“Aster, I’ve been meaning to tell you something.”

“W-What is it?” I blurt, as Nero threads his fingers through mine. His face is close, so close that I can feel the warmth of his breath tickling my nose. So close that I can smell his scent, a mixture of the lab’s antiseptic, and something that isn’t of this world.

He chuckles, smirks. “You know exactly what this is. All this time, we’ve truly been watching each other, you can’t deny that, Aster.” And then, his lips are on mine.

As Nero kisses me like it’s the last thing he’ll ever do, I lean into his touch. His warm hands trail up my shirt. He thumbs at my hips and gently tugs on my boxers. I moan. My back arches against him.

He’s hard—it makes my own erection ache; it makes wearing pants unbearable.

Nero pauses, and pulls away with his teeth still hooked atop my lower lip.

I groan and glance at his usually dark violet features, now turned a lighter shade of pink. Such a magnificent sight, I think, whilst observing him through lidded eyes.

“D’you wanna…you know…” he asks me, his tone a nervous wreck as he scratches the back of his head and refuses to meet my gaze.

I push myself up on my elbows and reach for his mouth with my own. Leaving a small peck against his lips, I say, “Of course I do.”

Nero smiles against me.

It’s warm.

He’s warm.

As he begins to undress me, I—

“Aster.”

“Aster...”

“Aster?”

I blink, groggy, dazed and confused.

The world is a blur, and a voice is still calling my name. “Aster!” it yells. And then, I feel someone shoving me.

And then, I remember the situation.

Heavens, please, no. Me, the prince of Vlexidia, getting a boner in front of complete stranger—and one I was just dreaming about as well—impossible.

Absolutely impossible.

I peer down; what I see does not please me. Nero, on the other hand, seems…worried? Perplexed?

…This is much too awkward for my taste.

I shake my head.

No. No. No.

Calm down.

This must be a dream again, I’m certain; it can’t possibly be real.

“Are you hurt, Aster?” Nero crawls toward me. He leans forward and presses a palm to the front of my tented pants. “It’s swollen here.”

I gulp.

Definitely not a dream.

“S-stop that.” I push his hand away. The heat that rises to my face is humiliating. “It’s nothing,” I mutter, all the while averting his gaze. “It’ll go away soon.”

He tilts his head to the side. “Really? Why?” And I damn the scientists for not educating him on these matters.