M A R I A N O

"You better tell me what the hell's going on or I'm going to be so mad at you, Arden Coleman," I gritted out and stared at him intently.

Arden swallowed and bit his lower lip, which became his habit when he's nervous, and met my eyes hesitantly, but it only took several seconds before he removed his gaze from mine. That only irritated me more, and he must have felt it.

"Fine, but please... will you relax first and give me space? I'm not really comfortable, and I can feel something poking my butt," he added softly, his cheeks slightly tinted with a reddish hue.

I came to my senses and realized that Arden was sitting on my lap, my hands gripping his small waist to make sure that he wouldn't run away from me, and his smaller frame almost plastered to mine. The only thing that prevented us from getting squeezed against each other were his hands on my chest, trying to create some space between us.

From our proximity, I could feel his body heat and hear his fast heartbeat. More than that, there's a sweet scent coming off of him, and for a second, I could see myself burying my nose in the column of his delicate neck.

"Um... Mariano, it's getting harder," Arden whispered in what seemed to be a small squeal, his fingers crumpling my shirt and his cheeks getting redder than before.

"Fuck." I removed my grip on him, and Arden immediately stood up and sat on the chair in front of me, fanning his face with his hands. I looked down, and indeed, I am in a tight spot.

When I got back home, I saw Arden coming out of his room, and before I knew it, I carried him in one swoop, walked to my study, locked the door, and plastered him on my lap. He was not able to protest because he was too shocked by the sudden development.

"I'm sorry... for what I did earlier, but you left me with no choice, Arden. It's been a week, and I let it go at first, but you are starting to get on my nerves. What did I do? Did I make you mad? Did I do something to make you avoid me? Should I just leave the house so you can be comfortable here again?" Because I would do that, even if my heart is being ripped to shreds at the thought of not seeing Arden, but is that something new? He has been avoiding me like a plague, and I never thought that it would hurt me, but it did.

"Stupid." He mumbled and grabbed a pillow.

"Arden..."

"You stupid, dense moron!" He screamed and threw the pillow on my face.

I was about to retort when I saw his current state. As if something were lodged in my throat, I was not able to utter a single word. Arden was standing in front of me, tears streaming down his flushed face, his knuckles both clenched tightly, as he tried his hardest not to let out a single sob.

"You... I hate you so much. I did everything and endured the pain. I know that I will be the one to get hurt in the end because it has been that way," he softly mumbled with a sniff, choking his sobs, but his tears are streaming like waterfalls.

"What..."

He let out a broken sob and looked me straight in the eye as he removed his barriers shielding his emotions. "Why did you have to be so gentle and sweet? Why did you have to be so thoughtful and caring? How could you tolerate my selfishness and make me feel so spoiled at the same time? Because of you, my heart..." He slid back down to the couch and cried silently, his hand rubbing his chest.

I'm at a loss. Arden is crying, and it's hurting me to the point that all I could think about was to embrace him, dry his tears, and make him smile again. I don't have the luxury to sort out my thoughts and feelings, but there's one thing I'm sure of: seeing Arden in pain feels like being stabbed in the heart a thousand times.

Without wasting any moment, I took two strides, kneeled in front of him, grabbed his chin, and captured his lips. His lips parted for a small gasp, and his slight resistance disappeared as he gave in to me. I took that chance to delve into his delicious mouth and reveled in his addicting taste. He slid his fingers on my hair and grabbed my head to deepen the kiss, which I happily obliged.

He was soft and sweet. The way he responded to me was so endearing yet sexy at the same time, and I wanted to know more. I grabbed his hips, and in one smooth movement, he was back in my lap, our kiss not breaking. "Breathe, baby, come on," I whispered when our lips parted for a second. When I got to see his face, I swallowed so hard because I had never seen a person so beautiful and sensual.

Arden looks ethereal. His swollen lips slightly parted, his cheeks tinged with redness, his breathing labored, and his hazy eyes staring back at me were awakening unfamiliar feelings within me. A rush of possessiveness came out on the surface as I reached out to touch his cheeks, and he leaned in automatically. Arden is mine. Nobody is allowed to see him like this. Only me; something inside of me growled, and I cannot agree more.

"Mariano?" he said softly, and never noticed how sweet it was when it comes from Arden. No one calls me by my name anymore except when I allowed them to, but I never protested when Arden did it. Hearing him call my name feels so right and I want it to be the only name he'll utter using that sweet voice of his.

"Come closer, and let me feel your soft lips again."

Arden shuddered and got redder, if it was possible, and with a shy smile, dipped his head again. I met him halfway, and both of us moaned at the pleasurable sensation. I grabbed his hips and pulled him closer until his body touched mine. Arden opened his mouth and wrapped his arms around my shoulders. His soft moans sent shivers down my spine and made my pants tighter as I slowly slid my fingers to touch the small of his back. When he gasped beautifully, a switch turned on.

I want to devour him.