Chapter Eighteen

The Act of Uncovering Something New (9 Letters)

Seb

At seven minutes to eight that evening, my doorbell rang.

I scrubbed a hand nervously through my still-damp hair as I made my way to the front door. After my shower, I'd decided to just pull on a pair of loose shorts and nothing else. Larkin made no effort to conceal how much he liked my body, openly staring whenever he could, and besides, we'd hopefully be getting naked soon anyway.

When I opened the door, I realised he'd showered after work too, because his long pink hair was still damp and tied back in an elegant braid. He was dressed in jeans and an oversized sweater that was almost slipping off one shoulder. It simultaneously sent lust shooting through my gut and made me want to lie back on the couch and pull him on top of me just to feel him nestle in close, warm and comfortable and relaxed.

"Hey." He grinned at me, his hands tucked into his sleeves and his pulse already hammering in his throat as his eyes darted down to my chest. I hadn't told him what we'd be doing in tonight's "lesson," and I could tell he was nervous and excited all at once.

"Hi." I made sure to give him a big grin back, because that always seemed to put him at ease.

It worked. He stopped fiddling with his sleeves and stepped forward to come inside while I held the door open, shifting into his fae form once it was closed.

"What've you been up to since work?" he asked as he toed off his unlaced boots.

"Just made dinner and took a shower."

"What did you have?" he asked with interest.

"Chicken and rice." I gave him a wry grin. "Not just plain boiled, though. It was seasoned, I promise."

He laughed, hesitating in place until I headed for the kitchen and he followed. "My dad made this ‘green goddess' salad he's seen going viral online. It had about a million ingredients. He said he was chopping veggies for it all afternoon."

I chuckled. "Bet it was good, though. Does your dad grow vegetables himself?"

Larkin stopped at the island and set down his phone and keys as he rolled his eyes. "Oh yeah, he grows everything . And he kept letting us know that he'd only had to buy some of the ingredients for the dressing while we were eating. He was so proud."

My smile widened. Larkin's family sounded great. Sometimes it was hard being away from my own, even though they weren't far. I'd lived alone for ten years now, and most werewolves didn't really like being on their own so much.

No. Don't start thinking about stuff like that. Just enjoy having him here with you now.

"Want a drink?" I asked, pulling open the fridge. Then I glanced back at him with a tiny smile. "Got cream soda."

His eyes brightened. "You do? Yeah, I'd love one. Thanks."

"So what've you been up to since work?" I grabbed two cans from the fridge and turned to slide one across the island to him. "Just having dinner with your family?"

"Yeah, and laundry." His cheeks flushed as he slipped onto a stool and shot me a teasingly stern look. "I keep ending up with splooge on stuff after I hang out with you, dude."

My mouth slowly stretched into a wide, slightly devious smile that made his breath catch. "Well, we can't have that, can we? We'll have to make sure that doesn't happen tonight."

Which, incidentally, I knew for a fact it wouldn't. Larkin's cum wouldn't be ending up on any of his clothes this time. It wouldn't have a chance to.

"So…" His voice wavered a little as he clutched his can tight. "What, um, what are we… practising this time?"

"Well, that depends." I cracked open my can and leaned my elbows on the island. "You started mentioning something you wanted to practise more of earlier. Do you want to tell me?"

"Oh." His face deepened to a dark blue as he chuckled nervously, his long fingers fumbling to open his can. "Yeah. I was just… I was thinking that maybe… more kissing practice might be good. A good idea," he rushed to add. "You know… practice makes perfect."

As he let out a loud bleat of nervous laughter, my insides fluttered. That was what I'd been both hoping and dreading he'd say.

I nodded calmly. "Of course. Good idea."

"Was it okay?" he asked anxiously. "Last night? I didn't just… ram my tongue in your mouth or anything, did I?"

A silent, shaky breath stuttered from my lungs. "No, you didn't. It was…" Life-changing. Perfection. I'd never wanted to stop. "Perfect. You're an amazing kisser, Lark."

He flushed with pleasure, wings fluttering behind him. "Thanks. S-so are you."

"But we should still probably practise more," I said quickly, then cleared my throat. "Just… like you said, practice makes perfect."

He nodded emphatically. "Yes. Yeah. Definitely. Um…"

We lapsed into silence, then simultaneously raised our cans to have a sip. He shifted a little in his seat, which made the stretched neckline of his sweater slip off one shoulder. My balls tingled, cock immediately beginning to firm up as I stared at that little patch of exposed skin. Smooth and pale blue, the bones elegantly prominent, the slope of his neck graceful and begging for my mouth.

I was suddenly very, very impatient to get started with our "lesson."

"So I was thinking tonight," I began, my voice raspier, "we'd cover erogenous zones."

His breath hitched, but he nodded quickly, gazing at me with big eyes. "Okay."

"A lot of them," I added, watching him closely. "Which would mean getting naked. Are you comfortable with that? Because if not, we can do something else—"

"No, that's… that's fine," he breathed, smiling shyly at me. "You've already seen my nub. Tail," he amended quickly, flushing darker.

"Nub is a cute word for it." I smiled at him. "It is a cute little nub."

He huffed, hunching his shoulders as he flicked the ring pull on his can. "You don't have to say that, dude."

"I mean it. It's sweet. I like it." I grinned at him when he warily looked up. "I like that you have a tail to match mine."

The tension bled from him as he laughed. "That's true. We do match. When you're half shifted, at least. Which is really cool," he added. "I didn't know werewolves could do that."

I shrugged. "Not all of them can."

He grinned at me teasingly. "I'm not surprised you can. You're, like, the best at everything."

"Except baking," I reminded him.

He snuffled another laugh. "Yeah, but now you've got me to help you with that."

I shoved back the rush of bittersweet sadness that tried to pierce my chest and grinned. "I'll hold you to that."

Which was another bad idea. Spending even more time with him, doing more things that made me yearn desperately for something I couldn't have. Like spending lazy Sundays with him baking bread, just the two of us, hiding away from the rest of the world.

"We could make some now if you have yeast and stuff," he said eagerly, then froze and huffed an awkward chuckle. "Oh no, wait, we've got our, um, lesson."

My throat ached. "We can do whatever you want, Larkin."

He nibbled on his lower lip, gazing at me. "I'd like to… Both sound fun. But… maybe we could make bread another time?"

I nodded and straightened. "Of course. So… do you want to get started now?"

"Y-yeah. Yes, please." He nodded and gulped down some soda, then slid off the stool and fiddled with his sweater cuffs again, waiting for me to move.

I slowly rounded the island. "Couch or, uh, bed? Your choice."

His breath caught, eyes darting down my frame before he glanced at the couch, then the stairs. "Um… maybe… bed? If that's okay?"

"Sure." I automatically started to reach for his hand, then pulled back and gestured at the staircase. "After you."

"Thanks." He gave me a nervous smile and turned.

I stared at his long legs, then his wings as I followed him up the stairs. They were beautiful. Smaller than a lot of other adult fae, but he'd told me once that they were still growing, that he was a late bloomer. Affection tightened my chest.

Larkin suddenly stopped on the stairs, peering at a framed photo hung on the wall. "Is this your family?"

I halted on the step below him and had to stop myself from wrapping an arm around his waist and resting my chin on his shoulder. "Yep, that's them."

"Your dad looks kinda gnarly. In a good way. Like a lumberjack."

I chuckled. "He's always had a big beard and long hair. There's a lot more salt and pepper in both now, though."

"You definitely look like him. Behind the beard, I mean. But you have your mom's eyes." Larkin glanced back at me and flushed. "They're a cool colour. Like, um, honey or something. I dunno."

I smiled. "Thanks."

"Your mom is tiny. I never would've guessed that. And blonde." He peered closer at the picture, grinning. "Your sisters look more like her."

"They do. But Maeve is pretty tall, like me and Dad. Polly is a pipsqueak like Mom."

"I'll show you pics of my family too." He turned eagerly on the stairs to face me, then paused and glanced back at the landing behind him. "Um, later, I mean. After…"

I smiled at him. "Alright. I'd like that."

He didn't move, nibbling his lower lip as he stared at me. Then his gaze drifted down to my mouth, and I saw his throat bob.

"Seb." He swallowed again, a blush creeping up his neck. "Can we… Could we…"

"You can do whatever you want, Larkin," I told him steadily, but my entire body was tensing in anticipation.

He fidgeted, tucking his hands back into the sleeves of his sweater, then wet his lips as he hesitantly raised his arms and wrapped them around my neck. My heart thudded hard when he leaned in, his breaths growing shallower, and kissed me sweetly.

I held back the desperate groan that wanted to escape. God, this was the most wonderful torture. It's just practice for him. It's just practice. Don't read into it.

My hands crept under his baggy sweater to slide up his lower back. He tensed for a moment, then relaxed and sank his tongue into my mouth. I met it eagerly, angling my head to get deeper, which made him let out a tiny sound against my lips.

The kiss quickly grew heated and feverish. Larkin pressed himself closer, and I had to stiffen my legs so I didn't tip backwards and break my neck on the stairs. Dropping one more slow kiss on his mouth, I pulled back and rasped, "Should we get off the stairs?"

He nodded immediately, shallow breaths hitting my mouth and cheek, before he removed his arms and turned to keep going, almost stumbling in his haste.

"Door on the left," I said quickly, following right behind him. My cock was already tenting the front of my loose shorts.

I'd left my bedside lamp on just in case, but Larkin didn't even take a second to look around. The moment we were both in my bedroom, he turned, still breathing fast, and flung his arms back around my neck to tug me down and crush his mouth to mine. I plunged my tongue inside hungrily and wrapped my arms around him tight, then bent to band them under his ass and lift him up.

"Mmm." His mouth grew more eager and frantic, long legs twining around my waist.

I carried him across the room and lowered him onto the bed, trying not to think too hard about what was actually happening. Larkin was on my bed. Kissing me. His stiff cock was straining within his jeans, rubbing against my thigh.

I'd jerked off countless times, right here, to fantasies that had started just like this.

I was already desperate to get him naked, but I didn't want to make him feel too vulnerable or overly exposed, so after giving him one more long kiss, I sat up and pulled down my shorts first, lifting my knees one at a time to get them off. Larkin swallowed around his panting breaths, his eyes locking on my jutting cock. He reached down and shoved his sweater out of the way to fumble with the button on his jeans.

I helped him, lowering his zipper before curling my fingers under the waistband. When he lifted his hips, I tugged his jeans down and shuffled back to get them over his feet. The outline of his hard cock was clearly visible through his grey boxer briefs, so I briefly rubbed my palm over it, which made him gasp and clutch at the sheets.

When I slid both hands up his sides, rucking up his sweater, he sat up quickly to yank it off. The moment his head was free, I leaned in and kissed him again, gently pushing him back down onto the mattress.

He kissed me back with sweet eagerness, his ankles hooking around the backs of my thighs and knees pressing into my sides. Lowering my hips, I dragged my bare cock against his covered one as I dipped my tongue into his mouth.

He shivered, panting against my lips. "Wh-what… what about my boxers…?"

"Not yet," I murmured, giving him one last kiss before lifting my head. "Ready?"

He nodded quickly, breathing fast, his long fingers clutching at my sides. "E-erogenous zones, right?"

"That's right." I couldn't fucking wait to kiss every part of Larkin's body. Remembering this was supposed to be a lesson, I added, "It's important to know what feels good for you. So you can share that with your partners."

He nodded again, wetting his lips before sinking his teeth into the bottom one. "So you're… you're going to be showing me… mine?"

I grinned down at him. "We're going to find them together."