Ben closed the tablet and put it in his bag. “Okay.”
“Why are you so bothered by my wings? You freaked out yesterday when my wing brushed you, and then today when I stood up, you looked like you wanted to puke.”
“That’s not…I…” Ben wanted to sink through the floor. “I’m not bothered by your wings, Koios.”
“The fuck you aren’t,” Koios said. He closed the distance between them and stared up at Ben. “You aren’t telling me something. I can feel it. If you know something about my wings, my health, that you aren’t telling me, I want to know, Ben. I demand to know right now.”
“It’s…dammit, Koios.”
“Tell me.” Koios poked Ben in the chest and stepped closer. His dark eyes glistened with fury.
“I think they’re beautiful,” Ben blurted, then took a hurried step back. “I’m sorry. It’s completely unprofessional?—”
“Beautiful? I call bullshit. You don’t look like you’re going to puke if you think something is beautiful, Ben. Don’t lie to me.”
“I’m not lying,” Ben said.
Why couldn’t a hole open in the ground and swallow him when he needed one? He’d even take one of his hellhound uncles showing up via portal for an emergency. Anything to whisk him away from this awkward conversation.
“You are. You can’t even look at me.”
Ben blew out a breath and forced himself to look into Koios’s eyes. “I’m very attracted to you, Koios. I apologize for being unprofessional and drawing your attention to it. I’ll speak with my father about?—”
“Shut up.”
Ben snapped his mouth closed.
“You’reattractedto me?” Koios glared up at him. “And what, my wing touching you…I don’t even know what that could even…this makes no sense. Tell me the truth, Ben.”
“It is the truth, Koios. Goddess, you’re one of the most beautiful people I’ve ever seen in my life, and I know you don’t feel the same about me. I’m sorry. I thought it wouldn’t get in the way of our working together. I only wanted to help you and never intended for you to find out. Like I said, it’s completely unprofessional?—”
“And like I said,shut up.”
Ben ran his hands through his hair. He could put together a program for Koios’s training that Logan and Gideon could carry out. His father would be able to handle the follow-up appointments. It’s what he should have done in the first place, but Koios’s condition was beyond complicated and Ben?—
“Stop thinking. You’re thinking so loud it’s annoying.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Oh for fucks sake, don’t be sorry. I’m…no one has ever been attracted to me, Ben. I’ve lived in a basement my entire life. Just give me a minute to process.”
“My father?—”
“If you say one more word, I’m going to punch you in the face.”
Ben scowled. “You wouldn’t hit me.”
“Probably not but be quiet anyway. I’m thinking.” Koios stared up at him for a very long time.
Ben remained still and quiet, but his nerves fried under the pressure.
“I don’t know why you think I’m attractive. It makes no sense. But I’ll be damned if I let anyone other than you help me get through this. I trust you, Ben. I know you’re not going to bullshit me about my health or what we’re doing.”
“I won’t,” Ben said.
“I know. That’s what I just said, isn’t it?” Koios snapped. “Weirdo.”
Ben smirked. He couldn’t help it.
