This wasn’t something Lance should be intruding on.It was Nix’s ritual, but he wanted to break it, so he spent the whole night in bed.But he didn’t know how without hurting Nix.Lance got back into bed and curled up on his side.He stared at his hands in the dark.If he obeyed his aunt, he’d be the one not sleeping, kept up the horrors that escaped the nightmares.
He knew he’d drifted off because when he woke up again, the bedroom was gray, not black, and Nix was sliding into bed, his skin like ice.Lance pulled him close, fully expecting Nix to push away like a cat that didn’t want a cuddle—all claws and teeth—but he didn’t.He let Lance hold him.Slowly, Nix warmed up, and he fell asleep.Even though Lance’s arm went numb, he remained still, not wanting to wake him.
When Nix slept, the tension he carried was gone.The hardness around his eyes and the set of his jaw relaxed.He actually looked eighteen, even though he was twenty-seven and had seen more death than most.Had killed on command.Lance breathed him in, wondering which bits Nix would make him forget when he ensorcelled him before they parted.Just his name?Or would his smile be gone, the way his eyes lit up when he was trying to have fun?While he knew it would be for the best, it wouldn’t be the best for him or Nix.
Maybe running together was the answer.
A plan that didn’t involve the death of one of them was harder to come up with than he’d thought it would be.He discounted telling his aunt the truth, that Nix didn’t want revenge, only his rundown winery in Western Australia, because it wouldn’t matter.She wouldn’t care that Nix was as infertile as any vampire male and there would be no more Hadleys from him.She’d made it quite clear that they must all be eradicated as though she’d been talking about a cockroach infestation.
He closed his eyes, knowing that if they ran when they were caught, he’d be killed as a traitor.There was no ending where they got to live.
* * *
Nix wokein Lance’s embrace.For a half a second, he wanted to break free and reclaim some kind of safe distance.It was one thing to fuck but another to be sleeping all twisted up like they were lovers.But then Lance opened his eyes and Nix couldn’t be bothered fighting it.He was safe and warm and hadn’t woken cold and uncomfortable on the sofa—he couldn’t remember the last time that had happened.
“You didn’t have to wait for me to wake up.”
“I didn’t have anything better to do.And I like watching you sleep.”
“Creep.”
Lance smiled, then kissed him and nuzzled down his neck.Nix froze, but Lance didn’t bite; he didn’t even lick the pulse.His hand slid to Nix’s hip so he could pull him closer.The hot length of Lance’s dick pressed against his ass.Nix would be quite content to roll onto his stomach and let Lance go to town.“Do you ever top?”
“Not really.”
That wasn’t a proper answer.Had he tried it and not liked it?Nix couldn’t be bothered pressing.The clock was running down.Less than a week.He pushed Lance onto his back and reached over to the bedside table to grab the lube.
Lance’s hands were all over him, pulling him close to steal a kiss while Nix tried not to make a mess and failed.Lance laughed and used the spilled lube to stroke Nix’s length.He liked it when Lance laughed.Too often, he was thinking and frowning and worrying.
Nix used slick fingers to tease Lance’s hole until it started to soften as though begging to be filled.He pushed one finger in and then another.He liked the change in Lance’s heartbeat as lust took hold, the way his gaze softened.
Nix thrust into Lance’s hand.“If you keep going, you won’t get anything else.”
Lance squeezed a little harder and stroked more firmly.Nix pulled back and took a moment to catch his breath and make Lance squirm by curving his fingers and hitting the spot that made him moan so prettily.Then he pulled his fingers free and replaced them with his cock, sinking deep in one smooth motion.Lance sucked in a breath, and his feet hooked around Nix’s thighs, lifting his hips to meet each thrust.When Lance caught a handful of hair and pulled him closer, Nix didn’t resist.He kissed him, bit his lip, and kissed it better.Only to do it again.
Lance gazed up at him.“Make me come.”
Nix reached between them, hand slipping as he grabbed Lance’s cock.He wanted to suck it again.Fuck it.He pulled out and slithered down to take him in his mouth.Lance gasped, his breath a series of short pants.Nix tasted pre-cum on his tongue and pulled away before Lance could finish.He thrust back into Lance’s ass, riding him until he came with a shudder that flowed down his spine and left him breathless.He leaned over Lance, panting, then teased just the head of Lance’s dick, rubbing his thumb over the slit and around the ridge.Lance jerked his hips, and cum coated Nix’s fingers.
He licked one clean.“How was that?”
“Good.”Lance trailed his fingers through Nix’s hair, then along his jaw.“It worked that time.”
Nix stilled, trapped in Lance’s gaze.Lance wasn’t talking about the sex.
“Yeah.It did.”He leaned down and brushed his lips over Lance’s.He’d fallen into the honey pot and gotten caught.He couldn’t find a single heartbeat to regret it.“When the truce ends?—”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“We need to.”
“Not while you’re buried balls deep in me, we don’t.We’ll sit down and discuss all the plans twenty-four hours before it ends.”
Nix pressed his lips together and nodded.“Whatever happens, I won’t hold it against you.”
“Whatever happens, we’re in it together.”
A lump formed in Nix’s throat.Trusting an Orlan was a bad idea, but his heart had overridden his common sense, and he was tired of being smart and sensible.He’d much rather tumble headfirst into love.
