In spite of the doubts churning through his mind, however, he reacted immediately, drawn like a magnet to the warmth of Jonah’s lips.
He made an appreciative sound, but Jonah broke off the kiss. “Nope. You’re not going to distract me. I’m onto you.”
Cas sniffed, giving Jonah a superior look. “You didn’t seem to mind being ‘on me’ in the kitchen or, more to the point, me being on you.”
Jonah settled one large calloused hand on Cas’s chest, gently pushing him back to his side of the bed. “I know all your tricks, Caspian. You’re not going to distract me from the Russia conversation.”
Cas huffed out a sullen sigh. “Ugh, fine. Can I at least eat first?”
“Don’t pout. It’s not cute.”
“Yeah it is. I look hot when I pout and you know it,” he teased. “You can tell me.”
Jonah’s look went from playful to heated, roaming up and down Cas’s body like he was suddenly picturing throwing him down on the bed and defiling him in ways Cas could only begin to imagine. His dick took notice.
Jonah leaned forward, hooking a hand around Cas’s neck and dragging him closer. His breath left him in a stuttering sigh as Jonah ran his tongue along Cas’s lower lip, biting gently.
God, Jonah was a confusing man. Cas kept trying to dredge up the anger he’d felt when he’d trashed the apartment, but it seemed buried under a mixture of relief, desire, and a sliver of fear that maybe he’d finally gotten himself in some seriously hot water this time.
“Cas?” Jonah’s low timbre caused goosebumps to erupt along Cas’s flesh.
“Yeah?” he whispered, feeling like he couldn’t breathe.
“Stop dicking around and start talking or I will get that spatula, and you won’t like what happens next.”
Hah.There wasn’t a thing Jonah could do to Cas right now that he wouldn’t like, aside from kicking him out of the bed, but Cas kept that notion to himself. “Fine. But I am cute when I pout. At least give me that.”
Jonah gave him the look. The I’m-officially-done-with-your-shit look that Jonah used when Cas wanted something Jonah was refusing to give, like staying out late, or learning to shoot with Madi, or sleeping at Wired to watch Red pull off some epic hack. And just like all those other times, Jonah pretended Cas wasn’t going to get his way when Cas knew full well he was. Well, most of the time.
“Come on, Jonah, please? Feed me pancakes and tell me I’m pretty. Is that too much to ask?” he simpered, batting his lashes. He decided that, for now, it was easier to lean into flirting than to get caught in the undertow of everything else.
Jonah stared at him for a long moment that made Cas’s heart plummet with more doubt before caving. “Fine. You’re pretty when you pout. You’re also a huge pain in my ass. Now, eat or so help me God, I’m going to fling your coffee out the window.”
Cas stared at Jonah in mock horror. “How dare you. That’s not funny.”
He smeared butter on the pancakes and then dug in, foregoing silverware to tear his food into strips, rolling them into bite size pieces before popping them in his mouth and moaning obscenely. When Cas finished his first pancake, he found Jonah once more watching him. He shook his head in disdain.
Cas frowned, rolling his eyes. “What? What could I possibly have done to offend you now, Judgy McPsychopants?”
Jonah stared at him. “I’m psycho? Me? You accused me of disemboweling a human like I’m the monster when you slather your pancakes in enough butter to raisemycholesterol before ritualistically dissecting them like some kind of breakfast food family annihilator. You’re the monster.”
Cas ripped another piece from his pancake, raising it dramatically before dropping it into his mouth and smacking his lips noisily as he chewed. “Mm, murder.”
Jonah snorted, sipping his coffee and ignoring the food altogether.
“Aren’t you eating?” Cas prompted.
“No. I made these for you. I’m not hungry.”
Cas looked down at the plate. “But you made so many.”
Jonah shrugged. “I remember how much energy you expend without your meds. You need food. Also, I thought it might soften the blow when I tell you that you’re cut off from energy drinks once your meds get here.”
“You’re not the boss of me,” Cas muttered, knowing full well that if Jonah really didn’t want Cas to have something, he wouldn’t get it. Somehow, Jonah knew it, too. That same glitch that made Jonah the fatal flaw in Cas’s code was the same error that made Cas desperately need to please Jonah, to earn his respect even if he couldn’t earn his love.
Cas went to move the tray, wanting to be near Jonah even if they had to talk, but Jonah wrapped his hands around Cas’s, setting it back in place. “Uh-uh. This is our Berlin Wall until we’re done with the Russia talk. Like I said, I’m onto your tricks.”
Cas’s lips curled into a devious smile. “You haven’t even begun to see my tricks. Besides, the Berlin Wall went down…and so do I.”
