"I... I would rather have you than any other," Sebastian softly replied, gazing deeply into Claude's eyes. He blushed at the other's words of how he would not be let go if he allowed Claude to claim him, feeling a kiss to his forehead. "I like you the best out of everyone I know, Claude, and I honestly don't believe I'll find anyone else ever that I will feel even remotely the same for." He could not say it was love yet, though he knew what he felt was far deeper than merely liking Claude, but Sebastian knew very little of love or how it was supposed to feel.
Pleased to hear Sebastian's words, for Claude did understand why his mate looked so shy and uncertain, holding him a little tighter. "I never wanted anyone, until I saw you- really saw you for the first time," he murmured, nipping a little at Sebastian's neck with his teeth and sucking on it gently with his lips, hoping it would leave a mark at least for a few days. "Not the you that you show to the world, Sebastian, but the real you, what you keep hidden inside..."
Moaning softly as Claude sucked on his neck, Sebastian flushed a little more. "I can't show everyone this side, Claude; it would be too dangerous for me. With the way I look, I'm lucky that no one's pursued me before; acting the way I usually do keeps unwanted suitors away from me," he said quietly, feeling that Claude was entitled to some explanation of why he'd allowed others to only see the arrogant, haughty demon instead of what lay beneath the surface. At worst, they'd think him weak and try to kill him; at best, they'd capture him- or try to- and he'd wind up as a sex slave for a demon whose tastes ran to sadistic and violent. Neither idea was a pleasant thought.
Not liking that idea one bit, Claude paused on what he was doing, a flash of purple entering his eyes. "You shouldn't have to hide yourself, Sebastian, but I must confess I am glad that you do. If anyone but me knew, they'd want you as much as I do," he breathed into the perfectly shaped ear, inhaling his mate's scent. It was mostly back to normal, now, which was a good thing, but Claude's possessiveness towards Sebastian had not decreased, a definite indication that this meant much more than just a mating cycle to him. "And if anyone does try to pursue you, I'll handle them personally." It was a calmly stated fact; Claude would not share Sebastian with anyone else; even the idea enraged him down to the core of his very being.
Curled up against Claude, Sebastian watched him closely, seeing the power that had flared briefly within him. It was becoming more and more clear to him that Claude disliked the notion of anyone else wanting him; why else would he vow to deal with anyone else that tried to mate with him? "I don't want anyone else," he earnestly told his lover, sincerity in his red eyes. "But would you be happy with just me?"
Hearing the uncertainty, Claude chuckled softly, giving Sebastian a slight smirk. "You are more than enough for me, Sebastian," he assured his mate, leaning into him just enough to kiss him deeply. "I don't need or want anyone else, either..." Dropping his mouth to where his fading mark remained upon Sebastian's shoulder, his golden eyes watched to see if he was all right with this, his teeth grazing the skin gently.
Gasping at the feel of Claude's teeth, Sebastian watched him with wide eyes, though not protesting as they dragged across his bare skin. He didn't move as those sharp teeth bit down into his flesh, this time drawing blood, a whimper leaving him. It hurt but was bearable, feeling heated and swollen as a very familiar tongue lapped over it, cleaning it off for a few moments.
As if the taste of Sebastian's skin wasn't delicious enough, the elixir of his blood was potent, Claude realized almost immediately, drinking the sweet, tangy fluid down as he made a new mark upon his mate. This one would be permanent, requiring different steps to it than the temporary one had. Reluctantly, he cleaned off the bleeding with his tongue, before he used his own incisors to prick the sensitive muscle. His own blood did not taste nearly so divine, as he spread that the crimson liquid across the mark, showing clearly against that pale flesh.
