Chapter 17 - Fates, Fins, and Fangs

DEREK CARRIED HIS SECRETARY to the guest room he'd used on occasion, when he really wanted to annoy Gesa by invading her home. He knew the Gryphon would be firmly ensconced with her pride in their master suite which was, thankfully, all the way on the other side of the upper floor, and well-insulated from the guest rooms.

He didn't bother with the overhead light, since he could see in the dark. Pacing to the bed, he gently laid his burden down. Then he reached over and flipped on the dim bedside lamp. Orion's night vision wasn't quite so good as Derek's. And besides, Derek's night vision tended to wash things out. He wanted to see the vibrant color of Orion's eyes.

The incubus mumbled in his sleep and rolled to his side, gripping the fluffy comforter in his hands, clutching at it as if it could save him from whatever nightmare was currently plaguing him.

Derek sighed and removed what was left of his Armani shirt, his Italian leather belt, and his Berluti shoes. The shirt was a loss. But the blood could probably be removed from the shoes. Sighing, he sat on the bed next to Orion and reached out to brush the soft curls back from his beautiful face, his fingers trailing lightly over the scars that covered one side. Orion always tried to hide his scars, but Derek knew every one by heart.

"Orion," he said softly. "Wake up, incubus, it's time to feed."

Orion flopped onto his back, his breathing a bit erratic and his eyelashes fluttering. Derek caressed his cheek again, sliding his thumb over Orion's soft bottom lip. The man really did need to feed soon, or he'd end up comatose. It was always a risk with the frustrating little ass, since he refused to feed properly.

Derek leaned in and pressed a kiss to those soft, mumbling lips, pushing a little bit of pent-up desire Orion's way. Orion's body tensed, and his hands flew up to grip the back of Derek's head. Derek smiled against his lips, then pulled back to look into those amazing blue eyes, the color of the hottest flames.

"Master?" Orion whispered. He was still out of it, drained and hungry. Otherwise he would have protested when he realized Derek had kissed him. Such loving attention was never allowed in their rare encounters.

Derek nodded, then moved to sit next to Orion, with his back braced against the headboard, combing his fingers through those soft, tangled caramel curls. It didn't take much encouragement. Orion's instincts knew what he needed, even if the man himself fought it at every turn. Orion was on him in a flash, kneeling between Derek's legs, nipping at his jaw and neck, avoiding his lips, as his fingers made quick work of Derek's fly, even with the short claws.

Orion purred as he moved lower, dropping biting kisses along Derek's chest and stomach. Derek threaded his hands into Orion's hair and dropped his head back in surrender as Orion swallowed him down, letting the other man have what he needed.

The incubus pulled back, dragging his slightly forked tongue up Derek's length, and he gripped Orion's hair tighter. By all the gods in all the realms, the man was definitely a sex demon. The pheromones flooding the air were thick and heady, and it didn't take long to have Derek thrusting down Orion's throat and spilling his seed as orgasm washed over him.

He could feel the pull, just as he reached climax, Orion's aura draining away some of Derek's power, his essence. It had his body bowing up off the bed, already wanting to give the incubus more, as long as it meant more pleasure.

But Orion had the power he needed. Or at least, enough to get by. He never took more than the bare minimum he needed to survive. Derek could already feel the incubus's sanity returning, and with it his ever-present self-loathing.

Derek reached for him as Orion's horns and wings vanished, Orion's magic tamped down the moment he realized he had lost control. Derek knew what would happen, but he had to try. He always had to try. His hands slid over Orion's shoulders and he sat forward, attempting to pull him close.

Orion pulled away and sat up over the edge of the bed, drawing out of Derek's reach, head bowed, and eyes averted. "Thank you," he whispered.

Derek's heart ached. A feeling he was well used to by now. He tucked himself back into his pants and moved to sit beside his stupid secretary, wanting to take him into his arms and banish that look on his face. The man looked like a dog who had disappointed its master and knew it was about to get scolded.

"Orion," he breathed on a sigh. "Come here. Let me—"

And that was all it took. Orion was up on his feet in an instant, tugging his clothing straight, his spine rigid as a steel bar. "I should go back to the office," he said, his silky voice soft and slightly panicked. "Miss Troya's awareness is waking. You need to focus on her. And there will be questions back home...."

Derek ran a hand over his face, praying for patience. "If you won't have...for the love of brimstone, just come here and lie with me a bit. Rest. Just that."

Orion closed his eyes and swallowed hard. "There will be chaos. We need to make sure the building and our people are safe. I need—"

The last bit of Derek's patience went up in flames. He stood, towering over Orion, knowing his eyes would be red and his teeth sharp. "Get. In. Bed. You were so drained you could have died. All because you refuse to take care of yourself, then insist on putting everyone's needs before your own. If you don't want me near you, fine. But you will lie down on that bed and sleep, Orion. Or I will make you."

That got him a mutinous look from under long lashes. Then all the fight went out of Orion and he seemed to sway on his feet, the high of his feeding wearing off. "I am tired, Sir."

Master. Sir. Mr. White. He was always throwing up barriers. The man was transparent as glass. He loved Derek. Probably had since Derek pulled him from the clutches of his previous captor and freed him from a living hell. The problem was, no matter how he tried, Derek had been unable to convince the incubus that Orion was worthy of being loved himself. He saw himself as broken, damaged, sullied. Not good enough for someone of Derek's station.

It was maddening. But forcing the issue would make Derek no better than the one who had ruined Orion in the first place. Love was a dangerous thing for an incubus. It was an emotion that could all too easily be warped and used to hurt.

"Please get some sleep," Derek said, his sadness and affection for Orion washing away the anger. "Take the bed. I will go check on the wards around the house and find another place to rest."

Orion glanced at him, the yearning and self-hatred plain in his blue eyes. "Thank you, Mr. White."

Derek closed his eyes and curled his hands into fists to keep from grabbing the idiot and pulling him close. "Go to sleep, Black," he said, opening his eyes and moving past the incubus. "I'm afraid tonight's attack was just the beginning. We'll need to be at our best to deal with what's to come."

Orion nodded and slipped into bed, curling up on his side in the fetal position like a wounded child. He'd be fine. He always was. He just needed a little while to get his mask back in place so he could continue to play the servant. So he could continue to hide. Derek's jaw throbbed from how hard he had to clench his teeth as he left the room.

Clearly, he shouldn't be trusted with anyone else's affection. Look what had happened with Troya, after all.