Nox dropped his head against the doorframe and closed his eyes for a moment.
“If we don’t like what they have to say, we’ll leave.”
“We don’t even know where they are.” At least it was a reason Luca couldn’t argue.
He curled the corner of his mouth. “They’re staying at the RV grounds in the Cascades National Park.”
Nox frowned. “How do you know that?”
“Both the vehicles they drove had a long-term parking pass hanging from the rearview mirror. We passed a sign for the park entrance on our way to the motel with the same logo on the passes.”
Nox dropped his shoulders.
Luca stepped closer. “Please.”
“Why is this so important to you?”
“They’re not Anubis, but they’re not normal. I think we need to know what they are and why they were looking for me.”
The Anubis hummed under Nox’s skin, but he ignored it. “Okay, we’ll go.”
“Thank you.” Luca smiled.
Nox’s heart skipped. “I’d say you’re welcome, but….”
“We’ll be okay, I promise.” Luca returned to sorting out his toothbrush and shaving supplies. “We can leave after I brush my teeth.” He attacked his mouth with the toothbrush. Spit and scrubbed again. “On the way back, we can grab some groceries for lunch.” Luca rinsed out his mouth.
Leave. Luca wanted them to leave. Go talk to the strangers, the inhuman strangers, who knew Luca was special.
That meant they had to see all the same things Nox did when he was around Luca: his beauty, his kindness, how his very presence was an aphrodisiac to the Anubis.
Luca put aside his toothbrush.
Nox was right there, chest pressed against Luca’s back before he could stop himself.
“What’s—”
Nox enveloped Luca, arms around his lithe frame, mouth on his neck, pushing his hands under Luca’s clothes. Nox stripped away Luca’s shirt and found his way into Luca’s jeans. He gripped Luca’s cock and stroked.
Luca’s gasp became a moan, and he rocked back. “Nox… I need to—”
Nox stroked faster, and Luca’s words scrambled into a pleading whimper.
That’s what the Anubis wanted to hear from its Alpha’s lips; the sounds of pleasure, the pleas of need, the keen of release.
And it would replay the melody over and over again.
Nox fumbled with the front of his jeans with a shaking hand. The Anubis’s gluttony for the tactile sensations a human body could give it never stopped. It would fight to the death to keep Luca, not because it loved Luca like Nox, but because these experiences were why it desired to exist.
Nox’s thick cock jutted from his open zipper. He ground against Luca’s back. But it wasn’t enough. It would never be enough.
Lubricant. He needed something slick so he wouldn’t hurt Luca.
“Here.” Luca pulled at the zipper on the supply bag. With each tug, it inched toward the sink until tipping over the edge and spilling out its contents: razor blades, soap, deodorant. A bottle of almost empty lubricant rolled out.
Luca picked up the bottle and opened the top.
At least Nox had enough sense to hold out his hand. Clear liquid covered his fingers and puddled in his palm.