Page 58 of Whisper Woods

My forehead against his back, it’s too much—the scent of his skin, the taste of his sweat on my tongue, the feel of his feverish body under my touch, the way he submits to my touch—the tightness in my chest explodes and I lose control of my body.

It’s as if I’m beside myself, watching as we rut like creatures in heat in the Woods. Dangerous thoughts swirl in the chaos of my mind, caught up in the fever of our pleasure. With the last threads of my control, I clamp down the thoughts ofmine, andforever, clench my teeth against the desperate need to bite him, to taste the blood pounding beneath his skin and claim him. I force the thoughts behind my mental wall, sealing them away while the sky continues its thunderous booms.

That doesn’t stop the words tumbling from his lips. I cannot even understanding the slurring nonsense dripping from him as I fuck into him again and again. Heat curls through me, my release licking at my spine. He’s agonisingly close—I can feel the throbbing of his knot—and I refuse to fall before him, so I change my grip to squeeze at that swollen bulb.

His release seems painful—his body spasming with a soundless cry as the first fat raindrops fall from the sky, mixing with his cum as it splatters to the ground beneath our feet like an offering. The drops become a deluge as I chase my high, his ass clamping my cock almost painfully, milking me on each thrust as I ride the wave. Seff is completely lax beneath me, letting me use him entirely for my own pleasure. The knowledge taunts the thoughts I’m desperately attempting to keep locked away.

My orgasm hits me in my chest first, like a punch to my heart. The first shot of lightning streaks through the sky, lighting up our obscene display as my head throws back in a snarl. I fuck him through my orgasm, fucking my cum deeper inside him, soothing the bitter disappointment that I could not claim him fully.

Seff’s laughing groan pulls me back to reality and away from the dangerous thoughts I have no desire to face.

“Fuck, Rafe. That was incredible.” Despite the rain soaking us, he makes no attempt to stand, crossing his forearms on the tree and slumping forward to rest his head against them. The move tightens his ass around my cock still lodgedinside him, making me hiss. He chuckles a sorry that does not sound genuine in the slightest, not that I mind. I’m too busy stroking his skin, craving the feel of him to soak up the excess of energy tingling my skin.

Another bolt of lightning lights up the sky, accompanied by a deafening roar of thunder.

“We should get somewhere safe.” That lightning was far too close, and as much as I hate it, I pull out of Seff, ignoring his groans as I pull his shorts back into place. Another flash of lightning, directly overhead, changes his tune.

“Come on, I know somewhere.” He snatches up my hand, pulling me with him.

***

“I saw this just before. It’s not much but hopefully it’ll keep us out of the rain and safe.” He ducks his head inside the hollowed out, old tree. “It looks like something made a nest here. It might be a tight squeeze, but it looks comfortable.”

Pulling his head out he flashes me one of his cheeky grins, bestowing me with the sight of my dimple. We are soaked to the bone with the storm raging above us, so it’s not like we have any other options, so I wave him inside.

He’s right. Itisa tight squeeze—neither of us are small men and we are certainly not able to stand in the den—but it is comfortable enough. Whatever creature has been here has padded the floor with layers of moss and leaves. And whilst we are soaking wet, it’s still steaming hot in the Woods so at least we aren’t cold too.

We get tangled in each other's legs while we try to get ourselves settled. Seff’s throaty laugh fills the tiny space when he topples and almost cracks his head on the sides before he finally finds his place between my legs, resting his back against my chest. Naturally my arms wrap around him, tracing lines along his skin.

“This is nice.” He sighs, nuzzling his head back into me just as his stomach lets out a wicked growl. The heat of his blush burns my skin when he turns to press his face into me. “Fuck, that’s embarrassing.” He huffs against me. Onour run here, I managed to spy a branch heavy with aquat berries and I had the presence of mind to strip my shirt to carry some with us.

Brushing a kiss against his sopping hair, I reach blindly in the dark to find our stash of juicy, sweet fruit.

“Let me fix that for you.” I hold the berry to his lips. He takes it with an exaggerated groan, his tongue brushing my fingers lasciviously. A tender feeling, one that I associate entirely and solely with Seff, settles around my heart, while I continue to hand feed him the berries like a deity to be worshipped, all while he continues to moan in increasingly ridiculous sexual tones.

He doesn’t stop until I’m laughing along with him, at which point he’s unable to remain still any longer, shifting to his knees in the tiny, confined space. He has to duck his head, but that doesn’t matter, as a flash of lightning shows me the wicked glint in his eye before he dives on me, covering my neck and chest in snuffling, ticklish kisses.

I kick and squirm, but his hands snatch up mine and pin me down. I could fight him, but I can feel the absolute joy in him. And it’s not exactly unpleasant to have him rubbing himself all over me. So I fight back just enough for the game, bucking my hips as he straddles me, my boots digging into the thick layers of mossy bedding.

He doesn’t relent until I’m reduced to belly quivering laughs—the kind I haven’t experienced since I was a child. Only then does he sit back, a victorious smile curving his lips. He keeps my hands pinned by my side while he stares down at me, dishevelled, eyes damp, chest flushed.

He swallows thickly, as though it were difficult to do so. His words are written in his eyes—I can see them clearly. The same reverent adoration is reflected in mine, drawn from the same well inside that drove my desire to lay claim to him earlier. It’s the treacherous feelings, the primal instincts, that could see me betraying my oath to Tathys and throwing away everything I have ever known and held dear.

Perhaps he can see the panic on my face because something shutters behind his eyes.

“I like your laugh.” It’s not what he wanted to say, I know. But it’s what wecan allow. His thumbs stroke the tender flesh of my wrist, and he drops his face down slowly. Our eyes remain locked until my vision blurs and I’m forced to shut my eyes.

The kiss is painfully sweet, the taste of the berries not able to hide the emotion poured into the slide of Seff’s lips across mine. He kisses me until we’re breathless, a soft cry leaving my lips when he pulls back and returns to his place between my thighs.

“Tell me what you’ve been up to.” He spies a vibrant blue-green phoenix feather and begins to play with it, spinning it in his fingers. I watch the spinning feathers for a moment, mentally rearranging my life into stories I can share.

“I have been travelling.” The veiled truth comes easily and I expel a tightly wound breath, relaxing even more into our embrace. “I’ve just returned from Loqueaur City. I had meetings there. They were… unpleasant. Tiring.” Seff snorts and shuffles himself around, unconsciously finding more ways for us to touch, even though we’re pressed together.

“I travel a lot, actually. It is part of my job.”

He doesn’t ask what my job is, knowing instinctively I cannot answer, perhaps. I’m grateful, but for the first time in my life it leaves a hollow feeling within me that I cannot share my truth in total. “I went to Alluyes a few months ago. It was beautiful.”

“Woah. Really?” Seff practically buzzes with enthusiasm. “I’ve always wanted to go there! Tell me all about it.”

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