by Willa Okati
His mouth tingled when he eased Nathaniel back down to his feet. He’d gone half-hard from one kiss and he knew Nathaniel was the same. No need to look, or to feel—though he wouldn’t have complained. He just knew.
Nathaniel beamed up at him. He smoothed down the front of Abram’s shirt, and if he paused with his hand on Abram’s shoulder, over the spot where his soulmark rested, Abram chose not to call him on it.
“Now that that’s settled,” Nathaniel said, “can I come in?”
Abram laughed, a deep booming noise. He couldn’t help himself, and he didn’t want to. He caressed the shining top of Nathaniel’s hair and smoothed the silken strands down, following the delicate shape of the skull and the fragile bones of his neck, ending at the finely-shaped arrows of clavicle. “Now that that’s settled, yes. Come with me.”
The size of Abram’s bedroom surprised Nathaniel. He would have thought a man as tall and broad as Abram would have made sure he had a proper cave, proportioned to fit him—but no. This was on the snug side and set at the back of the house, with barely enough walking room around the bed, which was set facing a window that took up nearly half of a wall. Soft white cotton drapes moved with the lazy rhythm of a dusk breeze coming through the opened sash and though the branches of an apple tree obscured the view…oh. Now he saw.
“I like to watch the moon when I can’t sleep,” Abram said behind Nathaniel. He pushed the bedroom door nearly closed. The warmth of him filled the small room. Nathaniel could sense his every movement. He could have pinpointed what Abram was doing with his eyes closed. Now taking off his shoes, next loosening the top buttons on his shirt. The rich royal blue stripes looked good on him against his dark skin.
Nathaniel couldn’t help thinking they’d look even better once they were out of the way.
He wandered to the foot of the bed, tracking Abram behind him, and sat on the edge. “I can see why. It’s soothing.”
Abram’s deep chuckle made Nathaniel’s skin tingle. “If you think there’s anything soothing about this, you haven’t been paying attention.”
Nathaniel crinkled his nose. “No? Then show me what it feels like, for you.”
“Oh, little man. Don’t tempt me.” Abram laid one hand on Nathaniel’s shoulder. Heat and sensation centered between his shoulder blades, Abram’s long fingers gently tickling his skin. Pleased, Nathaniel crooned in encouragement and arched his back, letting the evidence of his enjoyment show as a happy shiver rippling his muscles.
Abram’s fingers traveled up to the soft, short hair on Nathaniel’s nape, carding through then sweeping the rest of his mane out of the way. Nathaniel could feel how much he was wanted in that light touch—knew Abram wanted this—him—so badly he ached for it. “You can,” Nathaniel said. “Tempt me, like I tempt you. If you want.”
“Somehow I knew you’d say something like that.” Abram knew how to use his hands, drawing them lightly over the top of Nathaniel’s shoulders, tracing a line down his spine, massaging his biceps and slipping over them to caress his chest. He bent his head and traced the tip of his tongue over Nathaniel’s ear. “Last chance to change your mind, or you won’t be able to change mine.”
“I don’t want to. I just want you.” Nathaniel leaned back against the solid heat of Abram, more than pleased at finding the hard length of Abram’s cock pressed against him. Mmm. “Sooner rather than later.”
“Turn around then.”
Curious, Nathaniel obeyed. The fascination, the focus he saw in Abram gave him a brief moment of pause. He looked hungry.
“Pretty, pretty,” Abram murmured. He kissed his way down, brushing each of Nathaniel’s eyelids with the softest possible press of his lips. Nathaniel shuddered, nearly overcome by the rush of his tenderness. It made up his mind for him.
“I’m not the only one. I want this in me.” He reached between them, searching for the zipper tab of Abram’s slacks. “I want to see you naked. Can I?”
“Soon.” Abram sucked lightly on Nathaniel’s collarbone. He nipped the skin. “Don’t worry. I won’t mark you.”
“I wouldn’t mind.” He already wore the most important stamp of ownership. Nathaniel pushed closer, shameless and aroused, slipping his arm under Abram’s bulky biceps and spreading his hand flat on Abram’s back.
Abram growled playfully and twisted, turning until he stood in front of Nathaniel, undoing his buttons and lifting the shirt off his shoulders. He cast it aside to fall wherever it liked, then bent his head to nuzzle beneath Nathaniel’s jaw. His broad hands stroked in ever-descending sweeps. When he found Nathaniel’s nipple, he pinched it lightly, rolling the nub between his fingers.
He laughed when Nathaniel gasped. “You must like that.”
Without waiting for an answer, he pushed Nathaniel’s back flat to the bed and held him there. He leaned over Nathaniel, taking the nipple into his mouth, between his teeth.
“Oh,” Nathaniel said—moaned—wrapping his leg around Abram’s. “Oh God, yes. More.”
“Insatiable.” Abram laved Nathaniel’s nipple with his tongue, trailing wet circles around it. When he let go without any warning, he breathed cool air over the skin and stroked away Nathaniel’s pleased shiver. “You’re far too tempting, Nathaniel. But you know that, don’t you?”
Nathaniel hummed with pleasure. Fire sparked in his groin, driving the ache deeper and sweeter. He tried to sit up. “Here, let me. I want to try something. Please? I’ll make you feel good.”
Though Abram arched an eyebrow, he gave Nathaniel the room he asked for and let him slither down his body, heading for his knees. Abram tensed, despite the eager twitch of his cock, which would know far better than his brain what was good for it. “Nathaniel,” he said, sounding awed. “You don’t have to.”
“But I want to.” Nathaniel settled between Abram’s ankles.
Abram stared down at Nathaniel then drew his finger across Nathaniel’s cheek. “Do it.”
Nathaniel trailed a wet, heated path of kisses around Abram’s navel.
Abram cupped his head gently, so gently.
“I will. Shh, now. Hush. Shh.” In between licks and sucks, Nathaniel murmured nonsense at him, loving little croons and encouragements. He pressed a finger behind Abram’s balls, letting it travel, bumping up between his ass cheeks. Abram’s cock surged between Nathaniel’s lips and he stuttered through an aborted jerk of his hips.
The taste of him…so good. All mine.
“My God. Look at you, you gorgeous thing. Oh, Nathaniel,” Abram praised, short of breath. “Enough. Stop. Let me fuck you. Please?”
Nathaniel smiled at Abram. Still watching—never taking his gaze away—he slipped backward in the bed until he could stretch out full length. He raised his slim hips and slid his jeans off, making it all the way to his calves before Abram could help. He finished the job and tossed the crumpled denim to pile on his floor.
“Now you,” Nathaniel said, tucking one hand under his cheek. “Let me see all of you, before you come fuck me.”
Abram had to take a deep breath after that. “You’ll be the death of me, I swear.”
“Only if I can come with you,” Nathaniel promised. “Please. For me?”
It was the manners that did him in, Abram decided. It’d take a tougher man than him to say no to a sweet plea from that adorable mouth. He stood back, pushed the jeans down his hips and stepped out, only then standing still briefly to let Nathaniel get a good look. Might be too much for him, and that wasn’t vanity talking. Just practicality.
‘Fucking hell. It’s a good thing I’m a size queen,’ had been Callum’s comment on his first sight of Abram. The memory made Abram grin—and Nathaniel seemed to like the looks of both cock and smile.
Nathaniel curled his fingers in a beckoning gesture. “Come down here. Bring that with you.”
How could he say no? Abram lay himself down as gently as he could, careful not to crush the amber-eyed boy, searching for his lips. Nathaniel seized him by the back of his head and ke
pt him fastened there, sleek tongue busy, kissing for all he was worth. Turning what might have been a quick brush into a deep and wonderfully nasty thing.
Abram nipped at the shell of Nathaniel’s ear. “Call it, pretty. Back or stomach?”
Nathaniel inhaled a deep breath that sounded like pleasant surprise. “Back,” he said. “This time. I want to look into your eyes while you fuck me.”
“Mmm.” Abram stole another hungry kiss. “I think we can manage that. Lie down.”
Nathaniel obeyed his command. Sort of. He rummaged under the pillows as he went, and came up lucky with the fresh, unopened tube of Liquid Silk that Abram had hidden there earlier, in a moment when optimism had trumped common sense. He chuckled as he thrust the container at Abram. “You’ll need this if you plan to ravish me.”
“Mmm. Ravish. Ravishing. Ravishment. I could go for that.”
“Then do. Please…do.”
Nathaniel tilted his hips up for the pillow Abram snatched to push beneath him, then wrapped one leg around Abram’s waist and lifted the other to rest his calf on Abram’s shoulder. Abram groaned as he settled into position. Too good, God. Far too good.
Lube first, though Abram would admit he was in too much of a hurry to warm it up in his hands. Nathaniel arched and hissed at the cold touch of the slippery stuff, drawing Abram closer with the springy strength in his limbs.
Abram shuddered at the feel of him, so tight yet willing to yield. Driving inside him would be heaven. He seized on Nathaniel’s cock, hard and thick against his belly. No slouch in that department himself, was he? God, but it was all Abram could have desired, this—to lie skin to skin with the amber-eyed imp, stroking Nathaniel’s pretty cock and thrusting his fingers deep into Nathaniel’s ass. Despite his desire to keep his eyes open, he had to let his lids flutter shut, drowning himself in the dark and the sensation of Nathaniel’s cock throbbing in his palm—the sway and the sound of the bed moving with them, bumping with a steady rhythm into the wall.
He could feel Nathaniel’s balls drawing up tight and hard.
“Abe…oh, Abram,” he managed to say, fisting his hands in the comforter. “Going to…”
“Not before me,” Abram grunted. He moved faster, pushing his fingers deeper. The slickness between them grew sticky with creamy drops of pre-cum. His hand slipped off Nathaniel’s cock, making him swear, then come back with a harder grip.
The things this little minx did to him, God.
Abram tried to stop. Tried to catch his breath. He couldn’t. “Damn it,” he growled. “No time. Wanted to be in you, or you in me…”
“There’s time. All the time we need,” Nathaniel soothed.
Abram wanted to believe him. He felt too good, though, and Abram knew his own limits. The spirit might be willing but the body was weak, and Nathaniel was a source of pure ecstasy. So new and different, almost exotic, and yet familiar in a way—
Abram came with a sharp, surprised cry. Nathaniel moaned, unintelligible words in his hungry kiss, before bucking up hard.
“You and me,” Abram thought he heard Nathaniel saying as he drifted down from the pinnacle, leaning all his heavy weight onto the amber-eyed beauty. He wasn’t any sack of feathers, but Nathaniel bore him up without a word of complaint. Far from it, in fact. “You and me,” he said, over and over again. “And the rest of the world be damned. As long as I know you’re with me, that’s all I want.”
“Shush,” Abram said, wrapping an arm around Nathaniel to make him lie still. Otherwise, he might have said me too. And he couldn’t do that to Nathaniel, now could he? “Shush. Just lie here with me for a while.”
* * * *
A while became nearly an hour, then two. Nathaniel didn’t feel any hurry to rouse himself from the body-warm, tangled sheets. He lay on his side, one hand at Abram’s chest. Abram’s eyes were heavy-lidded, but he never drifted too far toward the wrong edge of sleep.
He was a good man, Nathaniel decided, not for the first time. Even if he hadn’t been Nathaniel’s soulmate—and he was, he had to be—Nathaniel believed he could have fallen for this one. Age didn’t matter. What was age but experience?
He propped himself on one elbow, cheek in his hand, and sifted his fingertips lightly through Abram’s chest hair. “Tell me about Callum?”
At first, Nathaniel thought he might have gone too far—that Abram wouldn’t want to talk about him when naked in bed together—but he breathed a sigh of relief when Abram’s first sharp look faded into rueful amusement.
“I might have known you’d ask.”
“You said he would have liked me,” Nathaniel ventured, laying his palm over Abram’s heart. “You honestly think so?”
Abram grunted. “I know so. You really want to hear about him?”
Nathaniel nodded. He’d want to say a private thank you to the man later, for rasping off all of Abram’s rough edges and molding him into such a fine fellow, and it would be better to know the person he owed that gratitude to.
“He was…” Abram exhaled then said with a light chuckle after a moment’s consideration, “Practical. Utterly practical. Not a single drop of romance in him, much less sentimentality. You couldn’t have found a straighter-shooting fellow on God’s green earth.” He stroked Nathaniel’s slim wrist. “He said he’d leave the hearts and flowers to me.”
Privately, Nathaniel agreed that would have been the wiser arrangement.
“You got along well, though,” he said rather than asked. “You loved him.”
Though it wasn’t a question, Abram answered all the same. “With every part of me—and all my heart. Practicality had its own charm, you know—especially for a young couple. You’ve seen enough of the kind for yourself, I’d imagine. All those panic moments like ‘where do we live’ and ‘we’ve got money for hamburgers, or for Ramen and rent, so which do we want more’. He always knew what to do and the way he put things, I could see so clearly how they fell into place. Made life easy.” Abram raised one shoulder. “And he could suck the chrome off a trailer hitch, so there was that, too.”
Nathaniel dissolved into giggles. “That’s not nothing, no,” he said around a mixture of laughter and yawn.
Abram must have noticed. He spread the flat of his big palm wide across Nathaniel’s back. “Nap for a while, will you? And give an old man an excuse to do the same.”
Nathaniel’s eyes did want to close. “As long as you’ll still be here when I wake up,” he bargained.
“It’s my house. Where am I going to go?” Abram stroked slow sweeps down Nathaniel’s side. “Go to sleep, now. I’ll be here. I can promise you that much, at least.”
Abram could see the weariness in the young man—rightly-earned exhaustion. He’d been even more of a spitfire than Abram might have imagined, and his imagination hadn’t gone easy on the details or the trimmings.
Whoo, Lord. He did breathe easier once Nathaniel had dropped off into a light doze. Mostly because then, and only then, could he sneak a peek at his soulmark without inciting Nathaniel to riot.
He would have, too. Abram felt it first, beneath his questing fingertips. He didn’t need to look. He could sense it, and had since Nathaniel had come apart in his arms. Like lighting a match, or a fuse.
Starting an alchemical…change. Bringing the lines and shading of his mark back to life.
Good God. Nathaniel couldn’t have been right. Could he? It didn’t work that way. Never had.
But did never had mean never-would? Abram covered the slightly, ever so slightly darker mark, blocking it from his sight. That’d change everything, if it wasn’t only a trick of his imagination.
Though he didn’t normally welcome cold calls, or interruptions when he had a good night’s sleep to be getting on with, Abram very damned near pounced on the phone when it rang—even if he had no idea who in Folly’s Bow might be calling.
Take care of business now, Abram. Save the rest of your thinking for dawn’s early light.
Chapter Five
Th
e night of the lunar eclipse party
Nathaniel opened his eyes.
He blinked once, twice, and again at the dove-gray sky framed in Abram’s picture window. Partially bare branches swayed in the light morning breeze that sifted through the curtains to tickle Nathaniel’s toes. His feet were uncovered, but he’d wound the entirety of Abram’s duvet around himself to make a human burrito.
He worked one arm free of the tangle, tucked his hand under his cheek and smiled. No need to wonder what’d happened. He’d been there, and he planned on keeping those memories fresh as daisies and polished as diamonds.
People said it was never anything like they’d expected, when they found their soulmates. Who’d have thought they were right?
Contented down to his bones, Nathaniel idled, stretching out his arms and legs and pointing his toes. A correction to his first thought had begun to seep into his mind, and wouldn’t be pushed aside. He could have sworn he remembered Abram creeping out of bed, but if it was only now—he checked—eight o’clock, then he must have left in the wee small hours of the night.
That didn’t make sense. Nathaniel frowned.
His frown deepened when he turned his head and saw that Abram had taken the initiative to fold and stack the scattered clothes on a chair in the corner, right where Nathaniel was most likely to look. He’d even put Nathaniel’s shoes on top of the pile, with his phone and keys on the corner of the chair. The chair itself sat directly beneath a framed photo of a small man with a frank, weather-beaten sort of face. Callum? Must have been. He seemed to be watching Nathaniel and disapproving of him.
He couldn’t hear Abram moving about anywhere in the house. Had he gone?
If it were anyone else… Nathaniel sat up in bed, forehead creased with concern. It couldn’t be, because he’d been there and he knew Abram cared for him. Even if Abram didn’t believe him, he…
But clothes stacked up like this and his partner of the night disappeared without a word?
