“I don’t follow.”
Sebastian gestured to the stairs where the girls had disappeared.“Well, if it exists for them, maybe it can for the rest of us too.”
“How optimistic of you,” Kieran said.He stood up, gesturingto one of the couches that had been set up along the windows to get a better view of the ground far below.“Wanna move to the couch?The view over cities is incredible, and I think we might be close to one.”
Sebastian nodded, following Kieran’s lead.The two crossed the floor side by side, hands nearly touching.They sat down next to each other, and Sebastian tilted his face down to better take in the lights below.
The aeroship had just left the flatlands outside the town of Maybury and were now approaching the towering buildings of Cestella City.The city lights glowed in shades of topaz and pink and blue, winking up at them as if the city itself were greeting them.Unlike up north, here, no snow decorated the sidewalks.Instead, some hearty cool-weather trees and bushes still clung to their leaves, framing the roads on either side.A few cars puttered down them with their headlights on.Not far from their own ship, other aeroships floated through the skies.With the languid flap of their metallic wings, they reminded Kieran of birds.
“Not bad, right?”Kieran said, sneaking a look at Sebastian.
Sebastian’s eyes were rounded, the lights reflected in his near-black irises.His lips were parted in a smile, revealing the edges of his snowy teeth.Kieran’s stomach clenched.Part of him waited to hear Ash’s voice in his head telling him that this was a bad idea.
His brain had gone silent.
“No,” Sebastian said, turning his gaze to Kieran.The joy in it was almost childlike.“Not bad at all.”
Kieran’s heart nearly launched itself into his throat.He could feel a hot blush in his cheeks.He felt lucky that the onlyillumination in the room was coming from string lights and the glow of the city below.
“You know,” he said, and beneath the layers of tension in his body, something else gave way: an uncharacteristic boldness bolstered by wine.“I just realized that everyone forgot to ask me a question.The one I had to answer truthfully for losing the game.”
“Hmm,” Sebastian said, rubbing his chin as he considered it.“Well, that seems a bit unfair, doesn’t it?Who am I to let you get away with such a transgression?”
Kieran’s pulse thrummed.The air had suddenly begun to feel charged around them, as if any spark could ignite an explosion.Unconsciously, he moved closer to Sebastian, close enough to smell his cologne.Kieran could guess the layers of it: bergamot, grapefruit, and sandalwood.It reminded him of a summer night, heavy but warm.
“What’s your question, then?”Kieran said, his voice coming out huskier than he’d intended.Typically, that would have made him turn bright red with an immediate shock wave of embarrassment, but for once, it didn’t.
Sebastian angled himself so he was firmly leaning into Kieran’s personal space.There was no way to ignore him, from the heat coming off his skin to the touch of his hand as it suddenly went to Kieran’s knee.
The air was sucked out of Kieran’s lungs all at once.Sure, he’d seen the way Sebastian had stared at him for a moment too long once or twice, but with him this close, Kieran’s mind struggled to explain away what was happening.This wasn’t something JustFriends did.At least, not ones who were going to stay just friends for long.
I should tell him to move,Kieran thought, his eyes trained unwaveringly on Sebastian’s lower lip.It was full and pouty, perfect for Kieran to nip at.I should be loyal to Ash.I should…
Sebastian took a breath, staring directly into Kieran’s eyes.
“If I asked you to let me kiss you right now, would you say yes?”
Kieran felt like the ground had swooped out from beneath him.His heart lurched.When had he last felt like this?Had he ever, even with Ash’s body wrapped around him?Because just now he couldn’t seem to summon a single memory of a feeling that burned even close to as bright as the one growing hotter and hotter in his chest.He couldn’t stop the truth from spilling out, voice choked with the weight of it.
“Yes.”
The next moment, Sebastian’s soft lips were on his.Kieran inhaled sharply as one of Sebastian’s hands went to Kieran’s thigh while the other pressed to his neck, nudging him closer.Kieran trapped Sebastian’s lower lip between his teeth, nipping it gently.Sebastian hummed against the kiss.The touch of his fingers as they sank into Kieran’s hair felt electric, a shiver running down Kieran’s spine.Kieran failed to stop himself from smiling against the other boy’s lips.
Sebastian broke the kiss, pressing his forehead to Kieran’s so their noses gently brushed.His voice was thick, lower than Kieran was used to.“I didn’t think you’d say yes.”
“I wasn’t allowed to lie,” Kieran whispered.
“Well, then.Can I ask another question?”
“Sure.”
“Do you want to do it again?”
Kieran’s breath rushed out of him.“Yes.”
Sebastian’s eyes flickered with an emotion Kieran couldn’t place.After a moment, it dawned on him: It was like hunger.Kieran’s heart rate sped up.If they got closer, would it trigger Sebastian’s bloodlust?Sure, he’d been able to control himself before when Kieran’s blood had been dripping onto his face, but how could he know if it would be the same this time?Kieran barely felt in control of his own body at that moment—he couldn’t imagine how much harder it must be for Sebastian with his curse.
Sebastian hesitated, pulling back.“Are you okay?You looked…afraid for a second.”
