Elven Love (SAA Book 1) ✔

Part Twenty-Two

With a scowl, Clayton rushed out of the building as soon as the bell went off. He shot up from his seat so quickly the chair sprung back and bounced from the desk behind him. He walked in hurried strides from the classroom, to the parking lot. He tried to ignore the frantic calls behind him.

As he climbed into his car, he only gave Oren an extra second to get in and then he sped off, leaving a cloud of dust to stir from the gravel below.

»»---------««

"Okay, I get it. You're ignoring me. I can probably help, but you won't tell me what made you so mad." Oren mentioned out of concern, quickly taking off his backpack. Clayton just disregarded his attempts to communicate and dropped off his bag at the living room couch. He wasn't in the mood to talk to him right now... Not after that Amber-or-whatever put her hands all over him.

"Why are you suddenly avoiding me?" Oren, again, asked hastily. The elf followed him as if it were to be second nature. The blond approached quickly, a taut expression planted onto his face as he passed menacingly.

Avoiding the other's inquiry, Clayton reached into Oren's backpack and rummaged through to find something in particular. Oren's eyes widened as he stared on in confusion. Finding the certain item, Clayton pulled out the sticky note that had Amber's mobile number written on it.

"For one, you don't need this. I've told you before, to stay away from the popular ones and I am not going to lose you to a brat like her." he snapped as he dug his nail into the cheap paper and soon tore it. He threw it aside and huffed, angling his lips so that his side-swept bangs fluttered upwards.

"Oh... I'm sorry. I-"

"-It's not your fault." Clayton interrupted, "I just... got a little jealous. Over nothing." The taller boy took Oren's open hand in his, slowly pulling him towards the staircase. The elf obediently followed behind as they made their way to Clayton's bedroom.

The pained look in Oren's eyes briefly shifted to sincerity. "I'm not the kind of person to fall for someone else when I'm already taken. You're assuming things to rile yourself up; you tend to do that a lot." Lifting the human's spirit was the elf's main priority. So, he gently turned the blond around so they could face each other.

The human scoffed at the soft smile on the elf's lips and stepped closer so his breath just barely brushed the tip of the shorter boy's ear.

Oren sucked in a quiet breath, his hand squeezing the other's tighter. Clayton's breath was hot against his skin as the human pushed white hair back from his face. Oren's ear twitched in response and he shrunk back in embarrassment. Clayton noticed how he was slowly wiggling away and brought their bodies together, only to prevent him from escaping.

"Hey, I-I'm not.." Oren was cut off by his own hand clamping around his mouth. He was too shy to make any kind of noise in front of the human. With interlocked hands and teeth playfully nipping at pale skin, Oren couldn't help but close his legs and fight the scalding tingle running down his body. He was just shy of desperate for more of this newly found intimacy between them.

Clayton slowly backed off, fingers loosening their grip as Oren's tightened equally. He was looking over his result, contemplating whether or not he should continue his teasing. With the way Oren's fingers tugging him forward and the shy yet willing expression on his face, Clayton couldn't help but to lean in again. Just centimeters away from his lips, Clayton paused and held Oren steady.

The elf was obviously wanting what he inclined very teasingly, hence the impatient wiggles and disappointed expression as Clayton stopped. "Want me to kiss you?" Clayton asked lowly, an impish smirk at his lips as Oren nodded with glistening eyes. Clayton licked his lips subtly and brought himself forward, a wave of adrenaline rushing through his veins. That carried along a mix of hyper emotions and the sizzling need for that baited rapport.

But he pulled back just in time.

Oren's breathing was growing quick and deprived. The elf was left with a raging fire in his chest and was brought to the peak of his excitement when a hand trailed up the side of his waist. He squirmed with a light head, hand squeezing the clammy skin of Clayton's as their heat tangled in a mesh of blurry colors. Their eyes never left each other as the human's hand continued to map out every crease and curve of Oren's torso.

Oren was overwhelmed with a pool of emotions that sat at the base of his throat. He wanted to envelop Clayton in these feelings but he was still reluctant. He wanted to express how he felt. With a sigh, Oren leaned into the human and nuzzled his neck. How he longed to smother himself in the scent, it was in vain for now. He knew he had to be patient with this and let it happen naturally.

"Doesn't mean you have to cut her off completely. Just keep your guard up and don't let her fool you."

With that, Clayton pulled away and turned. He spared Oren a glance and saw the disappointed look etched into his face. "Oh come on, don't be that way." Clayton chuckled with a crinkle at the corner of his eyes. He ambled forward, brushed Oren's hair back and pressed a quick kiss to his forehead.

Oren closed his eyes and smiled at the warmth in which he reveled. He didn't think it would be so comforting; a kiss as small as that holding such a big package. Nonetheless, he enjoyed every second of it.

»»---------««

Today was different than yesterday. Every time Oren passed James' group of friends in the hallway, James smacked the elf over the head with the flat of his hand and the others laughed and taunted along with him. It wasn't a friendly gesture, he hit hard and it stung. On the way to first period, James rushed past Oren and shoved him into a locker on the way. Clayton saw the whole thing and boiled with anger, but the elf brushed it off and told him to forget about it.

"Hey Oren! I had trouble with my homework yesterday. I was wondering if we can study at your place after school.." Amber quickly scuttled over and leaned against Oren's desk, looking over his shoulder to see what he was writing. The elf simply didn't reply, and continued taking notes for today's lesson.

"What's wrong, babe?"

Oren snapped his head up to look at Amber, eyes filled with utter disgust and denial. He shook his head and turned back to his paper, jotting down examples of acquired alexia and angular gyrus. Amber pouted, reaching a hand out to snatch the elf's notes. Oren shot up from his seat, reaching for the notebook as students whispered around them.

"Give it back!" Oren yelped, extending an arm over her shoulder as she stepped back with a grin. She spun on her heel and skipped away, giggling as Oren followed frantically.

"Ooh, I have a horny follower, boys!" she called, waving a hand in the air as a familiar brunet stood from his seat. The elf reached for the notes again but found himself to be shoved against the wall forcefully. He looked up to James with a weak glare. He wore his signature sardonic grin and that's what sent Oren into a rage. He was fed up with everything. He didn't want to be treated like an animal anymore. He wasn't any less than them.

In the background, Oren noticed his boyfriend bolt up from his seat, looking over to the ruckus with alerted eyes and tense muscles. His arms were locked and he looked ready to pounce at any moment. "You're a fuckin' perv, you know that, old man? She's already got a boyfriend and I'm better of a boyfriend than you'll ever be." James seethed, hands clenching tighter around the hem of Oren's shirt.

Oren tilted his head down silently, looking up at James through his eyelashes as the back of his eyes tingled. It wasn't the crying kind of tingle either... He felt powerful. The same crawling sensation ran through his fingertips and palms. His scowl tightened.

The surge of adrenaline was the last straw.

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Thanks for reading Part Twenty-Two!