There was something desperately romantic about the kiss and the gesture that followed after. When Carrick drew him close, Hermes tucked himself easily into the vampire's lap, legs as curled up as they could get in the safety Carrick offered.
He closed his eyes again for the second kiss, but the words that followed were so out of place that Hermes couldn't quite believe them. His heart clenched tightly in his chest and pulled abruptly back to look at his Master moss green gaze more intense than usual with the paleness of his hair. He was looking for any hint that Carrick might be fucking with him, like this could somehow be a variant of the punishment he'd been expecting- an emotional lashing in place of a physical one.
The vampire was nearly as unreadable as always, and nothing the fae did would get him inside that ancient head.
He touched Carrick's cheek anyway, tears welling in his eyes unbidden before he let out a heavy breath and returned his head to the place between Carrick's neck and shoulder so at least he wouldn't be seen while he cried. "I don't deserve such a gift, Master," he whispered.