Chapter 20

CHAPTER TWENTY

Given the late hour, Ozen wasn’t surprised when Avery started drifting off. He was sated and comfortable in his bed. With very little mess to clean up, Ozen chose to hold Avery as a form of aftercare. He rearranged them on the bed, tucking the covers around his sleeping assistant. He felt tired as well, but figured a few moments to ensure Avery didn’t feel used by a quick escape was best. Ozen wanted to keep Avery as his feeder for a long time, and he knew to do that, he had to take care of him.

Propping his head up with his hand, he took in Avery’s sleeping form. He was beautiful. Even when he answered the door in sweats and a sweatshirt that absolutely swallowed him, he was beautiful. Raw eagerness and joy lit up his features whenever they started a session, followed quickly by that heated look that drove Ozen mad.

Ozen would need to speak with Dorian again about his reactions to Avery. He had something new to add. Feeding from Avery without participating had left Ozen satisfied for days. Avery’s increased interest in giving Ozen pleasure only seemed to heighten his desire. Avery got pleasure from giving pleasure, and in turn, he fed Ozen so well, he felt almost drunk. He was almost worried about the effect of full penetration. The shared experience might overwhelm his magic entirely. Ozen had never heard of an incubus with too much magic, but he felt full to bursting after each session with Avery. Perhaps joining the research team for some spells might dissipate some of the excess.

While contemplating the research he could assist with, his eyes drifted closed. He tried to force them back open, but Avery was warm against his chest and Ozen was worn out and sated from their shared pleasure. He figured a few minutes of closing his eyes wouldn’t hurt, and then he’d head home for the night.

When he opened his eyes again, his brain felt foggy. Perhaps it wasn’t a good idea to meet with Avery right after drinking with his friends. The buzz from the alcohol plus the drunk feeling from feeding from Avery knocked him on his behind. He didn’t even remember going home last night. He’d have to apologize to his driver for making him come back to pick him up so late.

Something rustled beside him, and it took a few moments for Ozen’s brain to wake up. The warmth against his side was pleasant and the sunlight wasn’t hitting the bed enough and blinding him like usual.

Suddenly he stiffened and his eyes flew open. The reason the sun wasn’t blinding him was because he wasn’t in his own bed. He was still in Avery’s tiny apartment. Ozen didn’t do sleepovers. It was too intimate. Feeders got the wrong idea. The thought of losing Avery because Ozen’s lack of professionalism made fear spike in his veins. He didn’t want to lead Avery on. That was cruel. He should have left as soon as they were finished.

Avery was curled against his side, using Ozen’s shoulder as a pillow. Ozen had even wrapped his arm around Avery’s slim form to keep him close. The position was romantic and panic made Ozen want to rip away. Ozen’s rapid breathing didn’t wake Avery, but running would. Perhaps Ozen could get out before Avery woke up. He didn’t have to know.

He was easing himself away from Avery when an alarm went off. Avery grumbled, snuggling more closely to Ozen’s side, his brow furrowed in irritation. Ozen held his breath, but it was too much to hope that Avery would sleep through it. His gorgeous blue eyes blinked open slowly, and like Ozen, it took Avery a moment to process his surroundings. His reactions were so much like Ozen’s, it would have been comical if the situation wasn’t so unfortunate. Avery stiffened, sucking in a sharp breath. He seemed to follow Ozen’s first instinct, ripping himself away with a yelp.

“Oh my gods. I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to fall asleep on you! I hope you didn’t feel obligated to stay! That was so unprofessional of me!” Avery scrambled out of the bed, flushing bright red when he realized he still had no clothes on. He looked around anxiously, snatching his sweats off the ground and yanking them on, nearly tripping over them in his haste.

Avery’s immediate reaction to take the blame on himself surprised Ozen. He hadn’t been the one to act unprofessionally. It was Ozen who failed to follow the contract to the letter and leave after the session was over. Cuddling with the person sharing your bed was not uncalled for.

“Avery. Avery!”

Ozen tried to get Avery’s attention by calling his name, but Avery was babbling in his panic and didn’t hear him. Ozen had to use his magic to capture his attention, soothing the panic enough for him to heed Ozen’s words.

“Avery, this wasn’t your fault. It was mine.”

“What?” Avery croaked. His hands shook with adrenaline and his pulse was much too high. Ozen’s magic continued to soothe him, his words soft so as not to increase Avery’s panic.

“I apologize. I had only meant to lie with you for a minute as a form of aftercare. I didn’t mean to fall asleep. You did absolutely nothing wrong.”

To Ozen’s surprise, Avery’s chin trembled and his eyes turned misty with unshed tears. Ozen had dealt with tearful feeders in the past, but it was usually in regards to an imagined slight or a temper tantrum. He very rarely gave it the attention the feeders were hoping for. But Avery’s reaction was unexpected and Ozen found himself rolling out of the bed to draw Avery into his arms.

“I am truly sorry, firefly. I didn’t mean to upset you. I crossed a line by staying the night. If you wish to end our contract, I will understand.”

Avery stiffened and jerked his head up to look at him. “Is that what you want?”

Not in the slightest. Losing Avery as his feeder was abhorrent, but Ozen had obviously made Avery uncomfortable, and he didn’t want him to feel obligated to continue working with Ozen. Finding a new feeder would be… dreadful, but Ozen was prepared to face the consequences.

“It’s not about what I want. I upset you. I didn't respect the terms of the contract, and therefore, you’re allowed to break it. I don’t want you to feel obligated to continue our working relationship after I made you uncomfortable.”

Avery’s brows drew together and he shook his head quickly. “I– You didn’t!” he blurted.

It was Ozen’s turn to frown. “I clearly did. You looked close to tears. You don’t have to lie to–”

“No! I–” Avery sighed heavily, a frustrated look taking over his face. “That wasn’t– Ugh. That wasn’t about you. Sort of. I mean, it was, but not because I was uncomfortable. I thought you were going to fire me and I got upset before you said it was your fault, but the emotions didn't just disappear after you said I wasn’t in trouble, so they just kind of came out. Humans are emotional and I don’t think that should be held against me, and–”

He was babbling again. Ozen was admittedly not as familiar with humans as he was with supernaturals. He didn’t spend much time around them. But it wasn’t the first time someone mentioned them being emotional. Avery’s reaction was simply an adrenaline induced reaction that needed to run its course. The relief was dizzying and Ozen’s own emotions got the best of him. He yanked Avery into his arms, hugging him tightly against his chest. Avery made an ooph sound, but the surprise stalled out his nervous rambles and he was quick to hug Ozen back.

“I am sorry,” Ozen murmured against the top of Avery’s head. “I believe I need to refrain in the future from indulging in alcohol before a session. The combination left me drowsy, and I only intended to close my eyes for a moment.”

For a moment, Avery didn’t respond, but when his shoulders started to shake, Ozen leaned back to see Avery fighting back laughter. He had his lips pressed together tightly and his eyes danced with mirth. His convulsions were entertaining and Ozen found himself joining him in his laughter.

Once Ozen chuckled, Avery’s attempts at holding back failed completely. He burst out laughing, his hands hugging his sides. Ozen didn’t share many light hearted moments with his feeders. They were only interested in one thing. Laughing with Avery made Ozen’s heart feel full and the self loathing and fear from the morning faded away. If they were both able to laugh about it, then it was unlikely that either of them wished to end the contract.

They parted on much better terms, and Ozen promised to call if he needed to feed again. He felt certain he could last until Monday morning at the latest. Ozen planned to meet with a healer as soon as possible to see how long he’d need to continue daily feedings. He wasn’t complaining about them, but Avery would begin temping elsewhere in the building starting next week, and Ozen didn’t want to make Avery’s life more difficult by demanding his assistance on a daily basis.

Avery’s laughter had been appreciated. Taron’s was less so. Ozen found him waiting outside Ozen’s door when he got home. Taron wouldn’t let it go until Ozen finally told him where he’d been the night before. His friend was still laughing several minutes later and showed no signs of stopping.

“Are you through yet?” Ozen growled.

Taron’s attempt to stop lasted maybe a few seconds before he howled again, slapping his knee with mirth. Ozen’s irritation got the better of him and he shoved Taron off the couch. It didn’t do much to stop his laughing. Instead, he was rolling on the floor.

“You got drunk and passed out at your feeder’s place! You! Mr. Professionalism! Mr. Iron-Clad contracts and strict feeding locations! Got drunk and went to your feeder’s apartment! Oh gods, I might pass out!”

“If you could hurry along with that, I’d appreciate it,” Ozen drawled sarcastically. He didn’t appreciate his flaws being held against him like this. He knew he could sometimes be considered rigid, but Taron knew why his contracts were so strict. He was only getting so much enjoyment out of this because it ended well.

When he didn’t look to be stopping any time soon, Ozen let his magic swell and smacked his friend in the face with it. Taron’s amusement died immediately, and he groaned in response.

“What was that for?”

“Maybe a case of blue balls will make you a more sympathetic companion.”

Taron glared at him. “Dick move, man. Here I was, happy that you finally had a feeder you trusted enough to be that vulnerable with, and you treat me this way. Rude. Just rude.”

Ozen rolled his eyes. “Yes. That’s why you were laughing yourself silly. Did you show up here for a reason, or did you just plan to torment me?”

“Tormenting sounds good,” Taron replied with a grin. “I’m bored. An afternoon of tormenting my best friend sounds like the perfect way to fix that. After I use your restroom. I’m not spending the whole day like this.” He gestured to his crotch, where the outline of his erection could clearly be seen.

“I should just make you come so you’ll have to leave to change.”

Taron hightailed it to the bathroom before Ozen could finish the sentence. “Mercy! Mercy! I’ll be good!”

Ozen shook his head with a smirk, heading for his bedroom to change his clothes. He was still in the outfit he’d worn last night. While he changed, he thought about what Taron had said. Last night was a series of poor decisions, but it struck him that Taron was right. He had allowed himself to be vulnerable with Avery. Anything could have happened while he was asleep, and yet Avery never took advantage of that fact. The worst he accomplished was cuddling, something that Ozen had to admit he enjoyed quite a bit.

What in the world made Avery so special? Why was he so enraptured by him? And what was he going to do about it?