Page 31 of Alec in Wonderland (Rainbow Tales #1)

Alec's heart rate slowed as he lay within the Knave of Heart's arms. It had been beating rapidly up until then, pounding with something similar to fear but far more delicious. It was the hunt. Being chased. It felt real enough to stimulate the primal part of his brain and make him run faster. But Alec also wanted to be caught. So, he had left his lover breadcrumbs of clothing.

He just hadn't expected Bax to find those crumbs so quickly. It was as if he hadn't needed them at all.

“How did you catch me so fast?” Alec asked.

Bax cracked open an eye and peered at him. “What do you mean?”

“I could have taken several other turns, but you never went the wrong way. You were right on my heels the whole time. How?”

Bax grinned.

“Baxenvir!” Mal smacked his lover's belly.

“I just know where you are, Mal.” He leaned over and kissed Alec's cheek.

Mal. How he hated that name. Mal, as in the Latin for bad or evil. How perfect. Yes, it was a proper name for Alec. He felt as if he were both things. Bad and evil. Especially when Bax smiled at him like that. And now this? What was this crap about him knowing where Alec was?

“How?” Alec persisted.

Bax rolled to loom over Alec, his pink bangs falling into his face. “Can't you just accept that we're linked?”

Alec gaped at him. Linked? Did that mean the Knave of Hearts could track him into the Chess Kingdoms? No, no fucking way. This was just romantic talk.

“Look at you!” Bax chortled. “Are you scared?” Then he lost his grin. “Holy shit, you are scared. You're scared of me.” He sat up.

“No, I'm not!” Alec hurried to sit up too. He pushed at Bax's shoulder. “How could I be afraid of you? You snore.”

“I do not!”

“Uh-huh.” Alec pressed his lips together to keep from laughing.

“I don't.”

“Why can't you just accept it?” Alec lifted a brow at him.

“You're a fluffy borogove!”

“ You're a fluffy borogove that snores !” Alec shot back, not knowing what the fuck a borogove was, but pretty sure he didn't want to be one.

Bax burst out laughing, then launched himself at Alec, taking him down to the grass again.

“Ugh! No! Up!” Alec cried.

“What is it?” Bax lurched back.

“I just laid on some cum!” Alec made yucky sounds as he shifted against the hedge to scratch the cum off his back.

All while Bax roared with laughter.

“Yeah, laugh it up, Mr, Chuckles,” Alec said.

“Come here.” Bax pushed at Alec's shoulder. “Let me help.”

“How? Are you gonna wipe it off with your hand?”

“Why not?”

“Ugh gross!”

“It's your cum. Why is it gross?” Then Bax frowned. “What's gross?”

“My cum.”

“No. I mean, what is that word? I assume it means disgusting, but I've never heard it before.”

“Oh. Coasty lingo.” Alec said and looked away.

“Ah.” He swiped at Alec's back, then wiped his hand on the grass. “Better?”

“Yeah, I guess. Thanks.”

“You're welcome.” Bax leaned back on a hand and peered at Alec. “I saw you with the Tortoise earlier.”

“Yeah, he's from the coast too.”

“I know. He was my old teacher.”

“He mentioned that. He also said you were an apt pupil.”

“Oh? And what else did the Tortoise tell you?”

Alec smirked. “That he missed the seafood.”

“Do you?”

“I could go for some fresh fish, but I have other things to satisfy my appetite.”

“Do you now?”

“I love your smile,” Alec said, his stare locked on Bax's face. “And your eyes. And your everything.”

“I love pretty much everything about you too.”

“Thanks.” Then Alec blinked. “Hold on. What do you mean, 'pretty much?'”

“I mean pretty much. As in nearly.”

“That means there are things you don't like about me!”

“Yup.”

“What?!” Alec shot to his feet and set his fists on his hips. “What don't you like? I'm totally and completely likable!”

Bax lifted a brow at the long, languid piece of flesh directly in his line of sight, then stood up as well. “I don't like that you haven't moved into my room yet.”

“What?” Alec dropped his hands.

“You heard me.” Bax claimed one of those discarded hands and used it to pull Alec closer. “And I don't like the thought that you might leave someday.”

“Oh.”

“Yes, oh.”

Alec licked his lips. “Was that your way of asking me to move into your suite?”

“It was. Yes.”

Alec looked up at Bax and shook his head. “That was real smooth, baby.”

“Thank you. I assume that's a good thing?”

“Yes. It means that you're charming.”

“Ah. One of these days, I will get used to your coastal vernacular.”

“Why bother? Don't you like me keeping you guessing?”

“No, Mal. That is yet another thing I distinctly don't like about you.”

Alec burst out laughing.