Page 30 of Hollow
“No, not like me like that, more like do you like me like me?” Jack asked in a frazzled tone, annoyed by his own absurd question.
“Perhaps my English needs more work. What does a double like mean?”
“Oh, Christ, I’m an annoying tween, aren’t I?”
“Is the tween another type of monster legend?” Dimitri asked with such sincerity, it eased the growing tension in Jack’s nerves.
“I’m sorry. I’m being silly because I’m nervous,” Jack said as his voice steadied a bit. “I’ve come to realize that I like you. I have feelings for you. Romantic feelings. Which is something I haven’t had in a long time for anyone. The last time I even tried exploring something with someone, they were human—I don’t exactly meet a lot of other monsters—and things didn’t exactly work out.”
“I see.” Dimitri had this calm demeanor, this knowing expression, this unreadable face, and it made Jack panic.
“To be clear, you don’t have to like me back, I’m just stupid and fickle, and I talk too much, and my brain gets all sloshy when I think because I’m ridiculous and—”
Dimitri leaned forward and kissed the pumpkin where Jack’s shadowy mouth was rambling. Suddenly, Jack’s expression went blank, vanishing altogether, and leaving only a pumpkin over his head.
“I did not think that would work, but what an interesting trick I have learned.” Dimitri grinned. “It seems you become silent when flustered.”
“So, were you kissing me because you also like me or because you just wanted to shut me up? Because I totally get it if you just wanted me to be quiet, I can talk a—”
Dimitri kissed Jack’s pumpkin a second time, knocking the air out of Jack’s lungs as he gasped with surprise.
“I do like you,” Dimitri replied. “But I do not like kissing your pumpkin.”
“Yeah, I’ve never really done kissing because of the pumpkin.” Jack chuckled nervously.
“As adorable as the pumpkin is, it is not kissable,” Dimitri said. “And I wish to kiss you.”
“I’m not very kissable either.” Jack trembled a bit. “I don’t show my face ever. I mean, people have seen it, and I’ve seen the look in their eyes when they see me. Truly see me. It always ends the same. Horror, screams, sometimes pitchforks. Usually just pity and disgust.”
“I wish to see for myself,” Dimitri said with this calm command.
“It’s okay if it freaks you out, I won’t be offended.” Jack slowly lifted the pumpkin off his head, squinting as the sunlight hit his eyes.
His actual eyes that Dimitri stared into.
“They are golden,” he said breathlessly.
Jack’s cheeks burned, and his gray skin reddened ever so slightly. The longer Dimitri stared at him, the more he took in, and that terrified Jack.
The scars on his face were stitched together, but his features were still a bit jagged, a bit broken from when his body exploded upon contact with the Nuckelavee.
Dimitri reached out a hand and brushed aside a strand of Jack’s shaggy, white hair.
“You are not hideous.” Dimitri leaned closer. “You are beautiful. Absolutely breathtaking in the best way imaginable.”
Jack nearly collapsed into Dimitri, nearly fell to pieces from his words.
Dimitri pressed a hand to Jack’s chin, lifting his gaze to meet his, then pressed his lips to Jack’s. The moment was absolutely electric. Jack had never kissed another person. Sure, he’d been intimate, explored bodies, but always with the comfort of his mask. Dimitri saw him entirely and did not flinch, did not hesitate.
Dimitri’s tongue guided Jack’s leading in every way, and Jack followed his instructive movements. The assertive smack of his lips, the controlling caress of his hands, even the strong buck of his hips as he pushed Jack back against the wall of the cottage.
Soon, Dimitri’s mouth left Jack’s, and he ran his tongue along Jack’s neck.
“Ooh, goddamn,” Jack moaned, intoxicated by this moment.
Dimitri continued teasing his skin with his tongue, and every time Jack’s moans got louder, Dimitri silenced him with a passionate kiss.
The sharp tip of Dimitri’s antler grazed Jack’s skin, sending a delightful shudder through him as Dimitri’s tongue licked Jack’s chest.
