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“No way.”

“Just one.”

“Fuck, I said—”

“Please,” Xen’s gaze dropped to Evan’s mouth, those soft-looking lips parting unconsciously. “I’ve waited so long. I’ve been so good. I’ll do anything, Evan. Anything, just…” he drew closer, “…let me taste you.”

Evan swallowed, fists clenching between their chests.

Don’t fall for it. Don’t fall for it. Don’t fall for it.

Xen’s dark brows scrunched in a look of forced restraint, like he was physically holding himself back from claiming Evan’s lips. Another rush of heat shot right down to Evan’s crotch, desire mingling with frustration until…

Fuck it.

Evan grabbed Xen’s face. Jerked him down.

And their mouths collided. Roughly. All too eagerly.

Heat exploded. Spiritual and demonic energy crackling in the air. It was as if the fire kindling inside Xen had erupted into a volcano. His body went rigid at first, skin blazing hot against Evan’s palms. Their eyes were still open, staring into each other; Xen’s dazed, the other annoyed to the point of insanity.

Then, with a rumbling growl, Xen took Evan’s mouth like it belonged to him. Claiming. Demanding.

With one hand around his middle, Xen crushed Evan against the hard ridges of his body, his other hand tangling in Evan’s soft hair and angling his head to devour him through.

Only after being wrapped so thoroughly in Xen did Evan realize how small he was in comparison. How, with a bit more force, Xen could easily break him apart if he so wished. How, even with Evan pressed into him completely, Xen tried to pull him closer still, trying to merge their bodies into one.

Wave after wave of unbearable heat radiated from Xen’s body and coursed through Evan’s. Bearing the sweet torment with a frown, his hands that were clutching Xen’s robe slid around his nape, pulling him closer. His body arched into his, coming together to fit perfectly, like a puzzle.

Xen made a sound of approval low in his throat when Evan’s erection ground against his own.

Of all the ways Evan had thought about breaking his long-lasting chastity, this was not one of them. But God help him, it was better than anything he could’ve expected.

Xen’s tongue darted out and tangled with Evan’s almost desperately, squeezing him into his body until Evan couldn’t breathe and had to pull away.

“E-Enough…” Gasping for air, Evan rasped out, “There… That’s one kiss…” He swallowed. “Now go…”

Xen’s brows drew together again, and he dropped his forehead against Evan’s shoulder, letting out a deep sigh. Then chuckled. “If I ask for more—”

“I’ll knee you in the balls.”

With another muffled laugh, Xen pulled away from Evan.

As his head rose, his scarlet eyes came into view, burning bright in the dark, the golden glow of the flame making his face seem more ethereal.

But there was something else there, something deeper and thoroughly concealed that had momentarily surfaced in those eyes.

Something like sorrow, like deep-seated longing.

“Stay here. This won’t take long,” his thumb brushed across Evan’s lower lip, then he stepped back. Away and away, his smile fading from his lips until he blended into the shadows. He turned and leisurely strolled towards the six gigantic rock figures.

The tension in his shoulders, present while kissing Evan, vanished the moment he turned to face the demons. He even slipped his hands into his pocket, like nothing in the world could faze him.

Like he’d just held his entire world in his arms, and knew nothing could take it away.

The Shadow Hand trembled on Evan’s shoulder. Not from fright, he could tell. It was more like a flustered fidgeting, an aftermath of that kiss. If he’d been in his whole form, Evan imagined he’d see two faint red puffs of blush under those glowing crimson eyes.

Evan cleared his throat awkwardly.