Forbidden ( a BxB Furry Romance )

Chapter 16

The crisp air of early November carried the faint smell of fallen leaves and the promise of coming holidays. Outside the dorms, students shuffled to and from classes, their breath visible in the chilly air. Thanksgiving break was only a week away, and the campus buzzed with a mixture of excitement and the looming stress of upcoming exams.

Kael and Silas had settled into a rhythm over the past few weeks. Their bond had only grown stronger, unspoken understanding weaving itself into their every interaction. That morning, Kael stretched lazily in his bed, his ears twitching at the faint sound of Silas rummaging around in the kitchenette.

"You're up early," Kael called out, his voice still laced with sleep as he had realized it was already the afternoon. Silas glanced over his shoulder, his tail wagging slightly. "Figured I'd get some coffee going before we start the day. As the quiet settled back into their dorm room, Silas walked over to the bed, resting a hand on it to steady himself. The warmth between him and Kael lingered, unspoken but undeniably present. Kael, for his part, felt his heart racing—a combination of the intense vulnerability he'd felt earlier, and the comfort Silas offered just by being close.

"You're staring," Kael murmured, his ears flicking as he glanced at Silas.

Silas smirked, his tail flicking lazily behind him. "Maybe. Is that a problem?"

Kael rolled his eyes, though the faint blush under his fur betrayed him. "Only if you don't stop before I charge you rent."

The two shared a quiet laugh before Silas stood, stretching. His shirt lifted slightly, exposing a hint of the white fur of his underbelly. Kael quickly averted his eyes, focusing on the wall as he felt the heat rise in his cheeks again.

"I'm going to grab a quick shower," Silas announced, already moving toward the bathroom. "Don't fall asleep before I get back. We still have to figure out what we're doing for dinner."

Kael raised a hand in a lazy wave, watching Silas disappear through the door before flopping back onto his bed. The mattress creaked under his weight as he stared at the ceiling, his thoughts racing.

It was strange how quickly things had changed since meeting Silas. Kael had spent so much of his life bracing himself for rejection, expecting people to see through his carefully constructed walls and decide he wasn't worth the effort. But Silas had done the opposite. He'd seen Kael's vulnerabilities and stayed anyway.

The sound of water running in the bathroom pulled Kael from his thoughts. He sighed, stretching out his legs and letting his tail hang over the edge of the bed. His stomach growled faintly, reminding him that they'd skipped dinner in favor of a late study session.

By the time Silas returned, fur damp and a towel slung over his shoulders, Kael had managed to push most of his restless thoughts aside.

"You still alive over there?" Silas teased, rubbing the towel through his fur.

"Barely," Kael replied, sitting up. "You're hogging all the hot water."

Silas grinned, tossing the towel onto the back of a chair. "Not my fault you waited too long. Anyway, what are we feeling for dinner? Takeout? Dining hall? Or do we risk my cooking?"

Kael pretended to think for a moment, tapping a finger against his muzzle. "As tempting as food poisoning sounds, maybe we should stick to something safe."

Silas laughed, grabbing his phone. "Takeout it is. Pizza sound good?"

"Perfect," Kael said, already pulling out his wallet to chip in.

Once the food was ordered, the two settled into their usual evening rhythm. They sat cross-legged on Kael's bed, a stack of textbooks and notebooks between them as they attempted to tackle the assignments, they'd been neglecting all day.