“Me too.” He grinned and grabbed Cullen by the ankle, drawing his foot into his lap.
“What are you doing?”
“Massaging you.”
Cullen yanked his foot away with a shocked cry the moment his fingers pressed against it. “Don’t.”
He grinned. “You’re ticklish?”
Cullen groaned softly. “Please don’t. Everything on me hurts.”
Leviathan grinned and reached for him again, grabbing him by the wrist to draw him forward. “Come here.”
He moved forward slowly, wincing at the aches in his body as he turned and settled back against his chest. He’d lost track of how many times they’d been in the bath together like this now. How many times Leviathan had washed him and massaged him, his hands gentle on his bodyas they cleaned him–and then inevitably worked him up again. He would have to be careful to make sure it didn’t happen this time.
Leviathan smiled against his neck and Cullen knew he had heard the thought. Slowly, his arms wrapped around him, pulling him closer. Cullen let him, leaning his head back against his shoulder.
Leviathan nuzzled him again; Cullen grinned.
“You’re very clingy, you know.”
“You like clingy.”
“Maybe.”
“Not maybe. You do.”
Cullen shrugged and took one of his long fingered hands into both of his. He played gently with his fingers for a few minutes.
“Can I ask you something?” He murmured, running his thumbs along the tendons in his hands.
“Of course.”
He hesitated. “Do you remember what your brothers said…about your true form?” He had let it go in the moment, had not wanted to go chasing answers to questions he wasn’t ready to ask yet. But if he was going to stay here…
Behind him, Leviathan tensed. “Yes.”
Another slow, thoughtful pause. “Can I see it?”
It was his turn to hesitate. “No.”
He frowned down at his hand. “Why not?”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
After a long moment, Cullen murmured, “Do you think I’ll become scared of you?” After all, demons could be grotesque, vile creatures. Even angels themselves had been rumored to be…unpleasant to look at sometimes.
“I don’t know.” The words were soft.
He hesitated again. “What if I promise I won’t?”
Leviathan’s fingers twitched in his hands. “Cullen…”
“Please?”
“But why?” He challenged quietly. “What’s the point?”
To know exactly who it is that I’ve agreed to stay with.He responded quietly in his head.
