...“You have a small birthmark shaped like a sword on the inside of your left thigh.” He remembered well kissing it, licking it as he moved closer and closer to Simon’s heavy balls and beautiful, jutting cock. “It’s near your groin.” He smiled. “You were ticklish when I touched it.”

“I remember,” Simon murmured, his breath warm against Jade’s neck. His nose and then the rough but pleasant scrape of his stubbled cheek, whether intentional or by accident, brushed the sensitive skin beneath Jade’s ear, sending shockwaves of awareness skipping over his nerve endings.

Another shudder swept through Jade, and there was no way he could control his growing erection. Simon would have to be dead not to feel it, as close as they stood. Jade just had to hope his blatant arousal wouldn’t scare Simon away.

But instead of pulling away, Simon’s hand now brushed slow, sensual circles against Jade’s lower back, each one moving farther down until his thumb traced over the seam of Jade’s bare ass.

Oh, God… Simon’s touch felt so good.

“What else?” Simon asked, breathless.

Emboldened by Simon’s response, Jade dared to reach down, and found Simon wasn’t immune to their nearness either—the hard bulge behind the fabric of his well-worn jeans made it abundantly clear he was as aroused as Jade.

Jade gave a hiss of pleasure. He’d dreamed of this, but hadn’t expected it. He splayed his hand against the firm length and squeezed. “Your eyes turn dark as midnight when you come. I remember looking up and thinking I’d never seen a color so deep blue, yet so crystal clear and beautiful. I could really see you for the first time, with no barriers between us, see the passionate, tender man you were beneath your walls.”

“No,” Simon whispered, shaking his head. “I wasn’t…”

“Yes, you were. It was the one and only time you ever let me in. I could have stayed like that all night, with your cock in my mouth, sucking you off, watching you. Your cum tasted like honey, sweeter than anything I’d ever had. Or maybe it was because I’d never wanted anyone or anything like I wanted you. I never forgot, Simon. Never forgot how you feel, how you look, how you taste. ”

“Jade…” His name was sigh of longing. “It’s really you, isn’t it?”

Unexpected tears stung Jade’s eyes. “Yes.”

Simon’s hand slid lower, cradling Jade’s ass, and his other hand came up to tangle in his hair. Then his lips were against Jade’s forehead, his eyes, and finally his mouth in a gentle, tentative touch, as if he were afraid Jade might break or disappear.

For Jade, the contact was electric, a gift he’d thought he’d never again receive. With a soft moan, he opened to Simon willingly, slid his hands beneath Simon’s coat to clutch his waist, and leaned into him.

At Jade’s easy acceptance, Simon’s hesitation morphed into a raw, desperate hunger that stole Jade’s breath. It was a side of Simon he’d never seen. The last time, he’d been the one to initiate the contact with Simon, and their coming together, brief though it was, had been sweet and almost cautious on Simon’s part. This, however, was both better and more fierce than it had been nine years ago. Maybe because there were nine years of pent-up need between them.

Not a day had gone by that he hadn’t thought of Simon, hadn’t wanted him. Now he wondered why he’d waited so long to come back.

You know why…because you’re not the same as you were before. And neither is he. Simon’s a man on a mission now, hunting and killing creatures like you.

But Simon hadn’t killed him outside when he’d had a chance.

He’s still uncertain, though. You saw it in his eyes. If you continue playing with fire like this, he’s going to break your heart again.

The last time Jade had had a taste of what being with Simon was really like, had let himself care, it felt as if his heart had been ripped from his body when Simon backed off. If he let himself get too close and it happened again, if Simon shut him out again, this time he feared he’d lose his soul.

Yet even knowing the risk, he didn’t think he had the willpower to step away now. Not with the way Simon was kissing him, touching him. His callused hands roamed Jade’s body, tracing the contours of his chest, brushing over his nipples, exploring his back, stroking his hips, kneading his ass. Their groins moved in sync, rocking together, trying to get as close as possible.

Simon touched him like a man dying of thirst who’d just found water. And Jade didn’t have any desire to stop him because he felt the same way.

When Simon’s hand slid between them and his fingers curled around Jade’s cock, the last of Jade’s internal warnings and cautions faded under the onslaught of much more powerful cravings. He groaned against Simon’s mouth, and Simon kissed it away, licking at his tongue, then thrusting with it in the same slow, seductive motion as his hand pulled at Jade’s shaft.

I missed you. Missed you so damned much.