“I might need…more than you. I don’t know. I might not. It’s unnatural for my kind to have only one lover. As far as my family knows, it’s never been done. They think I’m crazy. I don’t want anyone else, just you, but it isn’t fair of me to ask you to be my only source either.”
Mahu gave a slow nod. “I see.”
“Is that all right? If it’s not, I’ll understand. I’ll figure something out—”
“Let’s not worry about what we don’t know yet.”
“There’s more.”
Mahu actually chuckled at that. “Of course there is.”
“I’ve already been with someone else. Sort of. He didn’t mean anything to me. I didn’t even really touch him. Temaj helped, but I had to because I was starving, but I didn’t want him, Mahu, only you.”
“Shh, come here.” Mahu scooted closer.
Daka welcomed the unexpected embrace. He uncurled his tail from around himself and let it drape behind him along the rock instead. “I thought you might be mad.”
“I’m not mad. It’s all right. We had set no parameters, you and I, and I’d ordered you to leave me alone. I don’t blame you for finding someone else.”
“I didn’t even find him, actually,” Daka murmured from where his face lay against Mahu’s neck. “Temaj did.”
“Who is Temaj?”
Daka took a deep lungful of Mahu’s scent, the fresh smell of papyrus mixed with the odor he couldn’t place but had him worried. “Temaj is like family to me. He’s another sort of demon, a blood demon called a vampire.”
Mahu stiffened.
“He’s not bad, though. Temaj is good. He’s been kind to me.” Daka’s lips moved against Mahu’s skin. “I grew up with him around, coming and going with his lover Solon. He knew I needed to feed but didn’t want to, so he made it simple for me.”
“I’m afraid I don’t understand.” Mahu’s low rumble vibrated against Daka’s cheek.
Daka leaned back to explain, cringing as he told the story, but Mahu’s arms around him didn’t falter.
“I see.” Mahu’s heavy gaze roamed Daka’s face. “I’m sorry I left you in that position.”
“It was my fault. You didn’t know.”
“And how are you now?”
Daka cursed his horrible timing, but his appetite had flared with Mahu so close. He wanted to end this conversation and begin whatever came next. He couldn’t believe his luck that Mahu had searched him out. That he’d missed him enough to come all the way to Rhakotis and brave a house full of demons to see him again.
“Hungry.” Daka growled the word.
Mahu’s tranquil expression morphed to match Daka’s. His eyes widened, and his stare intensified. “Me too.”
Relief at hearing those words mixed with the desire churning at his core. Before Daka could lean in, Mahu had him, tugging him forward and into a searing kiss.
Mahu’s lips on his sent a shiver racing up his spine, his tongue in Daka’s mouth set fire to his veins. Awash in sensation, Daka submitted to the kiss, going boneless against Mahu’s strong chest, happy to let him lead.
Hands slid down Daka’s flanks to squeeze the curves of his ass. Mahu surrounded him, and Daka basked in the embrace. He kissed a line down Mahu’s jaw to his throat. When Mahu tilted his head to the side to give him more room, Daka licked the tender skin of his neck.
“I missed you so,” Daka purred against the warm flesh. “I thought I’d never see you again.”
“I worried the same.” Mahu gripped Daka’s bottom and urged him farther into his lap. Daka crawled there eagerly, splaying his legs on either side of Mahu’s hips. “But I have you now.”
In the open field, with only the cows as their witness, their lips met again. After so long without, and thinking he’d lost Mahu for good, Daka’s emotions got the better of him. His eyes filled with tears of joy as he teased the soft crease of Mahu’s lips with his tongue.
This kiss was softer and sweet in a way that drew the sadness out and filled him instead with hope. Daka clenched Mahu’s waist between his thighs. Mahu’s palms were hot over his tunic.
