There isn’t a single part of me that believes that just happened. Even with Nikolo still draped across my chest, his erection pressed against my hip, our legs intertwined and locked together.
Was it just the magic? A moment? A future regret? I can’t bring myself to ask just yet—instead, I let my body go lax, letting my legs fall from his and my hands to fall loosely to his sides.
“I have to go. The sun… I can feel it. It’s too close.” Nikolo’s voice is raspy, thick with lust. His hips rock into me one more time and he presses one more kiss to my lips, igniting the ache inmy mouth and my cock. I didn’t realise how long we’ve been in here. It doesn’t feel like anywhere long enough.
“Are—are you going to be okay to get home?” It takes a couple of tries for me to get the words out. My throat is so parched. Slowly Nikolo withdraws, and the distance is like a vacuum sucking in reality.
“Uh, yeah.” He’s shaky, sitting back on his heels, and running a hand through his hair. It’s a mess, a glorious, beautiful mess, his curls in absolute chaos. Frowning, he looks around like he’s trying to regain his bearings. “If I go now, I’ll be fine.”
“Do you need blood before you go?” I still haven’t gotten up from the floor. His eyes flicker over my face and, more than once, to my neck.
It wasn’t a direct offer, but right now, I’d give it gratefully.
“There’s no time.” Regret laces his words and his eyes narrow on the bare patch of skin and my throbbing pulse.
“A bottle. For the road. I insist. Please.” I bury my hands in the layers of my oqic to hide my clenched fists. The temptation to reach for him, to pull him to me and bury myself in him is too strong. What if we leave this room and it’s all over? Could I bear it? I take in a steadying breath and summon a smile.
“Okay.” He agrees with a soft smile that makes my stomach quiver. I am so monumentally fucked for this man.
He stands and offers me a hand. And when I’m standing too, I decide to just not let it go. If nothing else, I need the grounding touch after leaving ritual work unsealed like I have. Already the room feels fuzzy.
“Stay hydrated.” I say as he makes his way down the steps to the street, a habitual reminder for all practitioners when they leave a session.
“You too, Willan. Night.” One last look, a wave, a tentative smile and he’s leaving.
Exhausted, exhilarated, conflicted, I make my way back up to my apartment and dispel the magic. The earth rumbles as it accepts the release. From my bed, I watch the sunrise, not a thought in my head, until I can’t stay awake any longer.
I thought—feared—that would be the last I heard from Nikolo. Which is why I’m shocked when I get the text message two nights later as soon as the sun sets.
Nikolo
Hey. Can I come over?
Halfway through a meeting with Egbert and some of our senior instructors, I almost lose my cool in front of everyone.
Yeah sure. All the staff will still be here for another two hours. We’re in a meeting.
Okay. What about just after 10?
It’s only just past six thirty. By then, everyone will be long out of the building and hopefully, Egbert will have made himself scarce, too.
Perfect. See you then
I can barely focus for the rest of the meeting, too keyed up about what will happen the next time we see each other.
The wait is unbearable, but I make it—barely. When he knocks lightly on the door at precisely four minutes after ten, I even manage to saunter casually to the door like I haven’t beenloitering around the displays right there for the past thirty-five minutes.
“Hey.” Nikolo smiles, revealing a fang. I remember what they felt like on my skin and I shiver, leaning heavily against the door. “Can I come in?”
“Oh shit, yeah.” I finally step out of the way, waving a hand. “You’re looking good.” I say before I can stop myself, taking in his lacey black pants, motorcycle boots and black tank that looks so tight it could have been painted on. It should look ridiculous, and for ninety-nine percent of the population, it would. But Nikolo just has a way of making it work.
“Thanks.” Nikolo smoothes a hand down his stomach, drawing my attention to the fancy silver buckle holding his pants together, and the black boy shorts beneath the see-through pants. “I can’t stay too long. I’m meeting some friends at one. But I wanted to stop by.”
Drawing my eyes up from the tattoos on his thighs—horned creatures and flowers on one leg and suggestive outlines of naked men on the other—I try to smother my disappointment.
“Oh, yeah, no problems. Did you need anything? Or want a drink?” I turn to face the shelf behind me, pretending to straighten the divination decks to give myself a second.
“Nah, nothing like that. I just… I wanted to say thank you again for the other night.” Nikolo spins the elixir stand, watching the colours swirl. “And… I just wanted to see you, I guess.”
