Page 28 of Basilisk

“Why here?”

“I’d thought it was because it’s a powerful area, full of ley lines that Xavier can draw power from. There are more power-filled areas, like the UK, but we both like it on this side of the pond.”

“What do you mean you’d thought that’s why you moved here?”

“Just that my best friend, my boss, Xavier, tends to have reasons why he does things and rarely shares those reasons. He’s said some things lately that have me understanding things are different than they seemed.”

“That’s a rather convoluted… and vague answer.”

Bain grinned. “I know.”

“Have you traveled in other countries?”

Bain nodded. “Many, but I always come home. Xavier and I spent about three years in France. We also lived briefly in Australia.” He grinned. “I loved traveling with him, but when we came here, we were both ready to settle down. Starting the business was the best thing. I love working there.”

“What about relationships? You must have had some in all that time.” Sadness pulled down his lips and darkened his eyes. “Oh,” he whispered. “You must outlive everyone.”

“I’ve had brief trysts, but no, nothing long term for that very reason. It’s too…hard.”

“I can’t imagine how awful that would be.” Clive went quiet. Bain wondered what he was thinking.

“It’s not so bad. I don’t want for sex, and I love it. All varieties. But maybe it’s time to give something more a try.” Bain grinned at him. “Don’t worry, I like that you don’t share.”

Clive’s mouth opened and closed a couple of times before he scooted a little closer. “Are you saying what I think you are? What about the company rule?”

“After kissing you, I find that I’m more of a rule breaker than I thought. Clive, I couldn’t keep my hands off you if I tried now.”

Clive sucked in a deep breath then seemed to stop breathing as he slid closer.

Bain had expected the man to be afraid of him after seeing his other form, not seek more from him. He held his breath, too, as a wild mix of desire and hope tore through him.

“I need to see something,” Clive murmured as he moved all the way into Bain’s space.

Bain heard Clive barely whisper something about fireworks right before he shocked Bain by climbing into his lap. He spread his legs on either side of Bain. Feeling his weight and that beautiful ass over his thighs made Bain’s desire ramp up to fiery levels. He gripped Clive’s waist and took in the way lust changed Clive’s features—eyes glazed, lips parted and the most beautiful flush on his neck and freckled cheeks. Their gazes locked and stayed that way as Clive drew closer, finally breaking when he kissed Bain. This time, his lips were firm.

Bain let him lead the kiss for now but parted his own lips to invite Clive inside. The slide of that sweet tongue into his mouth made Bain groan, and that noise seemed to light a spark in Clive. He reached around to tug the tie out of Bain’s hair, then speared his fingers into it on either side of Bain’s head, holding tight as he deepened the kiss. Their tongues stroked sensually together. Bain was burning up. He tightened his fingers on Clive, pulling him closer.

Clive parted his legs more and nestled his already hard cock against Bain’s. He pulled back briefly and seeing his lips puffy and red along with those glassy, cornflower eyes made Bain’s need turn into something wondrous—like he’d been sucked in by a spell. Clive’s spell.

Clive kissed him again, deeply, a small moan vibrating in his throat. Seemed his little accountant had hidden, passionate depths under all that buttoned-up perfection. He plastered his body against Bain’s, tangling their tongues together. He smelled of his body gel, a warm amber with a hint of vanilla. It went to Bain’s head as he ran his palms up Clive’s back and cupped the nape of his neck with one hand, while holding him as close as possible with his other hand flattened on Clive’s back. Clivebegan to thrust against him, rubbing, another barely audible moan escaping his mouth.

When Clive pulled back to gasp air into his lungs, his hands immediately went to the buttons of Bain’s shirt. He made quick work of them before spreading the shirt to the sides and running both his gaze and his hands over Bain’s bare chest. “After you fought that wendigo in my house, you were naked. I should have been focused on the horror of something like that coming to kill me, focusing on the fact you have another form, but all I could see was how stunning your body is. You should be naked all the time.”

“That could be arranged.”

Clive paused, still panting, then shook his head. “I take that back. I love the way you dress too much not to see you in clothes.” He grinned. “At least some of the time.”

“I’m happy to indulge either way.” Bain helped him pull the shirt all the way off, then grasped Clive’s shirt at the waist to pull it out of his pants. He tugged it over his head, then couldn’t resist all that smooth skin, pushing Clive back so he could kiss and taste. He started at one shoulder, kissing, licking, before lifting Clive up so he could take one nipple into his mouth. He ran his tongue around it before biting down gently.

Clive sucked in a breath, hands tangled in Bain’s hair.

Kissing across to Clive’s other nipple, Bain flicked his tongue across it, then lowered Clive so he could take his mouth again. Their angle grew awkward because Clive seemed determined to rub all that silky bare skin against Bain’s. Bain’s dick throbbed, pre-cum soaking through his underwear at the friction of Clive’s writhing groin pressing hard into his.

He needed to touch Clive everywhere. He traced his fingers down the sinewy muscles of his back, down to cup his ass. A strangled noise sounded in Clive’s throat as his hips picked up the pace, rubbing against Bain hard and fast until Bain couldn’tstand having a barrier between them any longer. He tore his mouth away, reaching up to cup Clive’s face until the man blinked back into awareness, then lifted an eyebrow.

“Open my pants, Clive.”

“Fuck,” Clive bit out as he hurriedly worked Bain’s belt free, then unbuttoned and unzipped him. He clambered off his lap to tug everything all the way off, before tackling his own pants.

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