Page 40 of The Botanist and the Beast

"Long enough. Is it possible?"

"I don't think so. I've tried a lot of things. Nothing has stuck in a decade. The curse breaking doesn't concern you so don't get too caught up in thinking about it. Tell me more about the girls. I like learning about your family."

Seems to be a touchy subject tonight. I'll have to ask another time. Or maybe Jacques and Oliver will tell me."They're sweet kids. Coralie has feelings for a girl in town that's not my favorite person, and I'm dreading that conversation."

"I bet." Sebastian chuckled. "Young love is cute."

He crinkles his nose when he laughs. How adorable."It's cute till you have to be the voice of reason and tell them they didn't meet the love of their life at fifteen. Especially not a girl who views school as a burden. Coralie is too smart for that nonsense."

"I find young love rather precious. There's something magical about it. You should let her be in love for now."

"You know, for a man who chains men up in his guest room, you're exceptionally soft," he teased.

"It's not a habit." He coughed on his food. "You're the first I locked in here and it was because of the specific circumstances. I had to in order to appease the bloodlust of my people."

"Why do you have metal hooks on the bed legs if locking prisoners up isn't a common occurrence?"

"Those aren't for keeping prisoners," he mumbled.

"Then what are they for?"

"Recreational activities,” he said the words in a barely audible voice.

"Recreation?" It clicked and Theo smirked. "Oh, you like tying up your lovers?

"Sure." The prince poked at his food, still avoiding Theo’s gaze. His cheeks and antlers turned a carnation pink.

"Wait. Do you like being tied up?" As soon as he said it the prince's face and antlers brightened, and Theo was delighted. "How cute. I found a random fetish." Sebastian gripped his antlers as it he could hide the light coming from them. "Aw, you don't have to be shy. We're adults, right? I assumed you had sex before. At the very least with how Lyle acts, I gathered you two fell into bed together a few times."

"Enough." He waved a hand dismissively. "Talk about your sexual interests, not mine."

"Ask away. I'm an open book when it comes to stuff like that."

He timidly tapped his bowl with a spoon as he thought it over. "Tell me something you like, since you exposed one of my interests."

"I like a little bit of pain, but more than that, though, I like being in control." He took a sip of water before he went on. "I like bossing my partners around and teasing them a little."

"Not surprising honestly. You sound a bit mean," Sebastian muttered. “Is that why you pester me so often?”

"I don't tease you that much these days." Theo laughed. "Don't get me wrong. I'm not a selfish lover. I prefer doingwhatever it is they like while I'm being bossy. If they want to be the one getting fucked, I can do that. If they want to be the one fucking me, I also don't mind. If they like it gentle and tender, I'll shelf my desire of pain, and if they want things to be rough, I'll do my best to deliver. As long as they come completely undone for me, I'm happy. I don’t want them to be able to think. It gives me a sense of pride to be the one who can get them to that point."

Sebastian shifted in his seat as he listened, and the top of his robe slipped down just enough that Theo could see his bare shoulder with pretty little splotches of opal stone.How is he so effortlessly breathtaking?Theo cleared his throat and forced himself to focus. "What do you like about being tied up?"

"It's always been an escape. I think a lot. I work a lot. Everyone always needs something from me. If I'm tied down, I'm forced to be in the moment and forced not to take charge. It’s one of the few times I can...”

"Stop thinking?" Theo finished and smirked at the blush that crossed Sebastian's cheeks.

"Right." He drummed his fingers on the table. "Now that I think about it, I guess it's less about being tied up and more about not being in charge for a change."

"I could see that from a prince who has so much to do."On paper we're compatible. I wonder if that’d hold up in practice.Sebastian seemed to have the same thought because he got flustered and looked away.Would it be out of line for me to say we should test it out?"You know, you never told me if you were interested in someone else. Is there anyone you're letting tie you up these days?"

"No," he said with a shrug. "You see me nearly every day. You know I'm not sleeping with anyone."

"Not even Lyle? He still seems very interested in you."

"I figured you were eavesdropping for a while. We haven't been together in a long time. I don't know how he feels about meromantically, and I don't really care to know." He leaned on a hand. "Why are you curious about my love life anyway?"

"Because I like knowing about you."And I want to know if taking this leap is worth it.

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