Phoenix Found (Brothers of Fire #5)

Chapter 27

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Oliver really wasn’t sure what he’d be waking up to when daylight crept through the curtains. The doubts had crept in last night while Perrin showered. It was clear that Perrin was uncomfortable from the way he requested that all the lights stay off.

Guilt had followed the doubts. He’d pushed too hard, wanting to feed his own curiosity instead of thinking about how Perrin had been raised. His family thought he was safer hiding because that’s what they’d always done. Even though they lived and worked in the castle, surrounded by plenty of paranormals.

He ran his fingers over Perrin’s hand, liking the way it rested on his stomach. No claws tipped his fingers this morning.

“Checking to see if you’re cuddling with a man or a monster?” Perrin tried to pull his hand away, but Oliver kept hold.

“Don’t call yourself that.” And while last night he’d claimed that all his reading had given him plenty of insights into the world, in daylight, he didn’t know how to deal with people. With his boyfriend. “I’m sorry I demanded you come inside last night.”

“Sleeping in a bed is much nicer than sleeping on the floor.” His lips brushed the back of Oliver’s neck, causing a shiver of heat to thread through his blood. “That is not the problem.”

Oliver frowned. “Is it because I followed you?”

“That you saw me feed. I can’t forget that, and I doubt you will.”

“Why do I need to forget? Explain it without calling yourself a monster.”

“Because it’s disgusting.”

“You were eating.”

“You really want to kiss me now you’ve seen that? Or is there a reason you’re facing away from me?”

“I woke up like this, with you curled up against me.” And he hadn’t wanted to move and wake Perrin up, nor had he wanted to leave him to wake alone.

“You’re nice and warm, and even in my sleep, I can’t resist you.”

Oliver smiled, then rolled over to face Perrin. He was back to looking human, all pale green eyes and plush lips made for kissing. And for sucking dick, no matter what he looked like. He pressed a kiss to Perrin’s lips, but he didn’t open his mouth.

“I meant it. I’m not disgusted. You are what you are. You can’t change that any more than I can stop being a shifter.”

His magic was a lot more inconvenient and dangerous than Perrin’s.

Perrin studied him as if searching for lies or half-truths. “Our first night together.”

Oliver grinned. “I wasn’t sure I’d be able to sleep with someone else in the bed. But I did.”

“You didn’t mind me snuggling up? ”

“I’m not sure I could go to sleep like that, but I liked waking up that way.” He moved a little closer, wanting Perrin to feel how much he liked it. Their knees bumped together, and the head of his erection tapped Perrin’s. He sucked in a breath, hoping Perrin had noticed.

Perrin groaned. “My belly is too full.”

Oliver skimmed his hand down Perrin’s side, then over his still-swollen stomach. “Wow…does it hurt?”

“No. I grew up hearing horror stories of ghouls who returned to human-looking too fast after eating and ripped their guts open.”

“That’s why you sleep it off.”

“Yeah. By tonight, it will be much less.”

He spread his fingers over Perrin’s stomach. It was like he was pregnant. “But you still have to work? You won’t fit into your pants.”

“Stop grinning about it. I have post-feed pants, and lying around doesn’t help digestion.”

He let his hand slide lower, brushing over Perrin’s dick but not stopping. “Are you embarrassed about your belly?”

“Maybe. I’ve never…” He sighed. “I’ve never woken up with someone.”

“Same.”

“I don’t discuss feeding with anyone either. This is all usually private…or with family.”

“So what happens at the castle?”

“Half a cow, or a couple of sheep, are ordered in. The meat is placed in a cellar, and we eat and sleep it off in a nearby room.”

“Oh…so no one ever sees.”

No one ever saw Perrin unless he was in control and working.

“Correct. ”

“And no one ever touches you.” He trailed his fingers over Perrin’s stomach.

“I touch people when I go to a nightclub. There’s dancing and stuff… What point are you making?”

“That your life was not so different to mine, only yours was all self-imposed.”

Perrin caught his hand and brought it to his lips. “I have always known what I am. My parents never lied.”

“The end result is the same. You’re as terrified of walking beyond the confines as I am.”

“I’m not scared. I’m cautious. I don’t want people hunting me, and I don’t want my father coming after you.” There was a flicker of fear in Perrin’s eyes as though both were a possibility.

“I will burn anyone who threatens you.” And he was hard to kill, mostly because when he shifted, he had no body—he did not look forward to shifting again because it was very disconcerting to be made of fire, and he didn’t know where he was going to shift. The cellar wasn’t big enough.

Perrin smiled. “Same.” He rolled onto his back. “We can cuddle for a bit if you’d like?”

Oliver rested his head on Perrin’s shoulder. His hand rested on Perrin’s stomach. “Does it hurt when you stretch?”

“No. My stomach doesn’t hurt now, but all my energy is being spent digesting. I usually make sure I have a day off or office duties after a feed.”

“I can give you the day off.”

“I have costings to do. I’ll be fine.” He gave Oliver’s ass a squeeze. “I will make it up to you tonight.”

Oliver smiled as he relaxed into the embrace. It would be very easy to get used to waking up with Perrin.