TRICK WOKE to the feeling of Edwin’s warm breath at the back of his neck and couldn’t help the wide smile that spread across his face. Edwin’s arms were around him, warming him more than his soft blankets. He never wanted to leave the comfort of his bed, maybe ever again, as long as Edwin agreed to stay with him.
The night before had been life-changing in more ways than one. Being with Edwin felt good—right—and Trick had never felt that way about anyone. He’d never planned on feeling this way about anyone either. He’d never realized it, but deep down, he’d pretty much resigned himself to being alone forever, and until Edwin, he thought he’d be fine with that.
But he wouldn’t. He wasn’t willing to give this up for anything. In such a short time, his cobwebbed little heart had been dusted off and he was beginning to feel things—things he didn’t think he’d ever feel.
Edwin shifted behind him, and Trick shuffled, trying to get closer, lining his back up against Edwin’s stomach. He could feel Edwin’s cock stirring against his ass, and he grinned against the pillow, then wiggled a little more than was necessary.
Flashes of the night before played in his head. He remembered the way Edwin responded to him, pleasure washing through him, and the way his hands grappled at Trick, like he couldn’t get close enough. Trick felt the same way. He didn’t think he’d ever get enough of Edwin, and they were only just getting started.
“Are you hungry?” Edwin asked, the words rumbling against Trick’s ear.
“Mmm hmm.”
“We could get breakfast.”
“Sounds good,” Trick replied, surprised by how gravelly his voice sounded. He was hungry. He hadn’t stuck around at the party long enough to actually eat. But there were other things he wanted more than food. “Maybe later, though.”
Flipping over, he settled against Edwin as Edwin’s hands came up and Edwin stroked his thumb against Trick’s cheek. His expression was one of contented amazement. Trick knew how he felt. He still couldn’t totally believe this had all happened to him. It seemed like a dream, and if it was, if Edwin was a different kind of fairy godfather and this was a modern-day repeat of “Sleeping Beauty,” Trick hoped the prince never showed up.
Closing his eyes, Trick leaned forward. He could feel Edwin’s breath against his lips a moment before he closed his mouth over Edwin’s. Thoughts fled with the first touch of Edwin’s tongue against his own.
Trick groaned against Edwin’s mouth, need and heat flaring in his belly. He’d been with other guys, but he’d never felt like this. He was addicted to Edwin, to the way he moved and the way he tasted. Trick would never get enough of how responsive he was, how everything else melted away when they kissed and Trick knew Edwin only saw him.
It was a heady feeling.
Trick wanted to dive in with both feet, but he reined himself in. He didn’t want to push too hard. This was all new for Edwin. Trick knew it was, even if he’d never said anything outright. Trick wasn’t sure how things worked where Edwin came from, but he didn’t want to shatter his innocence.
Well, not completely anyway.
Trick shifted, angling up and rolling Edwin onto his back. Letting Edwin bear his weight, he leaned over him, kissing him and lining their bodies up so Edwin could feel exactly what he was doing to Trick.
Trick kissed along Edwin’s jaw and down the curve of his neck, feeling Edwin’s pulse pounding beneath the tender skin.
“You tell me to stop if this gets to be too much.” Trick spoke the words against Edwin’s throat and he could feel Edwin shiver.
“I trust you.” The words were breathy and filled with desire. Trick continued kissing a path down Edwin’s body, his tongue tracing the grooves of his sternum and down his chest. Trick was sure Edwin wasn’t aware his hips were rocking, the motion subtle but enough that Trick could feel the hardness of Edwin’s erection sliding along his stomach. Bearing down a little harder, he tried to give Edwin the pressure he needed, the friction.
Soon it wouldn’t matter. Trick wanted Edwin in his mouth, coming down his throat. He wanted to hear the sounds Edwin made when his orgasm hit and feel the trembling muscles as he rode out his pleasure.
The more he thought about it, the more impatient he became, but he forced himself to go slowly. This could be Edwin’s first blowjob for all Trick knew, and he wanted to make it good, make it last.
Edwin’s little trail of fur led all the way down to where his cock jutted out, flushed and full. Trick wrapped his fingers around the base with just enough pressure to prop it up. It was thick and veined, and Trick’s mouth watered. He swallowed hard and leaned forward, licking gently around the head.
Edwin hissed, his hips snapping up at the contact, as though he had no control over them.
“Trick….” He panted, but Trick’s name was the only word that made it past his lips.
Trick grinned against Edwin’s shaft as he dragged his lips down the side, just feeling the hardness against him. Edwin’s breathing was becoming labored, and when Trick slid his mouth over him, pulling him as far in as Edwin could go, Edwin stopped breathing completely on a stuttered gasp.
Starting slow, Trick slid Edwin’s cock all the way into his throat before pulling off. He varied the depth and pace of his strokes, taking Edwin as close to the edge as he could before slowing and bringing him down. He wanted to draw it out and keep Edwin on the edge of his orgasm for as long as he could. The payoff would be worth it, and all Trick could think about was how good it would feel when Edwin finally came.
Edwin arched his back, chasing Trick’s mouth as Trick pulled off. Edwin’s fingers fisted the sheets, and Trick caved, pulling Edwin all the way in, sliding his cock down his throat and swallowing. Edwin cried out. His orgasm crested over him and he came, filling Trick’s mouth with his release.
Trick swallowed it all down, gentling his mouth around Edwin’s sensitized flesh, before pulling off and looking up at Edwin. His cheeks were flushed pinker than usual, his lips parted as he breathed hard. His chest rose and fell with each breath, and Trick crawled back up his body, kissing his slack mouth and sharing the taste of him.
It took a moment, but Edwin returned the kiss, remnants of hunger remaining as Trick combed his fingers through Edwin’s sweat-dampened hair.
“That was… I’ve never experienced anything quite like that before, Trick.”
“Was it good?”
“Good Fairy, yes. I didn’t know I could feel like that.” Edwin shifted to look more fully at Trick. “I want to give that to you as well, to make you feel as good as you made me feel.”
Trick leaned in and kissed him again. The thought of Edwin going down on him had his cock achingly hard, but it didn’t feel like the right time. The mood was lazy, and Trick wanted to just enjoy being with Edwin. He wanted to give Edwin time to recover too. There was a lot they still had yet to explore together, but for now, Trick just wanted to lie there with Edwin pressed close.
“I want that too, but later. I just want to hold you for a while, if that’s all right with you.”
Edwin beamed. “It is most definitely all right.”
They lay together for a long while in silence, enjoying the quiet together. It felt like it had been a thousand years since Trick had just stayed in bed all day. Come to think of it, he wasn’t sure he’d ever done that, but after a couple of hours being wrapped up in Edwin, it very well might be his new favorite thing.
“Do you want to go get something to eat?” Trick asked.
“Yes, please.”
Trick hated to leave the warm comfort of his bed, but he really was starving, having put off food much longer than he should have. They could always come back to the naked parts, though.
In fact, Trick was banking on it.
POTIONS & Tonics was one of those “secret” places in Manhattan that everyone knew about. There was no sign adorning the entrance, but its location was widely publicized in travel blogs and online articles, which meant that every tourist visiting the city had it on their list. The last obstacle to getting inside was their requirement that you know the secret phrase (“I solemnly swear I am up to no good”), but considering the familiar words were engraved on a small plaque next to the door, it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure it out.
It was definitely over-the-top, but Trick could appreciate how much effort the owners had put into making it feel authentically wizard. Stepping through the front entrance, carefully hidden between a dumpster and the rear entrance of a Duane Reade, Trick felt like he was actually stepping into a Harry Potter movie.
The place was packed, but the overjoyed expression on Edwin’s face made any wait they had to endure totally worth it.
The interior walls were exposed brick with intricate wrought iron accents everywhere. The bar ran the length of one wall, and behind it, shelves stretched from floor to ceiling. Each one held different bottles, jars, and barrels with antique-looking labels and contents that varied widely in color.
“This place is amazing,” Edwin said, his voice filled with awe.
“I’m glad you like it. It’s been here a couple of years, but I’ve never been. I thought it might be right up your alley, though.”
“It is. Very much so.”
“Is it like what you have back home?”
Edwin considered the question for a moment before he answered. “Some aspects, yes, but there isn’t nearly enough glitter.”
Trick suppressed his laugh, managing to keep a straight face. “I suppose that’s a major difference between fairies and wizards.”
“One of them, yes.”
Trick was about to ask another question when the hostess called his name, letting them know their table was ready. They hadn’t waited nearly as long as Trick thought they would have, and after following the girl through a maze of tables, they were finally seated at a booth near the back.
The hostess set menus in front of them, and Trick glanced down, noticing there were symbols he didn’t recognize. Thankfully, they’d also provided English translations directly beneath each item.
“You didn’t tell me what happened at the party last night,” Edwin said, reaching across the table and slipping his hand around Trick’s. Trick traced lazy circles across Edwin’s palm with his fingertips. He’d never been one for PDAs, but touching Edwin felt necessary, like if he let go for too long, Edwin might slip away.
“I was kind of distracted when I got home.” Trick stared as Edwin’s cheeks colored. Trick fell a little bit harder for him. “The party was incredible. Mrs. Redden outdid herself this year with the choice of caterers, and the hotel was amazing. I have you to thank for that.”
“That was a lucky coincidence.”
“It really was. The party was pretty much perfect, but it wasn’t where I wanted to be. It was a night of realizations for me.”
“What realizations?”
“Firstly, the one you already know about. Preston wasn’t right for me. I walked into that room and he was there, and all I kept thinking was how much I wished you were there instead. So I left to come find you.”
The blush on Edwin’s cheeks amplified.
“I also realized that I want to quit my job.”
“But Trick… that company means so much to you. Your father….”
“My father is gone, and holding on to some imagined connection to him isn’t going to keep me close to him. I’m not honoring his memory by answering e-mails for an egocentric prick.”
Edwin still looked surprised, but he didn’t comment on Trick’s revelation. Still, he felt the need to explain. The thoughts had been so clear in his head the night before, and Trick wanted to hold on to that clarity. Leaving Redden and Sons, theoretically, would be easy. He’d imagined quitting since the first week he started, but he’d also clung to the idea that one day he would be a partner in the company. Giving up a goal so tightly held would probably be more difficult than Trick even realized now.
“Redden stood up, and he was making this speech. He was as pompous as usual, but something about his tone made me think, and I realized how far removed my father actually is from the company as it stands now.”
“What do you mean?”
“Everything about the firm is different than it used to be when my father was alive. Redden is different. They were friends—best friends. They went to school together, and my dad was the one who suggested they open the company as partners. Redden was his first choice, and I know my dad. His decision to go into business with Redden wasn’t something he would have made lightly, and it wasn’t something he would have done if Redden wasn’t more than just a good architect.”
Trick sat back, staring at the table as memories of his father flooded in. Edwin curled his fingers around Trick’s, squeezing tight. Trick was grateful for the contact. Edwin’s touch was comforting and warm, and he knew Edwin was listening to every word, processing and trying to understand. It erased all of Trick’s feelings of loneliness and replaced them with love and hope.
“My father told me stories about the projects they worked on when they first started out. I truly believe that the money and the greed went to Redden’s head. He wasn’t always the way he is now.”
“That’s unfortunate. Do you believe he’s capable of changing, of becoming a better person?”
Trick pressed a small kiss against the underside of Edwin’s wrist. Even that scant contact soothed the barbs that rose in his chest. “I don’t know. Maybe this is selfish, but I don’t really want to wait around to find out. I can do better than being a stand-in for the receptionist he’s too cheap to hire.”
“You can do great things,” Edwin assured him, and on any other day, from any other person, Trick would have dismissed it, but in that moment, after everything that had happened, Trick believed him.
“I think so too. That’s why I’ve decided that first thing Monday morning, I’m quitting.”
Edwin grinned at him, and any lingering apprehension Trick harbored evaporated. “I think that is an excellent idea.”
“I hope so. I’ve never been without a job. The money I was saving to use to buy into the firm can be used to start up my own, but I have no idea how to go about that. I have no idea how much money I’ll need or how long the business will run in the red. I do know architecture, though, so hopefully that will count for something and I won’t end up bankrupt in the first year.”
“I believe in you. I knew from the moment I met you that you were special. I know you can do this.”
Guilt prickled at the back of Trick’s neck. How was it that Edwin knew right away, but it had taken Trick so long to see what was right in front of him? Maybe he was a bit thick. He hadn’t realized how special Edwin was, or what Redden had done to his father’s company. At least he had recognized it eventually, though, right? That was something at least.
“I’m glad I found you,” Trick said finally.
“I’m glad too.”