Page 95 of Map of Pain
Luka leaned closer, his free hand moving to cup Nick’s face, his thumb tracing along his cheekbone in question.
Nick’s breath hitched.“I don’t know what I’m doing,”he whispered.“And I don’t know what you... what vampires...”His face burned hotter.“Vincent bit Adam. I saw the blood. Is that something you like during—?”
Luka shook his head, his expression soft and understanding. He pointed to Nick, then to himself, then made a questioning gesture with one hand that somehow conveyed ‘what do you want’?
“I don’t know,”Nick admitted, his voice cracking.“I don’t know what I like or what I want or what’s normal. I just know that seeing them tonight, and how Caleb is with Marcus, I want...”He gesturedhelplesslybetween them.“...this. Whatever this could be.”
Luka responded by leaning forward and pressing the gentlest kiss to Nick’s forehead, then pulled back to meet his eyes. He pantomimed searching for something and pointed to both of them.
Nick stared at him, something tight in his chest beginning to loosen.“You’dreallybe okay with that? Just... learning? Even if I’m terrible at it?”
Luka leaned forward, telegraphing his movement, giving Nick every opportunity to pull away. When their lips met, it was soft and questioning, an invitation rather than a demand.
“I...”Nick swallowed hard, his voice a whisper.“Can you take the lead? I don’t know how to ask for what I want. I don’t even know what I want. But maybe if you... if you show me things, I can figure out what feels good?”
The request came out in a rush, his face burning with embarrassment, but Luka leaned in again, this time moving more into Nick’s space.
The kiss was deeper this time, more purposeful. Luka’s mouth was cool and insistent against his. When Luka’s hand moved to his shoulder, Nick tensedslightly, but the touch was gentle, reassuring.
Luka rubbed his knuckle against Nick’s shoulder while kissing him harder, all tongue and teeth trying to taste every bit of him. The dual sensation made Nick gasp against his mouth, desire pooling low in his belly.
But just asquickly, Luka gentled the kiss, his mouth becoming soft and exploring again while his fingers traced a circle on Nick’s shoulder. The contrast was dizzying—hard then soft, demanding then tender.
When Luka pulled back and traced a clear ‘X’ on his shoulder, Nick’s eyes flew open in confusion.
Luka waited. It took Nick another second, before it dawned on him: the knuckle rub meant ‘harder.’ The circle meant ‘slow down.’ The X meant ‘stop.’ Luka created a way for him to communicate without words.
“Oh,” Nick breathed, his chest tight with emotion. “That’s... that’s really smart.”
But even with this new vocabulary, there was still something missing. Nick bit his lip, then askedquietly,“What about... more?”
Luka’s expression brightened with a quirked smile that made Nick’s stomach flip. He reached for Nick’s hand, guiding it to the back of his head, tangling Nick’s fingers in his damp hair. Then he demonstrated a gentle pulling motion, his eyes never leaving Nick’s face.
Okay, so this might be happening. What am I supposed to do next?
Nick’s hand trembled as he reached for the hem of his shirt, but as he started to pull it off, Luka signed:«Wait.»
Before Nick could ask why, Luka was moving with inhuman speed, disappearing from the room soquicklythat Nick wondered if he’d blinked too long. He returned just as fast, settling back on the bed with something in his hand that he set on the nightstand.
This time, Luka got onto the bed, sitting cross-legged beside Nick with the kind of patience that suggested they had all the time in the world. His hands moved to Nick’s shoulders, fingers tracing along his collarbones, and Nick’s breath caught at the simple intimacy of it.
“Okay?“ Luka mouthed.
Nick nodded, then reached up and tangled his fingers in Luka’s hair again, remembering the lesson. The small smile that crossed Luka’s face made Nick feel like he’d done somethingincrediblyright.
Slowly,carefully, Luka began to touch him.
His hands mapped Nick’s chest with reverent attention, fingertips tracing the edges of scars without flinching or pausing. When his thumb brushed over Nick’s nipple, a soft sound escaped Nick’s throat he hadn’t expected.
Luka’s eyes found his, checking, and Nick managed a breathless nod.
The touches remained gentle, exploratory, as Luka worked his way down Nick’s torso. When his mouth followed the path his hands had taken, Nick’s fingers tightened reflexively in Luka’s hair. The small sound of approval that vibrated against his skin sent sparks racing through his veins.
By the time Luka’s mouth moved lower, Nick was already trembling with anticipation and need. Luka’s fingers trailed along the waistband of Nick’s pants before slipping them down with careful deliberation, exposing himfully. He paused there, his cool breath ghosting over Nick’s hardening cock, sending shivers up his spine. Luka glanced up, eyes seeking permission,and Nick noddedshakily, his grip in Luka’s hair loosening to a gentle hold.
Luka’s lips parted, and he took Nick into his mouth, inch by inch, his tongue swirling around the sensitive head. The wet heat enveloped him, gentle suction drawing out a low, broken moan from Nick’s throat. Luka moved with exquisite care, his mouth sliding up and down the shaft in unhurried rhythms, exploring every ridge and vein as if committing it to memory. One hand cupped Nick’s balls, rolling them with feather-light pressure, while the other rested on his thigh, thumb stroking soothing circles to ground him.
It felt incredible; not just the velvet slide of Luka’s tongue tracing the underside, or the way his lips tightened just enough to build that sweet, aching pressure, but the care behind it. Luka kept glancing up, adjusting his pace with the lightest tug from Nick’s fingers in his hair.
