Page 42 of Elas

What am I willing to sacrifice?

August’s face flashes through my mind again, and I’m torn between the exhausted relief of finally knowingsomethingand the crippling dread of what I might learn.

“Everything okay?” Urul asks, his normal carefree joviality missing as I glance at him.

“Yeah, great. New assignment, so I’m afraid this puts an end to your nights staring at my beautiful face, dreaming about what you can’t have.”

“Ah, I can still dream, pretty boy,” he teases with a wink, and a suspicious flush colors his new partner’s pale white cheeks. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out where that’s going to end.

“Behave,” I warn Urul with a shake of my finger before I turn towards the winding stone stairwell.

“Never!” he bellows from behind me, and I chuckle to myself as I make the trip to my barracks. Fresh worries fill my head as I try to guess what news the commander might have for me. But there’s no way to know, and I’ve never been one to borrow from tomorrow’s stress.

The base is quiet this late, the pathway lit by a few dim lights that hang from the buildings. It’s nearing midnight, which means anyone not on patrol is in bed, or at least inside their barracks for the night. The few I pass arefocused on their job and simply nod as they continue to their destination.

I’m silent as I unlock my door, stepping into the complete darkness. My vision adjusts as I glance around the room.

The perks of being a predator.

Nu’vak are known for our fighting skills because of our sheer size and strength, but we are also some of the best trackers alive because of our heightened senses. We see in the dark almost as well as we do in the light, our sense of smell is unmatched, and our hearing can detect sounds others would never identify.

And right now, every one of my senses is hyperaware and laser-focused on my bedroom.

My nostrils flare as I catch August’s scent. It’s stronger than usual, the smell of my soaps mixing with sweat and something more. Sheets rustle and his breath comes in puffs, soft grunts and gasps, making it abundantly clear what’s happening in there.

Xeni.

Logic is tossed out the window, jealous anger fueling my silent movements. My mind is so locked on my target, it doesn’t register that no other scents mingle in the room. Only August.

Only what’s mine.

Blinding rage colors my vision into shades of red as I make it to the open doorway and stumble to a stop. My heart hammers against my ribs, beating so hard it threatens to escape. August lies in the center of my bed, alone.

Blissfully, blessedly alone.

Sprawled out on top of the covers, he’s wearing one of my t-shirts that swallows him like a blanket, and nothing else. His knees are bent and spread wide, and his fingers wrap around his cock as his hips thrust off the mattress. I’m frozen, not even fucking blinking as his powerful thighs flex, driving into his fist as his other hand clutches at the sheets.

A series of the most delicious sounds escape his throat as I stand, transfixed. I tell myself to look away, toleaveand give him the privacy he deserves. Instead, my eyes stay glued to him, roaming every inch of that exposed skin. Just as I’m finding the strength to walk away, he mutters a word.

Just one.

“Elas.”

Barely stifling a moan, my body comes alive and my already hard cock fills until it’s painful. My palm drops to grip myself through my leather pants, but the friction does nothing to take the edge off and only leaves me needing more. I imagine it’s me on top of him, his knees hooked over my elbows as I fucked him until he lost control. Picturing the way he’d feel around me as he fell apart.

“Elas,” he moans again as his back arches from the bed, and I groan as my hips jerk against my palm. He stiffens, his balls hugged up against his body as he comes. Even in the dark, I can see how his hole pulses, squeezing in time with each stripe of cum that lands on his stomach.

My core throbs, my body begging me to claim him as I fight the urge to rip my clothes off and tackle him to the bed. August releases a blissed-out sigh as he slumpsonto the mattress, and his eyes drift open in a lazy, satisfied flutter.

And then they land on mine.

“Elas!” Gone is the sensual way he moaned my name a moment ago, replaced with the shock of embarrassment as he scrambles to sit. He throws the blanket over his naked lower body and stares at me with eyes wider than I’ve ever seen them.

“I’m sorry,” I rasp, painfully aware of the erection against my hand. “I got home early, and…”

“No,” he wails, covering his face with his hands like he can hide from me.

“August, it’s alright.”

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