Page 31 of The Frog Prince (The GriMM Tales #6)

He wanted to reach out to Alwin and make things right. He didn’t know what he was doing, but he took a step toward him. He was reaching out when his foot caught on a slippery stone beneath the surface of the water. He flailed for a moment before careening down.

He remembered a half second later as his bulk was slipping back under the water that he still couldn’t swim, and panic swelled in his chest.

A slippery arm caught him around the back, able to carry his weight easily with the buoyancy of the water. Their chests slid together, shirts dislodged by cheeky watery hands to allow their bare lower stomachs to touch, legs intertwining.

They were a perfect fit.

Where Alwin’s stomach recessed, Otto’s muscles pressed out to fill the space, their breathing moving in time so that nothing could slip between.

Oddly, Alwin seemed to be more surprised by this turn of events than Otto, his bulging eyes blown wider than ever, his slitted nostrils flared.

It was…sweet. And humorous.

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. He wasn’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?”

“I fear I won’t be able to let go.”

Otto’s heart ached, and he reached behind him blindly, catching Alwin’s trailing wrist and urging it around him.

It didn’t take much coaxing. Soon Alwin’s arms were crisscrossing over Otto’s wide back, fingers curling up over his shoulders as Alwin buried his head deeper into Otto’s neck.

Otto said nothing about the tightness with which he held him, only increasing the pressure to make Alwin feel secure for as long as he needed it. Even when Otto began to shiver from the cold of the autumn weather and cold water and cold body pressing up against him, he didn’t let go.

Only when a large shiver escaped Otto’s tight control did Alwin lift his head. “Otto?”

Otto hummed, not trusting his voice not to waver.

“You’re freezing,” Alwin said, panic flitting across his face.

“I’m fine,” Otto said foolishly.

Alwin pulled back, running his hands all over Otto’s chest and arms. “You are not fine. I forgot you wouldn’t be used to water this cold for such a long time.”

“Alwin.” Otto felt his teeth chatter slightly, but he pushed on because he could see him spiraling. “I’ll be okay. Just a little chill.”

“I’ll fix it,” Alwin said, rummaging through the shirt he was wearing.

This one was one of his own—dark blue and thin with wear, but lovely against his light green skin.

The buttons on it were plain and wooden, but Alwin reached inside and gave a swift tug before pulling his hand out and opening his palm.

A round golden button glimmered in the light before Alwin closed his eyes and it vanished into thin air in a wisp of green magic.

A tide of warmth washed over Otto, starting in his toes and climbing up his body until he felt like he was under the softest blanket. He gasped at the feeling, his cheeks flushing bright red.

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“I wanted to,” Alwin said. “I need you comfortable and warm. I need…”

He trailed off, and Otto saw him shifting on his feet and looking away for a moment before he looked back into his eyes.

“What?” Otto asked gently, wishing he could pull him back into his arms.

“I need to know I can give you what you need while you’re here,” he said, and Otto couldn’t help but wonder as his heart fluttered, if he was crazy for thinking he’d just stay with Alwin for good.

“I know you can,” Otto said instead of confessing something so impulsive. He ran a hand over the back of his warm neck, fighting for rationality. “How about we head back? As long as you don’t have any more duties? I need to get started on that cure.”

“Anything you want.”

Alwin stepped closer a little shyly, allowing Otto to grasp him around the neck just like he had in the pond before setting off swiftly through the water.

It brought on too many visceral memories, and Otto had to bite his lip from reacting exactly as he had then as their bodies pressed together from head to toe.

The problem was that Otto could tell that Alwin wasn’t indifferent to their closeness either. The hitched breaths and barely concealed croaky whines when Otto adjusted his grip around his neck were a little too much to handle.

It made him wonder why Alwin wore such high-necked shirts. Was what was under there really that sensitive?

He pictured regular frogs and how they inflated their skin. Could Alwin do that? Was that why it was sensitive?

More heat that had nothing to do with magic overwhelmed him. He was sure he would be sweating if he weren’t in the water.

Alwin’s breath hitched loudly, his strokes losing their rhythm, and Otto refocused to find his thumb had inched up to press into the crease between Alwin’s jaw and neck.

Otto ripped it away even as his mind spun.

Soft. It was so soft and delicate.

“I’m sorry.”

Alwin’s breathing was rough as he shook his head. “It’s fine. We’re here.”

Otto looked up and saw the broken room was only a few strokes away. He was already mourning the loss of their closeness.

Alwin drew them level and instructed Otto to hold on to the edge. “I’ll go first and help pull you up.”

He popped out of the water gracefully, skin shining beautifully and dripping water all over. Otto stared up at him with pink cheeks and a stiffening member, thinking he was a deity come to seek admiration from petty humans.

Alwin reached down to offer a hand, and Otto took it with one of his own, using the other to brace himself on the stonework and gain some leverage with his foot on the lip.

Only Otto pushed too hard at the same moment Alwin pulled with too much strength, and Otto could only widen his eyes as he tried to regain his balance before they both went toppling backward into the room.