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To say the least, Jade’s birthday was not going very well.
It was partially his fault—Azul had offered him the day off, but Jade declined, citing that he wished to take care of the Mostro Lounge even on such a special day. It was his duty as one of the Mostro Lounge’s hardworking employees, and he would never wish to abandon it, not even for a single day. At least, that was what he said to Azul. Perhaps it wasn’t the complete truth, no, and perhaps there were certain other reasons he had in mind. But they didn’t matter so long as Azul let him have his fun.
While the octomer was skeptical at first, he let Jade be, uncaring about his motives so long as he didn’t make a mess of things.
“Do what you want,” Azul had said. “But don’t get too carried away.”
Jade had smiled and nodded. “I’ll make sure to live up to the customer’s expectations if that’s what you mean.”
In truth, Jade had hoped to stir up just a bit of trouble. It was his birthday, after all, and it would be quite a waste to squander the opportunity to use such a thing as leverage. He wondered just how much more fear he could instill into the other students, how much more interesting their reactions would be, knowing that they were powerless to go against him on his birthday.
But reality was different. The quick, almost passive words Jade had said, words that were meant to be little more than a playful remark, had incited much more than a verbal argument, almost escalating into a physical brawl had it not been for Azul’s intervention.
“I don’t even talk to you, why should I give you a gift!?”
Jade had laughed. “It was only a joke, kind sir. A joke.”
In the end, Jade had still been dismissed from his duties, at least for the rest of the day, receiving a good earful from Azul before being let go, kicked out of the lounge to go do something other than ‘tormenting patrons.’
That was strike one of the day. Disappointed in the fruitless results of his efforts, Jade walked out of the lounge with a small purse to his lips. No matter, he thought. He could always meet up with Trey, tend to his mushrooms, find some other thing to do, or scheme up another plan. Returning to his room to gather his belongings, perhaps to change into his lab wear before heading to the botanical gardens, Jade was faced with his second obstacle that day—an unknown group of students, definitely not from Octavinelle, and definitely not here for a pleasant chat.
So he did what he always did. Eliminated them without a sound.
And that was strike two of the day. Looking down at the unconscious students, Jade adjusted his tie calmly, peeling off his bloodied gloves. They would wake up sooner or later—Jade wasn’t so cruel as to leave them permanently lifeless—but the question of where to dispose of them still remained. Perhaps he could leave them outside their own dormitories? No, too conspicuous, even with a camouflaging spell. Perhaps by the botanical gardens? Convenient, but too much of an eyesore; their presence would ruin the natural beauty of the gardens. But then where…
“Paint the Roses.”
The corners of Jade’s mouth curled upward, the familiar voice ringing in his ears. He didn’t bother to look behind him before letting out a small chuckle and addressing his boyfriend.
“To what do I owe the pleasure, Trey?”
“What do you think?”
Jade turned around, a calm smile on his face as he greeted the third-year properly, resting a hand on his chest. “Perhaps you knew I’d be in danger and came to assist me?”
“As if anybody would be able to predict this.” Trey shook his head with a sigh. “No, Jade, I actually came here to give you a birthday gift.”
At the words, Trey lifted his arm, dangling a small gift bag in front of Jade’s face
“A birthday gift?” Jade’s heart stirred, and he eyed the back carefully, reaching out to touch the item. “Whatever could this be?”
“You’ll see,” Trey said with a smirk, pulling the gift away from Jade’s fingers, a teasing expression lining his eyes. “First, let’s take care of your mess.”
“Oh, I should be able to take care of it myself.” Jade rested a hand on his chin, amused. “You already did most of the work, making them invisible like this.”
“That was nothing. But you’ll have to work quickly before it runs out.”
“Indeed I shall. Shall I perhaps dispose of them in their very own dorm rooms, leaving them to wake up and wonder what happened? Wondering why they feel pain but have no scars to show for it and no memories either? I do have some leftover potions from the potion you helped me create the other day; do you think I should use it on them—”
“Okay, okay, I think that’s enough information for now.” Trey put a hand on Jade’s shoulder, patting it for a second before lifting one of the students up, and dragging him across the floor. “Let’s just get this over with. We can make our decisions while we do it.”
“Oya, are you helping me? Did I ever tell you to be my accomplice?”
“No, but it won’t matter since we won’t get caught.” Trey put the student down, muttering out a flight spell, causing the student to float on his own. “Okay, that’s better. Still feels like I’m part of a murder scene though…”
Jade laughed. It was a strange feeling, watching Trey act so unfazed, so unbothered by the unconscious students. Usually, any bystanders who saw him in the act were shocked, scared stiff, and completely frozen in place. He would have to toy with their memories for them to even leave the area unscathed, without any recollection of the incident.
Trey… Trey was different. Although he didn’t seem to be any different from anyone else at first, and Jade had thought he’d react accordingly, the same way everyone else had, he was different. The first time Jade had been caught by the vice, he’d prepared a long speech, a persuasive appeal to get Trey to let down his guard enough to slip free from the situation. But that hadn’t been necessary. The Heartslabyul vice only blinked, taking in what Jade had done before sighing, asking if Jade needed help covering things up, if Jade had any way of transporting the students to the infirmary or wherever they needed to go.
Since then, Jade hadn’t had to worry about anything, hadn’t had to worry about hiding the messes he got himself into, hadn’t had to worry about hiding the fact that he wasn’t such a gentlemanly gentleman, at least not from Trey.
“As long as it isn’t downright murder,” Trey had said, “anything is fine. And as long as it isn’t all the time, and it isn’t going to get either of us caught,” he’d said again, “anything goes.”
In response, Jade had only smiled, assuring Trey that these were rare occurrences, not anything he wished to partake in, and only if he was the one being attacked first.
“No gentleman would ever strike first in such an underhanded way,” Jade said. “A gentleman always starts with peace, a verbal conversation, a deal.”
“Are you even a gentleman?” Trey asked with a raised eyebrow.
Jade smirked. “That is something you’ll have to ask yourself.”
Now, as Trey accompanied Jade back to the Hall of Mirrors, Jade kept his eye on the third-year, still curious, amused at how someone so interesting had been hiding for so long, disguised as someone so ‘normal.’ It was a lucky thing he hadn’t escaped Jade’s grasp, a lucky thing Jade had caught him so quickly, so swiftly. And it was a lucky thing Trey was Jade’s, with how easily the third-year could’ve gone for someone else.
Not that Jade would ever allow him to do so.
Trey helped Jade take the students to their rightful destinations, administering health potions as necessary, and redoing his spell when it was about to wear out. All the while, they conversed about the weather, Jade’s mushrooms, Trey’s strawberries, and even their vice housewarden duties.
It was quick work, and they were done in an instant, heading back to Jade’s room at the end so Jade could change (“I don’t think I can Paint the Roses your bloody gloves away any longer…”) before making their way to the botanical gardens.
“…pleasantly surprised at the new mushrooms I’m cultivating. They’re growing rather quickly?” Jade’s voice was fond, having been talking about mushrooms for a while now, with Trey nodding and listening along, paying attention to every detail he said.
“Oh, really? Are they the same mushrooms you showed me the other day? The really tiny ones?”
“Yes! It’s only been a few days since then, but they’ve grown to be quite large. Allow me to show you.” Jade walked ahead, increasing the pace of his steps with a smile. He pushed open the door to one of the sections of the botanical gardens. “Here, they should be just around the corner—”
Jade froze, cutting himself off with silence, not daring to move another inch as he registered the sight before him. Where his mushrooms once were, just one day ago, was a messy pile of dirt, scattered all over the terrain of the gardens, crossing over onto the clean pavement and even onto the petals of nearby flowers, or the leaves of nearby plants. The mushrooms that Jade had been so excited to show Trey, were no longer there, dug up and crushed, squashed and smeared in flat colored shapes on the pavement. They were no longer in their proper places, no longer in their proper homes, having been ruined and destroyed in such a terrible, unfathomable way.
That was the third and final strike.
Jade walked over slowly, lifting a handful of soil up with his gloves, eyeing it silently. The soft and gentle texture only heightened his irritation, and he clenched his hand, crushing the soil and letting it fall to the ground again, standing up to face Trey with his lips pursed.
“I’m afraid I’ll have to ask you for more of your assistance, Trey. There seems to be a little fish that’s escaped my grasp.”
“Yeah…” Trey bent over, touching one of the mushrooms scattered on the ground. He pulled out his pen, casting a few spells to clear up the dirt, moving it back into its proper position, leaving the mushrooms to the side, unable to be salvaged. “Do you have any idea of who did this?”
“Not at the moment. I’ll most certainly find out who it is sooner or later, of course.”
“As you always do.” Trey stood back up, scanning the area around them with a hand to shield his eyes from the sunlight. “You seem to have a lot of enemies.”
“Fufufu, wouldn’t you know it?” Jade’s laugh was dry and humorless, and his eyes were still focused on the mushrooms he’d cultivated, the mushrooms that were no longer. He lifted them up in his hands, peeling them from the pavement path and gingerly stowing them in a container in his bag to be dealt with later.
“Yeah well, first it was those students trying to fight you and now it’s someone trying to ruin your mushrooms. And it’s your birthday too?”
“Indeed, it is unfortunate,” Jade said, pacing around and examining the foliage nearby. He brushed his fingers over the leaves, trying to calm himself, his expression completely neutral. “However, I’ve learned to live with it. I’m rather used to the trouble by now.”
“Hah, that’s nice…”
“I would’ve thought you were the same.” Jade whirled around, facing Trey. He focused on the conversation, focused elsewhere from the mushrooms. “After all, if you’re dating someone as interesting as me, wouldn’t it be beneficial to get used to it quickly as well?”
“I guess.” Trey folded his arms with a sigh. “It’s a miracle you haven’t been caught doing anything yet, Jade. It’s a miracle I haven’t been caught.”
“It’s not nearly as much of a miracle as you make it out to be.” Jade’s gaze shifted around the garden. “I would say I’m a rather clever person, Trey, and so are you. The reason we aren’t getting caught is simply because we’re not as idiotic as to leave any clues for others to follow…”
Movement caught his eye, and he paused for a moment, freezing and looking to the right of his peripheral vision. There was someone there, someone trespassing.
The person who’d ruined his mushrooms.
“Jade? Were you going to say something else?” Trey’s voice interrupted him, reminding him of the conversation they were having.
Jade smiled. “Ah, was I? Let me recall what I had been saying. Ah, of course. I was just mentioning that we’re not as idiotic as to leave any clues for others to follow… unlike a certain other person here.”
Jade muttered that last part quietly, glancing at Trey with his heterochromatic eyes, sharp and alert, a clear signal. He let his eyes wander to the bushes on the other side of the greenhouse, knowing Trey was following his gaze.
Trey’s golden eyes flickered to where Jade was looking for just a second before he laughed slowly, continuing the conversation and looking at Jade, his own eyes steeled and ready. “It’s more of a necessity than a skill. Riddle would definitely flip if he had the clues to figure out what was going on. I don’t want to be on his radar, you know? That’s a no- go.”
Go . There was the second signal. Jade chuckled softly. “Isn’t it natural that a vice housewarden is off of his radar? There are at least three others higher on his watch list than you are.”
“Would two of them be Ace and Deuce?”
“Fufufu, at least one of them is. And the other…” Jade’s lips curled. “Is right in our grasp.”
“Paint the Roses.”
Perfectly on cue, Trey aimed his magical pen toward the far bushes, and Jade got to business, swiftly making his way over to the intruder. As expected of Trey, Jade thought, his heart racing, a strange sense of satisfaction growing in his chest. Jade hadn’t thought for the world he’d ever enjoy standing next to someone in that way, performing in conjunction with a person that wasn’t either Azul or Floyd. But he’d found someone, he’d found Trey, someone who could actually keep up with him and leave room for him to act on his own.
Except, there was one thing Jade was missing. Reaching into the bushes and clamping down on something hard, Jade prepared himself for the sweet taste of victory…
…only to find nothing but leaves and sticks.
It was only then that Jade froze, stopping his movements. He opened his hand, releasing the sticks and watching them tumble to the floor, his eyes narrowed and his lips pursed. So the movement he’d seen had been nothing? Had he been wrong? Had he lost his abilities as a predator?
Had he miscalculated?
No, Jade didn’t have time for this. Jade didn’t have the time to dwell on why things were going so wrong all on the same day, on his birthday, not when the person who’d messed with his mushrooms was still out there, not when he still had someone to catch, not when he was burning with anger, barely able to control his expression, his mask that he’d worked so hard to perfect.
Adjusting his tie and brushing himself off, Jade began walking away from the bushes, toward Trey but not to Trey, looking away from the third-year. He couldn’t risk Trey seeing him like this.
“I’m afraid we’ll have to delay our plans for today for just a bit longer, Trey,” Jade muttered. “If you would wait for me right here—”
“Wait.” Trey put a hand on Jade’s shoulder. “Where are you going?”
Jade blinked. Then he chuckled darkly. “Where else but to capture the culprit that disturbed my mushrooms?”
“You’re upset.”
“I’m not.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea to run off like this when you’re like this.”
“I would like it if you didn’t tell me what I can and cannot do.”
“But can’t this wait for later?” Trey asked. “Can’t we wait until tomorrow to catch who did this?”
“Tomorrow?” Jade looked at Trey coldly. “I don’t understand what you mean by that. My mushrooms aren’t to be overlooked. If you intend to leave everything like this without finding out who did this to them, I’m afraid you’ve made a terrible oversight—”
“That’s… not what I meant.” Trey sighed, running a hand through his hair, a pained smile on his face. “You see, it’s your birthday, Jade. Not the mushroom’s birthday, and not the birthdays of all those people that have been bothering you. Yours. Doesn’t it make sense to celebrate it to its fullest instead of having to deal with those who don’t even deserve your time?”
“They were the ones who disturbed my mushrooms—”
“And I know you’ll get your proper revenge on them eventually. Just not today, Jade. Tomorrow. Please?”
Jade pursed his lips. It was no use fighting that expression on Trey’s face, the warm smile and knowing eyes of his. They calmed Jade down, just a little bit, and only for a moment, but they calmed him down nonetheless when every other thing hadn’t.
It was maddening. Impossible, the way Trey always managed to do everything that nobody else could. Peculiar, the way that even the presence of such a person could ever manage to affect Jade in such a way. Perhaps if Trey was put in Octavinelle, he could’ve been one incredible asset to the dorm, being able to persuade others in such a way. Perhaps it was better he was put in Heartslabyul so that the only Octavinelle who could ever have him was Jade and Jade only.
Needless to say, Jade gave in to Trey’s words, eyeing the third-year carefully. “What do you intend for us to do in the meantime then?”
“Something good. Something fun.” Trey smirked. “I still haven’t given you all my gifts yet, you know. Why don’t we do that?”
“Gifts?” Jade glanced at the gift bag that Trey still carried in his hands. “I thought you only had the one gift?”
Trey laughed, following Jade’s gaze. “Do you really think this is all I’ve gotten you?”
“Yes?”
“Well then, that’s where you’re wrong.” Trey leaned forward, surprising Jade with a whisper in his ears, the third-year’s deep voice sending shivers down Jade’s spine. “I have so many surprises for you, Jade. And you love surprises, don’t you? So why waste your time on nonsense when you could be spending your time with me?”
Jade’s heart fluttered, but he remained neutral, adjusting his hand so it was resting against his chest. You have such a fine way of persuading others, Trey. “Fine then. Take me to see your surprises. Do with me as you wish.”
“No, you’ll do with me as you wish,” Trey corrected. “You are the birthday boy, after all. It only makes sense for me to spoil you, not the other way around.”
“Spoil me?” Jade raised his eyebrows, smiling mischievously. “Do with you as I wish? My, my, Trey. Those are some dangerous words.”
“Dangerous words for a dangerous person. Do I look like I’m someone to throw around words that easily?”
Jade chuckled. “Perhaps.”
Trey only sighed, taking Jade’s hand and pulling the mer away, taking him back to the Hall of Mirrors, back to the dorm.
🍄 🍄 🍄
“Although you did mention multiple gifts… I wasn’t exactly expecting this much.”
They were in Heartslabyul’s kitchens, a favored meeting spot between the two of them, an array of foods spread out on the table before them. From Mont Blancs to the mushroom pie Jade was eating, and even to an octopus-carpaccio-inspired pastry that Jade had never seen, there was quite a lot to take in, and quite a lot to finish off. Even so, just looking at the table, sneaking a glance at each and every pie Trey had baked, caused Jade’s mood to improve drastically, Trey’s calming presence adding further to the effect.
Jade poked his fork into a slice of freshly baked mushroom pie, taking a bite and closing his eyes. He savored the bite, swallowing soundlessly before smiling. “Each one of them is as magnificent as the last.”
“I may have gone a little overboard.”
“A little?” Jade held another forkful of food to his mouth, blowing softly to cool it down. “This amount of pies and tarts would be enough of a present for five of my birthdays.”
“Now you’re just lying. Don’t bother trying to hide your appetite from me. This’ll only last you for one— one— birthday.”
“Fufufu, Trey, you know me too well.” Jade opened his mouth, cleaning off his plate in an instant. “However, I meant what I said. Each one of your pastries is crafted so exquisitely that even one would be a satisfactory amount for a present. And you’re saying you have even more gifts to give me? Why, I’m ashamed at how little I offered for your birthday…”
Trey smirked, propping his chin against his hand, his elbow resting against the table. “I already have the most important present right here with me. What more could I ask for? Besides, I only have two other gifts for you anyway, and they’re both pretty simple too, so it’s not like I’m stretching myself thin to get them to you.”
“To think all of this is just one gift…” Somewhere in his chest, Jade could feel warmth, but he didn’t know exactly why. “It feels like I’m rather indebted to you already. Next year, I shall ensure your birthday is the most special birthday in the world. Would that be a fitting enough repayment?”
“That would be way more than enough,” Trey said with a laugh. “I mean, I thought birthday gifts were to be given without expecting anything in return? You don’t have to do anything at all, Jade. It’s your birthday. Just let me spoil you. Allow me to do everything today, won’t you?”
“Everything, hm…?” Jade’s smile curled into a smirk. “Well then, why don’t you spoil me with your next gift?”
Trey smirked back, getting up from his seat. “Why don’t you sit still so I can do what you wish?”
“Oh, I will, Trey. I will.” Jade cut himself another slice of pie in the meantime, unwilling to waste the other gifts Trey had given him. He took a bite, then set his fork down on his plate, folding his arms in his lap. “Heh. I’m quite interested in seeing what other things you’ve thought of. No doubt you’ve thought this through very well, Trey. After all, you’re a rather clever human, if I do say so myself…”
Jade trailed off, eyes lighting up when Trey finally pulled out the second gift, a familiar sight entering his vision, familiar but with a twist. It was a terrarium, a medium-sized one with mushrooms and other plants, all of them foreign to Jade’s mind, new specimens to analyze. Some mushrooms strangely resembled a rose, and others seemed to be classic toadstools, just with a strange addition to their appearance that Jade couldn’t quite place. The accompanying plants were just as unique, just as vibrant, with colors flowing from cap to bulb, colors that were remarkably similar to the blacks, whites, reds, and golds of Heartslabyul.
“This is…” Jade could hardly trust himself to speak, a gloved finger lifting to his face, shock overtaking his expression for just a moment. His eyes flickered over Trey’s face, then back down at the gift.
“A terrarium with the mushrooms native to Heartslabyul.” Trey rubbed the back of his neck. “I knew you had your eye on them but couldn’t really take the property of another dorm without incurring Riddle’s wrath… so here they are, as a gift from a Heartslabyul dorm member to you.”
“Not just any Heartslabyul dorm member,” Jade murmured. “Heartslabyul’s vice housewarden.”
“Aha, the title isn’t really that important.”
“Oh, but it is.” Jade sighed deeply, reaching out to take the terrarium from Trey’s hands, an uncontrollable smile making its way onto his face, bright with genuine excitement. “To finally see these beautiful mushrooms and have them in my hands… I shall cherish this gift forever, Trey.”
Trey grinned. “You better take good care of them. Riddle would have a fit if his dorm’s property gets destroyed, even if it’s no longer in the dorm’s hands.”
“Rest assured, nobody is to ever touch these mushrooms except me,” Jade chirped, setting the terrarium to the side and staring at it with a sweet smile. “If someone so much as lays a finger on this terrarium, I shall be sure to take my revenge. And speaking of tampering with my mushrooms, I still have another culprit to take care of—”
“And that can wait until later,” Trey finished smoothly. “I’ll even help you catch them. But we’re not done with your gifts.”
“Of course, of course.” Jade’s eyes roamed Trey’s features for a moment, another flutter of feelings going loose in his chest. “Now, where were we again? The third present now?”
“Actually, I still haven’t finished the second.”
Jade raised his eyebrows. “Oya? I thought it was just the terrarium?”
“Yes and no. The terrarium was one part of it, but…” Trey leaned over, pulling something out from under the table, the same gift bag he’d been carrying when they first met up. “I still haven’t given you this gift. So here, open it up.”
Jade took the bag gingerly, eyeing Trey for a moment before settling his gaze back onto the bag. Opening up the top part, he peeked inside, gasping quietly and wrenching his eyes back up to look at the third-year.
“Trey! These couldn’t possibly be…?”
“Spores, yeah.” Trey was grinning wide now, eyes following Jade carefully as if he were the one receiving the gift and not Jade. “They’re the spores of some of the Heartslabyul mushrooms from the terrarium I gave you. I thought you’d probably want something in addition to a terrarium that I made. You could make a second terrarium with these, and…” Trey coughed, blushing lightly. “And, um, you could have one terrarium from me and one that you made yourself.”
“A matching terrarium set…” Jade smiled at the thought before smirking at Trey, a judgemental gaze cast upon the third-year. “I didn’t think you were that type of old-school romantic, Trey.”
“Hey, I never said that. Trust me, I’m not, I just thought…” Trey coughed again. “Er, I just knew that you like terrariums a lot so I wanted to give you the chance to add your own touch to it too, or perform your own experiments or something.”
“And your thoughts are greatly appreciated.” Jade folded the bag closed, setting it right next to the terrarium, his smile blooming into an even larger smile, an even softer smile as he stared into the terrarium.
But it wasn’t the terrarium he was looking at. Rather, he was looking through it, looking past it, watching Trey’s golden eyes, the faint traces of a blush on his cheeks, watching the way he adjusted his glasses quickly, the way he stared at Jade, the way his smile reached the edge of his eyes, crinkling the corners.
If Jade hadn’t known what it was like to love someone so much, now he surely did, averting his eyes and brushing back the black strand of his hair. How could someone be so interesting, so kind, so calming…? And what had Jade ever done to deserve such a human?
Jade didn’t know, and he didn’t care. For as long as Trey was his, nothing else truly mattered.
Truly, Jade had to wonder what Trey had done to him, to make him so terribly single-minded. So terribly enamored.
Raising his vision from the terrarium, Jade put a hand over his chest, feeling the beating of his human heart beneath his skin. He let his expression relax, finally meeting Trey’s eyes.
“I’ll make sure to put these to great use. Thank you, Trey.”
Trey smiled back. “Of course.”
The two faded into silence, facing each other with warm faces and strangely gentle expressions, both at peace, and both content basking in each other’s gazes. Jade wondered how long they could stay like this, admiring each other’s presence, resting in comfortable silence like this. Maybe they could go on for infinity—
“By the way, you have some pie on your cheek.”
Jade froze, all his thoughts crashing down on him as he flushed furiously, grabbing a tissue and dabbing at his cheek with embarrassment. “Ah, thank you for catching that, Trey—”
“Hold on.” Trey leaned over, his hand cupping Jade’s other cheek as his brows furrowed lightly with concentration. “It’s the other side. Let me get it for you.”
If Jade wasn’t already red enough, his cheeks darkened to an even brighter red color, his wide eyes following Trey’s handsome face before shutting tight, the closeness of their faces, the warmth of Trey’s breath, and the faint beating of their hearts rendering Jade a mess of emotions, sensations, and feelings.
When Trey pulled away, Jade opened his eyes again, just a peek, noticing the similarly embarrassed expression on Trey’s face, the third-year laughing awkwardly.
“Sorry about that. Should I have let you deal with it yourself?”
“No,” Jade answered immediately. “No, it was… quite enjoyable.”
“Enjoyable?” Trey raised an eyebrow, the awkwardness of the situation melting away in an instant. “Just the touch of my hand and you’re like this?”
“Trey…” Jade still felt like he was going crazy, the blush on his face still present as he frowned. “Don’t act like you didn’t enjoy it at all either.”
“I didn’t not enjoy it. It’s just that I don’t think you’ll be nearly satisfied with just that…” Trey leaned forward again. “After all, I still have my third and final gift to give you.”
“Another…?”
Trey smirked, closing in on Jade, his face already so close and it had only been a moment. “It’s my favorite gift too. I hope you like it.”
And with that, he pressed forward, his lips a scorching flame against Jade’s own, the two of them sharing a kiss like all the others they’d shared, each one just as special as the last, including this one. Lapping at Trey’s lips, Jade couldn’t help the blooming smile on his face, just as present as his obvious blush, and he closed his eyes, savoring their moment like it was their first and last kiss ever.
To think just an hour ago, Jade was only thinking of revenge.
Now all he could think of was Trey’s lips against his own.
They pulled away, and Jade chuckled lightly, licking his lips. “Remind me again what this special gift is supposed to be?”
Trey kissed him again, this time on the cheek. “Me. That’s my third and final gift to you. I hope you like it.”
Jade’s eyes softened, and he reached up, caressing Trey’s face with his gloved hand. “I did indeed enjoy it. And I’ll continue to like it, for as long as I have it.”
“You’ll have me forever, Jade. Don’t you go forgetting that.”
“Fufufu, I won’t…” Jade’s lips curled. “I’ll never let you go, Trey. Not until the end of my life.”
“Happy Birthday, Jade.”