These Wondrous Moments (Fates)

2. Cade

Cade

“How’s your mom?” Kai asks quietly, not wanting to disturb Ellis or Sterling.

After we decorated the tree, we sat on the couch and drank spiked hot chocolate and bathed in the Christmas lights while talking. None of us even paid attention to how long we lounged around and chatted until Ellis fell asleep, and Sterling not long after her.

Now, she leans against my shoulder with my arm around her middle and her legs thrown over Sterling’s lap. Kai’s on the floor between my legs with his head resting on my thigh. His hair is like silk as I glide my fingers through the strands.

“I think she’s doing a lot better,” I say, just as quietly. “Getting an apartment helped. It made her feel like she has more of a say in her life. Something she’s not used to. And my sister being there has made it possible.” I pause for a second, thinking through how to say what I want. “I told her about Ellis. All of it. The Harpy thing, the Shields, the mate bonds with all three of us.” I bite my lip, hesitating. “I told her about you.”

He lifts his head up to look at me, his gray eyes bottomless and breathtaking. “You did?”

“Yeah. She asked me a lot of questions and seemed to be pretty curious.”

“Good curious? Or bad curious?” He searches my face for any hint at all.

“Good curious. She said one day she wants to meet all of you, especially you and Ellis, but she’s just not comfortable with people yet.”

He nods and lays his head back, but I don't miss the smile that turns up the corners of his lips. “And what about your sister? I mean I know she’s giving Cole hell, but has she said anything to you about it?”

I snort softly. “Poor Cole. I don’t envy him at all. Chloe has always been sassy and headstrong. I can’t even imagine all the grief she’s giving him. But we haven’t talked a lot about it. I want to give her time to figure it out. I think she’s coming around though.”

“Are you two doing okay?” he asks. “I know it was a little strained at first.”

“Yeah. It was weird being an adult around her. I was so young when she was taken, and I think I was worried about what she’d think about me. Like, what kind of a person I grew into.”

Kai pinches my calf before looking at me. “How the hell could she not see you for the person you are? Caring. Selfless. Brave. There is nothing for her to not be proud of.”

A lump grows in my throat, and I swallow it. Kai’s eyes glimmer as he no doubt picks up the emotion swirling in me.

“I mean it,” he whispers, sitting up straighter. “I couldn’t be more proud to stand next to you. As Ellis’s Shield, as your friend, as your … more than friend? What the hell are we? Lovers sounds too fucking weird.”

I chuckle. “Family,” I say, tightening my grip in his hair, like if I hold on hard enough he won’t disappear.

It’s only been three months, and the fear still hits at random moments. The worry that one of them might not be there when I wake up in the morning. The uncertainty that the future will be stolen away from me. I know I’m not the only one who still struggles with it. We all do, but Ellis does especially. And I’m not sure she’ll ever really get over it.

Kai frowns as all of this is sent into the ether for his empath abilities to pick up. He pushes to his knees and leans into my space, his breath fanning over my mouth as he says, “Family. That sounds … perfect.”

Then he closes the distance and presses his lips to mine. I know he means for the kiss to be sweet, but I need more than that right now. When the fear hits, sometimes I just need to feel them. To know they are still with me, and will always be with me.

I run my tongue along the seam of his lips and he opens for me, letting me sweep in and claim him. His hands on my thighs tighten before sliding up to the waistband of my pants. I stop him and break away with a deep breath.

“Wait,” I whisper, looking at Ellis and Sterling.

As gently as I can, I slide out from under her, laying her down and placing a pillow under her head. She murmurs something unintelligible before rolling over. Sterling opens his eyes and blearily takes in the scene. Without a word, he flops to the side, wrapping his arms around Ellis and burying his face in her stomach. They are both breathing deeply in seconds.

Kai and I watch them for a moment before he threads his fingers through mine and leads me upstairs. Anticipation swirls in my gut, thickening my cock already and we haven’t even done anything. In the bedroom, he closes the door and backs me to the bed, fingers just barely grazing my hips, teasing the skin there and making me shiver.

“I’m going to make you forget every one of those fears.” His breath is warm against my neck where he whispers the words, his lips a soft brush that has me aching for more. “I’m going to make you forget all of the uncertainty. I’m going to make you forget your own godsdamn name.”

His words burrow deep into my bones, vibrating and resonating. With my hands under his shirt, fingers tracing his cool skin, I can feel his heart thumping madly behind his ribs. I know mine is beating just as hard in anticipation of what’s to come.

He holds himself back, fingers always just barely touching, lips just barely hovering. It drives me wild, waiting for his touch, waiting for him to claim me. And as much as I want to growl at him to hurry the fuck up, I swallow my words and savor the slow build and increasing tension.

Letting go with Kai has always been so incredibly freeing. Being able to submit, to let someone else take control, gives me a sense of euphoria I can’t find anywhere else. Not even with Ellis. I don’t have to worry with Kai. I don’t have to make sure I’m not hurting him. I don’t have to worry about ensuring he finds his own pleasure. I can just … be. Not that I don’t love being with Ellis. Of course I do. I love being her protector. I love giving her pleasure and getting my own from her. It’s just different with Kai. It always has been.

Kai's fingers move away from my hips, sliding up my abs, over my chest. At the same time his tongue licks up the column of my throat, and my head falls back.

"Arms up," Kai breathes.

My arms raise of their own accord because I'm pretty sure all coherent thought has fled. My cock aches, pressing against my jeans almost painfully, and I just want Kai to take it in his hand or mouth.

Instead, he lifts my shirt over my head, tossing it behind him to the floor. His fingers lazily trail over my shoulders and chest, white his lip and tongue graze my neck.

"What are you thinking about right now?" Kai asks, his voice low and dark.

"Your mouth around my cock," I gasp as I slide my hands up to tangle in his hair.

He chuckles, the sound snaking through me, making my stomach clench with desire. "Patience, my valiant mage, patience." One of his fangs grazes the sensitive skin just below my ear and I moan, cock throbbing.

"Kai," I breathe. I tug his hair, urging, pleading with him.

When his fingers finally undo the button of my jeans and tug down the zipper, my legs are shaking with unrestrained need. Kai tugs down my pants, freeing my cock, and kneeling on the floor in front of me at the same time.

Just the sight of him on his knees, his gray eyes watching me with hunger and something deeper, almost makes me come. And when he wraps his hand around my cock, his touch so cool against my warmth, I grit my teeth and thrust into his hand.

He luckily doesn't make me wait too long before licking up the underside of my length and taking the head into his mouth.

"Fuck, Kai," I breathe, tugging the strands of his hair in my fists.

He hums, and his eyes sparkle with delight, fingers digging sharply into my thighs. I'm so keyed up by his teasing, I'm already on the edge. And when his fang brushes my shaft, I happily fall.

Only all of my training and exercise keeps me from collapsing as my orgasm crashes through me. I thrust my hips against Kai's face, and he takes it all, swallowing down every last drop.

When Kai pulls away and wipes his thumb along his lower lip, fangs on display, I groan. My chest heaves, and my heart pounds, but despite my orgasm, desire continues to roar through me. I know more is coming. I know those fangs will find their way to my neck, and that thought alone drives me wild.

Kai stands and pushes me backward. I fall onto the mattress, sinking into the plush surface. He takes his time stripping out of his clothes, and if it weren't for the depth of the emotions in the room, I'd make a joke about him making a good stripper.

"Roll over, Cade." Kai pumps his hand up and down the length of his hard cock, piercings catching the dim lighting as he does so.

I do as he says, breath hitching. The bed dips as he kneels on either side of my legs, and I start when he drags one finger down my spine. He grabs my hips roughly and lifts them, and I let him. Enjoying the freedom of him taking control, and really enjoying the rougher side of him that comes out when he does it.

I close my eyes, burying my face in the sheets. Something about not being able to see what's happening heightens my anticipation, swirling my desires even higher.

I don't know what he does, but I don't hear the pop of the cap to the lube, so when his lubed fingers slide inside me, I groan in surprise, and bite the sheet between my teeth.

With my eyes closed, my other senses are heightened, and I can hear Kai's deep, uneven breathing. He's trying his hardest to restrain himself. Even the bed is trembling under his shaking.

"Do it, Kai. Fuck me." I say, breathing just as unevenly as him.

He snaps. The tip of his cock presses against my entrance, and I brace myself for him to push in. My fingers grip the sheets with each inch, and I force myself to breathe.

"Holy fuck," I gasp, doing my best to not lift my hips, letting him remain in control.

Kai manages to hold himself still for a total of three seconds. Then he moves. It's pure pleasure. And the sounds Kai makes as he fucks me, the way my cock rubs against the sheets, it doesn't take long for me to harden again.

With each one of Kai's sharp breaths, each grunt and moan, each slap of his hips against my ass, fire builds higher and higher in my veins, heating my blood.

Kai's pace falters and he stops with a grunt. "Fuck, Cade." He wraps a hand around my throat and hauls me up, pressing his chest against my back. "Cade," he breathes in my ear, my name like a prayer on his lips.

I let each one of my emotions free. All of the desire, the disbelief that he's mine, the love. I let him read all of it. "Yes, Kai."

He doesn't give me any warning. His fangs pierce my skin, and if it weren't for his grip on my hips and throat, I would collapse onto the bed, unable to move as my second orgasm barrels through me.

Kai keeps thrusting, and I feel his muscles tighten, his body taut as a bow string. He pulls his fangs from my neck as he shudders and groans out his own orgasm.

We stay like we are for a moment. His arms around me, my head back against his shoulder, his heart thumping hard enough for me to feel it. Kai softly kisses the bite mark, making me shudder from the oversensitivity, before he pulls away.

I fall forward, rolling at the last minute to avoid the mess I made on the sheets. I watch Kai through lowered lids, his hair disheveled, a flush to his skin that is usually absent.

"You can change the sheets," I mutter. "I blame you."

Kai huffs and collapses atop me. Tangling his legs with mine, and resting his head on my chest. "Anything for you."

I drift off to sleep with Kai's body on top of mine, and his lips pressing a kiss right over my heart.