Heat Rating: Fire

Content Warnings: GLBT-homoerotica, Happy for Now Ending (eight book series).

Tobias and Andriel come to an understanding.

Andriel turned in Tobias' arms and stared into his hazel eyes. They were still cold but there was a flicker of something that had never been there before and Andriel allowed himself to hope. "I still want you," he admitted. Just not for one night only.

Tobias swept him into his arms and carried him to the bed, mouth latched onto his in a soul deep kiss. Andriel felt as if everything was being sucked out of him, leaving him lethargic and pliable. "Are you an incubus?" he asked as Tobias placed him on the bed.

The demon laughed. "They do come under my jurisdiction, but I'm not one of them. I don't intend to suck out your soul or drain you dry of energy."

He joined Andriel on the bed and kissed him again. "I won't hurt you this time, unless you want me to."

Andriel shivered at the memory of their last time together. "I don't know what I want," he said. "Up to now it's been what everyone else wants, Metatron, Lucifer, Apollo, never my choice so how can I know?"

Tobias stroked his cheek, the touch gentle. "It was your choice last time. Even though you got scared and tried to back out. Strangely enough, I always want it to be your choice."

His words confused Andriel. "You're the Prince of Lust, don't you just take whatever you want?"

Tobias gave him a wry smile. "Normally, yes, I freely admit that I do. I want something different with you. I want you to take some control over what happens to you. I want you to enjoy."

Andriel bit his lip. "I'm such a fool. I want what I can never have."

"Oh, and what is that?"

Andriel shut his eyes and shook his head. "I want what you can't give me, Tobias. I want to be loved."

His eyes snapped open when Tobias whispered, "You already are, you silly angel."

"What did you say?" But now, now he could see it in Tobias' eyes, their hazel depths warm like liquid honey. "You really mean it," he said, awed.

Tobias gave him another wry smile. "Well, to be honest, I didn't know what I was feeling. It took Raphael and Daniel to set me straight."

If it was confession time, Andriel found he had one to make too. "I wanted to call you so many times but stupid pride got in my way."

Tobias pulled him close and kissed him again, this one making his toes curl and his fingers tangle in Tobias' auburn hair, dislodging the neat ponytail. "I would have answered."

Andriel nodded. "I know but I'm afraid. I can't take anymore pain, Tobias." He blushed. "Emotional pain that is."

Tobias smiled at him and ran soothing fingers over his cheek. "Right now, all I want to give you is pleasure."