When he said nothing, Leviathan scoffed and rolled his eyes. “Fine then. What is it you think you need to be punished for?”
When Cullen didn't respond, Leviathan shifted so that his foot was pressed more firmly to Cullen's leg. As if he were trying to comfort him. “I won't be angry if you speak your mind, Cullen.”
He said nothing, only let his eyes fall to the pink and bluebubbles in the tub. He wondered if all demons liked such frivolous things. A patch of red floated towards him, drawing his attention. He frowned curiously and plucked up what appeared to be some kind of flower with thin petals that curled upwards.
“What are these?” He asked to change the subject.
“Spider lilies. Do you like them?”
“They're very pretty.” He murmured, lowering it back into the water. His aching body gave a throb that had him frowning again.
Leviathan stretched suddenly, his thick arms locking behind his head as his legs stretched out. Cullen looked away quickly, not wanting his body to respond to his attractiveness. For so many reasons. One of his legs brushed him and he instantly curled up into a little ball, his arms wrapping around his legs and his chin dropping to his knee.
There was a long silence. Finally, Leviathan scoffed quietly, looking annoyed. “How are you supposed to relax all curled up like that?”
Cullen eyed his long limbs stretching out along the tub. He was nearly touching him already and he didn't want to put himself in temptation's path more than he already was. He shrugged, trying to brush it off, but Leviathan was already reaching for him. His hands curled tightly around his arms and dragged him forward, forcing their faces close together. His throat gave a hard bob as he swallowed.
“Turn around.” The order was soft.
He hesitated, his heart starting to race. “I…I don’t want to…”
“Now.” The order pulsed through him this time, forcing his body to move on its own, turning and settling against Leviathan’s chest despite his mind screaming at him to stop.
“Stop using that on me!” He hissed as Leviathan wound a tight arm around his waist, drawing him back against him. “That fucking…control thing. Stop it!”
“I’ve been quite sparing with it, actually. Maybe you should just listen the first time.”
“I’m not some dog you can train!”
Leviathan made a displeased sound and barked out, “Quiet.”
The command shot through him again, forcing him to fall silent. He shifted away from him, about to pull away, but Leviathan’s grip tightened in a warning. “Stop moving or you’ll rile me up again.”
His face grew hot at that, his body going very still as he realized how…close they were. He could feel Leviathan’s strong chest against his back, his breath on his neck. And lower down he could feel…
He tensed, his face growing even hotter.
Whatever this was, he didn’t want it. It felt…too intimate. No longer a quickie to relieve some stress and clear his mind but something more–
"Relax." Leviathan snapped, materializing a black loofah in his hand. “Lean forward.” Cullen inhaled slowly before doing as he said, his face pinching unhappily. Leviathan dunked it into the bath and then began scrubbing Cullen’s back gently. He recoiled, and then forced himself to relax a bit, though he remained very still, not wanting to work him up again. Or himself, for that matter, with this strange new body that reacted to very wrong and stupid things.
The minutes passed and, eventually, he found himself becoming a little more brave. “This is…nice.” His voice was careful.
“Why so surprised?”
“Well, you're kind of off and on with being a total monster so…” He shrugged.
"I amalwaysa monster. Don't mistake my current kindness for a soft heart, Cull." His hand moved up to Cullen's neck, scrubbing lightly. "I am every bit of what the Diviners think I am. A murderer, a monster. A heartless, evil demon. It's just sometimes…I don't like my toys to be broken and dirty."
Cullen scoffed, annoyed. "Don't call me atoy."
Leviathan stopped rubbing at his skin. Cullen turned slowly, meeting his heavy lidded gaze. "I'll call you whatever I want to call you. 'Toy, pet,victim.'" He grabbed his throat, squeezing it a bit before letting him go. Cullen sucked in a breath. "You belong to me now–I think we've established that." A wicked glint came to his eyes. "Unless you'd like to be tied up for a few more days?"
“No!” He cried, tensing. Whatever he might feel, however ridiculous and confusing this all was, he never wanted to be left like that ever again.
Leviathan reached for him, running his thumb lightly over his bottom lip. Desire raced through him, but he fought it back. Or tried to. "Keep me happy and I won't have to punish you that way again."
His next breath was shaky. "Okay." Fuck. He'd thought he might be able to say no again now that he'd been fully satisfied, but he could already feel himself leaning closer. Leviathan was like a drug.
