Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 2

and talk of new healing salves by the dying fire, surrounded by books older than the Queen herself. A hundred and one trivial mortal concerns.
    But instead, he'd be world away, facing Emyr Hill and the life he was never meant to have.
    ****
    "I can't sleep," Aeron finally said.
    "Neither can I," Tam agreed from his pallet by the fire. His voice was low and rough, and he sounded almost relieved.
    "I don't know why I'm so anxious. It's a simple ritual. Even you can't get it wrong."
    Tammas laughed.
    Aeron sighed. "Do you want me to go?"
    Not a moment's hesitation, "No. But I know you have to."
    "If it was that kind of binding, would you keep me?"
    "No. I would want to, but I— I would never keep you. You know I wouldn't."
    "It would make things simpler if you could," Aeron admitted. His wings flicked in annoyance. "For me."
    Another laugh. "It would make tomorrow simpler and everything else more complicated. I don't blame you; I wouldn't want to face him, either. It's— it's lucky my mother's dead. Not just for your sake."
    "What a strange thing to have to think."
    "I know. I've felt awful for it all day. I know why she did what she did. No one ever gave her anything, and she had to take care of herself, and then me. I understand why she was obsessed with the power."
    "My father has nothing like that excuse. He's just..." Aeron smiled wryly. "Well, he would have his daughter, still. Most of us don't even have one child, let alone twins. He probably ran off to the mortal realm in the first place just to get away from us."
    "They were both blind, my mother and your father. I hate that you had to pay for it."
    A pause. Then, because he didn't know how else to ease this tormenting ache in his chest, Aeron tried a new phrase: "I'm sorry."
    Tam sat up as if the house might be on fire. "What?"
    "I'm sorry for the things I said that day at Kamala's. I still think you should've told me when you suspected, but I know you think I'm your responsibility. In your way, you were trying to protect me. My father" —he winced before continuing— "hurt me, and I misdirected my anger. I think you must be the gentlest creature in this world or my own; I'm ashamed to have caused you pain."
    Tam stared, his eyes wide, reflecting the dying fire. His bare chest heaved in staggered breaths. "Aeron..."
    Aeron sighed again. "If you don't come to bed soon, I might actually fall asleep, and we'll have completely wasted this whole night. Then , I will be angry with you."
    Tam crawled into bed immediately, and Aeron was surprised to find him already in a state of excitement. He was naked, himself, so he pulled off Tam's smallclothes and pinned him to the straw mattress. Aeron straddled his narrow hips and kissed him until neither of them could breathe.
    This was another advantage of a mortal lover. There might be a few, but Aeron had never known a fairy who'd allow someone to pin them on their wings. Aeron delighted in holding Tammas down and causing him to make those little sounds, like swallowed moans, by rocking his hips now and then. Tam's hot fingers played along his back, around the edges of his wings, over the membranes, then back again. His thick cock, so hot and ready, pressed between their bellies next to Aeron's own.
    When he'd had enough of trying devour him for the moment, Aeron drew back and repositioned. He nudged Tam's thighs apart and sat between them on his knees, running his fingers through the fuzzy patches on his hard chest and stomach and down, down—
    Tam lifted his backside, and his cock, so flushed the exposed head was almost purple, moved and dribbled. Aeron's, standing so straight it was pressed into his own belly, swelled again as if in reply. Fascinated, he played his fingers down his favorite trail until he reached the base of Tam's cock, then swiped his finger over the head, playing with the hole and rubbing the stickiness into it, around the crease of his skin, and back again.
    Tammas groaned as if in exquisite pain, and Aeron's skin prickled. He drew a wet line down the major vein in Tam's shaft, teasing, and there was another groan, this time disappointed.
    "You'll be finished too soon." Aeron grinned.
    Tam huffed out a breath. "It— it's been a long night."
    Aeron's finger paused at the base. He cocked his head in a silent question.
    "Since you were in the bath," Tam said, chest rising and falling hard. "I— I've hardly been able to think."
    "Mmm, I like that." Aeron cupped Tam's balls, a little bit fuzzy, but