Page 83 of The Frog Prince

A spooked frog in the wild.

Alwin’s thigh brushed between his a little higher, and all thoughts of sweetness and laughter began to dissipate.

Otto had come to terms with the fact that he was attracted to Alwin, but his body reacting so wildly was unfamiliar to him. Hewasn’t a stranger to carnal pleasures, but nobody had ever made him feel like this with just a single touch. It was unnerving and exhilarating at the same time.

Trying to get himself under a bit of control as to not overwhelm Alwin, he took the time to just observe him, his gaze moving from feature to glistening feature.

He found himself reaching out, the backs of his fingers moving through the space he would imagine hair would grow if Alwin were human. He let them trail over the empty space where his ears would have been and down the rounded cheek, catching the corner of his lips. All of the features that Otto had once looked at as monstrous were now just Alwin. His Alwin. His kind and gentle prince.

“Beautiful,” he murmured to himself.

Alwin immediately shied away from the touch. Actually, it was more of a flinch, like he was hurt even though there was no sign of pain.

Otto quickly retracted his hand, curling his fingers into his palm. “I’m sorry…”

The words sank like stones into the water between them as Alwin shuddered out a breath with his eyes closed, face turned away.

He was shaking.

“Alwin?” he asked.

Alwin simply shook his head. “Please don’t.”

“Touch you?” Otto clarified, thinking back to the night before and their agreement.

“Call me that,” he said. “I know what I am.”

Otto felt his blood rush to his ears, making them drum with tension.

“And what are you?” he asked.

“A monster. Just because you have gotten used to it enough not to fear it doesn’t change that. It is all right to want me, but please do not lie to me.”

Otto felt his heart shatter in his chest as he pushed his way through water to stand right by Alwin once again.

“You were never a monster. You were never something to fear. It was always my own prejudice and closed-mindedness that guided my actions. And for that I am sorry. I know better now.”

“What?” Alwin’s voice was small, his body pulled in as if trying to make himself smaller.

“Different doesn’t mean ugly,” Otto said, lifting his hand slowly again and cupping Alwin’s cheek. He relished the fact that Alwin didn’t pull away. “You are beautiful. I see you. And I like what I see.”

“Oh…” Alwin’s cheeks took on a different hue than usual as he looked away and squirmed in place.

Otto stepped forward, closing the distance between them, taking Alwin in his arms and against his chest.

Alwin was a statue in his arms, like he was completely unused to such a touch. The thought made Otto squeeze him closer and tighter until he heard a small whiny croak as Alwin leaned into him finally, resting his large head on Otto’s shoulder like he was exhausted.

It was all his weight, as if Otto had cut his strings with the promise to catch him. Which he did, resting his hands securely against his wet back, feeling the bony ridges of his unfamiliar body through his clothing.

He found that contrary to his first impression, Alwin weighed almost nothing. His whole frame was delicate and fragile, made up of snappable bones and soft skin. He moved his hand up to cradle his head as he turned his face into the ridge where an ear would be.

His nose brushed the slippery skin and Alwin shuddered in his arms.

“You can hold me back,” Otto murmured.

Alwin shook his head. “I am afraid to.”

“Why?”