Chapter 152

Chapter 152: Chapter 152

Asael and Dulce sat in the flower fields until the sun set and Ruoxi had to come get them.

"Such greed," He accused as he sauntered over. "I was abandoned for the entire day," He complained to Dulce.

The Vampire rose to his feet, the items around them that had been used for roasting wild fowls long cleared up by servants. "You can come along next time." He invited generously, offering a hand to Asael.

Asael shot Ruoxi a dark look, taking the slender hand offered to him to pull Dulce down on him. "No, he can’t." He denied ruthlessly.

Ruoxi wore a smile on his face, unfazed. "It’s time for dinner. Kath’tan can have the leftovers." He tagged on, knowing that Dulce would want to wait for the Fiend’s return.

Dulce was straddling Asael, indulging the Demon who still held his hand. "I doubt Kath’tan would return tonight," He said calmly despite his ambiguous position, looking over a shoulder at Ruoxi. "We should head in for dinner." He said, attempting to rise to his feet.

Asael let him go, rising to his feet as well. The dining table was laid when they arrived, the servants would clean up after dinner before returning to the village for the night.

He had eaten through the afternoon yet still managed to tuck away more food. Dulce on the other hand was nibbling on his dinner, more inclined to dessert.

After dinner, they all dispersed, retiring to their individual rooms. Dulce took a bath and got ready for the night, more out of habit than anything else as he couldn’t sleep.

He stepped into his room in loose nightwear, looking at the fireplace in his room longingly. It wasn’t yet cold enough for it to be lit up through the night, it reminded him that he never got to sit by the fireplace with his Hound for company.

Dulce walked over to one of the bookshelves hung on the walls to choose a book for the night. He was just about to get into bed with his book when his bedroom door swung open.

"Asael, did you need something?" Dulce asked harmlessly, sitting on the edge of his bed.

"Yes, company." He said bluntly, closing the distance.

Dulce’s expression brightened, hoping to hear that. "I can do that," He agreed eagerly, placing his book down. "Being unable to sleep make nights seem endless."

Asael glanced down at the book that had been ignored for his sake. "Is that why you read?"

Dulce tracked his gaze, burying a hand in his long hair, his expression sheepish. "Not quite, it was to better sell my disguise when I was living amongst humans. It’s incredibly monotonous to lay down for several hours every night in total silence."

"What did you usually do to pass the night?" Asael lowered himself to the bed. He was adept at waiting so he didn’t mind the nights he had spent on Earth, there was company more often than not.

Dulce turned to him, crossing his legs underneath him. "I can’t remember. It’s unlikely that i always read through the nights though."

Asael let the conversation end there, despite the uncertainty, his curiosity about Dulce’s past only grew. He sat back against the headboard and took the Vampire’s hand to pull him close.

Since the conversation they had in Ensbury, he had kept his hands to himself, patient and composed. But tonight, he planned put the seal on their intimate relationship.

It was like when they were in the flower fields all over again, Dulce half-straddling him. He had a firm hand on the Vampire’s slight waist, his pale hair cascading around them.

The door swung open then, Ruoxi coming in uninvited. The Incubus was shirtless again, his hair left down. He yawned as he walked in, unfazed by the sight he stumbled on.

He was bored sitting in his room and he had already spent the entire day exploring the cottage. There was little to be seen, the entire building built from scratch quite recently. He had even gone to Dulce’s study but the sheer amount of papers made his head spin.

Dulce had fallen against Asael’s chest when he was pulled so there was barely any distance between their faces, but when his door opened, he leaned back, his attention divided.

"You couldn’t sleep, Ruoxi?" He asked with concern, glancing over at the Demon.

Ruoxi ignored the cutting glare Asael sent his way, giving Dulce a charming smile. "I couldn’t, let me stay in your room tonight." He shamelessly invited himself.

Asael let go of Dulce’s hand, displeased but not enough to take the petty Incubus’ bait. Having Dulce’s company for the night was satisfying enough.

"You’re welcome to," Dulce accepted, turning to Asael. The Shadow Demon’s hold on him had loosened, he could step away anytime, but they had been interrupted...

Dulce leaned forward to close the distance, initiating the kiss that had been interrupted.

Asael was caught off guard, but only for a moment, right before he tipped the Vampire’s jaw to better access his mouth.

Ruoxi was the most surprised, his eyes grew dim, his jaw tensed as he stared at the sight in front of him. The overtly passive Vampire had initiated a kiss with someone else that wasn’t him, it was crushing.

Asael broke off the kiss first, unwelcoming to an audience. The Vampire’s lips were cool and so was his tongue, it made it all the more obvious when they heated up from the kiss.

Dulce got off him after the kiss was broken up, the Vampire sat on the bed next to him so he could better divide his attention.

It had grown windy as dinner progressed, now it picked up, the first patters of rain falling on the roof.

"It’s gloomy in the west during late autumn and winter, perhaps we should have gone to the south." Dulce tutted, rising to his feet to close the open windows.

Two stares were leveled on him, the Vampire seemed not to have the ability to get flustered, soft color on his pale features as he flitted from window to window.

Dulce glanced at the fireplace after he was done, "I should perhaps light the fireplace."

"Are you cold?" Ruoxi hastily spoke up, "I’ll keep you warm." He offered generously.

Dulce couldn’t really feel the cold so he demurred. "I was more worried that you were cold."

Ruoxi’s charming smile turned wry, he switched tactics. "I am cold." He lied through his teeth, despite choosing to be without a shirt.

Dulce was immediately raring to go, "I’ll light the hearth then-"

Ruoxi caught him as he bustled past, "I would prefer you keep me warm."

Dulce lowered himself to the sofa the Demon had settled on, "Unfortunately, I’m too cold to warm you up." He admitted, calmly facing the Incubus’ shameless antics.

Ruoxi glanced down at their joined hands, the Vampire was cold to the touch, it should be unsettling but it wasn’t, his soft skin pleasant to touch.

"I’ll be the judge of that," He decided self-importantly, pulling Dulce into his arms.

The Vampire came easily but Ruoxi was still dissatisfied, he wanted Dulce to take the initiative to be intimate with him too.

He buried his face into the curve of his neck, perhaps it was self-absorbed of him to demand the one thing Dulce told him he couldn’t give.

Love had always been generously given to him, even the Holy Demon who had kept him captive for centuries had been madly obsessed. So it was disorienting not to have the object of his attraction be hopelessly in love with him.

A peaceful silence stretched out, filled with the steady rhythm of cold autumn rains beating against the roof of the cottage. Another sound soon joined it, it was the crackling of a growing fire, the light smoky scent of cherry oak filling the room.

Dulce pulled back from the hug slightly at this, turning to Asael to see the Shadow Demon returning to the bed. "It would be faster to warm up by the fireplace." He suggested.

Ruoxi reluctantly let the Vampire go, the only person that had gotten warmer in the brief moment they spent in each other’s arms was Dulce. He watched him go over to the fireplace to peer into the fire, the warmth reflected in his cool, blue eyes.

Dulce dragged a thick bearskin rug closer to the fireplace, throwing down pillows on it to make it more comfortable. "Come and sit by the fireplace, Ruoxi," He invited, his eyes twinkling at the chance to make the other more comfortable.

Ruoxi rose to his feet and came over, having Dulce pressed up against him had only increased his internal temperature, sitting by the fireplace would do more harm than good.

But the Vampire had worked hard to prepare a comfortable sitting area close to the fire, an expectant look on that striking face.

He couldn’t bring himself to say no, so he trudged over and lowered himself down to the rug.