Page 95 of The Frog Prince

He wanted to hear them all. He wanted Alwin to tell him everything. But he refused to break the moment between them by talking.

He rested his hands on Alwin’s shoulders once he was done and lowered his head until his forehead was nearly touching the nape of Alwin’s neck. Cool fingers skirted over his own before tugging at his hands, bringing them around Alwin’s shoulders and pressing his palms over his heart.

He covered the vulnerable spot with his hands and let Alwin’s hold them there.

Breath on his neck.

Breeze on their skin.

Magic around them.

Otto wasn’t sure why, but the moment the tiny frog in his shirt sleeve croaked again before hopping out to find some food was the moment he realized Alwin was his.

He looked up and saw that the marks along Alwin’s spine weren’t green anymore, they were a deep, rich blue, and he startled.

“Your marks changed colors,” he whispered. Alwin’s skin prickled when Otto’s breath hit it.

“I… Yes,” Alwin said. “I suppose they would.”

“What does that mean?” Otto asked, fascinated. “Can you control it? Did you do it on purpose?”

“No, it is beyond my control. It’s a frog trait. I… It happens when I’m trying to…mate.”

“Mate?” Otto asked, eyes wide and the front of his breeches getting uncomfortably tight at the ideas blooming in his head.

“Some frogs change colors when they’re trying to attract a partner.” Alwin folded in on himself, speaking as though this was a secret he didn’t want known.

“Are you trying to attract me, my prince?”

Alwin sucked in a quick breath before turning his head to look over his shoulder, those impossibly green eyes locking with Otto’s.

“It would appear so,” he said, small and guarded, but so within reach that Otto could feel his fingers tingling. He ran them down Alwin’s fragile spine, mapping out the dark-blue marks. The symbols of Alwin’s desire.

“It is working,” Otto said, splaying his palm over Alwin’s back and resting his chin on his shoulder. He kissed his cheek, catching the corner of wide lips and nuzzled in. “You have me. If you want me.”

“If I…” Alwin gasped, leaning into the touch, his eyes slipping shut. “Otto…”

“Our deal still stands. I will not mind being pushed away.”

“Pushing you away would mean denying what my very soul craves,” Alwin whispered.

Otto closed his eyes, heart lodging in his throat at the words. “You’ve got me, Alwin. My prince.”

It felt like a dam broke. With a broken little cry, Alwin turned in place and crawled into Otto’s lap, grabbing the sides of his head and leaning his forehead against Otto’s.

“Do you really want me?” Alwin asked into the sliver of space between them, his breathing echoing loudly in the little clearing. “This is not out of duty, or a sense of gratitude or obligation?”

Otto splayed his fingers over Alwin’s small behind, tugging him closer until he was sitting on his hard cock.

“Does this feel like obligation to you?” he asked, rolling Alwin’s hips into his own and swallowing his soft moans. “I want you. I have wanted you for longer than you know. I’ve dreamed about you.”

“You have?” Alwin asked, fingers slipping down to Otto’s shoulders to hold himself steady.

“Since the first night I came back home after meeting you. I’ve dreamed about you naked with me, kissing me, touching me, making me see stars. Alwin, I want you.”

“You have me, Otto,” Alwin whispered. “I am no prize, but you have won anyway.”

“It is a prize if the winner values it. And I will count myself lucky for as long as I have you.” Otto reached down to unfasten both of their breeches.