Page 12 of What Haunts the Heart
5
Oakley
After a couple slices of pizza and a few cold beers, Eden and I settled in to watch a movie. Very few words were spoken between us, but I had the feeling that that's what he needed right now. Silence and some time to think about things—about us—because I'd truly dropped the ball on this.
When I'd shown up on Eden's doorstep, I expected happiness and excitement. Instead, I got tears. I'd made him cry, like an asshole, and I hadn't even meant to. I never stopped to consider how he felt about me coming back, after the finality of our last goodbye. I didn’t know he was that attached. Chester had warned me going into this strange relationship that Eden Elric wasn't the kind of Omega who'd ever settle down and want a family. I thought Eden was in this for fun.
I guess I was wrong.
Now I was left holding onto broken pieces, not knowing where they fit. The last thing I wanted was to break Eden's heart, although by the way he'd reacted, I was guessing I already had.
I didn't mean to hurt him. It hurt me too, but what else was I supposed to do? Abdicate the Everwood throne and leave my pack hanging? Father would be livid. He'd hunt me down and if he found me, I knew he wouldn't hesitate to hurt the people I loved.
That included Eden. The thought of Father digging his vicious claws into my little peacock made my stomach churn. I couldn't let that happen. I just couldn't.
"Stop thinking so loud," Eden mumbled, shoving at my chest. He nestled in closer, slipping beneath my arm until he was practically laying on me. "Cuddle me." The command in his voice was fresh.
I couldn't stop myself from grinning as I snuggled him a little tighter. He shifted around until he was comfortable, his knees on my lap and his head resting on my chest. He'd picked out a scary movie, since it was almost Halloween and all, but I couldn't have cared less.
All that mattered in this moment was Eden's warmth. I pressed my nose to his vibrant blue hair and drew in a deep whiff, and the familiar scent of him filled me to the brim. He smelled of feather down and sweet almond oil. It was unique and so totally him. I loved it. I wanted to bottle it up and drench my bedsheets with it, so that even after I'd washed them, if I closed my eyes, I still might be able to pick up a trace of his scent.
I closed my eyes and let myself relax.
I wasn't sure when I drifted off, but I awoke to a dark room and a numb right arm. I blinked a few times while waiting for my eyes to adjust. The TV must've turned itself off after the movie ended, because the only light in the room came from the lamppost outside, shining in through the crack in the curtains.
I moved to stretch, but froze when I realized why my arm felt so weird. Eden was curled up against my side, fast asleep, and my arm was beneath him. His soft, slumbering purrs made me smile. I brushed a kiss to the top of his head. God, I missed this. I missed him.
As much as I wanted to stay right here, in this moment, sleeping on the couch all night was hell on the back. Eden's bed was far more comfortable. I carefully shifted around until I could pick him up in my arms. Pins and needles tingled through my sleeping limb, but the bedroom was just down the hall.
Eden's room was bathed in a soft blue glow from the star-shaped nightlight plugged into his wall. He'd told me, once, that he'd always been afraid of the dark, though he didn't say why. I was thankful for the dim light.
As I approached the bed, I realized that he'd never bothered to make it. His sheets were askew, his comforter hanging halfway off the mattress. I grinned. Typical Eden. This man never failed to make me smile.
I tugged the sheets back and gently laid Eden down, then crawled in beside him. He whimpered softly in his sleep, reaching out with one hand like he was searching for me. I caught his fingers in mine and gave a little squeeze. He settled right down with a sigh.
I tugged at the blankets until we were both covered up, then spooned him from behind. I pumped my hand a couple of times to fully rid myself of the tingling, looped my arm around Eden's waist and closed my eyes.
Coming back to where we'd spent so many nights fucking like bunnies and talking deep into the midnight hours? It felt like home. It felt like I belonged right here, in Eden's bed, cuddling the man who'd captured my heart with his sassy smile and his cocky peacock strut.
He was so damn beautiful. From the very first day I saw him, all dolled up for Kinsley and Chester's wedding, my heart sang for him and I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that walking away this time would completely shatter me.
Don't go there,I told myself, hugging Eden a little tighter.Not tonight.
Tonight, I needed sleep. I only hoped that Eden's presence would keep the nightmares at bay.
* * *
Soft ripplesof pleasure drew me from my dreams. I parted my lips on a soft moan, gazing up at Eden, straddled over me in the bed. His peacock-blue hair was rumpled from sleep, dangling down to tickle my face as he kissed me. One hand was fisted beside my head, holding him up, and the other was wrapped around my cock. His brown eyes twinkled with amusement as he pressed his mouth to mine.
"Good morning to you too," I said around a breathless laugh. "Damn, that feels good. Don't stop."
"Wasn't planning on it," he drawled back.
He kissed me deep, our tongues tangling and sliding together in a passionate embrace. I gripped the back of his neck with one hand, dragging him down. My senses came alive beneath his touch and suddenly, I needed more. I let my hand slide down his side, bringing the other one up so I could grasp his hips. My fingers pressed against his skin, my claws right below the surface though I never would've used them on Eden. Not Eden.
I bit my lip and threw my head back against the pillows as his kisses moved down my jaw. His soft lips rasped over my stubbled skin, nipping and sucking. All the while, his hand worked me over at a steady pace. I slipped my fingers below the band of his yoga pants and pushed them off his hips. His cock sprang free, slim and suckable, and I zeroed in on the pearlescent bead of moisture at his tip. I curled my tongue, anticipating his taste.
Then I flipped him around so that he hung inches from my face. I hissed when Eden took control by gripping the base of my dick and swallowing me down. Moaning, I planted both hands on his firm ass and drew him to my lips until I could suckle at his cockhead. I felt his whimper vibrate through me as I leaned up to take more of his deliciousness into my mouth.
