Page 33 of Hellfire & Tinsel
Beau perked up internally when he realized Kassel was paying such close attention to what he was saying.
“A concert,” Beau rushed out. “I have two tickets to my favorite band who always have a show on Christmas Eve. I… always buy a second, hoping that one year I’ll have someone to give it to.”
It was a pathetic thing to admit.
“This year will be different,” Kassel said. It was more factual than sentimental, but Beau’s heart still lit up like a neon sign. “It’s fortunate we won’t have to steal someone else’s.”
Beau hit his chest lightly in reprimand. “We wouldn’t have. I’ll make it fun though. I think you might like it.”
“As long as you are happy,” Kassel said, and Beau couldn’t take it, burying his head against Kassel’s chest again.
Beau wasn’t sure if he was aware of it or not, but Kassel lowered his head and nuzzled Beau’s hair. He also inhaled slightly deeper, like he was…
“You smell like your baked goods,” he said. Okay, he was aware he was doing it.
“Cinnamon lingers in the air sometimes from the cookies, even if we didn’t get to bake them in the oven,” Beau said, feeling his skin flush from the comment, his mind immediately taking him back to… that.
He would never look at cookies the same way again.
Kassel shook his head, then lowered it again until his nose brushed the back of Beau’s neck.
Beau full-body shivered, already feeling himself react again.
“Not cinnamon,” Kassel said. “Sweeter.”
Beau’s skin broke out in goose bumps from his exhale. He squirmed, gasping when Kassel’s fingers left his hip and climbed up to touch the spot where his breath had hit just moments ago.
“You like it when I touch you,” he said, running his finger up and down Beau’s neck, making the situation worse.
“Yes,” Beau whimpered, knowing there was no denying it. The way he was practically begging at Kassel’s feet and melting fora single stroke of his hand was evidence enough, let alone what had happened after the hand porn. “I like it when you touch me.”
“Why do you like it so much?” Kassel asked, sounding genuinely curious.
Beau wasn’t sure how to answer. It was embarrassing. But also… everything about his requests and actions toward Kassel was, so he guessed he had very little face left to lose.
“Because you’re the first person who ever has.”
Kassel was quiet for a moment as those words settled into the space between them. Beau wanted to hide. To disappear. To…
“Good.”
Beau snapped his head up, his nose brushing Kassel’s because he hadn’t pulled back. He caught his breath, staring into those beautiful eyes so close, heart in his throat. “G-good?”
Kassel’s expression was steely. “You shouldn’t do this with anyone else.”
“I shouldn’t?”
“No.”
“Why?”
There was a banked fire in Kassel’s eyes that made them glow a little brighter and made Beau shiver. “I just don’t like it.”
“I don’t think I would like it either,” Beau admitted.
He couldn’t picture any other hands on him. Any other lips pressed to his. Any other voice in his head. Would anyone be able to make him feel the same way? To elicit such visceral reactions? He doubted it.
“I don’t want anyone else to touch me like this.”
