Heat shot through him, turning his bones to liquid as he stroked himself under the spray. He wished Valac were here, wrapped around him from behind, the heat of his mouth on Julian’s neck as they rocked together. He’d been alone for so long.
He came with a bitten off sound, squeezing his eyes shut as his body quaked.
When he stepped out of the shower, he met his own flushed face in the foggy mirror.
For better or worse, Valac had ensnared him.
Chapter 12
Valac
Valac waited eagerlyin the darkness for Julian to join him. When he appeared, his living room took shape around them. The space was unnaturally dark, like the power on the block had gone out. The furniture were discombobulated lumps of shadow around them.
Julian gasped quietly as he met Valac’s glowing eyes in the darkness. Valac sensed no fear from the human. Something like excitement danced in Julian’s gaze as he approached, reaching out for him. Valac threaded their fingers together, drawing him closer, and Julian blinked as awareness returned to him, followed by a bright smile that warmed Valac from within.
“Valac.”
“My jewel.”
The darkened room around them went hazy, forgotten as they focused on each other.
“You took some time to fall asleep tonight,” Valac said. “Are you well?”
“Yeah, well enough. I just had a long day. I’m a little paranoid, checking over my shoulder at random times and studying every dark SUV that goes by. Nothing’s happened, but I never really feel like I can rest, if that makes sense.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“But I wanted to thank you again for going to the Sentinels for me. That’s given me more peace of mind than I’ve had in weeks. You gave me a little piece of my sanity back.”
Valac puffed up with pride. He would do that and more. Astaroth was deep in Hell, but Valac would reach him soon. When he returned, Julian would never know that kind of helplessness again.
“That pleases me,” he rumbled. “I only wish I could do more.”
Julian’s mouth curled with pleasure. “Well, you could take my mind off my daytime problems. Let’s talk about something else for a while.”
Valac’s hand swept up and down Julian’s back, exploring the curve of his spine with idle curiosity. “What would you like to talk about?”
Julian tilted his head thoughtfully. “You.”
Valac peered down at him. “Me?”
“Absolutely. You’re like thousands of years old, aren’t you? You must have some stories.”
He liked the idea of his human wanting to know him better. “I suppose.”
“Show me something cool, then. Take me somewhere I’ve never been before. Somewhere you went the last time you were on Earth.”
Valac hummed. “All right. Close your eyes.”
Julian obeyed, bouncing on the balls of his feet with excitement. Valac bade the room around them to dissolve and focused on an old memory instead, constructing it around them. Sunlight, stone, and a roaring crowd. They stood in the shade of a tunnel, but the arena was visible through the opening at the end.
“Open them.”
Julian opened his eyes. They widened as he took in their surroundings, and he gasped as he realized where they were.
“Oh my God, is this the Colosseum?”
“Yes. It was very active the last time I was on Earth. I understand it’s a relic of an ancient time now.”
