Demons, Witches, and Toads (BoyxBoy) - Chapter 78: Chapter 78

Mulock and Wheeler were completely soaked by the time they finally stumbled back into their hotel room.
"Well, those unicorns were utterly underwhelming," Mulock muttered, water dripping off him as he made his way across the room. "I feel like they should have advertised that they were only three feet tall."
"Priscilla seemed happy, " Wheeler murmured. "That's all that matters."
"Yeah, I suppose you're right," Mulock replied, tugging off his jacket. He noticed Wheeler was staring at him now, a blush spreading all the way up to the tips of his ears. "Something wrong?" Mulock asked, arching a brow.
"Y-Your shirt," Wheeler stammered, the flush growing even darker. "It's um... it's really wet."
Mulock glanced down at himself, finally understanding what had gotten the boy so flustered. The rain had drenched his loose white shirt leaving very little to the imagination. "Shit, this is going to need to come off," he muttered, beginning to undo the laces. "You should change too. You're going to get sick if you stay in that. Are there extra towels in the bathroom?"
Wheeler nodded quickly, causing droplets of water to fling from his hair like a puppy. "I'll go get them," he blurted before immediately darting off into the other room.
After a few minutes he returned, a stack of fluffy white towels in his arms. He kept his gaze downcast as he handed one to Mulock.
"Thanks," the demon said, finally peeling the shirt from his soaked skin. "Now get out of those clothes before you get pneumonia."
"Okay," Wheeler replied, his voice oddly strained.
Awkwardly, he removed his jacket before finally pulling his shirt up over his head. As he did, Mulock's gaze caught on a thin leather cord hanging loosely from around his neck. There was a small trinket attached, swaying against his chest as he moved.
"Never took you for the necklace sort," Mulock smirked, slinging the towel over his shoulders.
"Oh, it's not a necklace, not really," Wheeler stammered, holding it up. Mulock recognized the object now. It was the wooden toad he'd carved him for his birthday over a year ago.
"You hung onto that thing?" the demon mused.
"Of course," Wheeler replied, nodding with such force that it sent another wave of droplets flying from his hair. "You gave it to me." His fingers wrapped tightly around the trinket. "I used to keep it in my pocket, but I got worried it might slip out and I'd lose it. So um... " he gestured to the cord. "I did this instead. That way, I could always keep it with me."
The words brought back that dangerous flutter in Mulock's chest.
He attempted to smother the feeling.
"You're going to ruin the floor if you keep dripping on it," the demon said a little too quickly, yanking another towel from the pile. "Come here."
Wheeler approached him and Mulock flung the towel over his head, beginning to ruffle it through his hair. The boy flushed again, his blush spreading up the back of his neck as Mulock continued to dry him. Thanks to that wild matt of untamed curls, the demon soon had to grab a second towel. As he turned to retrieve it, he felt Wheeler's eyes seering into his back.
Mulock arched a brow. "Is something wrong?"
"Your scars..." Wheeler said softly. "They're still there."
"Yeah. They're scars. That's kinda the whole point."
With trembling fingers, Wheeler reached out, gently tracing the length of them down the demon's back. "I'm sorry," he breathed.
"I already told you, it wasn't your fault."
"How can you say that?" Wheeler asked, his voice tight. "You only got them because of me."
"Which was my own choice," Mulock replied with a shrug. "I'll get a thousand more if I have to."
Wheeler's gaze darted to the floor, his voice quivering. "I just... I still don't understand why."
"Isn't it obvious?" Mulock murmured, finally turning to face him. "It's because I would do anything for you."
And then suddenly he became painfully aware of just how close they were standing.
Mulock had always known the look in someone's eyes when they wanted him. He recognized it in Wheeler in an instant.
That sea-green gaze watched him, wide eyed and desperate. Wheeler was trembling, his chest rising and falling rapidly, yet he never looked away. Light freckles dusted across flushed cheeks, his lips parting slightly as the smell of spearmint and pine overwhelmed Mulock's senses.
And then they were both leaning in, Wheeler's hands falling to his back, Mulock's finding his hips. God, how had it taken him this long to realize just how much he wanted him?
The demon stopped just before their lips touched, catching himself almost a moment too late. If this continued, he'd fall too hard and he'd destroy everything.
Just like Joseph... it would end in flames.
He couldn't lose Wheeler too. It would kill him.
"We should stop," Mulock said softly, his body aching in protest.
Wheeler swallowed hard. "Why?"
"Because I'll hurt you."
"I know." Despite the words, Wheeler's gaze was still desperate.
"You know?" Mulock repeated, gently brushing a few wild curls behind his ear. "Then how can you keep looking at me like that?"
"Because," Wheeler's eyes fluttered shut, "I just don't care anymore."
And with those words he pulled him in, their lips finally finding each other as they desperately closed the distance between them.
This was dangerous and he knew it, but Mulock couldn't stop himself from melting into the kiss. He knotted a hand in Wheeler's curls, pulling him closer still. Wheeler's mouth against his was soft and warm, causing a wave of heat to erupt from deep within the demon's chest.
"Wheeler," he murmured, breathless as they finally parted. "If we continue like this... it'll change things..."
"Everything is changing regardless, isn't it?" Wheeler replied, his gaze flickering to the floor. "Besides... it's just a physical act, right? It doesn't have to mean anything or affect our friendship."
He was right.
They were both young and clearly horny, so it was only natural they'd grown desperate for physical comfort.
There was a safety in thinking that as long as it was just that, Mulock wouldn't ruin things with his dearest friend. His dearest friend whose smile made his heart ache, who he'd burn down the world for, who he wanted more desperately right now than he'd ever wanted anything.
And at last, his resolve crumbled.