“But first, pants.”
“Eh, why bother when you’re going to be taking them right back off of me again.”
Ben stumbled over air. He’d only managed one step toward the cabinet that held the spare scrubs. “I, uh, well, um, okay.”
Koios’s smile lit up his face. It made Ben’s embarrassment worth it. He’d trip a thousand times to get to see that gorgeous face glow with happiness.
“We should probably bring the vial with us. I’d rather not let it out of our sight.”
Ben nodded. “Good thinking. I’m not thinking. Well, I am thinking, but not thinking, you know?”
Koios smirked. “I’ve never seen you babble before. You always give me serious doctor face.”
The reminder sobered Ben’s runaway emotions.
“Like that one. No, no, no,” Koios said. “Don’t think doctor thoughts. Think about my feathers. You like them.”
Ben forced his attention to the cabinet where he’d hidden the vial. He retrieved the box before turning back to his…patient. No, he couldn’t see Koios as simply a patient anymore. They were long past that point.
“I do like your feathers,” Ben confessed. “A lot. I want to be careful, though.”
“Magical healing, remember. All better.”
Ben scoffed and moved closer, daring another touch. He brushed his fingers over Koios’s cheek, then tangled them in his hair.
“No, not all better.” He leaned in and scented Koios’s cheek. He dragged his nose toward Koios’s ear. “But well enough for us to head back to the house and see where the night takes us.”
“You’re going to go all Gentle Ben on me, aren’t you?”
Ben nuzzled Koios’s ear, then nipped the lobe. “You don’t like it when I’m gentle?”
Koios pushed his body against Ben’s and grabbed the back of his shirt. “I didn’t say that. I’m…well, we’re going to find out how I like it.”
Ben lifted his head and stared into Koios’s eyes again. Goddess, he couldn’t get enough. “And we’ll find out how I like it too. We’ll negotiate terms once we get back to my room.”
He took Koios’s hand and led him down the hall. Koios didn’t argue until they reached the door to exit the clinic. “What do you mean, negotiate?”
Ben sighed. “We’re going to talk about things before we do them, Koios. That’s my way. There are lines I don’t want to cross, and I want you to know what they are. If you have anything similar, I want to know. I’m not touching you otherwise.”
Koios squeezed Ben’s hand so tight it hurt. “You mean that, don’t you?”
“I do. This is new for both of us. I’m a grown man, though. I’m not going to fool around with you and then pretend it never happened. I’m going to let you know how far I’m willing to go with you in my bed, and we’ll make sure we’re on the same page.”
“That’s wildly attractive.”
“I’m glad you approve.” Ben pushed open the door and led Koios across the courtyard to the house. Dad and Papa were nowhere to be seen, but considering Dad was technically on duty at the clinic, they were likely around somewhere.
Out of habit, Ben went to the kitchen and gathered his usual after work snack. He managed to let go of Koios, but it took more effort than he’d expected. His hands shook the tiniest bit. He clenched them into fists, but of course, Koios noticed.
Koios leaned against the counter and watched him. “You’re nervous.”
Ben paused with a container of blueberries in his hand. “I am.”
“Why?”
Ben dumped the berries into a bowl and put them on the tray. “You aren’t?”
Because Ben had been thinking of this moment for a long time. Beyond the normal guy wants to get his rocks off kind of thoughts, he’d been imagining Koios and his wings and that wicked smirk above him?—
