I opened and he dragged his sticky fingers all over my tongue.
I was near delirious, my eyes rolling back in my head, as I licked and swallowed, while he stroked my hair through it.
“So perfect,” he praised.
When I’d finished, he dropped his hand, and I realized I’d snuffed my magic out at some point without even realizing it.
He led me over to the circular bed and sat me down, then wrapped his arms around me, holding me to him.
I was really out of it after all of that and he’d definitely registered it well.
He just held me to him and kept praising me over and over.
I laid my head on his shoulder as I took a while to come down from it all.
At some point I must have closed my eyes, because when I finally became cognizant again, I found we were both cleaned with our clothes righted.
“All right, Zayn?”
I blinked and looked up at him. “I… yeah.”
He studied me with concern.
“No,” I told him.
“No?”
“I mean… you don’t need to worry. That shame and shit… it’s not there. It’s not coming this time.”
He smiled. “As I thought would be the case with how we approached it.”
I frowned. “You… what?”
He moved to answer, but then my phone chimed in my jacket pocket.
Vaxan released me, so I could finagle it free.
I swiped it open and held it between us so we could both read the message that had come in together.
Evira:With Winter. Just arrived. He’s distressed but physically well and unharmed. Give me some time, so he’s not overwhelmed.
Vaxan let out a heavy breath of relief.
I was right there with him.
I sent a response back.
Zayn:Well done. Damn, you’re a talented tracker. We’ll hold. No worries.
I pocketed my phone, then looked out at Vaxan. “It’s well known that I’m not good with the whole restraint thing. But you’re usually a master at it. Not tonight, though, huh? Win’s really under your skin.”
“You all are at this point.”
“Does it scare you? The vulnerability of it?”
He reached out and stroked my hair. “To an extent. It’s certainly a risk. Moreover, it’s a threat to my control and command of myself. That said, the alternative is far more terrifying.” He smiled out at me. “To be locked up tight at all times and never experience anything of value, to never allow others in. That is a life condemned, one of emptiness, of numbness. And one of nothing but repression. And with that being the case, you are essentially living a lie, certainly not your true self.”
“Wow,” I breathed. “You definitely have a way with words. And a lot of our conversations are like a kick in the junk to me, to be honest.”
