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I feel him rather than see him, first.
I emerge from the lunchtime chaos in the dining hall and I know Xaden’s back from patrol before my eyes find him, leaned up against the wall, arms crossed, looking murderous. Cadets give him a wide berth as they scurry past on their way to class.
I walk right up into his bubble of dark brooding sulkiness, unafraid.
“Walk with me,” he says shortly, pushing off the wall and starting down the hallway.
Xaden’s got a cloud of angst over him at all times these days, but he seems even more surly and moody than usual. I get it, it’s fucking stressful around here lately, it’s like we’re sitting ducks here outside the wards, waiting around for either an attack from Navarre or venin or both. As usual Xaden feels like everything is his responsibility. His shoulders aren’t nearly broad enough for all the weight he carries there.
I try to help, I do everything I can to make sure things run efficiently around him. Meals, schedules, shouting at whoever needs to be shouted at. I try to take care of all the little annoyances so he doesn’t have to. Still, dude is fucking stressed.
“You’re wound up,” I say matter-of-factly. It’s not a criticism, just an observation.
He glares at me, and I shrug, keeping pace with his long strides.
“I heard you almost strangled a firstie with shadows last night because they ate your chocolate cake.”
“That’s not true. They ate my pancakes.”
I laugh. “You went into a rage for pancakes?”
“My pancakes. The pancakes specifically made for me.”
I roll my eyes. “Dude, you’ve got to find a way to release all that shadow angst in a healthy way.”
Xaden’s steps slow and I feel his eyes on my back, but I keep rambling.
“We can signet-spar if you want. You know I’m not afraid of a little shadow action.” I laugh, but it dies in my throat as shadows race out from behind the portraits, tangling around my ankles. I stumble but manage not to fall, and I send a gust of wind backwards at Xaden, knocking him on his ass. I burst into laughter until a band of shadow wraps around my foot and pulls me to the floor.
“Ouch,” I complain, running my tongue along my bottom lip where I bit it with the fall. I sit up and shake it off. “Truce.”
I glance back at Xaden, and he’s watching me with a smirk. He stands and offers me his hand, and when I take it he yanks me up in such a quick swift motion that my head spins.
Xaden stands to his full height, keeping his tight grip on my hand, our arms pressed tightly between us. His face is inches from mine.
“You know what? You’re right,” he murmurs, his eyes flaring at mine like a challenge. “Come on.”
He finally releases my hand, stepping out of my space and resuming his confident swagger down the hallway.
I know I’m right. What exactly am I right about? His intense proximity and then quick release left me feeling disoriented, and I follow him a bit slowly. At least he seems to have snapped out of his Bad Mood into some kind of other Mood. I give myself a mental high-five for that.
Xaden turns and walks straight into the Assembly chamber, and I follow. The four who are gathered there startle.
“What are you-” Brennan starts.
“Get out,” Xaden demands, crossing the room and climbing the steps of the dias, where the chairs of the Assembly sit behind the long, formal table. “All of you. Right fucking now.”
They glance at each other, then gather the papers on the table and leave, filing past me. Brennan gives me a quizzical look as he passes, shutting the door behind him on the way out.
Fuck, I always forget how fucking hot it is when he gives orders and everyone just fucking obeys.
Xaden walks up to his chair and glances back at me, holding up a hand and making a “come here” gesture with two fingers. I raise an eyebrow, climbing the steps and moving slowly around the table to meet him there.
Xaden faces me, the gleam in his eye giving away his less-than-serious intentions.
“You know what I’ve always wanted to do here?” Xaden says, cocking his head to the side.
“Make-believe you’re the king of Tyrrendor?” I smirk. He scoffs, but it’s in good humor. He’s got his dark eyes locked on mine with a look I can’t quite decipher.
“No, but if you want to sit and pretend, be my guest.” He takes a tiny step to the side and waves his hand lazily, inviting me to sit.
Wait, what is actually going on here? It’s some kind of power play. With me and Xaden, there’s this continuous push-and-pull over which of us commands the control, and right now it’s him. Xaden knows something I don’t, and he’s looking at me like… like he wants… my heartbeat stutters as I register the look behind his eyes as lust.
My palms feel sweaty and I grasp weakly for a way to gain back the upper hand.
“Dude, you really need to get laid. Are you fucking horny right now, Riorson?” I laugh, but it comes out a bit too high.
The corner of Xaden’s mouth twitches up. “Catching on, Tavis.” Holy fuck. He hums softly. “You said yourself I need to find a better release for all that shadow-angst.” As he says it, shadows swirl lazily from beneath the chair, up and around the arms. Xaden takes a step toward me, and for a second I’m fucking intoxicated by his boldness, his dark broody assertive strength, the solid sureness of his presence in my space. Xaden’s hand brushes almost imperceptibly against mine, his thumb ghosting on the back of my hand.
“Fuck,” I murmur. “Are you saying…?”
“I haven’t done this in too long. Reminded you how important you are to me. How grateful I am for you.” His voice is startlingly sincere, all trace of amusement gone from his eyes. He flicks his wrist, and the clicking sound of a lock echoes off the stone.
Xaden keeps his dark intense gaze on me, staring into my soul. I lean into him like he’s a fucking magnet. Like he’s the sun and I’m caught in his orbit, and isn’t that the fucking truth. I’m constantly revolving around him, unable to escape his gravitational pull even if I wanted to. He’s the center of the fucking universe, we’re all just spinning around him, but I’m the closest planet to his bright hot center. It’s always been me.
The whole Assembly could walk through those doors and I wouldn’t notice, not with the way Xaden’s looking at me. The heat in his eyes could melt iron.
I lick my bottom lip, tasting blood from my earlier tumble, and Xaden’s eyes flare, his gaze lowering to my lips. I can’t hide the way my mouth twitches up with glee, and I lick my lip again just to see how it affects him.
The little groan that comes out of him is even better than I expected. It unlocks something in both of us, and we press into each other at the same time, my hands reaching up around his neck and his on my waist.
His mouth surges forward to claim mine. It’s hard and fast and not at all gentle. Fuck, it’s perfect.
Xaden’s hands push up my shirt, sliding up over my chest, his finger flicking over a hard nipple, and I buckle against him. He smiles against my mouth, pleased, I’m sure, that I’m obviously into this.
He breaks back from the kiss, resting his head on my forehead, panting with emotion. We breathe against each other for a minute, tension building.
“Do you want this?” Xaden whispers in my ear, his hands sliding down to my stomach, teasing at the buttons on my pants.
“Fuck, yes, Xaden.” I feel his lips curl into a grin. His nimble fingers quickly get my pants undone, and he slides one hand under the waistband of my underwear, his other hand clinging to my hip, keeping me close.
I hiss appreciatively as his big fucking hand wraps around my cock. Fuck, it’s been way too long since we’ve messed around like this. This is fucking addictive, and I know he’s enjoying it too, he likes to be the one who initiates, the one with the control.
And if I’m honest, I like to yield control.
Only to Xaden, because I trust him more than anyone else in the world.
It only takes a few of his expert strokes to bring me close, but he realizes it when I start panting so he pulls away, a wicked grin on his beautiful fucking face.
I shudder, desperate, irritated at the sudden loss of contact.
“Eager, Tavis?” he grins, and fuck he’s enjoying this so much. Good.
Xaden wraps his arm around my waist, pulling our lower bodies flush. He pivots us around and leans in, forcing me to step back so the backs of my calves hit the chair behind me. “Sit.”
I sit down, more than happy to take orders, flopping back in the big chair, unable to hide my grin. Xaden’s smirk turns to an actual smile as his eyes flicker over me.
He drops to his knees in front of me and works the laces on my boots with quick, efficient movements. My nerves are all buzzing with electric excitement, anxious anticipation for whatever happens next.
He reaches for my jacket, I let him slide it off my shoulders and deposit it on the floor. He lifts my shirt over my head, kissing my lips after it’s off, his hands trailing on the bare skin of my chest. Then he tugs at my pants and I wriggle out of them, my underwear landing on the top of the pile.
I’m sitting in his fucking chair, completely bare-ass naked, and he hasn’t removed a single piece of clothing.
Xaden sits back and admires me like a predator, his eyes raking over my muscled body, lingering on my full cock. He’s practically salivating, and I’m fucking turned on as hell.
“Stop fucking me with your eyes and get out of your fucking clothes,” I say, my voice low with lust and a trace of aggression.
His eyes darken, but he shakes his head.
“This is for you,” he whispers, and a shudder runs through me. “To show you how much you mean to me. Gods, you’re fucking loyal to a fault, Tavis. I’d be nothing without you.”
My eyes widen as he kneels before me, sliding his hands up my thighs. His head lowers between my legs, the ghost of his lips on my inner thigh. I shiver and reach for his head, winding my fingers through his hair. Fuck, seeing his head in my lap is so fucking hot. I tug at his hair a little, encouraging him to move upward.
Shadows reach for my wrists and pull them out of his hair, tug them to the arms of the chair, and wrap soft bands around my wrists to tie them there. Oh, fucking hell.
He lifts his head to my eyes to see if I’m going to challenge him. I hold his gaze.
“You said you could handle the shadows,” he says softly. “Can you?”
I nod, not trusting myself with words. He smirks up at me.
“Alright then. Let’s see if you can.” Shadows spread over my feet and curl around my ankles, dragging my legs apart to bond them to the legs of the chair.
“Oh, fuck,” I whisper, pulling gently at the bonds, testing their strength, and they tighten in challenge. It doesn’t hurt, the shadows caress my skin with a strangely soft touch, but the strength in them is daunting. I can’t escape.
There’s a surprising softness in Xaden’s eyes when they meet mine. He’s making sure I’m okay. I nod slowly. I’m more than okay.
He lowers his head between my spread thighs, and all coherent thought abandons me as Xaden sucks my cock into his mouth.
Damn, he’s fucking good at this.
I groan and roll back my head so it’s resting on the chair, my hands and feet involuntarily straining against the shadow-shackles as the pleasure builds and intensifies. His tongue moves skillfully against my dick as he sucks me deeper.
But then he pulls off, looking up at me with a hazy lust in his eyes, and I groan, desperate for contact. I thrust my hips up frantically, and Xaden’s eyes narrow, a sly grin flickering across his face. New shadows wrap around my hips and shove me back down to the seat, and now I can’t move. The bonds around my wrists and ankles tighten threateningly, all while Xaden keeps his dark eyes locked on mine.
Fuck, this is so fucking hot I’m about to fucking explode.
“Get your fucking mouth back on me,” I growl, groaning when the shadows tighten again.
Xaden grins. “Do I need to have the shadows gag you, too?” he threatens, his voice low. Oh, fuck. I fucking whimper, my stomach swooping with anticipation, and my cock twitches. Of course he fucking notices.
“Oh?” he raises an eyebrow. “You would like that, wouldn’t you?”
I don’t fucking dare say a word.
“Come on, Tavis, you can take this,” Xaden encourages, his tone teasing. I sit still, my breath hitching, so fucking turned on while he just sits there watching. If he doesn’t start sucking me right fucking- “Good job,” Xaden purrs, finally breaking eye contact so he can get his mouth back around my cock.
I groan with pleasure as stars dance behind my eyelids. It’s too much, it’s too good, I’m going to fucking die of ecstasy. The shadows hold me still while Xaden works fucking magic with his tongue. White-hot light and heat shudder through me as I come in Xaden Riorson’s fucking mouth.
He pulls back, swallowing and grinning up at me, his eyes hazy. “Look at you, Garrick fucking Tavis,” Xaden laughs, but there’s no trace of meanness in his voice. “My fucking right-hand, coming for me on Tyrrendor’s throne. As you fucking deserve.”
“Fucking hell, Xaden. Fuck,” I mumble, because that’s apparently the extent of my current vocabulary. Fuck, and Xaden.
Xaden waves his hand lazily and the shadows release me. My limbs feel suddenly heavy. I slump a little in the chair as my hands fall to my lap, feeling shaky.
Xaden reaches out to steady me, moving both of his hands along my arms. I notice the tension in his arms, his labored breathing; he’s holding himself together too. His leather pants are pulled tight with his arousal, damn that looks fucking uncomfortable. I reach my hand out to graze his crotch with my fingers, but he pulls back with a hiss.
“No. This was just for you. I’m fine.” His words are clipped, like he’s fighting to keep his voice even. He picks up my clothes from the floor and hands them to me.
“Oh, you’re fine? So that is just a banana in your pants, then,” I tease, then frown. “I don’t like not reciprocating.”
“You can make it up to me later. Tonight.”
Later. My insides squirm with anticipation. He’s inviting me for more.
“I’d be happy to,” I say honestly, grinning as I dress.
He gives me a tight-lipped smile, still fighting to regain his composure.
“Damn, Xay,” I exhale. “Fucking hot. Now you’ll remember this every time you meet with the Assembly.” I can’t help the laugh that bubbles up from my chest.
That gets a real smile out of him.
“Fuck yes. Speaking of which, I have a meeting now, yeah?”
I nod in confirmation, sliding back into my supportive sidekick role.
“Perfect, another opportunity for Ulysses to remind me of my utter failure.” Xaden sighs, and I almost reach out to hug him. “Do me a favor, Gare… come to bed early,” he says, giving me an exaggerated wink.
I laugh. “Anything for you.”
And I fucking mean it.