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As intimate as the thought of sex seemed, nothing felt more intimate with Barbatos than cuddling.
Often, he spent his time on his feet, running around the house like a trapped butterfly until the time came for bed, where you often found yourself ready to leave back to the House of Lamentation. Due to powers beyond your control, spending the night in the butler’s room was impossible; Lucifer required you to be reachable overnight as was his wild overbearing nature, while Diavolo preferred to stave off the obvious tension between you two as you adjusted to Devildom upon your return.
If only they had seen the texts, the desperation for company from the Mortal Realm, the yearning for attention from the butler in his free time, and his yearning in return. Though he often replied with short messages or snippy comments of sarcasm, he always responded within minutes of your messages. When the conversation stopped, he would say, “Take care. I’ll call you tonight.”
And he would. He always called at night while preparing for bed, as exhausted as he seemed. You talked of many things—his schedule, the Little D’s, the demon brothers, events and little happenings of the human world. If it weren’t for his requirement to wake up at five in the morning, you could have spoken to each other all night and then more.
However, the day finally arrived long after your second visit to Devildom.
Several months after your re-arrival, Diavolo and Lucifer attended an important meeting on the outskirts of RAD for the weekend, which led to Barbatos’ semi-freedom from his duties. As long as the palace was as it should be by the time the prince and his friend returned, there was no rush to cook and clean. With the demon brothers at bay with their own personal chaos, you sneaked off to the castle and rapped loudly upon the large oak door.
It opened in an instant to a butler in casual garb, his tuxedo long forgotten, his posture reminiscent of elegance and politeness though relaxed. He smiled, waved you inside, and locked the door at your back before sweeping his hand over your waist from behind.
“Finally,” he mumbled, pressing his palm firmly on your spine in a signal to move forward. “I have been awaiting your arrival.”
“Have you been waiting long?” you asked, feeling somewhat anxious about his plans.
When he led you past the dining room into a common area with a television and a fluffy futon, you took the hint to sit while he prepared snacks and tea. “Not at all,” he said. “I simply wished to spend as much time with you as possible before the Young Lord and Lucifer returns. Will the brothers realize you’ve left?”
“I’m sure they will soon, but I told Satan to keep them occupied,” you replied, taking the teacup held out to you. “So, what are the plans this weekend?”
He turned on the television to a curious Devildom classic and sat beside you on the futon. “To relax,” he said, an arm snaking around the small of your back. “To use every waking moment to enjoy your presence.”
“You talk like we’ve been in a relationship for ages,” you laughed. “We only recently called ourselves a couple.”
“One week or a millennium, and I’ll care for you just the same,” he said, leaning his head down onto your shoulder. “Is that too quick for you?”
“Not at all.” You hugged him close to your side. “I feel the same.”
“Shall we…” His hand squeezed your forearm. “…get more comfortable?”
Giggling, you pulled him down on top of you in a swift show of force; the only reason it worked likely was due to his surprise that you would respond so boldly. He sprawled alongside you, the settled at your back, but his body was stiff, unwelcoming, yielding only to your hand reaching for his.
The strangeness struck you instantly, and you pulled your body away. “What is it, Barbatos?” you asked, doing your best not to touch him while you figured out the situation.
His dark eyes met yours with a slight apology. “How shall I put this?” he said with a short laugh. “I’m afraid I’ve never quite…done this with a partner.”
“Never?” you asked, eyebrows raising. “Have you…cuddled?”
After a moment of thought, he gave a pathetic little smile. “As a matter of fact,” he said, “I haven’t.”
“Oh.”
You stared at each other for several seconds, gazes battling to decide how to handle his lack of experience.
“Do you…want to cuddle?” you asked gently. “You can say no.”
“I do,” he replied, “though I would appreciate it if we watched the movie together as well.”
Getting an idea, you turned your back on him and lay on your side in front of his chest. Reaching around your hips, you took his hand and pulled it over your body to bundle into your shirt just below your heart. His chest leaned heavily against your back, pressing tight against you and nearly pushing you to the floor before he hauled you back onto the futon mattress.
Then, you settled. His breath came fast and shallow on the back of your neck, his lengthy bangs tickling the delicate skin like a feather. You dared to wrap your upper leg back between his and felt the gulp run down his throat. He warmed like a small furnace, a little heater resting in the room to keep you cozy.
You lifted his hand up to your lips to give the back a tender kiss. “How is this?” you asked in a whisper.
The tension in his shoulders waned at your voice. His body relaxed, his hand caressing down your cheek before returning to the spot just below your heart. “Wonderful,” he said. “Quite pleasing. I can feel your heartbeat.”
“Same here,” you chuckled, nudging his chest. “You’re a little hot, temperature-wise.”
“I must say this is a unique experience,” he laughed, pulling you closer into his chest. A waft of fresh linen reached your nose at the tug. “I’m rather happy that I’m experiencing for the first time with you.”
“I am too.”
Turning back to the movie, you ran your hand up and down Barbatos’ arm as you watched together. Occasional brushes of his lips to your neck and shoulder sent soothing shivers up your spine.
You wouldn’t have it any other way.