All That Shimmers

by N. J. Nielsen

  Tagh really was a beautiful man. Apart from the warrior markings and a few residual bruises from his beating, the man looked absolutely flawless. He far outshone any of the models Eric had ever seen. He’d always thought Isiah and Claude were sex on a stick, but even they didn’t compare to Tagh. If he let himself be free, Eric could claim Tagh for his very own.

  “You’re so beautiful.” The words left his lips before Eric meant for them to. Shock froze him in place as he waited for Tagh to say something.

  “I think you are, too.”

  The smile Tagh sent Eric’s way stole his breath, and Eric’s cock wanted to come out and join the party. “Can I see the rest of you? When you were down in the infirmary, Vance had you second-skinned to help you heal, so I didn’t really get a good look at you. Then when you woke up, you got dressed and I completely missed the show.”

  “I’ll show you mine, but only if you show me yours,” Murtagh teased.

  Eric blushed. “What are we, like twelve or something, and playing doctor for the first time?”

  Still, it didn’t stop him from rising to his feet and slowly taking off his clothes. He tossed them onto a chair and waited for Tagh to do the same with his. He held his breath with each sexy bit of skin Tagh revealed. His fingers itched to reach out and caress everything he saw. The need to explore Tagh’s body felt far stronger than any he’d ever experienced. He wasn’t a virgin. He knew what he needed to do, but none of those other men he’d been with had been his True One, and Eric started to believe that was exactly what Tagh would turn out to be.

  “I need to touch you,” Tagh said at the same time he stepped toward Eric.

  Eric grinned. “Touch away. Just know I’m going to be touching you, as well, so tell me now if there are places where you are still tender so I can try and avoid hurting you even more.”

  “I’m not in pain anymore. Between you and Vance, I’m all healed,” Tagh assured him.

  That was all the reassurance Eric needed. He might lose his ever-loving mind if he didn’t get to touch and taste his mate soon. It finally dawned on him. He wanted the same close bond he saw growing between Mitch and his men. Daven had been right. Fuck what anyone else thought. Now the time had come for him and Tagh to be happy.

  Wild abandon seemed to hijack his body as he threw himself into his soon-to-be lover’s arms. Everything about this felt right. His cock, not wanting to be ignored, became as hard as a rock and pressed against Tagh’s erection. Eric wasn’t even sure he’d last long enough to have sex. He all but climbed Tagh’s body when Tagh pressed a fingertip against his hole.

  “Feels good,” he groaned. Wave after wave of heated lust swamped him, filling him with a need so great he didn’t think he would ever be sated. “Stick it inside me. Make me ready.”

  Holy hell! I’m turning into a wanton slut. Another moan escaped him as Tagh did exactly as asked. In his own need, he hadn’t even realized Tagh had managed to find the lube, open it and slick up his fingers, but the resulting smoothness invading his body and stretching him out soon became pure bliss.

  “My fucking you doesn’t negate the fact that we’ll still need to wed,” Tagh ground out between fierce kisses.

  “No, it just means we’ll both get our rocks off. Now, fuck me before I kick your ass for denying your mate.”

  Chapter Five

  The sexy noises coming from Eric made it hard for Tagh to concentrate on what he needed to do. For so long, he’d waited to be in this exact situation. Trying not to lose the moment, Tagh carefully laid Eric on the bed, then promptly went back to stretching him out. He’d finally found his true home. A place he’d more than willingly come to every night.

  Tagh sensed his warrior essence swirling within him, eager to claim their mate. With his free hand, Tagh took a moment to focus on slicking up his cock. He wanted to be buried balls-deep inside Eric, to feel Eric’s body gripping tightly to his own while Tagh filled his ass.

  The wanton emotion on his mate’s face intoxicated Tagh. His hips moved of their own accord as he slid his fingers free and rubbed the head of his cock along Eric’s crease. Never before had Tagh teased a lover during sex. Usually it was wham-bam-thank-you-man and he left. He knew that with Eric, things were going to be different.

  “Get up.” Tagh didn’t wait for Eric. He gathered their clothes from the armchair and tossed them onto the bed. Tagh dragged the chair until it sat in front of the full-length mirror.

  “Come here.” Tagh sat in the chair and spread his legs. He guided Eric down until he almost sat on his lap, Tagh’s cock sliding into Eric’s body the whole time he slowly descended. Heat engulfed him when a fully seated Eric wiggled against him. Tagh spoke again. “I want you to ride me. I want you to watch yourself in the mirror as you fuck yourself on my cock.”

  Goosebumps broke out across his lover’s skin and Tagh knew just how turned-on Eric was, because he also burned up with his own need. Tagh recited the warrior’s oath inside his head over and over, just to make himself last. The way Eric moved mesmerized Tagh, and the way Eric’s body rose and fell stole his breath.

  “Feels so good. Won’t last. Need to…need…”

  Tagh pulled Eric until his back rested tight against Tagh’s chest. “Keep your eyes open. Keep watching us as you become mine.” He slid his hands over Eric’s hips and used one to cup and fondle his lover’s heavy balls while he began to slowly stroke Eric off with the other. His breath caught in his throat as Eric rocked on him, matching his movements.

  Sex had never been this good before.

  “Look at the way your ass swallows my cock. It’s like you were made for me.” Talking dirty had never been this much fun. Hell, before Eric, Tagh had never spoken during sex. Not being able to lie could have made some situations very awkward.

  “Fuck… Tagh! Oh, God, it feels so good.” Eric ground his ass against Tagh until Tagh felt like he was drowning in want.

  Tagh gently nipped at Eric’s shoulder as he stared into his lover’s eyes via the mirror. With their gazes locked, Tagh chanted the warrior’s oath under his breath. Electricity flowed through him, circling his balls and cock, the need for release ever building.

  Not yet.

  Slowing down their rhythm, Tagh kissed Eric on the nape of the neck before getting him to stand. “It’s time to change position. I’m so not done with you.”

  Still using the chair, Tagh moved Eric until he sat with his ass at the very edge of the seat, and he knelt between his lover’s legs. He couldn’t deny himself and quickly swooped down and sucked Eric’s cock into his mouth, relaxing his throat muscles to allow Eric to slide all the way home. Eric tasted so good. A slight tang, a mixture of sweet and bitter that fit perfectly with Eric. The man’s essence would quickly become something Tagh craved every day, and even then it would never be enough.

  “Shit…Tagh…don’t make me come like this. I want you to be fucking me when I spill.”

  Releasing his tasty treat, Tagh smiled. “You will, but first I want you to flood my mouth. I want to taste the very core of you so your taste is forever embedded in my memory. Then I’m going to fuck you until you spill again.”

  “Okay,” Eric whimpered.

  Tagh swallowed Eric deep again. He liked that Eric had been circumcised. It made everything nice and smooth. This time, Tagh took a moment to swirl his tongue around the head of his lover’s cock and the vein running along its length. Eric’s legs quivered where they rested over Tagh’s shoulders and the more they vibrated, the more Tagh wanted to make his mate come. He hummed in appreciation as Eric gripped his hair and began fucking Tagh’s mouth. He loved being able to make his lover lose control.

  “Tagh!” His name shouted to the rooftops was the only warning he got. Tagh pulled back until just the head of Eric’s cock remained in his mouth so he could drink his lover’s essence without spilling a drop.

  He didn’t even give Eric time to recover before he got to his knees, keeping his lover’s legs positioned over his shoulders, an
d thrust back into Eric’s body. Eric reached out and clasped Tagh’s forearms as Tagh drove home over and over. The faster he fucked, the less coherent Eric became, until in the end Eric filled the room with a never-ending moan.

  The sound of skin slapping on skin became a beautiful accompaniment to the lust-filled sounds Eric emitted. Sweat coated both Tagh and Eric and made it harder for Tagh to retain his hold on Eric legs. In the end, Tagh slid Eric’s legs down and helped Eric lock them around his waist. Tagh continually pounded into him while he leaned down and brought their mouths together in a fiery kiss. Power arced its way through Tagh’s body and the second heat flowed between them and Eric screamed his release into Tagh’s mouth, Tagh came.

  He continued rocking inside Eric, watching as Eric’s eyes closed and a sated, blissed-out look appeared on his face. Tagh’s knees were killing him from spending so much time on the floor, but still he rocked, waiting for his own orgasm to end.

  Guess I forgot to tell Eric a warrior can take anywhere up to two minutes to finish. In truth, releasing this much of their essence and energy into their lover kept them grounded and far from their blood lust. Gentle snoring came from Eric. Tagh smiled down at his sleeping mate and waited for his balls to empty.

  They would have to do this again soon, but preferably in a bed where they’d be nice and comfortable. Maybe he could have a mirror installed on the ceiling above their bed. It was erotic as fuck watching their reflections as they made love.

  With his release finally over, Tagh slid free, gently lifted Eric into his arms and moved him back to the bed. He quickly took a trip to the bathroom to clean up and brought back a damp washcloth to do the same for Eric. No way he wanted Eric to wake up in a sticky or crusty mess.

  Tagh took the washcloth back and tossed it into the bathroom sink before he returned to the room and climbed into bed. If he had been a vampire, he would have said he’d found true release within Eric’s body. Sadly, only vampires called an orgasm ‘true release’.

  Love flowed through him when Eric turned in his sleep and cuddled into Tagh’s side. Exactly how they were meant to spend the rest of their lives. Loving on and protecting each other. And people had better beware if they thought they were going to come between a warrior and his mate.

  * * * *

  Tagh couldn’t get over the change in his mate. Ever since Eric had decided to go with their mating, he’d gone from being standoffish to constantly touching and smiling at him. As far as Tagh was concerned, a happy Eric could only be a very good thing. At the moment, his lover had gone to the kitchen to help Mitch and Yael make lunch for everyone. They still, as yet, hadn’t talked to the princess about Eric’s dreams.

  “You are looking much better than the last time I saw you,” Princess Telarah said as she sat on the sofa beside him. “I’m glad to see my services weren’t needed in the end.”

  “I still hold you to your promise, Lara. You never know what the future holds. You are the only one I trust enough to be able to pull the trigger if the time ever comes.” Tagh stared into his friend’s eyes, hoping she saw the depth of the promise she’d undertaken.

  “Then I’ll always carry what’s needed. I just hope you understand what will happen to your mate if I do have to do this.” The princess frowned at him.

  Tagh understood exactly what it would do to Eric. If Tagh died, Eric would soon follow. After they completed the wedding, their life forces would be forever joined. He also knew how the weight of her promise would wear on the princess. No one wanted to be the person responsible for killing a friend, no matter how much the friend needed killing.

  “I talked to Orion earlier.”

  Tagh gratefully welcomed the change of subject. “And what did he have to say?”

  “There are rumors floating around that since the coup at guild headquarters failed, we truly are amassing an army. People are starting to worry that we’ll be going after them next.”

  The worry sounded plausible. “Eventually, they’ll see the truth of the situation.”

  “We’ve had a few lesser demon clans come knocking at the door, asking to join our side. Apparently, the Simmel and Larkos Clans joining forces has caused quite a stir among demonkind,” the princess said.

  “What are Remi and Orion saying about it all?” There seemed to be so much Murtagh had missed out on.

  Lara shrugged. “I’m not sure what they think about it. Most are still in shock over Orion becoming the leader of the Simmel Clan.”

  “You replace what you kill.” The bit of demon law fell easily from his lips. Demons saw things in black and white. There was never any in-between, especially when it came to their laws.

  “Exactly. The truth is, the two clans have blended beautifully. Their dens have a connection where they can walk from one to the other and both are connected to the main house via the Larkos den. It’s all so complicated, but it seems to work for them.”

  Tagh loved how plainly Lara saw the world. She had been one of his best friends since they were young. She had been the first person he’d ever revealed his warrior secret to, yet there still seemed to be so much about her he didn’t know at all. Like the fact she had once run wild with the Larkos demon clan leader. He’d known of her family connection to the vampire Daven, even if it was only a passing one at best. Neither had seemed to run in the same circles—until now.

  So much in their world would change with the prophesized ones finding their true one. With Isiah and Claudius mating, everyone was now given the freedom to mate outside their species, a thing that had been all but illegal before. Laws that had held their way of life together for so long were going to have to be rewritten. The guild would be very busy in the coming months. Tagh wondered if he’d even be welcomed back as a member, as none of the guild except Lara and the guild master, Simon Tomas, knew his true heritage.

  He wondered how hard it would be for their people as a whole to adapt to all the changes. Truthfully, not everyone was going to be happy about what needed to be done. So many people preferred to mire themselves in the past, living up to the grandeur of lifestyles they used to have. From the second of one fateful mating, the slates had been wiped clean and all species were now created equal.

  “What has you thinking so hard?”

  Tagh smiled as his mate brought him some food. “I’m thinking about how much work the guild’s now going to have rewriting all our laws. There’s going to be so much to do.”

  “You’re worried how your warrior status is going to affect your seat, aren’t you?” Eric seemed to see right to the very heart of the situation.

  “I might not even still have a seat.”

  Lara knocked shoulders with him. “You still have a seat. We made sure of that being one of the conditions when we reinstated Simon as guild master.”

  “The seat might be there, but I’d rather wait and see how the others react to me before I know for sure,” Murtagh answered honestly. He wasn’t going to walk back into guild headquarters and pretend everything was hunky-dory, only to find himself with a knife stuck in his back one day.

  “I’m not letting you quit,” Lara admonished.

  Murtagh stared at her in disbelief. “You don’t have a say.”

  “Silly boy.” She reached out and gently slapped him on the cheek a couple of times. “I’m the princess. I am the guild.”

  Lara seemed to focus on Eric for a moment. “Come on, let’s go somewhere private and you can tell me about your dreams, but know that I’m not in the mood to listen to tales about your sex life.”

  “As if I’d tell you anything about that,” Eric retorted.

  No sooner had Tagh closed the door behind them than Eric blurted out, “I’ve been dreaming about a guy and, before you ask, I don’t know who he is. He’s told me his name is Jory. Hell, I don’t even know if he’s something like a realistic figment of my imagination. He tells me he’s being held prisoner. There are eight cells and each cell contains eight people. He doesn’t know where he is but thinks it�
��s not in the city because the house they are in is surrounded by trees.”

  Tagh remained silent.

  “I promised him that I’d ask you to find him and send help.”

  Holy hell. Could our lives get any more complicated?

  Chapter Six

  As the days passed, Jory and his cellmates became more and more despondent. Each morning they asked him if he’d dreamed of Eric, and each day he had to tell them no. It wasn’t like he purposely tried to block Eric from his dreams. It was more like the connection between them had become locked down tight.

  “Do you think your Eric will turn up soon?” Aileen asked.

  “I don’t know. Maybe Leon’s right and all of this is a dream and not real.”

  She shook her head. “It’s real.”

  “I sure want to believe you’re right.” Jory had a gut feeling that even though he’d been chosen to ‘play’ yesterday, it was going to be him again today. For some reason, Rico had suddenly come to hate his guts. He always mocked him right up until he shoved him into the assigned room and yesterday, the guard had tried to drown him while he’d bathed and probably would have succeeded if another guard hadn’t stepped in and stopped him.

  “Nadal’s not doing well. He’s trying to be brave, but I can see he’s hurting. He keeps rubbing his side when no one is watching,” Aileen whispered.

  Jory didn’t even think about it—he went straight over and checked on Nadal. He lifted the man’s shirt and hissed at what it revealed. The massive purple and black bruises forming on Nadal’s side brought out Jory’s anger. “Who did this?”

  “Rico, who else? He paid for time with me. He made me suck him off before he kicked me over and stomped on me. He said if I told anyone, he’d get me alone and finish the job. I guess he doesn’t want any of his fellow guards knowing he likes to get his cock sucked by another man. I’m tired of him choosing me for the job. Once was enough, but for the last month, he’s hired me once a week.”