Page 17 of Elf

The feel of all those hard muscles against him had his knees going weak. He tightened his arms, relying on Alaric’s strength to keep him upright. Alaric groaned softly and deepened the kiss.

This was fucking incredible. Hangover long forgotten, Ezra lost himself in the wave of intense pleasure. From just a kiss and their bodies touching. If this was so good, how would actual sex be?

When Alaric stopped the kiss, all he did was stare down at Ezra, his pupils blown, cheeks flushed slightly red. Knowing Ezra had raised the same lust in this elf was a complete rush.

“Why’d you do that?” he whispered.

“I’ve been wanting to do that since I first walked into your apartment.”

“Kiss me?” Did he have a thing for rudeness? What possible thing had Ezra done to attract someone like this? “What about the things you said to Finn? You actually want to kiss someone you think is basically a waste of space?”

“I told you I didn’t mean that. I’m more sorry than I can say that those words came out of my mouth. I was fighting this attraction.”

“For me? But why?”

This made Alaric smile, drawing Ezra’s gaze to his still-wet lips. “Am I wrong that we share this attraction?”

“No. You’re the hottest guy I’ve seen in my life. Of course I’m attracted.”

“But it’s more than that, isn’t it?”

“Not sure what you mean by more, but it’s strong. So is the surprise that it’s returned.”

“You’re a beautiful man, Ezra.”

“You know what they say. Beauty is skin deep.”

Alaric cupped his face, bringing his own very close. “This attraction I have toward you is stronger than anything I’ve felt before. If your beauty was only skin deep, it wouldn’t be that way. My very nature is drawn to the good things in this world, so you, Ezra, must be one of those things.”

“Your nature radar must be really off.” He chuckled nervously, his gaze stuck on that fantastic mouth so close to his. Without conscious thought he rose up and pressed their lips together again.

Alaric’s fingers slid along the sides of his head as he tilted it to give him just the angle he wanted. The touch had a possessive feel to it that sparked an answering need in Ezra, making him think about his recent realization that he desperately wanted to be loved.

Wait, love?

They were just kissing. Yet that need to have someone feel possessive over him, to cherish him was there, and he kind of hated it. Because no matter how much he pushed it away, it still left him with a spark of…hope.

They kissed for what felt like forever until Alaric finally pulled away only to stare down at him with glittering purple eyes. “Feeling better?”

It took a moment for Ezra to defog from the desire pulsing through his body and mind. “Wait, was this about healing me?”

Alaric actually looked confused for a moment before he smiled. “No, trust me. I kissed you for no other reason than I wanted to. The healing happened naturally because I can’t stand by with you in any sort of pain. My magic is all about balance in nature but it’s also about restoration and compassion. I’m drawn to healing anything or anyone who is ill, but with you, the need kind of takes over.” He paused and ran his thumb over Ezra’s lips. “There’s something very strong here, Ezra. Between us. I’d like to get through this job, then I’d like to take you on a date. Would you be interested in that?”

Ezra nodded, mesmerized by the sensual touch and the way Alaric was looking at him. Heat was there, but so was something else. Affection.

The elf was looking at him with affection, and it did something weird to Ezra’s heart.

Chapter Eleven

Ezra

Their kisses stayed with him the whole time he got ready to go meet with Ezekiel. They’d left a warm feeling in his center, one that was laced with a smidgen of longing he couldn’t get rid of no matter how he tried. There was just something about Alaric that told Ezra that the elf would change everything he’d ever believed about himself. That maybe, just maybe, he was in some way…worthy.

Alaric had certainly looked at him as if he was.

But all that needed to be set aside in his mind. They were about to talk to someone who’d spent his life making Ezra feel about an inch tall.

“I’ll warn you,” he told Alaric. “My brother is a real asshole.”

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