Chapter 10Nix

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Nix

T he first slow roll had Ivan's hands shooting up to Nix's hips, grasping hard, as if to stop Nix from moving.

Nix paused, cocking a brow, but Ivan didn't try to hold him back—he simply held on, his fingers digging into Nix's skin, his eyes dark and heavy-lidded.

So Nix moved again, taking special pleasure in the way it made Ivan's jaw clench. "How's that, master?" he purred.

Ivan didn't answer, except for a grunt. Nix grinned anyway, taking a moment to find his rhythm. It didn't take him long, now that he knew the intimate feel of Ivan's cock inside him.

Nix had meant what he'd said before—he didn't always need finesse. He hadn't even noticed the lack of it earlier. He'd been too busy being swept away by the force of Ivan's desire, so potent once he'd finally let go of that tight hold on his control. Slamming Nix against the door, biting into him, giving him that thick cock over and over.

It had been everything Nix had wanted from him and more .

But there was something to be said for this way too. For Nix being able to angle himself so Ivan's cock rubbed against him just right, the coarse hair on Ivan's thighs brushing against the soft skin of Nix's ass.

And Nix got to look at him, his beautiful human.

Nix liked Ivan like this—rumpled and sex-addled, bare and open, his eyes locked onto Nix with burning intensity. Nix was already well sated—by Ivan's desire, by his cum inside him—but he couldn't help taking more. He was greedy by nature, and Ivan was bringing out the worst of it.

Ivan's gaze lowered and locked onto Nix's nipples. Nix raised his hands—with the next roll of his hips, Nix flicked his piercings, moaning at the little zing that went through him.

He laughed when Ivan's hold on his hips tightened even further. "You're so easy, Vanya," he teased.

"You're the first to ever say so."

"Mm." Another languid roll, another laugh as he watched Ivan try to bite back his moan. "They just never knew what buttons to press, did they?"

It was Nix's turn to moan as Ivan punched his hips up at just the right moment, sending sparks along Nix's spine as his cock angled perfectly within him.

Nix tossed his hair over his shoulder, leaning down over him. "You're a quick learner, aren't you?"

Ivan's hands swept up his sides. "I've never had any complaints."

Nix narrowed his eyes. "I bet you haven't."

He could admit to himself he'd gotten a bit jealous before, as he'd been reminded of Sergei's silly assertion that Ivan needed a wife and babies.

Nix's Ivan? Please. As if a human companion could ever do for him what Nix could .

It had been funny before, but now that Nix had gotten a taste of what Ivan had to offer him, he wasn't feeling up for sharing.

Not now. Not ever.

Nix had been serving humanity for centuries—offering up their wants on a silver platter in exchange for tiny morsels of their souls—and now it was his turn to get what he desired.

He was keeping this mess of a human for himself.

Nix gasped as Ivan's hand sneaked up to twist his nipple. He was glaring up at Nix. "What are you thinking so hard about?"

Nix's tail whipped around Ivan's wrist, and he leaned down even closer to hover his mouth over Ivan's. "I was wondering if you could make me come just from playing with my piercings," he whispered.

Ivan's breath was hot against Nix's lips. "Liar."

Nix smirked.

But Ivan had a point. That was more than enough thinking. Nix was full of gorgeous human cock, the desire in the room a thick, heady fog, and it was time for another meal.

He set a steady pace, his hands on Ivan's chest to balance himself, gasping encouragements every time Ivan's hips met him halfway.

Eventually Ivan seemed to tire of toying with Nix's piercings by hand alone. He lunged up, tugging Nix's nipple into his mouth, flicking his tongue around the barbell.

Nix leaned back, clasping Ivan's head to him, his talons digging into his hair. He moaned. "Oh. Oh yes ."

The hand not constrained by Nix's tail snaked to his lower back, encouraging Nix's movements as Ivan sucked and licked.

Nix rocked furiously in Ivan's lap, chasing the buildup of that desire. He could feel it in his own belly, could sense it lighting up Ivan's form. It was intoxicating. It was everywhere.

Nix wanted all of it. Wanted every bit of Ivan's pleasure. Wanted to be filled by him once more .

"Again, Ivan," he ordered, clenching down. "Again."

Ivan bit down on Nix's nipple and thrust up into him hard, locking him in place with the arm around his hips, his muscles trembling as he came.

Nix tossed his head back, absorbing the rush, letting it light up all his nerve endings. He was grateful when Ivan sneaked a hand around his cock as he had before, taking Nix over the edge with him. Nix wouldn't have been able to do it himself—he couldn't move, frozen by the intensity of the wave taking over them both.

He stayed in Ivan's lap for a long time, holding Ivan to him, both of them trembling. The back of Ivan's neck was damp with sweat. Nix loved it. It was such a human thing, proof of how hard Ivan had worked to please them both. Just like the way Ivan was panting, struggling to catch his breath.

Nix stroked his hair soothingly. "How was that? Did I perform my duties well?"

Ivan's forehead dropped back to Nix's chest. " Fuck ."

Nix would go ahead and take that as a rave review.

Nix woke up alone in bed.

He'd actually fallen asleep, hadn't he? He hadn't been able to help it, really. He'd been absolutely stuffed, sated with Ivan's desire.

After riding his human until he'd been a trembling mess, Nix had taken him into the shower and teased him until Ivan had let him suck his cock again.

Ivan had glared at him afterward. "I'm forty years old," he'd said, aiming for cold dismissal but missing the mark a bit with his kiss-bitten lips and numerous hickeys. "I can't be fucking you every second of every day."

But then he'd jerked Nix off aggressively in the shower, kissing him all the while like he was going to devour him right there and then, so Nix didn't take his words too personally.

Plus, Nix was figuring him out a little, his Vanya. Talking about his feelings had clearly been trained out of Ivan by the toxic men in his life, but physical connection was where he kept meeting Nix again and again.

If Nix needed to be fucking Ivan "every second of every day" to keep those walls even a minute bit lowered, then so be it.

Oh dear. He grinned to himself. What a burden to bear.

Nix had taken Ivan to bed because his human had needed the rest, but then it had been Nix who'd fallen asleep first, all warm and cozy with Ivan toying with the nipple piercings he seemed to be becoming quickly obsessed with.

That was what Nix got for overeating.

But he hadn't been able to help gorging—Ivan's desire was so potent, and all of it was for Nix alone. The way he'd fucked Nix against that door, desperate and a little brutal? Not to mention the way he'd let Nix ride him just the way he'd wanted, holding Nix's hips tightly enough to bruise but letting him lead the pace anyway.

Nix rose from the bed, fishing Ivan's button-down off the floor and slipping it on because he'd seen it in the movies and always wanted to try it. (Or, more accurately, he'd seen it while watching humans watch movies.)

But he and Ivan were about the same height, so the shirt didn't actually hang tantalizingly at Nix's thighs. Instead, his bare ass and cock hung out, more silly than sexy.

So Nix threw on another pair of lace panties for good measure.

He left the bedroom portion of their suite to find Ivan at the hotel desk, one of the hotel's white robes covering his nudity. He looked softer than Nix was used to seeing, his hair still mussed from sleeping on it wet, his neck displaying the numerous love bites Nix had left on him .

Nix strode over and settled sideways on Ivan's lap.

Ivan's hand immediately moved to toy with the hem of Nix's panties. "I hate these," he grumbled.

"No, you don't," Nix told him with confidence. Ivan could frown at them all he liked, but just the sight of them had increased the desire in the room by a third at the very least. "What are you doing out here?"

"Thinking about your proposal."

"It's a good one, isn't it?" Nix liked it very much, if he did say so himself. Ivan's hesitation around Nix had been cute and all at first, but if he was going to be the leader he had the potential to be, he needed to be able to embrace himself completely.

And that included, as far as Nix was concerned, having Nix at his side. And in his bed.

"We'll need a show of force," Ivan mused, his fingers stroking against Nix's hip. "I don't want to leave any room for thoughts of retaliation."

"Well, Kai's huge," Nix pointed out. He really was, especially in his demon form. Seven feet tall before one included the horns. Plus, he had a mighty pair of leathery wings, when he felt inclined to display them. Which wasn't often enough, in Nix's opinion. If Nix had giant bat wings, he'd be rocking them on every occasion. Building themed outfits around them, even.

"We'll need more than just one intimidating demon," Ivan told him, bringing Nix out of his sartorial musings.

"You said your other brother has a vampire."

"That's not an option."

"Why not? Isn't it a family business, this whole grand thing your father built for you?"

"Alexei left," Ivan said, bitter as always. "Both me and the business. After blowing a deal and costing me millions. A little ‘fuck you' to remember him by." A frisson of hurt made its way through the bitterness. "He was supposed to be my right-hand man. "

Poor Ivan. Nix patted his shoulder. "Well, now you have me." At the look Ivan gave him, Nix bristled. "What?"

Nix would be amazing right-hand man material. And if Ivan said otherwise, he was getting a kick to the shin.

"I had my cock in you just a few hours ago," Ivan told him, like that was somehow pertinent to their conversation.

Nix frowned at him, trying to understand. "You're not allowed to fuck your right-hand man?"

Ivan's lips twitched. "Historically, no."

"How boring," Nix mused. And completely irrelevant human nonsense, which he would ignore as such. He tossed his hair over his shoulder. "Anyway, you should ask."

"Ask what?" Ivan asked absently, his searching hand beginning to move rather enticingly closer to Nix's package.

"Ask Alexei," Nix reminded him instead of thrusting up into Ivan's touch. See? He was completely focused, despite Ivan's wandering hand. Nix could be an amazing right-hand man and bed partner. "And Sascha too. Ask your brothers for help, Vanya."

That was what Nix would do in a pinch—ask Kai or Chaos. Hell, he'd even take his chances with Nightmare, if he was completely desperate.

Ivan stiffened under him—and not in the fun way. "My brothers never help," he said coldly. "Alexei's too selfish. Sascha's too scattered."

"Have you ever asked though?"

Ivan stared at him for a moment, then took out his phone. He hit a few buttons, and Alexei's name popped up on the screen.

They waited.

No answer.

Ivan cocked a brow at him.

Nix huffed. "Try again."

Ivan tried again. And once more.

On the third attempt, there was, instead of an answer, a request for FaceTime. Ivan accepted it, his expression unreadable. He had the phone angled so Nix was off-screen but able to see well enough. Which was good because Nix was curious about this middle brother.

But the man who appeared on the other end didn't look like Ivan at all. And he certainly didn't look any older than Sascha. He looked young and…small, with dainty features and a mess of dark hair.

"Where's Alexei?" Ivan asked immediately.

Ah. So this wasn't the middle brother at all.

Nix studied the screen. Was this the vampire, then? He looked more like a little doll than a creature of the night. But then again, Chaos was proof enough that deadly force could come in small packages.

The vampire scowled at Ivan fiercely. "Alexei's not here."

"I can see him behind you."

Ivan had a point. There wasn't another face on the screen, but there was clearly a broad body behind the vampire. It looked like he and Alexei were sitting on a couch together.

The vampire sniffed. "He doesn't want to talk to you."

"Why did you pick up, then?"

"You kept calling."

"You could have put the phone on silent," Ivan said, exasperation breaking through the ice in his voice.

The vampire's scowl deepened. "I was trying to show him videos of cats ." He said it like an accusation. "I hit the button on accident ."

Well, this was cute and all, but the argument was becoming both ridiculous and fruitless. Nix leaned into frame, waggling his fingers. "Hello, there. We haven't met. I'm Nix."

The scowl dropped from the little vampire's face immediately, his gray eyes widening. "Oh, hello. I'm Jay. You're very beautiful. "

Nix liked him already. "Well, thank you, sweetness. You're adorable yourself."

There was some muffled grumbling on the other end, but Jay didn't seem to pay it any mind. He put his face closer to the phone's camera. "Are those horns on your head? You're a demon, aren't you? Do you have wings?"

Nix grinned at his eagerness. "No, but I do have a tail."

"Amazing," Jay breathed. He cocked his head. "What are you doing with Ivan? He's awful."

Nix ignored Ivan's scoff, leaning sideways across his lap to hide him from view. "I'm helping him turn over a new leaf."

"But…why?"

"Because I like the mean ones."

"Well, that's…" Jay seemed too polite to tell Nix that was crazy, but he seemed to be thinking of it.

"We could really use your help as well."

"Well, the thing is… So Alexei's not a big fan of Ivan right now." Jay lowered voice conspiratorially. "Ivan shot Alexei last time, you know."

"Ivan did?" Nix asked, fighting back a laugh. How like his human to leave out that little detail. "How naughty."

"Very naughty, yes." Jay nodded sagely. "So I'm not sure Alexei's going to want to help."

"If he could think about it, Ivan's very sorry," Nix added, ever the diplomat.

Ivan pinched his side. "I'm not ," he growled.

Jay narrowed his eyes, clearly having caught the denial. "He doesn't sound sorry."

"If you two come to help, I'll show you my tail."

There was a long, thoughtful pause on Jay's end, and then he cleared his throat delicately. "I'll…discuss it with Alexei."

A large hand covered the screen, hiding Jay from view. Clearly Alexei had had enough of the conversation. There was only a moment for Jay's frantic, "Bye, Nix!" before the call ended.

Nix leaned back, peering at Ivan. "Well, he was just adorable, wasn't he?" He realized Ivan was glaring at him, and he raised his brows. "What? Would it kill you to at least pretend to be sorry, to aid your plea? Isn't that what humans do? Lie to get what they want?"

Ivan pinched at the bridge of his nose. "I must be losing my mind listening to you at all." He flicked his fingers at the edge of Nix's panties. "Or thinking with my dick."

Nix preened. Maybe Ivan had meant it as an insult, but all Nix had heard was Ivan admitting to liking Nix's panties. "I think with my dick all the time," he reassured Ivan. "I highly recommend it. It's a wonderful way to live."

Ivan's answer was to push Nix off his lap. "Come. Get dressed. We need to stop at the office before we head to Maine."

"To interrogate Tara?" Nix would have a choice word or two for her if she'd been the reason Ivan had been placed in danger.

But Ivan shook his head. "She's been cleared. The video shows the deliveryman outside well before we called for the car. He entered the building when he saw Oleg pull up. He didn't receive a call from anyone we could see."

"Then why the office?" Nix pouted, following Ivan into the bedroom. "Not more work ."

"I need to grab the Book." Ivan slipped off his robe, and Nix was so busy admiring the display of lean muscles and the thick, tempting vision of Ivan's half-hard cock that it took him a minute to catch up with what Ivan was saying. "I don't want Sergei storming in and taking it by accident."

Oh. That.

Nix cleared his throat, stripping off Ivan's shirt at his impatient gesture, materializing his own outfit at the same time. He had a feeling he didn't want to be naked for this conversation. "The thing is…you might not find it there."

Ivan froze in the act of buttoning up his slacks, his features smoothing out into an unreadable mask. "And why wouldn't I find it there?" he asked, his voice soft and deadly. "Where I left it?"

"I think your cousin Cooper might have accidentally picked it up."

Ivan narrowed his eyes. "It was in my desk drawer, Nix. My closed desk drawer."

"I might have accidentally banged it open with my hip."

"Twice you've used the word ‘accidentally.'" Ivan stepped close, nose to nose with Nix. "Don't. Lie. To me."

"Fine." Nix rolled his eyes, resisting the urge to step back. He was a demon; he wasn't going to be intimidated by a human mobster, no matter how well he fucked. "I might have purposefully banged it open with my hip and then told Cooper he missed one and pointed to it and watched him pick it up."

The temperature of the air in the room seemed to drop a few degrees. " Why ?" Ivan hissed.

"I have a friend in there. He deserves a chance to be summoned."

"Even if it fucks with all my plans?"

"We don't even know if he'll get summoned," Nix reasoned. "It's not like your shy little cousin knows how. He just…deserves the chance. If the Book's locked away, he'll never even get it. You can't summon another demon anyway."

"And you didn't think to tell me?"

Nix hadn't thought to, actually. For all his experience with desire, Nix didn't have much experience with partnership.

Maybe Ivan wasn't the only one bad at communication.

Ivan's fists clenched at his sides at Nix's silence. He looked like he wouldn't mind wringing Nix's neck, but for once he kept his hands to himself. "And is this friend of yours likely to be a threat? "

"Um…doubtful?" Nix hedged. "He might set a few fires here and there, but it's unlikely he'd be much interested in Mafia business."

"A few fires," Ivan repeated flatly.

"Only if he gets bored?"

"Of course." Ivan stepped back, turning away. "I'm going to finish getting dressed. Make yourself presentable. We'll be leaving in a half hour."

Nix's heart sank at the dismissive tone in Ivan's voice. He didn't even sound angry anymore. But what little warmth Nix had coaxed out of him—the little cracks in Ivan's armor he'd fought so hard for—was all gone.

It seemed like, after all that teasing, Nix had finally managed to truly piss Ivan off.