STORY EXCERPT

“Zain.”

“Yeah?”

Regan breathed in deeply as he gathered his thoughts together. “Do you know what is the most toxic and cruelest punishment in this world?”

Zain didn’t respond for quite a while. “I don’t know. What is it?”

“When two people are destined to meet, yet they’re not fated to be together. The pain and agony will be excruciating.”

Zain snickered. “Why are you being so dramatic all of a sudden?”

Regan forced a smile on his face. “Nothing. The thought just came to me out of nowhere.”

Zain chortled and shook his head. “You sure have some really strange thoughts inside your head then.”

“Maybe.”

After that, Regan bit his lower lip as he stole glances in Zain’s direction once every few seconds. He admired Zain’s broad shoulders and muscular arms. Zain was a massive man. He was physically enormous from head to toe. Regan wondered what it would feel like to be able to lean against Zain’s shoulder anytime he wished to do so. He hesitated for a brief moment before scooting somewhat closer toward Zain and resting his head against the side of the detective’s hard, firm body. He could feel Zain stiffening for a second or two, but he was relieved when the detective wrapped one arm around his waist.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah. Can I ask you something?”

“What is it?”

Regan pulled away slightly and raised his head toward Zain. “Do…do you still want to date me?”

Zain’s eyes widened for a brief moment before he nodded. “Do you even have to ask?”

“I want to hear the words from you.”

Zain inhaled deeply before abruptly lowering his head and gently pressing his forehead against Regan’s. Their current positions made the gesture really awkward, but Regan ignored it for the time being.

“I do. I know it’s fucking selfish of me, but my feelings have grown so much deeper every time we hang out together. I’m falling so much harder in love with you with each passing day, and I just want you so much that it hurts all the time.”

Regan started to tear up in both eyes as his heart began to throb painfully. He could literally feel the magical ice melting away. The water droplets seemed to vanish from within his body and appeared in his eyes instead. He lifted both palms and cupped them over Zain’s cheeks, obviously startling the detective.

“Okay then.”

Zain gasped softly. “What do you mean?”

“If you’re still willing to be with me, I’ll accept the invitation to go out on a date with you.”

“Really? But what about—”

“It’s worth the risk.”

“But—”

“I should be the one asking you about that. I’ve told you what will happen to me when I fall in love with you completely. Are you still willing to take that chance? There can’t be a happily ever after for us, and in the end, I’ll be the one who hurts you the most.”

“I don’t care. People say it’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”

Zain rolled his eyes. “Now, who’s the dramatic one?”

“I guess it’s me this time around.” Then Zain was speechless for a moment before he suddenly chuckled at Regan. “I never thought I would ever get the opportunity to be with you, but there’s one thing I know for sure.”

“What’s that?”

“I’ll always be yours no matter what because I’ve fallen deeply in love with you. I can’t stop myself, and I don’t want to.”

“Corny,” Regan chided in a playful tone of voice. “But so damn smooth.”

Zain winked. “I am, aren’t I?”

“Whatever.”

Zain gently cupped Regan’s cheeks. “Can I get a reward from you?”

“Why should I reward you?”

“For being corny and smooth.”

Regan laughed. “Fine. What do you want from me?”

“May I kiss you?”

“Zain—”

“Please.”

Regan hesitated briefly. “Okay.”

“Thank you.”

Regan could feel himself blushing as his cheeks grew warmer by the second. “What for?”

“For giving me the honor of stealing your first kiss ever.”

The tears streamed down Regan’s cheeks upon hearing those words, and he grinned through his tears as Zain bent his head down even lower. He shut his eyes as their lips met. Before Zain, nobody had ever kissed him in such an intimate way, and it was even better than what he’d imagined it would be like. He could feel the warmth spreading through him as they kissed each other with more passion, resulting in the ice around his heart to melt further. His heart hurt, but he didn’t mind. He couldn’t deny his feelings anymore. Zain had been very sweet toward him over the past one month, and without realizing it, he was reciprocating the man’s feelings bit by bit. He deepened their kisses as he gave in further. He might end up disappearing off the face of the earth someday, but it was all right. He would have no regrets.

ADULT EXCERPT

“Babe, what are you doing?”

Regan was blushing as he tilted his head to peek at Zain. “I’m sorry. You don’t like it?”

Zain gulped once or twice while embracing Regan tighter with his left arm. “I do. I like it too much, but you’re playing with fire.”

Regan seemed to flush slightly redder from the embarrassment. “C-can I take it out?”

Zain’s breath hitched for a second or two as he gaped in astonishment. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, babe. I’m harder than a chunk of diamond right now. Being this close to you makes me horny as fuck. I have ample self-control most of the time, but I won’t be able to stop myself from fucking you if you put your hand on my dick.”

Regan looked really nervous now, but there was something else in the man’s expression that Zain couldn’t quite figure out. “What if…what if I want you to h-have sex with me?”

Zain clenched his fists and stared into Regan’s eyes. “Baby, don’t tease me. I’ve wanted you for quite a while now.”

Regan suddenly climbed up on top of Zain’s lap, straddling his boyfriend until their clothed erections were throbbing against each other. “I’m r-ready to have sex with you.”

Zain trembled as he struggled to rein in his self-control. “Baby—”

“Please,” Regan pleaded. “Will you be my first and only lover?”

Zain snapped, and he growled like a wounded beast as he lifted Regan off his lap, causing his boyfriend to yelp loudly, and threw the man down onto his back on the couch. He placed both arms on either side of Regan’s head as he pressed his entire body weight down onto his boyfriend’s, effectively caging and trapping the man underneath him. He inhaled and exhaled harshly as he shuddered on top of Regan.

“One last chance, baby,” Zain whispered against Regan’s lips. “If you change your mind, use your magic to throw me off. Slam me against the wall if you need to. I don’t have the strength to get away from you anymore. Do it!”

Regan shook his head as he cupped Zain’s cheeks in his palms. “My mind is made up. I really want you to be my first and only man.”

“Fuck,” Zain hissed out before kissing Regan with all the passion he could muster.

The two of them immediately rutted against each other as the heat mounted higher between them. Zain attempted to hold back. He wanted Regan’s first time to be gentle, romantic, and tender, but he soon lost himself in the taste of his boyfriend’s lips and tongue. He even savored the light, salty flavor of Regan’s sweat as he scooted lower and lapped at his boyfriend’s neck. Then they roamed their hands all over before they tried to remove each other’s shirt. Zain was taken aback when the tearing sound of fabric reached his ears. He pulled away from Regan and glanced down at his shirt in shock.

“I’m sorry,” Regan apologized. “I didn’t mean to. Damn it! I’ll get you a new shirt. I promise.”

Zain breathed in and out that much harder as he grabbed the front of Regan’s shirt in his fists. “Don’t be sorry. I’m not.”

Then he shredded Regan’s shirt apart until his boyfriend’s chest was completely exposed. He groaned before bending his head down and suckling on one of Regan’s nipples. He licked it until it was pointed and firm inside his mouth before giving the same treatment to the other nipple. He was so focused on pleasuring Regan, he gasped in shock when he abruptly found himself lying down on the couch on his back. Regan smirked at him, and his boyfriend looked even sexier with that expression on his face.

“Magic can be very useful.”

Zain used to consider himself an alpha male when it came to sex. He certainly didn’t expect to feel even more aroused after being manhandled by Regan. His cock pulsed and leaked even more precum when he and Regan were naked in the blink of an eye.

“Magic again?”

Regan nodded. “Oh, yeah.”

“Fuck! That’s so hot!”

“Glad to know that you approve.”

Zain snorted in amusement. “Tell me, baby. What do you want next?”

Regan blushed, and Zain thought that had to be the most adorably beautiful sight in the entire universe. “I once read something in one of the e-books.”

Zain snickered. “What is it?”

Regan flushed red from the tips of his ears all the way down to his chest. “Can I s-sit on your face? I mean, you don’t have to agree if you don’t want me to—whoa! Zain, a little warning?”

Zain had lifted Regan off his body and planted his boyfriend’s ass right over his face. All he could see now was Regan’s hair and back.

“What next, baby?”

Zain was certain he knew what Regan had in mind, but he wanted to tease his boyfriend for a bit longer.

“You know w-what I want.”

“I can’t read your mind, babe.”

Regan huffed loudly. “Stick y-your tongue out a-and lick m-my ass.”