17. Cassius

Cass wasn't sure what to make of Kushiel's hesitance over soulmates. Cass had brought it up not only to illustrate that the order of the universe was obviously changing in some fundamental ways, but also because he had hoped to broach the subject with Kushiel of them possibly being soulmates.

Kushiel's reaction had made him rethink that. Kushiel seemed happy enough for the demons he knew with soulmates, and Cass wasn't going to try and guess what Kushiel's flinch was about, but he didn't want to startle his timid angel. As he led Kushiel into the kitchen, he couldn't help but sharpen his sight again, just to check that the gold thread was still there.

It was. It was joined by two more threads now, too. They were wound together in the slimmest braid Cass had ever seen, but he couldn't help the silly grin he gave at seeing it.

Kushiel saw his face and smiled back. His angel was so sweet that merely seeing Cass happy made Kushiel happy.

Cass was so fucking lucky. And he swore to himself, and to Kushiel, that he wouldn't screw this up. He would take it slow, despite the fact that he really wanted to push Kush up against the cabinets and ravage his mouth before stripping them both down and frotting against him until they were panting and coming all over each other.

Huh. He supposed he could think of Kushiel as "Kush" after all. He wasn't sure what Kushiel would think of the nickname, though.

He tried to reign in his thoughts. Food first.

"How about something sweet? Breakfast for dinner?" Cass asked.

"That would be lovely, Cassius. Please let me help," Kushiel answered.

So Cass put him to work, rolling out dough and gathering ingredients while he got the oven ready and put together some fillings. A little fruit, a little chocolate, and some flaky pastry totally counted as dinner, didn't it? He'd throw some bacon and eggs in a few pastries for a savory bite, too.

Kushiel certainly seemed to think it was adequate, oohing and aahing over everything Cass had him taste test.

Cass was a baker, but he wasn't a cook. People often thought the two went hand in hand. Not for Cass. Give him pastries, cakes, quiches, and even the occasional casserole, and he was happy. Breakfast food, or even better—brunch—that was where the fun was.

Dinner was vastly overrated. Having to cook something new every night for the rest of your life—-just ewww. And people expected there to be meat and vegetables and a starch and salad and dessert—it was all so exhausting. People were never happy with the idea of sandwiches or something "small" (although they hadn't seen the kind of sandwiches Cass made at the coffee shop if people thought that was a small meal). No, they wanted multiple courses and something new every time. People would eat the same breakfast all week and loved it, and yet they balked at eating the same dinner every night. And breakfast for dinner was seen as a shortcut or an occasional treat.

Fuck that. Cass was all about breakfast for dinner.

Luckily, Kushiel seemed to agree, because by the time they sat down with their pastries, Kushiel was moaning in happiness with each bite.

It took massive willpower for Cass not to jump over the table and attack the angel with his tongue when he heard those sexy moans.

"Cassius, this is amazing. I have never tasted something so delicious," Kushiel said, licking his lips.

Cass totally couldn't be faulted for thinking dirty thoughts when Kushiel's tongue peeked out of his mouth to catch a bit of chocolate on his lip.

He cleared his throat, saying, "I'm so glad you're enjoying yourself, K."

Kushiel blushed again at Cass's husky tone, which just made Cass even hornier. A cold shower was definitely in his future.

They continued to eat, and Cass managed to rein in his lust enough to have a normal conversation with Kushiel, asking him a bit more about his work and the angels and demons he knew. Kushiel spoke with real affection when he talked about Michael and Ari, and he obviously knew Michael's brother, Gabe, and his demon mate, Asmodeus, as well. He ended up filling in Cass on all the details of the archangel who had been plotting against soulmates. Cass knew some of the details—he was a bit of a seer himself, and Michael and Ari had hinted at some details, but they didn't fully know his abilities and so were obviously circumspect in what they told him. He definitely hadn't known Kushiel's part in it all.

Cass hmm'd thoughtfully. "It seems clear that the order of things is changing about a bit, and obviously those in power want it to change, or else I doubt you would have been able to warn Michael and Ari."

"Yes, I suppose so. I cannot fathom why they would be changing the very nature of existence, but it is not my place to question such things," Kushiel answered.

"I don't know. I think it's your place to question whatever you think you need to, K. You have a unique perspective, after all. You're selfless, and generous, and you have undoubtedly done more for souls in this universe than anyone else. You don't just place people, you redeem them. Your work is sacred," Cass preached.

Kushiel blushed again, looking down. "It is not so much as that," he murmured.

"Of course it is. You sell yourself short, K. You do amazing work. You are amazing, and no one else could do what you do," Cass defended.

"Well, I'm sure someone else could. No one else does, but I'm sure they could," Kushiel mumbled.

"Then why don't they? Surely there's enough work that more angels could've done it. I know enough to know that almost everything has a department and a ton of people working on it. You're special, Kushiel. You were given a higher purpose, and if there were more angels who could"ve done it, then I'm sure they would've," Cass stated.

He could tell that Kushiel was uncomfortable with the compliments, but Cass would just keep building him up until he believed it. He also knew he was right. For whatever reason, Kushiel was the only one who could do this work, and he did it tirelessly and without asking anything in return.

They finished up the last of their meal in a peaceful silence. Cass knew he'd given Kushiel some things to think over, and the quiet was comfortable. When they were done Kushiel offered to wash dishes, and Cass gladly let him—it was his least favorite chore, but it seemed almost meditative for Kushiel, and when the dishes were all set aside to dry he blinked and looked around like he was hoping for more.

"Thank you, K," Cass said, letting his hand run along Kushiel's back as he walked behind him toward the cabinets to put the rest of the ingredients he'd left out away. He noticed Kushiel's light shiver at the touch.

"Well, I think I'm gonna head up and get ready for bed," Cass said, because otherwise he was definitely going to go too fast for Kushiel. The angel was becoming irresistible.

Who was he kidding—Kushiel had been irresistible from the start, but Cass was having a harder time controlling his impulses. If he stuck around much longer, he'd be taking their relationship in a very physical direction, and he just couldn't tell if Kushiel was comfortable enough for that.

Slow. He could totally go slow. Even if it fucking killed him.

"Ok, Cass." Kushiel dried his hands and smiled.

"Help yourself to anything—food, drink, television, a hot shower. Enjoy some pleasures of the mortal flesh," Cass joked. Yeah, a little suggestive, and his voice was a little raspy on the last line, but Cass couldn't help himself.

As if on cue, Kushiel blushed prettily, and Cass gave him a wink and headed for the stairs before he did something… Well, he didn't think he would regret whatever he would do, but he didn't want to move too fast.

He cursed his own good intentions.

Cass sighed as he reached his bedroom, and he stripped out of his clothes and headed into the bathroom. He was half hard just thinking about Kushiel's pretty blush, his gray skin turning a beautiful mauve color.

Cass debated with himself—cold shower to cool off, or hot shower to take care of himself?

He thought of Kushiel's smile, those dark, glossy wings, and he absent-mindedly gave himself a stroke. He thought of Kushiel's hand on him instead and gave a groan, applying a little more pressure as he grew totally hard.

Well, he guessed it would be a hot shower.

He stopped long enough to start the hot water running, giving it some time to heat up before he stepped in, the room already filling with steam. He couldn't help bringing his hand back to his dick, using a firm grip and squeezing as he reached the head, looking down at his bright red cock peeking out from his fist.

He groaned again and closed his eyes, picturing Kushiel, only in his imagination those floaty white pants his true form wore were tented with an erection, those dark gray nipples tight little peaks that Cass would love to lick and nibble on.

Cass heard a noise behind him and figured Kushiel had gone into his room, and he thought of the angel hearing him jerking off, and it made him harder. How pretty would Kushiel's blush be if he knew that he was the reason Cass was so turned on?

He heard a soft gasp behind him, and his eyes shot open. He stopped stroking but kept his dick fisted in his hand as he looked over.

Kushiel was standing in the doorway that led from his room into the bathroom. Cass had forgotten to lock that door since he wasn't used to company.

Or maybe he hadn't really forgotten to lock that door, because Kushiel was indeed blushing sexily, and his eyes were glued to Cass's dick.

Cass couldn't help it, he gave his cock another stroke, squeezing when he got to the head, and a little bead of precum formed on the tip. Kushiel groaned quietly, his eyes never leaving Cass's dick. His own white pants were tented with arousal, and his nipples were indeed hard little peaks. Perhaps Cass's imagination was more of a vision. He certainly wasn't complaining though.

Fuck. So much for good intentions.

"K," Cass whispered hoarsely, and Kushie's eyes shot up to Cass's, his hands coming up to cover his own erection.

"Don't cover up, Kush. Let me see that I made you hard. It was thinking about you that got me this way, after all," Cass murmured, and he saw the surprise flash across Kushiel's face, but the angel dropped his hands like Cass had told him to.

"Go ahead and watch," Cass said, giving himself another stroke and groaning, and Kushiel's eyes slid down like he simply couldn't help himself.

"Or do you want to do more than just watch?" Cass asked. Because he really hoped the answer was yes to that.