Chapter 263 - 21: Forgotten kiss
Athan’s finger poking Shawn’s cheek froze. His gaze shook, astonished at what he heard. He worried he was just hearing things, but when Shawn turned to look up at him, his gaze traced over his features, his words weaving a spell that wrapped around Athan’s heart, and refused to let go.
Athan shuddered. He feared that he might do something he would regret. No matter what Shawn said, he shouldn’t take it seriously, since he was drunk. Yet he hoped.
He pulled back, aware of where this exchange might take. However, Shawn made it hard for him to hold back. He leaned in, his lips dangerously close to Athan’s as he rambled on, but the words stopped registering in Athan’s head.
What’s more, Shawn was unconsciously letting out his pheromones. Athan knew it was his scent, as the smell of beer wouldn’t be able to compare to his intoxicating scent. He groaned, feeling frustrated at the same time aroused.
"Shawn, wait..."
"Hm? You have a mole under your nose, Athan! Did you know? It’s just under the tip! It’s too small to even notice!" Shawn excitedly exclaimed, as if he found a treasure. Once again, he cupped Athan’s face, his voice softened as he kept mumbling, growing reverent as he traced his thumb over his cheeks, gazing at his newly discovered mole as though they held some kind of magic.
Athan’s resolve crumbled, the distance he’d worked so hard to maintain shattered by Shawn’s inadvertent honesty, and the light, intoxicating scent of his wine-laced pheromones. Slowly, without even realizing he’d moved, Athan leaned closer, his gaze flickering from Shawn’s half-closed eyes to his slightly parted lips.
And in a moment that seemed suspended in time, he closed the distance, pressing a gentle, tentative kiss to Shawn’s lips.
The kiss was brief, a mere whisper of a touch, but it carried with it a weight that left Athan breathless, his heart pounding as he pulled back just slightly. He slapped his forehead for giving in, thinking he was taking advantage of a drunk person.
He looked down at Shawn’s face, realizing he’d already drifted off, his breathing was now soft and even, maybe even oblivious to the kiss that had left Athan’s emotions in turmoil.
Athan stayed like that for a moment, hovering over Shawn, the faint scent of wine still lingering in the air around him, wrapping him in a warmth that was both maddening and comforting. He shook his head, trying to clear the haze clouding his thoughts, and gathered Shawn into his arms.