Chapter 14 #2
“Nobody will hurt you, pet.” He came to a stop and pulled Cullen close.
The music changed, shifted to something slower.
Cullen saw a few of the demons around them give each other pondering looks, but Leviathan did not look away from his face.
“Nobody will even look at you.” Just as he made the promise, the presence of death lightened, shifted away from him.
He inhaled slowly, surprised, and kept his mouth shut as Leviathan’s hand came up, his fingertips brushing his cheek before it dropped to his waist again.
But…dancing…
He’d never been very good at it. Though he couldn’t recall a time he’d ever slow danced with Walker. It had always been a club here and there, the music and lights pulsing around him until he felt dizzy…
Leviathan wrapped a firm arm around his waist, pulling him flat against his body. Cullen swallowed hard, refusing to acknowledge the stirring in his stomach at the contact.
“Trust me, just a little.” Leviathan murmured, his lips against his ear. Cullen gasped softly, his hand curling tightly into his shirt. “Let’s have fun.”
Fun.
Here. In this place full of monsters. Where he could feel nothing but fear and confusion and where he was always in danger of whatever dark things Leviathan had rolling around in his head…
“I…I can’t dance…” He tried weakly. “You should know that…”
“It is different now. Your body is more controlled. More agile. I promise you will not make a fool of yourself.”
Cullen hesitated again but let Leviathan pull him into his arms, one of his hands wrapping tightly around Cullen's while the other took a firm grip on his hip. He flushed, but slowly raised his hand, watching it tremble as it moved to rest on Leviathan’s shoulder.
"It goes on my neck." Leviathan growled quietly.
Cullen quickly moved his hand up, his fingertips brushing the back of his neck, the soft hair that rested against it. His face burned hotter as he looked up at Leviathan, their faces close. Too close. Cullen twisted to the side, his throat moving hard as he swallowed.
Leviathan smiled. "Trust your body, Cullen." He took a fast step forward and Cullen stepped back instinctively, a startling smooth movement. Their eyes met and Leviathan smiled again, pulling Cullen with him as he began to move around the dance floor.
The other demons automatically moved out of their way, parting off to the sides with grumbles of annoyance that Leviathan seemed to not notice.
His hands remained tight on him; Cullen found it very easy to know which direction to turn, where to place his feet, though he knew he’d pummeled Walker’s feet over and over again every time they’d danced together.
It seemed easier somehow with Leviathan.
The new demon body, he was sure.
The music switched to a new song but stayed slow.
He felt Leviathan edge a little closer to him and, to his surprise, he let him, let himself be lost in it for a little while, let himself feel…
happy. And when Leviathan drew away and raised his arm, Cullen let him spin him away, a nervous laugh popping from his mouth when he pulled him back to him.
Leviathan’s eyes widened at the sound and he suddenly slowed their movements, leaning in to put his lips to Cullen's ear. "You're smiling, Cull. It looks good on you."
Cullen started, his cheeks getting warm. The happiness wilted as if it had been sprayed with poison. He said nothing as he flashed a glare up at him.
Dammit. Why was he so damn tall? "Yeah, well, I have to put on a good show or you're going to do something horrible to me.
Don't let the fake smile go to your head.
" It hadn't been fake though. He hadn't even realized he'd been smiling, laughing, had been enjoying himself.
He almost wished Leviathan hadn't said anything, hadn’t reminded him of where he was and who he was with.
Leviathan grinned, pulling his body flush against his own. He felt a twitch in his gut and winced. "You couldn't fool me when you were human and you can't fool me now, pet. You're enjoying yourself."
"I told you to stop calling me that." Cullen hissed, trying to pull away from him. It was time to put an end to this. It had been stupid as hell to let this go this far. He could feel so many eyes on him. On them.
"Why?" Leviathan asked softly. "Because you like it?"
Leviathan's fingers tightened painfully on his. Cullen let out a pained grunt and latched onto a handful of Leviathan's hair, pulling it hard, trying to cause him pain back.
But Leviathan only smiled that infuriating smile, his eyes blazing again.
A little flutter shot through his stomach in response.
"Don't get feisty with me, boy. You'll see a side of me you're not ready for.
" He began moving again, dragging Cullen in slow circles with him as Cullen released his hair, his heart pounding harder at the words.
"Just keep enjoying yourself. It's almost time for your night to end. "
He frowned. "What do you mean?" He'd figured Leviathan would keep him here all night, just to irritate him.
But Leviathan only chuckled. "This is the first time I’ve seen some of these people in several long centuries. As a Prince of Hell, I have a certain…image to keep up.” He caught Cullen’s confused look and smiled. “Let’s just say you wouldn't like the later festivities.”
Cullen felt the blood leave his face. "You're going to hurt people."
"Don’t concern yourself with such things.
" Leviathan murmured, drawing him closer, his arm wrapping around his waist again.
There was another twitch in his gut as their bodies shifted together.
Fuck. Why was his body reacting like that to all these stupid light touches?
Just because of the warmth of another body against it?
It wasn't like he hadn't gone a few weeks without sex before; there was no reason to be acting up about all this physical contact now.
"Don't ask, and I won't tell, Cull. Just keep enjoying yourself.
" He winced, but let Leviathan spin him in another slow circle.
Several long minutes passed by in silence.
"See? It's not so bad here, is it?" Leviathan murmured once Cullen had started to relax again. "It doesn't have to be sad and scary. You make it that way, Cullen."
"I think a fear of being raped or tortured by someone like you is pretty rational." The words were ugly, but they were true. He couldn't stop thinking about it, couldn't stop the nightmares that came to him at night. He just wanted to sleep peacefully beside Walker again.
Leviathan tensed, but kept dancing. "I told you I won't hurt you.
" He said, almost too quietly for Cullen to hear.
"I want you to be happy here. I know you're not as dark as me, I know you won't enjoy violence like I do.
But I won't put you through any of that stuff, Cullen.
You don't have to be scared. Not of me. Not here. "
He said nothing, his cheeks flushing as he dropped his gaze from Leviathan’s, looking at his shoulder instead.
There was another long silence while they continued to dance, while demons moved out of their way and Leviathan brushed gentle fingers along his lower back.
Again and again until Cullen was fighting shivers…
"You can go to bed, if you want.” Cullen gave him a weak nod, his eyes focused on his own hand while he fought off the trembling that threatened to take over. “If I take you back to your room, can I trust you not to pull another stupid stunt while I'm gone?" Leviathan asked quietly.
Cullen shrugged, feigning indifference. "You sealed the windows closed.
I couldn't chuck myself out of them if I wanted to.
" Which he didn't. He wasn't suicidal, not really.
Or he didn't think he was. He'd just…had a snap.
But he didn't think he wanted to die for real.
He actually felt pretty grateful Leviathan had pulled him back.
He couldn't even try to go back to Walker if he was dead, and Walker would have been just as upset as Leviathan if he found out about the attempt.
Leviathan sighed. "There are plenty of other ways, but since you already think I took all your choices away from you, I really don't feel like taking everything sharp and locking you away in a padded cell. You're not a child and I'd prefer not to treat you like one."
Cullen rolled his eyes. "You don't have to. I'm not gonna do anything and you'd stop me if I did. I just had a little meltdown. I'm fine." He glanced up, meeting Leviathan’s too-human eyes. Why he was donning them now, at this demonic party, Cullen couldn’t guess. "So, can I go to sleep now?"
Leviathan glared as he released his waist, but kept their hands together as he began pulling him through the crowd again.
Cullen felt a hand brush his back and tensed, but the pressure only lasted a second and then they were in the hallway that led back to his room.
He stared down at the fingers Leviathan had wrapped around his as he pulled him along.
They were warm and strong and reminded him a bit of Walker’s fingers.
They felt almost exactly the same, except Walker had never gripped him quite so tightly.
Without meaning to, he gave them a slight squeeze back.
He felt Leviathan’s arm stiffen, but neither of them said anything as they made their way back to his bedroom.
They stopped outside of it, Leviathan letting go of his hand and turning to face him.
"Did you have at least a little fun?"
Cullen hesitated, confused about why his face was heating up again. "Yes." He said slowly. He crossed his arms over his chest, feeling awkward. He never would have thought he would feel more awkward around Leviathan than scared. How had something like that happened so quickly?
"Well…good." Leviathan cleared his throat. "Stay away from the throne room for the rest of the night. You won't like what you see if you show up there again." Cullen winced, but still the fear did not return. "I'll see you at breakfast." He started to turn away.
"Hey." Cullen called, shocking both of them. Leviathan’s eyes went wide, his lips pressing tightly together. "Can…can the servants make…anything?"
"Within reason." Leviathan said, his eyes narrowing. "What do you want?"
"Crepes." He said after a moment. "I want…Crepes for breakfast." They were his favorite, though he'd seldom had them, since Walker hated them so much.
Leviathan turned back to him with a slow smile. "Crepes? Sure. Fine. We can have crepes for breakfast."
After a moment, Cullen offered him a small smile of thanks before letting it drop away. Leviathan’s eyes went wide again as he turned back to Cullen, taking a small step closer.
He reached forward slowly, making Cullen tense, but he found himself holding still as Leviathan brushed his fingers against his cheek, his eyes searching his face. Cullen felt his face warm and wanted to punch himself. Move. He hissed at himself. Push him away. What the hell are you doing?!
Leviathan leaned in slowly and Cullen tensed, his eyes going wide.
Move. He turned his face at the last second, making Leviathan’s lips brush his cheek instead of his lips.
He lingered there for a few seconds, seeming unbothered by the rejection, and then pulled away with a small smile. "Have a good night, pet."
Cullen watched him walk back down the hall with wide eyes, guilt and horror tearing through him.