ttnbd chapter 16 excerpt
yall have been waiting 14 months and im afraid youll have to wait a little longer but ive shaken off enough cobwebs to bring you a little bit of the dynamic duo so here you go
“You know, we never did get our honeymoon.”
Ciel was lounging in the bath, leaning back against Sebastian’s chest, the warm water lapping beneath his chin as he sunk a little further in. He felt Sebastian’s intake of breath as he opened his mouth to speak but stopped him with a wet hand pressed over his mouth.
“And don’t you dare give me some overly romantic, sentimental tripe about how every day with me is like the first day of a lifetime.”
Sebastian took hold of Ciel’s wrist, pulling his hand away so he could protest.
“I was merely going to-”
“And don’t deny that’s what you were thinking!” This time, Ciel flicked his other hand across the surface of the water, splashing Sebastian with suds. “I can hear your thoughts, remember.”
Sebastian sighed, though it was more of an amused sigh than an exasperated or annoyed one. Ciel knew each and every one of Sebastian’s sighs- his laughs, his grins, his expressions. Even if they didn’t live within each other’s minds, he had every confidence he would always know what Sebastian was thinking.
“You love my overly romantic, sentimental tripe,” Sebastian said, with a kiss to the top of Ciel’s head. “Don’t forget that I can read your thoughts as well.” He dipped his arm beneath the water, wrapping is loosely around Ciel’s waist and added, “And you like Paris.”
“I do. But it was never my intention to settle there permanently.”
“I do recall you saying something about the mediterranean.” Sebastian slid his hand up the length of Ciel’s body, pulling him closer, feeling him lean unquestioningly into the embrace even as he was lifted further out of the water. “It isn’t summer yet-” it was barely spring- “but once we’ve concluded our business here-”
Ciel frowned, a sour sound escaping his throat. “We had better not still be here by summer. If it takes us that long to find Druitt, I’ll have shamed my family name more than I did when I sold my soul.”
Sebastian laughed darkly and kissed the crown of Ciel’s head. “You’ll have found him well before then. You’ll have found him, torn him to shreds, burnt his followers to ashes and scattered them all to the wind. By summer, he will be nothing, and you’ll be somewhere by the sea, soaking in the sun, never wasting a single moment on him or his ilk ever again.”
His lips moved lower, pressing to the shell of Ciel’s ear, the corner of his jaw, the dip of his throat.
“You think that much of my skill, do you?”
Ciel was fishing for compliments- he knew that. But he’d had his hooks in Sebastian for so long, it took almost no effort to reel in a catch. He shivered when Sebastian’s hand moved beneath the water, his fingers spread wide, possessive over his lower stomach.
“I’ve seen you hunt,” Sebastian murmured. He had taken Ciel’s hand in his, and kissed his palm, working his way up to the crook of Ciel’s elbow, back toward his throat once again. “You are ruthless, savage, ferocious- a once-in-a-century virtuoso, dare I say.”
“High praise.” Ciel arched into the pleasant sting of Sebastian’s teeth grazing the crest of his shoulder. “A little self-serving, considering it’s you who taught me.”
Ciel didn’t have to see to know Sebastian was smiling.
“On the contrary, you are a natural-born talent, my dear.”
