Chapter 16
Leviathan watched him eat, trying to hold back his smile as he picked at the food in front of him.
He still very much preferred eating raw, but this way pleased Cullen and he wanted to share meals with him.
For now, eating this flesh-infused human food would have to do.
And it wasn't terrible. A little boring, perhaps, but seeing Cullen sit beside him so calmly made it worth it.
He remembered their night together last night. Cullen had willingly danced with him, had smiled at him several times. He might have been surly about it afterwards, but it had still happened. And he looked less scared today, though he seemed flushed and uncomfortable.
Maybe he was finally starting to believe that Leviathan meant no harm. He hoped so. He had an issue that was rapidly becoming a bigger problem.
And because of last night, what he’d sensed happening just down the hall from his own bedroom, he knew Cullen would be starting to have the exact same problems. It was the reason for his flush now, he was sure.
He’d known it wouldn’t take him that long to get over Walker, not with the stress and overwhelming emotions of the past two weeks. And last night…
He shivered at the memory, at the scent and sound of it.
He’d seen Cullen wound up before, of course, had noticed it even more than Walker had caught on, but…
in this body, with these enhanced senses…
fuck, it had been enough to drive him insane with need himself.
And now they were both struggling because of it, though Cullen certainly seemed a little worse for wear with his dark hair sticking up in wild tufts, as if he’d run his hands through it in aggravation. Leviathan smiled at the image.
Slowly, he inched his hand closer to the boy’s, letting his knuckle brush along the back of his hand–
Cullen sprang to his feet, his eyes wide with alarm and the flush on his face growing darker. “I plan on reading today. Alone. All day. Please…don’t bother me.”
His lips twitched. “As you wish.”
The moment he was in his bedroom, he froze at the sight of the books piled neatly on his bed. All the ones from the library that belonged to him. And a few others with dark, nameless covers laid off to the side.
He ignored them all, heading into his bathroom for yet another cold shower.
His erection had not come down. Hadn’t dwindled at all. He wasn’t sure what to do about it. Or why it was happening. But it needed to go away. Because if it didn’t… He shook the thought away quickly, his face going hot for the thousandth time that morning.
Ridiculous. Ridiculous, insane thoughts.
He let the icy water run down his spine, wincing as he shivered and pressed his hands flat to the shower wall.
Go away. He pleaded his erection. Go away. Go away. Go away…
Two days passed. Then three. Then a whole week had gone by. Cullen had not left his room more than a handful of times. And he was always quick to scurry away again at the lightest touch from Leviathan.
He let him go every time without arguing, his lips pulling up into a smile when he saw the flush that darkened Cullen’s pale face each time.
He let him walk away, let him hide up in his room and try in vain to find his relief, though his own erection remained painfully at attention, his hands unable to keep away from himself while he listened to the distant sounds of Cullen touching himself…
He found his hand dropping once more as Cullen moaned in his bathroom, the water streaming around him while he–
Leviathan tore his hand away with a soft snarl, not wanting to get even more worked up than he already had.
Just a few more days, he was sure. Cullen’s body would betray him soon enough.
He was starting to become quite irritable by the time Cullen finally emerged from his room again–nearly three days later.
Leviathan took in the tight jeans and the baggy sweatshirt and shifted in his chair, his head coming to rest on his hand while he watched Cullen sit across from him at the little dining room table.
“You’re flushed.” He said quietly, sliding a slow finger over the dull knife in his hand. “Are you feeling okay?” He heard the edge in his own voice and tried to control it, though his cock gave a low throb at the sight of Cullen so hot and bothered.
“I’m fine.” The boy mumbled, gathering food onto his plate. “I just…I’ve wanted to be alone.”
Liar.
He kept the thought to himself, muscles feathering in his jaw while he waited, watching him eat.
“You…don’t eat much.” Cullen commented, surprising him.
“This,” he gestured towards the food on the table. “Is not what I am hungry for at the moment.
Blood rushed to Cullen’s face, but he said nothing, continuing to eat in silence. The moment he’d put his fork down, Leviathan was out of his seat and standing over him. Cullen flinched back, but didn’t move, his eyes popping wide.
“Would you like to spar with me today?” It was hardly an offer at all, his voice too sharp and demanding.
Cullen’s throat gave a hard bob, nervous energy surrounding him for a few long moments before he finally choked out, “Okay.”
They left the dining room together; he had to fight off another smile when he noticed Cullen sticking closer to the wall as they made their way to the training room, his eyes on the floor.
"Something wrong?" He asked quietly, trying to keep the amusement out of his voice.
"N-" His voice cracked. He cleared his throat. "No. Not really. I'm…I think I'm getting sick or something. That's all."
"Hmm." Leviathan mused, unable to fight the smirk back this time. Sick indeed. "Well, I guess I won't be seeing too much of you in the next few days, will I?"
"Probably not." Cullen muttered, glaring at the wall as they walked. Leviathan saw his neck turn red and grinned.
Once they were in the training room again, they moved to the center of it, turning to face each other. Noticeably, Cullen kept his sweatshirt on.
"I'm using my shadows today." Cullen muttered.
"Oh? But I thought you wanted to test your new body, to see how strong you've become?" He knew it was just because Cullen wanted to avoid physical contact, but screwing with him really was fun.
“Yeah, well now I want to see how these new powers work. They come from a different place than the light of heaven, so I need practice.” His eyes narrowed slightly and seconds later a tangled pool of shadows flooded the space around him.
Leviathan chuckled at the weak summoning, and readied himself for a fight.
It was easy, of course. Cullen’s shadows lunged clumsily at him and he dodged them instantly.
A feign to the left, a duck to the right.
One swept for his feet and he jumped it with a laugh, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his pants.
Cullen snarled softly and Leviathan shivered at the inhuman sound of it.
The seconds passed and the weak, soft shadows Cullen flicked his way shivered and weakened further as if he were already tired. Or distracted.
He could hear the brat’s heart rate speed, could sense the rage steadily flooding through him, see it in his face as it went red and tense, his eyes blazing with hatred.
The shadows dropped away with a cry of rage, and Cullen sprang at him, aiming a fist for his face. It did not take him by surprise. Cullen had always preferred fists over his powers. And he was better at the former anyway.
But Leviathan would hardly lose to such a thing anyway; he caught the brat’s arm as it swung and whipped around, twisting it behind his back, dragging a sharp gasp from Cullen.
He spun instantly out of the grip, though, bringing his leg up in a kick so fast Leviathan lost his smug smile for a brief second as he dodged the strike.
He shot a hand up, slamming it into Cullen’s chest with maybe a bit more force than was necessary, sending him flying back.
He landed hard on the ground with a cry of shock–and shot up again with a furious snarl, racing for him again as dark shadows with pointed tips raced for Leviathan.
“The rage.” Leviathan breathed as they locked together again, their grip on each other deathly tight. “I like it.” He shoved him back, ignoring the slicing shadows at his shins, and darted backwards when Cullen moved to attack again.
“Faster.” He breathed, excitement blooming in his stomach, making him feel hot and impatient. Cullen growled and swung faster, his arm hooking a bit too far this time, sending him stumbling away.
Cullen let out another shout of rage and rounded on him, his hands clawed and threatening now, his dark eyes flashing with red as he came at him again.
He’d been so distracted the past few days he had not brought up the deal they’d made, had not asked him to teach him how to make his eyes look human again.
Leviathan hadn’t brought it up either, had wanted Cullen to remain looking like a demon just a little longer.
“Why are you so angry, Cull?” He taunted now, smacking the next hit away with ease.
“Is it because you can’t control the shadows?
” He blocked a strike and swept his leg down, knocking Cullen off his feet.
He landed with a hard thud and stayed there for a second longer before springing back up, his eyes blazing.
Leviathan drew his leg back and launched a hard kick into his chest–which the other man narrowly dodged, surprising him.
He swiped his claws towards Leviathan’s chest–and Leviathan gasped when the tips of those claws scraped across his shirt, tearing it and leaving stinging scratches across his skin.
Cullen froze as if he’d been struck, his eyes widening before they narrowed on his chest, his lips parting with a soft gasp. Leviathan watched him in surprise for a moment–and then smiled.
“It’s the blood, isn’t it?” He stepped closer. “You like the smell of it. Don’t you?”