Page 85 of A Reign of Chromes & Shadows

Jay whimpered, eyes wide and pleading, his whole-body trembling with the fear that Rain might stop. Rain’s expression softened into something wicked and fond all at once as he wrapped his fingers around him again, stroking with slow, devastating precision.

“Don’t worry,” Rain murmured, voice dropping into a low, intimate rumble. “I’m not letting you leave this bed unsatisfied. But you need to behave. Are you going to behave for me?”

Jay bit down on his lip, nodding shyly. He was eager, obedient and on the verge of coming undone.

Rain’s breath hitched at the sight of his quick submission.

“Good boy,” he whispered, the praise warm enough to melt bone. “Trust me… restraint is harder for me than it is for you.”

He lowered his head again, sliding him back between his lips with reverent slowness, his tongue working in slow, deliberate circles with each rise.

Jay didn’t dare risk another mistake. His hand shot into Rain’s hair, gripping tight, guiding him down with desperate need.

Rain moaned around his cock again, causing his body to tense up again, fighting desperately against the urge to let go too soon. Rain felt the shift instantly; the tightening breath, the trembling muscles, the way Jay’s body hovered on the edge. He adjusted with practiced precision, giving him exactly what he needed.

A subtle pulse of power flowed into Jay, letting him feel the rising tension of his own climax without tipping him over the edge. Rain wanted to worship him slowly, to draw every sound from him, to give Jay the attention he deserved… but the pain he’d siphoned from Jay throbbed sharply in his own rib, reminding him that the injury still existed, even if Jay couldn’t feel it.

Rain didn’t stop.

Instead, he slid his fingers low, teasing lightly, gliding over Jay’s hole, a slow steady rhythm that let him ride the pleasure without aggravating the injury. Rain’s mouth moved faster, more focused, letting him fuck his throat while sharing every intoxicating spark of it through their connection.

Jay cracked instantly under the thrilling pressure.

His moans tore free, rising in pitch as the pleasure overwhelmed him, his body surrendering completely as the release hit him hard and fast.

Jay’s whole body bowed as the pleasure tore through him. Rain held him steady through every trembling pulse. Only when Jay finally sagged back against the pillows; boneless, flushed and utterly undone, did Rain ease away, his breath warm against Jay’s skin as he swallowed and wiped his lips with the back of his hand.

Jay softened instantly, collapsing into the mattress like every muscle had given out at once. He looked wrecked in the sweetest way; his chestrising in uneven breaths, lashes fluttering, skin glowing with the heat of it all.

Rain pressed a gentle kiss to Jay’s damp forehead, lingering there for a moment as though sealing him back together. Jay snuggled against his chest, as Rain traced slow, soothing circles along Jay’s cheek, brushing away the last remnants of tension. Jay’s breathing soon deepened, his body growing heavier with each passing second as sleep tugged at him.

Rain watched him with quiet devotion, feeling Jay’s warmth settle against him, feeling the trust in the way Jay surrendered completely.

Jay drifted; a soft exhale, a tiny twitch of his fingers, then stillness.

When Jay’s breathing settled, Rain carefully summoned the book of prophecies from across the room. It took more effort than usual; manipulating energy without sight was quite the challenge but he managed without waking Jay.

He opened the journal. It contained Shahariar’s prophecies in the order they had been received. The early entries focused on his grandfather’s reign; events Rain already knew of from history.

Twenty-five pages in, he found the first prophecy that hinted at him:

Child of mirrored blood

Borne first, marked heir

Stone kings will fall, while allies resign

He walks the line of wrath and grace

The only one the throne will claim

Interesting. He had expected something about twins or shared bloodlines, but this left no doubt it spoke of him. Isarion had mentioned prophecies about twins, but he had assumed Snow was the true heir. This prophecy alone challenged that belief.

He read another fifty pages before Jay stirred, looking adorably dishevelled.

“Rise and shine, sleepyhead,” Rain said warmly. Jay’s awareness came crashing in as he recalled where he was and what had happened before he slept. His emotions spiked with lustful happiness before shifting towards embarrassment, settling on horrified as he glanced down at his nudity pressed to Rain’s thigh.

“Oh, my gods—I’m still half naked,” Jay gasped, tugging his shirt down, wincing at the pained movement.