Page 79 of Oh, Sacred Dark
“Yeah, but you’d have to eat dead things. That’s so gross,” Roman protested.
“I mean, I already eat dead things.”
Roman paused. “Okay, but you know what I mean. Like. Rotting dead things. And just—they’re bald so they don’t get blood and…entrails on their head. That should tell you something.”
Tyler sighed dramatically. “I can’t believe you’re shaming my choice of bird.”
“I’m not shaming you. You can be a vulture if you want. I just thought you’d choose a hawk or something.”
“Oh, so you think I’m a basic bitch.”
Roman snorted. “No. Actually, Connie said you’d probably be a bowerbird.”
“What in the world is that?”
“I dunno, she didn’t explain,” Roman said.
Suspicious, Tyler took out his phone and searched the bird up.Bowerbirds are known for their particular courtship behaviour, Tyler read silently.Male bowerbirds build structures which they decorate with colour-coordinated, shiny, or interesting objects to attract a mate.
Tyler turned the screen black. “Yeah, well, she’d be a goose. ACanadiangoose.”
Roman opened his mouth to answer, which was exactly when the skies opened and rain started pouring down.
“Oh shit,” Tyler cursed. The roar of water hitting the trees and dirt around them was like a thunderclap. Both of them were soaked through with the freezing water in seconds.
Tyler grabbed Roman’s hand and they slipped through the mud as they took shelter in the forest, where the canopy was thicker. Roman laughed as they made it into relative safety, the smile on his face so bright it was blinding.
“Look at the rain!” Roman shouted. With a mischievous look, he pulled away from Tyler and rushed back into it with a scream.
Tyler followed instantly. Laughing along with Roman as they got coated in mud up to the knees.
“Bet you can’t catch me,” Roman teased, sliding down the path they’d just been climbing.
Tyler snorted, sound lost in water, and chased after him. The world was a blur, Roman the only colourful thing, his happy shouts ringing out.
Fuck—Tyler had never felt somuchfor anybody. He just wanted to…
Roman yelped in surprise as Tyler finally caught him, almost tumbling to the ground as he spun the sub clumsily.
Roman was panting, grinning wide, blinking rain out of his eyes as he turned and looked at him.
Tyler did the only thing he could and kissed him.
He felt the joy on Roman’s lips, holding him close as Roman huddled into Tyler.
“Roman,” Tyler whispered when they parted, another noise in the rain. “Fuck. I love you so much.”
All the happiness on Roman’s face drained away, replaced by shock. “What?”
Tyler pulled away slightly. “I…I love you.” Tyler swallowed thickly as Roman just stared at him. “You don’t have to say it back, obviously. Just. I…I don’t know if this is real for you. What we have. Or, what I mean is—if you would want to be my sub. And have me as a Dom. Officially.”
Tyler was going to drown himself in a mud puddle. He was going to make himself disappear.
Roman’s lips parted, an odd noise leaving, but nothing else.
Tyler’s heart sank. Why had he listened to Connie? Why had he ever thought confessing would be a good idea? “You don’t have to—”
“But you could have anyone,” Roman interrupted.
