Page 95 of Evil Hearts

He let out a soft, sweet mewl of surprise as Atticus’ tongue met his stomach, and a gentle giggle followed. Guiding the myth’s head with a firm grip on his horns, Diego let his lithe body fall back a bit, begging for his partner to take him to bed while they had a moment to do so. While their family drank and danced under that bright full moon. While the city would be none the wiser. Atticus could only oblige him.

As the morning sun broke through the winding city skyline, Diego woke with a soft exhale. Daylight streamed in through the still open window above the mattress. Autumn’s chill was on its way, and though he was bare—skin covered in welts and light bite marks—he felt warm. Cozy. At home. It took his sleep-addled brain a while to realize that he wasn’t lying atop a fuzzy blanket, but hislover. Atticus’ strong arm was draped over his waist, and Diego could feel himself rising and falling with each powerful breath the myth took beneath him. The big bovine grumbled a bit, his hand gripping Diego’s hip in protest to his pesky movements that disturbed his slumber.

“Mornin’,” Diego whispered as he buried his face in the thick tufts of fur.

“It’s much too early to be rising,” Atticus mumbled in response.

“We need to hit the road.”

“Let me hold you for a while longer.”

Diego propped himself up on his arms and looked at his still half-asleep myth. Loops of the massive crocheted blanket thatcovered them both had gotten tangled in his horn, his bedhead spread across the full of his body, and his septum ring had twisted so far that several of the sunshine-spikes were up in his nostril. The matador chuckled and gently brushed back some of Atticus’ chestnut-hued fur and gazed into those sleepy golden orbs.

The matador went to protest being kept in bed, but he couldn’t find the strength to. The vehicles surrounding them were rumbling to life as their engines turned over, as the troupe began to head their separate ways for the winter, and he felt a small swell of sadness roll over him. True, he was excited to start this next adventure, but it was always bittersweet to say goodbye. The season had given him so much.

“I’m going to fall asleep again,” Diego said quietly.

“And would that be so bad?” Atticus mused.

“You’re not the one having to drive this monster of a trailer long distance across the literal length of the country over the next few days. I’d like to make a good dent today… I figured maybe we could find a nice little campsite in the Smokies tonight, sleep under the stars. I can work on your shoes in peace, we could grill. Doesn’t that sound nice?”

“Yes.”

“Then,” Diego kissed Atticus’ furry cheek and grabbed onto his horns to pull himself up, “You need to let me get up. We have plenty of long, lazy afternoons ahead of us, but I’d rather do it in front of a cozy fire and not in our trailer.”

Diego tapped Atticus’ septum ring and slid it back into place for him. The myth’s hand softly stroked his spine, still playfully trying to keep him in bed. No matter how much he wriggled, Atticus refused to let him go.

“I’m not going anywhere, Atti. You’re stuck with me, this isn’t ending simply because I’m getting out of bed. Our fairytale isonly just beginning, so don’t fret,” Diego soothed with a soft kiss atop that long muzzle.

“Fine, but I expect waffles,” Atticus said with a pout.

“The biggest stack I can find, mi amor. Let’s begin this new journey, shall we?”

Atticus finally sat up, keeping Diego close to his chest as he did, and kissed the top of his head. They sat for a moment longer in the rays of sunlight and listened as the city came to life around them in the safety and comfort of the rolling home they built together. A home littered with sparkling suits and faux sabers, with photographs and plants, with blankets stitched with the fragrances of lavender and musk.

Diego, nestled in the strong arms of his myth, savored his beautiful life and the love of his strong protector—his partner, his lover, his minotaur—and dreamt of the new adventures they’d experience on the road. Together.

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