Page 52 of Demons Treasure Warlocks

Darius shivering after freezing himself outside was terrifying. Bale had to pay attention to Darius’s tells. Rising swiftly with Darius in a princess carry, he went to the living room where it was so much hotter. The fire was blazing merrily and lit the room up in a warm glow. He set Darius on the couch and waited to see what Darius desired.

The two cats had perked up from their spot on Darius’s recliner but relaxed when they realized they weren’t going to be disturbed.

Darius tugged on his arm, settling Bale on the couch beside him. They sat as close as possible and stared at the fire. Darius was the first to speak. “I made it awkward, didn’t I?”

“I should have paid attention to you. I’m sorry. The night’s been weird for a bit,” Bale said, almost ashamed.

“A tiny bit. But… Bale?”

He turned and faced Darius. Seeing the clear expression of peace in Darius’s eyes helped him calm down.

“This—you? I haven’t had an issue yet. We can continue?”

The yearning in Darius’s voice hit the same note within Bale, and he nodded vigorously. They stretched out on the couch, which took a bit of adjusting to accommodate Bale’s wings. For the first time, Bale wished he could make them disappear as he’d seen other cryptids do.

Darius cupped Bale’s face in his hands and placed his lips on him so sweetly and perfectly that most doubts in Bale’s head disappeared. Darius liked him, wings and stubby horns included. Darius slid his tongue along the seam of Bale’s mouth, seeking permission to enter, and Bale sighed, shivering as Darius tangled their tongues together. The first touch was always a surprise, and Bale loved the intensity of the moment. He followed Darius’s lead, taking cues from Darius’s body language. A squeeze, a squirm, or a drawn-out sigh. Everything Bale had never forgotten about. He avoided the things Darius hated, like the roof of his mouth being touched. Bale nipped at the full lower lip and smiled as Darius wriggled closer.

He stroked Darius’s side rhythmically, his thumb brushing the sensitive hip bone, just under the elastic waistband of Darius’s pants. The hot steel of Darius’s erect cock against his own made Bale grin against Darius’s mouth. Everything was going right.

Gingerly, Bale slid his fingertips up the side of Darius’s shirt and smirked as the skin became a wash of goose bumps. As he spread his hand against the span of Darius’s ribs, he inhaled slowly as his own emotions swept over him. His thumb could easily flick the pebbled nipple while his fingers tickled the bony shoulder blade. Scar tissue along Darius’s back forced memories into Bale’s thoughts. He remembered when Hastur punished Darius in front of his horde, and it turned his stomach. Bale broke the kiss and buried his face in the crook of Darius’s neck while he gathered his composure once more.

Darius kissed the top of his head, remaining quiet. His finger trailed a path along a wing bone and its sensitive membrane. Different textures attracted Darius, and Bale often suffered as Darius caressed and fondled his wings. It had turned him on outrageously in the past. It was also a testament to his willpower that he'd never attacked and had his way with Darius when Darius caressed his wings. This touch was different. It was meant to soothe and bring peace to Bale.

“Dare?”

“Hmm?”

“I don’t want to ever make you scared or anxious about me,” Bale said into the damp hollow.

Another kiss, on the tip of his ear this time, and a soft caress along the back of his neck assured him Darius was okay.

“You know me.”

“You’d never let it happen.” Bale bussed the spot and pulled back so he could visually confirm what he already accepted. The soft glow in Darius’s eyes and his small smile made Bale feel so much relief.

“You’re so worried about me, but what about you?” Darius asked tentatively.

“I’m fine.” A quick two words would be enough to go back to the enjoyable cuddles.

“You’re just as fucked up as me,” Darius murmured. The considerate and intuitive Darius was a little unnerving. “No one else would be constantly checking in and denying their own… pleasure.”

“Then they’re assholes,” Bale swiftly responded, scowling. Darius would never have to worry about that with him. He’d always make sure Darius was safe. Always.

ChapterTwenty-Three

Being intimate with Bale would be a challenge. Darius had issues a mile long. But Bale having them as well was a bit unexpected. He had assumed Bale to be immune. He was millennia old, and he had lived in the demon dimension for so long. This constant pausing and confirming warned Darius that Bale was just as scared and nervous. It also was a relief because they had an opportunity to step back and take a breath. There was no need to rush into anything.

Bale’s fierce scowl and tightening hold on Darius made Darius chuckle and relax against his muscular body. After fussing with how they were lying and grumbling at the state of Bale’s wings, Darius gave up. This was the only way to cuddle. He pressed a kiss the thin line of Bale’s mouth and dotted one on Bale’s nose, attempting to make him grin.

“I don’t know how I found you,” Darius whispered as he admired Bale’s visage. “You are a light, my light.”

Bale’s cheeks darkened with a blush as he attempted to duck away, but Darius wouldn’t let him. Bale was forever done hiding his own glow. Determined to show Bale exactly what he meant, Darius grasped the back of Bale’s head and brought him closer so he could give him a proper kiss. He ached for Bale with every fibre in his heart and soul.

“Darius.” Bale’s sigh was silenced as Darius stole his lips once more. He kept the passion low-key, unsure of the ground he was treading. He longed to go further, to touch Bale’s skin, but nerves got to him. Memories teased the edge of his pleasure, warning him about the pain and the fear. The other side, though, the quiet part remembered life before Hastur. That was what Darius wished to experience more than anything. The time before the asshole dickface ruined everything.

“Darius, you’re thinking,” Bale whispered against Darius. His grip on Darius’s lower back grew taut, returning Darius to the present.

Darius blinked and renewed his efforts to give pleasure to Bale. He caressed the strong, tight muscles of Bale’s arms, squeezed closer to Bale’s hard body, loving the heat and strength of it. Bale’s erection was large and prominent against Darius’s stomach. But he trusted Bale wouldn’t push them any further than they were ready to go.

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