Page 7 of Shredded Soul

He waited until the count of ten and lightly dropped from the rafters behind him. Paine grabbed the knife. He knew he cast a shadow on the wall and Charon knew he was coming. Still, Charon didn’t move, even when the knife showed in his shadow. Paine eased onto the bed and pounced. He placed the knife against Charon’s throat. Even Paine didn’t know why he did certain things sometimes. He just needed to test Charon. Paine had to know if Charon would hurt him.

Unfortunately, once Paine had the knife against Charon’s skin, something ugly rose inside him. His throat swelled. Terrible memories washed over him. His chest hurt. He wasn’t beautiful anymore.

“You don’t want me anymore. I’m ugly now.”

Charon snagged his wrist and turned, keeping Paine from cutting him. His eyes burned with passion. “You could never be ugly.” Charon grabbed the knife and tossed it aside. “There will never come a day when I don’t want you.” Charon kept moving until he had Paine on his back and his huge body covered Paine’s. There was no missing the erection between them. His hand shook as he swept it through Paine’s hair. Charon’s gaze moved over Paine’s face before meeting Paine’s stare. “I love you. That has nothing to do with looks, but you’re still the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen.” He kissed the corner of Paine’s mouth. “Tell me you still love me. I need to know you don’t hate me.” He kissed the other corner of Paine’s mouth. “I hate myself enough for the both of us.”

Paine's chest tried to cave. His entire body heaved as he tried sucking in a breath. “You should’ve killed me.”

Charon shook his head. His eyes filled with tears. “That’s the one thing I could never do. I knew it would be better for you if you died. But I was selfish and couldn’t do it. I couldn’t watch the light leave your eyes.” A tear dropped from Charon’s eye and landed on Paine’s cheek. “Instead, I watched your love for me die.”

Paine began to shake. He shook so hard, he nearly gave himself motion sickness. “No. You watched me accept I had to die to save you. I had to set you free.”

Charon sniffed. “Living without you isn’t freedom. It’s just a different hell.”

“I can’t leave here with you.” Paine loved Charon. He would until he drew his final breath, but he wasn’t the same. He wasn’t sane. Paine couldn’t function in reality any longer.

Charon slowly lowered his head, giving Paine time to say no. “Then I’ll stay here with you until you tell me to go. I love you too much to walk away.”

Their lips met. Paine drew a ragged breath. He let Charon in and their tongues played. Paine could barely breathe through the emotions choking him. His body burned. No one had ever even tried to make him feel the way Charon did. Paine missed the surge of love and the hope Charon gave him. He wanted to know those feelings again.

Paine turned his head. Charon kissed his neck. Paine panted for breath. “Do you remember the way you used to make love to me on that hard concrete floor where no one could hear? Do it again.”

Charon didn’t question him. He simply went to work, peeling away Paine’s clothes. Paine wasn’t afraid. He needed to remember what it was like to feel normal. To be set free. The moment Charon had Paine nude, his body collided with Paine’s. Paine gasped at the sensation of skin on skin. He had forgotten how powerful and beautiful Charon made him feel. Their fingers linked as their mouths clashed. Charon’s body moved against his, causing friction between them that made Paine moan. With Charon, there was no pain. He made love to Paine in a way that only brought pleasure. Paine was desperate for the human connection. He couldn’t help the sounds he made. Paine fully recalled how hard it had been to stay silent on the floor of that cage. Charon couldn’t stop kissing him so he could swallow the sounds Paine made. Even the fear of getting caught hadn’t stopped the ecstasy Charon’s body created.

They didn’t rush. Charon rocked against him while they explored each other’s mouths. Nothing had changed. That thought brought tears to Paine’s eyes. All the years had passed and not an ounce of love had died. They were a love born in the darkness. Just like them, it refused to die. The pressure built. Paine turned restless. He needed the pleasure Charon’s body promised. Charon tore his mouth away and pressed his forehead against Paine’s shoulder. He buried his hand beneath Paine and grabbed a handful of ass. Charon held him in place and rocked into him, keeping up a steady pace that had Paine straining toward release. Rapid-sounding pants burst from Paine. He struggled toward the edge. Then bliss washed over him and stole a cry from his lips. His body jerked as cum filled the space between them. Charon buried his face against Paine’s neck and cried out against his skin, muffling the sound. Tears leaked from the corners of Paine’s eyes and rolled back into his hair. For a moment, he felt human, and it terrified him.

Chapter Six

Quentin studied every shift in Snow’s expression as he helped Quentin undress. There was something wrong. Something was going on in his head. Snow was usually so unreadable that it hurt Quentin’s chest. Not tonight.

“You’re sad.”

A faint smile touched Snow’s lips. On his knees at the edge of the bed, Snow was positioned between Quentin’s knees. That smile had Quentin’s gaze snapping to Snow’s lips. They were so full. So sexy. The distraction method worked for a full minute before Quentin caught on. Snow had been trained to be a master at seduction. He knew how to lure someone straight to their grave. Quentin wasn’t immune.

“You can talk to me.”

Snow shook his head. “It’s nothing, really. Just having Charon here reminds me too much of that life. I’ve spent a decade working on myself. Yet one look at him and I’m back at that academy. I’m someone else.”

Quentin stroked Snow’s shoulders. “You were put in an untenable situation. You did what you had to do to survive. No one can or should judge until they’ve been in your shoes.”

Snow’s gorgeous hazel eyes rose and focused on Quentin. “Why did you buy my freedom that night? I wasn’t up for auction.”

“Because I saw you sticking to the shadows. You looked like a man ready to run. Everyone else stared at me with dead eyes—just like everyone I purchased before you. But you didn’t look broken, and I had to save you before you were.” Quentin took a shaky breath. They never spoke about that night. Quentin didn’t want to trigger anything in Snow. Since Snow had broached the topic, Quentin had a burning question too. “Why have you stayed?”

Snow’s expression changed. He snagged Quentin’s hips and slowly dragged him closer. “You know why.”

Quentin’s throat went dry. He licked his lips. “I’m too old and broken for you. You deserve a beautiful and full life.”

Snow shifted to his feet and leaned in, burying his face against Quentin’s neck. He inhaled. His lips brushed Quentin’s pulse point, making goosebumps rise on Quentin’s skin. “All of that is bullshit. I have a beautiful and full life with you.”

“You don’t want this.” Quentin was incapable of not arguing.

A sexy chuckle rumbled against Quentin’s skin. “I definitely do. I have for a very long time. You’re not blind, Quentin.” He took Quentin’s hand and led it to his erection. “I know you’ve seen me silently begging for you to notice. I notice every time you look at me with the same hunger. Why do you refuse to see me?”

A shaky breath escaped Quentin. He more than wanted Snow. Somewhere along the way, Quentin had fallen in love with him. “I can’t curse you to this life.”

Snow pulled away. His eyes flashed with irritation. “Bullshit, Quen. My life has been you for ten fucking years. I could’ve left anytime I wanted, but I didn’t because I want to be here. With you,” he said, softening his tone. “I’m not dumb. Trust me. I know you.” Snow leaned in again. This time, he gave Quentin plenty of time to say no. He couldn’t. God. He couldn’t. Snow touched his lips to Quentin’s. His tongue slid across Quentin’s bottom lip. Quentin’s lips parted. When Snow’s tongue touched his, a whimper escaped Quentin. He couldn’t hold back the sound. No one had touched him like this in over fifteen years. Not since he suddenly fell ill and was eventually diagnosed with leukemia. He won the battle, but he didn’t walk away. Spastic paralysis had slowly taken his ability to walk. Between the painful spasms and muscle weakness, his life had become a nightmare. Then Snow came home with him and stayed.

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