Demon or Angel (Age of Exilum Book 1)

by Lynn Michaels

  “Yes.”

  “Okay. I’ll remember that. Might need it later.”

  Teague grabbed Vern and hauled him into his lap. He could feel Teague’s muscles through the soft material of his t-shirt, and he loved the way those python arms wrapped around him. Teague nuzzled his nose under Vern’s ear, knocking his glasses crooked on his face. Vern took them off and set them on the table beside the couch.

  “This is nice, but I still don’t know what I’m supposed to do?”

  “Do? Nothing. You keep doing your thing, and I’ll do my best to protect you. But...”

  “But what?”

  “If Beleth is coming, then we need to be ready. He’s won’t give us an easy fight. I have to keep you safe. He’s, uh...damn. Beleth is very powerful.”

  “How do I get ready? I can’t fight these things. What do you want me to do? Hide? Not going to happen.”

  “I’ll keep you safe. From any who would harm you.” Teague rubbed Vern’s back, gripping him gently, making him warm. In his arms, Vern felt safe, and Teague’s words made his heart flutter.

  He smashed his aching face into Teague’s warm neck and muttered into his skin. “I don’t know if I’ve ever been safe. Maybe I never will be, but this is close. I’ll take this.”

  Teague kissed the top of Vern’s head. Vern turned his face up. He wanted another kiss and not on the top of his head. “Hey.”

  Teague stared down at him with those ever-changing eyes. “It’s probably not a good idea.”

  “I offered myself to you before. I haven’t changed my mind. The offer stands...”

  “You know what I am. You saw Zepher. I’m the same. I’m exactly the same in that form.”

  Vern jerked up and stole the kiss Teague wouldn’t give—a quick peck on his perfect lips. “You’re not in that form now.”

  “No. But—”

  “Please.” Vern canted his hips into Teague’s stomach to make him feel Vern’s hardness. “I need.” Waves of euphoria washed over him, tripping his senses.

  “I-I can’t deny you.”

  Vern felt strong, causing this big, formidable supernatural being to stutter. “We can’t go in the bedroom ‘cause Daniel’s there. But the other guys aren’t coming home any time soon.” He stood up and slid his sweatpants over his thighs, in a move he hoped looked seductive.

  It must have worked, because Teague’s big, warm hands flew out, grabbing his bare thighs and sliding around to his ass. He yanked Vern forward, pressing their bodies together. “Don’t think for one second I don’t want you, Vern.” He made Vern’s name sound like a purr. For the first time ever, he didn’t mind being addressed by his given name.

  “Then take me, Teague. I’m yours. I think I always have been.”

  Teague’s hands ran up his back, caressing bare skin under his shirt before Vern pulled it over his head. A deep growl rumbled through Teague’s chest. “Don’t ever sleep with anyone else, Vern. If you’re mine, then you’re mine. Understand?” He kissed Vern’s belly.

  “Yes.” He kicked the sweats off his feet. He stood naked in front of Teague, exposed and as vulnerable as he’d ever been. “We need lube? Or something?”

  Teague nodded and pulled the soft shirt over his head. His muscles flexed, golden and glorious. “Get a blanket too. Hurry.”

  Vern took off to his room. His hard-on bobbed in front of him, slapping against his stomach. He quickly grabbed Daniel’s bottle of lube from the top of his side table. He didn’t think the man would care if he borrowed it. He pulled the blanket off his bed and slung it over a shoulder, then grabbed a pillow and darted out, closing the door behind him.

  Back in the living room, Teague had taken off his jeans. He stood there in all his magnificence. Vern swore his cock practically glowed, waiting for him, hard and uncut. Vern hadn’t taken the time to examine and explore the first time, but he damn sure wanted to make up for it. He tossed everything on the couch. “I don’t have condoms.”

  “We don’t need them. I’m not susceptible to human disease. And I doubt I’ll get you pregnant.”

  Vern chuckled. “Did you make a joke?”

  “No... I wouldn’t.” Teague smiled, and it changed everything. Never had Vern seen anything like it. Teague’s serious face became glorious when he smiled, and it lit Vern up, making his spirit ring with joy. He had thought his soul had been blackened until that moment.

  He’d done things he wasn’t entirely proud of, but he’d survived. If it meant seeing Teague so exquisitely happy, he’d do them again. “You’re amazing.”

  And that fast, the smile left. “I’m not. I’m...We shouldn’t do this.”

  “Oh, we’re doing this.” Vern stepped forward and reached out for Teague’s cock. It was as large as he remembered. Their time back on the highway had been the first blowjob he’d ever given, and he wanted to do it again. He sunk to his knees. Gripping Teague’s cock at the top, he pulled the foreskin down, exposing the crown of his head. He flicked his tongue over the tip, and a clear bead of pre-cum leaked out. He licked at it again, savoring the same salted honey he remembered from the first time. It tasted so different from Randy’s, but he didn’t want to think about Randy.

  Vern cleared his head, refusing to let bad memories surface. Then he sucked the length of Teague’s cock. He took it as far as he could until it bumped the back of his throat. He groaned around it, and Teague groaned with him. He slowly pulled back up. “Feel good?”

  “Too good.”

  Vern went back to it, sucking Teague again. This time, he didn’t stop there. He bobbed his head, slurping and caressing with his tongue. He gripped the base, keeping him steady as he worked it. Vern enjoyed every second of it. He could suck on Teague forever, but soon enough, Teague stopped him, pushing him off.

  “I’m gonna come if you don’t stop.”

  Vern looked up at him. “No. I want more.”

  “Get on the couch. It’s my turn.”

  Without argument, Vern jumped up to the couch. Teague arranged him the way he wanted and sat on the floor in front of him, where he had a clear view of Vern. “Put your feet on the edge, here.” He guided Vern’s bare feet to the edge of the couch beside his ass. Vern leaned back, letting Teague see all of him, spread wide for him.

  “I’m yours, Teague...”

  “Mm...I’m liking my name on your tongue entirely too much. Say it again.”

  “Teague,” he breathed on a sigh, but it turned to a low moan when Teague’s tongue licked along his taint up to his balls. He sucked one into his mouth—hot and wet. “Oh, God!”

  “God has nothing to do with this.” Teague chuckled and licked his balls again.

  The heat from his mouth and the caress of his tongue as it probed his tender skin had Vern squirming and begging for more.

  Teague licked a stripe up his cock and flicked the top of his crown. “I’m taking my time with you, savoring it. But feel free to keep begging.”

  “You like?”

  “Mm...” He sucked Vern’s cock into his mouth. Vern wasn’t as big as Teague, but his dick was sufficiently long. Teague didn’t complain or judge. He swallowed around it, his neck muscles caressing Vern’s cock like his tongue had on his balls.

  Vern gripped the faux leather of the couch. “More...uh, please...”

  The swallowing and sucking went on forever, yet Teague pulled off of him too soon.

  “Where’s the lube?” Teague asked.

  Vern fumbled around for it, finding it half-stuffed into the crack between the cushions. He shook it at Teague, who snatched it out of his hand.

  “Hey!”

  “Shh...now I’m in a hurry. I want to get inside you. Like now.”

  Teague’s words echoed around in Vern’s chest. Teague—this supernatural being, larger than life, and beyond anything Vern understood. And he wanted Vern. Wanted inside him. Vern agreed. He only hoped they both had the same reasons. He laid back and relaxed and stopped over thinking the strangeness of the situation.

/>   Teague worked the lube into Vern’s ass, stretching and fucking him with his fingers until they were both ready. When he pushed his cock up to Vern’s hole, he paused. “Ready?”

  “Yesdoit!” Vern ran his words together in his desperation. “Now!”

  Teague pushed in slowly and steadily. The stretch burned, but Vern relished it, knowing Teague made him feel that way—no one else. His full ass sparked inside as if some kind of electric rod had been shoved up there instead of Teague’s dick. He pushed down against it, moaning and quivering.

  “Okay?” Teague raised a brow. His eyes had darkened to midnight, and Vern saw stars sparkling in them.

  He breathed in and out slowly. “Yes. Move.”

  Teague took him at his word and rolled his hips back. Without warning, he thrust forward. He took a few long, slow strokes then sped up.

  Vern glanced down his chest to watch Teague’s hips fucking into him, their rhythm setting a solid pace. Each push and pull dragged across the spot inside Vern that had him coming undone. His thighs shook, and his stomach muscles trembled. Warmth radiated through his body until a tingling ran through the small of his back and straight up into his dick. “Teague!” Vern came, shooting out all over his chest and stomach. He closed his eyes, groaning loudly.

  The weird power rolled over him, but this time stronger, much stronger. It stole his breath and threw his entire body into an extended state of ecstasy.

  “Ah...Vern! You do not hold back. Damn...”

  Teague’s pace faltered, and his hips canted to the side. He came hard. Inside of him. Glorious!

  He opened his eyes wide, and his mouth fell open. Sex with Teague blew him away—far beyond what he’d had with Randy. He’d achieved a totally new height. “It’s weird. Like a miracle. You did this—made me feel like this.”

  The tingling went on as Teague laughed and slowly pulled out of Vern. “I’ll grab a towel. Don’t move.”

  Bright sunshine stabbed at Vern’s eyes. His back protested as he moved against a warm body. They’d fallen asleep on the couch, cuddled together. He didn’t remember his roommates coming home, but they might not have. The blanket draped over their asses, but Vern had been warm enough lying against Teague.

  He let his fingers travel over Teague’s chest, exploring those divine muscles. He might not be an angel, but he sure looked like one. Vern figured popular media had gotten it all wrong, not surprisingly.

  Teague shifted around. “Mm. Vern...”

  “Yeah. Good morning.”

  “It is. How do you feel?”

  “Fine.” Vern laughed. “Well fucked.”

  Teague laughed with him. “Good. We should get breakfast. Talk about what this means. What we need to—”

  Teague’s smile dropped, his face turning somber. “What the—” His angry brows scrunched up. He sat up, shoving Vern half off of him.

  “Something... Something’s coming. I have to go.” He grabbed his jeans and stuffed his feet into them.

  “What the hell?” No way on earth or hell would he let Teague up and leave him behind. “You know you’re not going anywhere without me, right?”

  “Then get dressed. Now!”

  “Fine.” Vern fumbled with his sweats and t-shirt.

  “Shoes, too. We have to go. We have to run.”

  “What the hell?” Vern snuck into his room, trying not to wake Daniel, and found his sneakers. He put them on, hopping back into the living room. “Seriously, Teague. What’s going on?”

  He was dressed when Vern got back to the living room, complete with boots laced up and jacket on. “We need to get up high. Where we can see them coming. It’s the only way.”

  “I don’t get it. Who’s coming? The demon army?”

  “Worse. Hellhounds.”

  “Oh, fuck me.”

  “You don’t even know. Now, come on!”

  They headed out of the apartment. “Upstairs. The roof.” Vern pointed at the emergency stairway. They pushed through and headed up.

  Once on the roof of the building, Teague looked around in a panic. Vern didn’t see anything. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes. Yes. I’m going to make a run for it. Pull them off your trail.”

  “Teague? What the fuck? Not a good plan, man.”

  “No, it’s not.” He grabbed Vern’s shoulders and planted a kiss on his mouth. “Meet me back here later. If I’m not here by midnight, I’m not coming.”

  Vern spat a few protests, but Teague leapt in the air, ignoring him. Great wings of pristine white feathers sprang from Teague’s back and sparkled in the morning sun. They beat down hard, pushing wind into Vern’s face. Once high enough, he shifted directions and dove like a falcon. Vern raced to the edge of the building. He watched with horror as Teague angled his body to the side and swooped down the next alley. Behind him, four dark shapes glided after him in pursuit.

  “Fuck this.” Vern turned and raced for the stairs. He wasn’t letting Teague face this threat alone. Supernatural or not. By the time he made it to the street, his breath came in short gasps. He swore to work out more if he survived this chase. He ran in the direction Teague had flown.

  At the end, he paused, not sure which way to go. Then he smelled something rotten, sickly sweet and cloying. They’d left a trail, and Vern turned toward the smell—worse than a wet dog rolling in dead fish. He’d had the opportunity to smell something similar as a kid. His aunt’s dog. This smell had to be ten times worse. Vern chased after it, anyway.

  A few yards away, the scent double backed. Vern turned in circles, sure he’d lost them. Then he slipped into another back alley and ended up at the edge of a vacant lot in front of the cemetery. Businesses lined the road beyond a small park on the far side of the lot. He didn’t have to run farther, though. Teague stood on the ground where four huge beasts had him cornered between the side of a building and a pair of very large dumpsters. He huddled next to a bike shop, under an awning, unable to take flight.

  One of the hulking things lunged at Teague. He kicked it in the face, wings pulled back behind him, but it didn’t deter the beast.

  Vern ran closer. One of them turned to face him. It indeed looked dog-like in shape with a flat muzzle and stood almost as large as a grizzly bear. When it opened its mouth, Vern saw three rows of razor-sharp teeth. It barked like a horn from a semi-truck but scarier.

  Two of the other hounds jumped on Teague. Vern screamed, “No!”

  The beast in front of him shut its gaping maw and looked at him expectantly with its head cocked to the side. The fourth, about to lunge at Teague, stopped and perked its ears up.

  “Sit!” Vern snapped the command. The hounds sat. He’d worked with his aunt’s dog like this. The old mutt had only ever listened to Vern. These dogs weren’t different. Only bigger. And uglier.

  They ignored Teague, turning to Vern.

  Teague made some kind of distressed sound and slowly stood up. Vern didn’t take his eyes off the hounds. He had to show them he was Alpha. “Down.” He pointed to the ground, and all four dogs dropped to the ground.

  “What the hell?” Teague asked.

  Vern snapped his fingers. “Go home!”

  In unison, all four jumped into the sky and disappeared.

  “That’s fucking weird.” Teague shook his head. He had blood on his neck and shoulder, and his shirt had been ripped open on one side.

  “Are you okay?” Vern slammed into Teague’s arms.

  “Yes, yes. I’m fine.”

  “Thank God.”

  Teague tensed up and turned Vern around.

  Zepher stood there, arms crossed over his chest. “What the hell is this?”

  Zepher annoyed the hell out of Vern, and he had only known about him less than a day.

  He scowled at Vern and flipped a lock of black hair out of his eyes. “I can smell the sex on you.”

  “Surprising when those dogs smelled bad enough to mask a garbage dump.” Vern popped a hand on his hip, feeling oddly brave. Maybe anger a
nd frustration made a guy overly cocky after a while—made him desperate and stupid. Before he could come up with any other smartass comments, another form materialized beside Zepher. This guy was bigger than Teague and Zepher by a good head, and his shoulders didn’t look like boulders, they looked like the whole damn mountain.

  “Dad,” Teague gasped and grabbed at his chest. “Fuck! I need a smoke.”

  “Will you two ever grow up? I swear...” He nodded to Vern. “I’m Xaphan, by the way.”

  Vern’s eyebrows shot up.

  Xaphan sniffed the air. “Zepher, my boy. I told you to back off. Pursuing this will end in someone’s destruction. Probably yours.”

  “What? Why?” Zepher stepped up, black feathered wings spring from his back. He stomped the ground with his heavy boots, looking downright incredulous. His human form looked a lot like Teague, but darker. Much darker.

  “There’s something I haven’t told you boys. You’re not going to like it, but I kept the secret to protect you.”

  “What the fuck, Dad?” Zepher scowled.

  Teague grabbed Vern’s hand. Maybe he needed Vern’s support. Well, he’d have it. Vern squeezed his hand and smiled up at him.

  “You’re not twins. Only half-brothers.”

  “Bullshit! Pure Szrez!”

  “Sorry, Zepher, but it’s not shit. It’s the truth. You both looked so much like me, I got away with it, but you do have different mothers.”

  “Who?” Teague asked. “Who has a different mother?”

  “Your mother, Teague. Her name was Anellia.”

  “But...but that’s... her name...”

  “Yes, son. She had an angel name. Anellia was from Osestra.”

  “No!” Zepher pushed his father’s shoulder.

  It was as stupid and as brave a thing as he could possibly do. Xaphan could kill him with one swipe of his colossal fists.

  “Near the end of the war, I found her. She had been wounded and made a great prize. In her weakened state, I captured her easily. I meant to kill her slowly. Drain her blood. Sell it.”

  Teague sat on the ground, and Vern joined him, pressing their thighs together. “Why didn’t you?”

  “Her blood would have made me very powerful. Wealthy. I’d wanted what it would bring me...at first. Obviously, it didn’t turn out that way. Those from Osestra have an ability that we’ve lost. I don’t know why we lost it. Maybe from living in Exilum, or maybe because our hearts turned black.”