Elias zapped him a third time. His thigh tingled. The muscles vibrated. And surprisingly, his cock began to fill.

  Elias’s gaze fixed on his cock. “Well? What do you think?”

  “It’s … strange,” Gerard said. “It’s not like … well, the other time when …” When he’d been hit by lightning and almost killed. That had just been agony. This felt nothing like that. “It feels like my body is … awakening.”

  “And do you like it?”

  Gerard considered. “Not sure. Maybe.” His cock seemed to like it.

  Elias stroked his legs, a feather-like touch. “Do you want me to continue?”

  Surprisingly, Gerard realised he did. He wanted to feel more of that strange sensation across his skin. He wanted Elias to keep going. To see more of his magic at work. “I do.”

  “Okay. But let me know if you want me to stop or pause.” Elias stared down at him.

  “I can do that.”

  “Good.” Then Elias lifted his hand back slightly. The lightning zapped. The flash illuminated the room.

  Gerard gasped. Elias pressed both his hands down onto Gerard’s legs, running them over his thighs. They crackled, and Gerard’s skin tingled everywhere Elias touched. Gerard squirmed. Lightning sparkled along Elias’s fingers, casting his face in a pale light.

  Gerard groaned at the sensation. His breathing came heavier. And faster. His heart raced. His dick had filled to complete hardness once again, throbbing each time Elias jolted him.

  Gerard had never felt anything like this. His muscles buzzed. Elias’s hands glided up and down, now alternating between zapping and just caressing with smooth touches.

  Gerard breathed heavily. He tensed, not knowing when the tingling would come.

  Pulses of electricity vibrated through his nerves. Gerard’s cock dribbled pre-cum.

  Elias’s hands drifted up, moving closer and closer to his groin. Then he wrapped his hand around Gerard’s balls. “Want to feel it here?”

  “Yes,” Gerard answered without any hesitation.

  Gerard cried out, body arching, as electricity pulsed through his balls. They pulled in tight. Gerard’s face scrunched up as his cock throbbed and more pre-cum spilled. Meanwhile, the tingling sensation travelled across his torso, up his neck, and across the right side of his face.

  He gasped.

  The electricity stopped. Elias released his balls and reached for Gerard’s cock. He stroked up and down, his movements fluid and his grip tight. “And do you want to feel it here, Dragon Warrior?”

  Gerard immediately nodded. Electricity buzzed through his dick as Elias stroked him. Gerard gasped. His legs kicked out. His mouth fell open. More spurts of pre-cum splattered on his stomach and down the sides of his dick.

  “Fuck!” Gerard was close. He clutched the sheets, fingers digging in as the pleasure spiralled higher and higher. His gut clenched. “Stop!”

  The lightning stopped. Elias’s hand stilled. But he didn’t release Gerard’s cock. “You okay?”

  “Yes.” Gerard nodded, gulping in air. “But I want to fuck you.”

  Elias smiled.

  Chapter

  Forty

  Gerard grabbed Elias by the waist and flipped him on his back, splaying him out before Gerard.

  He leaned over and picked up the vial of oil on the stand by the bed. He pulled out the cork. The scent of almond oil filled his nostrils. He slicked his fingers. Then he reached for Elias’s hole.

  Elias spread his legs, gripping his inner thighs with his hands and pulling them wide. Gerard shoved two fingers deep. Elias moaned, eyelids fluttering. Gerard stretched Elias, scissoring his fingers.

  “Fuck!” Elias cried out.

  Gerard added a third finger.

  “Gerard! Oh. I’m ready! I’m so fucking ready for your dick!” Elias clenched around his fingers. “Please fuck me! Please fuck me now!”

  Gerard tugged his digits free. How could he resist such a plea? He slathered his cock in oil and positioned himself at Elias’s entrance. Elias gazed up at him, pupils dilated, almost swallowing the violet of his eyes.

  Gerard thrust. Hot, tight heat engulfed his length. Elias’s head tilted back. He groaned, long and loud. He wrapped his legs around Gerard’s waist, locking them together. Gerard captured his still-groaning mouth in a kiss. Gerard revelled in the feel of being surrounded by Elias.

  Elias’s mouth moved against his. Their tongues entwined. Elias slid his hand up and gripped the back of Gerard’s neck.

  Gerard rocked. Elias gasped. Elias’s cock lay trapped between them. Gerard slid back, his cock leaving Elias’s body. The cool air brushed his length. He pulled out until just the head remained inside Elias. He thrust. Elias whimpered.

  Gerard began a slow and steady rhythm, thrusting in and out of his husband’s body. Elias’s hands drifted down, gripping Gerard’s arse cheeks as he murmured and moaned.

  Lightning prickled along Gerard’s skin.

  Gerard broke the kiss.

  “Was that okay?” Elias asked, voice ragged.

  Gerard nodded. “Just surprised.”

  “Let me know if it’s too much.” Then he pressed his mouth to Gerard’s.

  They kissed, and Gerard fucked Elias, pulling out before shoving deep inside him. His knees rubbed against the sheets, pushing against them as he filled Elias over and over. Mouths slid sloppily together, breaking apart briefly to suck in air, before fusing once more.

  Elias’s magic hands drifted across Gerard’s thighs and arse, pulsing and tingling and zapping. The hair on Gerard’s thighs stood. His skin buzzed. His balls pulled in tight.

  Moaning, he shoved deep into Elias, overwhelmed by the sensations. He angled his hips, aiming for that magic nub deep inside Elias. Elias cried out, letting Gerard know when he had hit the mark.

  Elias’s cock leaked pre-cum between them as their bodies rubbed against it.

  “Gerard! Oh! Fuck!” His fingers on Gerard’s arse tightened. The tingling intensified. “Gerard!”

  Gerard’s fingers dug into Elias’s skin. His hips snapped, dick filling Elias over and over as he increased his speed. He grunted with each thrust.

  “I’m close! So close.” Elias threw back his head. “Gerard!” Hot cum splattered between them. Elias’s inner muscles squeezed Gerard’s cock.

  The prickling spread from Elias’s hands across Gerard’s arse, into his balls and cock. His chest and face tingled too.

  Gerard gasped. His dick jerked. It was too much all at once. He shoved deep one more time. Elias’s spasming channel milked his dick. Gerard cried out and shuddered as he came, filling Elias with his spend.

  The tingling stopped. Elias’s hands slackened. The pleasure ebbed from Gerard’s body. Slowly they disentangled. Gerard collapsed on the bed beside him. They breathed heavily. Gerard closed his eyes.

  The bed shifted beside him, and then a hand pressed against Gerard’s chest. He opened his eyes.

  Elias leaned over him. “Well? What did you think?”

  Gerard laughed. “I think you zapped all the cum from my balls. I’m going to struggle to come again soon.”

  Elias pressed a kiss to his lips. “I’ll give you thirty minutes.”

  Gerard slid his hand around Elias’s neck and pulled him down to kiss him more thoroughly. Elias melted against him. When the kiss broke, Elias rested his head on Gerard’s chest. He slid his arms around Gerard’s waist.

  Gerard stroked Elias’s back, staring at the canopy hanging above them.

  “So you really enjoyed it?” Elias asked.

  “I did. Honestly, I’m surprised at how much.”

  “I’m glad.” Elias squeezed him. “I’d never do it on your chest. Your heart is there, and I don’t think zapping that is a good idea.”

  “Makes sense.”

  “And I never use it on the head. I’m not sure if it would cause harm. But I’m not sure how my lightning would interfere with someone’s brain or eyes—” Elias cut himself off. He tensed.

  Gerard pressed a kiss to his forehead. “Yes. I can attest that eyes can be damaged by lightning strikes.”

  Elias’s body relaxed against Gerard’s. He snuggled close. “Well, the amount that damaged your eye was a lot more than I just used.” He paused. “I mean, it would have had to have been a lot more to do the damage it did.”

  “Yes. It definitely was a lot more.” After the attack, he’d lost sight in both his eyes. But at least one had recovered.

  Elias hesitated. “And my zapping … it didn’t remind you of the attack, did it? That’s why I’ve never done it previously.’”

  Gerard didn’t speak for a moment. He opened his mouth. He closed it. “Yes and no. It didn’t feel anything like the attack, so it didn’t remind me of it in that way. But strangely your magic makes my scars tingle. Anytime you’ve done your little sparkles, my scars tingle.”

  Elias’s body tightened. “What?”

  “Not in a bad way,” Gerard said. “Actually, it’s kind of nice to have them feel so much.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “The scarred skin is rather numb. When I touch it, there is less sensation than when I touch the rest of my body. I wasn’t sure if that was because they’d been inflicted by lightning magic or that was just what normal scars do.”

  Gerard exhaled. “And honestly, I never asked the healers about it. I never really asked them many questions about my scars. Although, they did tell me that scars from lightning magic were different from other scars.”

  He paused. “I’ve not been very good at seeing healers about my scars. After the accident and the initial healing, the healers told me to put a special cream on them in the morning and night and check in with them regularly. I did neither.”

  “Why not?”

  “I don’t like to touch them. Don’t like to look at them. Don’t like to speak of them.”

  In fact, Gerard had never spoken about his scars before. Not willingly. Not even with Senta. He’d only spoken with the healers and only because he’d been forced to. But with Elias, their naked bodies tangled together, Gerard found the words flowing.

  “Eventually a healer in Draconia, under my father’s authority, forced me to check in with her. She tsked a lot and said that I needed to look after the scars better or they’d heal poorly and that would impact me in both my human and dragon form. So I use the cream, and I see her regularly now.”

  Elias didn’t speak for several long minutes. “I’m sorry the scars bother you so much.”

  Gerard thought for a moment. “Honestly, it’s not really the scars.” He paused. “It’s more how everyone reacts to them. After the attack, everyone looked at me so differently. Or they didn’t look at me at all. It was clear that my face repulsed them. And they hadn’t even seen the marks on the rest of my body.”

  Elias reached out and took his hand, gripping it tight.

  “Whenever I was in public, I could feel everyone staring at me. I could hear their whispers.” Gerard’s jaw tensed. “Before, I was used to respect, even admiration, in others’ gazes. But suddenly everyone pitied and was disgusted by me.”

  “I’m so sorry, Gerard. I’m so sorry for what was done to you.” Elias opened his mouth. Then he shook his head. “I’m just so sorry. I really am.” He sounded so dismayed.

  Gerard frowned. Did Elias feel guilty because it was a fellow Voltarian who had done this to him?

  “I don’t blame anyone. Not even the archmage. It was war,” Gerard said. “It happens. I never hesitated to kill or maim a Voltarian sorcerer. At every opportunity, I breathed dragonfire on the lot of them.”

  “Still, I’m sorry.” Elias’s fingers stroked the back of Gerard’s hand. “Sometimes, I look at your scars. Does it bother you when I do that? Do you want me to stop?”

  “If you are looking at me, it would be hard not to look at them,” Gerard pointed out. After all, they covered half his face and a large part of his body.

  “I could still try if it makes you uncomfortable,” Elias said softly.

  Gerard shook his head. “When you look at me, you’d don’t look at me with disgust. Honestly, I don’t know how you do it. I can’t look at myself in the mirror without being repulsed.”

  Elias met Gerard’s gaze. “I can look at you because I do not see the scars as disgusting. Nor repulsive. I find them quite the opposite. They showed you survived something. They show you are strong. There is nothing ugly about that. Honestly, I find them quite appealing.”

  Gerard pressed his lips together, struggling to believe Elias’s words. How could Elias not find them at least somewhat off-putting?

  “So do all lovers of lightning sorcerers get to enjoy that sort of sexual stimulation?” Gerard asked.

  Elias shook his head. “No. Sorcerers aren’t great at controlling their lightning by themselves. If they lost control in the bedroom, they could end up killing or injuring their partner. Which would definitely make the sex less enjoyable.”

  Elias lowered his head. “I can only do it because I have so little magic power. So I don’t have to worry about being in control of it. I just unleash all my magic and never have to worry about killing or hurting anyone.”

  Gerard’s brows furrowed. But Elias seemed to have some control of his magic. After all, he varied the strengths of the zaps. Or Gerard had thought he had.

  Then Elias draped his naked body over Gerard’s. He gripped Gerard’s face and kissed him, tongue delving into his mouth. Gerard wrapped his arms around Elias, and he could think of nothing else but the beautiful man in his arms.

  Chapter

  Forty-One

  Gerard sipped his wine. He yawned as he sank into the cushions.

  Elias sat opposite him, plucking at the strings of his lyre. The late afternoon sunlight filtered in through the window of his bedroom, falling on Elias, bathing him in a gentle golden light.

  “One theory is that the magic used by nature mages, earth elementals, and wind and lightning sorcerers all have the same source.” Elias’s fingers moved fluidly as he spoke.

  Gerard watched, hypnotised by Elias’s playing. “Really?”

  Elias nodded. “It is believed that individuals are born with a certain level of ability in elemental power. But the way that elemental magic develops and is expressed is influenced by how one is trained.”

  A few days ago, Elias had moved his belongings into Gerard’s room. He’d also requested a room for Colette, which of course Gerard had arranged.

  Colette had been excited to be in one of the rooms assigned to the Draconian royal family. But her excitement had dimmed somewhat when she realised Lord Wolf was not a part of the royal family and thus would not be in the same quarters as her.

  Gerard gazed at Elias as he drank his wine. He liked having Elias in his room. Not only could he be certain that Elias was properly protected, but he found the man surprisingly easy to live with.

  And living together meant he could spend his evenings admiring his husband and the skills he’d not known he’d had, like playing the lyre, singing, and reciting extensive knowledge on magic theory. That last one had been particularly surprising. And something Gerard had never given much thought to.

  “So for example, earth elementals spend a great deal of time in temples, training and feeling at one with the rock and so forth. That’s how they develop their powers.” Elias didn’t glance at the strings as he played a light melody.

  “Nature mages are similar. They spend a lot of time communing with nature in forests, developing their abilities that way. For the nature mages and earth elementals, it is all about feel and connection. Which is why when you damage their temples, mountains, forests, and nature, their powers dwindle.

  “But wind and lightning sorcerers train by studying and practicing. Lots and lots of reading books and lots and lots of drills.”

  Not for the first time, Gerard marvelled at how incorrectly he’d read Elias initially. In fact, it seemed everyone misread Elias. They all thought Elias a naive fool. But Gerard knew better now.

  He had made a couple of attempts to correct his family. He had even mentioned that Elias had an extensive collection of books on magical theory and history. But they’d disregarded his comments, assuming Elias only had those books for aesthetic purposes or some other silly reason. They didn’t trust Gerard’s opinion, since they thought him besotted.

  “So what you’re saying is that a lightning sorcerer could have been a wind sorcerer or nature mage, but because they studied lightning sorcery, that is what they do now?” Gerard asked.

  Elias nodded. “That’s the belief. Although, it’s also thought that exposure to that form of magic from a young age also has an impact.

  “However, although it is thought that initially a person with elemental magical ability has the potential to learn the different forms of magic, once that individual has started on a specific path, they become unable to change or use other forms of magic.”

  “What do you mean?” Gerard asked. Honestly, he sometimes felt so out of his depth when talking to Elias.

  “Have you ever met anyone who can do wind and lightning sorcery? Or an earth elemental who was also a nature mage?”

  Gerard shook his head.

  “Quite a few have attempted it, you know. Especially when they have parents with different forms of magic. Actually, there was a time when quite a few individuals in Voltaria and Zephyrias attempted to learn both wind and lightning sorcery.”

  “What happened?”

  Elias’s fingers moved faster on the strings. The melody quickened. “For most individuals, they just couldn’t learn more than one. The one they started with was all they had. But for those who did manage both, they just ended up extremely weak at both forms of magic. As a result, learning more than one type of magic is generally no longer attempted.”

  Elias tilted his head. “It’s like the body can only handle one form of output of their power. Like it gets confused if you try more than one. So an individual must choose a single path. Once they do, the other forms of magic are lost to them. And the idea that it’s all the same source is supported by the fact that we all develop our ability to cast magic around puberty.”