going to kill him. But if Vasili was setting him up just to push him away again, he wasn’t sure he could take it. He closed his eyes and bowed his head, willing his thoughts from his dick and into common sense.
“Rest assured, this means no more or less than it appears to,” Vasili said smoothly, his voice like silk through the fingers.
It was all the excuse Niko needed. Spurred into motion by the prince’s invite, Niko climbed from the tub. The only thing that stopped him from crossing the floor and devouring Vasili was the prince’s raised, speculative eyebrow. How could he be so fucking nonchalant and indifferent while Niko’s heart raced, and his body raged, and his mind screamed at him that whatever this was, he’d pay for it.
“If you want me, my prince, then you can fucking come to me.” Soaked and gleaming in front of the firelight. Erect and eager. Scarred and rough. Niko smiled and waited. Vasili was just as hungry, but Niko was not his pet who answered when his master called. Vasili could come to him, or this wasn’t happening.
Vasili glanced at the window, where he’d left his cloak, weighing the options, and then he pushed off the bedpost and crossed the floor, stopping so close that Niko smelled the sea on him. His earrings shimmered under the same light shining in his eye. He tilted his head, snaked a hand around the back of Niko’s neck, and pulled him into a soft, yielding kiss. The kind of kiss not meant for Vasili. A real kiss. And Niko folded his arms around his lean body, careful to avoid pulling him too close and putting pressure on the scars.
Vasili softened in his arms. His tongue swept in, taking and giving, but not too much. The prince’s soft fingers skimmed Niko’s jaw, and Niko was damn well lost.
He pulled free of the kiss and brushed his lips over Niko’s cheek, whispering, “My griffin.”
The words unleashed some part of Niko that had been waiting for the prince’s acceptance. Niko was naked and in his arms, but Vasili was the vulnerable one.
Vasili’s fingers skimmed down Niko’s chest, freeing a riot of shivers that had Niko’s cock raging and needy for touch, and then Vasili’s cool fingers closed around him again, and the prince thrust his tongue in to meet Niko’s. Niko had surrendered too much of himself already, and he’d surrender more.
He kissed his beautiful jaw, nipped his neck, and listened to Vasili’s rapidly shortening breaths. Vasili wanted this, needed it, maybe more than Niko, and Niko would do anything so Vasili could feel again, like maybe he had with Alek. He desperately needed to see Vasili lost to desire, to see him free in those blinding moments of ecstasy.
“Tell me what you need,” Niko whispered in his ear.
Vasili gripped Niko’s shoulders and turned him, then pushed gently. “On the bed.” The snarled order was not as gentle as his hands had been, but it elicited a sharp dart of desire in Niko, making his cock twitch. He sat on the edge of the bed and parted his legs to allow Vasili in close. The prince pushed between his knees, cupped Niko’s jaw, and kissed him harder, his urgency like a fire to Niko’s touchpaper. Vasili needed control, and Niko was both alarmed and thrilled to realize he’d let him have it.
“Lay back.” He pushed down on Niko’s chest.
Niko propped his elbows on the bed, and Vasili brought his knees up to straddle Niko’s thighs. Errant locks of the prince’s long hair framed his face, and all Niko could see was Vasili’s broad smile and the bright delight in his eye. So beautiful… like a marble statue, made to be admired. Niko brushed the smooth line of his cheek.
“Don’t touch.” But this time, the prince said it with a sly smile. “Lie back. Raise your arms above your head.”
A flutter of nervous excitement shortened Niko’s breath. He obeyed, skin tingling beneath Vasili’s stroking hands. The prince’s soft, wet mouth teased over his bare chest, toward a nipple. Niko swallowed audibly.
The prince’s tongue swirled around Niko’s nipple. His hand encircled Niko’s cock at the same time as his teeth pinched.
“Fuck.” Niko bucked, igniting Vasili’s warm laugh, and by the three, Niko’s heart melted at the sound. He wanted to haul Vasili up and kiss him until there was no more breath left in his body, but Vasili’s free hand clamped down, pinching Niko’s wrists together above Niko’s head.
“Stay,”