28. The Heart Knows

Chapter twenty-eight

The Heart Knows

They stayed up late around the campfire, and Oliver introduced the demons to s'mores. Everyone except Tad and Quin liked them. Quin insisted they were too sweet. Tad agreed, though Oliver suspected it was because s'mores brought joy, and on principle, Tad hated things that brought people joy.

Oliver's parents stayed up with them, growing more comfortable with the demons as the night wore on. Maggie wrapped a blanket around Gem's shoulders when she noticed him hugging himself with all six arms. Greg spoke with Quin about the cafe and how running a business differed in Hell.

Jude sat beside Toni, and the Elas shared the quilt Oliver's mother had handed him. Even in the dark, Oliver could see the blush on his best friend's face as he tucked himself closer to Toni's side. The smile Toni gave him wasn't leering or even suggestive; it was soft and sweet. Oliver had only ever seen Toni give Gem that kind of look before.

Rusty sat in front of the log between Gem and Willow's legs, pale eyes reflecting the firelight as he hugged his tail to his chest. One of Gem's hands absently ran through the fur between his ears, and Rusty's eyes started to droop.

Zef pestered Oliver's mother with questions about, well, anything and everything they could think of, and when Maggie put a hand on Zef's shoulder—everyone stiffening automatically—Zef barely flinched. They glanced down at her hand with those milky eyes, throat bobbing profusely as their antennas twitched.

The touch lasted only a moment, but everyone waited on baited breath to see what Zef would do. They flexed their four hands before they offered Maggie a tiny smile. Then they fluidly rose to their feet and asked where the bathroom was. Oliver had already shown them, but he let his mother point the way.

"They're okay," Willow whispered as Oliver contemplated whether to follow them to check.

"Yeah?"

"They know your mother doesn't know their customs, and they don't hold it against her."

"I didn't think to say anything," Oliver said with a wince.

"They weren't upset. It just startled them, so they need some alone time now. That's all."

"You know, your empathy is handy," Oliver said, and Willow frowned.

"I suppose. But it's a burden. I don't like knowing so many things, especially the secret things the others didn't choose to share with me. But I know them all the same." She fidgeted with the blanket in her lap. "I feel so close to all of you, but it's hard knowing it's one-sided. Because had you a choice, you may not have allowed such intimacy with me."

Oliver took her hand and squeezed it. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize how… alienating that would feel. Knowing so many things, but having to keep it all bottled up."

"Can I tell you a secret?" Willow leaned in, mossy eyes dancing with amusement.

"Sure."

"I tell Krul everything, but only when he's drunk. So he never remembers, but I feel better not having to carry it alone."

Oliver chuckled, and Willow giggled. "I'm glad you have Krul. Though, I don't mind if you tell him my secrets when he's sober. You should have someone to confide in."

A rough, bark-like hand cupped his face. "Thank you, Oliver. Your heart is so open and kind. It is a relief to me."

"It's no big deal. I'm just… me," he said with a shrug.

"And I so delight in you." Leaning in, Willow pressed a fleeting kiss to his cheek. "I felt the moment you realized you loved him. It was exhilarating and frightening and wonderful. Love hurts, sometimes, but the way you love is so warm."

With every word her coarse lips whispered across his cheek, Oliver's breathing grew choppier. His eyes tracked Liel as he and Gem tried to build a multi-layered s'more, yellow eyes glowing as he looked Oliver's way. His amused grin brightened even more, and he winked, causing Oliver's heart to twist.

"It's too soon," Oliver murmured, turning to gaze into Willow's understanding eyes. "It's too fast."

"Why? You're on no one's timeline but your own. And sometimes, the heart knows." She dropped her voice even more, barely above a whisper as she said, "He is just as frightened as you, for the same reasons. So be brave, Oliver."

Willow straightened and sighed, gazing up at the night sky. "I think I'll go to bed." She stood and squeezed Oliver's shoulder once before bidding everyone goodnight.

Over the next hour, they all filtered into the house for bed in ones and twos. Toni had to drag Gem away from the bag of marshmallows, complaining that Gem would never sleep if he kept eating that much sugar. Glyma and Quin headed inside a few minutes later, hands twined between their bodies. Tad fell asleep on the log she'd been sitting on, and Zef carried her inside.

Rusty rose and tucked his hands into his baggy jean pockets. "Can I walk around out here? Like, it's safe, or whatever?"

"I mean, yeah. There's coyotes, so keep a sharp eye out," Oliver said. "And don't get lost."

"Okay." The claws of Rusty's feet left marks as he scuffed the ground. "Thanks, Oliver. For inviting us. It's pretty cool here."

"I'm glad you came, Rusty." Oliver patted his shoulder, and Rusty ducked his head and nodded before heading off toward the barley field.

"You sure he should be out here alone?" Liel asked, cheek pressed to Oliver's arm.

"He'll be fine."

"Goodnight, guys," Jude said as he disappeared inside the house.

"Goodnight," Oliver called as he stamped the coals down to ensure the fire wouldn't catch flame again. Then he took Liel's hand and said, "Let's go to bed."

"It's after midnight." Liel showed Oliver the clock on his phone screen. "That means it's officially your birthday."

"I'm finally twenty-seven."

Looping his arms around Oliver's neck, Liel popped onto his toes and kissed him. "Happy birthday, Mr. Barnes."

"Thanks. I'm glad I get to spend it with you."

"You don't need flattery to get a birthday blowjob, darling," Liel said with a wriggle of his cartilage brow.

"Not flattery. Just facts," Oliver said, Willow's voice echoing in the back of his head telling him to be brave.

Liel's teasing smile melted into something lovely and tender. "How I adore you."

The next kiss was indulgent, and Oliver stumbled after Liel as the demon led him to their room. Surrounded by demons—some of which had excellent hearing—and Oliver's parents, they had to be quiet. They giggled like children at a slumber party after the parents had ordered them to bed as they undressed.

Oliver muffled his moans of pleasure in Liel's neck as the demon pressed Oliver's palm to his mouth and held it there. The lights flickered feebly as Liel shuddered and tightened around Oliver, and when they both came together, they swallowed each other's groans with hungry kisses.

And after, as the night settled around them and the crickets chirped their songs, Oliver held Liel tight to his side and resolved to be brave.

"I love you," he whispered at the ceiling.

Liel didn't stir, his breaths deep and even.

"I'll tell you again," Oliver murmured as he brushed a thick lock of hair from Liel's face, "when you're awake. I'm gonna tell you again when you can remember it."

Because yes, he was frightened by the magnitude of it, but Oliver was not a coward. He would be brave; he just hoped Liel was ready to be brave too.

Oliver woke the next morning to hot, wet heat surrounding his dick. Confused and horny beyond belief, he lifted his head and glanced down his body, finding Liel curled up between his thighs, yellow eyes dancing with delight as he expertly sucked him off.

"Shit," Oliver moaned before clamping a hand over his mouth.

Liel chuckled around his erection, reaching down to massage his balls, one finger sliding back to press on his taint. It didn't take long, and Oliver groaned into the pillow Liel had slept on to smother the sound of his orgasm.

"I told you," Liel said as he daintily wiped his mouth clean, "I was going give you a birthday blowjob."

"It was very well done," Oliver slurred, brain still struggling to wake up. "Excellent skill. Ten out of ten. Highly recommend."

Slithering up Oliver's body, Liel pushed the pillow off his face and kissed him. He tasted stale from morning breath and salty from Oliver's cum, but Oliver held him in place and kissed him desperately all the same.

"A lot of the others are awake already," Liel said as they parted. "Shall we get dressed and join them?"

Oliver shook his head. "Not before you sit on my face."

With a chuckle, Liel slipped out of the bed and stretched. "That was for you, love. It's your birthday after all."

"But I like making you come," Oliver whined, and Liel laughed harder.

"You can make me come later. I believe your mother is showing off baby pictures of you, and I definitely want in on that action." Liel winked at him as he shimmied into his underwear.

"No," Oliver whined again, for a completely different reason. "No baby pictures."

"Oh, it's happening. Like literally right now. Gem is dying out there as we speak."

As he returned Liel's pillow to his face, Oliver pouted and kicked his legs like a kid. Fabric rustled as Liel dressed, and Oliver almost fell back to sleep. He wasn't used to staying up so late, and though he was sure they'd slept in, he didn't think he had enough sleep to face the old family picture albums.

"Don't sleep too long," Liel chided as charged fingers dragged down Oliver's leg, leaving a trail of sparks behind.

"I think I'll sleep through the humiliating perusal of my baby pictures, thanks."

"Don't pout. It's not becoming."

"Your face isn't becoming," Oliver muttered.

Liel gasped dramatically. "And after I gave you a birthday blowjob. The abuse I suffer."

"I loved the birthday blowjob," Oliver said into the pillow still covering his face.

"I'm starting to worry that's the only reason you keep me around," Liel teased.

Shaking his head, the pillow nearly sliding off his face, Oliver said, "No, I love everything about you."

His half-conscious brain didn't notice the word choice or the extra long pause before Liel spoke, voice soft and a little breathy. "Is that so? Good to know my affections are returned."

"I'll return all the affections right now if you sit on my face," Oliver said, and Liel barked a laugh.

"See you out there, darling," Liel said instead of climbing onto Oliver's shoulders and riding his face. Which was honestly offensive, given that it was Oliver's birthday and all.

Half-asleep, Oliver turned over and hugged Liel's pillow to his chest, inhaling the electric storm and metal perfume he'd left behind on the fabric. He dozed a little longer before shaking off the lethargy and forcing himself out of bed.

When he walked into the living room, it was to the embarrassing image of nearly every single one of his friends piled around the couch as his mother turned the page in the picture album. "And this is when Oliver went through his superhero phase," Maggie was saying, making everyone—except Toni and Zef—make humiliating aww-ing sounds.

"No offense," Toni said from his spot behind the couch, leaning over Maggie's shoulder, "but you were an ugly kid, Ollie."

"He was not," Glyma said from Maggie's side.

"I think he was adorable," Liel agreed from Maggie's other side.

Oliver's mother smiled at him guiltily as she turned the next page to another chorus of aww's .

Half of the demons were still in their pajamas, the strangest of them being Zef in a long, flowy muumuu type dress. Oliver wasn't surprised by Gem's cloth bootie shorts or the bedazzled crop top that read cum-dumpster across his chest. But the muumuu? Yeah, that was unexpected.

"Morning," Oliver grumbled. "Mom, is there coffee?"

"In the kitchen, sweetheart."

Rusty was already there, sitting on the counter, mauve feet swinging as he sipped coffee. Mr. Pickles was in his lap, and Rusty was grudgingly petting him.

"You two make up?" Oliver asked as he poured himself some coffee.

"No," Rusty said, curling his lip down at the offending cat. "He just… climbed on top of me and now he won't leave."

"You could move him," Oliver offered, and Rusty shrugged.

"It's fine, I guess." Rusty's tail flicked where it dangled next to his feet, and a smile nearly curled the corners of his mouth as Mr. Pickles started to purr.

A knock sounded at the front door, and since Oliver's mother was trapped on the couch, Oliver waved at her to stay seated as he made his way to the entry. He opened the door and frowned at the large man filling up almost the entire doorway.

"Hi there," Oliver said, taking another gulp of coffee. "Can I help you?"

The man blinked at him in surprise, gray eyes widening in recognition. "Oliver?"

"Uh, yes?"

"You probably don't remember me, but I'm Bryce. You graduated with my cousin, Charlie," he said, extending a big hand.

"Charlie Elliot?" Oliver asked as he took the offered hand and shook it.

"Yeah, that's the one. I was a couple grades behind you guys."

"Right. You're, uh, Mrs. Elliot's grandson?"

Bryce's brows furrowed, but he still nodded. "Yup, I didn't know you knew her."

"I know of her," Oliver hedged, barely resisting the urge to shoot his mother a dirty look—even if she wouldn't see it from her spot on the couch. "Did you want to come in, or…"

"Oh no, I'm here on official business. Your mom called about an injured cow. She insisted I come this weekend." At Oliver's blank expression, Bryce jerked his thumb over his shoulder to the van in the driveway. "I'm the farm vet. Well, technically I'm the assistant farm vet, but I'm training under Mr. Morris to take over when he retires. But I'm totally qualified to be here alone, though. Your cow is in good hands."

Oliver laughed. "For sure, man. Sorry, I just woke up, and Mom didn't say anything about you coming."

"Really? She said she couldn't wait for us to reconnect. Which didn't make sense because we weren't really friends in high school, you know?" Bryce frowned, then shrugged, a somewhat dopey grin spreading over his face. "But hey, cool that you're back from Chicago."

"I'm not. Back. I mean, I'm here for my birthday. My friends and I came up for the weekend."

"Right on. Happy birthday, man."

"Thanks?" Oliver motioned inside. "Seriously, you should just come inside. I don't know anything about an injured cow."

Hesitantly, Bryce followed Oliver inside, shutting the door behind him. He was dressed in worn jeans, boots, and a flannel shirt. His dark hair curled around his ears, his skin weathered and tan from working outside. Honestly, he was a good looking guy, and if Oliver wasn't head over heels for Liel, he might have actually been tempted. Bryce was big enough to throw him around, and Oliver had never been opposed to being manhandled.

"Oliver, Tad has found something she would like to eat…" Zef stepped into the entry hall, words drifting off as their milky eyes landed on Bryce.

"Whoa!" Bryce stumbled back a step, eyes huge as he gaped at Zef. "Talking bug."

Zef's delicate white brows turned down. "I beg your pardon?"

"This is my friend Zef," Oliver intervened. "We work together in Purgatory. They're from the Envy district of Hell."

Bryce's eyes widened impossibly as his throat bobbed. "Oh. Right. Um… hi?"

"Hello," Zef said with a slight bow, their muumuu swishing around their bare feet.

Oliver, who'd never seen Zef without shoes, was momentarily distracted. Their feet were entirely inhuman. They were long and slender, like the rest of them, but instead of toes, they had sharp-looking barbs that gripped the floor for purchase, like an ant or a praying mantis.

With their insectoid wings, antennas, and compound eyes, Oliver couldn't exactly blame Bryce for his reaction. Zef did resemble a talking bug, if talking bugs were also weirdly pretty and fae-like.

"This is Bryce. We went to school together." Oliver stretched the truth a bit for simplicity's sake. "He's here to take a look at an injured cow."

Zef's head cocked, antennas wriggling with interest. "Why?"

"He's a farm vet. Uh, an animal doctor," Oliver amended when Zef blinked at him blankly.

"How fascinating," Zef said, wings fluttering behind their back. "Would it be impertinent if I requested to observe?"

Still in shock, Bryce said, "Huh?"

"They want to watch," Oliver said, and Bryce's tan face darkened in a blush. "When you check out the injured cow, I mean. They're really curious about, well, everything."

"I very much like to learn," Zef agreed. "And to observe an animal healer in action would be so very exciting."

"That okay?" Oliver asked Bryce, who was still gawking at them, face flushed. "Bryce?"

"Uh, yeah," the poor man said, clearing his throat noisily. "Sure, that's cool. You can watch me. With the animals. You can… watch."

Oliver bit his lower lip to stave off a grin as Zef's wings buzzed loudly, their antennas wigging madly as their four hands flexed. "I will change into more appropriate attire. If it is not inconvenient, I would ask you to wait for me before you begin any healing procedures."

Zef waited for Bryce to nod, before they spun on their heels and rushed down the hallway toward their room, muumuu flowing behind them. Oliver had never seen them so excited before, and he smacked Bryce's arm playfully.

"You're gonna make their day."

"What the hell was that thing?" Bryce squeaked, and Oliver scowled.

"That thing? They're a person, you know?"

Shame washed over Bryce's expression. "Shit, that's not what I meant. I just… I've never met a… a…"

"Demon?" Oliver supplied, and he nodded. "Well, I have a whole house full of them. Just don't be an asshole, okay?"

"Right. Sorry. I really didn't mean it like that. I was just… surprised." Bryce ran a hand through his dark hair as he stared into the hallway Zef had disappeared down. "I thought they'd be… scarier?"

Oliver chuckled. "Some of them can be. But for the most part, they're just like you and me. They just have more teeth or hands."

"Seriously, Ollie, Tad is eating something and it has legs—oh my gods, aren't you a tall drink of liquor." Gem rounded the corner, his disgusted expression transforming into something predatory and flirtatious as he studied Bryce. Leaning seductively against the wall, he giggled, dark gray tongue slicking over a small fang. "Now this, Oliver, is what I mean when I say, thicc . Hey, big boy, how you doing? I'm Gem, but you can call me anything you want."

Bryce said, "Eep!"

Oliver rolled his eyes. "Stop sexually harassing strangers, Gem. Especially if you're wearing a shirt that says cum-dumpster ."

"What? It's called good advertising, Ollie." Gem winked several eyes at Bryce. "Plus, your mom thought it was hilarious."

Oliver highly doubted that. "Still, you're coming on a little strong."

"I'll come wherever you want me to," he whisper-shouted at Bryce. "You into limbs? I got eight, baby, and I know how to use every single one."

Someone cleared their throat, and Gem's sexy grin evaporated as Rusty approached, Mr. Pickles lounging around his shoulders. He arched a bushy eyebrow at Gem, and the Araknis tittered, straightening his posture.

"I don't appreciate the silent judgment, Rus. I was just kidding anyway," he mumbled glumly.

"Mhm." Rusty nodded at Bryce. "Hey."

"You're pink," Bryce said.

Rusty sighed wearily. "Yeah, so people tell me."

"Care Bear," Gem whispered with a gleeful smile, and Rusty glared at him, flipping him the bird as he walked away. "Oh come on, Rus. That goes against Cheer Bear's philosophy of love and joy," Gem called as he ran after him. "Be more like Cheer Bear!"

"He's a spider," Bryce said.

"Ha, kinda. A big, horny spider." Oliver grimaced. "Well, technically, he's an Araknis."

Bryce nodded vaguely. "Right."

When Oliver found Tad, she showed him the half-eaten beetle she was snacking on. She asked if it was allowed—which, seeing as the beetle was already dead, seemed like a moot question—and he said she could eat whatever bugs she wanted.

"Not as good as barn mice, but…" Tad shrugged as she waddled off, crunching down on the other half of the beetle.

Oliver's mother paled the moment Bryce walked into the room, and she avoided Oliver's gaze as she handed Liel the picture album. "Oh, Bryce, dear. I forgot all about your visit."

"Hey, Mrs. Barnes. We confirmed the appointment yesterday," he said haltingly.

"Of course. Silly me." Maggie fleetingly glanced at Oliver, her cheeks flushing as she cleared her throat. "One of the bulls scratched up his leg, and I didn't want it to get infected."

"Okay, show me which one, and I'll check it out."

"And I may observe?" Zef asked, stepping up beside Bryce, making the poor man jump.

"Jesus Christ!" Bryce yelped, pressing a hand to his chest. "You're quiet."

Zef cocked their head. "Should I speak louder?" they shouted, and Oliver choked on his coffee.

"No, Zef, that's not what he meant. You move quietly, so he didn't know you were there."

"Oh." Their antennas swiveled. "My apologies. It was not my intention to startle you."

"It's cool," Bryce wheezed. "No problem. Um, we're heading to the barn."

"Excellent. Willow would also like to watch if that is agreeable?"

Bryce blushed again under Zef's unblinking attention. "S-sure."

Willow, wearing a pretty yellow sundress, rounded the couch and clasped her hands in front of her stomach. "Thank you. I'd love to see how you care for the animals."

With a somewhat panicked look at Oliver, Bryce barked an anxious laugh before following Maggie out to the barn, Willow and Zef trailing behind.

"Who's that?" Liel asked, still flipping through the old family pictures.

"I went to school with his cousin. I think Mom was trying to set us up."

Liel's posture stiffened, and electricity crackled to life between his locks of hair as he glared out the door. "I will destroy him."

Grabbing Liel's head, Oliver directed it back until it met the back of the couch. He kissed him upside down, bringing an oomph from the demon. "Don't worry. He's not my type."

Liel smiled into the next kiss, words muffled. "Am I your type?"

"You're the one I want," Oliver answered, and Liel beamed up at him. "You wanna go for a ride?"

"Dude, I'm sitting right here," Toni griped from the armchair.

"I meant on my horse!" Oliver snapped, and Glyma giggled.

"If you let me get trampled," Liel threatened, but Oliver kissed the rest of the warning away.

"I won't. You'll like it, I promise."

With a sigh, Liel nodded. "Alright. Take me for a ride, cowboy."

"Dude!" Toni splayed his hands as Glyma covered her mouth with her hand to stop another round of giggles.

By the time Oliver had Starlight saddled and ready, his father had Queen Charlotte in the training pen with Glyma on her back. Quin, Toni, Jude, Gem, and Rusty stood outside the pen, leaning on the fence as Greg encouraged the horse into a trot. Rusty and Gem were holding several puppies, and Molly sat panting at Toni's side as he absently petted her head.

"You ready?" Oliver asked as he settled a spare Stetson on Liel's head.

"As ready as I'll ever be." Liel smiled nervously as he patted Starlight's neck.

"You'll be riding pillion," Oliver said as he fit his boot into the stirrup. "It's an extension to the saddle behind me, so you can hold onto my waist while we ride."

"Okay." Liel stood back as Oliver heaved himself into the saddle, tightening his grip on the reins when Starlight tried to move forward. "Hold on. Not yet, girl. Don't wanna leave Liel behind."

Using the stool Oliver pointed at, Liel took Oliver's hand and clumsily climbed onto Starlight's back behind him, settling on the special pillion saddle built for double-riders. He wrapped his arms around Oliver's waist tight enough to knock the breath out of him. When Starlight shifted her weight, tail flicking, Liel squeaked.

"You okay?" Oliver rubbed Liel's arm, and he felt the demon nodding against his back.

"Yes," he said weakly.

Oliver set his own Stetson on his head and glanced at Liel over his shoulder with a grin. "Hold tight, darlin'," he said with Western flair, and Liel laughed shakily.

Oliver clicked his tongue, and Starlight started walking. Liel made a distressed noise, arms vise-like around Oliver's waist. As they passed the training pen, the others waved, and Oliver waved back.

"Looking good, Glym," Oliver called, and Glyma laughed as she moved gracefully with Queen Charlotte's trot.

"It's wonderful!" she cried.

"You going next?" Oliver asked Gem.

The Araknis shook his head, holding up the puppies in his arms. "I'm holding pippies! I'm not giving that up just to fall off a giant hoofed animal that isn't a cow!"

"Okay. Uh, good luck, Dad." Oliver chuckled as his father waved him off.

"Bah, go have fun. Show that boy a good time."

"Yeah, Ollie, show him a good time!" Toni whistled suggestively as Gem made several obscene gestures that Oliver prayed his father hadn't seen.

Ignoring them, Oliver directed Starlight toward the open plain and pressed his heels into her side. She broke into a trot, and Liel squealed again.

"Not so fast," he hissed, and Oliver chuckled.

"This isn't fast. I'll show you fast later."

They trotted for a while, and when Oliver encouraged Starlight into a canter, Liel's fingers twisted in Oliver's shirt as his breath hitched. Oliver held the reins in one hand as he squeezed Liel's wrist with the other.

"I won't let you fall," he said over the wind.

Liel nodded against his shoulder. "I know."

When they made it to the tree line, Oliver let Starlight slow as she headed to the well-worn trail without his direction. She was used to it by now, so he loosened his grip on the reins and half turned to check on Liel. His hair was windswept, the Stetson sitting crooked, and his face was paler than normal.

"We can go back," Oliver offered, but Liel was already shaking his head.

"No, I'm good. I think I'm getting used to it."

"If you want to stop, just say so."

Liel kissed the back of Oliver's shoulder. "I will."

The longer they rode, the more Liel relaxed. As Starlight walked through the trees, he even loosened his death grip on Oliver's waist, hands lowering to rest on Oliver's thighs.

"It's beautiful here," Liel commented as the birds chirped above them.

"Mhm. There's a meadow up ahead. I packed some snacks if you want to stop and have a little picnic."

"How romantic." Liel's sharp teeth scraped the back of Oliver's neck, sending a shiver down his spine.

"Fervent pursuit, remember?"

Liel chuckled. "The pursuit seems moot at this point. You already have me, love."

"Is that so?"

"Yes." Liel kissed Oliver below his ear. "I'm all yours."

"Don't make promises you can't keep," Oliver said, glancing over his shoulder.

Liel's eyes sparkled in the sunlight. "I don't intend to." When Oliver tried to kiss him, Liel pushed him to face forward. "Watch where we're going or we'll walk into a tree!"

"Starlight knows this trail better than I do."

"Still. No distractions when you're driving."

Oliver raised his head to the treetops and laughed.

In the meadow, Oliver removed Starlight's bridle so she could wander and snack on the grass. He retrieved the blanket and some snacks from the saddle bag and laid it out so Liel could sit.

"My legs are sore." Liel rubbed at his thighs as Oliver dropped down beside him on the blanket.

"Mine too. I'm out of practice."

They ate the sandwiches Oliver had quickly slapped together and shared the water in the canteen. With his head on Oliver's shoulder, Liel closed his eyes and turned his face toward the sun. Oliver gazed down at him and wondered how he'd gotten so lucky.

Sweet kisses deepened, and Oliver found himself on his back, the blanket scratchy on his skin as Liel lowered himself onto his cock. With a devious grin, Liel took Oliver's hat and secured it to his head.

"Now it's my turn to take you for a ride, Mr. Barnes," Liel said, voice husky and rich.

Thanks to the blowjob that morning, Oliver lasted through several of Liel's orgasms before his own built deep in his belly. The sunlight filtering through the leaves played along Liel's sweat-slick skin. The demon rode him hard, seeking his pleasure as Oliver met his every thrust with gritted teeth.

When Liel's dick coiled around Oliver's cock inside him, they both moaned. "Fuck, that's hot," Oliver said, and Liel's teeth flashed.

"Fuck me like you mean it," Liel demanded, and Oliver spun them around, hoisting Liel's legs over his shoulders so he could drive himself into Liel's body with reckless abandon.

The tip of Liel's dick attached itself to Oliver's frenum and started to suck, and Oliver cried out as his orgasm crashed over him in a rush. Liel came a fifth time with an eerie keen, nails carving into Oliver's forearms.

"Well done, cowboy," he hummed as his cock unwound around Oliver's. "Ten out of ten. Would recommend."

Sex drunk and sleepy, Oliver chuckled into his neck, peppering his throat with kisses. "You're the best thing that's ever happened to me."

Cupping Oliver's face with yellow hands, Liel gaze up at him with glossy eyes. His lips parted, but no words escaped. Oliver smiled down at him and kissed the truth from his lips.

Maybe they both weren't quite brave enough yet. But that was okay. They'd find their courage eventually.