Kiss: No Strings Attached

The both of them stayed like that for a while, and when Israel was sure that Henry had stopped sobbing, he broke the hug.

“I am so sorry Hen, I didn't mean to sound like that. I was thoughtless and I didn't care about your emotions,” Israel apologized with a sad look on his face.

Henry sniffed, ashamed that Israel had to see him looking so weak, “I am sorry you had to witness that,” He apologized, his eyes fixed on the floor.

“Why are you acting so strange, Hen? This is not the first time I've seen you so broken, neither is it the hundredth time. There is nothing to be ashamed of, and no matter what happens, I will always be here, rooting for you,” Israel promised with a gentle glow in his eyes.

Henry didn't respond, he still felt shy and he cleaned his wet eyes, “By the way, it has been a while since you last got hungry, is someone else feeding you at my back?” He asked with a playful tone, trying to lighten the atmosphere.

Israel chuckled and sat down beside him, “I think you should be happy that you don't have to see me hungry and craving fresh blood,” he replied with a broad smile on his face.

“Happy? I think I prefer when you go berserk, then everyone will realize my importance once again, and they'll come looking for me, begging me to calm your insanity,” Henry giggled at his own words.

“Is that so?” Israel hummed, as if remembering something important, “Don't worry, when next I get hungry, I will make sure I'm super aggressive to you.” He said playfully.

“Okay, bring it on, Bruno.” Henry and Israel laughed at each other's playfulness. Henry turned to face Israel, and they both stared into each other eyes like lovers for hours. Henry could see his future in Israel's eyes, he could see the cure to his curse, but he was scared of getting rejected by his best friend.

“Huh uh,” Israel cleared his throat and nervously turned his face away from Henry's. He couldn't believe he stared into a man's eyes for long, and although he had nothing against gay couples, he wasn't ready for anything serious. He wanted to have fun and play around without bothering about his future.

It wasn't an easy choice, but after deep thinking, Israel, Liam, Lazarus, Aaron, and Xender decided to accept the fact that their curse was not going to be broken. It wasn't that they didn't believe in true love, the problem was they weren't ready to commit fully to a relationship. They thought they were monsters who didn't deserve to be loved.

An awkward moment broke out between the two men, and they couldn't even look each other in the eyes due to embarrassment.

After a momentary silence, Henry decided to man up and talk, “Humm, we should probably start getting ready for the conference, I don't think we should go there late,” he stuttered, his ears burning red with shyness. 'No one must see this shy side of me,’ his demon cried out in his head.

“Oh, yes, you're right,” Israel nodded in agreement, and Henry turned to leave, but was stopped.

“Henry,” Israel whispered his name.

A quiet call in such a lonely room seduced Henry to get close. Or was it him getting closer? Israel wasn't sure. All he knew was that he felt like kissing Henry, and he closed his eyes.

Israel's hot breath teased Henry before he captured his lips in his mouth. He wasn't touching him anywhere else, only his mouth and lips burned against him, yet his whole body was on fire.

His kiss was gentle. His lips entreating, teasing, and stroking him. Henry had never felt anything like it before. He wanted more. No, he craved for more.

Israel pulled his lips away from him and Henry groaned in both pleasure and disapproval.

Henry opened his eyes and found himself staring into Israel's obsidian ones. In that short moment, while looking into each other's eyes, they exchanged a thousand kisses.

And then it happened, slowly, irresistibly, they were pulled together in a kiss that began where their last one ended.

Israel's mouth was a sinful delight. His lips were red velvet on Henry's, his fingers entangled in his hair, titling his face to deepen the kiss. Henry shivered in sheer pleasure, his hands reaching to grab Israel's shoulders. Israel's arms went around his waist, pulling him closer to him.

A low moan escaped from Henry's lips when Israel swept his tongue over his lower lips, teasing his mouth open. Henry arched him as his tongue explored his mouth. His fingers went into his hair and his other hand grasped the back of his shirt.

Another gasp left Henry's mouth when Israel's lips parted from his. He thought he was going to stop but he trailed kisses along his jaw and down his neck. Henry whimpered at the pleasure from his lips on his neck. The tingling heat from his tongue swept over his skin. And then the grate of his teeth left him breathless.

That was it. Suddenly the heat of his body was gone and he stood still, confused and also short of breath.

Israel created some distance between them, he looked shocked and confused.

“Is something wrong?” Henry asked, trying to move closer to him, but Israel moved backward.

“I…I am so sorry,” Israel apologized, his voice low and hurt. “I don't know what came over me, but it was a mistake, I never should have kissed you,” he stuttered, his eyes frightened. Henry had a smile on his face, and he wanted to tell Israel that he was fine with it, but when he had his reason for kissing him, he was heartbroken.

“I kissed you for fun, no strings attached. I promise to never cross the line again,” Israel said with a low voice, but if only Henry knew that was far from the truth.

Henry looked at Israel, tears threatening to flow out of his eyes. For so long, he had harbored feelings for him, believing that one day Israel would notice him and feel the same way, but what he just said proved that nothing romantic could have happened between them. He blamed himself for believing that someone could genuinely love a broken monster like him.

Henry felt a stinging sensation in his eyes, and tears began to fall. He tried to wipe them away, but they kept coming. His eyes closed involuntarily, and his mouth began to shake as he tried to search for the right words.

‘I am alone in this world. No one can love a monster like me.’ He murmured under his breath like a walking, and in pain, he disappeared for the training room.