One of Valac’s hands trailed down his chest and stomach to cup the bulge in his jeans. “Truthfully, neither do I,” Valac replied. “I have never wanted a human as much as I want you. You’re all I’ve been able to think about.”
“What? Why? Oh God, please, you have to stop that right now.” Julian’s hips hitched as Valac massaged the heel of his hand against his cock. He couldn’t think straight when the demon was touching him like this.
“Why? You seem to like it,” Valac said, watching Julian’s hips move with unblinking focus.
“I do. That’s the problem. This is—all moving really fast.” He could barely keep up with what was happening. One minute he thought he was under siege, and now he was humping Valac’s hand. “We need to stop. I can’t think.”
Valac planted a hand on the cushion beside his head and leaned over him, grazing Julian’s lips with his own. “Then tell me you don’t want me.”
Julian’s brow furrowed. He couldn’t tell him that, not anymore. They’d crossed a boundary with that very first kissup against the door, and now he couldn’t deny how much he wanted Valac. He’d been alone for so long, and Valac had been so kind to him. Protected him and treasured him.
“Does it feel good?” Valac asked, honeyed and low.
Julian’s eyes burned, and he didn’t understandwhy. “Yes,” he whispered.
“Then let it happen, my sweet jewel. Let yourself feel something good. Letmemake you feel something good.”
Julian was too weak to resist. Their tongues tangled once again.
Soon Julian’s breath was falling short, his body consumed by the sensation of Valac’s hand against his cock. It had been so long since anyone had taken this kind of time with him, made him feel good. When was the last time anyone hadcaredabout making him feel good? He didn’t even know. A whimper escaped him as pleasure coiled in his gut, and he squirmed closer, burying his face in Valac’s neck. One hand fell to Valac’s, gripping his wrist as he neared his release, body tightening in anticipation.
“Oh God, oh God,” he panted, “just like that.”
Valac rumbled out a growl. “Yes, my jewel. Let me see it.”
He groaned as he came, spurts of cum spilling inside his pants. His back arched, and Valac leaned in, mouthing at his neck as the aftershocks quaked through him.
Julian expected the sensation of cooling cum to be unpleasant, but a moment later it was gone entirely. He blinked his eyes open slowly and found Valac staring intently down at him, like he was drinking in every micro-expression on Julian’s face. He flushed under the attention, searching for something to say.
“Um. Thanks?”
Valac grinned. “You are welcome. Can I kiss you?”
Julian didn’t expect that. “That’s all? You don’t want—?” He gestured down to Valac’s groin. Demons had sex, right? Wouldn’t he want Julian to return the favor?
But Valac shook his head. “No, that’s all right. When I feel you, I want it to be for real, with our physical bodies. What we feel here is muted.”
When, he said. Notif. But something else caught Julian’s attention.
“That was muted? Christ.”
Valac smiled. “Yes. I thought you needed the release, but any more than that, I would rather be with you in reality.”
“The paladins won’t stand for it.” The minute they saw Valac anywhere near him, they’d kill them both. And they were obviously watching him.
Valac’s expression darkened. “The paladins have no say in what happens between us.”
Julian didn’t argue. That was a problem for another day. “Oh, did you find Talon?”
“I did. He said he’ll leave instructions for better wards in your mailbox. They’re also going to patrol the area each night and make sure no enemies, holy or demonic, are lurking around your home.”
Relief hit him so hard his eyes filled with tears. “What? Really?”
“Yes.” Valac’s fingers gently stroked his cheek. “You’re safe, my jewel.”
“You keep calling me that.” Julian dashed the tears away. “Why?”
“Because you are mine.” He watched Julian closely, as though waiting.
