His heart raced as he watched him shut the door and then perch awkwardly on the opposite side of the bed. Brodie’s dark hair was black and blended perfectly with the shadows beyond, and Archie couldn’t help but also take a good look at his exposed flesh. It was the first time he’d seen his new beau without a t-shirt on, and he was surprised by how slim he was. Brodie was also black skinned—literally. He was darker than anyone he’d ever met before, but he liked it. Unlike the other creatures he’d come to know these past few months, Brodie didn’t blend in. He wasn’t just another part of the crowd, and actually, Archie thought he did look kind of otherworldly. He also looked as if he hadn’t eaten in months, which he knew was technically true with him being a jinni and all, but was still surprised he wasn’t more toned. Not after he’d seen for himself how easily Brodie had taken down the werewolf keeping him and Rosalie hostage.
And yet, while he wasn’t as muscularly built as Archie had become, he knew Brodie was a hundred times stronger. Even after having worked out hard these past few months, Archie knew he would be no match for him in a fight, visible muscles or not. However, the last thing he seemed to want was fight.
“Ever since I was turned, I’ve only ever had one lover,” Brodie suddenly whispered, and he looked down at his hands as he spoke. Archie thought it endearing how inept he was at expressing his feelings, and found it odd that he remained so shy after being alive for as long as he had been. It was like he really hadn’t been able to show emotion without his lost soul mate to guide him.
“Your wife?” he whispered, and Brodie nodded.
“Ada. She was a jinni and when I was a human, she asked me to be her host, which was when we fell in love. I don’t remember much about my life before her, but I do remember one thing. A man,” he revealed, and then finally lifted his gaze to Archie’s, “he was a lot like you, and I cared for him deeply. I remember his face and the way I felt with him, and I remember us being together in secret. In those days you couldn’t have relations with other men. It wasn’t the done thing, and so we pretended not to care. Pretended to be friends.”
“But you weren’t. You were lovers?” he asked incredulously. He hadn’t expected to hear this and was desperate to know more.
“I think so, but I don’t remember much more. I don’t even know his name, but I know how I felt, and I feel the same now. About you…” Brodie told Archie, and he felt his cheeks flush red. It was the most honest the jinni had been in days, and damn, if it wasn’t the hottest thing he had ever heard.
This also meant he hadn’t been kidding before when he’d said he liked him. As in, like more than a friend. It was the best news he’d heard in days.
“We’ll take things slowly. Find our way. I’m not going anywhere and I’m only young. We’ve got lots of time to figure this out,” he replied, and wanted to kick himself for moving so quickly. But also had to remember, he wouldn’t stay young forever. Ideally, they needed to make plans while they still could.
“Well, that was what I wanted to know. Do you still want this, knowing that I won’t age? Would you be happy growing older beside me, or do you want something else?”
“As in, would I like to become on of your kind?” Archie had to ask.
“Yes, but then we’d be forced to live off one another’s life force and so one at a time would remain whole. Or we can try another way, but it’d mean you becoming something else entirely.”
“What do you mean?” he asked, trying to fathom how he could become his host while not necessarily dying himself. If that were even possible?
“Vampire…” he explained, and Archie paled, “Jinn are created via possession, as you know. We take the life force of another before sharing just that small snippet in return to complete the transition of the host. But vampires are created by magic. They embody it and feed the dark essence within them in return for immortal life. If you turned, I would be able to feed on that force and would remain whole as long as you fed.”
Well, that killed his buzz a bit. Archie honestly hadn’t thought of things that way.
He frowned and sat back on his pillow, and Brodie rearranged himself so that he was then lying on top of the duvet beside him. “If you turned, I wouldn’t have to go back to being naught but mist, and we could stay together forever. No time limits. No growing older. No taking it in turns to live…”
“I don’t know whether or not I want that life though, Brodie. I can’t see myself as one of them, but I know I want to stay with you,” he answered honestly, “how long do you have until you’ll need a host?” he then added. The more time they had the better really, and he would gladly wait it out before making any kind of a decision.
“A couple of years,” he answered, and Archie let out a relieved sigh. That was plenty of time to decide, and they also had the chance to explore what their connection was too. Brodie wasn’t ready for a big push, that was clear, but he’d made a good start and had opened up about what was on his mind, and Archie was glad.
He’d take that over stoic silence any day, and turned onto his side to face him.
“So we’ve got time,” he replied.
Brodie turned on his side too, mirroring him.
“Yeah, we’ve got time,” he confirmed, “I just knew I had to tell you sooner than later. I don’t want you to ever think I’ve misled you or used you. If you don’t want either of those options, then you’re free to walk away, Archie. I’ll never force you to stay or do anything you don’t want to.”
“And what if I do?”
“Then I’ll be the happiest jinni alive,” he answered with a smile, and Archie couldn’t help himself. He leaned forward and placed a kiss against Brodie’s lips. He’d tried to go in gently, but had somehow ended up planting a serious one on him, and when he didn’t pull away, Archie went for it. He leaned up over Brodie and it was a surprise when the jinni grabbed his hair and pulled him closer. Before he knew it he was straddling him on the bed and they were rubbing up against each other, neither one daring to touch anything other than the other’s face with their hands, while their bodies clearly had other ideas.
Archie was rock hard and was beginning to regret not having taken care of things in the shower. Brodie wasn’t ready for them to take things too far. He hadn’t needed to say so, but Archie could just tell. He had been honest about his lack of physical contact with anyone over the last few hundred years and while it wasn’t like Archie had been wild in his past, he’d still had plenty of experience in the bedroom and knew how he liked things. He had a feeling he’d have to guide Brodie. It was a good thing he was a ‘top’ and wasn’t afraid of a little hard work.
But first, they needed to continue working on getting Brodie to open up.
“Put my hands wherever you want me to touch you. No bounds,” he murmured against his lips, and his suspicions were confirmed when his beau placed Archie’s palms back against his cheeks rather than on his naked chest or the erection he felt pressing against his thigh. “Okay, and now you touch me wherever you want. I’ve no qualms so the same goes…”
Brodie began at his shoulders and then worked his way down over his pecs and stomach. They continued to kiss as he roved, and Archie enjoyed the simple act of making out and having a little grope and grind. He would’ve gladly settled for that, but then in a surprise move, Brodie then slipped his hands beneath the waistband of his pyjama trousers and gripped his arse cheeks with both of them.
Archie let out a small laugh but didn’t stop him. He’d said there were no bounds, and if Brodie wanted to touch him there, then that was perfectly fine. It did nothing to quell his desire though, and he soon found himself wondering what sort of a lover Brodie would be.
Archie had always liked to be the big spoon. He would be the one doing the fucking, rather than the other way around, but knew he’d figure things out as time moved on. Lovemaking was about give and take, after all, but the jinni beneath him was sure in a brave mood. There was no ignoring their two huge hard-ons, but Archie kept
his hands where they were and continued to kiss his new lover, even as Brodie swept his hands around his waist and to the front.
Archie let out a deep, rumbled sigh when he gripped him hard with one hand and began to move up and down with his lithe fingers and huge palm, and then felt it as Brodie smiled against him. But then he moved his head to the side and placed a kiss against Archie’s jaw.
“I want to see you,” Brodie whispered, removing the hands from his cheeks and pushing them down onto his chest instead, meaning that Archie was now bowed up over him. He followed Brodie’s lead and then he peered down at his body, taking in the view.
His right hand didn’t stop working his hard-on, and then with his left, Brodie pushed his pyjamas down off his hips and around his thighs. Archie was completely on show, but he didn’t care. He was proud of his body and his modest sized little buddy, and when he saw the fire in Brodie’s eyes as he took him in, he knew his lover liked what he was seeing too. “Beautiful,” the jinni whispered, and it was all Archie needed to send him over the edge.
He warned Brodie to stop and grab a tissue, but he refused, and a few seconds later it was too late. He’d passed the point of no return and was bucking against his hold, releasing his climax onto the slim dark stomach beneath him with a groan.
Archie made quick work of cleaning up the mess, but he tried his best not to move away completely, not wanting to break the contact until he had to. Their connection was truly flourishing and the last thing he wanted was for Brodie to think he wanted to get away now that he’d shot his load.
When things were nicely cleaned up and he’d tucked himself back into his pyjamas, he gave Brodie the chance to take the lead again, and stroked his hands across the jinni’s bare chest.
“Show me what you want. I can do the same for you if you would like me to?” he whispered, but Brodie shook his head no.
“Can you just hold me?” he answered timidly, and Archie nodded. He then climbed beneath the covers behind his delicate lover, and there, he wrapped the jinni in his arms and cradled him. This wasn’t like anything Archie had been used to before and he couldn’t deny it was taking a great deal of patience not to push the limits. He expected for Brodie to move his hands lower, but no. The jinni simply wanted to be held, and so, with their hands entwined, Archie hugged him tightly. He gave him what he needed, and eventually fell asleep, and sensed Brodie with him the entire time.
Even though Jinn never slept, he didn’t leave. He didn’t move away either, or seem to busy himself with some reading or anything. He just stayed there all night long and had Archie hold him close. Like somehow, they were already a couple.
Three
When Archie woke the next morning, Brodie watched him rouse with a smile. It had been nice lying there with him, and he was pleased to see Archie seemed glad he’d stayed. The jinni had switched position though and was now on his back so that his beau was lying with his head on his chest. He watched as the human opened his eyes and, presumably on some kind of sleepy instinct, ran his hands over Brodie’s bare torso.
It was a gentle, tender move. Nothing sordid, and yet, he wanted to clam up again. However, Brodie knew there couldn’t be any more of that. Not after what’d happened the night before. They had started to share, and now there was no going back.
Archie knew about his past and how he’d lived since losing Ada. If he could call it living. And he also knew about the years before her. The time when he too was a mere mortal. A human with desires he hadn’t indulged in for a long time.
Wanting more again after so long was terrifying, especially with a man, but Brodie was starting to feel ready to face that dread head on. He’d been beaten as a young man for wanting the company of other men, and so even now he struggled with the feelings he was developing for Archie. Times had changed and those urges were no longer seen in the same way, but Brodie still remembered the lashings he’d been forced to withstand. And of course the victimisation and the brutality he and others like him had endured.
It’d been a welcome relief to find a woman he cared for enough to help hide his true nature, and of course their life together had started as nothing more than a deal between a human and a jinni needing a home. She had given him protection and companionship in return for his life force, but that relationship had changed with time and, much like with Wynter, he had grown to care for her. But unlike his most recent companion, he’d begun to love Ada, and she had loved him back.
But then she’d been taken from him, and by the highest power of all—death herself.
The white-cloaked Lady had decided her fate and enlisted the vampire assassin to carry out her bidding. It had been horrible to hear, but thanks to having discovered the truth at last, Brodie knew there would be no vengeance he could seek against the ancient creature of darkness. No justice. All he could do was accept it. The Lady of Death was, after all, the wisest judge of them all.
And while he was coming to terms with Ada’s final judgement, he was also beginning to love again. Beginning to care. Starting to feel.
“Good morning,” he croaked, and smiled down at Archie when he turned his pale brown eyes up to meet his gaze.
“Mornin’,” he replied in his delectable Scottish twang. “You okay?” he asked, and Brodie thought it odd how it was Archie who was asking him. Of course he was okay, but actually it was nice to have someone ask. Archie was soon showing his true nature. It was clear already how he was the stronger one between them, and while glad to have such an intuitive partner, he was shocked by how in control he seemed to be. So dominant, despite his delicate mortal body.
“I’m fine,” Brodie answered, “why?”
“You just seemed lost in your own head is all,” Archie replied, and then he leaned up and laid a soft kiss against his lips.
“You know me, man of few words,” he joked, “but yeah, I was thinking how glad I am to have found this.”
“This? As in us?” he asked him, and Brodie nodded.
“Without a doubt,” he answered, and then pulled him close again. He wasn’t ready to let go in the slightest, and while things would have to move relatively slowly while he adjusted, he knew Archie didn’t mind. It’d been so long since Brodie had let anyone get close, and it was going to take some getting used to. He’d vowed never to love another woman after Ada had been taken from him, and he’d stuck to that promise. Fundamentally, he still was, and knew that wherever she was, she wouldn’t begrudge him the chance to love again.
They were still lazing happily in one another’s arm when a timid knock came at the door, and Archie sat up in surprise. They both knew Rafferty wouldn’t need to knock, but that he also wouldn’t ever have a reason to disturb them, so there was only one other person left that could possibly be on the other side of the door. Rosalie. It’d been over a week since they’d last properly laid eyes on her, and it was agreed they would let her be until she made the first move and sought their company once again. She had a lot to deal with after all, and Brodie didn’t envy her for the things she must see when she closed her eyes. Or the memories that had to be haunting her dreams, and probably would continue to forevermore.
“Come in,” Archie called, and even though they were both covered, Brodie bristled. He didn’t want Rosalie seeing him half naked and in bed with another man. That wasn’t the proper way, and he quickly dematerialised so as to be invisible for when the door inched open.
Brodie then conjured up some clothing and reappeared in time for Rosalie rounding the doorway, but rather than place himself back in bed beside Archie, the jinni materialised into the small armchair across the room.
His new lover did a double take, but said nothing, however Brodie saw his brow furrow and give his reaction away. He was not impressed, but hid those thoughts as he focused on their guest and smiled up at her, patting the duvet so that she might take a seat beside him.
Brodie wanted to tell him off. Surely the last thing Rosalie wanted was to sit beside an undressed man with merely a blanket
between them? And yet, she readily joined Archie on the bed and actually smiled across at him, as though utterly at ease with his nakedness.
Times certainly had changed indeed!
“I just wanted to thank you both for everything you’ve done for me,” she whispered to Archie, and then she turned her head and looked over at Brodie, who felt himself thaw when he peered back into her bloodshot eyes. Damn, he was growing soft after the past few months spent with Wynter in his head. “I couldn’t have survived much longer there with him.”
“You’re very welcome, Rosalie. I’m only sorry we hadn’t realised sooner,” Brodie answered, and even Archie seemed surprised to hear it. He knew he hadn’t exactly worn his heart on his sleeve, but he wasn’t heartless either. He cared about those he held dear and after seeing the poor and sorry state that werewolf had left her in, he found he cared for Rosalie too.
“So, it’s true? You live here?” she asked, and the two men nodded.
“Yes, and you’re welcome to stay with us if you’d like? Or, we can take you back to the mainland. It’s your choice,” Archie replied, and she smiled and nodded.
But then Brodie noticed Rosalie alter her position on the bed ever so slightly as though she were uncomfortable. Anyone else might’ve thought she was simply getting cosier, but he could tell there was something else to it. The poor girl was trying to hide her secret, but the jinni could sense it a mile away. She was pregnant. Probably only one month along, but she knew it. Rosalie also knew she would need medical help before long and would have to return to the mainland to get it, and yet, something made her want to stay. And to keep quiet about her condition.
She then left without much more being said between the trio, and as soon as the door closed behind her, Brodie leaned towards Archie and told him the news. “Ah, shit,” he groaned, “neither of us will know what to do when the time comes. Why didn’t she tell us?”
Even in Death Page 3