Levi moved closer to Iason, feeling an odd compulsion to touch him. He ran his fingers over the scars on Iason’s face again. “If you are asking me to hold back my brother’s boat when it comes for you, I have no power over that river or those waters.”
“No. It’s not for me, it’s… Sophie. She likes you. And she’s lost everyone who’s ever been kind to her. She’ll lose me, either to the magic or to the mages who have every right to want me dead for my crimes. Look after her.” He drew in a slow breath and cast his eyes down, as if that were the only action of a proper penitent that he could manage. “Please.”
“You’re no submissive, and you’ve never cowered. Don’t do it now.”
Iason’s gaze snapped to his. They stared at each other, and Levi slid his fingers from Iason’s scarred face to his mouth. Iason’s breath was warm on his skin and came a bit too fast. “Please look after her.”
“All right.” Levi inclined his head. “But I think you worry too much.” He touched Iason’s bottom lip, then traced up the line of his jaw.
“What are you doing?”
“Touching you,” Levi said. “I can see the illusion you wear. Why do you bother? Do the mages here really know of you, do you think? Do they even care who you were, what you were?”
If the question was insulting, Iason didn’t look as if he minded. “Maybe. Maybe not. I wasn’t willing to risk it, not with Sophie.”
“For someone who professes not to be a good man, you are very attentive to her safety.” He drew his fingers down Iason’s chin, over the curve of his throat. “Do you think it changes what came before?”
“No. To use a less wordy version of your metaphors, that ship has sailed.”
Levi blinked, and then he laughed. It was his true laugh, a sound like breaking waves and the gentleting tingof a wind chime, with a hint of a thunderous rumble beneath. Iason startled at the sound, and Levi flashed him another smile, toothy and wide. He went to touch Iason’s scars again, but Iason grabbed his wrist, stopping him.
“It’s not polite to touch someone without asking them first, dragon.”
Levi moved quick as a flash, turning to push Iason against the wall and trap him there with his body, though Iason’s fingers were still tight around Levi’s wrist. “I’m not used to asking anyone for anything, wizard.”
“Now’s a good time to start.” Despite his words, Iason’s eyes were wide, pupils dilated, and Levi could feel him start to draw on Levi’s power.
“Speaking of asking,” Levi said, leaning down to put his face in the space between Iason’s neck and shoulder, “you said you would do so before using my power.” He breathed in, slow and steady. “You smell like ozone. Like a storm before the rain comes.”
Iason went very still. “Levi—”
“You smell like you’re mine,” Levi continued, nosing at Iason’s neck. “Like an offering left at my shrine.” He pressed a hot, open-mouthed kiss to the pulse fluttering under Iason’s skin.
“You tried to eat me,” Iason reminded him. He wasn’t trying to move away, and Levi felt Iason’s hands brush his sides, his back, his touch as fleeting as a butterfly landing on a flower.
“Mm.” Levi licked the side of his neck, biting gently when Iason tilted his head to give him room.Interesting.“And I didn’t.”
“Couldn’t,” Iason said. “Youcouldn’t.”
Levi growled and bit harder—and Iason made a sound Levi had never heard from him before. It sent heat washing through him, hardening his cock. “No. But I could devour you, still, if I wanted.”
Iason’s hand went to Levi’s shoulder, the warmth from his fingers like sunlight warming Levi’s skin. “I probably don’t taste very good.”
It was—a joke? An attempt to deflect… what? Levi’s regard? His sudden intensity? Perhaps. “Mm. Let’s see.” He put a hand on Iason’s throat, as he’d done earlier when they’d shared their currents. This time, though, Levi leaned back and kissed him.
Electricity sparked up his spine, and the wind picked up, a storm beginning to brew as Levi pinned Iason to the wall and explored his mouth. Iason was still, unmoving, and there was an edge of… not quite fear; maybe apprehension, uncertainty, as Iason—somewhat to Levi’s surprise—kissed him back. He was awkward, unpracticed, but his mouth moved against Levi’s, and he moaned, making Levi’s cock thicken even more.
Levi kissed him harder, biting gently at Iason’s lower lip, sucking on it, taking his time kissing him against the wall. Iason gradually relaxed into it, returning Levi’s kisses with surprising heat.
“Are you doing this,” Iason gasped, waving toward the heavens when Levi let him breathe, “or is it me?”
“Maybe it’s both of us,” Levi said, pressing his thigh between Iason’s legs. Iason gasped into the kiss and shuddered, just once, before turning his head and shoving at Levi.
“Stop that,” Iason hissed, but his voice was unsteady, his face flushed, and Levi could see he was half-hard under his chiton. He noticed Levi looking and scowled, bending one knee in as if that would hide it. “I have no desire to bebewitchedby you, dragon.”
Levi ignored that, reaching up to run his thumb over his own bottom lip. “You were wrong. You don’t taste bad at all.”
Iason’s eyes flickered, very briefly, to Levi’s mouth… but thunder rattled the open windows, lightning brightened the suddenly dark room, and rain began to soak the floor as the sudden storm moved over their house.
