Page 8 of A Reign of Chromes & Shadows

“Yeah… I should stay away from him,” Jay replied, inching closer, his gaze flicking to Rain’s mouth.

Relief washed through Rain as Jay’s desire rose, tugging at him, inviting him to reciprocate.

“I wish you wouldn’t,” Rain murmured, voice low and provocative. He grabbed the front of Jay’s maroon shirt and pulled him in.

Jay gasped as their bodies collided leaving no space between them. Their lips hovered a breath apart, the air thick with tension as Jay melted against his chest.

“I couldn’t if I tried,” Jay whispered.

Rain swallowed the words in a sweet first kiss, cupping Jay’s face as though it were something sacred. Jay’s lips parted, drawing him deeper, softer, more sensual. A low moan vibrated in Rain’s throat as restraint slipped. His fingers tangled in Jay’s curls, his tongue brushing between his lips, hunger rising like a tide.

Jay’s arms looped around his neck, pulling them closer. Rain groaned, drinking in every raw emotion pouring through his open channels. The kiss shifted from tender to consuming, from romantic to ravenous. Their hips collided, solid bulges pressing together, needy moans escaping in tandem. Rain’s fingertips slid beneath Jay’s shirt, sinking into warm skin as their bodies ground together.

A flutter of nervous energy snapped Rain back to reality.

Rain froze.

Fuck.

He slammed his walls up, severing the connection. Without warning, he tore himself away, pushing Jay back with a burst of power that pinned him to the opposite wall. Rain clung to the window frame, chest heaving, fighting to regain control.

Jay, breathless and dishevelled, stared at him in dazed confusion.

After a long, agonising moment, Rain lifted his gaze—and groaned at the sight of the adorably flustered man across the room. His cock throbbed painfully.

“Fuck, Rouge… you are bloody intoxicating,” he exhaled.

Jay’s shoulders softened, relief replacing concern.

“That was… intense. You didn’t have to stop, though.” His cheeks flushed crimson.

Rain let out an incredulous laugh. “I most certainly did. We almost had the whole community swinging left, right, and centre.”

Arousal was a dangerous emotion; it was too easy to project and too hard to contain. It had been years since anything short of physical foreplay had pushed him this close to losing control. Embarrassing really—like a premature release. If he’d waited a moment longer…

He couldn’t finish that thought, instead he scanned the area. No alarms. No sudden spikes of lust. Just a mild rise in morale and Jay’s parents feeling unexpectedly frisky.

Jay cleared his throat. “Umm… babe? I could totally vibe being pinned to the wall at your mercy.” He tried for confidence, though his voice wavered. “But if you’re gonna insist we behave…, could you let me down?”

Rain hesitated, his power still holding Jay in place. He forced a slow breath, reining in the lingering energy. With a subtle nod, the invisible force eased, releasing Jay back to the floor.

The tension shifted, softening, though threaded with anticipation.

Jay stepped forward, a shy smile tugging at his lips as he approached. “We can take it slow. But you already know how much I like you.” His fingers brushed Rain’s cheek, tender and sure. “We both know I can’t hide my feelings from you.”

Rain hummed, pressing a gentle kiss into Jay’s palm. He tugged him closer, resting their foreheads together. Jay’s energy soothed the last of his panic, grounding him.

With Jay’s parents’ mere feet away, in a kingdom that would persecute them both if they were caught, Rain couldn’t afford to lose himself.

Maintaining control was exhausting. Every fibre of him yearned to surrender, to close the distance, to drown in the man before him. He had known countless lovers, indulged in every desire without hesitation—yet now, with the one person he truly wanted, he was painfully restrained.

“Jay darling, dinner is ready!” his mother called from downstairs, interrupting the moment. “Come down and set the table, please!”

Jay groaned, pouting like a child denied his favourite treat. “Ah, this sucks.”

“I take it I’m not invited to dinner,” Rain smirked, pulling him in for a soft kiss.

He was joking—mostly. They both knew the truth. There would be no shared family dinners, no normalcy. Their moments would always be stolen, fleeting and precious.