Skylar pushed the door to the cabin closed behind Tyler, ignoring the ache in his body. His brother was so close to him that he could practically feel his breath on his skin. It was uncomfortable. But he knew better than to say anything about it now. Give him whatever he asks for. That’s what Venus had told him.
“Why don’t you go take a shower?” Skylar suggested, eyes ticking to the stairs. “I’ll come up with some antiseptic and see how bad those cuts are once the blood and dirt are all off your face. And we’ll treat them as we need to, okay?”
Nodding, Tyler forced his body away from Skylar and headed up the steps. He wasn’t quite sure how to feel. Skylar had seemed like he was mad when he first showed up at the main building. But then he’d talked to Venus. And now, he seemed like he was okay. Not necessarily good, but he seemed okay.
And that was the part that scared Tyler the most. He could feel his brother slipping away emotionally, and it was terrifying. After everything he’d just gone through to break down the barriers between them, now Skylar was going to add a new one?! It made no sense! And Tyler couldn’t allow it to happen. He needed to fix it before it became an issue.
His shower was short. He didn’t waste time enjoying the hot water like he usually did. Instead, he cleaned the dirt, blood and grime off his skin and promptly got out. For a second, he thought about not using a towel and just heading into the bedroom, but he thought better of it. He needed to test the waters first.
Once the towel was wrapped around his waist, Tyler headed into the bedroom. Skylar was sitting on the bed with the first aid kit open, studying the contents like he was going to be quizzed on it later. When he sat down on the bed, he didn’t miss the way his brother flinched. He was scared of him. “You’re…afraid of me?”
Immediately, Skylar’s eyes widened. “No,” he answered, too quickly. He realized his mistake almost immediately when Tyler’s brows knit and a deep frown marred his features.
“You’re lying,” Tyler accused, his voice so confident that it left no room for arguement. He knew Skylar better than anyone. And he could tell when he was lying. He could tell when he was scared. When he was happy. When he was sad. He knew everything about him.
Silly of him to believe that he could lie to the other man. Tyler had made it his job recently to know everything about Skylar. “I’m not afraid of you,” Skylar insisted, forcing himself to meet his brother’s glowing eyes. “I’m just tired.”
For several painful seconds, Tyler studied him. His head tilted to the side as if he was trying to understand basic human emotion. Then, his expression softened. “You don’t have to be afraid of me, Sky,” Tyler assured his brother. “I would never hurt you. I love you.”
This time when Tyler reached for him, Skylar forced himself not to react. “I know,” he assured him, nodding. “I love you too.” And wasn’t that just the tragedy of this whole situation. “Uh…let me look at you here.”
His hand moved to Tyler’s chin, turning his head to the left, then the right as he examined the scrapes and scratches littering his cheeks. They were all superficial — they didn’t need any medical attention. However, there was a large gash on Tyler’s left hand that needed to be at the very least bandaged. “Does it hurt?” he asked without thinking, kicking himself mentally after the fact because he already knew the answer. Tyler didn’t feel pain.
“No,” Tyler answered, watching as Skylar wrapped the white gauze around his palm and then over the back of his hand. He repeated the action a few times before moving up Tyler’s body to his wrist, securing the bandage there with a piece of medical tape. It reminded him of the night he’d come back from the grave and Skylar had wrapped his hands where his knuckles had broken open.
That night seemed like so long ago now. Though, it had only been a few months. But this was different. Skylar wasn’t using the same care. He didn’t have that same look in his eyes. His body wasn’t as relaxed. He wasn’t as…relieved as he had been that night. The vast difference made Tyler’s chest ache. He needed to get that back.
Once Skylar finished bandaging his hand, he moved the first aid kit off the bed. Tyler’s hand shot out to grip his wrist, making sure he didn’t leave. “Are you mad at me?” he asked, his bright eyes locked on Skylar, studying him for any signs of dishonesty.
When Skylar told him no, Tyler accepted the answer, relaxing his grip just a bit. It wasn’t enough. Tyler still felt like he was being pulled apart. Like their bond wasn’t intact. “Do…you still love me?” he asked, biting into his bottom lip so hard he thought he was going to draw blood.
Pain blossomed in his chest at how small Tyler’s voice seemed. “Of course I do,” he answered. And it wasn’t a lie. Tyler was his brother. His twin. There was nothing on this Earth that was going to make Skylar not feel love toward him. The only problem was that he had a feeling they were talking about two different kinds of love. And that was the fine line Skylar was walking right now.
Relief flooded through him when Skylar answered the question. It was absolute. Almost like Skylar was shocked he’d even ask that question. But he needed to know for sure. Slowly, he released Skylar’s wrist, his hand moving to press against Skylar’s knee instead. “So…we’re okay?” he asked, his eyes dropping to Skylar’s lips briefly before locking on his eyes once more.
He felt like prey about to be caught. Were they okay? No, absolutely not. But what was he supposed to do?! Venus had given him clear instructions not to piss Tyler off. To give him whatever he wanted. To reward him for this behavior. Just like he’d done every time in the past. Just like he’d taught Tyler to expect. “We’re fine, Ty. Please, just stop asking.”
Again, Tyler relaxed. They were fine. But he still didn’t feel it the way he usually did. “Okay,” he answered. His eyes dropped to where his hand was resting on Skylar’s knee, his fingers twitching against his brother’s jeans. “Will you…lay down with me? You said you were tired. We can just…relax.”
Skylar stared at him for a long time. He could say no. He wanted to say no. But the warning he’d received from Venus sat heavily in the back of his mind — a constant reminder that things had shifted and his decisions were likely not his own any longer. Do whatever he asks of you.
So, he did just that. “Okay,” he finally whispered. It took everything he had in him to force his body to move. Tyler had moved immediately. Almost before the whispered word had even left his lips fully. Skylar took longer to get into position, his body seeming to physically fight him on this.
The mattress felt hard under his back when he finally managed to lie down. He didn’t even have time to think before Tyler was in his arms. One pale, thin hand rested on his chest, right over his heart. It was like Tyler just considered that his spot now. Tyler’s head rested on Skylar’s shoulder, lips brushing over the fabric of his T-shirt, dampening the cotton.
As soon as Skylar was lying down, Tyler felt better. He could feel the steady heartbeat beneath his palm, grounding him. “This is my shirt,” Tyler observed, a small smile coming to his lips at the realization. When Skylar merely muttered yeah, Tyler pressed himself closer, nosing along Skylar’s shoulder to the collar of his shirt, then upward even further. “I like it when you wear my clothes.”
“I know,” Skylar mumbled, trying with everything in him not to push Tyler away from him. He knew what was coming. He didn’t know exactly what Tyler would ask for this time, but he knew he was about to escalate this situation. And he was powerless to stop it. “Ty,” he breathed softly when his brother wedged his leg between Skylar’s, wrapping his body around him like a serpent coiling around its next meal.
His jaw clenched when Tyler’s teeth grazed the faint bruise on his neck. His brother didn’t bite down again. There was no need to — Tyler already felt like he owned him now. A low, desperate moan escaped Tyler as he pulled Skylar closer to him, leaving absolutely no space between them.
When Tyler spoke again, his voice was low, lips brushing along Skylar’s ear because he was so close to him. “I want you,” he pleaded, his body rubbing against Skylar on its own accord. “Please…I-I need you.”
Need — the word settled heavily in Skylar’s chest. Tyler had said it before, many times. But tonight, it sounded different. Desperate. Almost frightened. Skylar’s eyes squeezed closed. He didn’t want this. But Venus’ warning echoed in his mind again. So, he swallowed the panic rising in his throat and forced himself to answer. “Okay. I know.”
It was like something inside of Tyler broke when his brother answered. “Please?” he whispered, not sure whether to take Skylar’s answer as permission or not. “I need you, Sky, please? I feel like I’m on fire.” His lips crushed against Skylar’s, tongue forcing its way between Skylar’s lips to map out the inside of his mouth.
Only when he needed air did he break the kiss, their breaths panting into each other’s mouths because they were so close. His fingers reached for the hem of the gray T-shirt separating them. Slowly, he pulled the shirt off Skylar’s body, his eyes wide as he realized that Skylar wasn’t stopping him.
For a moment, Tyler simply stared at him. There was no resistance. No argument. No attempt to pull away. Relief washed over him so quickly it almost made him dizzy. Maybe everything really was okay. Maybe Skylar had finally stopped fighting what they both wanted. “C-Can I? Please…I need…I need you.”
He was really going to make him say it. He was going to make him utter the words. Make him give his permission. Skylar felt bile rise in the back of his throat at this realization. But he knew he didn’t have a choice. Venus had been very clear. He needed to do whatever Tyler wanted until she came back and explained all of this to him. “Y-Yes,” he answered, clearing his throat. “Just…take what you need.”
As soon as he had explicit permission, Tyler surged forward, crushing his lips against Skylar’s once more. His hands roamed over the exposed flesh of his chest and abdomen, moaning softly into his brother’s mouth. “Kiss me back,” he whispered, his tone pleading as his fingers carded through Skylar’s hair.
Tyler’s words solidified the fear that he wasn’t going to be able to fake his way through this. Tyler knew him too well. He could tell that Skylar wasn’t into it. And for some reason, it mattered more than it had when he’d given him the blowjob. And in that moment, he knew what he had to do.
Slowly, he reached for Tyler, his fingers carding through his brother’s hair as his free hand came up to grip Tyler’s jaw, forcing him to look at him. Their eyes locked, Skylar seeing nothing but raw, intense emotion behind Tyler’s eyes. He truly did need him. And this was the moment Venus had warned him about. He needed to make a choice. Only, it had never been a choice — not really.
“I’m so sorry,” Skylar whispered, a single tear sliding down his cheek. He didn’t allow Tyler to ask any follow up questions. Honestly, he was too afraid of what they would be. Instead, he jerked Tyler’s head forward using the grip he had on his hair and slammed their lips together once more.
A shocked moan escaped Tyler when Skylar kissed him. But he didn’t allow himself to dwell in it for long. Instead, he shoved Skylar’s shoulder, pushing him back against the bed as he crawled to straddle his lap. His hands moved to the button on Skylar’s jeans, unfastening it with skilled movements before he slipped his hand inside his brother’s pants. He wasn’t hard. But Tyler planned to rectify that.
His lips trailed across Skylar’s mouth, pressing hot, wet kisses along his cheek, then his jaw, then down the long line of his neck. He continued working his way down Skylar’s body until he was able to grip the waistband of Skylar’s jeans and boxers, tugging them down to his knees in one go before he started kissing his way back up toward Skylar’s ear. “Take them off,” he muttered once he was close enough for him to hear, taking Skylar’s earlobe between his teeth and biting gently.
Skylar did as he was told, kicking the remaining clothing off his body, leaving him only in socks. He swallowed thickly when Tyler started rubbing against him again, his body responding against his will, just as it had the other night. His fingers tightened in Tyler’s hair, his eyes squeezed tightly shut as his brother moaned his name.
“I want you inside me,” Tyler moaned, his words a breathy whisper. His movements became desperate, Tyler needing more as every second passed. “Please, Sky, I-I need…more. Please?” He rubbed his body against every inch of Skylar he could reach, almost like he was trying to get inside his body so there was absolutely no space between them.
His cock was rock hard between them, unable to resist Tyler’s attention regardless of who he was. “L-Lube,” he stuttered, almost as an afterthought. He didn’t know much about the mechanics of sex between two men, but he knew enough to know that lubricant was not an option. And unlike a woman, Tyler wasn’t going to produce his own. “M’not gonna hurt you.”
A small whine escaped Tyler’s throat as his lips closed over one of Skylar’s peaked nipples. “I don’t feel pain,” Tyler argued, teeth scraping along Skylar’s pecs and down the center of his chest to his abdomen. “You’re not going to hurt me.”
It took everything in Skylar not to roll his eyes. “Just because you don’t feel it doesn’t mean your body doesn’t suffer,” he explained, not willing to budge on this. His eyes ticked to the first aid kit on the nightstand. He’d seen a small jar of vaseline in there — that would have to do the trick.
As soon as he had the vaseline in hand, Tyler scooped out a generous glob, lubing up his fingers well. The last time he’d had something inside him, he’d only used spit, so this was a nice change. He started with one finger, thrusting the digit rhythmically as he attacked Skylar’s mouth once more.
When he could scissor three fingers inside of himself without much resistance, Tyler pulled his hand away from himself. He reached for the vaseline again, scooping another small glob into his hand before he wrapped his fingers around Skylar’s cock. “Happy now?” he asked, a teasing smirk pulling at his lips. “Can I have you inside me now?”
Instead of answering outright, Skylar gripped Tyler’s hips, positioning the other man over his achingly hard cock. Tyler helped him maneuver their bodies so that they were in a comfortable spot. Tyler straddled Skylar’s hips, one hand pressed against his chest, right over his heart, as his other hand gripped the back of Skylar’s hair, holding him in place so he couldn’t look away.
Tyler wasted no time lowering himself onto Skylar’s dick, the vaseline making the process impossibly smooth. Tyler’s eyes slipped closed, his face an expression of pure ecstasy as his ass sat flush against Skylar’s hips, his movements stilling for just a minute. He remembered from his research that it was always a good idea to hold here — revel in the moment before picking up momentum again. And he wanted to make this as good for Skylar as he possibly could.
It felt good. Amazing, even. And Skylar hated himself for thinking like that. This was his brother. He was sick. But he was human! And a man! And as such, his body knew what it liked, and it didn’t care who was giving it to him, apparently. His fingers dug into Tyler’s hips, probably leaving bruises as he tried to detach himself from what was actually happening in this bed.
Slowly, after a few seconds, Tyler used his hand on Skylar’s chest and his knees pressed against the mattress to help guide his movements as he started to ride his brother. “Ungh…” he breathed, biting into his bottom lip to stifle some of the more embarrassing noises threatening to escape his throat. “Mine…Sky, you’re mine.”
“Fuck…” Skylar breathed, unable to hold it back. For someone who had never done this before, Tyler sure as hell knew what he was doing! His body was reacting faster than it ever had to sex before. Skylar wasn’t sure if that was good or bad. Quick meant less time to think, but it also meant he couldn’t help but ask himself why? This was his brother? Why was he reacting this way?! “Stop talking.”
For a second, Tyler looked devastated. Skylar hadn’t accepted his claim. Was he regretting this, even as it happened? Was his mind somewhere else? With someone else? No — he’d taken care of that. Skylar was his. Only his!
Without giving Tyler a chance to say anything else, Skylar lurched forward and crushed their lips together. That would shut him the hell up. Tyler’s tongue immediately sought access, which Skylar allowed, his own tongue dancing with Tyler’s for dominance.
Tyler tugged on Skylar’s hair, pulling his head to the side as he dragged his lips over his cheek and down his neck. He bit into the sensitive flesh where the bruise from the last bite was still healing, leaving another purple bite mark.
When Tyler bit him again, Skylar’s eyes snapped open. Anger bubbled up deep inside his chest just as it had the last time. One hand moved to the back of Tyler’s head, yanking his back by the hair as his other hand moved to press between Tyler’s shoulder blades. He’d done that on purpose. Like some sick way of marking his territory.
“Don’t fucking bite me,” Skylar ground out, hissing softly when Tyler swiveled his hips above him. His fingers against Tyler’s back gripped tighter, his nails dragging along his brother’s skin as he felt heat pooling low in his belly. “Fuck…m’gonna…fuck, m’gonna cum.”
Another deep moan escaped Tyler at his brother’s words. “Yeah?” he breathed, his own orgasm threatening to rip through him just at Skylar’s admission. “Do it. I want you to.” He leaned down again, tongue teasing Skylar’s taut nipple while his fingers pinched at its twin. “Cum for me, Sky.”
It was as if his body was waiting for permission. And as soon as he had that permission, it was like a dam had burst as his orgasm ripped through him. His back arched off the bed and he gripped Tyler tighter, pulling him impossibly closer as he spilled his seed inside his brother’s body. Only then did he realize that they hadn’t even used a condom.
As soon as Skylar came, Tyler tumbled over the edge with him, his body tightening around Skylar’s sensitive cock, dragging the last few drops of sperm from his spent member. Tyler’s cum splashed onto Skylar’s stomach, his body burning with the knowledge of what they had done.
His spent cock slipped out of Tyler as the other man slumped forward, lips pressing into the hollow of Skylar’s throat as both of their breaths panted out of them. Skylar’s eyes slipped closed for just a second, his mind trying to focus on anything other than the reality that he’d fucked his brother.
Brother. Skylar wasn’t even sure he knew what the word meant anymore. He’d spent months trying to keep Tyler happy. Trying to make sure his anxiety was in check. Trying to make sure he wasn’t spiraling. Trying to save him. But in all of the day-to-day, Skylar had lost himself. Venus had asked what his breaking point would be, and honestly, even now, Skylar didn’t know the answer.
Suddenly, the door burst open and a woman walked through the door. Tyler rolled onto his back, frowning slightly at the new arrival. “Venus?” he asked, brows knit in confusion. He pushed himself to his feet, not caring enough to hide his nakedness as he walked toward the woman. “What are you doing here?”
Seeing Tyler get off the bed, Skylar quickly moved to do the same. Unlike his brother, Skylar quickly pulled on his boxers to cover his nudity, then immediately started moving toward Tyler. He could tell his brother was pissed off. The hard lines of his back and the tension in his shoulders were proof of that. And after what had happened to Jessie, Skylar wasn’t about to take any more chances. “Tyler,” he bit out, his tone full of warning.
Just as Tyler reached her, Venus pressed two fingers to his forehead. Her glowing green eyes flashed brighter for a split second before Tyler’s body went limp. Thankfully, Skylar was close enough to catch his brother, the impact knocking them both back onto the bed.
His eyes snapped up to Venus, wide with shock. “What the hell did you just do?” he asked. Tyler was still breathing — slowly, but that was his new normal since the ritual. But he didn’t sleep. He hadn’t since he came back. Why was now any different?
“Magic,” Venus answered. “He will be fine. It won’t affect him long. But you and I need to talk…alone, Skylar Briggs.” She wasn’t sure how long Tyler would be out. Usually, she didn’t get involved this deeply with the people she helped resurrect their loved ones. This was uncharted territory for her.
As carefully as he could, Skylar laid Tyler on the bed, making sure his cheek was pressed against the pillow that he had just been laying on. Not that the whole bed didn’t smell like him — like them — but having an extra layer didn’t hurt. His eyes landed on Tyler’s back, Skylar’s cheeks burning with embarrassment when he saw the long scratches starting from his shoulder and going down to the center of his back.
He allowed Venus to lead the way down the steps and out the front door. He figured she wanted to put some distance between them in case Tyler woke up, but he couldn’t help but wonder what would happen if Tyler woke up and he wasn’t there. The thought had a chill running down his spine as the door handle snicked behind him.