"Nothing to thank me for." I kiss her.
I've always known power. I wear power like a second skin—cold, precise and untouchable. But Neo? She is a different kind of force. Not loud, not showy.
I watch her walk into all kind of different rooms and shift the air without saying a word. I watch her charm ghosts into silence and tame cursed flames with a flick of her wrist. She doesn’t just survive darkness. Shecommandsit.
And every time she smiles at me like I am the only sort of chaos she can’t predict, it unravels something deep in my chest.I love her fiercely, though I rarely say it out loud. Not because I can’t and not because I’m not allowed to, but because with Neo, love isn’t a confession, it’s a constant. It’s in the way I’d stand between her and danger without hesitation. In the way I let her see the cracks beneath the velvet and fangs. In the way I look at her like she is the only thing in the world that can undo me… and I’d let her.
I know how strong she is.
And I love her for it.
Not in spite of the fire. Butbecauseof it.
Chapter 16
NEO
Sunlight filters through the frost-laced windows of Nox's room, casting a golden haze over us laying tangled in rumpled sheets inside the coffin. The remnants of last night's intensity linger—the faint musk of sex mixed with his scent. Stray faux snowflakes cling to the velvet lining and I find it so cute that he thought of adding them for me. I stir first, my body still humming from the spider-tinged ecstasy, a newfound boldness slowly settling in my chest. Nox is still sound asleep beside me, his broad chest rising and falling, one arm draped possessively over my waist. I shift carefully to not wake him and I trace the lines of his form in the morning light. I follow the sharp cut of his jaw shadowed with stubble, the ink across his pecs and abs and down to the heavy weight of his cock resting against his thigh.
I remember how he claimed me, how he helped turn fear into fire, and a thrill shoots through me, the feeling warm and insistent.. Now it’s my turn to properly wake him.
I slide down his body, the sheets whispering over my naked skin as I position myself between his legs. I press a soft kiss to his inner thigh, then another higher up, my breath ghosting over his skin. Nox twitches in his sleep, a low hum escaping his throat. Emboldened, I wrap my fingers around thebase of his shaft, feeling it pulse and thicken under my touch as blood rushes in. I slowly stroke it from base to tip, watching the head flush darker, a bead of pre-cum welling at the slit. I lean in, flicking my tongue over the glistening drop, savoring the salty tang before parting my lips to take him in. I suck gently at first, mouth enveloping the head, tongue swirling around the ridge as my hand pumps the length. Nox groans awake, his hips jerking instinctively, one hand coming down to thread through my hair—not pulling, just holding, fingers massaging my scalp.
"Fuck, Neo," he rasps, voice gravelly from sleep, his gray eyes crack open to watch me through hooded lids. I hum around his cock, the vibration drawing another curse from him as I take him in deeper, lips stretching wide to accommodate his girth. My cheeks hollow from my sucking, and I bob my head in a steady rhythm, saliva coating his shaft and dripping down to slick the movement. Nox's abs flex, his free hand gripping the coffin's edge as he fights the urge to thrust. I relax my throat to swallow more of him, gagging slightly when the head bumps the back of my throat, but I push through. I love the way he fills my mouth, Nox’s musky scent overwhelming my senses, my pussy aching with need as I grind my thighs together. He then starts to move, shallow thrusts to match my pace, fucking my face with controlled power while praising me with a dominant growl. "Good girl, taking me in so deep—your mouth's fucking perfect." Spit trails from my lips each time I move my mouth back to the tip, strings connecting me to his throbbing length when I move my mouth back up his shaft, my nose brushing his trimmed pubes. The room is filled with obscene sounds like wet smacking and moans. The sounds get punctuated by the distance jingles of wind chimes somewhere outside, giving a holiday melody to our morning ritual. My jaw aches from the strain, but I don’t stop, it’s a delicious sensation. I even hollow out my cheeks harder, my tongue pressing flat against the underside of his cock, feelingevery vein. Nox's breaths are ragged, his grip tightening in my hair. "Fuck, I want you to kiss me after!" With a final hand stroke he erupts, hot jets flooding his skin.
I crawl up to straddle his hips. Nox hauls me close, capturing my mouth in a messy kiss, tasting himself on my mouth. "Best fucking wake-up ever," he murmurs against my skin.
"Time to get ready, Santa babe."
"Did you just call me babe?" He tightens his grip on my body.
Chapter 17
NEO
The snow crunches softly beneath our boots as we make our way down the sidewalk, our breath is forming little clouds that dance in the cold air. The world around us is waking up—bare trees etch against the pale sky, the occasional car humming by with tires whispering over slush. Mostly hidden behind gray clouds, the sun is lazy today. Nox’s scarf is pulled up to his nose, making his eyes the only part visible, his coat not zipped more than halfway. His eyes are glinting like frostbitten stars, and a mischievous grin is probably playing on his lips.
"You’re going to freeze," I tell him, my voice muffled by a woolen scarf.
He leans in, close enough for our shoulders to touch. "Then keep me warm."
I roll my eyes, but the corners crinkle in amusement. "We can’t be seen so close together."
"And yet," Nox says, placing a cigarette between his lips, "You spent the night at my place."
Our breaths mingle, curling together in the space between us like a shared secret. For a moment, the cold doesn’t matter—just the quiet rhythm of our steps, our soft laughter and the way Nox’s hand brushes against mine before finally holding it.
"Your hand’s freezing," I say cupping them in mine. Hekisses my fingers.
The wind bites at my cheeks as we turn the corner, our boots pressing on the thin layer of snow. The candy shop’s windows glow like a promise—warm light spilling onto the icy sidewalk, the scent of caramel and peppermint wafting through the air. Zilla.
Before we could reach the door, a voice rings out like an alarm.
"HE’S NOT JUST A TOAD, you snowy piece of... tree ornament!"
I stop mid-step, blinking.
Nox raises an eyebrow. "Oh, I am going to love this."
