“I don’t know, it’s just something I’ve been able to do my whole life,” Snooke said as they entered Chris’s house.
“I loved how you did that.” Chris laughed. God, he would love to be able to have that ability.
“And what did he do that you loved so much?” Hondo stood in Chris’s living room with a scowl on his face.
“What are you doing here?” Chris asked as he closed the door and turned toward Hondo.
“Loved what, Chris?” he asked again. “And who is this?” He nodded toward Snooke, a disapproving frown marring his handsome face.
“That would be none of your business.” Who did Hondo think he was? Chris was still pretty mad at the guy. Now he wanted to add insult to injury by
demanding
to know who Chris brought home. That would have thrilled him before. Now it just irritated him.
“You’re right. It isn’t.” Hondo’s voice was dripping with sarcasm.
“But your safety is,” he pointed out.
“Leam chased me. I got away. End of story,” Chris said flippantly.
“So it doesn’t matter that your
friends
,” Hondo said, shooting a glare at Snooke, “were worried about you?” Wow, Hondo’s green-eyed monster was rearing its ugly head, big time. Chris wanted to believe Hondo cared for him in that way, but after so long of living on that hope, he wasn’t going to go down that lonely road again. “Of course I care. I’m fine, Hondo. You can go now.”
“I said I was sorry,” Hondo said in exasperation. “What more do you want?”
“I want—” Chris curled his lips in. Snooke was staring between them. He wasn’t going to air his dirty laundry in front of the guy.
He’d just met him for crying out loud.
Chris exhaled loudly. “I want you to go. Snooke is just a friend who saved me,” Chris explained in a dull voice, tired of going through this with Hondo.
“Fine. Let me know when you
feel
like forgiving me.” Hondo spun around, shooting daggers at Snooke before disappearing into the shadow of the room.
“I didn’t cause that, did I?” Snooke asked.
“No, it’s something else between me and Hondo.”
Or not between
as the case may be.
“So why was that guy after you, Chris?” Snooke asked as he took a seat on Chris’s couch.
“He’s mad because I helped the warriors capture his brother,” Chris said as he walked to the kitchen. “Do you want something to drink?” Why did Hondo look so sad? It was eating away at Chris, but he wasn’t going to go running back. Hondo needed to realize that he cared about Chris, too. He had to. By the way he was acting toward Chris that was the only explanation. How thickheaded could one demon be?
“No thanks,” Snooke answered as he followed Chris into the kitchen. “You really helped the Demon Warriors?”
“Yep, I got to cuff Gammy. It was a big sting operation, and I was the one who captured and cuffed him.” Chris boasted proudly. So he was embellishing a bit. Who cared?
“Wow. I didn’t think the warriors needed help. What did Gammy do wrong?” Snooke leaned against the counter, seeming absorbed in Chris’s words.
“He sucked a soul out and got busted. He went down like a cheap whore on a Saturday night.” Chris giggled as he poured himself a glass of water.
“That’s funny.” Snooke laughed. “Where did they take him?” he asked offhandedly.
“Wherever the holding cells are.” Chris shrugged.
“Do you know where they are?” Snooke leaned in a little closer, his eyes fixed on Chris.
“That would be none of your business,” Hondo said as he emerged from the shadows, his skin glowing red.
“I didn’t mean anything by it. I was just making small talk,” Snooke defended himself.
Hondo wasn’t buying the innocent act. Snooke was a little too curious for it to be just casual conversation. What was the demon’s angle? He wasn’t going anywhere until he found out. If Chris was being used, he wasn’t about to sit back and let it happen. His buddy was too trusting, and it was Hondo’s job to protect him.
“What’s your problem, Hondo?” Chris asked in annoyance as he sat the glass on the counter.
“What do you mean what’s my problem? You disappear.” Hondo growled, his eyes locking onto Snooke. “This man happens to show up and rescue you? Sounds pretty fishy to me. And now he’s questioning you about the detention cells. Come on, Chris, tell me you’re not that blind.”
“Blind? Blind? I’m not blind. You’re just thickheaded.”
“How am I thickheaded?”
“Gee, let me count the ways. I’ve been hanging around you for how long, and you still can’t see how I feel about you?” Chris slapped his hand over his mouth, his eyes growing wide.
“I think I should go.” Snooke straightened, looking uneasy as he passed Hondo and headed for the front door. Hondo would get to the bottom of Snooke’s motives later. He wanted to find out what Chris was talking about.
“Great, you just ran off the only friend I’ve made in hundreds of years.” Chris crossed his arms over his chest and stomped his foot.
“Wait, go back to the
feel about you
part. What do you mean?” Hondo asked as he walked further into the kitchen, staring down at Chris.
“Nothing. I didn’t mean anything by it. I need to bake some cookies. You should go.” Chris ran around the kitchen, pulling mixing bowls out of the cupboard and flour from the pantry.
“No, no, no. I heard you specifically say that you felt something about me. Tell me what you were talking about.”
“I meant that we are good friends, and you shouldn’t have yelled at me like that.”
Hondo didn’t know what to think anymore. Was Chris sweet on him or was he referring to their friendship? His eyes took in Chris’s features in a whole new light now. His fair skin magnified the onyx-blackness of his eyes, which were staring up at him trustingly. He wanted to reach out and run his hands through the silky strands of the demon’s rosewood-brown hair.
“Chris, I—”
“What, you what?” Chris begged breathlessly.
How do you cross that line from friendship to lovers?
What if it didn’t work out between them? Their friendship would be destroyed.
Hondo couldn’t chance that. Chris meant too much to him to take such a huge risk.
“Nothing.” He stepped back, staring past Chris to the counter. “Do you want help making cookies?”
Chris’s eyes saddened. “Sure.”
“So what happened to you?” Hondo asked as he pulled the cookie sheet from under the cabinet.
“Leam found out where I lived and chased me halfway across town,” Chris said as he started mixing ingredients together. “He hit me with one of his energy blasts and took my speed away. I ran into the back room of the Melting Pot.”
“No shit. That place is notorious for shady characters hanging out there.”
Chris nodded. “I know, but I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going.”
“What happened?”
“I ran to the front of the restaurant and then outside. I collided with Snooke. He helped me up, and then we took off.” Hondo wanted to kick Leam’s ass for scaring the shit out of Chris.
“Go on.”
“It was the strangest thing. Leam shot one of his energy blasts at Snooke, but it didn’t hurt him. Snooke kinda absorbed it and then released it into the ground. I don’t know how to explain it. Leam’s eyes grew big as a bug’s.” Chris laughed. “He ran off like a scared little girl.”
“How did Leam find out where you lived?” Hondo asked as he stole a finger full of cookie dough.
“I don’t know. I was coming to see you.” Chris blushed. “And the next thing I knew, he’s chasing me.” Hondo was glad to see Chris so at ease with him once again. “You should get your speed back pretty soon. It wears off within an hour of being hit. I wouldn’t worry too much about that. It sounds like Snooke is a neutralizer.”
But there was one thing he had to clear up. Hondo rested his hand on Chris’s busy one. “I’m really sorry about yelling at you.”
“Okay.” Chris smiled, and Hondo felt a sense of relief settle in him. There was something else there, too, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on the emotion.
“Let’s get these cookies in the oven before I eat all the dough.”
“You better not.” Chris swatted at his hand as he bumped Hondo out of the way, placing the sheet in the oven.
“You want to watch a scary movie?” Hondo grinned devilishly.
“Only if you promise not to scare the heebie-jeebies out of me.” Hondo laughed loudly. “I promise.”
“Good, there’s a zombie marathon on.” Hondo followed Chris out of the kitchen, settling on the couch as Chris grabbed the remote and turned the television on.
Chris took a seat on the opposite end of the couch, balling up into his scary movie position. Hondo chuckled and pulled Chris to his side, settling the demon in the crook of his arm.
His buddy sighed and tucked his legs under him as Hondo ran his hand over Chris’s hair and kissed the top of his head. The movie began, and Hondo relaxed, acknowledging to himself how good Chris felt at his side.
“Here it comes.” Chris covered his eyes as the zombies attacked a bunch of humans. “Is it over?”
Hondo’s chest vibrated with laughter. “I’ll never understand how you can watch these sorts of movies if they scare you.”
“Duh, that’s why they’re called scary movies.” Chris swatted Hondo’s chest. “Now be quiet. You’re not allowed to talk while the movie is playing.”
“Is that so?” Hondo grabbed Chris’s hand from his chest and held it. His thumb caressed against the soft skin. “I’ll be quiet then.” Chris yelped and pulled his hand away, covering his eyes when the zombie began to chew the side of the human’s neck.
“
Ew
, that’s just so gross.” Chris squirmed around.
Hondo pulled Chris onto his lap and wrapped his arms around him. “I won’t let any zombies chew on you.” Chris looked up at Hondo from under his lashes, his onyx-black eyes smoldering. “Promise?”
Hondo ran his hand over Chris’s face. “Promise.” He brushed a gentle kiss across Chris’s forehead. Unsure of where this was heading, Hondo’s eyes searched Chris’s.
“Don’t stop.” Chris pulled at Hondo’s shoulders, his lips seeking Hondo’s.
“Wait.” Hondo had to take a deep and calming breath. His cock was arguing for him to shut up and kiss the demon. “What if this doesn’t work out? What about our friendship?”
“I don’t know the answers to those questions, Hondo. But I think we would be denying something special between us if we didn’t at least try.”
“Chris.” Hondo pressed his open lips to Chris’s. His worry about ruining the best friendship he’d ever had was overridden by Chris’s demanding kiss.
Chris ground his ass into Hondo’s cock, his hands fisting Hondo’s shirt as he opened his mouth for Hondo’s exploring tongue.
Hondo had to slow down. This was Chris.
His
Chris.
He pulled Chris up so the demon was straddling his lap. “Promise things won’t get awkward between us.”
“I promise.” Chris climbed up Hondo’s body, clinging to him as Chris took his lips once again. “I promise,” Chris repeated as he kissed his way down Hondo’s neck.
“Oh, god.” Hondo’s head fell back as Chris’s lips found the hollow of Hondo’s neck and began to trace it with his hot and moist tongue.
Taking Chris’s hand, Hondo guided it to his cock. “Touch me. I need you to touch me, Chris.”
“I’d do anything for you, Hondo.” Chris slid down Hondo’s body, unsnapping his pants, exposing the head of Hondo’s cock. Chris leaned forward, running his tongue over the red and angry head, lapping at the pre-cum that was leaking out. Hondo was amazed at how warm and gentle Chris’s hands were as they stroked his hardened shaft.
“Y–you do whatever you want, baby.” Hondo lifted his head, watching as Chris took his shaft into his mouth. He fisted his hands at his side, fighting the need to toss Chris over the coffee table and take him savagely.
The realization that Chris had never done this before hit Hondo hard as Chris’s eyes watered and he choked on Hondo’s cock.
“Fuck, baby.” Hondo pulled Chris up and laid him onto the couch, freeing his lover’s cock from his jeans. “Let me do this for you.” Hondo curled his fingers into Chris’s waistband and pulled his pants to his ankles.
Hondo couldn’t believe he was about to be with Chris. It seemed like a dream. His chest tightened at the sight underneath him. Chris looked up at Hondo so trustingly. He would die a thousand deaths before he betrayed the trust and friendship Chris so openly gave to him.
Chris’s brows furrowed. “What’s wrong? Am I doing something wrong?”
Hondo smiled softly. “And what could you do wrong?”
“I don’t know. You’re looking at me funny.” Hondo leaned forward and kissed the skin over Chris’s heart. “I’m just trying to figure out how we’ve been friends for so long and I never saw how truly beautiful you are.”
“That’s because you’re so thickheaded.” Chris grinned, showing the straightest and whitest teeth, making his face shine as his eyes sparkled with merriment.
“Are you sure?” Hondo grew serious. “About us, about this?” Chris nodded.
Hondo slid back, pulling Chris’s shoes off, and then his jeans and boxers. Chris lay there looking so ethereal. Hondo committed the sight to memory, never wanting to forget just how exquisite Chris looked at this moment. Hondo ran his hands over Chris’s smooth skin, drinking in his enchanting beauty.
He palmed Chris’s cock, stroking it a few times, watching Chris’s eyes close and his lips part. Hondo ran his tongue up Chris’s shaft as he cupped his balls.
“Hondo,” Chris moaned, his hands running through Hondo’s hair as his legs parted.
Hondo took Chris into his mouth, groaning at the salty taste of skin. Hondo’s hands snaked up Chris’s belly, to his chest. He squeezed Chris’s nipples, making Chris squirm under him.
Chris’s legs came up, landing on Hondo’s back as his hips bucked and swiveled. Hondo took his cock deeper into his mouth, moving his head up and down. He pulled up and suckled at the head, drinking in the clear liquid that was flowing freely.
Hondo released the hardened shaft, licking his way down to Chris’s wrinkly sac. He pushed Chris’s legs back, sucking each orb into his mouth.