(Joseph's POV)
"Asurah!" I yelled once I saw him be tackled by a large hairy beast. Despite the fact that Asurah had pushed me away, I snapped back to my feet, grabbing a rock before chucking it at the creature. It hit it's head, making the thing stop and growl before looking at me.
Asurah's eyes were wide and when the creature launched at me, he screamed and shot to his feet, running after the creature as it knocked me to my back, its teeth dripping saliva as it roared in my face, making my heart beat at an unhealthy rate. I watched in shock as Asurah literally tackled the beast, crying out as the beast bit his shoulder, easily ripping through the thick skin. The beast tossed Asurah to the ground as if he were nothing more than a sack of potatoes.
My heart clenched tightly in my chest when Asurah didn't move, tears forming in my eyes as I stared at his unmoving form. I only let out a breath of relief when he groaned in pain, heaving himself up on his good arm as he dizzily looked around, a bewildered look on his face.
"What the hell is that thing?!" Issak screeched, his eyes wide as he shoved his samples behind him, as if his measly body would protect it.
"I don't know, but we need to get out of here!" I yelled, rushing over to Asurah to heave him into my arms. My heart clenched at how light he felt, a dazed look on his face as his brows furrowed together. Tearing my eyes from his form, I glanced up at the beast, it's eyes watching us as if it were...amused. But, surely an animal couldn't be amused...right? Unless Glacion's creatures were much more intelligent than I thought. In which case, we could be screwed. Unless...I could somehow divert the creature's attention to Issak while I got Asurah to safety.
Or...it seemed like he was doing it himself by the way he grabbed his things and began running, making the creature roar before it rushed after him, giving Asurah and me the chance to escape.
I ran as quickly as I could without looking back, Asurah's form held tightly in my arms.I nearly tripped quite a few times, but luckily managed to make it to the palace, breathing a strangled sigh of relief once we were within it's safe walls. My back to the door, I slid down it with Asurah still in my arms. And as my adrenaline fizzled off, I winced at the pain in my thigh, where Jack had shot me. I peered down and winced at the small speck of blood, not really as concerned about it as I was with Asurah's wound which...woah. I stared in disbelief at the nearly unmarred skin, only a few jagged scars in sight. Did he...how the heck did he heal so fast?! Was that just another thing Glacic's had that humans didn't? It was as if the beast never took a chunk out of him in the first place.
I was so fascinated that I gently touched the scars, wincing when Asurah non too kindly smacked me in the arm.
"That hurts you jerkface." He muttered with a frown, sitting up.
I blushed once I realized he was still in my lap, his body a comfortable weight as he stared at me with furrowed brows. I cleared my throat, scratching the back of my neck and trying not to focus on the hand that I had resting against his waist, his skin as soft as silk. "Um...so...ah, we escaped that beast thing. Which, speaking of beast, how the hell did you heal so fast? I saw that thing's teeth rip into you...how the heck did you walk away with only a few scars?"
Asurah stared at me, seeming completely confused as he glanced down at his arm, his eyes widening as he stared at the scars. He touched one of them and winced, taking his hand back before he looked at me. "I...I have no idea. I never knew we could heal that fast." He frowned, but then shook his head. "I've never really been seriously hurt before...so I guess I never noticed. It's so fascinating though." He paused on admiring his arm, his eyes meeting mine. "Where's Issak? Did...did the Moril get him?"
I shrugged, bringing Asurah closer to me, noticing the blush that formed on his cheeks. "The thing ran after him. I guess Issak was more worried about protecting his samples than his own life."
Asurah looked down, as if the mere thought was bad enough. And that's what I loved about him. Even with someone like Issak, he was against the violent method. He was so caring about other people's lives, it made a warmth spread through me. Before I could stop myself, I was placing a kiss on those soft lips of his, enjoying the small gasp that escaped him as our lips met.
I cupped his face, kissing him deeper, my heart racing even faster when I felt his fingers at the nape of my neck, pulling me closer. When we pulled away for air, both of our cheeks were stained crimson, our eyes hooded as we stared at one another.
"What was that for?" Asurah asked breathlessly, nibbling at his bottom lip.
I shrugged, the hand that was cupping his face, trailing down until my fingers brushed against his lips, making him shudder. "I don't know. You're just very kissable."
Asurah blushed and looked to the side, embarrassed. "Oh? Is that so?"
I nodded, watching as those beautiful white eyes turned back to me. "Asurah? Do you remember what I asked you? On the ship?"
Asurah nodded, a small, shy smile forming over his luscious lips. "Yeah. I do."
I stared into his eyes, our faces mere inches apart. Being this close to him in better lighting, I could clearly see those faint freckles of his, dusted over skin so pale, so soft, giving him an almost innocent look. He was such a gorgeous man, and I was so lucky to have found him. Yeah sure, it sucked that my ship crashed and had to be repaired, but it was all worth it for Asurah. If he felt the same way about me. I mean, he wouldn't lead me on by kissing me back, right? He just wasn't that kind of person. He was too kind to lead anyone on, and that made my heart ache for him even more.
I never really had anything too serious in all my years. I had only ever been in love once, and that turned out to be a nightmare, since she had only wanted me for what money I had. I had multiple boyfriends and girlfriends as well, but none of them made my heart race the way Asurah did. The fact that he was gorgeous as well, was only icing on the cake. He was witty, sweet, kind...everything I wanted in a relationship. If Asurah was willing to take this one step further, of course.
How much further did I want it to be? I never really thought about that until now. Did I want to engage in something much more serious with Asurah? Of course, it wouldn't be now, but hopefully sometime in the future I could become more with him. And if he wanted the same thing in the future, that would only make me the happiest man in the galaxy.
Plus, now that Issak was gone out of our lives, my Ma could be here too, enjoying the rest of her life as she deserved.
"Your Highness? Oh my goodness! Is that your blood? Are you alright?"
My god, really? Another interruption? Could we not get a break? I resisted the urge to glare at the small servant as Asurah blushed darkly and jumped away from my lap, clearing his throat before giving his arm a brief glance.
"I'm fine. I just need cleaned up. Prepare a bath for me, if you will. And," he glanced at me, a small smile on his lips before he turned back to his servant, "move his room closer to mine. Also, ask Cuban to make us some dinner. I'm completely parched."
The servant nodded, rushing to do his bidding as the albino king turned to me and helped me stand up, wincing at the sight of the blood on my thigh. "Why didn't you tell me your wound opened back up? Do you want me to worry myself to death?"
I chuckled pulling him close to me and relishing the blush that danced across his cheeks as my arms went around his waist. "I'm fine. I promise. So...what's your answer? For the question I asked on the ship?"
Asurah stared at me for the longest time before he hid his face in my neck, clearly too embarrassed to look me in the eye. "I...maybe...kinda...sorta like you? Like...like like you. Maybe."
"Maybe?" I asked with mock despair, even though my heart felt like it was soaring through the sky.
Asurah scoffed and hit my arm, making me smirk as he looked away, embarrassed. "Ok, I like you. Like...a lot. Are you happy now? Ugh, no one ever told me confessions would be this embarrassing."
I laughed and pulled him back to me, unable to keep smiling at possibly the happiest moment in my life. He liked me! He actually liked me. I was so surprised, since, I admit, I probably wasn't the best of company. But even so...he liked me. I felt like a dang schoolgirl who's crush liked her back, I was that excited.
I could barely contain said excitement as I pulled Asurah into a searing kiss, our lips dancing in a heated battle until the need for oxygen pulled us apart. Breathless, I cupped Asurah's cheek, smiling like an idiot. "I like you too, Asurah. A lot."
Asurah blinked, then grinned and pulled me to him for another kiss, our hearts beating in sync as we kissed. The worlds around us disappeared until it was just the two of us. And for a moment...I finally realized what true happiness meant.