A serpent-like tongue slithered past shocked human lips as the two sealed their cursed pact. Breaking apart moments later, the serpentine tongue slithered back to its home, leaving a human boy gasping for breath while a smug-looking demon observed.

Reaching out a red-skinned hand, the demon placed it upon the boy’s chest, closing his crimson eyes to listen to the frantic beating of a human heart. Finally, after what seemed closer to hours than mere minutes, he pulled back, bringing his hand before his face to scrutinize.

“That pounding,” he drawled, his silk-like voice invitingly warm, “What is it?” Stuck for words and already captivated, the boy resembled a sparrow caught in the piercing gaze of a cobra. A sudden breeze tussled his blond hair and the boy remembered how to form words again. “It’s a heartbeat,” he said simply, inwardly furious at how plain and weak he sounded compared to him.

As if able to sense the boy’s thoughts, the demon chuckled - a deep, rich sound that made the boy nearly faint with wanting. “Do not fret, my prince. Jealousy does not become you.”

Immediately soothed by the words, the young prince was shocked at himself as he blurted, “Why choose me?” Falling to his knees, he attempted to beg forgiveness. All knew it was a terrible thing to ask a demon to explain himself – he usually grew quite angry.

With a stunningly graceful motion, a strong, blood red arm brought the prince to his feet once again and pulled the trembling human to his body. A chuckle rumbled through the bare chest, inciting a vivid blush from the shaking boy. “To answer the question, I chose you, Aran, for a few reasons, but not to enslave you. I assure, had I desired a servant, I would not have made a pact,” the voice drawled silkily.

Looking down, the demon ran his long fingers through Aran’s golden hair and grinned devilishly at the tremor that wracked the boy’s body at the contact. “Tell me, why do you tremble so, my prince?” he asked with a smirk, already possessing the answer.

Young Aran looked up and flawed human green met red demonic perfection. In this moment, the prince truly looked his age of seventeen winters, but the moment was gone quickly.

Nervously, human teeth bit down upon soft pink lips as the boy whimpered softly, “B-because it hurts.” The smug reply came instantly. “What hurts?” The demon clearly wished to force the boy to say the words he wanted to hear. A tremor wracked Aran’s body again before he could respond. “H-how m-much I want you,” he whispered, his eyes lingering on the demon’s face, hoping to convey his want through eyes.

A feral growl that ripped from the red-skinned man was his answer as the two fell to the ground. Demonic ruby lips whispered words into the nape of a human neck as it began.

“Trust me, Aran. I want you as well.”