Page 33 of Dead Air
“No, just an extremely shit human. He’s still relatively young so there’s no reason why he couldn’t be, if he doesn’t see the light and change his ways.”
“Ew.” Niall drew back and gagged. “I don’t want to think about Andy or worry about what’s waiting for him.”
“That’s probably wise.”
Willoughby didn’t sit well with Cenn. He had offered Niall revenge and closure against his former tormentor in one last desperate throw to savehimself. Anyone would understand and most people would have taken their shot at revenge, calling it “closure and justice” the way Cenn had posed it. If he had accepted, Cenn would have granted him all the closure andjustice he desired and wouldn’t have thought twice about taking Niall’s soul in return.
But once again, Niall had chosen grace and mercy and he had taken a wild leap by putting his trust in a demon. Not even Cenn Cruach, the darkest and the father of all demons, could betray a heart so pure and selfless. Instead, he had vowed to protect Niall and preserve his soul at all costs.
I will tend to Willoughby soon enough.
Niall might not want closure and justice but Cenn did. He would punish Willoughby for all the times he hurt sweet Niall and for all the others—past, present, and future.
“I still don’t understand why me, though,” Niall said, his focus returning and sharpening. No matter how cleverly Cenn danced around the answer or flattered him, Niall couldn’t shake his suspicions. His instincts warned that Cenn was withholding something crucial and it was both fascinating and maddening as Niall learned to match wits with a demon.
“Why not? You’re more deserving than most.”
“But how did you even find out about me? I’m so far off the radar, no one except a handful of people know I even exist.”
“Someone whispered your name,” Cenn began, picking out the more fanciful parts of the truth and doing his very best not to lie. “I heard that there was a beautiful, lonely ranger with a pure and generous heart hiding at the top of Hawksbill Mountain and came to see for myself.”
“Who whispered my name?”
Cenn waved a hand vaguely. He wanted to enchant Niall and make him forget but he’d caught on to that trick too and had prohibited it. “One of the handful of people who know you exist.”
“They must be someone cool, if they cared enough to notice that I was lonely…” Niall said and Cenn hummed and nodded.
“Possibly. Do you know what’s more exciting than being a bear or a whale?” Cenn asked, changing the subject. It workedbecause Niall shook his head, more interested in anything related to nature than talking about himself. “An ant. Stronger than a bear and capable of fitting into just about anything! I’ve brought many picnics and parties to an end with the help of ants.”
“Ants?” Niall paused to consider, then smiled. “I like that. It’s chaotic but a lot safer than bears.”
“And easier to summon at a moment’s notice. How are you doing?” Cenn asked, serious again. “You seem fine and like it didn’t bother you,” he said and Niall snorted as he leaned back in Cenn’s arms.
“I told you I’d be fine, but you weren’t ugly scary; you were cool scary and beautiful. I would have wanted to have sex with that but I’m too darn tired and I’m afraid my nuts or a nipple or my butt will fall off,” Niall scolded, his pout returning.
“I’m sorry. There’s always tomorrow.”
The pout turned into a smile. “There is! And you promised me a long, hot bath and a massage.”
“And dinner,” Cenn reminded Niall, sweeping him off his feet. “Can I bathe you?” he asked and was rewarded with another blush.
“If you want. I’d ask you to join me but there’s only room for one and it takes a while to heat up the water.”
“Not anymore, my love. There will be plenty of room and all the hot water you want.”
Niall’s brain was filled with a barrage of filthy possibilities, making him smile. “I love my new demon boyfriend!”
Fifteen
As much as Niall loved feeling the sun on his face and being out in nature, he loved a rainy, overcast day. They were ideal for napping and keeping the door and windows open so he could watch and listen as the forest was cleansed and nourished by the rain. The soft pattering and the misty breeze never failed to put Niall in a calmer, more contemplative mood, easing his restless need to putter and explore.
It was their first rainy day together and Niall worried he might get antsy or claustrophobic with another body in his cabin but helikedhaving Cenn nearby. Cenn had offered to leave, or make himself invisible and vapor, to give Niall more room if he felt crowded but he insisted they were fine. Then, the gray, gloomy day gave Niall an idea.
“Can you be yourself today, not the hot lumberdaddy?” he asked, causing Cenn’s brow to furrow.
“I can but why? You love everything about this body,” he said as he gestured at himself.
A dreamy smile spread across Niall’s face as he appreciated Cenn in all his naked glory. He was preparing a cup of tea for Niall as he lounged with his book but Cenn’s semi-hard cockmade reading anything difficult. It bounced and swayed as Cenn worked, hypnotizing Niall like a penis pendulum.
