There was a pause, then Jon asked, “How long?”
“Over twenty years. The first time in over twenty years was when Marcus showed up. But I couldn’t just do nothing, and then we kissed, and then I wanted more,” Beel murmured.
“You’re Beel?” Jon asked.
Beel nodded his head in confirmation.
“Beel, what are you?” Jon whispered.
“I’m a demon,” Beel admitted. “Az is too. Gabe knows. I mean, he didn’t know about me for like twenty years, but he knows now, although he’s never seen me in any other form. I was summoned to be his pet, and it was… it was good, so I never left, even when I’d fulfilled my duty. Most of what I told you tonight was true. I’m a lesser demon, and the errand running and stuff—it got old. I liked helping Gabe and being his friend; I felt like an older brother. He needed me. And then Az came around, and he told Gabe, and I thought things would change, but Gabe said I was family, and so I stayed.”
“But you were never human with him?” Jon questioned softly.
Beel shook his head.
“Only with me?” Jon persisted.
Beel nodded, letting his head fall to his chest.
“Beel, look at me,” Jon demanded softly. Beel shook his head once. He couldn’t. He was too afraid.
Jon wasn’t having any of that, though, because he scooted so he was facing Beel and lifted Beel’s chin, forcing his head up. He placed both his hands on the sides of Beel’s face, looking into his eyes. Beel looked down, but eventually he gave in and made eye contact. He didn’t see disgust, or anger. He wasn’t sure what he saw, butsomething inside him unclenched and eased a bit. At least Jon didn’t hate him—he could tell that much.
“Beel, it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter if you’re a frog or a human or a demon or whatever. I’m sorry you felt like you couldn’t tell me, even though Iknewsomething was weird,”—he snorted a bit at that, mumbling “parkour” under his breath—“but I don’t blame you. I mean, I’m not sure I would have even believed you, because it just seemed so far-fetched. I guess I should have trusted my instincts,” he shrugged.
“You aren’t… disgusted?” Beel murmured.
Jon looked outraged for a moment. “Disgusted? Why would I be disgusted?”
“Because I’m a frog. And a demon. And because I lied to you,” Beel insisted, knowing he wasn’t doing himself any favors listing it all. “But I couldn’t resist you. Youareperfect, Jon. You’re sexy, and kind, and sweet, and I love the way you blush when we flirt, and I love talking about our lives and listening to you tell me things, and I also love when you pet my back and feed me popcorn while we’re watching movies, and even I know that’s fucking weird.”
Jon laughed, then he leaned in and kissed Beel. It was soft and hesitant at first, more on Beel’s part than Jon’s, but Jon persisted, gently pressing his lips over and over against Beel’s, eventually licking out with his tongue, and Beel opened for him.
They slanted their heads, lips gently grazing, tongues softly tangling. It was easy, and slow, and sensuous, and Beel felt himself get hard despite the worry and panic he was still low key dealing with. Because he just couldn't resist Jon.
“You, Mr. Frog, are also perfect. And it’s not fucking weird. So you like being a frog and a human. You’re just… nonbinary, that’s all,” Jon reassured him.
Beel snorted at that. “I don’t think that’s what that term means, Jon.”
Jon looked affronted. “Technically, nonbinary means composed of two things, and you are composed of two things—or maybe three?Is human separate from demon? Nontrinary? Not sure that’s a thing, but we can make it a thing, and there’s nothing wrong with it. Now come on, I made brownies, and we’re going to eat some and talk, because chocolate is perfectly acceptable for breakfast after this morning’s chaos,” he said, and he got up, reached a hand down to help Beel up, and waited.
Beel hesitated a moment, but he took Jon’s hand and stood. If Jon wanted to lead him somewhere, Beel would follow. Maybe, just maybe, he’d have his fairy tale ending after all.
Chapter
Eighteen
JON MAKES AMAZING BROWNIES
They ended up throwing on boxer shorts. Beel didn’t mind being naked—hells, as a frog he wasalwaysnaked—but Jon had insisted, saying talk first and naked time after. Beel was hopeful there really would be more naked time, but in the meantime, he supposed talk was necessary.
They sat at the kitchen table and Jon brought over the brownie pan and two spoons. Beel didn’t complain. They started eating—the brownies were freaking amazing—and Jon asked questions, mostly about his life as a demon and getting summoned. Beel had told so much truth about his life (except he’d made it sound normal and human), so Jon knew a lot already.
“So, you have horns and a tail but no wings. But Az has wings. I still can’t believe Az is a demon,” Jon mumbled. “Although really it does explain a lot. He says some weird stuff sometimes.”
“Yeah. He’s like really a big shot. I’m just a lesser demon, though,” Beel reiterated.
“Hey,” Jon said, bumping his knee under the table. “There is nothing lesser about you,” he smirked, taking another bite of brownie and spooning it into Beel’s mouth.
