Page 61 of Tides of Fate

“Hi. You smell really good. Basil and vanilla go really well together, and this nest is so cozy. Thank you for inviting me in.”

There’s a nose in his ear, and thankfully, it’s not cold or wet or smelling like a dog.

Nix opens his eyes all the way, and like the first time and the last, he’s struck by how beautiful Luca is.

“You are so pretty, Luca. Sometimes it hurts me to look at you.”

“Me? What? No. I mean, I know I wasn’t hit too many times with the ugly stick, and I know I’m a rockstar. But I’m nothing special. Not compared to the others—toyou.”

Nix can tell Luca isn’t fishing for compliments; he genuinely doesn’t know how stunning he is.

He’s sure there is pure shock reflected on his face, and his jaw drops.

“Luca Wilde! You are gorgeous. Look at these cheekbones, and this perfect nose, and your eyes are almost black. They’re so deep and mysterious.”

Nix pokes a finger at each feature as he goes along, stopping just in time so he doesn’t puncture a cornea.

“And do not get mestarted on your body.”

Nix rolls them over, so he’s lying on top of Luca.

They’re evenly matched height-wise, but Luca is broader in the shoulders, whereas Nix is broader in the hips.

It’s infinitesimally different, really, and probably because Luca works hard at his job, and it builds muscle.

Otherwise, they might be identical.

Nix moves his hips a bit, and his dick rides beside Luca’s in a perfect dry glide.

“I’m not saying I’m not good-lookingenough, baby. But if you wanted…you could ‘get started on my body,’ like you said.”

He waggles his eyebrows lasciviously.

There isn’t enough time in the world for Nix to compliment all the beautiful things about his mate, and that’s just what’s on the outside.

“You are so distracting with your tiny waist and your beautiful skin. I am so envious.”

“Really? Ripley’s stylists were always complaining about something.” He sighs at the memory. “We should have gotten away from there a lot sooner.”

“You guys are going to do so great. Are you excited?”

Nix asks and starts absently kneading and pulling up bits of Luca’s soft skin, digging his fingernails in a bit and then moving on to another spot.

“So excited. We talked earlier—”

Nix takes Luca’s pecs in his hands and pushes them together.

He’s got cleavage like this, gah! He’s so sexy.

“Youtalked,eh?”

His mate giggles and nods.

“After wecelebrated, we talked, and I think we have a track list for a first album. Jay is so connected in the industry, we shouldn’t have a problem with getting it out there after the announcement.”

“Would you play some of it for me sometime? I haven’t really heard anything you’ve made yet, and—”

Nix has started a slow figure eight in his mate’s lap, and Luca shivers.

---