thing was Benny had never been lonely. He’d grown up in a nurturing town that knew him well, close with his extended family even after his parents had passed. He didn’t know what it was like to not have anyone. But he’d seen tourists come through, the ones who didn’t have a friend on their side. The ones who drank a little too much or got a little too aggressive.
It did things to people, didn’t it? Loneliness.
So Benny had been lucky, but Helio couldn’t say the same. He’d been isolated and abandoned, and who was Benny to judge?
As long as Helio didn’t do it anymore, not to any innocent bystanders. He could keep tricking Benny if he wanted to—if he really needed that outlet. Benny didn’t mind.
He ducked out from under Helio’s hold, grabbing his hand instead and tugging him around the corner. “Come on, I want you to meet Seth, my baby cousin.”
“Must I?”
“Yeah.” Benny gave Helio a reassuring grin. “Don’t be nervous. He’s great.”
“Nervous,” Helio muttered, like he was offended at the idea.
They’d arrived early the night before, but Helio had teleported them in (although, he kept telling Benny “teleporting” was a science fiction term and was too undignified for his fae powers), so Benny hadn’t had a chance to introduce Helio to anyone yet.
It was possible Helio would have been okay to keep it like that. He didn’t seem to like any humans besides Benny, if the way he was frowning now was any indication.
He was kind of cute when he was grumpy though.
Benny kept tugging him all the way inside the Bakeshop, where Seth was at the other side of the counter, serving up pastries to-go, his brown curls held back by a flower-print headband.
Seth smiled wide as soon as he saw them. “Benny! I was just starting to wonder if you’d been kidnapped for real.”
Benny laughed, squeezing Helio’s hand. “Me? Never. Just enjoying the summer with my new boyfriend.”
