“Yeah?”
“What’re… What are you doing?”
“Shhh.”
When Koi popped into the room, Christophe was happy. Christophe chewed on his lower lip, for he noticed the guns were on Koi’s back. He probably thought there was trouble.
“You called,” Koi said, stepping close to Christophe and sliding a hand around his hip. “Are you all right?”
Christophe nodded. “I’m fine. I just wanted Geoff to see I was telling the truth.”
“Oh wow,” Geoff gasped, walking up to Koi and poking him with a finger.
“What is he doing?” Koi asked.
“Just making sure you’re real,” Christophe said. “You aren’t mad, right?”
Koi smiled. “No.”
Geoff poked him again and Koi growled. Christophe laughed. “Geoff, enough with the poking. He is real.”
“Wow,” Geoff said again. “I didn’t think Christophe was telling the truth but…”
The guns slowly disappeared with a trail of embers like the last time, and Geoff gasped and flailed.
“Dude! You’re screwing Batman!” Geoff exclaimed.
Christophe moaned and pressed his face into Koi’s neck. That one motion helped his burning cheeks, but he couldn’t help inhaling and getting turned on by Koi’s scent. He lifted his head and looked up into Koi’s eyes.
“Okay, I take that as my cue. I will see you both later,” Geoff said. “And, Chris, this talk isn’t over.”
“I know. Remember what I said, huh?”
“Seriously, Christophe. You need to unclench. Who am I going to tell, huh? Chill.”
Christophe wanted to punch something. “What? No. I meant about watching your back. Be careful?”
“Sisqo…” Koi said.
When Sisqo popped into the room, Geoff did the same thing, jabbing Sisqo with a finger.
“Stop that,” Sisqo said.
“Sorry,” Geoff said. “I’m just getting used to this whole Greek gods and goddesses thing. And you are?”
“I am Sisqo. Son of Poseidon.”
“I see.” Geoff nodded. “I must have missed that class. And your mother?”
“Human,” Sisqo replied.
Geoff grinned. “Like Percy Jackson.”
Sisqo laughed. “Koi, did you need help with something?”
Koi nodded. “Yes. I’d like you to keep an eye on Geoff for me.”
“Who is…?” Sisqo stopped when Christophe pointed at Geoff.
Geoff waved at Sisqo by lifting his hand and wiggling his fingers.
Sisqo moaned.
“I get my own bodyguard?” Geoff asked, then fist-pumped. “And a gorgeous one too. I like where this is going.”
“Keep your pecker locked up, Don Juan.” Christophe chuckled. “This is not forever—just until Koi and his brothers can figure this all out.”
“Sure. I might as well enjoy it while it lasts.” Geoff grinned, crooking a finger at Sisqo. “Come on, stud. We need to go shopping.”
Sisqo groaned. “Koi, you owe me huge for this.”
They all laughed but Sisqo followed Geoff out of the door. Christophe turned into Koi’s arms then and wrapped his arms around Koi’s neck. “How have you been?”
Koi caressed his hips. “I have had better weeks. I do not know if I should say this, but I will anyway. I have missed you.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to stay away so long. Life just got in the way.”
“I understand. I should go.”
Christophe hung on tighter. “Really?” he asked. “I was hoping…”
“You asked for space, Christophe. I am trying to respect that.” Koi untangled Christophe’s arms and stepped away. “But you leaning against me like that is not helping. You wanted me here to prove a point? Point proven. Now I must go.”
“What if I don’t want you to go?”
Koi sighed. “But you do. I can see it in your eyes.”
“Look closer, Koi…”
Christophe stared at him, making sure Koi was paying attention. It was the truth that he hadn’t meant to stay away for as long as he had. All he’d wanted to do was take a night or two to sleep on it, but with work and re-preparing for a fight that didn’t seem to be coming, everything just got in the way. Honestly, Christophe missed Koi terribly. It had taken so long to get Koi into his bed, into his arms, and he didn’t want to ruin that. Sure, he was terrified of what was coming and any danger that could befall himself, Koi and Geoff, but that was the life he had at that moment—the love he had.
He sighed and peeled off his jacket. He tossed it over one of the chairs in the office of his condo and fell into another overstuffed seat. “I’ve missed you, Koi. I’ve spent a year wanting you—going from crush to something much scarier.”
“What I am—”
“Is not your fault. I thought we went through this.”
“Yet you ran away.”
“I didn’t mean to. I thought we went through that too?” Christophe sighed before leaning forward to pat the center table.
Koi sat and faced him.
“This is a lot,” Christophe said. “I’m not going to lie or downplay any of it—not Zeus or the Shivers or the demons in your closet. I mean, for a while now the weather here has been chaotic at best, but to hear the cause—I don’t think you’re a monster, Koi. Not at all. But it’s not like I don’t have my own issues.”
Koi shook his head, but Christophe didn’t let him speak.
“Trust me when I say we humans have our own baggage. I’m not saying that being with you is going to be easy, because it’s not. And I’m not saying I will be a hundred percent okay with all of this right away…”
“If you can’t accept me, what I am, how can you love me?”
“Koi, what I am saying is that I’m willing to work on this if you are and I’m walking into this with a clear head. If there’s a war coming, you’ve seen me fight—I’m ready.”
Koi smiled.
“I feel something for you, Koi. And that night when we made love and the morning after when you left, I spent that whole day just thinking, weighing my options. And the truth is, being without you scared me more than being with you. I need you in my life, Koi, even if I don’t know what to call what I’m feeling for you. I know it’s real.”
Koi slipped to his knees then and crawled forward while shedding his coat. Christophe smiled as his man discarded the dark leather piece of clothing on the floor and gripped Christophe’s thighs. Koi spread them and eased his body between Christophe’s legs.
Christophe’s breath caught in his throat, threatening to choke him. Still, he yearned for what was to come. Taking a breath, Christophe bowed his head slightly to allow Koi to take his lips. A sigh left him and disappeared into Koi’s mouth as their kiss became rougher and hotter. The sensation of their tongues sliding over each other’s, their lips tangling together and the rapid caress of their breaths mingling left Christophe floating on air. He tangled his arms around Koi’s neck, easing forward into the Shiver’s chest, and deepening this intimacy he’d craved for so many nights.
A crackle sounded in the room and Christophe gasped and pulled back. To his surprise, when his gaze met Koi’s, there was a storm in his lover’s eyes. Lightning charged from one into the other then flowed down Koi’s arms to sizzle at the tips of his fingers. Koi wrenched his gaze away and shuffled back.
“Damn,” he whispered. “I’m sorry.”
“No.”
“Kissing you again after so long is causing some…malfunctions. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“Malfunctions? You’re not an old car, Koi.”
“You know what I mean,” Koi countered. “It’s been a while since I’ve touched you and…”
But instead of shying away, Christophe stood and peeled his graphic T over his head.
“Christophe… What are you…?”
Christophe dropped the shirt on the floor then reached for his belt buckle. All the time he stripped, he ke
pt his stare locked with Koi’s. With every bit of skin that became exposed, Koi’s storm grew until a gust of wind flared through the room, causing Christophe’s mother’s wind chimes to sing and the curtains to sway. Christophe smirked.
“You love it when I lose control like this,” Koi said, his voice rough with desire. “Does it turn you on, Christophe?”
“Everything about you turns me on,” Christophe replied, turning his back and bending over deliberately under the guise of pushing his pants and boxers to his ankles.
“And should you not be afraid?”
Christophe straightened and glanced at Koi over his shoulder. He caressed one hand over his abs and the other down over his ass just so Koi could see. “Why?”
“I could hurt you.”
“You hurt me?” Christophe asked. “Your actions say otherwise, Koi.”
Christophe turned around and trailed a hand from his nipple, down his abs and gripped his cock. He stroked it a few times before swiping a finger over the head to gather some pre-cum. He trailed the finger against Koi’s lips and watched as the Shiver’s tongue snaked out slowly to swipe it away.
Koi growled.
“Now,” Christophe said. “I’m going to walk into that bedroom. I will take out condoms—plural—and lube, then I’ll assume the position for you. You have two choices. One, you can leave, or two, you can give me what I want.”
“Just so we are clear on this—what, precisely, do you want?”
“Come now, Koi. I know you’re not Batman, but you have to know when a guy wants to get fucked by you.”
Koi growled and Christophe smiled. He walked his naked body through the condo to his bedroom and did precisely what he had said. Each step caused his heart to race faster and faster. Seducing Koi wasn’t a part of the plan. But if he didn’t put his foot down, they would miss out on another year, dancing around each other—one afraid his self-esteem wouldn’t hold out and the other terrified his powers would cause irreparable pain.
No, he did not have time for that. Geoff was right. Getting in the octagon and fighting should scare him more than his feelings for Koi did.
Christophe rushed into the bathroom and cleaned up a little then returned to the bedroom. Koi still hadn’t entered, but Christophe could hear him in the living room—probably pacing. Inhaling, Christophe set the lube and box of condoms on the bedside table then climbed onto the bed, back propped up against the mountain of pillows he had there, and waited.
Chapter Sixteen
Koi couldn’t believe his heart could race so fast. Still, he entered the bedroom, stripping as he went. By the time he stood by the door, he was wearing only his pants, but those were unbuttoned and unzipped. They were held up by the width of his hips. Christophe’s dark skin against the perfect white of the bed was mouth-watering. He was absolutely flawless. Koi started smiling, but stopped himself. It suddenly dawned on him that this man was giving himself to Koi. Christophe was accepting all Koi’s faults, all his secrets, his crazy family, and that pulled at Koi in every delicious way possible.
“Hi.” His voice cracked.
“Hi.” Christophe smiled.
That was the only word to pass between them. Koi made his way to the bed, knelt between Christophe’s legs and crawled over him. When they were face to face, Koi’s control faltered once more and he kissed Christophe, enjoying the way Christophe sucked on his tongue then nipped at his lip. When he lifted his head, a trail of frost slid against the headboard.
Christophe touched him, dragging a hand from his neck, down his chest and stopping at one of his nipples. When Christophe ran the ball of a finger over the tightened bud then squeezed and twisted it, Koi growled and fell on top of him. Their cocks crashed into each other and Koi ground into Christophe. But that wasn’t enough. He wanted more.
After climbing off the bed, he finished stripping, then he returned to his position on top of Christophe. With their gazes locked, Koi gripped his cock, then Christophe’s, and pressed them together. Christophe smiled then licked his lips as Koi began stroking both their dicks together. It was one of the most amazing sensations he’d ever experienced. Having the hard, thick, cock pressing into his sent fire through Koi’s veins.
“Squeeze harder,” Christophe sighed. “Please…”
Koi did as he was being ordered and, while bracing himself up with his free hand, he hunched over as far as he could. Christophe met him halfway and their lips met once more. This time, he thought he’d be ready for the way Christophe kissed him. No, Koi could never walk away now. He had to make things right, make the world safe so Christophe could be happy.
“I’m gonna…” Christophe panted.
“You wanna come, baby?” Koi asked around kisses. “You want to run hot over my hand? Okay. I want to taste it. Come for me.”
“You’re so dirty,” Christophe whispered.
“Want me to stop?”
“No. Shit!”
Koi smiled and while stroking both of them together harder and faster, he bowed his head for Christophe’s nipple. That must have been the one thing to push his lover over the edge because the moment he began sucking on the tender bud, Christophe erupted, filling Koi’s hand to overflowing.
“Koi…”
“I am here, baby. We can stop so you can breathe.”
“No. Fuck me,” Christophe said, pulling his still hard dick from Koi’s hand. “Please.”
Koi eased back on his haunches. “Spread your legs for me. Let me see your ass.”
When Christophe spread his legs then lifted slightly, Koi dragged a finger over his hole and watched Christophe’s eyes roll back. He knew he should probably go for a little more foreplay, but he couldn’t handle it. He was hard to bursting and Christophe was so willing and ready. With that thought, he went for the lube and a condom. He squirted some against Christophe and, after sliding a condom on, he aimed for the hole he’d been craving for days.
“Come on, baby,” Christophe whispered. Spreading wider. “Give it to me. I want it.”
Without much more prodding, Koi sank into the hot tightness of Christophe’s body. He took some time to remain still, held his breath and allowed Christophe to burn him in such an amazing way. He leaned forward, gathered Christophe into his chest and rolled his hips. Each time he dipped deeper, Christophe gasped his name and clung to him tighter.
Koi shifted them until Christophe was wrapped around him. This was precisely how Koi loved having his darling—tight against his body. He whispered something to Christophe. His mind was so far gone he couldn’t even understand the words that escaped his lips.
The build-up in the pit of his stomach, the crux of his soul was like a pulsing volcano. Rumbles of pleasure escaped Koi’s body with every scratch of Christophe’s nails to every graze from his teeth against his body, which made Koi tremble and pushed him closer and closer to that beautiful end he so desperately sought.
“Damn, I forgot how good you felt,” Christophe confessed. “How can you—how can you ask me to walk away?”
“I have learned my lesson.” Koi managed, sinking deeper into Christophe and loving the shout of pleasure it caused. “I need you.”
Those words left Koi and he was mindless again. He wrapped both arms around Christophe, pressing his palms against Christophe’s ass and pushing him downward.
“Yes!” Christophe cried.
Koi’s body erupted then, sending cum spurting into the condom. A gust of wind charged through the room, followed by the crackling of electricity and the roll of thunder. Cold air caressed Koi’s heated flesh and he knew that if he wasn’t careful he could join the world with his climax, but he didn’t care right then. He was in Christophe’s arms and everything was perfect.
To make it even better, Christophe reared back in that very moment and even as his hips rode Koi, Christophe had met the sensual end Koi had pushed him to. A splash of cum landed against Koi’s left nipple and another against his lower lip. Without thinking, he licked it away before grabbing th
e back of Christophe’s neck to bring their mouths together.
They slumped, panting, to the bed, tangled around each other. For a long while, neither of them spoke. Koi’s mind took a while to come back to him. But he wouldn’t complain. Ciro had once told him that the man who could take Koi’s soul and send it to a place that caused his body to crumble in the best of ways was the man to hold on to.
Koi sighed and rolled over. He gathered Christophe even closer to his body and closed his eyes.
“I will keep you safe, my darling,” Koi promised, feeling Christophe tremble against him. “I will guard you with my life, for you are my heart. Let the hounds chasing me be damned. I will see them all rot first before I let them harm you.”
Christophe kissed Koi then and for the first time since he’d started watching Osaki and Ciro being in love, Koi knew he had fallen completely in love with Christophe Sidler.
* * * *
Two days passed, and Koi took off with Sisqo and Ciro. Christophe stood in the silence of the large office with Kofi and Carter. He didn’t know where Osaki or the young one they introduced as Liosh had gotten off to, but he was glad they weren’t there.
Christophe had been meaning to have a word with the two brothers ever since Koi confessed, but things just seemed to get in the way. A day before someone attacked his car in the parking lot of Kofi’s building, they’d found the brand new Range Rover smashed to shit and bent almost into a C. He knew who had done it and while others wanted him to call the police, he knew he couldn’t. Then he’d have to expose his friends and his lover. Christophe wasn’t about to do that.
Koi had been so angry he’d sent his fist through a concrete wall, leaving the whole thing in dust at their feet.
Christophe stared out at the garden at the back of Carter’s massive home. He folded his arms across his chest and took a breath. There were so many things going through his head—including second thoughts about what he was getting into. Koi had given him a chance to run, yet he hadn’t. How could he when his heart felt so entrenched with Koi?
Carter was the first to speak. “It’s a lot to take in, I know. The first time I found out what Ciro was, I almost passed out. But I wanted Ciro so badly I was willing to look past all of it. Kofi here didn’t take it well at all.”
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