Chapter 119: Showing off

Chapter 119: Chapter 119: Showing off

Nero had one hand spread between Sebastian’s spine and the cold pane before settling him against it, taking enough of his weight that the window became support rather than restraint.

The glass was icy even through Sebastian’s white shirt.

Nero was anything but.

Heat rolled from him in waves, not from his pheromones alone but from the enormous body pressed close enough that Sebastian could feel every shift of muscle beneath the cream fabric of his shirt, every uneven breath Nero dragged into his lungs after an argument that had stripped both of them raw.

Sebastian inhaled sharply when the cold reached his back.

Nero took the breath from him.

His mouth crashed down over Sebastian’s again, harder than before, and Sebastian answered with exactly the same lack of restraint, fingers plunging into the long white-blond hair at the back of Nero’s head and twisting until Nero made a low sound against his lips.

There was still fury in the kiss. But there was no anger anymore, but something hotter.

Seven years of Nero wanting him and being told no.

Three years of Sebastian waking with memories of Nero dying.

Six months of fear disguised as practicality, survival disguised as choice, and affection growing in all the places Sebastian had once sworn he would never allow it.

Now there was nowhere left for any of it to hide.

Nero kissed him as though he could consume every wasted year between them, as though another life might reach through the glass and steal Sebastian away if he left so much as a centimeter between their bodies.

Sebastian kissed him back with equal desperation.

The window vibrated faintly when Nero shifted closer, one arm firm beneath Sebastian’s thighs while his other hand slid from the protective space at his back to grip his waist. Sebastian’s legs tightened automatically around Nero’s hips, drawing him closer until Nero broke the kiss on a rough exhale.

Only for a second.

Then his mouth was against Sebastian’s jaw.

Sebastian tipped his head back against the glass, breathing hard while Nero kissed beneath his ear and down the side of his neck, each touch somehow harsher and more careful at once.

"You are insane," Sebastian breathed.

"Yes."

Nero’s lips moved against the sensitive skin beneath his jaw.

"And possessive."

"Extremely."

Sebastian shivered when teeth barely grazed his skin.

"Arrogant."

Nero kissed the same place.

"You knew that."

Sebastian tightened his fingers in Nero’s hair and pulled his head back enough to force those violet eyes onto him.

"And apparently incapable of understanding obvious romantic intent."

That finally stopped him.

Nero stared at Sebastian from only centimeters away, lips flushed from kissing, white-blond hair tangled around Sebastian’s fingers, and his usual composure completely ruined.

"I understand now."

"Good."

"You love me."

Sebastian closed his eyes.

"God help me."

Nero kissed him again before he could add anything else.

This time Sebastian felt the smile.

His own appeared despite himself, disappearing almost immediately when Nero deepened the kiss and Sebastian’s head touched the glass behind him again.

When they finally separated, both were breathing harder, Sebastian’s white shirt was badly wrinkled where Nero’s fingers had gathered the fabric around his waist, and Nero’s cream one had been dragged halfway out of his trousers.

Sebastian looked at him.

Nero looked entirely too pleased with the situation.

Sebastian touched his forehead to Nero’s.

"Put me down."

"No."

"Nero."

"I have spent seven years waiting to hear that you love me." Nero tightened his arm beneath Sebastian’s thighs as if demonstrating exactly how little intention he had of complying. "You can remain exactly where you are for another five minutes."

Sebastian considered arguing.

Then Nero pressed a slower kiss against the corner of his mouth, followed by another beneath it, and Sebastian’s determination became considerably less impressive.

He sighed and let his head rest against the window again.

Nero immediately took advantage.

His face disappeared against Sebastian’s neck, nose brushing beneath his ear before his mouth followed, while the hand at Sebastian’s waist slipped beneath the loose hem of his shirt and spread against bare skin.

Sebastian’s breath caught.

Nero smiled against his throat.

"I want you."

Sebastian laughed softly, the sound more breath than amusement now.

"Yes, love. I know."

Nero paused.

Sebastian opened his eyes and found violet ones looking back at him.

The expression there was enough to send heat crawling slowly beneath his skin.

"I can feel it," Sebastian added with a pointed look at the bulge in Nero’s pants.

That dangerous smile returned.

"So can I?"

Sebastian’s smile turned soft.

"Yes."

Nero lifted his head completely.

His pupils were wide enough that only a narrow ring of purple remained visible, but he stayed perfectly still, waiting.

"Can I undress you?"

Sebastian looked at him for a moment.

The smile on Nero’s face was dangerous enough to qualify as a threat, made worse by the slight shimmer of violet already beginning to appear in the smoke curling lazily around his shoulders.

Sebastian knew that look.

And apparently had learned very little about avoiding danger.

His hands slid down from Nero’s hair to the open collar of his cream shirt.

"Sure."

Nero’s pheromones changed instantly.

The first tiny violet spark appeared at Sebastian’s waist.

Sebastian glanced down just as the edge of his white shirt began to dissolve.

There was no flame, nor heat.

Only hundreds of minute points of violet light racing through the fibers, consuming the fabric without touching the skin beneath.

Sebastian stared.

Nero kissed his neck again as though casually disintegrating clothing while holding a two-meter man against a window required no meaningful concentration whatsoever.

"You’re showing off."

"Yes."

Sebastian watched another line of fabric vanish into glittering sparks.

Even like this—breathing hard, visibly aroused, his restraint being tested in ways Sebastian could feel against his own body—Nero’s control was immaculate.

Not one spark touched him.

Not one degree of heat reached his skin.

Sebastian turned his head and looked at him.

Nero caught the expression immediately.

"You’re impressed."

Sebastian’s mouth curved.

"Unfortunately."

Nero grinned against his throat.

The remaining fabric disappeared in another silent sweep of violet light.

And Sebastian decided, with rapidly deteriorating judgment, that perhaps showing off deserved a reward.