Theron woke up to an unfamiliar warmth pressing against him, and it didn't take long to realize why. Kael was straddling him from behind, his broad arms wrapped snugly around Theron's smaller frame. The situation was already baffling enough, but then Theron felt it—a warm, wet sensation on his neck. Was Kael... licking him?
The gnome's entire body stiffened as he registered what was happening. His mind screamed in disbelief, and to make matters worse, he felt something big and very solid pressing against his backside. He absolutely, positively, did not want to think about what that might be.
"Kael," he gritted out through clenched teeth, trying to suppress the heat creeping up his neck. "What in the name of the gods are you doing ?"
Kael froze for half a second, likely surprised to have been caught mid-act, but in true shameless wolf fashion, he brushed it off without a hint of guilt. He leaned closer, his breath warm against Theron's ear as he resumed his maddening ministrations.
"I'm grooming you," Kael replied matter-of-factly, as though this were the most natural thing in the world. His voice was soft, but there was an undeniable smirk in his tone.
Theron's eye twitched as Kael's arms tightened around him, pulling him even closer. "Grooming me? Are you insane? I'm not a wolf!"
Kael nuzzled the side of Theron's neck, his nose brushing against the gnome's skin in a way that made him squirm. "Doesn't matter," Kael said lazily. "You're my mate. It's instinct. Gotta mark what's mine."
Theron's face burned, a mix of fury and mortification swirling within him. He pushed against Kael's arms, but it was like trying to move a mountain. "I am a gnome not a wolf Kael, and this is not normal behavior!"
Kael chuckled as he sniffed Theron taking in the gnomes' scent, the sound low and far too pleased. "Relax, Theron. You smell good. Like home."
Theron froze, his mind going blank for a moment. The words were so simple, yet they struck a chord he wasn't ready to acknowledge. But that didn't mean he was letting this slide.
"Kael," he snapped, his voice sharp enough to cut through steel. "If you don't stop licking me this instant, I will call Rex and have him electrocute you."
Kael finally paused, leaning back slightly to look at Theron with a pout that somehow made him look like a scolded puppy. "Fine," he relented, though his tone suggested he wasn't the least bit sorry.
As soon as Kael loosened his grip, Theron scrambled out from under him, putting as much distance between them as possible. He spun around, his glare fierce enough to make most people cower.
But Kael? He just sprawled across the bed like he owned the place, arms behind his head and a grin so smug it could probably be classified as a weapon. His golden eyes glinted with unrepentant amusement as he watched Theron sputter. "You're so adorable when you're mad, you know that?"
Theron froze mid-step, his entire face heating up like someone had lit a furnace under his skin. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, and he shot Kael a glare that could have leveled mountains. "You're impossible! Absolutely insufferable! Shameless!" he hissed, his voice pitching higher than he would have liked.
Without giving Kael the satisfaction of a response, Theron stomped toward the bathroom, his bare feet slapping against the cool floor. "And for the record," he threw over his shoulder, "you're sleeping on the floor from now on!"
Kael tilted his head, his grin turning downright wolfish. As he watched Theron disappear behind the bathroom door, his mind twisted the words into something entirely different. Sleeping on the floor? No, no, that was clearly Theron-speak for 'Welcome to my room. Let's start cohabiting, my beloved mate.'
The idea thrilled him. His wolf stirred eagerly, pacing in his chest. Being away from Theron, even for a few hours, had felt unbearable after the bond veil. His wolf craved him—craved his presence, his scent, his warmth. The primal urge to mark and claim his mate was a constant hum in the back of his mind, growing louder every time Theron was near.
That was why Kael had woken up this morning with his lips on Theron's neck, his instincts taking over before his brain had even caught up. It explained the raging hard-on too—though, really, who could blame him? His mate was beautiful, smart, and delightfully flustered, all wrapped up in that tiny gnome frame.
"Whatever you say, baby," Kael called after him, his tone rich with teasing affection. He sprawled out further on the bed, looking far too comfortable for someone who'd just been told off.
Theron slammed the bathroom door shut behind him, leaning back against it as he tried to catch his breath. His chest rose and fell rapidly, his mind racing with a whirlwind of emotions—frustration, embarrassment, and something he absolutely refused to acknowledge as attraction.
The feel of Kael's hands on him lingered, warm and strong, as if they'd left a mark on his skin. He could still hear Kael's voice, that low, velvety tone that always seemed to get under his skin. And that grin—oh, that infuriating, cocky grin—was burned into his memory like an unwanted tattoo and that thing he felt behind his back.
"This wolf is going to be the death of me," Theron muttered, running a hand down his flushed face.
Theron took his time in the shower, letting the hot water cascade over him in a futile attempt to wash away the lingering heat on his face and the mortifying memory of waking up to Kael's antics. The steamy bathroom felt like a sanctuary, a place where he could momentarily escape the shameless wolf who seemed hell-bent on driving him to the brink of madness.
After what felt like an eternity, Theron stepped out, wrapping a towel around his waist as he stared at his reflection in the fogged-up mirror. His hair was damp, clinging to his forehead, and his cheeks were still faintly flushed. He groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Get a grip, Theron"
Just as he reached for another towel to dry his hair, Rex's calm, mechanical voice echoed from the corner of the room. "Master, I have a message for you from Prince Kael."
Theron froze mid-motion, his stomach sinking. "A message?" he asked warily, narrowing his eyes at the AI's holographic form. "From Kael?"
Rex nodded, his expression neutral as always. "Indeed. He insisted I deliver it verbatim."
Theron sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Alright, let's hear it."
Rex's eyes glowed briefly before his voice shifted to mimic Kael's unmistakable tone—deep, playful, and infuriatingly smug. Hey, love. Hope you had a good shower. I would've joined you, but I figured you needed some space after, you know, this morning. No need to thank me for my restraint—it's not easy keeping my hands off you."
Theron's jaw dropped. "What?!"
Theron's face turned beet red. "Love?!" he sputtered, his voice cracking. "He did not just—"
Rex continued, unbothered by Theron's rising panic. "Anyway, I miss you already. I'm heading home for a quick shower myself. I had to take care of a little... problem. You know, the kind of problem only you can cause."
Theron's face turned a deep shade of crimson as Rex added, "It's really your fault, by the way. If you weren't so cute when you're flustered, I wouldn't be so... worked up all the time."
Theron opened his mouth to protest, but Rex wasn't done. "Don't worry, though. I'll be back before you know it. Try not to think about me too much, okay? Or do—I won't complain. See you in class, love. And maybe later we can talk about cohabitation arrangements. You know, to save me from scaling walls in the future. Wink, wink."
For a moment, there was only silence as Theron stood there, towel in hand, his mouth hanging open in utter disbelief.
"Rex," he finally said, his voice low and trembling with barely contained rage, "please tell me you're joking."
"I do not possess a sense of humor, Master," Rex replied matter-of-factly.
Theron groaned, dragging a hand down his face. His knees nearly buckled as he stumbled back against the bathroom counter, trying to process the sheer audacity of the message.
"That absolute—shameless—overgrown puppy!" Theron fumed, pacing the small bathroom in nothing but his towel. "Who even says things like that?! And what was he taking care of?!"
Rex tilted his head, his holographic form flickering slightly. "If you require clarification, I can attempt to contact Prince Kael—"
"No!" Theron practically shouted, waving his hands frantically. "No contacting Kael! Ever! Especially not about that!"
"As you wish, Master," Rex replied, though his calm tone made it impossible to tell if he was being sincere or subtly mocking.
Theron buried his face in his hands, letting out a long, muffled groan. The worst part wasn't even the message—it was the fact that he could picture Kael saying every single word with that ridiculous, self-assured grin of his.
And the wink. Oh, stars above, the wink.
"Why me?" Theron muttered, leaning his forehead against the cool tile wall. "What did I do to deserve this?"
Rex, ever the loyal AI, didn't answer. But if Theron didn't know better, he could have sworn he caught the faintest flicker of amusement in the hologram's glowing eyes.
But even as he dressed, Kael's words lingered in his mind, making his heart race in a way he refused to acknowledge.