Chapter 19

Damien Vex,Vanguard socialite, reduced to sleeping on the floor.

I stifled a chuckle. I couldn't tell which was more outlandish, taking a group of kids for a sleepover, or that I waited for an opportunity to sneak out for a guy. No matter how I examined my predicament, I appeared the fool. It was only exacerbated by the fact I was still wearing my suit, sans shoes, of course.

The quiet giggles from the group of girls by the T-Rex made it hard to focus as I contemplated Sentinel's destruction. I had come within seconds of forcing his hand. If he had thrown a sucker punch, especially in front of a group of children, it would have tarnished his reputation. I'd be able to systematically ruin the lives of his friends and have the foothold I needed to bring his world crashing down. All I had to do was?—

"Shh," I hissed at the girls. Plotting revenge wouldn't happen tonight. My past self, the Vex who nearly destroyed the Centurions, he'd scoff at dividing my attention. Before my time in Cold Iron, would I have concerned myself with the needs of orphans? I'd have pushed the idea aside, too focused on my pursuit of justice. Even if I claimed I tried to usurp heroes for them, I'd have continued with laser focus.

What had changed?

I rolled onto my side to see Won-Ho sitting upright against the glass beneath the triceratops display. He gave a slight wave before pointing to the kids. He leaned his head against his hand, signaling they had fallen asleep. Dae demanded that he join them, and of course, he couldn't resist. I didn't need to ask. The trauma had begun to heal.

I considered asking Won-Ho about this newfound conscience. He recognized and acknowledged the many things others saw as a detriment. Yet, he had not once thrown them back in my face. Instead, he stated them outright and balanced them against the good. I imagined Lady Justice with her scales and Won-Ho carefully weighing my deeds. Had he decided there was enough good to move forward? Or did he refuse to base his decision on things like morality? If that were the case, consider me aroused.

Did he have a point? I saw these acts of nobility diminishing my dedication to being a ruthless businessman. Doc would suggest that I was becoming a three-dimensional human with ambition that evolved beyond killing a single man. Maybe he was right? I could still plot my revenge and have time for?—

"Won?" I sat upright but couldn't find him. "The chase is on."

Under the cloak of darkness, I laid back and slipped into the void. It was the third exhibit when I spotted Won-Ho. I let out a low whistle as I stepped up to the wall of hieroglyphics. The Egyptian wing had recreated a tomb that required a special pass to enter. Our special pass came from our powers.

"Thousands of years," he said. He leaned over the red ropes surrounding a sarcophagus atop a table. "I feel insignificant by comparison."

My nose twitched, the space dusty enough to have me holding back a sneeze. I stepped close enough that I could touch the wall. Nearly twenty feet above, the lights remained dim, making it impossible to make out the specifics. They reminded me of Cairo, one of the many stops in pursuit of reacquiring my powers. "Insignificance is not an emotion I've felt in a long time."

"Of course," he said. "The all-powerful Damien Vex."

"I learned early that the world would do its best to tear me down. There is nobody in my corner who will push me forward. That responsibility lies firmly on my shoulders."

He stepped forward, his hand resting on my shoulder. "It sounds lonely." Won-Ho's fingers dug in. His words didn't hold pity. Like always, he accepted the statement. I hardly knew him, and yet I felt compelled to speak the truth in his presence. If he could see past my bravado, I felt there was no point in posturing, but it was more than that.

"Why are you doing this?"

The question took me off guard. I thought it was him who lured me out for a scandalous liaison in the museum. I was about to spit out a witty reply when he turned me around.

"Dae? The bar? Why?"

"Oh, that." I hadn't taken a moment to think about it. "I could, so I did. Not to diminish it, but it's the truth."

He smiled. "I know. But would you have done it for anybody?"

I shook my head. "This man shows up to a charity event willing to put himself in harm's way, just to ensure I made good on a promise. The mystery of why caught my attention. It just so happens that as I unraveled that mystery, I found somebody captivating."

"At first, I assumed you were looking for a quick lay."

"I was." He laughed at the reply. When he spotted the seriousness on my face, his laugh ended. "Have you stopped to look at yourself in the mirror? You're rather fetching. Nobody tells me no. I most certainly do not chase men."

"And yet here we are."

I couldn't help but grin. He didn't fathom the effect he had. I was thankful. If he understood the discomfort of being called out during that first dinner, he'd have known he had me wrapped about his finger.

"I'm going to speak freely. Be warned, my foot may wedge itself in my mouth."

"This should be amusing."

"You carry a weight on your shoulders that is… quite frankly, wrong. Yes, the universe dealt a hand that put you and Min together. You put the needs of others above yourself. Where did that get you?"

"Damien—"

"Won, you need to hear this. I'm not sure if anybody, including yourself, has ever said this." I put my hands on either side of his face, holding him in place. "You did nothing wrong. In fact, you tried to be an honorable man. You did it at your own expense. It might have been the reason behind the divorce, but her taking your daughter from you, that's on her. I'm asking that you put yourself first. Set this shame aside. You deserve to be happy."

"Being myself cost me?—"

"Lying cost you," I corrected.

"You don't understand."

I shook my head. "No, I don't. I can say, as a white man, I have no idea what you've gone through. But in front of me, I see a man punishing himself. Dae doesn't deserve that, and neither do you."

He tried wiping away the tears, but I caught his hand. I didn't want to be cruel, but if he could shove aside my bravado, I could do the same to him. "That kid in there doesn't care who you love. He cares that somebody gives a damn. I was that kid."

Won-Ho pulled on my shirt, dragging me closer. He buried his face in my neck as he wrapped his arms around my chest. I knew when I started my tirade that it'd end in tears. I didn't want to be cruel, but Won-Ho needed a thorough shaking. He'd never move into the next chapter if he let himself be weighed down by the past.

I patted him on the back. From here, I didn't know where to go. I couldn't kill his grief or maim cultural expectations. There were no bones to snap in this battle. I had worried being soft made me weak, but the truth was, I didn't know how to be soft. It should have been a moment of relief, but as I traced the lines of his shoulder blades, maybe… just maybe… a little softness wouldn't be a bad thing. I'd be extra horrible to Geoff to balance the scales.

"This night took an awkward turn." He didn't let go. I didn't make him. It wasn't the rutting I expected, and yet, I found it oddly satisfying. In an ancient temple, I gripped the man. Accepting himself wouldn't happen overnight, but hopefully, he found a path forward.

He kissed my cheek. Won-Ho's hands slid down my back, resting on my ass with his thumbs hooked in the waistband of my pants. At first, I thought he avoided eye contact. When his fingers moved around the waistband to the button of my trousers, I realized he had his sights set on something else.

With a flick of the finger, the button popped open.

"Is somebody in there?" A light flashed at the tomb's entrance. "Damn, kids."

"Trust me?" I whispered.

Won-Ho's head tilted to the side. I'd be suspicious as well. "I do."

Like he had the other night, I pushed him backward.

* * *

When the portal closed, we stood in the darkness of the void. The white noise of the universe ended. No humming of power lines. No ambient light from the exhibition. No wall of ancient text. Outside the void, senses were bombarded and stimulated to the point our brains had to filter out the information. Inside the void, the brain craved input.

I reached out, my fingertips brushing against the ripples in his t-shirt. I reached the collar and continued until my fingers hooked the back of his neck. His stubble scratched above my lip as I kissed him. He pulled me close, exerting that superhuman strength. The kiss went from chaste to passionate, his tongue touching mine. Won-Ho tasted of spice, a mixture of heat and an undertone of sweet.

He tore open the front of my shirt, and the buttons made a faint popping sound. Pulling it over my shoulders, he used the fabric to hold my arms in place. What Won-Ho lacked in experience, he made up for in zeal. With a tug of my waistband, the zipper tore apart, one tooth at a time. He couldn't see it, but my cock found his aggressive approach exciting.

When his hand brushed my package, I let out a gasp. It'd be impossible for my hard-on to go unnoticed. He returned to kissing, missing my lips and catching my cheek. He went with it, kissing along the skin until he reached the soft spot beneath my ear. His fingers continued tracing the outline of my cock, circling until it jerked upright.

While I wanted to indulge his curiosities and let him explore my body, I needed to return the sentiment. In the darkness, my powers flared. Tendrils of smoke wrapped about Won-Ho. The fabric tore and shredded until I imagined he stood in nothing but underwear.

Now, when I rested my palm over his heart, the rapid pounding was almost audible. As he inhaled, his pulse raced. This might very well be the most intimate moment I had ever experienced. It had little to do with my cock. My breathing synched with his, matching the rise and fall of his chest.

"Do you trust me?"

His hand covered mine. His body shifted. I assume he nodded. "I do."

Pressing forward, he fell backward onto a bed made of darkness. There was no up and down in the void, and I used it to my advantage. I almost chuckled as I searched for his legs. It reminded me of my bumbling teenage years as I learned the ropes. I became the teacher and Won-Ho needed an education on the pleasures two men could share.

Standing between his legs, my hands resting on his knees. I trailed the back of my fingers along the interior of his thighs. They parted as I moved closer. I passed the line for boxers, then the line for trunks. The thought of him in briefs made me grin. To my surprise, I found straps holding the pouch in place. My partner had decided on a jockstrap. Practical and risqué.

I lay between his legs, running my beard against his inner thigh. When he tried pulling away, I held him in place. I stopped the torture and resorted to kissing up his leg. His body relaxed until I reached the edge of his jock.

He tensed.

I hovered above his package, letting the heat of my breath wash over the fabric. I held my position, wanting him to make the next move. There was no sense of time. What felt like forever could have been mere minutes. With every inhale, I reveled in the mixture of musk and soap. I could almost taste the saltiness of his skin.

With a slight shift of his hips, the fabric pressed against my face. It was the affirmation I needed. I pulled the fabric to the side, mouth-watering. I kissed along his testicles, feeling them contract as I made my way to his shaft. It lacked finesse as I wrapped my lips around the head of his cock. The foreskin tasted of salt, already wet with precum. As I applied pressure with my lips, Won-Ho moaned.

I imagined his head lifted as he tried to watch. I inched my way downward until my lips reached his groin. His cock filled my mouth. It pulsed, a vein running along the underside twitching as I held still. It had become a game, waiting until Won-Ho took control. I didn't want him to be a passive participant.

When he thrust, the tip of his cock touched the back of my throat. He moaned as he retreated and then shoved in again. Each time, I dragged the roughness of my tongue alongside his shaft. I reached around, holding his ass in my hands. With the next thrust, his muscles flexed, and I held him in place. I took over, bobbing my head up and down.

"No, no. I'm close."

His hips continued thrusting into the air as I pulled off. I wasn't ready for it to be over. There was one more thing on the menu before I let him come. I repositioned myself between his legs, and with the help of the shadows, I pulled them apart and pushed them toward his chest. There wasn't a chance to protest.

"Fuck." I dragged my tongue along the crevice of his ass, and he continued a steady stream of swears. When I reached his hole, it turned incoherent, and he roared. His hips bucked. I wrapped my arms around his thighs, pulling him closer, taking long strokes up and down his backside. The roars turned to panting, his hand gripping my fingers. If it hadn't been for the gem, he'd have crushed my hand.

I made a note of his reaction. There'd be a time when I'd put him on his belly and spend an evening with my face between these cheeks. I'd make it a goal to drive him wild. I might not view him as a conquest, but I could set strategic goals for the future.

With a final lick upward, I swallowed his cock. Based on his body language, I'd bet he wouldn't last long. I pulled his foreskin back, licking the precum from around the head. I was about to comment about the volume when his hips bucked again. He shoved inside my mouth, and I matched his fervor. But when I looked up along his body, I saw his face, bathed in blue light, as the tattoos along his chest came to life.

"I… I…"

I couldn't remember the last time I took a man's load. The lack of grace showed as I choked back the cum. I refused to stop. If I gagged, I'd still finish drinking him in. If this was the first time a man swallowed, I wanted to set an impossible bar. It was the least I could do for him.

I pulled back, shaking my head. "Damn," I said. "Have you been saving that for eighty years?" I laid my head on his thigh, quietly complimenting myself as the tremors continued. The light had died, the tattoos barely visible. The fact he illuminated the void spoke loudly about his abilities. I understood why my powers didn't give him cause for concern.

"Four days? Maybe five?"

I'd have gladly laid here, basking in his post-orgasmic glow. The light flashed, the snake and dragon circling his torso until they wrapped about me. Just as I had done with the shadows, they pulled me backward. Except they didn't diminish. The blue shimmer was nearly blinding as they tightened.

"Won."

"Shh."

He used the void to his advantage. His zodiac continued wrapping about my chest before moving down my body to my legs. I lifted into the air as the beasts laid me on my back, restraining me against an invisible table. With a jerk, they parted my knees and Won-Ho moved between them. If it were anybody else, I'd be nervous. I rarely allowed men to restrain me, supernatural or not.

I had a moment to see his face as he stared at the bulge in my briefs. He chewed his bottom lip. He had gone this far, but each battle didn't end the war. I wanted him to memorize my body, but it wasn't for my gratification. His touch confirmed an indulged fantasy. I opened my mouth to offer encourage?—

The zodiac vanished. Darkness.

He stepped between my legs, his chest brushing against my thighs. He pulled at my underwear, far enough down my legs that my cock slapped against my stomach. His hands rested on my hips. I did not try to encourage. I'd be his willing participant, but he needed to take this leap of faith.

Fingers moved inward along the crease of my leg until they touched my testicles. I let out a gasp, stifling a moan as I bit my lip. I prepared for him to continue the touching, a gentle exploration of my package. My back arched when his lips closed around the head of my cock. Won-Ho's hand wrapped around the base as he swirled his tongue. For a first-timer, he wasn't doing?—

"Teeth," I hissed.

"Are you okay?"

I had to laugh. The men I normally bedded were well-versed in the art of pleasure. They had long ago honed their craft. Yet the guy who nearly bit me got me even more excited. Perhaps there was something to this ‘getting to know somebody' thing.

"You're fine, careful with the teeth. My little friend isn't as durable as the rest of me."

"Little," he scoffed.

He gripped the shaft of my cock, wrapping his lips around the head. He slid down until he met his hand and began a combo of sucking and jerking. I laid back, letting him have his way with me. The sound of slurping filled the void, punctuated by my moans. I licked my lips, tasting the remnants of his cum.

His hand let go and his mouth moved lower, trying to take more of my cock. His fingers caressed my sack. By this time, thanks to his effort, it had grown tight. At this pace, he'd have me shooting my load in no time. His fingertip moved down my taint, and I couldn't help but shiver as a jolt of electricity raced along my spine. He reached the crack of my ass, and I had a decision to make. Never had I offered my ass.

I spread my legs, giving Won-Ho permission.

His finger reached my hole, and I did my best to relax, but as my toes curled, it wouldn't happen. He swallowed my cock until I could feel the bend of his throat. At the same time, he pressed a finger against my hole, the tip just barely sliding inside. My back arched, and the growl tore from my lips.

Won-Ho withdrew as my cock thickened, keeping the head in his mouth. I gasped as the orgasm forced my muscles to tense. I couldn't appreciate his determination to swallow while I howled. With ragged breaths, I shook my head, trying to regain my senses. In the darkness of the void, there was nothing to regain, and I was left with the tingling working its way from my limbs.

"Well, damn." Breathy, but I wanted to share my appreciation. When he pulled his finger free, I grunted. When he lifted off my cock, I nearly asked him to keep sucking. Normally, my erection would already subside. This time, I already thought about what new experiences I'd show Won-Ho next performance.

"Feel good?"

"We'll need to do that again, for research purposes, of course."

He kissed the interior of my thigh. His stubble tickled as he ran his cheek along my skin. We had reached unfamiliar territory. This is where I usually ushered lovers out the door. Did we rehash our sexual exploits or make small talk about sports? I assumed it was in poor taste to talk business.

"We should probably get back to the sleepover." I didn't want it to end. Something about that made me uncomfortable. I didn't want to throw him out, and I certainly didn't want to go back to my life. Earlier had been a lie. I said this was about helping Won-Ho, but that was only part of it.

"We're bad chaperones," he said.

"How much trouble could they get into?"

"Spoken like a man who doesn't have kids."

He worked his way up my body. I noted every spot where our skin connected. Won-Ho covered me with his hulking frame. With my legs parted, I wrapped them around his waist. His hand rested on the side of my face as he delivered a single chaste kiss. Slightly less chaste was his cock rubbing along the crack of my ass.

"Let's get some clothes and get back."

I didn't have time for snark as his back turned blue. I watched as the Ox stood upright, rearing its head. His arm tightened around my body as the dragon spun about us. I managed a quick kiss before we blinked from the void.