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  Not only that? But Alli had had sex. On a Friday. And nothing bad had happened.

  Oh, yeah. He was definitely keeping his bear.

  Chapter Eleven

  Michael rolled over, arm searching blindly for his lover. He scowled, eyes still closed, when all he found was an empty bed. Blast that man. Couldn’t he stay put? Michael loved nothing more than a lazy morning, waking up slowly, making out a little. Maybe a sixty-nine. Yeah. Nothing better than morning sex to make an awful hour better.

  Of course, morning sex required two. And he was, apparently, one short.

  Michael cracked one eye open, scanning the room for his missing lover. The bedroom was empty, but a strip of light crept across the floor from the door next to the closet. Now that Michael was listening, the patter of water echoed through the room.

  His other eye popped open and Michael sat up. Okay, he could work with this. He loved shower sex just as much as lazy-morning sex.

  Michael padded barefoot across the carpet, not bothering to grab any clothes. A wall of steam smacked him in the face when he opened the bathroom door, the smell of shampoo and soap nearly overwhelming. All right, so Alli had been in there a while. The man could just like long showers. It didn’t mean he was overthinking their relationship again.

  God, Michael certainly hoped not.

  “Alli?” Michael called softly. “You in here?”

  He couldn’t see a blasted thing through the thick— Oh, there.

  Michael’s shout bounced off the tiles. His bare feet slipped on the damp floor as he backpedaled.

  Alli’s reaction was just as violent. He screeched, whirled. Then his feet flew out from under him and Alli screeched again. Michael lunged forward but he wasn’t fast enough. Alli went down in a swirl of color.

  “Holy shit!” Michael dropped to his knees beside the tub, heart pounding. “You okay, babe?”

  Alli groaned. “Ouch.”

  “Yeah. That was quite a fall. Let me check your head.”

  “It’s fine. You just scared me.”

  “Sorry about that.” Michael’s heart slowed and his breathing eased. He’d been afraid he’d killed Alli. A fall like that…

  Now that he knew Alli was fine, though, Michael’s attention turned back to what had made him yell in the first place.

  “Something you forgot to tell me?” he asked pointedly.

  “Huh?” Alli looked up in confusion. Michael waved his hand at Alli’s slender body.

  “Oh, holy fucking hell.” Alli’s eyes held uncertainty, chagrin, and a few other emotions that Michael couldn’t even put a name to.

  “Yeah.”

  Alli looked up at him, biting on his lip. “I can explain?”

  “I certainly hope so.”

  Now that he was over his startlement, Michael couldn’t help but stare in fascination at his lover. He’d never seen anything like it. Alli had wings. They weren’t large, the tips fitting easily within the length of the tub on either side of his slim shoulders. They were, however, stunning. Delicate and diaphanous, they shimmered every time Alli moved. The colors rippled from hues of blue and red to green and purple, almost like a rainbow, but deeper and richer.

  Michael reached out, wanting badly to touch. He paused just before his fingers connected, not quite sure if it was allowed.

  “May I?”

  Alli nodded, still watching Michael with dark, wary eyes, as if expecting an explosion. He flinched when Michael’s hand came closer, but Michael ignored the reaction, entranced by the feel of Alli’s wings. They were silky and soft, like the leaves of an elephant ear plant. He brushed his fingertips along a vein of deep violet and Alli shuddered.

  “Sorry,” Michael said, pulling his hand away.

  “No, it’s fine. Just…no one really touches them. It feels nice.”

  Michael immediately started stroking again. Alli’s wings felt so amazing. He would probably have sat there all day, petting, but Michael’s curiosity quickly got the better of him.

  He laughed, suddenly realizing the shower was still running. They were both soaked to the skin and the water was turning cold. He reached over and turned off the faucet.

  “Let’s get you out of there before you get frostbite,” Michael teased. “Then you can explain where the wings came from.”

  “I wanted to tell you,” Alli said, snatching a towel off a nearby rack. “But I didn’t know how.”

  “I’m not angry,” Michael assured him. Maybe a little hurt, that Alli hadn’t confided in him. But then again, did he even have the right to feel hurt? It wasn’t like they’d known each other that long, only about a week. This? Michael had the feeling it wasn’t the kind of secret you told every boyfriend on the first date. Or even the second. Maybe after the engagement.

  Michael had met a lot of unusual creatures over the years. The paranormal world tended to be a pretty close-knit one. But he had never seen anything like Alli. Hell, he had never even heard of anything like Alli.

  Alli briskly rubbed the water off his lean body and Michael found himself briefly distracted. His morning erection was still making its presence known and having a naked, glistening Alli that close wasn’t doing anything to help.

  “Okay,” he murmured. “Maybe explanations can wait.”

  “Huh?”

  Oh, look at that confusion. Wasn’t that cute? Alli stood there, blinking water out of his eyes, color swirling all around him. Michael’s curiosity was shoved aside in favor of exploring Alli in all his glory. Every damp, naked inch.

  Michael’s hands landed on Alli’s hips at the same time as his lips made contact. He hummed happily, sliding his tongue around, the taste of mint strong in the recesses of his lover’s mouth. Michael should maybe feel bad about his own morning breath. Ah, well. Second-hand toothpaste would help.

  Michael dipped his tongue in deep, savoring, his mouth swallowing the small sounds Alli was making. Two thin arms wrapped around his neck, Alli pressing in close.

  Michael jumped a bit as a soft, barely there touch brushed past his ear. He pulled back, blinking. Alli’s wings surrounded him, folded close on either side.

  “Damn, Alli.”

  Alli’s face drained of color briefly before flushing in self-consciousness.

  “Sorry,” Alli apologized. “Give me a minute and I’ll get rid of them.”

  “Don’t you dare,” Michael ordered, reaching out once more to stroke one fluttering edge.

  Wait. Get rid of— Where the heck did they go?

  Okay, maybe explanations couldn’t wait. Michael was just too damn curious.

  “Here.” Michael grabbed a towel off a nearby rack and thrust it at Alli. “Cover up. Otherwise I’ll keep getting distracted.”

  “I don’t mind.” Alli looked hopeful, clutching the towel to his chest.

  Michael chuckled. “I don’t either, not normally, anyway. But my curiosity is killing me and if I don’t get some answers, my brain’s going to wander at inconvenient moments.”

  Alli sighed heavily and rolled his eyes. “Fine. But I was enjoying myself.”

  “So was I, Alli. So was I.”

  Alli gave himself a cursory swipe with the towel before wrapping it around his waist. Unfortunately, that still left his chest bare. But at least the lower bits were covered. If Michael worked at it, he could probably stay focused.

  Michael followed Alli back to the bedroom. Alli dropped down on the bed with another sigh. Michael joined him.

  “Michael,” Alli nearly whined.

  “What?”

  “Now I’m the one getting distracted.”

  Michael shook his head before the light dawned. He gave his own naked self a wry glance. Yep, still feeling good. His cock waved, still hard and throbbing.

  “Talk fast,” Michael suggested.

  “I’m a fairy. Came over from the Fae lands a few years ago. Only one of my kind on Earth, the rest are all back home. Think that covers it. Can we fuck now?”

  “Alli!”

  Michae
l’s laugh was cut off under an onslaught of horny…fairy, apparently. Which, honestly, Michael had sort of figured out on his own. What he really wanted was…

  Alli was kissing him again and Michael’s brain short-circuited. And when Alli’s hot hand landed in his lap, it was all over. Michael groaned and toppled Alli backward, landing carefully on top of him. He took a moment to admire his lover, red hair spread out in a fan around that pale skin, the fiery strands blending with the streaks of color in his wings.

  “Damn, but you’re gorgeous,” Michael whispered.

  Alli flushed again, looking away for several long seconds. “I like you, too,” he finally replied.

  Michael laughed again. “Not what I meant, but I’ll take it. Oh hell, yes, I’ll take it.”

  Michael’s head dropped forward and his lips roved lazily over Alli’s. He lowered his weight, pressing their lower bodies together. Alli’s cock rubbed against his own, smearing across his stomach. It felt wonderful and the thought crossed Michael’s mind that he really wouldn’t mind starting every day this way.

  No, he wouldn’t mind at all.

  “That’s quite the smile,” Alli ventured when they parted for breath. “Want to share?”

  Michael just shook his head. No sense spooking Alli.

  Their movements were slow, sensual. Alli snaked one hand between their bodies and wrapped it around Michael’s erection. Michael pulled back, licking his lips as he watched long fingers slide along his skin.

  “Feels good,” he said.

  Alli hummed agreement, shifting until he could trail his fingers along both their erections.

  Michael let his own hand wander down. He dropped his forehead to Alli’s, staring deeply into the gray eyes, once more dark with arousal.

  “Keep going, baby,” Michael urged. His hand joined Alli’s as he pressed their cocks together, pre-cum acting better than lube as they jacked off with joint motions. Michael’s breath came faster, balls tightening. As he watched, Alli’s pupils widened.

  Michael’s orgasm washed over him like a gentle wave hitting the sand. No urgency, no rock-his-world shocks, just a slow, steady release of pleasure, deep and moving. He felt the effects clear down to his toes, the intimacy of the moment nearly overwhelming.

  Heat coated his fingers, his and Alli’s spunk mingling as they came together, gazes still locked. Alli’s lips were parted, his breathing ragged.

  Michael would swear that he could feel their souls twining, spirits mingling just like the sticky seed trying to weld their bodies together.

  Then it was over and they were two men again, slippery and breathless.

  Michael propped his hands on either side of Alli’s head, reluctant to move, to break the spell that seemed to have wrapped around them.

  Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever. Michael’s arms started to ache and the cum coating his skin began to itch as it dried.

  With a reluctant sigh, Michael sat back on his heels. Wet skin peeled away with an audible sound, Michael’s body as reluctant to give up their connection as his mind. His heart. How on Earth had he fallen for this man so fast?

  But looking at Alli’s dazed expression, Michael knew. Alli was special. Wings or no wings, human or not, it didn’t matter. What they had was right and Michael would do anything within his power to make sure it stayed that way.

  The fine little lines around Alli’s eyes tightened and Michael could see the first traces of panic begin to creep in. Distraction time.

  “Looks like you need another shower,” he declared.

  Alli looked down. “Where’d my towel go?” he asked, brow wrinkling in bewilderment.

  For some reason, that struck Michael as absolutely hilarious.

  * * * *

  Michael just had to stop and stare for a minute. Alli stood at the stove, humming softly as he swirled a spatula around a skillet. The slightly nauseating smell of cooking eggs filled the kitchen.

  And those wings. They spread behind Alli, fluttering a bit. They were translucent enough that Michael could see Alli’s body through them, skin painted with a prism of color.

  Michael stepped behind Alli and dropped a kiss below one slightly pointed ear. His hand landed on Alli’s hip and he leaned in. The thin wings were pressed between them, the edges low enough that Michael was able to drop his chin on Alli’s shoulder and watch his slender hands work.

  “Hungry?” Alli asked.

  “Yep.”

  “For food,” Alli clarified.

  “That, too.”

  “Horn dog.”

  “Wrong species.”

  Alli laughed, the sound light and happy. “Eggs will be ready in a minute,” he said, playfully poking Michael in the ribs with the end of his spatula.

  “Meanie.”

  The microwave dinged and Michael stepped away to retrieve the rest of their breakfast.

  “I think you should play hooky today,” Michael declared.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Leave the store closed. We can go up to my cabin, play around some. I think the break would do you good.”

  “I don’t know.” Alli’s front teeth sank into his lip. “There’s so much work to do. I should really—”

  “You worked hard enough yesterday,” Michael declared.

  To Michael’s surprise, Alli actually seemed to be considering it. Amazing. Michael thought he would have to work much harder.

  “Would I get to meet Bruce?”

  “Oh. Well, sure.”

  “Okay, then.”

  Michael laughed. “Huh. If I’d known all it took to get you back to my place was an offer to see my bear, I would have said something sooner.”

  Alli made a face at him. “Is that anything like checking out your etchings?”

  “I’ll have you know that I have never offered to show anyone my bear,” Michael declared with mock indignation.

  “Okay, you have to stop saying it like that.” Alli snickered. “It just sounds wrong.”

  “Prude.”

  “Not always.”

  “No, not always.” Michael’s voice went husky.

  Alli licked his lips, eyes darkening.

  Michael shook his head to clear it. “Stop that,” he ordered. “No arousing me. My body isn’t ready to go again.”

  “Pity.”

  “Alli!”

  Alli laughed. “Sorry. I’ll be good, promise.” Alli held his kitchen utensil up in a salute.

  “Not too good.”

  “A temporary state of affairs.”

  Michael and Alli both scarfed down their food, leaving the dishes for later.

  Back in the bedroom, Michael tugged his shirt over his head, and when he emerged on the other side, Alli was sans wings.

  “Where the hell do they go?” he demanded.

  “Where do what go?”

  “Your wings, what else?”

  “Oh.”

  Alli turned his back to Michael. For the first time, Michael noticed what looked almost like a scar running in a thick, straight line between Alli’s shoulder blades. As he watched, the line started to glow. Alli’s back disappeared in a swell of sparkles. When they faded away, the wings were back.

  “That’s really cool,” Michael declared. “And a little bit disturbing.”

  “Tell me about it.”

  Michael stepped over and peered closely. Alli’s wings were joined together at the base, merging into his flesh in one spot, right where the scar was. He ran his finger along the side of the joint. Alli shivered, ripples moving along his skin.

  “Sorry,” Michael murmured.

  “No, it feels good. I’m just sensitive there.”

  “Does it hurt?” he asked softly. “When they come out?”

  Alli shook his head. “But they itch worse than anything when I have them put away.”

  “Where do they go? Inside, I mean?”

  Alli snorted. “Darned if I know. I don’t claim to understand the mechanics, it just is. Until I moved to Putman, it was nev
er an issue. I left them out all the time.”

  “I wish you could do that here,” Michael said, still stroking with his finger. He liked Alli’s reaction, the muscles moving and flexing under his touch, a gentle breeze ruffling his hair as Alli’s wings flapped slowly. “I love them.”

  “I don’t think it would go over well,” Alli replied dryly.

  “Can you fly?”

  Michael could practically hear Alli rolling his eyes, but he answered seriously enough. “No. They are, in fact, quite useless.”

  “Oh, I wouldn’t say that. They’re so pretty.”

  “Gee, just what every guy wants to hear. Pretty.”

  Michael laughed, made himself move away. “Stop pouting, pretty. Bruce wants to go for a walk.”

  “Call me pretty again and you’re going to find out why it’s a bad idea to piss off a fairy.”

  “Bring it on, fairy boy. Bring it on.”

  Michael got Alli bundled up into the car without any further delays. He shifted into gear and pulled out on the road, letting a few minutes of silence pass before he started the interrogation.

  But start it he did.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked somberly. “Did you think I would care? I mean, come on. I turn into a bear, for heaven’s sake.”

  “No, actually.” Alli stared pensively out of the window, watching the fields pass. They were green and lush, flat acres of agriculture spreading their carpet over the landscape. Nice to look at, but nothing unusual enough to cause the kind of absorption Alli was displaying.

  “Then what was it?”

  Alli sighed. “It’s not the wings, not really. I knew you wouldn’t care that I’m a fairy. But it’s what comes along with that. I’m not just a fairy, I’m a Fayte.”

  “I don’t know what that means.”

  “We’re a rare breed, only a few hundred of us. And I’m nearly one hundred percent sure that I’m the only one on Earth.”

  “Where are the rest?”

  “Faerie. See, magic doesn’t work very well on Earth. And the Fayte are very, very magical.”

  “Spit it out, Alli.”

  Alli took a deep breath and let it out with a very rapidly spoken sentence, words melding into each other so badly it took Michael a minute to translate.