Eternal Sin (Primal Sin #2) - Ariana Nash Page 0,55

sexual appetites. Sex is the easiest way to harvest ether. We feed off the enjoyment of others.” Severn held Mikhail’s gaze. He wasn’t going to be ashamed for what he was just because he’d lived with angel for much of his lifetime.

Mikhail’s beautiful eyes flicked downward at his breakfast, untouched. “Did you use me for ether?”

Severn reached for a glass of water and drank quickly. “The first time in my chamber, when you came to me…” When Mikhail’s cock had spilled its load down Severn’s throat… His cock semi-hardened now at the memory. That first time, having Mikhail fuck his mouth, that had been so fucking hot and Mikhail had needed it—they both had. “I consumed ether then, yes.”

Mikhail stood suddenly, bumping the table. The plates rattled, a knife fell with a loud clang, and Mikhail fled for the door.

Severn sighed. “Dammit.” Chasing him down would do no good. He could leave if he wanted, and Severn wouldn’t stop him. But every instinct demanded Severn go after him. They’d been talking, and as painful as the truth was, every word had been progress. If Mikhail left, it would all be for nothing.

What if he went back to Aerie and got himself killed trying to reclaim the city alone? He wouldn’t… would he? Of course, he would. He was stubborn, ridiculously naïve, and hopelessly proud.

Shoving from the table, Severn stumbled out of the cottage’s front door and found Mikhail standing in the front garden among the tall wildflowers and overgrown weeds.

“How many times did you feed from me?” the guardian asked, his voice strained.

“All the time, in the beginning.” Guilt twisted Severn’s insides. “And then one night, I showed you London from a rooftop, and everything changed. I think it all changed long before any of that, but I couldn’t see it… Didn’t want to see it, maybe.” He mumbled the last part, but Mikhail heard and turned his head to peer over his shoulder.

Severn wandered to his side, cutting a path through the high grass. He hadn’t flown off. That had to be progress. “I set out to hurt my enemy and fell in love with him instead.”

“Not very demon-like,” Mikhail grumbled, turning his face toward the sky. Was he thinking of taking flight?

“No.” Severn snorted.

“What do the demons think of all this? Of you?”

“They repeatedly tried to carve angel off me, and when that didn’t work, they had a trial, without me, to determine my guilt. It’s pretty safe to assume they’re real pissed about the whole thing.”

“You talked your way off the hook,” Mikhail said, and the smallest of smiles touched his lips.

“Something like that.” He had no desire to tell Mikhail about Luxen—telling Mikhail he’d actually fucked his way off the hook was a bit much—but if he asked, he’d have to. “I am an incubus. I can’t change that. Honestly, I’ve lost count of the people I’ve fucked. But with you, when I realized how I felt, the ether didn’t matter.”

Mikhail’s cheek fluttered.

He wasn’t explaining this right but had never had to explain it to anyone who wasn’t a demon before, and definitely not an angel. He puffed out a breath. Might as well tell him everything. “There’s sex for ether and sex for pleasure. Sex for pleasure is a different kind of need that two people, or three—”

Mikhail’s eyes widened.

“Never mind. I’m screwing this up.” Severn thrust his hands into his pockets, suddenly awkward in the harsh daylight. “Ether is a part of my life. If I don’t get it, I’ll eventually starve.”

“That’s why you went to the madam.”

Severn had almost forgotten Mikhail had held the madam and shredded her wings. Given his out-of-control methods of late, it was a wonder she’d escaped with her life. “She helped me, yes. She isn’t bad either, you know.”

Mikhail lowered his gaze, darting his eyes about the field, seeing all the things Severn had done wrong, no doubt. “We have a human device on her,” he finally said. “Solo knows the details. It’s how we found your home and the medical center. I regret what happened there. I have not been… I regret many things of late. The madam, I fear I would have killed her if not for Solomon’s intervention.”

“I know I have no right to ask, but I’m going to anyway. What happened between you and Solo?”

“I kissed him. I wondered if it would feel the same as it had with you.”

“Did it?” His heart unexpectedly raced. Of course, he had no claim to Mikhail exclusively,