Cass knew that Gideon was inexperienced. Hell, Edgar had been both of their first kisses, so he knew that the man was uncertain as to what to do. Cass just happened to have a few hours more experience when it came to kissing, so even as Gideon lowered his mouth to Cass’, Cass met him halfway.
Both men jerked at the touch of their lips, and the slight electric shock that came from it. They both pulled back, staring at each other in surprise before Cass laughed.
"Did you feel that?" Cass asked and Gideon nodded, his green eyes wide.
"Y-Yeah. That didn’t happen when I kissed Edgar." He told him and Cass grinned.
"He’s not as powerful of a demon as I am." Cass told him. Cass watched as something crossed Gideon’s eyes for a moment before his gaze dipped to Cass’ lips.
"Well, that could have just been a one time thing. Why don’t we test it out again?" Gideon asked, his head already falling again. Their lips met again and Cass almost laughed as Gideon pressed against his lips harder.
They didn’t feel the electric shock again until Cass opened his mouth to deepen the kiss. Gideon stumbled, pushing Cass back until his back hit the wall and Cass chuckled into the kiss.
Gideon’s tongue brushed against Cass’, awkward and concerned and Cass jerked. Gideon did as well, but when Cass opened his eyes to meet his gaze, the man was determined. Cass melted slightly, pulling him in closer.
Cass might not be an expert, but he was a better kisser compared to Gideon, and Cass knew one thing of the man. He was a fast learner. So Cass, for the benefit of Edgar and...hopefully Cass, took the time to teach him.
Cass wrapped his arms around Gideon’s neck, playing with the hairs at the nape of his neck, making the man shiver as Cass kissed him carefully, showing him things that he liked, teasing him in ways that he knew that Gideon would like.
Several times Gideon had to pull away to take a few deep breaths, but he always came back. Cass could feel the hand that held the book dig into his back as he held Cass, and while it should have hurt, it was a reminder that Gideon was a stubborn man. A focused man.
He used his other hand to touch Cass carefully, like he was afraid that Cass would break. Gently touching his hip, his waist, his arm and shoulder, eventually placing it carefully on the back of Cass’ neck in a hold so gentle that it almost made Cass sigh into the kiss.
Cass wasn’t sure how long they kissed, but he knew he was the one who was going to have to break it. Especially after Gideon had gotten good enough that Cass’ toes were curling and he knew his lips were going to be a little red after.
However, Cass did break it. He needed to. He had so many things he needed to do, and he could hear Sam knocking at the door. Either him, Taniora, or Byron.
He pulled back, Gideon chasing his lips for a second before he paused, and then pulled away as well.
"Was I bad?" Gideon asked and Cass pulled his hand down, around his neck to use his thumb to pull down the ginger’s plump lip. It was always a crime that men had such nice lips, but now Cass might have permission to tease such lips.
"No, but I can hear someone knocking at the door." Cass told him. Gideon’s soft, tender, aroused expression shifted into protectiveness so quickly, Cass laughed. "We’re fine, Gideon. Probably Sam." Cass heard the door open and the person enter. Cass could tell from their footsteps that..."It is Sam. He’s probably just here to wake me up." Cass raised his voice slightly. "Gideon and I are in the bathroom, Sam." Cass told him. The other person halted, before Cass heard a muffled response.
"Alright, my Lord. I’ll get your outfit for the day prepared." Sam said. Cass nodded.
"Thank you." Cass responded, his gaze on Gideon the whole time he was speaking. Cass could tell that Gideon didn’t like that he couldn’t hear what was being said on the other side, nor that he couldn’t sense that someone else had entered Cass’ space. There was nothing he could do about that.
He was a human, it had to come with some downsides.
"More importantly," Cass said, dropping his voice, "did you like that? Do you feel closer to me?" Cass asked, pulling his attention back to him. He watched as Gideon’s whole face, ears included, turned red.
"I-I liked that. About as much as kissing Edgar." Gideon’s gaze darted around for a moment. "I don’t want to be presumptuous and assume that we are closer because we shared one kiss." Gideon muttered.
Shit. That was cute. It was cuter because the man still had both hands on him, holding him like he didn’t want to let him go. Not presumptuous Cass’ ass. The man was just being shy.
Cass leaned in, pulling that thick bottom lip in between his lips, giving it a gentle bite. They hadn’t done that so far, and Cass could feel the shiver run through the other man’s body. Cass smiled.
Oh, he wasn’t going to be able to handle himself when Edgar bit him, Cass could feel it. That would be...really hot.
"You can be presumptuous." Cass told him, pulling back and licking his lips. His own face felt warm with arousal as he met Gideon’s green gaze. "It’s okay. I don’t kiss people I don’t feel close with, or want to get close with." Cass told him. Gideon’s expression shifted slightly and Cass watched emotion cross his face before Cass found himself pulled against the man in a tight hug.
"Oh thank the gods." He whispered and Cass almost wanted to laugh. "I was so worried that you were just testing me. You’d have every right to do so, but I was afraid. Thank you. Thank you, Cass." Gideon whispered. Cass was stiff in his arms as he heard the man’s words, before he sighed, hugging him back.
"I wouldn’t do something like this as a test. Not like that. That’s...I’m mean, but I’m not cruel like that, Gideon." Cass told him. Gideon nodded.
"I know. I know that, but I just know that I also messed up severely. I never even considered any of this an option. This feels like such a blessing after I’ve done something so terrible. I am forever grateful for you allowing even a second of this." Gideon told him, before he froze. "Lucian is going to be angry." He murmured. Cass flinched.
"He’ll be mad if we do too much more than kissing." Cass told him, before humming. "Well, outside of my heat, I suppose." Cass muttered. "I’m a little worried about how Edgar will take this." Cass whispered instead. Gideon went as stiff as a board.
"Oh no. He might be very angry." Gideon whispered. Cass hoped he wouldn’t be. Of course, he knew that Edgar liked Gideon, and it did make him feel conflicted that he had kissed him without consulting Edgar before this, but he had shared that look with Edgar before. It wasn’t consent, but it was an agreement. He hoped that if he was upset, it was closer to disappointment that he hadn’t been there instead of true anger.
That would be hard for Cass to handle.
The two eventually separated, both of them looking as if they had been up to something that they shouldn’t have. They couldn’t even hide it, since both of their lips were a little puffy and red.
When Sam caught the two coming out of the bathroom, Gideon holding onto the book that Cass had lent him last night, his face was flat. Schooled. Cass knew that meant nothing. The man was Cass’ aide. He was supposed to be good at that.
That did not mean that Cass couldn’t feel him side-eyeing him as Gideon went back to the couch and Cass went over to where Sam had laid out his outfit for the day. Case and point, as soon as Cass came close enough to him and Sam began to help him undress, spoke quietly.
"Do you need something for your lips, my Lord?" He asked quietly and Cass frowned deeply, his face going red.
"Shut up, Sam." Cass muttered, and watched as he nodded, but there was a sparkle in his damn brown eyes.
"Of course, my Lord."
~
By the time that Edgar was up and ready for the day, Cass had already had breakfast with the fairies, told Gideon to go get some rest, written a letter to Sir Forsythe to be delivered, summoned Mr. Collins to the house for the fairies to speak to him about several issues, and had received a rather ’kind’ thank you note from the king for handling the ’dungeon fiasco’ as he put it. That was fine, the man was nocturnal so Cass wasn’t exactly upset about it.
He was just glad that he had woken up when he had so that they could go to Lake Taniora as a unit, instead of leaving him behind.
That, and both Cass and Gideon’s lips had gone down in the time that he had been asleep.
Cass knew the looks that he had received from his Aunt and the other fairies. They had been kind enough not to say anything with their words, but their gestures and looks were enough that Cass was sure he looked like a steamed bun for most of the day.
When Edgar came knocking on Cass’ office door, he looked well rested, his face handsome, his hat on, and his smile welcoming.
"Good afternoon, Cass. How was your sleep?" He asked, as if he hadn’t been sleeping in the bed next to him. Cass’ Aunt smirked, smiling at the handsome man as he came towards Cass’ desk and in front of everyone, kissing him on the cheek.
Edgar suddenly halted, pausing with his lips against Cass’ cheek and Cass felt his own body freeze.
"You...smell like Gideon." He said and Cass gulped. Ah shit. Caught, red-handed.
Cass hadn’t even considered washing his face. He hadn’t thought that his scent would remain. He was new to this kind of life.
Edgar pulled back, his hands going to Cass’ shoulders, gripping them tightly as he scanned his face.
"Were you kissing Gideon?" He demanded and Cass’ mouth opened and closed. He had no response, and that was a response enough for Edgar. His own jaw dropped, shock clear on his face. "You were!" He said, his cheeks going pink and his blue eyes beginning to glow. "Without me?" He asked, sounding genuinely upset. Cass breathed heavily.
"You were asleep." Cass said dumbly. "And I didn’t want to wake you up." Cass told him, aware that everyone was watching them. Edgar’s gaze narrowed.
"How dare you use my nature against me." Edgar accused, angry. "I wanted to see it!" Cass was feeling a complex mix of emotions. He didn’t like that Edgar was mad at him, but he was also relieved that his anger was exactly as Cass had predicted. He was more upset that he had missed it instead of the fact that they had done it.
"You can watch it next time." Cass assured him and Edgar narrowed his gaze. He would make sure that that was the case. Cass knew Gideon was going to get an earful too.