Page 152 of A Soul to Steal

Which was nothing.

Aleron pulled his head to the side to watch, rather than sniff him further. He didn’t try to touch him, and only moved by bringing his knees up to give the guitar space in front of them so Gideon could play it freely.

He didn’t know what he wanted, what he’d been expecting, but disappointment flooded his veins. He attempted to keep playing, occasionally stopping to throw more wood onto the fire, then settled back in while hoping for more.

Still, it’d been a long while since he’d felt at peace like this.

As time passed, the moon reached its highest peak and his cold fingertips radiated an ache up his hand from playing for so long. His eyes grew heavy as the emotions of the night bled from him, the high and adrenaline fully waning.

What time is it?It’d been a few hours since night had fallen, but the air didn’t feel cold – not with Aleron surrounding him from three sides.

He stopped playing and stared at the flames with his thoughts quietening.

Before he knew it, his eyelids drooped as he squinted with tiredness, then they closed of their own accord. He tried to keep himself awake, but as the weight of the night sapped the last of his energy, he found himself slipping to the side.

The guitar fell from his hands and slid off his lap, but never clanged when it hit the ground.

Aleron darted forward to grab the length of the musical instrument before it could hit the dirt. He gently lifted it to the side, so it was out of the way, and placed it down with care, already summarising it was important to this human.

Then, he dipped and tilted his head forward so he could see that his bride had truly fallen asleep and now rested against the inner wall of his bent leg. His light-brown hair softly swayed in the breeze, brushing back and forth across his brow as he took calm, even breaths. One of his hands had fallen to the ground, while the other rested in the middle of his crossed legs.

He fell asleep on me,Aleron mused, lifting the knuckle of his forefinger to brush it down the thick, corded muscle on the side of his neck. He gently flicked it forward so the smooth, curved part of his claw traced down his firm jaw.

What does this mean?

He wanted to believe it was because Gideon wanted to lie with him, and be embraced by him, but Aleron couldn’t shakethe uncertainty that lingered. The male had wanted to play the instrument and teach Aleron. Did he only come closer to do that, or was it to be within his presence like this?

His heart yearned for the latter. Every piece of him longed for his bride to seek his attention, rather than dismiss Aleron when he tried to give it.

I do not know why he did this.

Right before Gideon had started playing, he’d pulled out some kind of parchment and had grown awfully pale. His pretty eyes had turned glassy, stark, and even from a distance, Aleron had been able to smell a tangle offear.

He’d stared at Aleron’s skull for an uncomfortable length of time, only to then toss the parchment into the flames as if it were meaningless.

Does it have something to do with the male I saw chasing him?Gideon had taken the case from the human’s dwelling, so this made sense.

Aleron wanted to ask him further about the human, and the one who had cared enough about Gideon to carve his name on the death stone of names. The only reason he didn’t was because he doubted Gideon would tell him. Even in Tenebris, he only revealed the surface of what lay within his mind.

Aleron had discovered enough, and almost everything pertained to Emerie and their family. He hadn’t learned much about his other companions.

He’d already told Gideon everything he could remember about his life once. He didn’t mind doing so again, since much of it seemed to make the male warm to him. However, coming to Earth made him realise just how complex and complicated humans were.

Having a bride is hard.He wrapped Gideon’s throat in his palm, and caressed his jaw back and forth with the side of his thumb.I do like this one, though.

In the back of his mind, he constantly pondered the past few weeks. How it felt for him, the loneliness, rejection, and dejection. None of it had been easy, most of it unpleasant, and he’d rather not relive it.

This wait was painstakingly long. He thought it may be worth it just to have Gideon trustingly and peacefully resting against him like this.

Noticing the way the hair on his jaw tickled his thumb, he braved lowering his head. Aleron’s entire body quaked, his wings flapping and fluttering behind him, when he gently brushed the side of his snout against his stubble. He almost groaned in satisfaction at the spikey texture scraping against his bone.

Aleron placed both his arms around Gideon and nuzzled repeatedly, wishing for his beard to score him.

His pretty scent, just at the tip of his nose hole, was gulped down. Hot, fresh, and decadent. The urge to lick him itched his tongue, and the only reason he didn’t was because he doubted he’d stop.

He didn’t mean to lift his shirt, but the moment bare skin touched his fingertips, his hand ducked underneath it. Aleron palmed his lightly muscled abdomen, feeling the keloid scars there.

Just the merest contact, the smallest of embraces, and already Aleron’s sight flashed purple with desire.I want to touch him, lick him, eat at him so he can’t get away.He yearned to see Gideon desirously cling to him again, desperate to keep him close, so Aleron was the one who couldn’t escape.

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