Chapter 9

"What.. What is this?" Felix's face blanked at the sight in front of him as he woke up.

Sunlight shone through the window into his bedroom lighting up everything clearly. Felix was on his back in his bed under the covers. It was warm and comfortable but there was a heavy weight on top of him. He could not tear his eyes away from the heavy boy that was on top of him. Aki was curled up right at Felix's side with his arm and leg wrapped across the man. The boy's face was nestled up against his chest as his soft breath could be felt against Felix's chin as he lay there.

Waking up to someone in his bed with him was something that Felix was not use to and it left him unsure of how to react. He could handle flings with others but he had never allowed any of them to stay over night. A strange sensation in his chest made his face flush as Aki let out a soft noise that sounded like a sigh in his sleep. Aki wrapped his body slightly tighter against Felix causing the man to clear his throat to rid himself of any unnecessary thoughts about the boy.

"Aki," Felix asked as he thumped the boy on his forehead causing him to jolt awake. "wake up."

"Oh, morning Felix." He yawned out in response to the strange expression on Felix's face as they gazed into each other's eyes. Smiling brightly up at the man he allowed his own body to collapse back onto Felix's warm body. It felt comforting to be close to him and made him want to enjoy even more of his warmth.

"Why are you sleeping in here? When did you even get in my room?" Felix tried to sit up but it only enticed the boy to shift his body so that he was straddling on top of his lap. The both of them were sitting straight up with Aki on top of his lap; his legs at Felix's sides as he remained on top.

"Last night while you were sleeping so beautifully.~" Aki had a face of bliss as he recalled sneaking into Felix's room last night and seeing his sleeping face. It was truly interesting to see the man sleeping so soundly as if he was staring at a prince from some fairy tale.

"Get off." Felix said sternly as he tried to calm his beating heart at the way Aki was positioned.

"Why?" Aki brought his face in closer to Felix's with the sudden urge to tease him further. Their noses became so close that they could almost touch each other. "Do you not find me attractive?"

Felix tried to suppress himself as best as he could but before he knew it he had flipped Aki over onto his back. Towering above the young man as he gazed down into his eyes he could feel his heart racing. His long purple hair draping down over his shoulders as his single visible eye narrowed with contemplation over the situation. There was a slight sense of hunger behind his gaze that caused the young man to shiver like a small helpless animal.

"See? I knew you're really a wolf.." Aki whispered into his ear as his arms wrapped themselves around Felix's neck. One of his hands slowly slid downward against his back as he felt Felix's body warmth radiating. The scent of the man felt intoxicating and made him desire more.

"Then what are you? A fox? Cause you're definitely a trickster." Felix scoffed slightly as his forehead sat down against Aki's shoulder. He could not see the expression on Aki's face but the boy was surely blushing.

Aki could not respond to Felix's joke because he really was a fox; he was a fox god. If he opened his mouth he was worried he might really admit to what he was and yet that was something he would have to carry to his grave from this man. There would never be a day when Felix would be allowed to know of what he was. If a day was to ever come it would surely be the day that they were forced to part. Felix would grow old as mortals did and Aki like other gods would remain young until the day he died. Death for gods did not come as simply as it did for mortals like Felix and that was something Aki knew he had to accept. No matter how much his heart fell for Felix he could never allow himself to become lost in him.

"What are you doing to me.. I don't think I've ever fallen for someone like I'm afraid I might be falling in love with you.." Felix muttered under his breath without removing his head from Aki's neck. He could feel the young man clasping his hands against the sides of his face as he pulled Felix's face up to gaze into each other's eyes before speaking in response.

"Don't say that," Aki spoke with a serious tone that he'd never used in front of Felix before. "I don't like when people use the three words so the only thing I ask you in our cohabitation is that you NEVER say those three words to me. Even if you feel you'd die for me.. Never in our time together shall you ever tell me you love me."

"Don't you feel it too? Aren't you in my bed trying to make me yours?" Felix lifted his hand up and slowly began to stroke Aki's orange hair with his gentle hand. He was not sure why the boy was trying to pull away so suddenly after pushing him so far. Gazing down into those eyes of his he could see the complicated emotions that plagued the young man's heart but he could not understand the pain behind them.

"I never said I don't. I just can't bear to hear someone speak those three words to me so I'm asking you to never say them." Aki forced a smile to his face so that Felix would not worry about him. The man was truly sensitive to him looking upset so he did not want him to realize how badly it hurt him to ask him for this simple favor.

"I promise I wont use those words with you til the day I die." Felix stated out loud as he accepted the terms of the young man. There was no way that Aki would realize it at that time but Felix would be true to his word. He would never speak the three words, I love you, to Aki but that would never stop their hearts from burning for each other with a fiery desire that transcended all need for those simple words.