Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 116220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 581(@200wpm)___ 465(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 581(@200wpm)___ 465(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
He leans over the center console, brings his face right up to Kyle’s. “No matter if your heart’s mine yet, or not … my heart is all yours. I love you, Kyle.”
An ocean of rumbling vehicles all around them.
Kyle stares at Elias, his last words swimming in his ears, in his own tumultuous sea of emotions.
Words Kyle caught himself saying to Brock just yesterday.
His feelings for Elias.
“I don’t want my heart to belong to me,” says Kyle. “I can’t look after it properly … I’m no good with it.” He takes hold of Elias’s hand with both of his now. “I think you need to keep it safe for me, Elias. I think you need to have it.”
Elias swallows. “I didn’t say all of that just for you to—”
“I love you, too.”
Elias’s eyes go wide.
“I knew it before all this happened, before I thought I lost you. I realize now that you didn’t just save me that one morning in the desert. You keep saving me. You protect me in ways no one else in my life ever has. Not my parents. Not my team back in school. Not even Tristan, who had a whole second life he was living and suffering without me, a life with monsters.” Kyle brings Elias’s hand up to his mouth, gives a tender kiss. “I love you, Elias. My heart is, in every way a heart can be, yours.”
Elias stares back in wonder, hand caught within Kyle’s.
The ocean within him, perfectly, utterly still.
“Alright,” Elias finally says, “I’m … I’m gonna need you to put all of that into writing. I want to hear those words again.”
Kyle lifts an eyebrow. “What?”
“Especially the part about ‘not even Tristan’. I liked that part a lot. Damn it, I love you so much right now.” A car honks at them from behind. Elias ignores it. “I love you. Those are my new favorite words. Oh, man, when you first appeared on that rooftop, back at the hotel, do you know the first thought I had in my mind? Before I freaked out? Before everything?”
“Cars are honking,” says Kyle.
“The first thought I had was that I wish I’d never left your house. I was an idiot, to leave you there, to go for that walk.”
Kyle grimaces. “They’re honking a lot.”
“Whether you taste my blood, whether you never taste it again, if you want to live like a human, live like yourself, I will love and support every decision you make for your life. Unless it has to do with keeping your house dreary,” Elias quickly adds with a wince. “We’re gonna spruce that place up, pronto, yes, sir, we are. Starting today.”
“Elias …”
“Yeah, yeah, I know, cars honking.” He steps on the gas, a happy smile spilled across his face. “Damn, Kyle, you just made me feel like it’s my birthday. What did I do to deserve you?”
The traffic soon gives way, just like the sea in Elias’s heart does, and it isn’t much longer before the two of them are on the open road, driving off to Nowhere together.
Soon, there’s an unremarkable black car in Kyle’s driveway, previously occupied by no vehicles at all.
In the house, Kyle and Elias have peeled off each other’s clothes, Elias happily pinned to the wall, Kyle’s mouth picking a place to bite. “God, how I’ve missed this,” moans Elias.
Kyle has become so skilled with his Reach in such a short amount of time, forced to listen to it, to rely upon it, to use it. He connects instantly and feels every bit of Elias’s excitement. When he grazes a nipple with his lips, he feels Elias’s thrill, his yearning for a bite. When Kyle’s lips drag over Elias’s shoulder, there’s a shudder, him wanting it badly. Kyle’s lips touch Elias’s neck, his heart leaps, and Kyle knows he’s found the spot.
Teeth sink in.
Elias yells out.
Fingers dig into flesh as they grab hold of one another.
Kyle’s fingers into Elias’s muscles, clinging to him, craving every part of him. Elias’s fingers grappling with Kyle’s soft hair, tugging with desire as he braces for Kyle’s skillful teeth, his soft and teasing tongue, his plush, perfect lips.
Kyle realizes now the responsibility he was never taught in his time with Tristan in the woods.
The responsibility of maintaining control when he feeds on the ever so willing human Elias.
Of never losing sight of the give and take of this beautiful exchange of blood and passion.
Of listening to his Reach and knowing every second what is too much, what is not enough, what is perfect.
Kyle and Elias are upon the floor, bodies slick with sweat, spots of blood upon Elias’s neck, his shoulder and chest, each part of him tasted like samples off a gourmet menu.
The only menu Kyle ever wants to know.
“We need …” growls Elias as Kyle slides inside him. “… to get …” Kyle pushes, causing Elias to groan with delight. “… a fucking …” Kyle latches on at once to Elias’s ear, biting, tasting the nectar that spills. Elias moans so deeply, he can’t finish his sentence, clinging to Kyle as he rides him.