The Christmas Curse (The Christmas Curse #1)

Chapter 8

Chapter Eight

M aybe Christmas wouldn’t be ruined after all. Calyx didn’t want to hope too hard just yet, but everyone was staying at the house, and it sounded like they’d stay through Christmas. Yancey had bitched about it, which everyone had expected, but Travis had somehow managed to strong-arm him into sticking around and get his things from the hotel where he’d been staying. It didn’t seem real, but the proof was in the way Yancey stomped his way upstairs to his room.

“Well, if you need me, you know where to find me,” Travis called out after him.

Yancey didn’t react. He vanished around the corner of the hallway upstairs, and after a few moments, they all jumped when they heard a door slam.

“Such a sunny disposition,” Travis drawled.

Calyx snickered. “Yancey has always been like that. He’s grumpy, but he has a heart of gold.”

Travis cocked his head as he watched Calyx. “Does he? Tell me if I’m wrong, but isn’t he angry at you for something you had no say in?”

Calyx glanced back toward the stairs. Justin and Mynor had gone to bed an hour ago, claiming they were tired. From the sounds that had come from Justin’s room soon after, Calyx was pretty sure they hadn’t actually been tired, but he didn’t want to think about his brother doing anything with anyone. He didn’t care that Mynor was a demon. He just didn’t want to think of Justin and sex.

Shelby was still in the kitchen, talking to Caitlin, who had appeared an hour ago and had scared Travis halfway to death. Shelby didn’t seem to have a problem with the fact that she was a ghost, and they’d gone back to the relationship they’d had before she died. Calyx wished he could say the same, but even after a year, he felt uncomfortable in her presence.

It wasn’t because she was dead but rather because of what she’d done about the house. She hadn’t meant anything bad by leaving it to Calyx, but she was the reason Yancey was so angry at him, and it would take a while for Calyx to forgive her for that.

“I should go,” Travis said.

He sounded like he didn’t want to. Calyx didn’t think he was hinting at anything, but even with a full house, they still had an empty bedroom. Calyx doubted Yancey would want to share with Travis, which meant that if Travis was staying with them, he’d have to use Caitlin’s room.

Calyx sighed and gestured at Travis to follow him. “You can stay until Christmas.”

“Are you sure? I don’t want to impose.”

“I'm pretty sure you’re the reason Yancey is staying, and having one more person around isn’t going to change much.”

That was all Calyx had to say to convince Travis, who followed him upstairs. Calyx remembered Travis’s earlier question, and since he didn’t know how much Yancey had told Travis, he decided to answer. “Yes, he’s angry at me for something I can’t change.”

“The house.”

Calyx eyed Travis. “How much do you know?”

“Not a lot, honestly. I’ve heard Yancey rant a few times, so I have a general idea, but I could tell he wasn’t impartial.”

“Our mother adopted all of us. She didn’t have children of her own, and she wanted to do something good for the community. I was the last one to be adopted, and I’m a mage, while the others are other kinds of supernatural creatures. Caitlin’s mother was a mage, and so was she, and I think she felt closer to me because of that. It doesn’t mean she preferred me or anything like that, but she taught me a lot, and she left me the house because it’s a mage’s house.”

“You know, I don’t think Yancey actually wants the house.”

“I don’t think he does, either.” Calyx pushed open the door of Caitlin’s bedroom. It hadn’t been her bedroom in a year, but he’d always think of this room as hers.

It was clean because he came in here once a week to dust and keep things fresh. Travis should be comfortable until Christmas.

“You’ll fix things with Yancey,” Travis said, sounding sure of himself.

“I hope so. I don’t want to lose any of my brothers, especially not over something like this.” Calyx cleared his throat. “There are towels in this closet, and feel free to go downstairs and get stuff from the fridge if you’re hungry.”

“Thank you.”

“Oh, you don’t have to thank me.”

“I do. I’m a stranger, yet you opened your arms and your home to me. I’m pretty sure Yancey wishes you hadn’t.”

Calyx grinned. “Maybe it’s one more reason to keep you around, then.”

“I’m planning on staying as long as I can. Your world is fascinating.”

Calyx couldn’t say he disagreed. He’d been born into it, but he understood how it looked for a human. He remembered watching in awe as his brothers shifted into their animals. He’d always felt like the least special of them because he wasn’t half-demon or half-angel and couldn’t turn into anything. Over the years, he’d realized that wasn’t true, but he remembered feeling that way.

He left Travis in the bedroom and headed toward his. He could still hear Shelby’s voice downstairs, but then, Shelby had always been a night owl. Calyx, on the other hand, woke up early in the morning, mainly as a habit from when he had to gather ingredients at specific times of the night or dawn.

He reached for his door but paused when he heard another one open down the hallway. When he looked up, Griffith was there.

Calyx bit his lower lip. He moved, stopping only once he stood in front of Griffith. “Thank you.”

“What for?” Griffith’s voice was soft and gentle.

“For supporting me through all of this. You had every reason to hate me, but you looked past them, and I’m thankful.”

“I could never hate you, Calyx,” Griffith whispered.

Their gazes met. Calyx had always done his best to keep their relationship as brotherly as possible because that was what they were supposed to be. He could treat the others as brothers without problems, so why not Griffith?

Because he loved him. Because he was in love with him, and he could think of nothing better than kissing him, going to sleep in his arms, waking up with him in the morning, and spending the rest of his life with him. He’d never thought Griffith would want that, too, but as they stared at each other, Calyx wasn’t so sure anymore.

He could see fear lurking in Griffith’s gaze—a fear he felt, too. If he did something stupid, it could backfire. He might lose Griffith.

But he’d lost Griffith for an entire year, and he was okay. He’d been sad and angry, but he was still here. Even if he lost Griffith again, he’d survive.

Calyx decided to be brave and leaned forward. The first brush of their lips was maddeningly light, even though he wanted so much more. He would have to let Griffith set the pace, though. If Griffith wanted this, too, he’d have to be the one to take the next step.

Griffith had suspected that Calyx was in love with him, or at the very least, that he liked him as something other than a brother. They’d both been kind of obvious about it, even though they’d never crossed that line. Griffith hadn’t wanted to risk losing Calyx, and he still didn’t. He probably would never have acted on his feelings.

He hadn’t expected Calyx to be the one to do it, yet here they were, kissing in the hallway.

It didn’t last long. Calyx leaned back almost instantly, but Griffith didn’t let him go far. He hooked a hand around Calyx’s waist and pulled him against his chest, wrapping his arms around him to keep him close. Calyx didn’t hesitate to kiss Griffith again, more deeply this time.

Griffith kissed him back. He wasn’t shocked anymore, but he was eager.

They clung to each other as their tongues met. Griffith gently pushed Calyx, stopping only when Calyx’s back hit the wall. Calyx groaned, and the kiss went from sweet and exploring to something with more heat. Griffith pressed Calyx harder against the wall and devoured him, needing so much more than he could ever get.

A loud giggle made them jump apart. They stared at each other, both panting as they listened to another giggle, then a moan, come from one of the bedrooms—Justin’s. Griffith didn’t want to think about what his brother was doing with Mynor, and he had better things to focus on, anyway.

“Your room?” he whispered.

Calyx grabbed his arm and dragged him in that direction. Griffith laughed. He couldn’t remember ever feeling happier. He certainly hadn’t been over the past year. He’d spent it away from his family and from Calyx, something he shouldn’t have done. He knew how much it had hurt Calyx—and how much it had hurt him, too.

“I’m not leaving again,” he said as they stumbled into Calyx’s bedroom.

“You built a new life away from me,” Calyx murmured.

“It wasn’t a life. I was surviving, but I wasn’t happy, and I wouldn’t have thrived. I know I can do that here with you. I want to do that here with you.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. I love you, Cal. I can’t remember ever not loving you, and I don’t think it’ll ever happen. Now that I have you, I’m never leaving you. You’re stuck with me.”

Calyx pressed closer. “Are we stuck if I want to spend the rest of my life with you? I love you, Griff.”

That was all Griffith needed to hear. Whatever they had to talk about and to hash out, they could do so later. They were together, which was all that mattered.

Griffith guided Calyx toward the bed and gave him a gentle push that made him land on the mattress.

Calyx laughed. He’d never looked more beautiful. Griffith could hardly believe Calyx was his. He couldn’t wait to get him naked, but for a moment, he just watched him. Calyx was his future, his one love. Griffith’s heart felt like it might explode, and since he didn’t want to turn mushy or do something absurd like start crying, he decided it was time to stop thinking and start feeling.

He climbed on the bed, crawling on top of Calyx and leaning down to kiss him. Calyx met him halfway, his lips stretched into a smile. He was soft and pliant, giving Griffith easy access to his body.

Griffith kissed down to Calyx’s neck, then back up to his mouth. He continued kissing Calyx as he pushed up his sweater, revealing pale skin and soft hair. Calyx seemed to be ready for more, too, because he grabbed the bottom of Griffith’s hoodie, pulling it up so Griffith could slide out of it.

Griffith loved that Calyx was as impatient as he was and that he wanted this just as much. They struggled as they tried to take off their upper layers without putting space between them, laughing as Griffith fell sideways and got trapped in his t-shirt. He felt Calyx’s hands on him, and when he was finally free, he found a half-naked Calyx watching him with flushed cheeks and a smile that illuminated the room.

They kissed again. Griffith stroked his hands up Calyx’s chest and pulled him closer, hooking one arm around his neck. He moved down and stopped at Calyx’s chest. He didn’t know what Calyx liked or disliked yet, but not everyone enjoyed attention on their nipples.

It looked like Calyx did because when Griffith sucked one between his lips, he moaned and rolled his hips. Griffith grinned and decided to dedicate more time to Calyx’s chest. He felt smug when he saw that Calyx’s cock tented his pants. He wanted to make Calyx happy in bed as much as outside of it.

Calyx was impatient. He pushed a hand between them to open Griffith’s jeans and grinned against Griffith’s mouth. Griffith had no idea how much experience Calyx had—he’d never brought anyone home, but then, neither had Griffith. He’d imagined Calyx would be shy in bed, so he was surprised when he rolled them so that Griffith was under him.

Griffith watched Calyx as he licked down his chest and stomach. He was sure his eyes were wide, and while this wasn’t what he’d expected would happen, he loved it. Calyx might be meek and shy in his everyday life, but in bed, he knew what he wanted.

Calyx looked up as he came to a stop, hovering over Griffith’s open jeans. His cheeks were flushed, and his pupils wide. He was the most beautiful man Griffith had ever seen. Right now, he wasn’t the gentle Calyx he showed everyone else. Under Griffith’s touch, he looked sexy and happy, which was how Griffith always wanted him. He’d do anything to make Calyx feel beautiful.

Calyx opened Griffith’s jeans more widely and reached in. He leaned down to kiss Griffith’s stomach, focusing on his belly button as his fingers dragged along Griffith’s length. He was slow and thorough, driving Griffith nuts.

And they weren’t even naked yet.

Calyx helped Griffith out of his jeans. They got stuck around Griffith’s ankles—of course they did—making Griffith curse and Calyx laugh. Griffith tried to wriggle his way out of them, but he forgot all about it when Calyx’s lips closed around his cock. Griffith groaned, pressing the back of his head against the pillow as he allowed Calyx to do whatever he wanted with him. He trusted him with his life, never mind his body.

Griffith couldn’t look away from Calyx as he sucked him. It was hard not to reach for him, but Griffith wasn’t sure how Calyx would feel about that, so he clutched the comforter he was stretched out on instead.

Calyx was clearly inexperienced—he used a little too much teeth and choked once when he tried taking too much of Griffith in—but that didn’t stop him. He lavished Griffith’s cock with kisses and wrapped his fingers around its root, driving Griffith nuts as he sucked him.

“Do we need condoms?” Griffith asked. Calyx used his magic to keep himself healthy, just like Caitlin had done for their family, but Griffith didn’t want to assume.

“No need. We do need lube, though.”

He let go of Griffith and reached for the nightstand. Griffith took the opportunity to finally take off his jeans and boxers, then leaned down to remove his socks. Calyx had been wearing soft pajama pants, but when Griffith rolled toward him, he found him completely naked.

He was as impatient as Griffith, which Griffith loved.

Calyx’s skin was pink all over, and his eyes were wide. Griffith wanted to devour him, but instead, he reached for the lube that Calyx was loosely holding. Calyx stretched out on his back, exposing his lithe body, and Griffith couldn’t look away.

He’d imagined this moment many times, but it was even better than what his brain had come up with. Calyx wasn’t tall, and Griffith was pretty sure that if he wanted to, he could completely cover him with his body. Calyx’s skin was pale everywhere, and he was almost hairless, with only a light trail of hair going from his belly button to his cock.

The flush extended to his cock, making it look deliciously pink where it was nestled in blond curls. Griffith wasn’t sure where to start. He wanted to feel Calyx’s cock in him but also to suck it. He wanted Calyx to fuck him almost as much as he wanted to fuck Calyx.

What was he supposed to do?

His fingers shook as he opened the lube. He still didn’t know what he was about to do—who he was about to prep—but Calyx solved that for him when he folded his legs and pressed his feet into the mattress.

He was offering himself up to Griffith.

Griffith slicked his fingers and dropped the lube before reaching for Calyx. He gently touched a finger to Calyx’s hole, almost afraid that Calyx would vanish. It still felt like a dream.

Calyx sighed, and his body relaxed. He was allowing Griffith to take care of him. He trusted him.

Griffith was careful because he never wanted to do anything that would break the absolute trust that Calyx seemed to have in him. He didn’t want to ask how much experience Calyx had, and it didn’t matter, anyway. Griffith would have been careful even if he and Calyx had been making love regularly.

He took his time, even though it felt like the hardest thing he’d ever done. Once he had Calyx pushing back against his fingers and moaning loudly enough that there was no way their brothers couldn’t hear it, he knew it was time for more. He’d reached the end of his patience, and he suspected Calyx had, too.

He slipped his fingers out, cleaned them on his leg, and knee-walked between Calyx’s thighs. He leaned down and kissed Calyx’s shoulder. “Ready?”

“I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time.”

“Me too.”

Griffith positioned himself and pressed into Calyx. Calyx tensed, but it was expected. Griffith went slow and steady so he wouldn’t hurt Calyx any more than necessary. Calyx felt tight around him, and with the way he tensed, Griffith suspected he didn’t do this often.

Calyx’s breath hitched, but he finally relaxed as Griffith pressed all the way inside of him. They stopped moving as if memorizing the moment. Griffith didn’t think he would ever forget this night, no matter how many times they did this during the rest of their lives.

He started moving. He kept kissing Calyx as he made love to him, but those kisses quickly became little more than a press of the lips as they both panted and tried to breathe. Griffith rolled his hips, giving Calyx all he could.

Calyx wrapped his legs around Griffith’s waist and crossed his ankles, pressing his feet against Griffith’s ass and using the tight hold he had on him to encourage his movements. He met Griffith thrust for thrust, showing him how much he wanted this.

Calyx arched his back, pressing impossibly closer. Griffith reached between them to grab Calyx’s cock. Calyx whimpered and tried to push closer. He clung to Griffith’s shoulders, digging his blunt nails into his skin. Griffith would proudly wear the signs, but he was glad it was winter and that their brothers wouldn’t be able to see them. They’d already have to deal with enough teasing as it was because they weren’t exactly being quiet.

Calyx shuddered and moaned as he came. His cock pulsed and his body tightened around Griffith. Griffith gritted his teeth and fucked Calyx through his orgasm, reaching his just a few moments later.

He screwed his eyes shut and buried his face against Calyx’s shoulder as he tried catching his breath. Calyx hugged him close and stroked his hands up and down Griffith’s back. Griffith had never felt so loved.

“We should have done this a long time ago,” he murmured. He couldn’t bear to think about all the time they’d wasted.

“All that matters is that we did.”