Page 32 of Hellfire & Tinsel
He trailed off, letting the words he didn’t say fill the air between them. Instead, he reached out and tugged on Kassel’s thumb entreatingly. The demon seemed to get the unspoken request, wrapping his arm around Beau’s back.
Beau wiggled in happiness. Kassel was so warm and comfy to be draped over. He snuggled closer, turning his nose into Kassel’s chest and inhaling.
“You smell nice,” he whispered shyly.
Kassel rumbled deep in his chest. “I smell like ash and fire.”
“It’s nice. Like a campfire.”
Kassel remained silent after that, but Beau felt the clawed fingers running up and down his side. He shivered, placing his open palm on Kassel’s pecs. His lavender skin was right next to the corner of his lips, temptation in all its forms.
Beau’s face warmed self-consciously. “I didn’t know kissing was so nice.”
“You didn’t?”
Beau shook his head, buttery leather moving under him. “Never tried it before.”
Kassel gave no indication of whether he had guessed that or not. Beau didn’t know if he wanted to hear the answer anyway. If it was noticeable that he had no experience. That he was awkward. That he was bad at it.
The memory was too precious to taint. He wanted to hold it close to his heart and put it inside an unbreakable glass case.
“I’m glad you were my first kiss,” Beau whispered.
“I am too.”
Joy exploded in him and Beau lifted his head off his chest to look at him. “You are?”
Kassel shrugged and blinked many of his eyes, his face showing a hint of confusion. “I am not really sure why. I just feel like it’s a good thing that I was.”
Beau smiled in the dark and put his head back on Kassel’s skin. It was enough.
“It felt less lonely today,” Beau said, and he felt Kassel’s muscles twitch under his body.
“Yes?”
“Mmm,” he hummed, before rushing to add as a spike of panic crawled up his throat, “Not completely gone yet, though. So don’t think you’re leaving!”
“I wasn’t,” Kassel said.
“Good.” Beau’s relief was palpable, and he told his racing heart to calm down. Kassel wasn’t leaving yet. He was still here. “Because we have a lot to do together.”
“You have a list?”
“Of course I do! Wanna hear it?”
“Go ahead,” Kassel said, those clawed fingers returning to stroke Beau’s side as if on instinct. Like he was a lover.
“We already did shopping and baking.” Beau tapped a finger against Kassel’s chest for each activity. He tried not to linger too much.
“We did.”
“Well, there’s a winter fair not far from here. I want to do that. There’s so many lights and decorations and rides and food. And cakes! And cookies!”
“You seem to like baked goods.”
“Sweets are the best!” he said, thinking back to the little boy who never got to have any. Sometimes because there was nobody to buy them for him, sometimes because there was somebody, but they didn’t want to buy it for him. And then when he had his own money it was because it had to be spent on things more pressing. Like actual food. And shelter.
“Fair. Cookies. Cake,” Kassel listed under his breath.
