Xion waited, breath caught somewhere between his chest and throat, as Darius hovered over him. But instead of the kiss Xion had braced for, the Archduke leaned in slowly, his breath brushing against Xion's cheek.
Then, with a softness so at odds with the strength in his arms, Darius tilted his head and pressed a single kiss to the exact spot Xion had kissed him earlier.
The warm touch of his lips lingered a second longer than it needed to. It wasn't possessive nor was it rushed. Just a soft mark like a return gift.
Xion's eyes fluttered open. His lips parted, but no sound came out.
Despite the nervousness clawing at him, he'd been trying to prepare for the kiss. But this… this was somehow better.
It made his anxiousness disappear.
Darius pulled back just enough to meet his gaze, green eyes smoldering under the soft light that filtered through the garden's magical dome.
"I will cherish you," he said while caressing Xion's cheek. "I promise, I won't disappoint you."
