"Because of this," Landen said.
His fingers moved. Traced beneath Adriel's eye, where he knew pink had spread across his cheek, followed the curve of it, the soft skin there. Adriel's lashes fluttered against the touch.
"And these," Landen whispered.
The fingers moved lower. Found his lips. Traced the shape of them, the fullness of the bottom one. His thumb caught on it, pulled it down slightly, just barely, just enough to feel the give of it.
Adriel's lips parted on a shaky exhale.
His thumb lingered there, pressed slightly, let the lip slip free. Then his eyes met Adriel's again, and what Adriel saw in them made his chest ache.
"I wanted to kiss you because you are the only thing I can think about, Adriel." Landen's voice was barely there, a whisper against the space between them. "You consume my every thought."
His lips followed the path his fingers had taken.
A soft kiss to Adriel's cheek. Warm. Tender. A kiss to the skin beneath his eye, so light it was almost nothing. Then to his lips.
Adriel shivered.
His heart was beating so hard he was sure it would break out of his rib cage, sure Landen must feel it, must hear it, must know what those words were doing to him. He shook his head slightly. A tiny movement. Involuntary. A refusal he couldn't help.
It couldn't be true.
How could it be true?Why would someone like Landen; sharp and polished and effortlessly beautiful, ever want someone like Adriel? Why wouldhebe the one to consume anyone's thoughts?
It didn't make sense. It couldn't make sense.
"You don't trust me," Landen whispered against his lips. "I know."
His mouth brushed Adriel's as he spoke. Each word a tiny kiss, a tiny promise.
"But you will."
Adriel's eyes fluttered closed.
"You can't see it." Another brush of lips. "You don't even realize just how beautiful you are."
Adriel made a sound. Small. Broken. A protest he couldn't voice, couldn't form into words.
"But I will show you."
Landen's lips were on his again.
Deeper this time. Harder. His tongue slid into Adriel's mouth, and Adriel's thoughts, what was left of them, vanished completely.
His hands moved. Traveled down Adriel's body, slow and deliberate, leaving trails of heat everywhere they touched. Down his back, fingers pressing into the muscles there, feeling the shape of him. Around to his sides, thumbs tracing the curve of his waist.
Adriel gasped into his mouth.
Landen swallowed the sound. Kissed him deeper. His hands found Adriel's hips, gripped them, pulled him closer until there was no space left between them.
His own hands moved without permission. Fisted in Landen's shirt again, pulled him closer, held on like he was drowning and Landen was air. He kissed back desperately, sloppily, poured everything he couldn't say into the press of his lips, the slide of his tongue.
Landen groaned against his mouth. The sound vibrated through Adriel, settled somewhere deep, made him want more.
One of Landen's hands slid lower. Cupped the curve of his ass, squeezed, pulled him tighter. The other found the back of his neck.
Adriel moaned. The sound was answered by another low groan from Landen. His tongue slid against Adriel's, explored every corner of his mouth, tasted him like he couldn't get enough. Like Adriel was something he'd been starving for.