by SF Benson
“Not long. Every time they do it’s magical. This is the first time Colt’s sung solo. Usually, Nick does the singing. He’s pretty good too. It’s like they were born to do this.” She taps my arm. “It’s good to see you. Stick around.”
Oh, I plan on it. “Marjorie, I could use your help.”
It’s after two in the morning when I hear the key in the lock. The door creaks open, and Nick and Colton file in laughing. They freeze in their tracks when they notice me.
Nick looks in my direction and says, “Guess we’re not hanging out tonight.”
Confusion dances in Colton’s dark eyes. “Maybe tomorrow. Be careful going home, man. You’ve had one too many.”
“I’m good.” The Nephilim says nothing else. He simply turns and lumbers off down the hall.
The door snaps shut, and Colton approaches me. “What are you doing here?”
There are only two ways to play this. Either I stand up for what I believe in, what I want, or I tuck my tail and run back to Ezekiel’s. I’m tired of playing games. I didn’t suffer losing my wings to hide.
Standing, I face Colton and say, “I heard you play tonight.”
“Oh.” He stands toe to toe with me. “Someone had to pick up the slack.”
“You did more than pick it up.” Swallowing hard, I admit, “I loved the song.”
Colton’s eyes widen. “You heard all of it?”
“Every. Word.”
I’m not screwing this up again. Cupping his head, I let my lips brush his. It’s meant as a gentle gesture, but I can’t help myself. Not a day or night has passed that I haven’t thought of him. Like Colton pouring himself into that song, I pour out my heart, telling him without words how I feel. My lips attempt to do what mere words can’t—erase any doubts and fears either of us may harbor.
Colton breaks away from me, panting. His eyes are dark with desire. “Are you sure? I don’t want to go back to what we had.”
“Me either.” Colton says the words, but deep down I’m still scared. I can’t go this far with him and then walk away.
My gaze lifts to his, searching for reassurance. He blinks, and I take it as permission to continue. Impatient with need, I rip the shirt off Colton’s muscular chest. Buttons fling across the room. My breath catches, and my dick stirs at the sight of his hard physique. It’s a body that should belong to a warrior.
Damn.
Colton doesn’t hesitate. He wraps me up in a passionate kiss. My dick throbs. I’ve wanted no one as much as I want him.
“Bed. Now,” I say against his lips.
“Come on.” His fingers intertwine with mine as he tugs me toward the hall.
As soon as we enter the room, I walk us back to the bed. We fall upon it like a couple of desperate fools. My gaze drifts over the handsome man in my arms. “Colton?”
He nuzzles my neck. “Talk later. You’re wearing too many clothes.”
“Wait a minute.”
He exhales. “If you’re backing out—”
“No.” I place a finger under his chin and tilt it up. If I can’t say the words, then I don’t need to be here. “Colton, I don’t want to fuck you.”
His eyebrows squish together, and his body tenses. “You don’t?”
“Relax,” I say in a lowered voice. “I can’t fuck you because I’m in love with you. I want to cherish every moment I spend with you.”
At that moment Colton could be an angel. His face lights up, and the widest smile I’ve ever seen on a man spreads across his face. “You don’t know what that means to me. I—”
I place a finger on his mouth. “Don’t. I don’t want you to say anything you’re not ready for. I have enough love in my heart for the both of us.”
Colton slowly unbuttons my shirt. “I hope that means you’ve brought plenty of lube.”
“Marjorie got us a super-sized container.”
Later, much later, I’ll do some serious thinking about how our lives will change. As his nimble fingers edge my zipper down, all I want is to be balls deep inside this man.
Afterward, we lay together enjoying the ensuing quiet. Colton rolls over, and I wrap my arms around him, placing my chin on his shoulder. We fit together nicely. This is bliss for me. I haven’t been this close to a man, to anyone actually, for far too long. I’ve missed this. I’ve missed him.
“You okay?” I ask.
“Yeah. A little sore.” He rests his arms on top of mine.
I chuckle. “Sorry about that.”
“Don’t be,” Colton says and kisses my arm. “I will say that this is different for me.”
“Different how?”
Colton moves onto his back and looks into my eyes. “I’ve always been the one in control. I get mine, and then I leave.”
“Oh?” I suspected as much about him, but hearing him admit his selfishness chills me a bit. “What are you saying?”
His thumb caresses the underside of my jaw, and I shiver from his gentle touch. “I’m saying thank you. I needed to know that sex was more than taking. You showed me it could be beautiful—magical even—with the right person.”
Wow.
There are no words. Leaning down, I claim his mouth and taste myself on his lips. Colton breaks it off, however, before we get lost in each other again.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“I could ask you that. Did you think I missed your reaction to seeing me with Nick?”
Leaning against the headboard, I exhale. The last thing I want is to discuss the Nephilim, but maybe if I clear the air, we can get the moment back. “What made you two start performing together?”
Colton snuggles closer. “You.”
“Huh?”
“Your prolonged absence. Plus, the bar was losing business.”
My chest tightens, and I want to disappear under the covers. Instead, I ask the obvious question. “How did you find out Nick was a musician?”
“I asked him about a place to rent pianos. He gave me a number. Even went with me to pick out the right one.”
So that’s what happened the day I saw them together. Marjorie tried to tell me there was nothing between Nick and Colton, but I wouldn’t listen. I should have.
“You sound good together,” I admit.
Colton squeezes my thigh. “But we sound better. Nick and I perform. You and me? We’re rhythm and harmony. Without you, there’s no music in me.”
Damn.
“I like the sound of that,” I say.
Colton sits up and threads a hand through my hair, cupping the back of my neck. “I think I could fall in love with you, Jeremiah Jones.”
My heart swells. No man has ever said those words to me. I lean in and kiss him.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Colt
The next morning, I wake up with a new outlook on life thanks to the man lying beside me. Waking up with the same person I went to bed with is so unlike me, but I’ll admit it’s rather nice. Definitely, something I could learn to enjoy. Especially if it’s Jeremiah.
Normally, after sex, I feel disconnected as the guilt over stealing a human’s essence clouds my mind. The all-consuming concern would have been scrambling to get out the door before he or she awakes. But this morning? Invigoration fills my body and soul. I’ve never felt this good.
It’s not solely the man in my bed making the day brighter. All of Grandfather’s conditions are met. No longer do I have to dread life as an incubus in Falls Creek or anywhere else. I can turn my back on that sinful existence. Best of all is the simple fact I’ll never have to face my father again. No more torment. Freedom sure feels great.
Folding my hands behind my head, I lean against the headboard and look down at JJ. The sight of him is heavenly. I don’t want to imagine a day without him in it.
Slowly, his eyes flutter open. A look of confusion crosses his glorious face, and then his head rolls to the side, and he sees me. A wide smile breaks, and those amazing blue eyes sparkle. It’s like the sun glinting off the ocean.
Breathtaking. It’s a beautiful sight, and an image I want greeting me every morning.
“Good morning,” he says as he reaches up and brushes the hair off my forehead.
“Yeah, it is a good morning.” I return his smile. “We should probably get breakfast. I’m a little hungry.”
After last night, I’m surprised JJ isn’t starving.
“Eventually.” JJ moves closer and yanks the sheet off of me. “I’m ravenous.”
“We could stay in today,” I suggest. “Maybe work on some music.”
“Oh, I plan on working on a few choice tunes before leaving this bed.” JJ hovers over me, trapping me between his strong arms. His erection bumps against my abs, and I know exactly what he has in mind. “Colton, we have a lot of lost time to make up for.”
I glance up at him. In this moment, I realize that everything good in my world is in bed with me. But I’m still hungry. “What about food?”
JJ’s covetous mouth kisses my cheek. “We’ll order in, or I’ll cook for us.” His next kiss lands on my jaw. “We’re not leaving this apartment until work tonight.”
I squirm beneath him. Each kiss sends licks of electricity through my veins. Suddenly, food can wait.
JJ drops a kiss on my abs. “Are you still worried about food?”
“No.” My voice is husky.
“Good.” JJ’s hands grasp my hips and pull me closer.
My breath catches as his warm, wet mouth closes over the tip of my cock. Shit. Slowly, so painstakingly slow, JJ’s tongue works me. His tongue glides over my shaft in rasping strokes, taking my cock farther into his mouth.
Closing my eyes, I enjoy every minute. My hands grip the bed sheets as JJ’s skilled mouth moves lower. My body bucks as he picks up the tempo. Faster and faster.
“Ahh…”
My senses blur as I get closer to the edge. JJ sucks me harder, and my hips lift off the bed. Groaning, my back arches, and I lose control. The orgasm rips me apart. I explode violently, and JJ swallows every drop, milking me dry.
When I’m completely spent, he releases me and crawls up beside me. He claims my mouth with a salty kiss. I don’t care. I could kiss this man all day and never get enough of him.
JJ pulls away. A mischievous look is on his handsome face. “Now, that’s how I like to say good morning.”
“You can greet me like that any time of day.”
JJ comes up behind me in the kitchen. I stop chopping vegetables for the omelets as he presses up against me. His naked groin warms my backside while his hands bracket my waist. JJ’s thumbs rub my hip bones.
“If you keep that up, we won’t be eating this for breakfast.” I sigh and my pulse quickens.
JJ’s lips brush my ear. “I’d rather have you for breakfast.”
“As tempting as that sounds, I’m going to insist on food. I’m starving.”
He chuckles and stops. “I guess I can wait. Mind if I grab a pair of sweats? I sent a message to Zeke. He’s coming by with a few of my things.”
“You know I don’t mind. Take whatever fits.”
Listening to his bare feet slap against the floorboards makes me smile for an inexplicable reason.
Maybe it’s happiness?
It’s possible. For the first time in what feels like forever, I’m content. I’m not worried about anything or anyone, and fear doesn’t stain my outlook.
“What are you humming about?” JJ asks as he takes the carton of eggs out of the fridge.
“I didn’t realize I was.” I dump the onions, peppers, and mushrooms into the hot skillet. “Will Zeke be joining us for breakfast?”
“No. Like I said, he’s dropping stuff off for me, and then he’s headed to work.” JJ removes a fork from a drawer and whisks the eggs.
“JJ, we could go by your place and pick up whatever you need. Save your brother a trip.”
“It’s better if we don’t return to my apartment.” He brings the bowl over to the stove. “Slide over and let me finish this.”
I step out of the way. “Why can’t you go back there?”
A pained expression crosses JJ’s face as he cooks the eggs. “It’s Azaria.”
The woman who rubbed me the wrong way. JJ spoke about her before we parted ways. “What has she done now?”
“She’s a threat. Neither of us needs to deal with her.” JJ plates the omelet and cuts it in half.
His ominous words fill me with distress. Azaria was supposed to be a childhood friend. A woman JJ was close to. At what point did she become the adversary? I’m immune to anything she might try for a few more days. Then what?
“I don’t want to spend our time together talking about Azaria.” JJ picks up the plates and carries them over to the table.
Grabbing two mugs and the pot of coffee, I follow him. Deep down, I know I should be honest with JJ. I’ve suspected the man is no more human than I am. Fear of rejection—the only fear I have left—immobilizes me. Going on in this world—or any world—without him isn’t possible.
When I glance over at him, his jaw is set, and his brow is furrowed. But when his eyes meet my gaze, an unsteady, wistful grin sneaks across his face. The truth can wait a little longer.
A knock at the door is a welcome interruption.
“I’ll get it,” JJ offers. I watch him walk off dressed in my navy sweatpants and a zip-up hoodie. His bare feet slap across the floor in a hurry, followed by the door creaking open.
“Brother.” Heavy footsteps sound throughout the apartment. “Your call surprised me this morning.”
“I’ll be staying with Colton for the meantime.”
“Probably a good thing. You need anything else?”
“Not at the moment. Eventually, I’ll need to box everything up and get it moved.”
“Yeah. We’ll talk later.”
“Thanks again, Zeke.”
“Keep me posted.” His steps exit the room, and the door thuds closed.
Pushing away from the table, I go to the living room. An oversized black duffel bag sits on the sofa beside his guitar. JJ’s keyboard rests on the coffee table.
“Jeremiah?”
“I know you heard. If you don’t want me moving in here—”
“Not the point.” I slide the guitar over and make to sit down. “I want to know what you’re not telling me.”
JJ puts his hand out and pulls me closer. “What I haven’t told you today,” he says in a husky voice, “is how much I love you.”
“Although I’m glad that hasn’t changed, it’s not what I asked you.”
His lips brush my ear, raising goosebumps on my skin. “I guess I should show you instead.”
I let JJ lead me back to the bedroom, letting this conversation die for the moment.
Much later in the day, JJ and I venture downstairs. Marjorie looks up from behind the bar when we enter the establishment. A small grin steals across her bright pink lips.
“This is a pleasant surprise,” she says as we sit down at the counter.
“I understand we have you to thank,” I comment.
“Well, I wanted to be helpful. Are you guys performing tonight?”
JJ offers, “Just Colton and Nick. I have family business to tend to.”
My gaze cuts to JJ. It’s the first I’ve heard of this.
“Okay,” Marjorie says. “You’re welcome back anytime.”
“Thanks,” JJ tells her before she walks out of the room. He reaches for my hand and gives it a squeeze.
Trying to stay calm, I ask, “When were you going to tell me about this family business?”
“Sorry. I was going to tell you earlier, but we got distracted.”
Liar.
When we met, JJ said he didn’t do bullshit, and now he’s trying to throw crap in my face.
“It’s nothing to worry about.” JJ attempts to assure me. “Zeke needs my help. I’ll be back before you’re done with your final set.”
His words, however, do not sit well with me.
“Gott
a go. See you tonight.” JJ brushes his lips against mine and walks to the door.
