When Castiel woke up again, sunlight was coming in the windows. The curtains had been drawn and the blinds closed, which he hadn't done, but his head still pounded. When he sat up, he grunted and clutched his stomach as a wave of nausea and pain swept through him. He reached for the opposite side of the bed, for Dean, but his hand only gripped sheets.
"Dean," he said with his teeth pressed tightly.
Dean didn't answer. His apartment was large, but not so much that Dean wouldn't hear him. He stood and immediately bowed into himself as his muscles tightened. Natural lubricant burned out of him, joining congealing liquids already in his underwear. Dried fluid pulled at the hairs on the back of his thighs as he walked to the living room.
Dean wasn't there. He wasn't in the kitchen either. Castiel clutched the back of the couch to stay upright and picked up his home phone. He dialed his doctor's office and waited as it rang. After nearly a minute, a receptionist answered.
"St. Alister's Office of Gynecology, how can I help you?"
"I need to speak to Dr. Aims. It's an emergency," he said.
"May I ask whose calling?"
"Castiel Novak."
"One moment," she said.
It wasn't a moment. It seemed endless. Castiel listened to the jazz track that even he knew was outdated as he waited. He was leaned on the back of the couch on his elbows when the phone was finally answered.
"Castiel, how can I help you?" Dr. Aims asked.
"I've gone into cycle and the symptoms are severe," Castiel said. He tried to keep his voice composed, but he could hear the pain leaking into it.
"I expected it would be. Did you call the agency I referred?"
"Yes. I've been having to use him hourly, two hours at the longest. Except for when I am able to sleep a handful of hours," Castiel said.
Dr. Aims made a sympathetic noise. "How are the cramps and fever?"
"It's painful to stand. Is there anything I can take?"
"I can prescribe a low dose pain medication and fever suppressants. They'll make you tired, but hopefully you can sleep through most of it. I don't want you to take anything else. This is about cleaning your body out, not congesting it more."
"Yes, doctor," Castiel said.
"I'm sorry, Castiel. It should pass within three days of when it started. Hang in there."
"Thank you," Castiel said.
Then he ended the call.
He went to the thermostat and turned down the air conditioner to its lowest setting and went back to the living room. Until Dean returned he could use the artificial knot and take a cold bath. That should help to take off the sharpest edge. The box was on the coffee table in front of the couch. There was a piece of paper on top with tight sloppy handwriting.
Had to go to the shop for a few hours. I'll be back as soon as I can. If you have to take care of yourself be careful.
Dean
Castiel tossed the note onto the table and tore open the cardboard. He cut himself on the plastic that enclosed it, but he hardly noticed as his breathing and heartbeat accelerated. It was a fairly modest-sized dildo. It certainly wasn't as large as Dean, but the proportions would do what he needed. He looked around for the plastic sack the box had come in and found it on the floor. He snatched it up and took out the other item. A tube of artificial alpha pheromone.
Castiel planned to go to the tub, but he didn't make it there. He pushed off his underwear and leaned back on the couch. He squeezed the pheromone onto his hand and groaned. It had a faint rubber note on the back of its scent, but mostly it smelled mouth-watering. Still it wasn't as good and soothing as Dean, but enough. He slathered the toy with it, using too much and drops fell onto his stomach and groin. Then he drew his knees against his chest and shoved it into himself.
He felt the sting of his outer rim tearing. The sting grew worse as the pheromones ground into the lesion and the friction warmed it, but he didn't stop. He dug his fingers into the cushion and pressed his lower half into his own ministrations while his shoulders dug into the upholstery below.
Without Dean there, he didn't attempt not to make noise. He didn't know that he could have kept from it even if Dean were there. Yesterday had been uncomfortable, bordering on painful at times, this was nearly unbearable. He fucked the knot at the base of the toy into himself repeatedly, feeling it snag on his opening, but only feeling full when it was inside. But if he left it inside, the stimulation wasn't nearly enough.
The pheromone wasn't working. He poured more onto the toy and shoved it back in, then doused it again until it came out a freely as his own liquids. He clenched his teeth as the heat and discomfort built and he pulled at his own erection. Each time he climaxed was like milking heat from the desert. There was always more to fill its void.
That was how Dean found him. He didn't know how Dean had gotten into his house, but then again he hadn't checked to see that the door was locked. He hardly knew Dean was there until he smelled him and he released another meager dribble of cum onto his own stomach.
"Fuck, Cas," Dean said, shoving a paper sack on the coffee table then sitting on the open end of the couch.
"Do it," Castiel said roughly. "Fuck me."
Dean caught his wrist and shoved it away from the dildo. With his other hand, Dean carefully pulled the toy from Castiel. Castiel hissed at the burn and at feeling empty. The cramps increased immediately.
Castiel reached down and pulled himself open with his knees spread wide. "Dean, please."
He could see Dean's erection through his oil stained jeans. That smell was like food. He was hungry for it. Saliva pooled in his mouth for the sea salt and chill of Dean's smell. The thoughts that tore through his head were violent. He wanted Dean to hold him down and tie him repeatedly without giving him an opportunity to breath. He wanted to be choked on Dean's cock while it was forced down his throat and Dean quenched the fire in his body with his fluids.
"Goddamn it," Dean said.
The tone wasn't what Castiel expected. It was very harsh. Dean was leaned over, looking at his opening and brushing his thumb near it.
"Could you not feel yourself doing this?" Dean asked angrily, looking at Castiel.
Castiel felt himself recoil from the tone. Something he had not felt in a very long time urged him to sit up and crawl against Dean, to kiss his neck, and bare his own. It should be enough that he was on his back. He was showing his stomach. He didn't know how much more vulnerable he could be. Dean should be rutting into him and giving him what he needed. He was an alpha, that's what they were good for.
"Fuck me. I need you to fuck me," Castiel said in the best commanding voice he could manage.
"Yeah, not going to fucking happen," Dean said, then he stood up and unbuttoned his jeans, shoving them down to his thighs with his underwear. He kneeled on the floor then yanked Castiel around until his back was against the rear of the couch and his thighs were spread in front of him.
Dean shoved Castiel's thighs toward his chest and began to lick his opening. Castiel was right. It didn't matter if Dean were there, he couldn't stop the noises that were coming from his mouth. The small part of his mind that was even left to care was comforted by the fact that this was Dean's job. He was paying Dean to do this. He didn't have to impress him.
Over his own sounds and the wet noise of Dean licking him, he heard the slick sound of Dean masturbating. He grunted and pushed his opening harder against Dean's mouth, to present fuller. He didn't want Dean to masturbate, he wanted Dean to use him, like he was supposed to.
"Hold still," Dean said, gripping Castiel's thigh painfully.
Castiel didn't want to, but he listened to the bass of Dean's voice. Moments later, he heard Dean's breathing hitch then cool, medicating fluid spread over him. He made a weak noise and felt moisture on his own face. Even his frustrated and relieved tears were hot.
"That's it, Cas. Easy," Dean said, using the hand that had gripped Castiel's thigh and rubbing away his finger impression. With the other hand, he fingered his own cum into Castiel's body.
Tremors of pain still made Castiel's stomach shiver, but the stabbing pains had gone. The heat was fading from suffocating to uncomfortable. When Castiel could open his eyes, he looked at Dean who was still between his legs. Dean avoided eye contact as he picked up the artificial pheromone and the toy.
"Throw the pheromones away. They don't work," Castiel said.
"You have to put them in the fridge, jackass," Dean said, as he went to the kitchen and did just that. He took bottles of water then went to the sink and washed the toy before coming back.
"What did you call me?" Castiel asked.
"Shut up," Dean said, then he slid his arms beneath Castiel and picked him up.
"What are you doing?" Castiel asked, trying to get out of Dean's arms, even though he was tired from what he'd done and Dean's skin was the most wonderful temperature.
Dean carried him to the bathroom and closed the door with his foot. Then he laid Castiel in the large square tub. Castiel lived fairly conservatively for a man of his positon. He only allowed himself a few luxuries, but his bathtub was one of them. It could fit four and it had a ledge built-in to sit on. Dean sat him on the ledge, then went around the edge of the tub and turned on the multiple taps.
Castiel watched him as he adjusted the temperature from each tap. "You're angry at me," Castiel said.
Dean glanced up and shook his head slightly. "No I'm not."
"I know what anger looks like," Castiel said.
Dean sat back on his haunches and looked at him. "I told you to be careful. You tore yourself open. I get that you can't control all of it, but you can control yourself some."
"If I could have then I would," Castiel said.
He sounded more confident than he felt. He attributed it to his genetics that he felt badly, guilty, for the way that Dean was looking at him. That was less confusing than the possibility that he was upset at himself for worrying Dean or making him think less of him.
Dean shook his head and stood up, leaving the bathroom. Castiel watched him go before looking down at the rising water. He felt like he'd been run over by a large vehicle. His muscles were tense and sore. His penis was nearly purple from how often and hard he had pulled on it. He was considering trying to sleep again, because he had nothing better to do when Dean came back.
Dean sat the paper sack he'd brought in by the edge of the tub then began to strip off his jeans and boxers. He stepped into the tub and picked up the sack.
"Care if we eat in here?" Dean asked.
"Go ahead," Castiel said.
"I wasn't sure what you liked, so I got you what I did, bacon cheese burger," Dean said.
"You didn't have to do that."
Dean shrugged and handed the burger to Castiel before taking out his own. They ate in relative silence while the water filled the tub. When it was ready to be turned off, Dean stood and turned off each. Then he sat beside Castiel and pulled him onto his lap. Castiel went slightly rigid, but he allowed Dean to situate him with his back to Dean's chest and his thighs spread on either side of Dean's legs. He tilted his head back on Dean's shoulder while the luke-warm water lapped against his skin. With Dean's cool skin against him, he was as comfortable as could be expected.
"Good?" Dean asked.
"Yes," Castiel said.
"So do you want to talk?"
"What about?"
Castiel felt Dean roll his shoulders against the back of his neck.
"I don't know. Something would be better than sitting here staring at the wall."
"True," Castiel said.
The bathroom remained quiet apart from Dean bringing up his hand and flicking at the water, then letting his palm slap onto the surface and sink back to the ledge. Castiel smiled slightly. He was like a bored child.
"Have any boyfriends?" Dean asked.
"At the moment? No."
"Well yeah, I kind of figured that. I meant since your old boyfriend."
"Of course. I'm not a monk."
"So then why are you sitting here on my lap?"
"I don't know that that's any of your business," Castiel said without any heat. He didn't even particularly mean it.
"You're paying me to stick my dick up your ass. I'd say we're buddies."
Castiel laughed slightly. Dean's crass humor wasn't something he was used to, but it was surprisingly pleasant. "Then if you really want to know, I work eighty or more hours a week. That hardly leaves time for a pet, let alone a partner."
"You like pets?"
"Doesn't everyone?" Castiel asked, confused at Dean's tone. Like he hadn't expected Castiel to like something living and soft.
"I guess, I just can't really see you throwing a Frisbee at the park."
"I'm athletic," Castiel said.
"It's not that. It's just, uh-," Dean said.
Castiel waited for Dean to speak again. There was a small knot in his chest as he waited.
"You just seem a little bit closed off," Dean said.
"I'm not good with people."
"You're a CEO."
"Let me clarify, I don't find it easy to communicate in a personal setting."
He felt Dean nod against his back. "So this isn't you being a dick?"
Castiel frowned, "No. Is that how you've perceived me?"
"Come on, Cas. You don't make it easy to talk to you."
The knot in his chest had begun to ache at a large scale. It wasn't severe, but it wasn't pleasant. It reminded him of being school aged once again, and the way the other children had reacted to him and his personality. They had other terms for what his mother called a dry personality. Names that, at the time, had been hurtful.
"Hey," Dean said after a moment of silence. "I didn't hurt your feelings or anything, did I?"
"Of course not," Castiel said as he moved from Dean's lap. "My doctor called in a prescription to the pharmacy two blocks from here. Could you please go get them for me? My stomach is beginning to hurt again."
"Yeah, sure," Dean said, stepping from the tub.
Castiel closed his eyes to avoid looking at him, to keep his stomach from aching any more. He attempted to only focus on the water moving against his skin.
"Do you want anything else while I'm out?" Dean asked.
"No. Thank you," Castiel said.
He heard Dean pulling on his clothes and eventually the closing of the front door. Castiel opened his eyes then, and stared at the opposite wall. Being emotional was a symptom of heat cycles, he reminded himself. It was normal for him to feel self-depreciating.
As much as he said it, it didn't soothe the knot of discomfort in his chest and the hormone induced feelings of inferiority leaking from his pituitary gland.
Omegas were supposed to be warm and comforting. Their role by the creator was to be the nucleus of a family unit. His mother and grandmother had been those things. They had made it seem simple. So simple that until he was much older, he did not realize it wasn't a skill that he would one day magically develop. He was simply missing that gene.
Most days, it never crossed his mind. Now, he looked at the wall while he tumbled with old memories that brought no comfort.
When Dean returned, Castiel was leaning beneath one of the water taps, allowing the cold water to run over his chest. He had three fingers inside of himself with his head leaned against the ledge of the tub.
Castiel didn't hear him over the sound of the running water. He could hardly smell Dean over the smell of moisture and his own stink. He opened his eyes when Dean pushed his fingers against Castiel's lips.
"Open up, Cas," he said.
They hadn't been this close before. Or at least, Castiel hadn't noticed them being this close before. It could have only been that it was much brighter in here than it had been in the living room last night. Dean's eyes were only inches from his. He could see the individual eyelashes. They were very long, nearly feminine. The varying tones and shades of his iris were mesmerizing in Castiel's fever induced state.
"Your eyes are beautiful."
"Aren't you just a charmer?" Dean said, but he looked concerned. His skin seemed paler or maybe his eyes were worried. It was hard for Castiel to concentrate. Every so often, he brushed his own prostate and lost his train of thought. "Come on, drink some water. Swallow those pills."
Castiel took the pills Dean was pushing against his lips then he sucked Dean's fingers into his mouth, closing his eyes. He swallowed the pills around Dean's fingers and made a low noise. His skin tasted lovely. Too quickly, Dean pulled them from his mouth.
"Come on. Let's get you out of there and get another dose of my magic jizz in you," Dean said.
Castiel shook his head, holding the water tap. The metal was freezing against his skin. It was slightly painful, like holding ice, but he didn't let go.
"I'm hot."
"I'll cool you down. Let's go, Cas," Dean said, going to pull Castiel from the water.
Castiel moved to the opposite side of the faucet. "No."
"Don't be a kid. Come on. The water's just going to wash anything away before I can even get it in you."
"Then have sex with me."
"No."
Castiel's noises from earlier had mortified him in his right mind. There were no words for the gush of water to his eyes that Dean caused. When he was sane once again, he may go find the highest bridge in existence and throw himself from it. Dean's expression immediately softened, but confusion clung around his eyes.
"Are you hurting that bad? I can take you to the hospital," Dean said.
"Is my scent that repulsive?"
Dean's concerned expression faltered as more confusion crossed his face. "What are you talking about?"
"I'm an omega in heat and you're refusing me. There must be something wrong," Castiel said.
"Uh no. I don't want to hurt you. I'm not a piece of shit, Cas."
Castiel closed his eyes and stayed where he was continuing to finger himself. He didn't want to look at Dean. If the fever and the cramps weren't bad enough, the surge of hormones was proving to be worse. He heard Dean cuss, then clothes shifting. Then Dean's hand were on him, pulling him onto his lap.
He opened his eyes, facing Dean. Dean rubbed himself against Castiel beneath the cold water.
"How are you so hot? This water is fucking freezing," Dean said, through clenched teeth.
Castiel canted his hips and tried to push onto Dean's erection. It stung as it breached him. It stung a surprising amount then it was out of him and Dean was gripping his chin hard, making him look him in the eyes.
"Hold still. Do you understand?"
Castiel tried to move his hips again. Dean squeezed his face.
"I'll get out right now and leave. Don't test me," Dean said.
Castiel stopped and Dean continued to rub his dick against his opening. Castiel's arched his back when Dean very slowly pushed into him. When Castiel opened his eyes, it was to Dean watching his face. He didn't watch Castiel like he thought he was unattractive.
Castiel let Dean guide his hips while his stomach ached and the heat built. He came quickly, pulling at his penis. Then Dean was holding his wrist against his side to keep him from touching himself.
"Looks like it's going to fucking fall off. Give it a break," Dean said roughly as he continued to push into him.
Then Castiel felt Dean's knot forming against him. He twisted away from Dean's hands and tried to push himself onto it. Dean yanked him forward again and gripped his hips.
"Easy, you don't need that," Dean said.
Castiel grunted and tried to grind down on Dean's swelling knot. Dean dug his fingers into his thighs.
"Hang on," Dean said. Then he pushed up roughly into Castiel a few times, with a grip on his own dick to keep it from going into Castiel, then he grunted deeply.
Castiel moaned as his insides cooled. He stopped trying to work himself down as a fragment of his sense leaked through his heat addled brain.
"That's it, Cas," Dean said quietly, bringing up cool water to spread over his back.
Castiel laid his cheek on Dean's damp shoulder. The pain in his stomach was beginning to make his vision fade. Dean's hand gently bumped against his backside, messaging the knot he had kept from him. He could still feel the cool relief of Dean's semen spreading on his insides.
The fever and the pain and the post-orgasmic haze made Castiel's lids droop until they closed again. He hated this. He hated being exhausted all the time, always hot, and incessantly needy. He refused to contemplate how he had gotten Dean into the bath, when before this he couldn't remember the last time he shed tears.
He was fading to unconsciousness as Dean continued to spread water over his back, long after his cum had ceased spilling inside of Castiel's walls.
"You're fucking gorgeous, just so you know. Crazy as hell, but sexy," Dean said with his lips brushing Castiel's ear. Then he kissed Castiel on his temple.
Castiel went to sleep with the knot in his chest lessening.
He woke multiple times after that. Sometimes the heat was more bearable and other times it was nearly incapacitating in its intensity. He could cope if it was only arousal, but none of this felt like arousal. It was desperation and it was tiring. He could see it wearing on Dean the few moments that he was conscious after each session, but Dean always aided him through it carefully. He was never rough, even when Castiel begged him to be. He even stayed in the tub with Castiel for hours, although Castiel knew he must be freezing.
It all became a medication induced haze for Castiel and he stopped attempting to remain coherent.
The bedroom was dim, but sunlight was outside. It was either very early or evening. Castiel couldn't tell. Dean laid beside him, deeply asleep on his stomach. Castiel laid still and looked at the ceiling. His stomach throbbed low, but mostly it felt sore. His temperature felt normal.
He got out of bed carefully and realized he was wearing sleep pants. Which meant Dean had dressed him, because from what he could remember he hadn't had nearly enough cognitive function to put anything on his body. He did remember the cold chills that had come after the highest point of the fever. He remembered laying against Dean's chest, beneath the blankets, and being held tightly while Dean rubbed his skin roughly to elevate his circulation.
Every step toward the living room was painful. All of his muscles and joints were sore. His pain medication was on the coffee table. He took one to the kitchen and brought a bottle of water back to the computer desk. He started his computer and looked through his emails. There were only five, but they dated back two days.
He answered all of them then he called Cooper when he realized it was evening instead of morning. He sorted through what work matters he could over the phone, the ones that Cooper would tell him about, then he went to the kitchen.
He moved around as quietly as he could while he cooked, but before he was finished, Dean came from the bedroom, rubbing sleep from his eyes.
"Look who's up," Dean said, giving him a warm, if not tired, smile.
Castiel smiled back and set a plate on the table. "Breakfast? Or I guess, dinner."
"Yeah, thanks," Dean said, sitting down. "Looks good."
"One of the only things I can cook," Castiel said, sitting in the opposite chair and cutting into his omelet. He had made them with more cheese and bacon than he normally did with his own, but Dean seemed like the kind of person who would enjoy that. He wasn't wrong, Dean made a lewd noise as he chewed his first bite.
"God that's good."
"Thank you," Castiel said.
"So how are you feeling?" Dean asked, just before he shoved another large bite into his mouth.
"Good. I think it's passed."
"Awesome," Dean said and smiled wide.
"Thank you for being so patient."
"Any time," Dean said, smiling again, but Castiel could see the dark circles beneath his eyes and the creases still left in the exposed skin of his face and chest from the sheets. "You had me worried for a while there. If you hadn't been better by tomorrow morning Dr. Aims told me to bring you in."
"You talked to Dr. Aims?"
"Yeah. The agency has that stuff on file. You were really out of it for a while."
"How long?"
"I've been here five days. You started going downhill in the bathtub. It's been two days since then."
"I'm sorry," Castiel said, shaking his head and ashamed of himself. "Did your employer at the mechanic shop give you the time off?"
"Yeah don't worry about it, Cas. It's my job."
"Yes, but most clients don't keep you so long, I'm sure."
Dean shrugged then took his hand roughly on the table and squeezed. "Really, I'm just glad you're alright."
Castiel returned the pressure for a moment before standing and taking their plates to the sink. Dishes were piled, but they could be left for the cleaning crew that would come in tomorrow.
"If you don't care, I was going to stick around for the night. Make sure things are really slowed down," Dean said.
"Of course. I would like that."
After they went to the couch. They didn't talk about it, but they laid together with Castiel pressed against the back cushions and Dean laid on his back, looking toward the TV screen. When Castiel shivered, Dean got up wordlessly and brought the comforter from the bed, laying it over both of them and pulling Castiel in tightly against his side. Castiel laid his cheek on Dean's chest and watched the movies Dean chose. Hearing Dean's heart was very calming. He could remember listening to it through the worse of the fevered hours when he was near to unconsciousness.
"Still feeling okay?" Dean asked, looking down at him.
"Yes," Castiel said. "How are you? Did I exhaust you?"
Dean laughed slightly. "Maybe a little."
Then he ran his fingers through the front of Castiel's hair, pushing it back from his forehead. It should have been strange, but it wasn't at all. It felt very comfortable. He remembered Dean doing it often when his hair was matted with sweat, although looking back on it, it felt like an out of body experience.
"You know you talked like crazy when you had those fevers," Dean said.
"Did I?"
"Yeah," then Dean angled Castiel's chin up a fraction. "Just so you know, I wasn't not having sex with you, because you aren't attractive."
"Dean, I was being hormonal," Castiel said, going to pull away, but Dean held him there.
"Listen to me, you're a knockout. I don't mean a little bit, I mean when I walked through your door the first day, I couldn't believe I was actually getting paid to get you through a heat."
"How did you keep from sex then?" Castiel asked. Now that the heat was gone, he genuinely wanted to know how Dean had been able to keep himself under control. "I don't mean to be offensive, but your gender isn't known for their control."
"Because you were sick," Dean said, looking down into his eyes. "The last thing I wanted to do was make you hurt more when you had your bouts of clear-headedness."
"That's very admirable. Thank you, Dean."
"And uh," Dean laughed slightly. "I've dealt with a little brother going through these. We shared a pretty small house until he went to college and I walked in on him taking care of himself. Once I remember, he was just a kid, fifteen or sixteen. It wasn't long after he presented, and he was just wailing the shit out of himself. He had stretched himself out too far and he was bleeding and his dick was rubbed so raw it was bruised. It made me sick.
"Some guys I've worked with get into the desperate little bitch thing, but it just kicks me in the chest to see someone tearing themselves up like that, because they feel that much need with no control over themselves."
"You're a good person," Castiel said, using Dean's shoulder as a pillow.
Dean laughed, clearly embarrassed, "Don't get me wrong. I wouldn't say no to seeing you fingering yourself open for me and saying some of the stuff you were saying the last few days. I just would prefer you not to be crying and half delirious when you do it."
"That must have made you uncomfortable. I'm sorry."
Dean pulled Castiel slightly by the back of his hair. "Don't thank me again. I'm glad I was the one that was here, Cas and I'm glad you're alright."
"Me too," Castiel said and he sent a prayer of thanks that Balthazar had been unavailable and that he had been sent Dean instead.
As the night wore on, they ordered food again and ate sitting up on the couch, only to return to their position when they were finished. They spoke occasionally, commenting on movies, that would occasionally lead to longer conversations.
Castiel learned that Dean loved his car dearly when they watched Bullet and Dean told him what he had done to restore the classic Impala he drove. He learned that Dean had a fascination with horror movies. They sat ill with Castiel. He didn't enjoy darkness in his movies. He found he did like Monty Python movies. He laughed harder than he could remember at their antics. Dean seemed amused more by his reactions than the movie itself.
When he dozed during an action hero film, he woke with his cheek on Dean's chest and Dean's arms around him as he slept as well. He felt no urge to move and blamed it on nothing.
The next afternoon, Castiel stood at the door with Dean, who held his duffle bag in one hand.
"So this was fun," Dean said.
"You have a strange definition of the word," Castiel said, smiling small.
Dean smirked, "Well you give me a call in six months."
"We'll see," he said. He was joking and he was very glad when Dean smiled at him.
Then Dean cupped his cheek softly and angled up his chin. Castiel could have pulled away, but he allowed Dean to lean down and kiss him. Dean's lips were very soft and warm. A small tendril of warmth passed down his spine at the first press of their mouths.
Then Castiel pulled away from Dean before it could deepen. Dean brushed his cheek with his thumb, then dropped his hand.
"Take care of yourself, Cas."
"You too," Castiel said.
Dean gave him another small smile then walked down the hallway. Castiel closed the door after him and stood there for a moment, unsure of what to do with himself now that the apartment was so quiet. It only lasted a fraction of a second, then he went to his computer and began to address his emails.