Welcome to Incubus Tales: A Thousand Words by Hushicho. In Noctemberg, it is always night. Dhiar, proprietor and gay incubus, welcomes you to Phantasies, a very special shop. Sensuality is more than just Dhiar’s stock in trade, it is his raison d’être. NSFW.
Chapter Fifty completes this serial. We hope you enjoy it!
50th Night—Is That All There Is?
“So what happened to Adoric?” Joshua looked up from eating his soup. “And what happened in Berlin?”
Dhiar waved a hand. “I’ve been boring you with my reminiscing for long enough. Are you sure that’s enough for you to eat? I can whip up another pot of it in no time…”
The young werewolf laughed, sitting back. “It’s fine! You’re going to make me fat.”
“You could use a little weight!” The Incubus countered, reaching over to ruffle Joshua’s bushy hair.
He was right, of course. When he had come to Phantasies, Joshua had been all but skin and bones. It was still easy to see his ribs, each and every one. But slowly, surely, Dhiar’s storytelling and cooking had filled him out a bit. He no longer looked like a sad stray, but more a fit young man who simply needed some recovery from a bad stretch.
Joshua finished his bread and tipped the bowl of soup to his lips, draining it dry. He licked his lips and then wiped his mouth with the napkin on the table.
Dhiar rose and collected the dishes, smiling pleasantly, satisfied at what he saw. Little by little, he could tell things were looking up. He set everything in the sink and took a cloth to wipe up the table, then offered his hand to Joshua. The young werewolf took it and rose, and the both of them migrated to the living room.
“Chana phoned yesterday.” Dhiar lowered himself onto the sofa, Joshua curling against his side to listen. “She’ll be back shortly. She was saying something about television advertisement, but I think the shop does just fine. What do you think?”
Joshua looked up with wide eyes, as if the direct question had caught him off his guard. He shook his head and rolled his shoulders back. “It can’t hurt, right?”
The Incubus leaned over and nuzzled at the top of Joshua’s hair, breathing slowly in, breathing his scent. It was fresh now, since he regularly washed and made himself at home in the loft. But that virile aroma, the personal perfume, was still palpable to one with as keen senses as Dhiar. His eyes closed. He slipped his arms around Joshua and pulled him closer, lying back and settling horizontally on the cushions with the younger man.
“So what did happen? Why isn’t Adoric with you here?” Joshua’s gaze remained clear, his expression earnest. There was no guile to be found in his countenance.
It amused Dhiar. That aspect was a strong and rare one they had in common.
“So many things! I can’t possibly tell you all of them in just the time the evening has left. I’d rather spend it with you, and now.” The Incubus combed his fingers through the lush hair. It had been a dark reddish-brown the first time they met each other, but somehow it had lightened since then. Perhaps, he reflected, his shampoo or oil might have affected such a change. “But if you insist…”
Joshua made a little sound, like a whimper, and rubbed his cheek against Dhiar’s.
“Oh, I can’t resist that!” And so Dhiar propped his forehead against Joshua’s. He let his hands wander up and down the young man’s back, body pressed against his own. “All right. Well. Let me see… I can summarise it for you, all right? And then we’ve got to get on with tonight, and I can tell you in detail later.”
The werewolf laughed and pulled back, eagerly nodding his head, then leaning back in. “Tell me! I want to know.”
That his adventures had been so compelling satisfied Dhiar. At the time, he only viewed them as fun, or adventure, certainly nothing exceptional for any sort of audience. But ever since he took Joshua in, every night unfolded much the same: stories, dinner, more stories, a bath, then a story before bed.
“Well, Adoric and I spent plenty of fun time together… many, many adventures. I should think he’s probably still bouncing about Europe, from what we discussed, that last time…” Dhiar took a breath and softly sighed, thinking back. “Oh, it was wonderful. He’s wonderful. I really ought to get back to him and peek in, see what he’s doing…”
“Yes! I’d love to meet him!” Joshua bounced, draping his arms over Dhiar and hugging about him.
“We can go sometime soon.” Dhiar lightly kneaded with his fingertips at the back of Joshua’s scalp. “Mm, but you have to get your strength fully back, first. There’s plenty of magic in that place, around that time… that world is dripping with it. You might be overwhelmed if you’re not at your best and strongest.”
“I promise!”
“When I caught up with Chana in Berlin, it was just splendid. There’s everything in that city. It’s not all good, but it’s certainly not bad. There’s a sort of balance struck at that time, and it keeps going, giving and taking endlessly. It’s like a sort of yin-yang thing. There’s some danger, of course. There are other things in that city, things that are hard to describe to you. But it was an exciting trip. I’m glad I went. I’m glad she talked me into it.”
Joshua nodded happily. “Did you go back after and see Merry and everyone?”
“Oh yes! Yes, I spent some significant time with Merry and Tomas. They were together, by the time I left again.”
“I do like a happy ending.” Joshua tucked his head down to rest against Dhiar’s chest.
“Me too.” Dhiar kissed the top of the werewolf’s head and closed his eyes. His fingertips danced along the bare shoulders, the smooth skin, and he shared his warmth. Outside, it was beginning to get a chill in the air.
The clouds faintly glowed with the last remnants of the sunset. The days had grown shorter too. A few people milled along the street outside. And when the rest of the lights went out, the familiar warm glow smiled out from the oriel window.
* * *
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About the author: From an early age, Hushicho held a special passion for storytelling. Throughout his life, he has worked in numerous media and various places in the world. He is the author of the long-running Incubus Tales webcomic, upon which this serial is based.
Welcome to the intriguing city of dreams, Noctemberg, where it is always night, and to Phantasies, a very special shop run by Dhiar, proprietor and gay incubus. Sensuality is more than just Dhiar's stock in trade, it is his raison d'etre. In Incubus Tales: A Thousand Words, Dhiar meets new loves, rekindles relationships, and bring his special brand of sexual healing to lovers and readers alike.
Also available in paperback!