Page 43 of A Soul to Steal

“Could you put me down?” Gideon looked beyond his cradle to observe their surroundings. He pointed to a clearing situated on top of the mountain the lake had been next to. “How about over there? There looks to be a cave.”

“I thought you said you were ‘content’ with where you are right now?” Then, his orbs finally shifted back to normal. “I like holding you like this. I have been wanting to fly with you.”

“To be honest, I thought it would be… scarier. I’ve never flown before.” Gideon cast him a large grin. “But it’s actually not that bad, and I trust you now. Why don’t you let me down first? I’d like to deal with the fact I thought I was going to be swallowed whole by a snake, then we can check out that cave.”

The mouth of the cave was the first time Gideon had seen anywhere that wasn’t showered in light. Now that he was constantly in brightness, he sought the darkness.

Funny that, considering humankind totally lived with the opposite desire due to Demons.

Aleron’s head cocked, and his voice softened exponentially. “You… trust me?”

A laugh burst out of him. “Of course I do. What kind of question is that?”

They lost a little height when Aleron’s wings shuddered slightly. He quickly righted them and then held Gideon tighter to hug him close. He even buried the length of his bat skull against the side of his head.

“I trust you too.” It took him a moment, but Gideon eventually returned the nuzzle. Then Aleron pulled back and shone bright-pink orbs at him. “Before we land, can I fly you around the mountain first? I am rather content like this right now.”

Gideon’s gaze softened at his honesty. Suddenly, he didn’t mind the idea.

“Sure. If that’s what you really want.”

After they landed on a field of plush grass, Gideon noticed Aleron seemed reluctant to put him down. Unsure if he appreciated being held as though severely wounded or a bride being carried over the threshold, he didn’t fight to get free of his arms.

Aleron would put him down when he was ready, and he saw no reason to rush him.

It’s so easy to make him happy.Gideon almost chuckled.Just saying I trusted him turned him into a big puppy.He was growing fond of this side of Aleron’s personality.

He’d always liked it when people were upfront with their feelings. It made them easy to read and allowed Gideon to know what limitations he needed to put on himself. He could be rather free spirited when not despondent.

He laughed when he wanted to, cried when he was comfortable with the person, sang, danced, played guitar, and got drunk and rowdy for fun.

If the person within his company was honest, it let him know how to best entertain and ease them. He wanted to be seen as a pillar of comfort for others.

With Aleron, due to the difference in species, he’d been finding it difficult to figure out how he should act. He’d learned that being himself was absolutely best, and being as forward as he could would benefit Aleron most.

The only person he’d ever been free like that with was… Beau. Although Emerie came in close second, the slight barrier of them being siblings sometimes got in the way. The fact that he’d grown more comfortable in Aleron’s presence than even Emerie’s was startling.

It also brought on a whole bunch of emotions he grew unsure about. The level of trust he’d started to develop for the Duskwalker was dangerous for his heart.

“The hair on your face is scratchy,” Aleron commented, nuzzling his bony bat cheek against it.

“Yeah, I need to shave my beard,” Gideon grumbled, a little disgruntled that it wasn’t clean shaven. He rubbed at the slight stubble on his jaw and cheek; two days’ worth of growth. “I’m glad it hasn’t grown, though. Then again, I don’t like that if I ever want to grow it out, I literally can’t.”

“I like it.” As if to demonstrate that, the Duskwalker licked at his jaw, making him tense up in surprise. “Do not do thisshavething.”

Finally, Aleron put him down of his own accord.

Gideon covered his cheek with a fist, hiding where he’d just been licked.It’s weird when he does that.It almost felt like his own version of a kiss.

“Come on.” Feeling a little bashful, he waved for Aleron to follow. “Let’s go check out this cave.”

The fact he led the Duskwalker to a dark and secluded location didn’t escape his notice. It could even be… oddly romantic inside. He wondered what Aleron would look like with natural crystals surrounding him, with just the illumination of firelight.

If his mouth could have truly gone dry, it would have in that moment. He bet Aleron would have looked spectacular, especially if rainbows refracted onto the white canvas of his skull.

His thoughts often turned twisted and slightly perverse as of late. When Aleron reached for his hand to hold it, and Gideon peeked back at his bat skull, he knew why.

I’m attracted to him.Not just a little, but a whole lot.

---