Author warning: After reading scenes from the old version of Kiss the Snake Good Night, I've decided to move the rating up from T to M, as the rest of the story will be written for mature audiences. Chapter contents include sexual situations, strong language, and other adult material. Reader discretion is advised.

Chapter III

With the hint that the rebel was willing to enter the deal, Cedric gave him a wide-eyed gaze.

"You... You'll honestly go through with this?"

Caleb gulped, and his nose twitched in annoyance. Fidgeting, he grumbled, "Yeah... Sure. What other choice do I have?"

The lord smiled and shut his book. Setting his glasses aside, he strutted to Caleb and asked, "You could always turn back, not that I recommend it."

"I figured you wouldn't," said the rebel, nose curling.

Just as the lord reached out to touch him, Caleb backed away, hands raised between them.

"Hold on, big guy," he snapped. "If we're gonna do this, I wanna set some ground rules. First and foremost, I still don't trust you, so you're not going to be the... the... man during this whole affair."

Cedric chuckled. "Where I come from, we would call you the is'sho'isse, the one who receives power. I am the ets'sho'issat, the one who gives power."

"Well, whatever it's called, I'm not letting you call the shots."

"And do you actually know how to—"

Caleb bristled and snapped, "Hey! Just because I've been fighting a war nearly all my life doesn't mean it's the only thing I have... experience in."

"Ha ha ha! Of course," said Cedric as he leaned closely to kiss him.

Caleb placed a finger on his lips. "I just want to get this over with, all right? We're not exactly a couple, let alone friends."

Cedric frowned and crossed his arms. He sighed, paced, and leaned against his desk, tapping his foot. He turned to grab his keys and walked to the door. Opening it wide, he said, "Then leave. You say one thing, but your heart tells me another; and it tells me that you aren't truly invested. Well, I won't force your hand, but I don't want you here."

Caleb bit his bottom lip, gazing at the firm scowl as Cedric nodded towards the door. The rebel began to take his slow steps out, pausing in the doorway. He mumbled, trying to work up an apology (as loath as he was to admit it) for wasting Cedric's time. He ground his teeth and cursed, "Damn it, Cedric!"

In a swift move, he grabbed the lord by the shoulders of his sweater. Cedric grabbed him back, only to be shoved violently against the wall. He could barely breathe as the rebel forced a kiss upon his lips, holding it long—more out of frustration than affection.

When Caleb released him to gag, Cedric inhaled deeply, his golden face flush with surprise.

"Do you still wanna do this now?" asked Caleb, his eyes burning fiercely.

Still panting, Cedric replied, "Well, now that the searing pain in my back has returned, I definitely don't have the power to assert a... top position."

"Perfect," and with that, Caleb unzipped Cedric's trousers and began to pry them down.

The fact that he wore nothing underneath became glaringly obvious. The python really had anticipated Caleb to say 'yes.'

"You seem excited already," said Caleb. "You like being handled rough?"

"Mmm... On the contrary," he moaned. "Snakes always prefer a more gentle touch."

"I'm sure you do..."

Yanking off Cedric's shoes, the rebel finished removing his trousers. He stood nose-to-nose and grabbed him, eliciting another gasp.

"Gentle enough?" he asked.

Cedric hissed between his gritted teeth. "Not... enough..."

"Okay, then." Caleb loosened his grip, stroking him softly. The lord sighed in relief and wrapped his arms around Caleb's neck, burying his face against his chest.

"There's a divan right there," sighed the lord. "It would be much more comfortable."

Caleb harrumphed, but he released him and let him recline on his side on the divan. Cedric sighed, and his body loosened, sinking into the plush furnishing. Since he looked so relaxed (and less inclined to strike suddenly), Caleb sat beside him and asked, "So, now what do you want me to do?"

Then he added quickly, with a wrinkled nose, "I'm not willing to... you know... go inside you or anything."

"Not this time," chuckled Cedric as he untied his hair and lay carefully on his back. "Although I would enjoy a little contact."

Caleb rolled his eyes and huffed. He stripped down to nothing but the wrappings around his arms, and he wedged himself between his legs, at which point the lord wrapped his legs around his waist. Cedric moaned and rolled his hips against him. Caleb sneered and grabbed his hips, digging his fingers into his flesh.

"Ah! I said to be gentle," complained Cedric, his pupils contracting to serpentine slits.

The young man smirked and leaned closer, holding Cedric's manhood. He whispered, "Oh, I'm sorry, you poor, delicate creature. Let me try again!" Then he positioned his manhood against his and moved his hips softly, rubbing against him.

The lord relaxed again and sighed. He closed his eyes and tried to hide his blush behind the back of his hand. He whimpered the rebel's name and covered his face with his arms, all his face except his flush lips. He was almost feminine in his humble position; and for a moment, Caleb would have sworn that Cedric looked like Cornelia.

Grinning, the rebel pulled apart his arms and leaned for a kiss. He ravished his lips, his cheeks, and his neck, his hands wandering with less hesitation. He moved his hips more vigourously and noticed that finally he felt stiffer. He credited that to the vision of Cornelia, steeling his resolve, and he thought only of her when he looked at Cedric's golden face and golden, disheveled hair.

Faster and faster he moved, until they bucked against one another. He grabbed the body beneath him more eagerly, and he heard the sweater tear as he ripped it, trying to get his mouth on Cedric's collar.

"Ca... Caleb!"

Cedric trembled beneath him, but the rebel just needed a little more time—just a little more—

The lord's cries strained in his throat as he tensed and climaxed. Caleb cursed and flipped him on his belly, rubbing himself against his crack until he felt his release. Kneading his calloused fingers through his soft, golden hair, he lifted his head slowly and asked:

"Satisfied now, lord?"

Cedric shuddered and groaned. "Yes... Very much so..."

"Good," and with that, he released him and stood on shaky knees, catching his breath.

"You have some sort of wash room, don't you?" asked Caleb. "I'd rather leave behind no evidence of our... uh, arrangement."

Cedric smiled softly. He sat tall and bound back his hair. Then he walked to his door, opened it, and bade Caleb to follow him. He led him to the restroom down the hall, flipped the light switch, and entered.

"Fairly large wash room for a small shop," noted Caleb. "You have fellow Aaronag come through?"

Cedric handed him a wet paper towel and said, "None that I've sniffed out. This land is strange enough to me. A day here might have most of my people coiling in on themselves and not unfurling for days."

Caleb chuckled and began to clean himself.

The lord removed his sweater, folded it, and set it aside. He prepared another towel and asked Caleb to tend to the mess that he had made.

"Unless you want me to walk about with your—"

"No! No!" The rebel exclaimed and began to wipe Cedric's back. "I said 'no evidence.' What, you want to save this and show it off to your boss?"

Cedric blanched and glanced over his shoulder at the rebel. He snarled, "Certainly not! He'll do more than add a few extra stripes to my back."

Caleb finished cleaning him and shoved the towel into the bin. He looked Cedric in the eye when he turned to him and held him by his nimble chin. He replied, "Hopefully nothing to your face. You're actually not too bad to look at in this form. At least, as long as a person forgets who you are."

Cedric's violet eyes softened and for a moment had the warmth of a human, not some cold-blooded killer. Cedric cleared his throat and escaped his grasp and gaze, taking up his sweater and returning to the office. Caleb cocked his head.

Maybe the old viper is starting to change for the better, he thought, and he followed him.