Page 214 of A Reign of Chromes & Shadows

“Morning, handsome,” Elijah purred.

He pressed a soft kiss in the sweet spot just below Rain’s left ear. Elijah shifted closer, his body pressing against Rain’s, his hand wandering with intent over Rain’s chest, tracing gentle patterns across his skin. The warmth of Elijah’s touch contrasted sharply with the cold dread stillclinging to Rain’s bones from the nightmare. As Elijah’s leg curled over Rain’s, he pinned him in place, the weight and restriction reminiscent of the vines from Rain’s dream; entangling him.

Rain grumbled sleepily as his groggy mind fought to escape the memories of his nightmare. His pulse was still erratic, his lungs still tight, phantom pressure lingering around his throat. The echo of the dream—the vines, the choking, the helplessness—clung to him like a second skin.

Elijah remained oblivious, his intentions elsewhere as he sent an exploratory hand roaming over Rain’s abs. A shiver ran through Rain—not entirely from pleasure—as fingers traced lower, following the lines of muscle. Elijah shifted seductively, his bare body warm and pliant against Rain’s side, his breath feathering across Rain’s neck. His lips grazed Rain’s skin, leaving a trail of heat that contrasted violently with the cold panic still coiled in Rain’s chest.

Rain’s breath hitched; not from desire, but from the sudden, jarring overlap of sensations.

His heart hammered painfully, his body caught between instinct and memory.

Elijah’s palm slid lower, cupping Rain’s hardness with a playful hum of appreciation. Rain’s body reacted automatically, a low moan escaping his lips, the touch releasing him from nightmares grip.

“Oh my,” Elijah murmured against his skin, voice thick with mischief, “breakfast, for me?”

Rain swallowed hard as Elijah stoked his cock to attention. Rain’s hand tightened around Elijah’s wrist, to steady himself. His pulse thudded unevenly beneath his skin, the remnants of the nightmare still clawing at his throat. Elijah’s warmth pressed in, his breath soft against Rain’s neck, their hands moving together in a slow, instinctive rhythm over his length.For a moment Rain let his eyes fall shut, letting the sensation pull him back into his body, back into the present.

“Elijah…” he breathed, the name fractured, scraped raw on its way out.

Elijah stilled; just enough to feel the tremor beneath Rain’s voice. His touch softened, shifting from playful mischief to something attentive, grounding. He nuzzled Rain’s shoulder, his voice a low, steady murmur.

“Hey… babe. I’ve got you.”

The reassurance hit Rain harder than the touch itself. His body, still coiled tight from the dream’s suffocating grip, loosened by slow degrees. Elijah’s arm no longer felt like a restraint; it felt like a tether, something solid to hold onto while the last shadows of the nightmare dissolved.

Rain exhaled shakily, his breath brushing Elijah’s forehead. Instead of pulling away, he let himself lean into the warmth; Elijah’s grip steady, grounding, undeniably real.

The vines were gone.

The cage was gone.

His friends were safe.

And his cock throbbed at the attention.

Elijah’s fingers continued their slow teasing, the touch different now; less hungry, more coaxing, as though he could feel the frayed edges inside Rain and wanted to smooth them flat. Rain’s muscles softened as his hand worked him, tension melting away in quiet increments as he surrendered to the moment.

Elijah pressed another kiss to Rain’s neck; softer this time, lingering, almost reverent. Rain’s breath hitched. The warmth of Elijah’s lips, the gentle scrape of teeth, the familiar scent of his skin; each sensation tugged him further from the nightmare’s grip, pulling him back into the world, into his body, into now.

He let his head fall back against the pillow, exposing more of his throat in a silent, instinctive gesture of trust. Elijah followed the curve of hisneck, his mouth tracing the tendons with slow, worshipful attention as his hand continued its steady rhythm.

His voice brushed Rain’s ear, low and warm, a tether pulling him the rest of the way out of the dark.

“Look at you.”

Rain groaned, heat igniting through every inch of his body. His fingers threaded into Elijah’s curls, gripping at the roots as he dragged him into a hot, messy kiss. Elijah melted into it, relishing every sharp twinge of pain that flared beneath Rain’s grip.

With a sudden tug, Rain pulled him back, guiding him down the length of his body. Elijah’s eyes flashed with hunger as he obeyed, settling between Rain’s thighs with practised ease.

He wasted no time. His mouth found his testies, teasing and nipping the sensitive skin with deliberate precision, drawing a low, satisfied growl from Rain. His tongue followed, slow and torturous, alternating between soft licks and firmer attention, matching the rhythm of his hand.

Rain’s appreciative moans filled the air, each one pushing the last remnants of grogginess from his mind. Elijah’s tongue moved with purpose, tracing every contour, every inch, mapping his way along his shaft. Rain’s fingers tightened in his hair, tugging firmly—the way Elijah liked—guiding him onto his cock.

Elijah obeyed the silent command, lips parting as Rain directed him. He took his time, working his way down with slow, deliberate control, each movement drawing another shudder from Rain. His jaw relaxed, his throat opening as he sank deeper, taking Rain with a skill that made Rain’s vision blur at the edges.

Rain watched him through half-lidded eyes, his bottom lip caught between his teeth, trying and failing to muffle the sounds spilling from him

Elijah pulled back with a gurgle and Rain’s breath fractured into a string of curses, his back arching as pleasure tore through him. He could feel every flicker of Elijah’s enjoyment; the thrill of it wrapping around them both, heightening everything, sharpening every sensation until Rain’s mind was nothing but heat and Elijah’s mouth.