“I don’t know if he’s technically a?—”
“Ben.”
Ben’s hands moved of their own accord. He swore he told them to stay put, but they didn’t listen. He had his hands on Koios’s shoulders, then they slid down his arms. And then their hands were linked together. “I…uh…okay.”
“Good.”
“Let me get you some scrubs,” Ben said.
The hospital gowns were practical for the clinic, but not for walking around outside of it. Ben had already adjusted a couple for Koios to accommodate his wings, but a guy just didn’t wander around without pants. Unless he liked that sort of thing? Which maybe Koios did?
“Why are you scowling at me?”
“Would you prefer not to wear pants?”
Koios’s eyebrows went up and his lips twitched. He snickered, then full on laughed. He dropped his head onto Ben’s chest as he did.
Ben groaned and lowered his face into Koios’s hair. “Goddess, I’m a mess. I can’t think clearly around you.”
“I think I’m supposed to be happy about that,” Koios said. He turned his face to the side so his cheek rested over Ben’s heart. “Right? You’re as confused about this thing between us as I am. That’s…normal…right?”
Ben chuckled and rubbed his nose against Koios’s hair. Goddess, he loved how long and beautiful it was, how the black strands shone in the light and…um…. “What did you say again?”
Koios lifted his head, forcing Ben to move his own. “You’ve never done this before either, have you?”
Ben shrugged. “I mean, I went on a couple dates? But I’ve never met anyone like you. Goddess, Koios, I dream about you. I know that probably makes me sound like a—mmph?—”
Koios’s lips were on his.
Ben squeezed his hands and Koios squeezed back as he began moving his lips against Ben’s. Ben leaned his head to get a better angle, and then fireworks went off in his brain. How had he gone his entire life without feeling like this?
He folded Koios’s hands behind his back and used the leverage to pull him closer. The change in position allowed Ben to deepen the kiss. Ben pressed his body into Koios’s, holding him as close as he could. Koios’s wings shuddered, and Ben’s knees wobbled.
Ben lifted his head, gasping for breath. He licked his lips, surprised to find them tender and swollen. His heart pounded, and Ben felt the answering beat of Koios’s pulse against his hands. It should have alarmed him, but there wasn’t anything frightening about their connection.
“Wow,” Koios said. “I was not expecting…wow. I get it now.”
“Get what?” Ben asked. He couldn’t seem to convince himself to let go of Koios’s hands.
He probably should.
Definitely probably.
“Why kissing is so popular.”
Ben swallowed hard. And dammit, he did it again. Of course, Koios watched his Adam’s apple bob, and for some reason that made Ben’s pants grow three sizes too small. He had it so much worse than he’d realized…and it was so much better.
“I couldn’t agree more. Except my knees are kind of wobbly and I’ve been trying to convince myself to let go of your hands, but I don’t wanna.”
Koios grinned. “You’ve gotta because, to answer your earlier question, I do want pants.”
“Pants. Right. Very important. I’ll, um…one sec.” Ben leaned down again and pressed his lips to Koios’s once more. His entire body trembled, but hey, he finally let go of Koios’s hands…except they ended up on his ass. Ben lifted his head. “Oops. Forgot you weren’t wearing pants, and oh my goddess, you feel so good.”
Koios put his hands against Ben’s chest. “If you don’t stop, we’re going to take this further than either one of us is ready for. Maybe. Probably. I mean, we should…talk, right?”
“With our lips pressed together and you in my bed, hopefully with your wings all over my body…that’s what you meant by talk, right?” Ben made sure to keep his tone light and teasing. The last thing he wanted was to pressure Koios into anything.
Koios laughed. “Sure. Let’s talk.”
