56
He watched the change carefully this time, stepping back as Leviathan’s body swelled and grew, muscle wrapping his arms and legs, his hair growing until it reached his throat and his teeth growing long and sharp. Two extra arms expanded just under his original ones, the same corded muscle and black veins wrapping his biceps and wrists. Claws grew from his fingers, long and deadly. And Cullen had to tip his head back to take him in fully, his head now nearly two feet higher than his own.
Thankfully, that dark skirt form before had taken the place of his clothes, hiding thatthingthat Cullen had felt against his back in the bathtub before. He wasn’t sure he was ready to see it. Leviathan was watching him warily, his lips pinched tightly together.
Slowly, Cullen started to circle him. “You didn’t tell me about the extra arms.”
“I didn’t want to frighten you.” He murmured, his head twisting to watch him.
“You wouldn’t have.” He whispered, running a slow hand along the bicep of one of his extra arms. “It’s still you.”
“But you’re afraid of me.”
“Only sometimes.” He murmured, letting a small smile flicker to his lips. He moved behind him–and jerked to a stop, his eyes widening. “You have a tail.”
It took Leviathan a moment to respond. But after a few long heartbeats, the thick scaled tail slid up and curled around his waist, drawing him closer. Cullen gasped, his face going red, and then began to run a slow hand down it. The scales were warm and smooth, the tip of it sharp, thin and triangular. He ran a fingertip over it, wincing when it sliced into his skin. Leviathan inhaled sharply.
“I thought it best to keep it secret for a while.”
“No more secrets.” Cullen murmured, stepping away from him. The tail slid aside, letting him go, though it curled to the side as if meant to follow him.
He let his fingers trail over his back, pausing when his fingers brushed over two ragged lines of scars. “These were…”
“My wings.” He responded softly. “I did not allow the scars to show in my other form.” He paused. “I wanted…to look good for you.”
Cullen exhaled shakily, tracing the scars again. “You would have looked good to me no matter what, Levi.” He leaned in to press a kiss to his back, wishing he could reach the scar marks. “You’re perfect. Always.” He kissed him again and then reached to brush his hip, where that dark skirt was wrapped around his hips. It was soft and cool to the touch, reminding him oddly of their shadows.
“This seems…special.”
“A sarong gifted to me by a god a long time ago.” Hemurmured. It shifted under Cullen’s fingers, turning into a loose white shirt and dark pants made of some sort of leather. “But just fabric, all the same. I simply like to be dramatic sometimes. Especially in this form.”
“You?” Cullen murmured, starting to circle again, his eyes flicking to that thick tail once more “Never.” He touched his other extra arm, saw his fingers tremble, and quickly dropped his hand, moving to stand in front of him again. “Don’t worry.” He whispered, a bit breathlessly. “I like the dramatics.”
Leviathan chuckled and reached forward to touch his face, drawing him a little closer. His face warmed again, his hand coming up to touch his wrist.
“Do you really?” He asked softly, inching his face towards his. The heat in Cullen’s face grew more intense, quickly spreading down through the rest of his body. “Your heart is beating so fast.”
“It…it’s not fear.” He admitted breathlessly.
“I know that too.” He murmured, curling one of those giant hands around his wrist. Cullen let him pull him in close, his body growing hot as he stared at his chest.
“I want to show you something.” Leviathan whispered into his ear. Slowly, Cullen nodded his acceptance. Leviathan’s heart gave a much harder thump in response.
57
“Where are we going?”
“To a place I have not gotten to show you yet.” Leviathan turned to give him a crooked smile, not slowing his pace, though he was practically dragging Cullen at this point. “What with all your tantrum throwing.” He murmured.
“I have not been throwing tantrums.” He muttered, irritated. He yanked against his hold, hissing when Leviathan’s hand curled tighter around his wrist. “Slow down!”
To his surprise, Leviathan stilled and turned to him; Cullen couldn’t help an automatic step back as he moved closer. Leviathan’s lips twitched as if he wanted to laugh.
“Weakling.” He teased, swooping down to grab him around the waist. Cullen let out a cry of shock when he raised him off the ground and slung him easily over one of his wide shoulders.
“Levi!’ He objected, mortified. “Put me down!”
“No.” He drawled. “I don’t think so.”
