Stardust thumped him on the forehead. “Nothing permanent. Now, get out of here before I make you cluck like a chicken whenever you hear a bell for the rest of your life.”
The white shirt scrambled to his feet. He stumbled off, clutching his chest that was probably sore as hell from Stardust’s kick. Maybe that would keep him out of the assault game for a while.
Stardust pushed himself to his feet. Mike was right behind him when he turned around.
“Did you get what you wanted?”
“I did.” He slid a hand over Mike’s hip. “I like working with you. You did a good job tonight.”
“Thanks. I like working with you too.”
There was enough light in the parking lot for Aiden to see the red flush that flamed to life along Mike’s cheekbones.
There was no one around, so Aiden pushed up his mask. “You’re blushing. You turn red every time I give you a compliment. Are you embarrassed?”
“No.”
“Hmmm...” Aiden thought about that for a moment. Mike said he wasn’t embarrassed to receive compliments but the blush couldn’t be denied. He tilted his head to the side, wondering...Oh. “Maybe you have a praise kink.” Aiden watched, delighted as the blush deepened before Mike answered.
“I’ve never heard of a praise kink before but I can guess what it means.”
“You don’t have to guess when I can tell you. You like it when I tell you you’ve done a good job. But it’s more than that,” he said while lightly drumming his fingers on Mike’s hip. “You get pleasure from it. It makes you feel good deep inside. Does that sound right?”
“I do experience a different type of satisfaction when you give me praise.” Mike’s voice deepened, becoming low and husky. “And sometimes it almost feels like arousal.”
Aiden let a slow smile curl his lips at that admission. “That is a turn-on.”
“Is it?”
“Mmmm-hmmm...” Aiden prowled forward. Mike walked backward and Aiden matched him step for step until his big, blushing submissive was pressed up against the side of a truck. “You have no idea how much of a turn-on it is.” He curled a single finger, beckoning Mike to get on his level. “Get down here.”
Mike leaned down and Aiden pulled off one of his gloves. He cupped Mike’s cheek with his bare hand, wanting to feel the warmth of that blush against his palm. With deliberate slowness, he slid his hand around and up to Mike’s nape, lightly scraping his fingers through the soft, short hairs there. Mike shivered, the tip of his tongue sliding out to slick over his bottom lip. Only then did Aiden lean in to kiss him.
He moaned at how perfectly Mike’s lips fit against his own. They kissed, soft but full of fire—from the fight and from their desire for each other. Mike’s hand latched onto his braid, lightly tugging. That set off little sparks of pleasure on his scalp and a swoop of desire low in his belly. He loved having his hair pulled. To return the pleasure, Aiden slipped a thigh between Mike’s legs, pressing up to rub against the bulge in his black pants.
Aware that they were in a space that prevented them from taking things too far, Aiden eventually pulled back from their kiss, but kept his body pressed to Mike’s. This close, he could make out that his eyes were heavy-lidded behind the green lenses of his glasses.
“Too bad this isn’t an alley,” he teased.
“Why, are we about to fuck?”
Aiden smirked. “You wish. You’re going to have to work to earn this ass. When you’re on your knees begging for it,thenyou can fuck me.” He brushed his thumb over Mike’s lips. Tiny golden sparkles trailed behind his touch. Aiden’s eyes widened. His powers had never come out like that before.
“That felt nice,” Mike said.
“I like having my hands on you.” Wanting to feel more of Mike, Aiden tried to slip his hands under his shirt to caress his back in the space beneath his tactical vest. But Mike flinched away so hard, it startled him into immediately pulling away.
“Are you okay?” he asked in concern. “Did you get hurt in the fight?” He brought his hands back up to hover over Mike’s chest, wanting to check him for injuries, but Mike shook his head.
“No injuries. Or, not any new ones rather.”
“Ah,” Aiden said in dawning understanding. “I see.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No, don’t apologize.”
Mike hung his head, looking like a scolded puppy.