“Good,” I whisper, my mouth tracing up his neck.
Another pause. Then, so soft I almost miss it?—
“I love you,” he says.
Everything in me goes still. The words hang there between us, heavier than air. He said them once before, maybe, but this time I hear every note, every tremor.
I don’t breathe for a second. Then I smile. “Again.”
He rolls his eyes, but his voice is steady. “I love you.”
“Once more.”
“Magnus—”
“Humor me.”
He sighs, a smile tugging at his mouth. “I love you, you stubborn bastard.”
This time, I kiss him like I mean it. Like the words are a promise and not a prayer. His hands slide into my hair, pulling me closer, and for the first time in what feels like forever, I’m not falling apart. I’m fallingintosomething—into him.
Alaric squeaks, pulling away from me. “Are you hard just from me saying I love you?”
“I dunno.” I move his hand to the bulge between us. “Keep saying it and see if it gets bigger.”
He laughs against my mouth, his fingers slipping under my sweats and through my hair. “We shouldn’t be doing this.”
I try to undo the buttons of his shirt but get too frustrated. I tear it open, buttons skidding across the floor.
“Mags—fuck.”
My mouth is already sucking one of his nipples between my teeth. That always seems to convince him.
He moans, his fingers wrapping around the base of my shaft. “You just got hit by a car.”
I lick up his pec. “Ialmostgot hit by a car. We should celebrate that I didn’t.”
I pull off my shirt so I can feel his skin against mine.
Alaric’s hands shake as they work to untie my sweatpants. “We shouldn’t be celebrating anything.”
“Except that you love me.” I counter.
Alaric is rushing to shimmy out of his pants. “Do you want me to get dressed?”
“No, but I do want to fuck you against those giant windows of yours.” I smile wickedly.
“Mags...”
But the sight of his cock makes my mind go blank. “I’ll do that later; I need you moaning.”
I duck my head, pushing his cock as far as it can go down my throat. Alaric’s fingers tangle themselves in my hair. I put his legs over my shoulders so I can get closer.
“I missed you,” Alaric groans.
I kiss the inside of his thigh, biting harshly to leave a bruise before pressing two wet fingers into him.
He yelps, his thighs clutching my head slightly.
