“It’s done,” Justice panted.
“What’s done? What the hell, bro? You couldn’t have warned us?” Jaxon shouted.
“No, I couldn’t. Even I didn’t know the extent of it. Dad just said that when the three of us all found love, the necklaces would come into power.”
Jaxon pulled Elijah into his chest and held him. “I don’t even care; I got back what was missing.”
“I love you, Jaxon,” Elijah murmured into Jaxon’s neck. “I love you so much.”
Jesse narrowed his eyes at Justice. “Come into power? What does that even mean?”
Justice shrugged. “The power and protection of love? Jaxon said it saved him by deflecting Hepatitis’ fireball.”
Jaxon sighed. “It’s Hephaestus — and I’d really like to lay one on my boyfriend if you guys don’t mind?”
Justice smiled. “How ’bout we give these guys some time alone?”
“Yeah, let’s do that.” Skylar took Justice’s hand.
Jaxon held Elijah close, stroking up and down his back. God, but he’d missed being close to him. The pain in his chest dissipated with every second he held Elijah.
“God, I missed you, Elijah,” Jaxon murmured into Elijah’s hair.
“Please kiss me, right now,” Elijah whimpered.
Jaxon took Elijah’s face in his hands and searched his eyes. The love was there. Jaxon leaned in and brushed their lips together. Elijah whimpered again and Jaxon pulled them flush, his tongue licking the seam of Elijah’s lips until he opened up. Jaxon slid in like silk and entwined their tongues. A soft moan rose from Elijah and his hands went to Jaxon’s hair, fisting it. Jaxon drank him in, savoring each whimper, every moan, the very taste of the man he loved.
It felt like hours had gone by before they finally broke from the kiss, each of them touching the other’s face, as if they were afraid it wasn’t real.
“I missed this, I missed you,” Jaxon whispered.
Elijah blinked. He slapped Jaxon’s bicep. “You were going to leave?”
“Not forever, just for a few days. I just needed to get away. Being so close to you and not being able to kiss you, or hold you.” Jaxon shook his head. “I couldn’t take it.”
“Why don’t we go to your place?” Elijah whispered huskily. “We can get reacquainted.”
Jaxon chuckled. “One thing first.”
“One thing?”
Jaxon leaned in and captured Elijah’s lips. He wrapped him up in his arms and kissed him the way he’d wanted to for months. Elijah moaned and wrapped his arms around Jaxon’s neck, responding fiercely. Jaxon broke the kiss, letting his lips trail softly across Elijah’s.
“I want to hear you sing,” he whispered.
“Sing?” Elijah opened his eyes.
“Yes, sing. I missed it.”
“Yeah?” Elijah grinned.
“Yep.”
~*~
The club was in chaos as Elijah jumped on stage. He bowed as the roar of the crowd almost deafened him. Skylar, Stone, Ryder, Dasan and Nate stood behind him. Elijah waved his arms at the crowd trying to settle them down. He laughed as the shouting, whistling and clapping just got louder.
“Calm down people!” Skylar shouted into the microphone. “Do you want to hear our Elijah sing or not?”
The resounding ‘yes’ from the club almost shook the walls. Skylar laughed and handed Elijah the microphone.
“It’s all yours,” he winked.
Elijah smiled at the crowd and found Jaxon against the wall. He crooked his finger and Jaxon walked forward.
“This is for my man. And don’t go booing him!” Elijah laughed as the crowd laughed.
The lights went down and Elijah closed his eyes, letting the sensation of being on stage fill him. Jason Derulo’s ‘Other Side’ started and Elijah got into his ‘club mode.’ Skylar bumped him and he grinned. Elijah began singing to shouts and whistles. Jaxon winked at him as he got closer to the stage. He stopped and his mouth dropped open. Elijah stifled a laugh and resumed singing.
The guys came in with the ‘ohhhs’ as Elijah walked back and forth across the stage. He crouched down to the edge of the stage and motioned Jaxon closer. He palmed his face as he sang the lyrics. Elijah backed up and got into formation as the song came to an end. The club was pure pandemonium as Elijah bowed. He had missed this so much.
“Thank you!” Elijah shouted.
“How about another one?” Skylar shouted at the crowd.
“Hell yeah!” came the unanimous reply.
Elijah pulled Skylar over. “Imagine Dragons’ ‘Demons’.”
“Gotcha.” Skylar winked.
The club rocked with the bass of the song and Elijah stood in the middle of the stage singing. The last of the cobwebs dropped away as his memory was restored completely.
Yes, he’d had a hard life, but the life before him more than made up for anything he’d endured.
He was the son of a god, not a demon.
He had love.
Elijah belted out the lyrics as he walked back across the stage, the guys providing back up. It was as if he’d never left; they fell into sync perfectly. Elijah met Jaxon’s eyes and winked at him.
Jaxon was his; the man had scoured the Earth looking for him. His mate was a badass. Elijah had to smile at the thought. He lined up with the rest of the guys as the song came to an end. The club exploded with clapping and whistling. Elijah held Skylar and Ryder’s hand as they bowed.
“Now I’m going to go home and make up for lost time with my man!”
Whistles and catcalls filled the club and Elijah laughed. He hugged Skylar and the guys then jumped off stage into Jaxon’s waiting arms.
“Let’s go home, Jaxon.”
~*~
Jaxon shut the door and turned the deadbolt. The clicking sound seemed to reverberate all over the quiet house.
A warm hand slipped across his ass and Jaxon closed his eyes as Elijah’s hands traveled underneath his shirt, caressing his back. They locked eyes and Jaxon took Elijah’s hand, leading him upstairs. They entered Jaxon’s room and Jaxon shut the door, locking it.
He turned to find Elijah standing in the middle of the room. Closing the distance between them, Jaxon pulled Elijah into his arms and took his mouth. A loud sigh came from Elijah as Jaxon ran his hands up his back, pulling his T-shirt off.
Jaxon threw the shirt into the corner and kissed Elijah’s neck, licking at the pulse. His hands wandered down Elijah’s torso, caressing hot skin. Their tongues met, sliding across each other, tangling as Jaxon’s fingers traveled across Elijah’s abdomen. Soft sighs and whimpers filled the room as Jaxon unbuttoned Elijah’s jeans and slid the zipper down slowly. Pulling Elijah’s jeans down over his ass, Jaxon slipped a hand inside his boxers. Elijah’s dick was hard and ready, and already leaking as Jaxon palmed it.
“Jaxon…” Elijah panted against the older man’s lips.
“I want to taste you,” Jaxon whispered.
Jaxon tore his mouth away from Elijah’s lips; one hand began slowly stroking Elijah as the other hand squeezed one ass cheek, pulling Elijah closer to him. Jaxon ran his tongue down the corded muscles of Elijah’s neck, making his way down to one nipple.
Elijah gasped in surprise as Jaxon bit the pert flesh softly. He ran his tongue in a circle around one nipple, then tended to the other. He traced the trail of soft hair down from Elijah’s navel and pulled Elijah’s boxers down along with his jeans. Elijah lifted his foot as Jaxon threw the jeans and boxers into the corner.
Jaxon licked his lips as he stroked Elijah’s cock slowly. He leaned in and swiped his tongue across the mushroom cap. Elijah’s hands went into his hair immediately. Jaxon took the head into his mouth and licked around the rim, playing with the slit as he did. Elijah’s legs shook as Jaxon took him deeper, sliding his tongue around Elijah’s cock and sucking. A soft moan came from Elijah and Jaxon looked up. Their eyes met as Jaxon tongued Elijah’s slit again, swiping up precome and swallowing hungrily.
“Jesus,” Elijah whispered. “I’m going to come.”
Jaxon popped off Elijah’s dick and walked them backwards to the bed. He set Elijah down on it and pushed him back. Jaxon opened the drawer and pulled the lube out. He straddled Elijah’s thighs and looked down on him.
“Tell me what you want, Elijah.” Jaxon ran a fingertip down Elijah’s treasure trail.
“I want you to make love to me.”
Jaxon nodded. He took the cap off the lube and covered three fingers. Setting it back on the table, Jaxon gently eased Elijah’s legs apart and settled between them.
He massaged Elijah’s hole with one finger and kissed him softly as he did. Elijah’s back arched as Jaxon pushed against his hole, not breaching it, but applying more and more pressure with each pass. Elijah’s hands went to his hair and their lips parted in a deep kiss as Jaxon finally penetrated Elijah’s opening.
He slid his finger in to the knuckle and began a slow fuck, letting Elijah adjust to the invasion. The kiss was slow and languid, both of them taking precious time to savor the other. Jaxon licked Elijah’s lip, sucking in the bottom one as he added another finger.
Elijah gasped. There was no pain, only pleasure sliding up his spine. His toes tingled as Jaxon’s fingers sawed back and forth inside him. Elijah arched his back and pushed down on the digits in his ass. He wanted more, he wanted Jaxon to fill him, claim him again. Elijah gripped Jaxon’s hair in his fists and growled against his lips.
“Now, please!”
White-hot heat tore through him as Jaxon pushed inside. Elijah cried out in pleasure as Jaxon’s length and girth filled him. He wanted more — deeper, harder, faster. Elijah moved his hips with Jaxon’s, pushing him in further. Jaxon hit something inside him and Elijah gasped; they locked eyes and Jaxon kissed him softly.
Then the pleasure came and kept on coming. Jaxon’s thrusts were slow and calculated, hitting so deep Elijah thought they couldn’t be any closer. They were one. Jaxon would pull out to the tip of his dick, and then slowly slide back in to the hilt. It was fucking torturous and Elijah wanted more.
He lifted his legs and locked them around Jaxon’s hips, meeting Jaxon’s slow thrusts. The kiss became feral, both of them desperately pulling air through their nostrils as they moved. The heat in the room began to climb as Elijah’s orgasm tickled his spine. Heat spiraled up his back as Jaxon hit him hard.
Elijah cried out and Jaxon’s orgasm tore through him. Elijah erupted between them and pain seared his shoulder as Jaxon’s canines sunk into his shoulder.
“Fuck! I love you!” Elijah shouted.
Sweat dripped from Jaxon’s brow as he lifted off of Elijah. Their eyes met and Elijah could see the love in the other man’s.
“I love you too, Elijah.” Jaxon kissed the area he’d bitten, which was already healing. Elijah’s eyes were orange again and the room began to hum. Jaxon backed off a bit as Elijah’s eyes went wild.
“It’s coming, Jaxon,” Elijah panted.
“It knows me, Elijah. It won’t hurt me,” Jaxon assured him. “Take control of it. Close your eyes and concentrate.”
Elijah slowed his breathing and concentrated on the force trying to burst free from him. The room began to cool as he took slow breaths, in through his nose and out through his mouth. A warm hand caressed his cheek and he opened his eyes to see Jaxon smiling at him.
“I did it?”
Jaxon slipped out of Elijah’s body slowly and leaned over to kiss him. “Yes, you did.”
Elijah held Jaxon’s face in his hands. “I love you, Jaxon.”
Jaxon took Elijah into his arms and caressed his hair. “I will always love you, Elijah.”
Elijah ran his fingertip over the tattoo on Jaxon’s chest. It was an exact replica of the necklace now hanging from his neck.
“Did it hurt?” Elijah kissed the skin.
“Just a tad.” Jaxon smiled, running his fingers through Elijah’s hair.
“I think I heard you.”
Jaxon locked eyes with Elijah. “What do you mean?”
“When I was locked up, there would be nights I swore someone was talking to me. I could have sworn I heard your voice in the beginning. I wanted to answer you, but they had me so full of drugs…” Elijah took a deep breath.
“I did talk to you — every day, any chance I got I told you how much I loved you and missed you.” Jaxon caressed Elijah’s face. “I love you.”
Elijah’s eyes widened. “I love you, too.”
Jaxon grinned. “I can hear you.”
“That is so weird.” Elijah snuggled into Jaxon.
“But it’s so right.” Jaxon closed his eyes.
“Jaxon?”
“Yep?”
“Now what?”
“Now we live our lives. Together.”
They fell asleep, wrapped in each other’s arms.
~*~
The sun’s morning rays swept across Jaxon’s eyes. He opened one and smiled at the man in his arms. Elijah was breathing softly, his arm wrapped around Jaxon’s torso, his head on Jaxon’s chest. Jaxon bent and placed a kiss on Elijah’s temple. Lashes fluttered and blue eyes met his.
“Hi.” Elijah blushed.
“Hey.” Jaxon smiled, caressing Elijah’s cheek. “How did you sleep?”
“Better than I have in months.”
Jaxon’s smile faded. “How much do you remember?”
“I remember some of the pain. They would try to make the phoenix come out.” Elijah shuddered.
“Fucking Petey, if he wasn’t already dead, I’d kill him again.”
“They would…shock me over and over again. They tried to make me mad or scared so that I would panic and the phoenix would come.” Elijah swallowed hard.
“I think you should see someone,” Jaxon said quietly.
“Maybe,” Elijah nodded. “I didn’t dream about it last night. I dreamt about you.”
“Yeah?” Jaxon smiled and leaned in to kiss Elijah.
Elijah backed away and covered his mouth. “Um, maybe we should shower and brush our teeth?”
Jaxon shook his head. “Oh, hell, no.”
Elijah was crushed to the mattress as Jaxon took his mouth in a carnal kiss. He wrapped his arms around Jaxon as they kissed. Damn but Jaxon could kiss! Elijah found himself chuckling during the kiss. Jaxon pulled away breathing hard.
“You’re laughing?”
“I can’t help it! Ever since I was sixteen, I’ve wanted this! And now I’m in bed with you and you’re kissing me and holding me. It feels so surreal.”
“About that.”
“About what?”
“You weren’t sixteen.”
“I wasn’t?”
“No, you were seventeen.”
Elijah sat up and narrowed his eyes at Jaxon. “What? So we could have been doing this sooner?!”
“I didn’t know! I just found out.”
Elijah fell back on the mattress with a frustrated sigh. “Well, shit.”
“I met your dad by the way,” Jaxon said quietly.
Elijah’s eyes widened. “What?”
“Yeah, he kinda gave me a spanking,” Jaxon chuckled. “Well, he tried to.” Jaxon picked up the pendant from Elijah’s chest. “This little guy saved me from a world of hurt. Your dad said I was blessed by love. I get it now.”
“What’s he like?” Elijah sat up again.
“He cares about you, that’s for sure. I went up to Mount Olympus to have it out with the gods.”
“You what?!” Elijah’s eyes widened. “Are you crazy?”
“Yeah, I was,” Jaxon leaned in to kiss Elijah. “You were gone; I had nothing left to lose. I couldn’t sleep or eat and I just wanted to crawl into a hole and die. The mate bond is strong, Elijah and when that half of you is gone…” Jaxon shook his head.
Elijah touched Jaxon’s cheek. “You really do love me, don’t you?” he whispered.
“More than you will ever know, Elijah.”
“Damn, you rea
lly are a crazy badass!” Elijah laughed.
“Yep, and I’m all yours.”
~*Chapter Sixteen*~
The wind whipped past him as Elijah held on to Jaxon’s middle. He had missed Jaxon’s Harley and had never been so happy to be perched on it again. They roared through the streets of Seattle, making their way to Caden and Kellan’s. Elijah had missed them, and although he’d felt close to them when he first came back, he knew now they were so much more to him. Elijah closed his eyes and wondered if he’d ever meet his real father.
“Yes, you will.”
Elijah jerked on the back of the bike. That wasn’t Jaxon’s voice in his head.
“Hephaestus?” Elijah asked tentatively.
“Yes. We will meet one day, Elijah. Always know that I love you.”
Elijah pressed closer to Jaxon’s back and smiled. He had a boyfriend and a family and his life back. He couldn’t ask for anything more. As soon as they pulled into the driveway, Caden ran out of the house to greet them. Elijah barely got off the bike before he was enveloped in the Frenchman’s arms.
“I have missed you!” Caden almost shouted.
Elijah sank into the embrace and smiled. “I missed you, too.”
“Come inside!” Caden pulled Elijah’s arm.
Jaxon smiled as he slid off his bike, stowing the helmets. He followed Caden and Elijah inside and was surprised to see just about everyone there. A huge ‘welcome home’ sign stretched across the foyer.
“Welcome home!” they all shouted in unison.
“Thanks guys.” Elijah ducked his head, blushing.
“Things just weren’t the same without you.” Kellan enveloped Elijah in his arms. “I’ll have you know that Jaxon never gave up on you. As soon as he found out where they were holding you, he was on his way there. We were lucky to catch up with him.”
Killian raised his hand. “I was a rat in the tunnels.”
“Well, that’s fitting.” Stone rolled his eyes.
Killian narrowed his eyes at Stone. “Then I was a raptor.”
“Could we keep the chatter down? The football players and humans are making their way up the walk.” They all turned to see James Jacobs with his husband in the open doorway.
At Year's End (The 12 Olympians) Page 20
