8. 8

8

Beau

“ W hy do you look like you’ve raided Hell’s closet?” Kassel asked as he walked into the room, wrapped in his human skin and dressed like a preppy librarian.

Beau laughed, fixing the straps of the harness he was wearing over a tight black shirt. The rest of his outfit was a simple pair of leather pants and knee-high platform boots with more buckles than was needed for anything on this planet. He liked them though. They added loads of height to his already lanky body, and he liked the altitude.

“Do you like it?”

He twirled around shyly, striking a few clumsy poses to showcase his outfit.

He was what he liked to call a casual goth on the daily. Like a vampire on vacation. Dark clothes, but not too much flair, to keep it socially acceptable. But on special occasions he liked to embrace his inner goth and let it shine.

Kassel ran his eyes down Beau’s body, setting hundreds of tiny flames on his skin. Images of a Ferris wheel cart swaying and the sounds of it creaking as Beau climbed into Kassel’s lap filled his mind, and he couldn’t help but let it all play out in front of his eyes again.

The way Kassel had carried him home and laid him on the bed. The heart-stopping moment when he’d hovered over him before he’d settled behind him instead of taking his own pleasure. Beau had wanted him to, but he didn’t know how to articulate it.

He’d fallen asleep thinking of ways he could.

“You look good,” Kassel said, looking down at his own clothes. He tried to appear as stoic as usual, but Beau caught sight of a claw poking through the human skin he was wearing. “I don’t think we match.”

“Yeah, about that.” Beau walked over and traced his finger over the collar of the beige shirt Kassel had on. “How do you feel about going to the concert as Kassel?”

“In my demon form?”

Beau nodded, letting his fingers slip under the collar and brush against the unfamiliar skin. “In your true form, yes.”

“Won’t you mind being by yourself again?” Kassel asked, looking between his eyes.

Beau shook his head. “No, I meant demon and visible.”

Kassel was visibly confused. “You want me to be visible as a demon in a human setting?”

Beau nodded.

“I don’t believe that is wise,” Kassel said, but Beau smiled gently and placed his open palm on Kassel’s chest.

Goodness, but he was so warm, so inviting and comforting. Beau wanted to stay glued to him forever. But the real Kassel, not the human impersonation he felt compelled to adopt. He didn’t like that at all. He wanted the purple skin and all of the jewel-colored eyes. He wanted the tail and the horns and the leather and the sheer monstrous size of Kassel next to him.

He had a sneaking suspicion about what it all meant. This burning need for Kassel, the fact that he felt more drawn to a demon than he ever had a human being.

He shied away from the answer, not ready to acknowledge it.

“It’ll be okay,” Beau said, looking up through his lashes and hoping it came across as he’d seen it described in countless romance novels as a teenager. Tempting and seductive. He didn’t think he had any of that in him, but maybe Kassel didn’t know any better about humans so it could work. “Trust me?”

Kassel raised his hand and placed it on top of Beau’s on his chest, a glimmer washing over him as his pale human skin turned purple. The hand covering Beau’s grew until it engulfed it completely, and despite the added height from his boots, Beau still had to crane his neck to keep looking at Kassel when his body expanded into his demon form.

Colorful eyes blinked at Beau, and he found himself holding in a breath. Kassel was stunning. Everything about him was beyond beautiful, and even though Beau knew that probably wasn’t the word you used to describe a demon from Hell, he couldn’t fight his own mind. Kassel was beautiful to him. He said what he said. Thought what he thought. Whatever.

“This better?” Kassel asked when he’d finished changing the clothes from preppy to something like what he’d been wearing when Beau first summoned him. A leather jacket with nothing underneath, matching leather pants, and boots that looked like they could stomp the life out of someone. Which they probably could, Beau had no idea.

“You look amazing,” he whispered, stepping closer to Kassel and lifting both hands until they were wrapped around the demon’s neck. He coiled himself as close as he could, tilting his head and pressing his cheek against Kassel’s bare chest.

The silence beneath Kassel’s skin should have been unnerving. No heartbeat, no hum of blood traveling through his veins. Just complete, dead silence. Beau found himself drowning in it and loving every second. If he closed his eyes it felt like he was floating through nothingness, and it soothed him like a lullaby.

He breathed Kassel’s scent in and cuddled closer, relief washing over him when he felt one of Kassel’s hands settling on the small of his back and the other gripping his hip. It sent a jolt of heat through him that landed in his groin.

“Maybe we should just stay in,” he whispered, letting his lips brush over Kassel’s chest.

“We have concert tickets.” Kassel’s voice was a rumble under Beau’s cheek.

“They can go to waste,” Beau said, already getting caught up in this push and pull.

Kassel’s hands left his hips and back to settle on his shoulders. He felt himself being pushed away and whined at the loss of contact.

“I was looking forward to it,” Kassel said.

Beau squinted at him in suspicion. “You were?”

“I found the activities we have done so far amusing,” he said. “I have no reason to think the concert will be any different.”

“Yeah, I think you might enjoy it,” Beau said, realizing he really should take Kassel to the concert and show him a good time. “Fine, we can go. But cuddles and kisses when we get back?”

“As you wish,” Kassel said, and for a second Beau wanted to protest and make sure Kassel knew he could say no to him whenever he wanted. He wasn’t obligated to indulge Beau’s need to constantly be glued to him. He opened his mouth to say just that, but Kassel swished his tail and wrapped it around Beau’s wrist, pulling him toward the door. “I’m not opposed to cuddling or kissing you, Beau.”

“You aren’t?” Beau felt something bloom in his chest.

“No,” Kassel said, and the simple word made Beau skip his way toward the venue where the concert was to take place.

Beau was familiar with it since most of the bands he liked performed there at least once a year. It was a concrete cube of a building, meant to be torn down ages ago but kept alive by the sheer devotion of the people frequenting it. It used to be either a warehouse or a factory of some sort, consisting of a labyrinth of connected empty rooms, with boarded-up windows and light bulbs swaying from the ceilings on exposed wires. He had no idea what used to be there, but rough, unfinished walls covered in crude graffiti were the only things in there at the moment.

He gave their tickets at the entrance and bit back a smile as he waited for Kassel to realize just why it was perfectly okay for him to be himself.

“Oh,” he heard Kassel say when it finally sank in.

The stage was small but filled with instruments, and the backdrop was a huge photo of the band. Six members, each looking less like a human and more like a human’s worst nightmare. There were warts, and scales, and horns, and more appendages than one could count. They looked grotesque and that was the appeal. Nobody knew what the members of the band truly looked like, and the audience embraced it by wearing their own versions of demonic apparel.

Kassel looked tame in comparison.

“What do you think?” Beau turned to ask but he found Kassel’s eyes glued to the photo of the band.

“Dave’s a Demon,” he read the name of the band.

“Yup!” he said. “They’re my absolute favorite band in the world. Their music is so cool. You’ll see.”

Kassel was still staring at the band poster, but Beau’s eyes were glued to something behind his back.

Someone, to be more specific.

“Oh my god, he’s coming here!” Beau whisper-screamed to Kassel, trying his best to keep his cool, but one of the band members was making his way toward them and he was going to vibrate out of his skin.

“Who?” Kassel asked.

Beau tried to point without it being too obvious. He was pretty sure he failed.

“Dave,” he said, watching the man come closer and closer. “He’s the bassist for the band and he’s my favorite member. Act cool. Act normal!”

“Kassel?” Dave said as he approached them, and Beau almost swallowed his damn tongue.

“Wait, what?” he asked as Kassel turned to Dave and greeted him with a clasp on his shoulder.

“Dave,” Kassel said. “Interesting seeing you here.”

“I could say the same thing,” Dave said. “Does Luc know you’re topside?”

“Official business,” Kassel said. Beau’s head was spinning. “Does Luc know you’re topside?”

“About that…” Dave snorted, rubbing the back of his neck. “Nobody knows. And I’d appreciate it if we could keep it that way.”

“I doubt Oren doesn’t know,” Kassel said.

“So nosy,” Dave complained, and Kassel shrugged.

Beau was still staring between the two, bewildered and more than a little eager for Kassel to maybe introduce him to Dave. How cool would that be? For him to just casually get to meet his favorite musician.

The slight shift on his feet must have alerted Dave to his presence, because all of a sudden Beau was pinned to the spot by a pair of clear white eyes, a large, pointy tongue running over a set of tusks protruding from Dave’s bottom jaw.

“And…” he said, voice turning husky as he looked at Beau. “Is this your official business, Kassel? No wonder you’re not complaining about being summoned. He’s absolutely delicious looking.”

Beau reeled at the comment, feeling his cheeks growing hot as he shuffled closer to Kassel uncomfortably.

Okay, so Dave was easier to like from a distance, it seemed. Up close, he was too intense, too leering, and too… not Kassel for Beau’s taste. Too few eyes, probably. Not enough horns. Or just not purple. He couldn’t really tell, but something wasn’t measuring up to his favorite demon.

As if sensing Beau’s discomfort, Kassel squared his shoulders and took a deliberate step to the right, hiding Beau from Dave.

“His name is Beau,” Kassel said. It was clipped and terse.

“And what did darling Beau want from a demon?” Dave asked, and while it seemed like the question was directed at Kassel, one peek around Kassel’s arm showed the clear white eyes fixed on Beau’s face.

“Demon-client confidentiality,” Kassel said.

“Not a thing,” Dave replied.

“Oren’s orders,” Kassel said.

“Since when?” Dave asked.

Beau’s head was spinning.

“Since you missed all the meetings to play in a band,” Kassel said flatly.

He was clearly drawing a line without saying it, daring Dave to cross.

Dave licked his tusk one more time before grinning and shrugging. “Have it your way. Plenty of humans in this joint to pick from, anyway.”

Beau felt relief wash over him and he sagged against Kassel’s back.

“How did you end up in a human band?” Kassel asked, redirecting the conversation.

“Their bassist died and apparently he was a dick because he ended up with us. I figured they’d be looking for a replacement, so why not try out.” Dave finally looked away from them and toward the stage.

“I didn’t even know you played the guitar,” Kassel said.

“Luc plays the violin. Not that uncommon,” Dave said.

Kassel blinked multiple eyes. “Luc plays the violin?”

“He’s pretty good too. G gave him a golden one for his birthday and he lost it to some schmuck in Georgia.” Dave snorted. “We’re not allowed to talk about it because G has no idea and he’d be melodramatic about his gift being lost so, like… pretend I didn’t say anything.”

Kassel made no such promise. Instead, he said, “Why did you name the band that if you wanted this to be a secret?”

“I suggested it as a joke,” Dave said. “They loved it. And they loved how committed I was to my stage presence. ‘Oh, Dave, you should let us see your real face.’ I am, bitch. You just don’t believe me.”

Kassel snorted, and even Beau found an inkling of humor in it, even though Dave was turning out to be kind of an asshole.

“We’re about to start,” Dave said. “Have fun, you two. I hope you’ll like the show.”

He turned to walk away, but before either of them could react he snuck a hand out and around Kassel to run it over Beau’s hair.

Before he could make contact though, a purple tail wrapped around his wrist and yanked him back until he was chest to chest with Kassel.

“You are not allowed to touch,” Kassel growled into Dave’s face, and Beau’s eyes widened.

This was far above anything Beau had witnessed so far, even with the threats and fires. Kassel was nothing if not completely calm. Sometimes grumpy. Always gentle with Beau. A safe harbor for him. But he had turned into a stormy sea right in front of his eyes.

This was the demon.

Dave looked into the eye of the storm before chuckling and shaking his head, never breaking eye contact with Kassel. “Not too late to change your mind, pretty human. I could show you a good time.”

“No, thank you,” Beau said, stepping closer to Kassel and touching the tail wrapped around Dave’s wrist. “You can let go.”

Kassel seethed and boiled for a moment longer, the air around them growing steamy and warped.

“Please?” Beau asked.

Kassel finally looked at him from the corners of his eyes before huffing once and unwinding his tail so quickly that Dave stumbled backward, Kassel’s grip having been that tight.

“Shit. You’re both hopeless.” Dave let out a mocking laugh.

He rushed away and Beau was left frozen in place, feeling countless eyes settle on him. And not just Kassel’s.

Kassel scowled at the people staring at him, looking like he was about to flip out again, but Beau was still in momentary shock.

“I think he just hit on me.”

“He propositioned you, yes,” Kassel ground out.

“That never happens,” Beau said, eyes wide with bewilderment. “I think I need a drink.”

“I brought some,” Kassel said, still looking pissed but pulling his can of wood stain out of one pocket and offering it to Beau. “I will share with you.”

Beau stared at the can for a moment before letting out a laugh and shaking his head.

“That isn’t a drink, Kassel,” he said, watching as Kassel shook the can next to his ear.

“It sloshes,” Kassel said before popping a claw and opening the can. He took a long sip out of it and smacked his tongue, tasting the wood stain like it was fine wine.

“Good?” Beau asked, morbidly fascinated.

“Woodsy,” he said with a nod.

Beau giggled before looking around the venue, eyes turning toward the stage only to find Dave staring at him and giving him a small wave.

He cringed.

“You know Dave?” someone asked from behind them, and Kassel rushed to place himself between Beau and the man in question.

“I just met him.” Beau shook his head. “Kassel here knows him, though.”

“But he likes you. He keeps looking at you.” The man took a step closer to Beau, the next words out of his mouth drowned out by the bass dropping and the band launching into their first song.

It thrummed beneath their feet, the smoke making the air heavy and opaque. It distorted reality around them.

Kassel’s eyes weren’t the only ones glowing. The man talking to him had sharp fangs in his mouth, and another was staring at them from behind, sporting a pair of huge horns on his head.

Were they humans dressing up?

Or were they demons too?

Did they know Kassel as well?

Did they want something from Beau too?

“He was just being friendly,” Beau said over the loud music. “Let’s just enjoy the show.”

The man stepped even closer, leaning down and brushing his lips against Beau’s ear.

“Can I buy you a drink?” he asked. “It’ll make the night more fun.”

“I have one,” Beau said even though no, he didn’t.

“No, you don’t,” the man said. “Looks like your creature here isn’t taking very good care of you.”

The man gave Kassel what was supposed to be a teasing nudge with his shoulder, while at the same time wrapping his hand around Beau’s wrist and giving him a little tug.

Several things happened at the same time.

The overhead lights dimmed as the new song started.

The red lights started strobing, making their movements look jerky and disjointed.

The crowd got louder and inched closer, pushing them all together.

And Kassel finally snapped.

He straightened up until he was standing at his full height, looming over the man who was still holding Beau. He gripped his arm and pried it away from Beau, ignoring the shocked gasp from the man as he was pushed aside.

His other arm went around Beau, gripping his waist and pulling until he was flush against his chest.

“Mine,” he growled at the man, and just like that, everything else faded to nothing around them.

Beau’s feet left the ground as Kassel spun him around until his back hit a wall. Kassel’s body crowded against him, caging him in until he couldn’t see anything or anyone else around them.

His lips parted in a silent exhale when Kassel dove in for a kiss and Beau melted into it. He didn’t care who saw. He didn’t care that they were in public or that the band he’d come to see was playing his favorite music.

Nothing mattered but Kassel’s hands on his hips, his tongue in Beau’s mouth, and that tail of his finding its way into places he didn’t want other people to see.

He wound his arms around Kassel’s neck, moaning into his mouth like they were alone. He made a move to lift his leg and wrap it around Kassel’s hip, but Kassel had other ideas. He inched down and gripped Beau’s thighs in his hands, lifting him up and wrapping his legs around his waist as he pinned him to the wall.

It was filthy. Completely inappropriate. But Beau didn’t even consider breaking it up. He was being touched the way he craved, and nothing would make him give it up.

“Get a room, Kassel,” someone said, and Beau snapped his eyes to the stage where Dave was speaking into his mic, smirking at them through the dimmed lights.

“That’s a good idea,” Kassel said, prying Beau off the wall and whisking him out of the venue, still wrapped around his body like a limpet.

“Kassel…” Beau tried, but the demon paid him no mind.

“We’re leaving,” he said, and honestly, who was Beau to say no to that?