Before

Northaniel found Willowby in the library.

When Northaniel had known him before, Willowby had always found comfort in books. So this was the first place the Elemental had looked for him. He had known Willowby would be here.

Willowby turned when Northaniel stepped into the room and closed the door behind him.

“We need to talk,” Northaniel said.

Willowby huffed and crossed his arms over his chest. “I have nothing to say to you.”

“Well, I have plenty to say to you.” Northaniel walked across the room. “You can’t just drop a bomb like that on an entire room full of people and leave. And besides, you aren’t ready to perform the ritual.”

“I can do it.” Willowby tried to back up but stopped when his hips met the bookshelves. “It needs to be done. You know it does.”

“That may be,” Northaniel said gruffly. “But you’re not ready. You’re not fully healed.”

“I’ve healed,” Willowby said. “I’m no longer Crushing’s demon. I’m no longer evil; there is good in me. I know there is.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about.” Northaniel stepped closer and put his hand on Willowby’s chest. “I’m talking about here. Your heart.”

“You can’t heal it.” Tears slid down Willowby’s face. “It’s broken.”

“Then let me fix it.” Northaniel leaned down and kissed Willowby softly, let the heat bloom between them until his cock was rock hard and Willowby’s arousal nudged his hip.

When he pulled away from the kiss, Willowby looked shaken. “You don’t know what you’re asking.”

“That’s where you’re wrong.”

“I don’t deserve your love,” Willowby said softly.

“But you have it anyway. You have my heart,” Northaniel said. “Let me fix yours.”

Willowby nodded silently. Northaniel kissed him again, the heat becoming almost too hot between them. “Come to me tonight at midnight. We’ll start the healing process then.”

“What are you going to do?” Willowby said, his voice soft but yearning. “Please tell me.”

“That’s for me to know and you to find out.” Northaniel smiled, then walked out of the library leaving Willowby looking after him.

Chapter One

Need

Northaniel waited for Willowby’s knock.

When it finally sounded, he checked himself one last time in the bedroom mirror. He was tall and broad shouldered, with well toned muscles. His salt and pepper hair was buzzed close to his skull, and his blue eyes flashed with electricity.

His white shirt fit him like a second skin. Through its thin fabric, he could see the curves of his muscles and the darkness of his nipples. Northaniel smiled, the whites of his teeth bright against the rose hue of his lips. Perfect, he thought.

The knock came again, this time a little more hesitant.

Northaniel walked to the door and opened it to find Willowby standing in the hallway, looking frightened and anxious.

“I’m glad you came,” Northaniel said.

Willowby shrugged. “You told me to.”

“You still could have refused.” Northaniel looked at Willowby, really looked at him. His old lover’s blond hair was in need of a cut, but the rough tangle of locks suited him. His hair had once been meticulously short, yet now it brushed his shoulders. His blue eyes flashed a darker colour than Northaniel’s, and his soft, plump lips were drawn with worry. Two weeks of stubble covered his chin. Rather than making him appear unkempt, it made him look that much more beautiful.

When Willowby looked up and took in what Northaniel was wearing, he paled. A bulge grew in his pants as his dick hardened. Northaniel smiled. He had achieved the reaction he had wanted.

“Aren’t you going to invite me in?” Willowby asked.

“No.” Northaniel tried to hide his smile when Willowby looked crestfallen.

“Why not?” Willowby asked. “Didn’t you invite me here?”

Northaniel nodded. “Yes, I did, but I wanted to take you somewhere. Do you feel like going for a ride? I have something to show you.”

Willowby’s breath became somewhat laboured, and Northaniel knew his heart was speeding up. Willowby swallowed. “Where are we going?”

“That’s for me to know and you to find out. Will you come with me?”

It had to be Willowby’s choice, Northaniel reminded himself. The healing wouldn’t work unless it was freely given and freely taken.

His ex-lover nodded. “Yes,” he said. “I’ll go with you.”

Relief spread through Northaniel. “Excellent. But there’s something I have to do first.”

“What’s that?”

“This.”

Northaniel lunged forward and grabbed Willowby by the front of his shirt, pulling him into his bedroom and closing the door behind them. He then slammed Willowby against the back of the door and pressed his body into Willowby’s, so that his former lover could feel the hard length of his cock. He ground his crotch against Willowby’s, feeling Willowby’s dick throb in response.

“See what you do to me?” Northaniel said, growling out the words. “Even after all this time, see what you do?”

He crushed his lips to Willowby’s, thrusting his tongue through the barrier of Willowby’s lips, tasting him, teasing his lover’s tongue. Northaniel turned his head so he could angle the kiss deeper, pressed his body closer to Willowby’s. He ran a hand down Willowby’s body, stopping when he got to his crotch and squeezing Willowby’s dick through his denim jeans, making him moan.

Northaniel broke the kiss, his cock hard and straining against his pants. “You tried to tell me the passion wasn’t there, that you feel nothing for me.” Northaniel leaned forward and bit Willowby’s left earlobe softly, dragging another moan from Willowby’s lips. “I know it isn’t true,” he said. “You can lie to me, but your body can’t.”

Northaniel pulled away and looked at Willowby’s dazed expression. He smiled and moved Willowby away from the door, opening it. “Are you coming?”

Willowby said nothing. He just nodded dumbly. Northaniel knew his body was still riding a high from the pleasure that had ignited between them.

Stifling a laugh, he stepped into the hallway. Willowby followed him.