Chapter 8

Flashes in the Dark

His lips felt swollen, bruised, abandoned as the mouth that had wrecked them now nipped and sucked along his throat. His shoulders were scratched up, and he just hoped the fingernails had not actually torn his clothing. He felt turned on—oh so badly turned on—but all he got was a light ghosting of touches, fingers that wanted to know he was aroused but not actually touch there. They weren't even teasing touches, but more like seeking reassurance that he was doing things right.

To Laxus, Freed was definitely doing things right!

When they first arrived at the hotel, they had been greeted by both Bickslow and Evergreen. It was the first time Evergreen had left her room since the hair curse, and it was for this, to see for themselves that Laxus and Freed were together and to deluge them with questions.

Laxus felt humiliated just admitting that they were now dating, so Freed took over answering only some of the least-personal questions. Then he primly said that they were probably bothering the other guests and should go back to their rooms. They could talk more over breakfast. Bickslow boldly asked if they were going to fuck, and Freed physically shoved him back to his room with a rune to lock the door until sunrise.

Were they going to do it? Laxus thought, or maybe hoped, that they would. After half an hour of making out with seemingly no eagerness for more, now he was not so certain. He had decided to wait for Freed to give a signal that tonight was heading that way, but again, they were only light, passing touches to his groin, enough to feel that he was hard, not enough to really give him pleasure.

Not that he was complaining! Making out on the couch was definitely a delight. Still, Laxus had always been the sort of man who skipped all foreplay and leap straight into the main action. Being indulged like this was not really his style, and he was unsure how to respond. He had said he wanted simple dating, although he had said he also wanted sex. He thought that was enough hint that he really, really wanted sex tonight, but he also did not want to push Freed too fast. Hell knows he thought he had screwed up once already!

If Freed wanted to wait, Laxus was fine with that, although his cock seriously was swollen and he would have to release that pressure one way or another tonight. Finally, he could hold Freed in the way he always wanted, and yet his body wanted so much more. He could not get enough of this man!

Freed gazed down at Laxus and saw him looking flustered. He had hinted, he wanted Freed on top, but Freed got the sense that Laxus had no idea how to submit to pleasure.

"Wanna switch?" Freed made them move so that he was now lying on the couch with Laxus' weight on him. Still, Laxus looked like he was lost, like he was unsure what to do next. Had he seriously never made out before?

"What do you want me to do?" he grumbled, trying to sound gruff but still coming across as nervous.

Freed smirked. Ah, did he want to be ordered? Freed could have fun with that. He flicked open the first few buttons of his shirt and pulled it aside.

"Go with your instincts."

"My instincts are to fuck your mouth."

Freed licked ravenously. "I wouldn't mind that."

"Shit," Laxus hissed. How could a man look so goddamn fuckably hot? His instincts really did kick in just then, and he attacked the exposed skin.

Freed felt a sharp pain in the side of his neck and cried out so loudly, he just knew Evergreen and Bickslow heard him. Dammit, was Laxus trying to give a hickey or gnaw out his jugular?

Laxus leaned back and gazed at the mark. Maybe he was too rough. Freed's throat was turning bright red, and that shout had sounded more like pain and less like pleasure. He had to tame himself back or he really would hurt him.

"Sorry. I don't normally leave hickeys."

"You don't?" Freed asked, rubbing out his neck. Damn, it really did hurt! "I figured that's your favorite thing to do."

Laxus shook his head. "Most of the chicks I've had weren't mine to mark. You are, and I want the world to know you're mine."

That sounded so erotic, and yet so endearing. "How about you mark other places?" Freed continued to unbutton his shirt, letting his chest show. "My whole body is yours to claim."

There was a starving blaze in those blue eyes that Freed found amusing as he continued to undo the buttons, all the way down. Then he tugged the shirt out from his trousers and shimmied it off, letting it fall to the side of the couch.

Laxus gazed at Freed's porcelain skin, hairless chest, and firm abs. He lunged toward his stomach and licked from just above the belly button all the way up his stomach, chest, throat, and over his chin to his mouth, ending it with a kiss. Freed moaned, his body trembled under the hot tongue, and his eyes were huge with desire that Laxus could smell. His lithe fingers went up to Laxus' shirt and gave it a coy tug. That was all Laxus needed in order to know what to do next. The shirt went flying, landing somewhere near the hotel's small table, and his mouth went back down.

"Ow! Careful with the biting," Freed warned.

Laxus did not really listen. He had admired Freed's perfect body for years, and now he wanted to possess every inch of it. What he couldn't nip between his teeth, he licked, and when he found a spot that made Freed quiver, he marked it, like mapping out newly conquered territory.

"Sheesh, you're rough," gasped Freed.

Laxus pulled back and realized he had left tiny bruises all over Freed's torso. "Sorry," he muttered, wiping the moistness from his mouth.

"No, I like it."

Freed sat up, and Laxus moved back, taking a seat on the couch while trying to calm himself before he really hurt Freed. Then, without warning, Freed straddled him, his weight resting on Laxus' thighs. The Dragon Slayer felt stunned looking up at him. Freed's finger traced down over Laxus' Adam's apple, lightly scratching him.

"Is it okay if I'm a little rough as well?"

'Oh fuck, that's hot!'

Laxus' throat was so tense, he only managed to nod. Freed had already showed he liked to scratch, so what more did he like? Laxus really wanted to know all the little kinks in this seemingly prim and proper man.

The sly smile and devilish twinkle in Freed's eyes made Laxus' groin hurt, and it didn't help that Freed was undulating over him, rubbing right over his arousal.

Freed's hands only gently rubbed over Laxus' chest. "I almost don't trust myself," he confessed, dropping his head. "I could manipulate your emotions, torture your body in the most sinful way, and drive you to insanity before sunrise."

"Sounds good to me."

Freed laughed awkwardly. "No, I mean that literally."

"Why? Have you done that before?"

When Freed looked up, there was a darkness in his eyes. "Don't ask questions you don't want the answers to."

"I wanna know. Have ya ever fuck a guy into insanity?"

Freed hesitated with a cold expression before answering simply, "Yes."

Laxus nodded. "I almost wanna know what that's like."

"I'm serious. He never recovered."

"I believe ya. How about you only bring me to the brink of insanity, not past it?"

Freed gulped hard and thought about it. "Not here," he decided. "Although I could write some runes to soundproof this place, I'm not sure I could guarantee the structural integrity of the bed … or the floor."

"Fuck," Laxus growled, really wanting to know more now.

"For tonight, I'll pleasure you enough to leave you hungering for more."

Those words were vocal eroticism. With snakelike grace, Freed slithered between Laxus thighs and knelt before him, gazing up with those eyes that bordered between regal and sadistic. He reached to the top of Laxus' zipper and paused.

"May I?"

"Fuck yes!" Laxus groaned, afraid that if he moved, this incredible dream would end and he'd wake up cold and alone in bed.

Freed slid the zipper down and reached in, stroking through Laxus' underwear and watching the way this huge man tried so hard to hold back his voice. Freed found he liked watching the struggle. He loosened the belt, flicked open the button, and peeled the jeans apart. The cock inside was ready to tear out of the underwear, making the cloth stretch tight. When Freed lowered the underwear, it sprang up, flushed with veins lining the shaft. He could hardly help but lick his lips.

Just last night, he had seen this cock aroused, and so many naughty thoughts went through his mind. Now here they were, no stalling, no lying to themselves and to each other. Freed could hardly believe the dynamics between them had changed so much in just twenty-four hours. It was almost like a fairy had granted his wish, or maybe he was dreaming.

Damn, he hoped this wasn't yet another wet dream!

Freed slightly feared this was a dream, and it would shift to show some other person's face. That had happened when they were working for Blue Pegasus, an intensely erotic dream, so realistic, only in the middle of it he had looked up and saw Ichiya's face. It made him wake up screaming.

"Man!"

Man? Mehn? Freed startled in a moment of horror, looked up, and sighed in relief when he saw it was still Laxus. He had a hand over his eyes, seemingly also amazed that this was really happening.

"Man, I can't even look at ya. I feel like I'll come from seeing you like that. I mean, just last night…" His voice trailed off.

"I was thinking the same thing," Freed admitted, admiring the cock up close. "Last night, I wanted you so badly, I couldn't think straight. Now, I can't decide what I want to do first. Do I taste you?" He licked up the shaft, and a strangled cry squelched in Laxus' throat. "Or do I return the favor?"

When Freed stood up, his pants went down. He had undone them whilst admiring. Part of him really needed to make sure this was real, and that meant feeling the same as last night. He startled Laxus by climbing back onto his lap, and Freed rubbed his cock up against Laxus', feeling the heat.

"Do I give you the same pleasure?" he whispered, reaching down to stroke them together. "No shower, face to face this time, so I can watch you enjoy it."

"Fuck, Freed," he panted.

"You were quite the aggressor last night, and I let you be, but now … now?" he wondered, as if he really had to think about it. "Should I thank you for that, or should I punish you?"

Laxus lost the air in his lungs. He knew that, at least with Freed, he wanted to bottom; he wanted that distinction between the girls he fucked just to blow off steam and the man he had admired for years. He wanted Freed to take control of things, knowing he was an expert at calculating the best results, but he never thought he would want Freed to be this intensely dominant. Laxus didn't think he would like dynamics like that, yet hearing Freed's voice slithering with sin, Laxus felt like succumbing to the dark side.

"Maybe I should deny you." Freed stood up and backed away.

"Shit, no!" Laxus cried out. He couldn't be serious!

Freed leaned over and placed a finger on Laxus' lips, silencing him. "I'll give you what you want," he promised. "You have to ask for it, though."

"Suck my cock," he blurted out desperately.

Freed looked displeased. "You have absolutely no restraint. Perhaps I should make you beg."

This time, it was Laxus who looked peeved. "Ya want my cock to go limp? Because that's how you get me out of a good mood. Look, I like you being dominant, I like you being sadistic, I might not even mind bondage if you're into that, but humiliation kills it for me."

"Noted," he said, making that one of his rules: no humiliation during sex. "I'll keep it simple tonight." He gave Laxus a brief kiss. "I wouldn't want to spoil you right away. There's plenty of time for that."

Plenty of time! Laxus liked the sound of that. They were dating, they had time to get into crazy kinks that pushed their limits, but for just the first night, he wanted to know that Freed really wanted him the same way he wanted this green-haired gentleman.

"Suck me," Laxus requested. "Then I wanna return the favor."

Freed nodded. "Stay on the couch, just like that." Freed stood up, pulled the last of his clothes off, and walked toward the hotel room door. Laxus watched with worry. As sexy as Freed was walking through the room naked, he wondered if he was about to go out for some strange reason. Laxus definitely did not want anyone else to see the sight of Freed naked and aroused.

"Oh, and remove the rest of your clothing. All of it!" Then Freed flicked off the lights.

"I thought you wanted to see me," Laxus said, obediently removing his jeans but a little perturbed by the darkness. Maybe Freed was actually bashful and preferred to have sex with the lights off.

"I'm going to have my face buried in your crotch, so I won't be seeing much anyway, and I find I can focus on the taste better this way." He returned and slid between Laxus' knees again.

"Maybe I wanna watch you," Laxus said gruffly.

"You can smell me, right?"

Laxus growled something without words. Oh, he could smell him, all right! He smelled of sweat and pre-cum and the alcohol they had been drinking earlier, and Laxus hungered for all of it.

"Besides, there's a reason for everything I do," Freed said, more than a little arrogant in his tone.

Right at that moment, the storm outside flashed with lightning, and Laxus saw for a brief moment those turquoise eyes gazing up lovingly and the face so close to his erection. Lightning! Freed looked wild lit up by the storm, and in that brief flash Laxus saw an impish smile. Then it was dark again, and he felt Freed's mouth plunge on him. His tongue was hellish fire, his lips the gates to heaven, and for a moment Laxus was completely lost in the dark. His hands cast about in search of some type of anchoring, but they found only Freed's head.

Laxus cursed to himself that Freed's hair was magicked to be short now, of all times. How he would love to yank on that silky long hair and pull Freed deeper onto him. Instead, he could only press the back of Freed's head, urging him on with whispered profanities as he heard slurping and smelled saliva mixing with pre-cum. Laxus let his head collapse back onto the couch as he surrendered to Freed's mouth with a quivering sigh.

Laxus wanted a little more, but he was almost scared to ask. Just receiving this much was such a blessing, so who was he to demand for more? Still, as hot and wet as Freed's mouth was, Laxus fidgeted with an instinctive need for more.

Was he trying to make him beg? Fuck that! But maybe Freed simply did not know Laxus required more than this. They had to learn together what each one liked and needed.

"Your hand," he whispered, worried if requesting more was forbidden.

Luckily, Freed seemed happy to oblige, and his long fingers wrapped around the base of the erection. Laxus lost the air in his lungs, and he knew right then, he was not going to last long at all. Damn him, but Freed was too good.

Out the window, lightning flashed in intervals and the thunder rolled between the sounds of sucking and panting. At each flash, Laxus watched as Freed sucked and stroked, followed by darkness and being reduced just to feel, hear, and smell it all. Nature itself was a tease that night.

Then, it was just an accident, an instinct, but Laxus grabbed the back of Freed's head and forced him down deeper. There was a groan of discomfort, but not displeasure.

"Sorry," Laxus whispered in the dark. Just then, another flash of lightning lit up eyes practically glowing in annoyance. Shit! Was he mad?

Rather than pulling back to chastise him, Freed angled himself up a little more, and Laxus felt him plunging down, felt his cock press into a narrow throat, and he let out a roar: reverberating, thunderous, indecent, desperate. Freed continued, plunging in deep, punishing Laxus in a way he had not expected: by ending it.

"Shit!" Laxus howled as he burst. He had not even thought about giving a warning, he was so overwhelmed. He was still deep in Freed's throat, too, but then he felt the tightness pull back, and the spurts were on Freed's tongue now. It was soft, but he heard a purring hum as Freed tasted him.

Freed slowly pulled back, sucking him clean, and gazed up as Laxus recovered.

"Pretty good?" he asked smugly.

"Oh fuck," he moaned.

"I'll take that as a yes." He sounded amused, and Freed rested his head on Laxus' muscular thigh. "Do you remember how you said you wanted a first with me?"

Laxus let out an exhausted groan. "God, don't tell me that was your first blowjob, because that was too fucking good for an amateur."

"Heh, no. But I thought of a first you could do for me."

Laxus looked down in curiosity, barely seeing Freed's face in the darkness.

Freed tapped his fingers on the couch, obviously nervous. "So far, in all my relationships, I've never … umm … there's not really a polite way of saying it," he muttered to himself. "I … was always the one giving pleasure. Up until now, most men wanted me to … to be the bottom for them and … and other things…"

Laxus' mouth dropped. "Freed … no offense, but we don't have lube and—"

"N-No!" he yelped. "Not that. I'm not asking … no! I just mean … other things."

Laxus raised an eyebrow. "You're being vague again. Ya know ya gotta be clear with me."

Freed bit his bottom lip, and his fingers tapped the couch even faster, belying how quickly his heart was racing. "S-Sucking … m-me," he stuttered anxiously.

Freed said nothing more, and after a moment, Laxus was pretty certain that he meant what he thought he meant.

"You want a blowjob?"

"You don't have to!" he said in a panic.

"I know I don't have to," Laxus snapped. "The day you say I have to do anything is the day I punch you and walk out the door." His own nervousness was masked by gruffness, a bad habit he knew he had, although Freed was used to such surly attitudes that hid real emotions. "A blowjob, huh? Well, you've given me a hell of one just now. 'S only fair. I doubt I'd be as good as you, since I've never given one."

"Well, I've never had one, so I wouldn't know if you were bad," Freed said with a roguish smile.

"Bitch," Laxus muttered, laughing and blushing at his sassiness. It was one of the things he loved most about Freed: he was one of the few people in the world who could poke fun at him without riling him up in anger, because Laxus knew how much Freed actually adored him. "So really? None of your boyfriends ever offered to blow ya?"

Freed averted his gaze and shook his head. "None of them wanted a cock in their mouth."

"Their loss. I bet ya taste awesome."

Freed choked at how perverted—and how hot—that sounded. "W-Well, I'm not pressuring you or anything. Just, if you're ever in the mood, that's one thing I'd like to try."

Laxus reached down, and his hand landed on Freed's head. Turquoise eyes looked up in astonishment, and slowly those thick fingers slid down his cheek to his chin, tipping his head up. Laxus leaned in close enough to see Freed even in the darkness.

"If I'm ever in the mood?" Laxus asked, his voice low and sensual. "You dare say that after telling me you've never been in another man's mouth? Do you have any idea how much I want it now?"

Freed gulped thickly. His heart pounded harder, and he felt his cock stirring with eagerness.

"To be honest," said Laxus, "I've been curious as hell for years."

"Wh-what? Years?"

Laxus hummed. Maybe it wasn't the very first moment he met Freed, or even after they became friends, or the first time he saw him naked, but gradually that little spark of curiosity formed and grew.

"Tell me what to do."

Again with that! Freed wondered if maybe there was a little bit of submissiveness in Laxus after all.

He wanted to test that.

Freed stood up, pulling Laxus to come with him. They walked together, both naked in the dark, and came to a stop in the middle of the hotel room. They stood facing one another, with the flashes of the storm outside the window casting their pale bodies in alternating brightness and shadows.

"On your knees," Freed commanded.

Laxus felt compelled to obey and knelt before Freed like a god. Yes, he might be called the thunder god, but Laxus knew true perfection was right here in this man.

He could smell what was in front of him, and in another flash of lightning, he saw its bald curve. He wanted it, so much. He had fantasized about this, wondering what it might be like. It really was a first for both of them. As much experience as he might have with women, Laxus was intensely curious what it was like to pleasure a man.

Not just any man, though. Only one interested him.

"Is it okay?" Freed asked, stroking Laxus' head in the dark.

"I'd rather have the lights on," he admitted.

"Not this time. If I had to watch you, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't last ten seconds."

Laxus chuckled deeply. "Ya know, I like knowing you want me that much." He began to lean in with his mouth open, when hands grabbed his head and held him in place. Laxus looked up, wondering if Freed was changing his mind.

"Hold still," Freed whispered, and a purple glow lit up from his fingertip. "Dark Écriture: Vision nocturne."

Suddenly, Laxus could see perfectly. He looked up, wondering what Freed had done. Didn't he simply turn on the lights? Then there was a flash, and Laxus was momentarily blinded.

"You have night vision," Freed explained. "Now you can see what you're doing."

"You still don't wanna see me doing it?" he asked in concern.

"It's not that I don't want to. I just want it like this for now."

"Whatever pleases you," Laxus said with a shrug. He stroked Freed and heard a sharp intake of air. "Really a first, huh? Any dude ever at least lick your dick?"

There was a tight-lipped grunt, and Laxus could see Freed shaking his head, his cheeks flushed.

"So then, I get first taste? Lucky me."

Laxus gave the entire length a slow, sensual lick, his tongue sliding from musky underside to veined shaft and up to the flared head, where the dripping pre-cum was a dessert to his taste buds.

"Damn, you taste good," he whispered.

There was a single-syllable groan above him, like Freed was about to curse but the word lost power under the feel of moist heat.

"Don't you dare come on me yet," Laxus warned, giving him another lick. "This is the first time anyone's ever tasted you, so I wanna enjoy it for a good, long time."

"Oh God, don't talk," Freed said with a shiver in his words.

Laxus licked his lips nice and wet before slipping Freed's cock into his mouth. The smell, the taste, the feel of it rubbing against the roof of his mouth, was all more powerful than any dream. Laxus felt Freed's hands rest on his head, and he wondered if he was about to get his hair pulled; however, Freed seemed to realize Laxus might not like to be reminded of his cursed long hair, so his fingers felt stiff as they just rested on the head.

Laxus was amazed at the length of Freed's cock. Maybe it was not some monster, but it was perfect. Slender like the rest of him, curved slightly, and the head was flushed dark. His lips fit around with enough stretch without being painful. He could barely get halfway down before it hit the back of his throat. Laxus was pretty sure he was not ready to attempt deep-throating, not his first time, at least. He slid back and forth as deep as he could easily reach, tasting the bitter saltiness of pre-cum on his tongue.

"Can you … h-hand?"

Laxus reached up, one hand wrapping around Freed's shaft, the other cupping his balls, softly feeling them. A loud exhale shuddered out, and Laxus smiled around the cock, loving the idea that Freed's pleasure was his to control, his to honor, his to evoke.

He glanced up. He still wondered why Freed was so insistent on it being dark, but he was glad he could now see. Freed's eyes were closed, long lashes sweeping over his cheek bones, and his mouth hung open, breathing heavily, an occasional hard swallow, but he held back from moaning, just like he had tried—and failed—to do in the shower.

Laxus almost wanted to make Freed fall apart, force him to moan, break that stubborn propriety, and have him cursing his name in pleasure. He could do all that one day. For now, he would let Freed enjoy this first the way he wanted.

Well … almost.

"You taste amazing," Laxus purred, licking a line up the curved cock. "The smell of you aroused is better than anything. I really love how you feel in my mouth, dripping over my tongue."

Without waiting, he plunged down again, and sure enough, a squelched cry escaped Freed's throat. His fingers also finally pulled, and his hips flexed forward instinctively, before he suddenly yanked fully back and released his hands. Looking up in the dark, Laxus saw Freed leaning over, obviously trying hard not to burst right away. He waited, watching in amusement, and he saw Freed's eyes open, almost enraged except for being intensely aroused.

"No talking," Freed ordered.

"Is that a rule?" he asked arrogantly.

"Yes. Don't talk, not like that."

Laxus grabbed Freed's hips and yanked him back close. "Maybe I don't agree with those rules." He made a shallow bob on just the head. "Maybe I wanna tell you how much I love your taste."

"Shit," Freed hissed, looking almost in pain. "Don't."

Sensitive to dirty talk? Ooh, Laxus could have fun with that! Another time, though.

"As you wish," he muttered, and his mouth returned. This time, Freed sharply thrust in, gagging him right away.

"Ah! S-Sorry," Freed whispered, pulling back.

"S'okay," Laxus said, although he did have to cough. "Maybe I like you trying to choke me with your dick."

"Oh God, I said don't." A whimper this time was barely held back by Freed's lips. "Laxus, can I … should I pull out before … you know?"

"Do and I'll whip your ass," Laxus threatened. "You are not denying me of this."

Although this time there was no sound, Laxus saw Freed bite down hard on his lip.

"If it turns out that I don't like it, I'll let you know for next time, but at least this time," he said, licking a circle around the head, and in a low, erotic tone, he said, "I wanna know what my Freed tastes like."

That was apparently too much. Freed grabbed himself and blindly thrust, missing Laxus' mouth completely and smearing pre-cum over cheek. The Dragon Slayer moved his mouth fast to catch it, and Freed's hips were like pistons, until Laxus finally had to grab them to hold them still. He tried to bob his head at the same speed without slamming into the back of his throat. His hand and mouth worked together. Freed was scratching again, digging his fingernails into Laxus' shoulders. The erotic pain made Laxus hum, almost growl, and the vibration snapped Freed's reserve. The first taste flooded over Laxus' tongue.

Okay, it wasn't all that good. It wasn't intolerable, but he might ask to spit next time. Or let Freed come on his face.

'Oh fuck, now I'm imagining that!'

This time, at least, he swallowed. Or at least, he tried. He pulled back sharply and coughed as he realized cum was a thick thing to swallow and did not simply slide down. Freed reached out, feeling blindly for his head.

"Are you okay?" he asked in worry, hearing the coughing. "You didn't have to."

"Fuckin' shut up. I wanted to." He looked back over as Freed had already begun to droop now that the pressure was gone. He licked up a drip on the slit and hummed in appreciation. "Really wanted to." He gave the drooping cock another full suck to clean it off.

"Shit! No! Sensitive. That's enough," Freed warned, thrusting Laxus back and pulling his hips away. Then he chuckled in amazement. "God, you could wreck me."

"Is that an invitation?"

Freed could only laugh in reply, looking lost in the afterglow.

Laxus saw the flush all over Freed's face, mottling down in blotches of pink over his slender chest. "I take it I don't completely suck at sucking."

Freed hummed wearily. "No, you're quite good."

"It'll be better next time. I honestly wasn't sure what I was doing." Freed hummed again, and Laxus saw in the dark a sleepy smile. "Just knowing you gifted me with being your first blowjob is a lot to process."

"I'm sorry if I was demanding."

"Oh, hell no! I want you to be just how you are."

That confirmed it, and Freed smiled to himself. A submissive Laxus was going to be a fun experience.

"Kinky bastard," muttered Laxus. "I see your face. I know what you're thinking."

"Do you really?" he said in a challenge, but he laughed, stroking Laxus' hair. "Now, hold still. I'll put your vision back to normal."

"Wait." Laxus rose off his knees, and although Freed looked up, seeing his vague and shadowy shape, his turquoise eyes did not exactly meet Laxus' face, still blind in the dark. "You still can't see, right?"

"Only shadows," he admitted.

"Then stay like that, and let me be like this for a moment longer. Lie on the bed. I'll be right back."

Laxus guided Freed over to the bed and made sure he was down. Then he trotted off to the bathroom … and made the mistake of turning on the light.

"Motherfucker!" he yelled as the light was like looking at the sun. He flipped it off, and it took a while for his nightvision eyes to readjust after being blinded. He turned on the sink, warmed up the water, and moistened a washcloth. Then he returned to Freed and sat beside him.

"I'm gonna wash ya up."

"I could shower."

"Screw that. I wanna do this."

Freed bit his lip, but Laxus saw how his cheeks flushed. Laxus hardly understood it himself. Sure, they could shower together and it would be hot, probably they would even have sex again, but for some reason he really, strongly felt a need to do this. The words "clean your mate" flitted through his mind.

Damn Dragon Slayer instincts!

He started with Freed's face, being gentle to wipe sweat off his brow and any cum off his lips. Then he leaned over to kiss those lips and got them to hum. That made Laxus smile.

He was glad the lights were off now. This was beyond sappy. It was ridiculous, sponge bathing someone right after sex, yet it was what blared through his mind. He wanted to do this, needed to do this. He knew he was smiling with some mushy, absurd grin that he sure as hell did not want to show to anyone.

Plus, this way, he could watch Freed, and he guessed the lights being off meant Freed was showing faces he might not otherwise. The way his head snuggled deeper into the pillow, the sex-weary smile, the way his short hair stuck out oddly … damn, he wanted to see Freed with his long hair tangled up from sex! He opened his eyes a lot, gazing straight up, obviously enjoying the personal treatment, this little splurge, Laxus catering to him so attentively.

"I could get used to this," Freed mumbled.

"Same here." Laxus allowed another maudlin smile, glad it was hidden from view.

Freed stretched his back and shoulders over the sheets, and Laxus gulped hard. The way he moved, the tautness of his muscles, the self-satisfied hum, was a lot to hit him all at once, and Laxus felt heat pooling deep in his stomach again. His cock seemed to debate about getting hard, but decided this was enough for their first night.

Laxus was extra careful cleaning the flaccid member now resting, flopped to the right. It looked cute as it was now, hiding within its hooded foreskin.

"Should you do this part?" he asked, not sure what was pushing Freed's limits.

There was that same goddamn smirk he so often had that made Laxus' cock again wonder if it was time for another sensual battle. "You can, if you're comfortable with that." He stretched again, and Laxus swore Freed had to realize how that affected him. "I trust you."

"I don't trust myself," Laxus grumbled.

"Oh? Are you thinking about something in particular?"

Laxus made a low grunt, thinking, 'Yeah, stroking you up firm again and having you pound me into the bed!' Instead, he merely said, "It's not much."

"A shame," Freed said, holding back a laugh as if Laxus couldn't see him clearly. "I'm thinking of plenty of things."

Laxus wanted to know what, yet he feared that if Freed let slip even a single one of his fantasies, all restraints would be scorched away, and he would tackle Freed down to fulfill his desires. Instead, Freed looked perfect satisfied with denying Laxus that knowledge.

"Smug bastard," he grumbled.

"Did you say something?" Freed asked, smiling to himself, obviously knowing precisely what Laxus had said.

"I said I'm glad you enjoyed it."

"Mmm … I did. Very much so," he purred, and Laxus almost cursed at that happy-as-a-fat-cat look spread across the entirety of Freed's body. "Are you done yet? To be honest, I'm getting cold."

Laxus put away the wet cloth and slid into bed beside Freed. The magic on his eyes suddenly went away, and the bedroom grew dark. Freed clung to Laxus' back, momentarily surprising him, but Laxus decided being the little spoon was not such a bad thing. Freed began to caress his brow, slender fingers feeling like velvet over his forehead, and Laxus was out cold in no time.

Freed mused happily to himself at Laxus' heavy breathing, "Like a cat who falls asleep in your lap when you pet him." He liked that comparison, snuggled up against the broad back, and fell into a deep, wonderful sleep.