Part 22 (2/2)
Tyler searched his face. He ran his own tongue over the place where his had been. ”I love you, Dino. I've always loved you, through this life and all the others we've shared.”
Suddenly he said, ”I know that.”
Tyler let out a sound that resembled a sob. He held out his arms. ”Then come here and let me hold you.”
”It's not that simple anymore,” he said, moving his head from side to side.
The wind began to blow fiercely around them now. A drop of water spattered onto Tyler's head. ”Of course it's simple. We love each other. What can be simpler than that?”
”I'm not mortal anymore, Tyler. I'm a creature in an age where I should be extinct.”
Tyler blinked. ”No one needs to know.”
”The others know,” he said, moving closer. ”And if you stay with me you will be in danger.”
”From who?” Tyler asked him, reaching up to touch his face. ”You'd never hurt me.”
”Not me,” he said softly, closing his eyes as Tyler caressed his cheek. ”Thor. He is jealous of you.”
”Thor?”
”But I thought you said...?”
”I sent him away. He's gone for now. The other night he tried to kill you.”
Tyler gasped, moving backward. ”Then it wasn't you?”
”I told you,” he said, searching his eyes. ”How could I kill you? Even if you did betray me, I...”
”But I didn't.”
”I know that now. I felt it when I was near you,” he said, finally drawing Tyler into his arms.
Tyler closed his eyes as he let his arms tighten around him. ”You are saying that Thor could try it again?”
”Um,” he nodded. ”Not could, he will, especially if he knows we are together.”
”Because he wants you for himself,” Tyler's jaw tightened.
”It's a bit more complicated than that.”
Tyler smiled up at him. ”I think you like to make things complicated, my love. It's old fas.h.i.+oned rivalry as far as I'm concerned. He wants you and I have you.”
Dino laughed. ”Something like that. But like you and I, he believed that we are destined to be together. And they consider me to be their leader.”
”I know.” Tyler hugged him closer.
”And being what I am now...well...it won't be easy,” Dino told him, stroking his hair.
”Make love to me,” Tyler said softly, burying his lips in his neck.
”Here?” He laughed.
”No,” Tyler replied, stepping away from him. If he stayed in his arms like that for much longer they would be making love right here. ”I have to go back to the sky patrol office and collect my shadows,” he grinned.
”Come to me later tonight. I'll leave open the...”
”There's no need.” He gave him a knowing look. It began to rain.
Tyler gave him a quick kiss on the mouth. ”Don't keep me waiting too long.”
Dino nodded, lifting a hand as Tyler ducked back inside the club and made his way to the parking s.p.a.ces on the roof.
For a long time, he stood there in that alley, rain coursing down his face. Of course his heart felt lighter knowing that Tyler hadn't betrayed him after all. He was angry at Thor for having manipulated him like that.
But he was not completely optimistic about his future with Tyler. Nothing was the same anymore. He knew that if Tyler was going to be safe, tonight would be the last night they would spend together.
LOVE MOST BITTERSWEET
Tyler made sure that the bodyguards saw him safely tucked into his room. He told them that he didn't want to be disturbed under any circ.u.mstances. ”I'm exhausted and I want to sleep. I'll call for you if I need you,” he said.
They went off on their merry way.
Tyler lit candles around his huge four poster bed, giving the room a dreamy look. He took off all his clothes and then lay down, closing his eyes. ”I'm going to dream you until the very moment I can touch you,” he whispered.
”I've been waiting for you, Joey,” a deep voice said.
Tyler smiled, snuggling down into the pillows. ”I'm here.”
”I know,” the voice said, ”and so am I.”
Tyler's eyelids flew open. He sat up. There he was, standing in front of him, his long hair damp and windblown, his leather jacket in his hand. ”Bryce,” he said softly. Then swallowing, he licked his lips and said, ”Dino.”
Dino dropped the jacket on the floor. With one hand he swept back his long black hair whose silky weight felt somehow unfamiliar to him. He smiled at him, running his hot gaze over his nakedness. ”You're ready for me.”
”Oh yes,” he whispered, getting up on his knees and crawling down to the edge of the bed. ”Baby, am I ever ready for you.”
Dino laughed. ”Joey,” he whispered, his eyes glowing faintly in the candlelight.
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