Chapter 19

Nox

It’s like Déjà vu as I look up at the sound of the front door opening and I see Adam’s ex strutting in like she owns the place.

“What can I do for you?” I ask in a forced pleasant tone.

“I’m here to see if Adam’s changed his mind, obviously,” she says with a nasty smirk.

“He hasn’t, sorry you wasted your time coming all the way down here. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.”

Kira let’s out a vicious laugh.

“Oh, that’s adorable. You think he gives a shit about you.”

I bite the inside of my cheek, determined to maintain a stoic expression. There’s no way in hell I’m going to raise to her bait.

She comes around the desk and invades my personal space all the while a terrifying smile is plastered on her face.

“You’re nothing more than a new toy he’s having fun playing with. You think this is the first time he wanted to mess around with someone new? He always comes back to me. He can’t resist me. He needs me.”

“You need to leave, please.”

Kira narrows her eyes but doesn’t argue this time. She spins around and kicks my messenger bag on her way past. To my surprise, she kneels and replaces the contents that spill out before continuing on her way without a backward glance.

“Please tell me I didn’t just hear Kira,” Dani says, peaking her head out of her work space.

“Unfortunately, you did. I got rid of her, though, no worries.”

“Wow, did you have bitch repellant or something?”

“No, but maybe we should stock up in case she comes back.”

Dani and I both laugh.

“I need caffeine. You coming?”

“Hell yeah.”

“So when do I get one of your famous mythical beast tattoos?” Dani asks as we walk to the coffee shop.

“Anytime you want, doll.”

“What will you put on me?”

“You need a siren, luring poor, unsuspecting men to their demise.”

“Love it,” Dani declares. “Will you do it when we get back?”

“Of course. Do you think Adam is going to let me start working on paying customers soon?”

“Probably. You’re doing awesome, no reason for him not to. Even if this is pretty fast.”

I nod and my mind wanders over the past few months since I came to Seattle, to Heathens, to Adam. I can say without a doubt this has been the best part of my life so far.

I’ve continued to meet with Dr. Marvin over the past few weeks and while I still haven’t worked up to going down on Adam or letting him fuck me, I have gotten comfortable with him playing with my ass, something I enjoy way more than I expected.

I never thought it was possible to be this happy, to feel so strongly that I belong somewhere.

“Nox, watch out,” Dani yells, grabbing me by the back of the shirt and tugging me hard enough to bring me to the ground just as a black BMW jumps the curb where I’d been standing only a few seconds prior.

“Holy shit,” I breathe as the car speeds away.

“Fuck, did you see the license plate number?”

I shake my head and try to focus on my breathing like Madden taught me. My heart is pounding out of my chest.

“Let’s get back to the shop,” Dani suggests as she takes my hand and helps me up.

My entire body is trembling.

“What’s wrong? What happened?” Adam’s voice startles me.

I blink and realize I’m back at Heathens and instead of Dani I’m clutching Adam like my life depends on it.

“Let’s get him sitting down, then I’ll tell you,” Dani suggests.

Adam nods in agreement and steers be back toward his office with Dani right behind us.

“Close the door please,” Adam requests once we’re inside.

I lower myself into the chair in front of his desk and Adam kneels down in front of me. His hands rub up and down my arms like he’s trying to warm me up and I realize I’m still shivering.

“What happened?” Adam asks again.

“We were walking to get coffee and this car jumped the curb and nearly hit Nox. Dude didn’t even slow down, I wouldn’t be surprised if he was on something. Unfortunately, we didn’t get his plate numbers,” Dani explains.

“Are you okay, baby?” Adam asks gently, brushing my hair out of my face.

Just like the other day he doesn’t seem concerned about Dani knowing there’s something between us. That realization warms me deep inside and starts to calm my panic.

“It was Harrison’s car,” I force the words past my lips.

“Are you sure? Did you see the license plate?”

“I didn’t see the plate, but I know it was his car. It was a black BMW, that’s what Harrison drives.”

Adam’s expression softens.

“I understand why you’d make the connection, but there’s more than one black BMW on the road,” he reasons.

“But he’s been following me,” I argue.

Adam’s brows scrunch.

“Have you seen him? We need to tell Officer Bratton this if you’ve actually seen him stalking you. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“No, I haven’t seen him. It’s a feeling I’ve been having.”

“Have you talked to your therapist about it?” Adam seems nervous as he asks this and I realize he thinks this is PTSD like Madden did. Maybe they’re right. I have no reason to think Harrison is following me.

“No, but I will. You’re right, I’m being paranoid. I just got freaked out. I’m okay now,” I assure him, patting his hand and giving him a weak smile.

I glance over at Dani and see her eyes darting between Adam and me.

“No fucking way,” she says as a smile spreads across her face.

“You can’t say anything to Gage yet,” Adam rushes to tell her.

“That’s what you have to say about this? Are you guys dating?”

“Yes, we’re dating. We have been for about two and a half months. Now please chill and I’m sure Nox will fulfill your need for gossip as soon as he’s feeling better.”

“Fine,” Dani sighs dramatically. “I’d better get back up front, I’m supposed to have an appointment for a hood piercing in a few minutes. Let me know if you need anything.” The last sentence is directed at me and I nod appreciatively.

Once she’s gone I let out a long breath and lean my forehead against Adam’s shoulder.

“You okay, Bird?”

“Yeah. I’m feeling kind of stupid for imagining my ex-boyfriend stalking me.”

“You’re not stupid. I can’t imagine how scary it must’ve been to be hurt the way he hurt you. It’s normal for your brain to be sensitive to threats now.”

“Thank you,” I whisper as I turn my head and kiss Adam’s neck.

“For what?”

“For being good to me. For taking care of me. For everything.”

“You don’t need to thank me for that. It’s a given.”

“Not always.”

“It is now.”

Twenty minutes later Cas walks into Heathens Ink.

I hear an audible gasp from Dani and I have to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing at her.

“Are you alright?” Cas asks as soon as he spots me.

“Just shaken up,” I assure him. “I didn’t get the plate number or anything so it was probably a waste of time for you to come down here.”

“It’s my job,” Cas reminds me with a crooked smile.

“Dimples,” Dani mouths at me.

“Why don’t we use my office,” Adam suggests before leading the way down the hall.

Cas takes my statement and I reluctantly explain that I thought it might’ve been Harrison, feeling silly now for having overreacted. 

“I’m taking this seriously,” Cas assures me as I finish my account. “I don’t know if your ex is really stalking you or not, but I’m damn sure going to find out.”

“Thank you.”

“Just doing my job.”

Adam claps Cas on the back and holds out his hand to shake. There’s something behind Adam’s expression that makes me feel like he’s not as calm about this as he led me to believe.              

 

 

Adam

That night when we get home I’m still strung pretty tight from the scare we had earlier. We called Cas to report the incident and he seemed frustrated and concerned things might be escalating. I asked if he thought Nox could be right about his ex stalking him and Cas agreed there wasn’t enough evidence at this point but promised to keep an eye out and do everything possible to figure out who’s causing us trouble as soon as he can.

I wait for Nox to sneak into my room that night as has become our nightly routine. And as soon as he steps through the door I’m on him, kissing and groping him as I hurry to get him naked.

I need to feel him and taste him.

Once we’re both naked we fall into bed.

“I really want you to fuck me,” I tell Nox between kisses.

Nox stills, looking up at me with a mix of lust and concern.

“It’s okay if you don’t want to,” I hedge, hoping I didn’t just push things too far too fast.

“It’s not that I don’t want to. I’m a little nervous,” Nox admits, pressing a few kisses along my neck, his hands carefully exploring my chest and stomach.

“What are you nervous about?”

Nox lets out a long breath and looks me in the eyes.

“I want to make sure that it’s perfect for you. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You won’t hurt me, Bird,” I assure him. “I haven’t been fucked, but I do have a dildo so I’m not a total stranger to penetration.”

Lust starts to overtake wariness in his expression.

“Okay, but if anything doesn’t feel good, even for a second I need you to promise you’ll tell me.”

“I promise,” I agree, heart hammering in my chest.

I pull Nox in for another kiss, our tongues tangling, hands tugging at clothes as we struggle to get each other naked. I don’t miss the subtle tremble in Nox’s fingers as he fumbles with the button on my jeans. I’m hoping he’ll relax a little when he realizes how much I love having my ass played with. I’ve loved playing with my own ass at least, and I can only imagine it’ll be a thousand times better to have his tongue and fingers, or please god his cock, inside me making me come.

After a few minutes Nox shimmies down between my legs. I part my thighs wide to grant him enough space, tilting my hips so he can have access. I’m already throbbing before he’s even touched me, pre-cum dribbling from the tip of my cock onto my stomach. Nox licks it up and a hard pulse surges through me.

Nox doesn’t seem to be in any rush as he places filthy open mouth kisses on my stomach and then down my thighs, He hitches my legs over his arms and continues his languid pace licking and sucking everywhere but my cock or ass.

“Please,” I gasp when his tongue grazes the crease where my thigh meets my pelvis, just shy of my balls.

Mercifully, his tongue finds my hole and I let out a thankful groan.

Finally abandoning the teasing Nox licks and sucks my ass enthusiastically.

“Oh fuck that’s good. Please, fuck me, I need your cock.”

He hesitates and I realize there’s only one way Nox will believe he’s not going to hurt me.

“Hold on a second,” I tell him and he stops, looking up at me with concern.

I reach toward the top drawer of my nightstand and pull out my bottle of lube and my trusty dildo. Nox’s eyes widen when he sees what I have.

“I think you need a demonstration of how much you’re not going to hurt me with your dick, let alone your fingers.”

Nox licks his lips, looking both startled and intrigued in equal measure as I coat my dildo with lube and place my feet on the bed so I can lift up a little for better access. I let out a low moan as I ease the tip inside my needy hole. Nox whimpers, his eyes glued to me. He shuffles between my legs as my eyes fall closed, my breathing ragged as I start to slowly fuck myself on my toy. My hips roll as I take it deeper.

“Can I?” Nox asks in a husky voice, his hand covering mine.

“Fuck,” I moan and then nod, moving my hand away and letting him take over.

He thrusts the fake cock in tentatively at first but as my moans escalate and I start to squirm, needing it harder and faster, he starts to gain confidence. With his free hand he explores again, cupping and tugging my balls.

“Jesus that’s too good,” I rasp as my body quakes and my nerve endings begin to spark. “Please, I want to come with you inside me.”

Nox moans, finally seeming fully on board with this plan. He eases the toy out and I whimper at the loss.

“Condoms?”

“Top drawer.”

Nox pulls away and returns with protection. He wastes no time rolling it on and then squirting a generous amount of lube into the palm of his hand and slicking himself.

And then the thick head of his cock is pushing inside me and it’s so much better than the silicone imitation I’ve been getting by with.

He’s careful as he fills me, so slowly I think I might lose my mind.

“Please, more. God Nox, fuck me.”

He snaps his hips forward, filling me hard and fast. My cock jumps and my body spasms.

“Are you okay? Is that too hard?”

“I’m perfect, it’s perfect,” I assure him breathlessly, clutching at his hips to encourage him.

Finally seeming to be satisfied Nox lets go, pounding into me with an animalistic moan.

I reach down and wrap my hand around my cock, jerking myself in time with his punishing thrusts.

“Are you close?” Nox asks.

“Yeah, so close.”

His next thrust pegs my prostate and my body lights up like a Christmas tree. My muscles tense as heat explodes from the pit of my stomach and through my limbs. White jets of cum streak my stomach. I can’t tear my eyes away from Nox’s face as his expression goes from awed to slack-jawed to fucking bliss.

I feel his dick expand in my ass and then start to pulse. For a half second I wish he wasn’t wearing a condom so I could feel the heat of his cum as it fills me.

“Fuck that was good,” Nox says once his body relaxes and he falls on top of me.

I wrap my arms around him and bury my nose in his hair and inhale deeply. My heart feels weirdly full, but it’s not unpleasant. It feels like I never want to let Nox go. It feels like I really need to man up and tell Gage already so Nox knows how serious I am about this. 

“You were really into that,” Nox muses in a surprised voice.

“Uh, yeah?”

“I thought you might have been just saying you wanted to bottom so I wouldn’t feel bad about my hang-ups.”

“Why would I do that? We could’ve just taken penetrative sex off the table if neither of us wanted to get fucked.”

“You’re unreal.”

“I hope that’s a good thing,” I chuckle.

“It’s a very good thing.”

“Hey, let’s get out of here for the weekend,” I suggest on a whim.

I’m not under any illusion that Cas will get this stalker situation under control in a few short days. It might help Nox feel more relaxed, though. Hell, I can’t deny how much the situation this afternoon frade my nerves as well.

“How would we explain it to Gage?” Nox asks.

“Let me worry about that. Does that mean you’re in?”

“Of course.”

I smile and snuggle closer. An overwhelming affection for the man in my arms steals my breath.

I can’t remember what my life was like before Nox. It’s crazy how quickly he became the best part of every day. If it was his ex behind the wheel of that car today I’ll kill him with my bare hands. He’s never going to hurt Nox again. Not as long as I have something to say about it.

“You’re squeezing me to death,” Nox complains with a laugh.

“Sorry.” I reluctantly loosen my grip a fraction and in no time Nox’s breathing is slow and even.

I’m not sure how long I lay there just enjoying the feel of Nox in my arms, imagining what our future might look like as soon as I can work up the courage to tell my best friend I’ve been lying to him for years. Nox is worth it. He’s worth anything I’d have to give up to keep him. And if it takes the rest of our lives I’m going to make sure he sees what I see in him.