Chapter 71 - Don't leave me behind

The warmth of Ray's arms was cosy. His scent was addictive. The low voice sounding close to Aslan's ear sent shivers down his spine, making his heart race. He was being put on edge in a way that seemed impossible to contain. Just to enjoy those sensations, Aslan had not moved.

— Did you come here just to annoy me?

— I'm being honest, you piece of cloud.

Should he expect anything from that bloke? Since the day he was kissed, Ray had become even more enigmatic. Aslan wanted to know what Ray felt, he wanted to know if his feelings were reciprocated or not. Depending on the answer he got, maybe Aslan could take it a step further.

Uncomfortable, the blond sighed heavily before pushing the magician's arms away and turning to face him. The usual smile wasn't there, even his reddened eyes seemed less bright than usual.

— What's wrong? Did something happen to make you uncomfortable?

Ray remained silent before reaching out and stroking Aslan's cheek. Gently and lovingly, as he had never done before.

— Maybe I'm just too impatient now that Diablo is playing around.

Diablo? Aslan tilted his head slightly, not understanding what the contract demon might have to do with the magician's restlessness. Usually Ray was indifferent to this subject. Well... That's because now the situation was quite different from before, now they had Leonardo on their side, and Diablo didn't seem very happy... At least that's what they said about it.

Holding the magician's hand to keep it on his cheek, Aslan didn't run away when he became a prisoner of those rubies. Even though his heart nearly burst out of his mouth, he returned the gaze with determination and tightening his fingers under the other's gloved hand. It was his only chance, and he couldn't afford to waste it.

— If you're so restless like this, should I become your safe harbour?

— Why would you become something you already are?

— Because you don't know how to use that safe harbour properly.

Ray was silent for a few moments and then let out a low laugh. A laugh that was nice to hear because it was genuine. Coupled with the slight blush on his face, it was the most beautiful thing Aslan had seen that day. There he remembered why he had fallen in love with that doll.

— Shouldn't it be the other way round, my piece of cloud? Since I was created to be yours.

Eyes widening, Aslan remembered his first days in Dreamland. There was that forgotten detail, wasn't there? Forgotten, but never forever. Aslan would always remember the words of that person who welcomed him with open arms. The time he was in the office and Rohan Evilian was working as usual, on a spring evening.

— "Aslan, don't you feel lonely? How do you feel about having a new friend?"

Yes, he was lonely. But when Rohan had asked him that question, Aslan had answered him saying it wasn't necessary as he had Benjin and Vicente in Dreamland to play with in his spare time. Besides, he was already happy to have a place where he could feel it was his home. Aslan didn't want to be ambitious and wish for anything more than what he already had.

After all, if he was too ambitious he could easily lose everything.

But Rohan Evilian always smiled kindly, offering him more things.

— "I need an attraction for the park, maybe a magician is enough to make people's sadness disappear... Like magic."

After that day, a character designed by Rohan Evilian himself became a presence in Dreamland. On posters around the park welcoming you, on flyers announcing the opening of new rides and even in the souvenir shop to be bought. A magician in elegant red clothes, artistic make-up and red eyes caught the eye, but what really stood out was his platinum hair.

Aslan was proud when he saw the drawing of his costume for a magician scattered around Dreamland. He loved designing clothes and making them, it was his favourite pastime when he was stressed. And at times like that, he felt like his effort was worth it. A character from Dreamland that he had helped in some way to create, wow how exciting!

A few days after the popularisation of the magical cartoon, a guy identical to him appeared at the Cove of Mermaid. With the same red eye, platinum hair, height, facial features and clothes. Ray had come to life and become Dreamland's newest attraction.

— "Now you won't be alone anymore, because he will be your friend." Yes, Ray was created to be your friend.

Yes, Ray was created to be Aslan's companion.

Even though he belonged to the Evilian family and had to protect them at all costs, Ray was created to never leave Aslan alone. He was the link that connected Aslan to Dreamland. A gift the blond would always be grateful to have.

— Do you want to be used? Your tastes are strange.

— Hahaha, anything for my piece of cloud.

At first, Aslan found Ray too clingy, always chasing him and annoying him. His display of affection seemed fake to the blond. He wasn't human and was created to be his friend, so of course Ray likes Aslan. With that in mind, Aslan always stopped himself from falling for the magician's charms.

Because in the end, he would love a doll that was created to love him. That seemed so sad and lonely.

Except that a human's heart is ridiculously fragile and silly. In the blink of an eye, Aslan had no escape and began to desire Ray more and more. His feelings advanced to such an extent that it was impossible to know what was real or not.

— Whatever, if that's what you want then... I'll do it.

Leaning towards the magician, Aslan took the initiative to kiss him. A simple, warm kiss, just to bridge the distance between them. And even though it was a simple kiss, it was enough to make Aslan's heart beat wildly.

How long had he been waiting for that?

About to move away for fear of the magician's reaction, Aslan was surprised to be grabbed by the back of the head and his mouth captured again by Ray. The movement of lips remained soft and gentle like a waltz, only deeper and wetter.

Was this really happening?

Was he being kissed by Ray?

Before he even realised it, Aslan had wrapped his arms around the magician's shoulders and hugged him tight. No distance was allowed. And feeling the gloved hands holding him by the waist made him sure of how real that moment was. At the same time, it seemed too little.

He wanted more.

Aslan wanted to feel more and more of Ray.

He had waited for all that time, and he could no longer hold back his own desire. He had no idea if there would be a next time, so he needed to make sure he had memories of that sweet dream.

A dream that was interrupted by a mobile phone ring.

Immediately Aslan interrupted the kiss to look towards the computer desk, where the noisy device was. On the screen, Vincent's name flashed incessantly.

— Damn, just now — mumbled the blond man, answering the call — Yes, Vicente, what do you need? Oh, yes, Leo asked me and I'm already making her study plan.

Opening his eyes wide, Aslan shivered as he felt a wet kiss on his neck. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Ray teasing him unexpectedly.

— Y-Yes, I'm free now, I can come by your office and we can discuss it, a-ah...

Immediately the boy covered his mouth. Staring at the magician, he saw him smile innocently.

He had just...

Aslan turned red on the spot.

— I'll see you later, Vicente — Hanging up his mobile phone, Aslan stroked his neck.

— It's very mean of you to say you're free when you're clearly not.

— You... bit me? Is that right? — Aslan pulled a mirror from the other table, looking at the bite mark on his neck — You crazy magician!

— Now Vicente will know that you were busy and that shouldn't interrupt us.

Ah... What should he do? Should he cover it with make-up? Wear a scarf? What would they think if they saw that mark?

— Don't even try to hide it, you piece of cloud — Ray warned, pulling him by the chin and forcing him to look at him — It's high time we made things clear.

— What things?

— That you're mine, that's what.

Arching an eyebrow, Aslan wanted to kill him. Despite the shame he felt, he admitted that he was happy about it. Could it be that if he showed everyone, then more kisses would come? Could they become closer like Leonardo and Benjin?

Not that Aslan envied their display of affection. He just wanted to make their relationship clear.

— You say that, but you're always running away from me.

— Me?

— That day you kissed me... And then you were never alone with me again.

Having to admit that made Aslan feel childish. But it was inevitable. There was a chance that Ray would pretend again, and who knows when they would get involved again. However, to his surprise, Ray knelt at his feet, laying his head in his lap, and grinned mischievously.

— Been waiting for me, have you? Did you miss me?

Ah.

It was a trap.

Slapping his forehead, Aslan grumbled at his own stupidity in not realising it was one of the many games that magician played. Aslan should have been suspicious!

Ray loved to tease.

What could he do? It was that idiot he had fallen in love with. If he fell for his pranks and traps, would he finally reach the desired end?

It wouldn't hurt to try.

Aslan just sighed defeatedly and stroked the head of the magician, who was surprised to notice the thin, natural smile the other gave him.

— I've been waiting a long time. So don't be mean to me, and stay on my side.

The magician swallowed dryly, getting up from the floor and gently holding the blond's hand.

— Then I will finally mark your soul as mine.

Aslan didn't quite understand the meaning behind those words, but the low, enchanting tone in Ray's voice caused him new and pleasurable sensations. He could listen to him talk like that forever. And because he was enchanted by that tone, he didn't realise that he had got up from his chair and allowed himself to be guided by the magician to his bed.

He only realised that Ray was tangling his index finger in a lock of his hair before he grabbed him by the back of the neck and their mouths touched again. He was being kissed for the second time in the same day, it was enough to make him minimally happy.

Clinging to the magician's blouse, Aslan had no desire to leave for work. Not when Ray's warm mouth moved ever so slowly over his, deepening the kiss. Not while he felt Ray's large hands holding him so tightly, as if he feared his escape. He could feel his desperation.

Aslan matched him. He hugged him as tightly as he could, standing on tiptoe without wanting to pull away from that magician. And as the kiss deepened, the more Aslan's mind was covered in a fog. The worries and confusions that agonised him before the first kiss faded from view to the point of seeming ridiculous. By disappearing from his sight, he could finally feel calmer.

— "Sometimes I feel afraid to face it all, but then it's like a fog covers all the problems and makes me feel calmer."

Was it that feeling Leonardo had said earlier?

How dangerous, Aslan could get used to that damn kiss.

When their mouths parted, Ray stroked Aslan's face and he looked lost.

— Don't worry, my piece of cloud. You'll live forever with me and no one else will try to steal you from me.