Domini Moonbeam

House of Teeth Series - Modern Fantasy Romances

Ruby and the Wolf. Ruby/Liang - short story. published

Bite to Bruise. Wren/Ever - in editing

Hyacinth in the Garden. Aravi/Hyacinth - editing

Bite to Break. - writing

Defying Gravity Series - Sci Fi Romances

Found Between Stars. Josephine/Atlas - published

Cosmic Dust. Ghazi/Amaya/Tetsu - published

Stargazing Underground. Verona/Iris - published

To The Edge. Stardust/Cosmic - editing

Galaxies Lost. June/Khan/Mehdi - outlined

Everton Series - Contemporary Romances

Doors. Noelle/Levi - published

With a Halo. Kelly/Bennet - published

Don't Touch My Stuff. August/Aurelio - published

Honest Liars - Mobster Romances

Had he really just ruined the best relationship he’d ever had? He Tian was his friend. Yes, they’d messed around a handful of times over the years, but they hadn’t been friends-with-benefits. They’d been friends, always and before anything else. Now? Now this man was spooning him in his luxury apartment. Fuck. Fuckfuckfuck.

The arm around him squeezed and then loosened a little. “You’re thinking so loudly…” He Tian complained, voice a grumble against the back of his hair.

Xi felt the weight of this moment. Whatever he said next would define a part of them forever. He could destroy everything if he said the wrong thing. And everything that pushed to the tip of his tongue felt like the wrong thing. “You don’t own me,” was the first blade pushing against the back of his teeth. “You brought me here to entertain your window friends, you don’t need to pretend when they’re not looking,” felt jagged when he swallowed it back. Was he resentful now? He had wanted this. He had loved it. And now? Now he wanted to blow up the moment and run from the fallout.

What the fuck was wrong with him?

He always did this.

He didn’t just push people away, Xi burned bridges and made the people who got too close hate him for it. He had managed not to do it with He Tian. They’d been friends for nearly a decade.

Zhengxi got out of bed, looking for his clothes.

“Xi?” He Tian’s voice was low, an edge of worry now.

His clothes were folded on the dresser where he’d left them before showering last night—before walking out to the living room turned stage.

The times they’d hooked up before had always been good, verging on great, but never like that. Never the sort of sex that was going to cast a shadow of disappointment over all future partners. It made him want to stay. It made him want to jump on He Tian for round two right here and now.

But Xi wasn’t the sort to be spooned and he definitely wasn’t going to be locked in another relationship with some rich, possessive asshole—

“Xi,” He Tian snapped his name this time.

He looked up, breaking out of his own spiraling thoughts and realized that those thoughts weren’t fair. He Tian wasn’t his ex. He Tian had never done anything out of line. He wasn’t trying to control him. He wasn’t even trying to date him. They’d just hooked up again. It was nothing.

Why did that hurt, though?

He scrubbed a hand over his face. He had his underwear and pants on, even if they weren’t zipped up yet. “Yeah. Yeah, sorry, I just didn’t mean to sleep over.”

He Tian was off the bed and closing the distance, looking him over like he could read him.

It made his heart pound—the idea of being able to be read and, worse, of wanting this man to be able to read him. He wanted that distance closed. He wanted to touch him.

Like he could hear that want, He Tian reached out for him.

Xi took a step back and hated himself the second he did.

He Tian’s dark eyes flared the slightest bit, his hand stopping in the air between them before falling to his side. “You’ve slept over before. It’s never been a problem…”

“I know.”

What had started in the hallway finally made it to the bedroom, where he had Huxley bent over the bed. He made the most amazing sounds, pleading for more even when Gavin was already fucking him into the mattress. His arms curled over his head, body arching, driving his ass back into those thrusts.

Huxley had come in the hallway but the way he was squirming…the way his sounds were building again…

Gavin slid one hand up his back, feeling all those tight muscles. He caught one of Huxley’s hands, lacing their fingers at the back of his neck. 

His other hand slid around Huxley’s hip, to palm his cock, never missing the rhythm his own hips were rocking. Huxley spasmed, sounds hitching when Gavin stroked him.

They finished together and Gavin came so hard his knees buckled. “Fuck…” he grouned out, whole body shaking.

Huxley huffed a laugh, catching his own breath. “Yeah…” 

“That was wild,” Gavin reeled. “You weren’t what I expected at all.” He got up, laughing a little at the twitch in his own legs. He walked into the adjoining bathroom to toss the condom and grab a washcloth.

“Yeah?” Huxley asked from the bedroom. “What do you mean?”

Gavin turned on the sink and wet the cloth. He shook his head to himself. It was impossible to explain but then he tried anyway. “I didn’t think you’d make the first move, or be so… good at it? And forward! I guess I didn’t think you’d had much experience…” he trailed, realizing it wasn’t coming out the way he wanted it to.

“Oh. Like… You were hoping for the first timer experience?”

Gavin froze. It was in his tone. Uncertainty? He squeezed out the washcloth and went back into the bedroom. Huxley was still lying across the foot of the bed, the sex haze gone and the hint of worry creasing his brow. He smiled, like he could hide it. “If I’d known–”

“No,” Gavin said quickly, shaking his head. “Fuck. No. I wasn’t hoping for anything.” He came back to him, joining him on the bed and straddling his thighs. Huxley looked hopeful, but like he was still trying to sidestep the doubt. “Sunflower, it was amazing. You are amazing. It’s just… I got the impression you weren’t much into casual sex when we first met. So, I wasn’t expecting the best fuck of my life, you know?”

“Yeah. Yeah, that’s fair,” the big guy said, huffing a laugh. “This for me?” he asked, smiling at the washcloth.

Gavin nodded, a little worried that that smile wasn’t reaching his eyes. “I mean, I could be convinced to share,” he said, already touching the wet fabric to Huxley’s neck and dragging it down his chest.

Huxley touched the back of Gavin’s hand, groaning when Gav dipped lower, cleaning him up. “Fuck… Don’t start that again, dude…”

He bit his lip, a little surprised just how tempted he was even after being so thoroughly spent. He suddenly wanted to see if he could go again–if he could ring another orgasm out of his jock.

His phone chimed a few times, probably still in the pocket of his pants in the hallway.

They blinked at each other.

It chimed again.

“I forgot to silence it,” Gavin admitted.

Huxley laughed and took the cloth from him. “Better check it. Could be important?”

Gavin snorted but rolled off the bed. “It’s probably just party pictures.” He padded naked into the hall and grabbed his phone, tapping it to life on his way back. Asher sent him another picture of waffles and what looked like a pillow fort. “Looks like they really are doing breakfast upstairs.”

“Yeah?” Huxley was off the bed and pulling on a pair of sweatpants. Somehow they were more lewd than just staying naked… the way they clung to his hips and outlined a dick he’d had in his mouth just a little while ago… 

Gavin blinked, realizing Huxley had caught him staring and was smiling. His phone chimed again. “Asher wants to know if you’re hungry.” Honestly, Gavin couldn’t tell if Asher meant it as an innuendo or not at all. Sometimes he wasn’t sure if Asher had ever fucked before…

Huxley smiled, pulling on a t-shirt. “I could eat. You wanna go over?”

Gavin nodded, finding his underwear. “Can I borrow one of your shirts?”

The big guy looked surprised but beamed a little. “Yeah? You’ll be swimming in it.”

Gavin held out a hand, waiting for one. “It’ll be cozier than mine.” And hot since they just fucked.

They threw on clothes and Gavin texted Asher to tell David to make more waffles. They were on their way over.

-

Huxley was grateful for the guys inviting them over to hang out. He wasn’t sure he’d be able to handle the part where Gavin would bolt after they cleaned up. Would it be awkward? He couldn’t really imagine Gav awkward. He was amazing. This had been amazing.

Casual.

“I got the impression you weren’t much into casual sex when we first met. So, I wasn’t expecting the best fuck of my life, you know?”

It was nice, this illusion of security in this place. It wasn’t nothing. It was like bike gear–it would protect against blunt trauma but it wouldn’t stop a bullet. With the way Vera had been worried today, he wondered if it was enough.

That thought was enough to dampen his lust.

He noted the security cameras, the subtly placed one in the hallway, focused on the elevator, and then the individual ones angled from the corner of each apartment door. There were only four on this level. Jesus, this place must cost a fortune.

He walked over to the elevator but passed it, going for the stairwell instead. His gaze dragged down the long hallway around the corner, spotting what he suspected was the subtly placed service door. They had to have a different way for cleaners and movers to get up to these floors. He’d put money on there being another elevator back there.

There was always a service entrance in a place like this. No one who paid what these people paid in rent wanted to wait on the elevator while someone else moved boxes.

He took the stairs down. There were cameras in the stairwell too.

It was a good set up, but it wasn’t perfect. Nothing was perfect.

When he stepped out onto the lobby floor, the doorman was waiting. Felix couldn’t tell if the guy was disapproving or just suspicious of him. He flashed him a smile all the same, twirling his keys on his finger and walking out the front door. 

It wasn’t even ten in the morning yet. He could pick up donuts and still shock Pearl with how early he would be rolling into the shop today.

He unlocked the truck on his way to it, but slowed down when he neared. The nerves on the back of his neck tightened with that sense of being watched. He glanced around as subtly as he could, and then outright when all he saw was an old woman walking her tiny dog and a family making their way into the park across the street.

Felix lingered beside the vehicle for another few seconds.

He clocked another jogger in the park and a couple of cyclists.

If he was being honest, he’d had that being watched feeling a lot the last couple of days. Vera having a legitimate reason to be nervous was probably just spiking his own paranoia.

Felix flicked the keys in his hand again. There was no one lurking or even sitting in any of the parked cars to watch the building. He laughed at himself and got into the truck, heading to work.

-

Vera had slept until nearly four in the afternoon. She woke up more naked than not and definitely in a better mood than she had any right to.

Getting dressed, she replied to a few texts and called Philippa.

Her best friend answered on the second ring, sounding a little out of breath.

Vera smiled. “Are you at the gym or fucking?”

Philippa worked on catching her breath on the other end of the line. “I can fuck at the gym, Vera. Don’t be ridiculous.”

She laughed, putting her phone on speaker and on the bathroom counter. “My apologies. You want me to call back?”

“No.”

Gym. 

“You made it home.”

“I did.”

“You sound good.”

“I feel good.”

“But you’re home early,” she prompted. She knew something had gone wrong.

“How much do you want to know?” Vera asked, brushing out her hair.

“As your friend or as your attorney?” she asked, rustling on her side suggesting she was either still on the treadmill or heading to the locker rooms.

“You’ve never been my lawyer,” she reminded.

“Then tell me everything.”

For a few seconds she didn’t. It always took a moment to convince herself to give up that information, like she needed to double check this was someone she trusted first. “Mr. Hunt found me.”

Philippa’s side went quiet, like she’d stopped moving.

“I’m okay. He just wanted to scare me. He wants another piece…”

“Do you have what he wants?”

“I’m not brokering anything for him,” Vera hissed, putting her hairbrush down.

“So you do.”

Vera didn’t answer.

“How hard was he trying to scare you?”

Vera’s fingers paused in her hair, her reflection meeting her gaze. “For him? Minimally.” She was in one piece. No one had hit her or dangled her off a rooftop. She was fine. Really, she was probably making too big a deal out of it. She had literally fled to the other side of the country. He’d forget about her in a day.

But what if he didn’t?

“Do you have the painting he wants?” Philippa asked again, her tone casual like they were talking about borrowing a bag.

“Yes.”

“Good. If he shows up you have options.”

Vera exhaled a laugh. “And what are my options, counselor?”

Philippa was moving again. The familiar blip of her wristband opening her locker sounded off on the other end of the call. “As your friend, I would suggest selling him the painting. If you really wanted to, you could insist that you don’t have it and can’t get it. Maybe he’ll accept that, but it doesn’t sound like it worked in New Dinah.”

“Any other options?”

“As your friend?”

“Yes.”

“If I’m thinking purely of you–I’d suggest you run if he shows up. Cross an ocean and change your name again. But if I was being selfish?”

Vera held her breath, looking at herself in the mirror when Philippa spoke.

“If that fucker shows up again and presses you? Kill him. Buy a gun and call it self defense.”

Vera exhaled.

For a minute they just sat there on the phone together. Vera didn’t know what she’d done to deserve finding Philippa. She understood parts of her that it felt like no one ever should or could without even seeming to try. “You work for too many criminals,” she chided softly.

Philippa smiled around the other end, “Allegedly.”

“If I get caught, would you be my lawyer then?”

“You would never get caught.”

Vera scrubbed a hand over her face. “I got arrested before…”

She huffed on her end of the call. “That’s because you were set up. If you’d wanted to steal from that museum, no one would have ever realized it was you.”

“I can’t decide if this is the worst or best pep talk, Philippa…”

After a beat, they both said at the same time, “Best.”

Vera turned and moved back through her bedroom. “Are you coming over tonight?”

“Yeah. I’ll pick up dinner from that Italian place you can’t go to anymore.”

“No you didn't.” Asher pulled their shirt up, deciding to clean Darlin up first and then himself. Darlin lifted their arms, the one on their hurt side only going halfway up. Asher was careful getting the shirt off and then tossed it into the corner near the tub.

Darlin frowned down at themself, sticky with bloodsmears but for the area around the bandaged wound the paramedic had cleaned up. “Should I just get in the shower?”

“And fuck up the patch job?” Asher was aghast. He turned on the sink and let the water warm up before soaking the washcloth. They cleaned Darlin up, quickly earning a drink smile and a couple remarks about spongebaths.

Asher was extra careful on the side around the injury, not that Darlin winced or complained.

“So, you know the hot paramedic?”

Asher blinked and then smiled. “Yeah, kinda. I mean we met once.”

“A one night stand?”

Asher snorted, moving to their other side. He was about to reply when he noticed that deep bruises splotching their ribs. They were sallow, not unlike that bruise under their eye. He pretended not to notice, to buy himself a little more time to look at them and figure out what to say. He cleaned their arm from shoulder to wrist and then their hand and fingers–looking at the scabs on their knuckles. Darlin always fought back.

Asher wasn’t new to fights or bruises. This looked like someone had jabbed a couple punches into their side. The only problem was, he hadn’t heard about Darlin getting into any fights recently. Since when did Darlin hide fights from them? They were usually with them.

He was about to ask outright, when he saw it. His gaze slid past their shoulder, landing on their reflection in the mirror. More bruises on their back and there, between their shoulder and their neck, was a nasty looking bite. It had broken skin. “Darlin…” He curled a hand around the back of their neck, pulling them forward into him to get a look at the injury. “What the actual fuck–”

Darlin tensed and jerked back, but he could still see it in the mirror. “It’s nothing.”

“Who did that?”

Darlin’s face screwed up. They took the washcloth from him and gave their face a scrub before tossing it into the corner with the ruined shirt. “I’mma borrow something from David’s room…” they trailed, going for the open doorway.

Asher caught their arm. “Tell me who,” he said.

Darlin wrinkled their nose. “Drop it. I’m fine.”

“You don’t look fine.”

“It was a one time thing.”

“What was the thing?” Asher’s heart squeezed. 

Darlin hesitated, the answer seemingly caught in their throat.

Asher waited.

“It was just a fight.”

Asher wasn’t sure he believed that. “With your roommate?”

Darlin sucked air through their teeth and shook off his hold. “Seriously? Don’t worry about it.” They crossed the hall for David’s room.

“Are you shitting me? Someone bit you!” He followed, looking at that damn bite. If it wasn’t for the bruises, he might have been able to consider this was some sort of roleplay that had gotten out of hand. He could even back off if Darlin said it was what they were into and not his business…but they’d clearly been beaten up.

“Fucking shut up before–”

“What are you talking about?” David was down the hall, brow creased when he followed them into his own room.

“Was it the roommate?” Asher pressed again, attention fixed on Darlin.

Darlin turned around to face them both. “Back off!” Asher was having flashback to when they were teens–and when Darlin had tried to hide that their dad had been knocking them around.

David groaned. “Jesus. You’re both drunk. Calm down and–” He must have noticed the bruises too because his words cut off and Asher could feel his peace-keeper mode snap over to protective. “What happened?”

Darlin rolled their eyes but they were glassy now, looking anywhere but at the two of them.

Asher realized then that they were between Darlin and the exit. It hadn’t been his plan, but he’d cornered them. Swearing under his breath, Ash moved forward, opening a drawer and pulling out a piece of clothing. He slammed it shut and held the shirt out.

Darlin took it, pulling it on.

“The roommate?” he asked again, almost a whisper but plenty loud in the hush of that room.

Darlin’s jaw ticked but they didn’t say anything. They never did. They never had to.

Asher waited until they finally met his gaze. “We’ll get your stuff tomorrow.” And they would talk about this more when they were both sober.

Darlin looked away again. “I can get my own–”

“We’ll get your stuff tomorrow,” Asher said again. “But tonight we’ll eat waffles until you barf and then camp out in the living room.”

Darlin tried to cross their arms only to remember they had fresh stitches in their side and wince. “Fuck…”

“Yeah.” Asher turned, leading the way back out of the room past David and into the bathroom to clean up. He was trying real hard not to think about teeth in Darlin’s skin and how that could have happened and why Darlin hadn’t told them.

-

Darlin scrubbed a hand over their face, still feeling numb and tipsy, but also warm and overwhelmed.

Asher knew and now David knew.

“I can just crash on the couch and you guys–” they said, shame creeping up to choke them just like always.

David frowned. “Why would you get the couch? We pull the cushions off and make a pile on the floor…”

Like always. Like they’d been doing since they were in highschool. Darlin looked away again, feeling raw. Why were they always in the worst situations? “I’m so–”

“Don’t.” David shook his head. “If you’re sorry your roommate is an asshole, then I’m sorry I didn’t notice sooner.”

Their face pinched. “That doesn’t even make sense. It’s not your responsibility–”

“It’s not yours either.” David took a step closer and reached out, his hand curling around the back of their neck to pull them in. Their heads thumped together once and then his arm slung over their shoulder, leading them out of the room and down the hall. “Whatever is happening, it’s going to be okay.”

Darlin raised a curious eyebrow. “You’re drunk…”

He raised an eyebrow and looked back at them. “Am I?”

Fuck. He was such a good drunk they couldn’t tell.

David let them go when they reached the living room. He pointed at the couch and chairs. “You’re on fort duty while I make pancakes.”

“Waffles!” Asher called from the open bathroom.