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“You’re so greedy,” Daven praised, rolling his hips once, deep enough to make Ryneth shudder. “I love how you beg for me. How your body betrays your pride the second I touch you.”

Ryneth let Daven capture his mouth. Let him devour him. He was tired of fighting. Tired of thinking. His static sizzled inside the bathroom. Daven chuckled as he licked the seam of Ryneth’s lips until they parted.

He sucked on Ryneth’s tongue and pulled the air from his lungs. Ryneth’s hands moved to Daven’s nape and pulled him closer.

Ryneth felt the itch of Daven’s incisors against his pulse. The pressure in Daven’s gums was a hunger Ryneth tasted through the bond. Daven pressed his face into Ryneth’s neck. He grazed the skin with the points of his teeth, then bit down just enough to make Ryneth gasp. His hips bucked in the water, pressing himself against Daven’s chest, clinging to the weight of him. It closed around him, pushing the rest of the world away.

“Look at me,” Daven growled.

Ryneth opened his eyes. Daven reached out and grabbed Ryneth’s hand. He pressed their palms together, laced their fingers, and pushed their joined hands against the stone of the tub.

Daven’s grip on Ryneth’s hand tightened. He leaned in. His lips brushed Ryneth’s ear.

“If Concordant thinks they can touch you,” Daven said, his breath hot, “I’ll burn their world. I’ll peel the skin from their bones before I let them lay a finger on what is mine. I’ll fuck you until there’s no room left for their fear.”

“I want to burn with you,” Ryneth sobbed. He bit Daven’s shoulder. He ground his teeth into the muscle. “Don’t stop. Never stop.”

Daven made a rough sound low in his throat and held him tighter.

That was all Ryneth could feel after that. Heat. Water. Daven’s mouth at his neck. The certainty of his hands. The bond pulling tighter with every breath, every movement, until the fear had nowhere left to live.

“Daven,” Ryneth sobbed, pressing their joined hands harder against the stone. “You. Only you.”

“That’s right,” Daven rasped against his skin.

Ryneth came apart first with Daven wrapped around him, his body locking as the bond flared hot and bright between them. Daven followed with a broken sound, burying his face in Ryneth’s neck and holding him there like he meant to keep him.

For a moment, neither of them moved.

Tenderly, Daven pulled back. He wiped a stray drop of water from Ryneth’s cheek, murmuring, “Come on, baby. Let’s get out of the bath and into bed.”

He grabbed a towel and pulled Ryneth to his feet, helping him out of the tub, then began drying him.

“I can dry myself,” Ryneth sniffed.

“I know you can.” He didn’t stop, just continued those soothing circles over Ryneth’s skin.

Ryneth’s knees buckled. His head swam. He caught at Daven’s wrist before he could stop himself, fingers tightening for one stupid second before he let go again.

Daven looked at him but said nothing. He just moved closer. “You see? I can take care of you.”

Ryneth smiled up at Daven, unable to speak. The day had hollowed him out, and Daven was the only thing keeping him upright.

Concordant’s arrival, so close.

The flower Daven wanted to send his sick little brother.

“Here, baby. Let me take you to bed.” Daven’s arm kept him upright, and Ryneth leaned into him more than he meant to, letting himself be dragged to the bed.

Good Light, those silk sheets felt smooth. Ryneth would never get used to them. Or to the way Daven kept catching him before he could fall apart. Leaning back against the headboard, he watched as Daven reached for a small silver case on the nightstand and pulled out two red cinder cigarettes. Lighting them both, he handed one to Ryneth.

“To make you feel better.”

Ryneth took a drag. The cigarette tasted of spice and heat. As the embers glowed, Ryneth felt the last of the tension ease from his body. For a moment, the fear felt farther away.

They watched the stars through the glass.

Daven exhaled a plume of red smoke. He looked at the horizon. “Are you feeling better?”