Chapter Thirteen
A sudden sound woke Ant up. “Able, shush.” His eyes still closed, he flung his arm out, planning to reach down the side of his bed to the rug where Able slept most nights. Then he winced and shook out his hand as the back of it hit the floor.
Eyes snapped open. “This is not my bed.” Ant shot up into a seated position, plucking at the coat that was covering him. “I know this coat. Who made the noise? Was it me? Did I dream the noise, or did I make it myself?”
That lingering disconnect between the dream world and the real world often confused Ant on wakening. With having visions so often, his handle on what was real and what was a product of his abilities could easily get blurred. It was one of the reasons Able was so necessary to him.
The coat collar clutched between his fingers was real and so was the couch his butt was resting on. There was no one else in the room with him. Not Able. Not Viktor, and yet Ant was certain the coat he’d been covered in belonged to the vampire. The room he was in wasn’t in his house either. Ant pondered for a moment. That has to mean this is Viktor’s house, right? A mate wouldn’t just leave their intended forever in a random person’s living room.
It was a living room. Ant knew that much. The couch he was resting on was a big giveaway, as was the comfortable-looking armchair that sat in pride of place by a large fireplace. There was a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf taking up half of one wall. What looked like an expensive piece of art was hanging on another wall. The colors of the walls were a soft cream shade, rather than a stark white, which Ant appreciated as he felt that made the room feel warmer. The color of the soft blue curtains matched a large oval rug that covered most of the polished wooden floors.
Tilting his head, Ant looked between the wooden floors and then the blue… Not what I would’ve chosen. But Ant was relieved Viktor’s décor didn’t run to what the public considered “typical” vampire colors like black and red. He’d visited a few places like that when he was still at the Mage Academy, and the clashing of harsh colors like that always gave him a headache within an hour.
But speaking of typical vampire behavior, where was Viktor, and perhaps more worrying, where was Able? Ant’s companion always seemed to know when he was awake and never strayed far. Viktor didn’t leave him at the park, surely? Ant shook his head, answering his own question. He distinctly remembered hearing Viktor calling Able just before he fell asleep.
How long have I slept? Is it the same day, next day…? Standing up, Ant wrapped Viktor’s coat around his shoulders. The hem was dragging on the floor, and he tried hitching it up, but there was a lot of material. Still, Ant considered the coat like a security blanket – he liked that sensation and wasn’t in a hurry to leave the coat behind.
Shuffling through the house – he really didn’t want to trip over – Ant let his instincts guide him through the living area, into a large bright kitchen. The sight of a bowl of water on the floor made him smile, as well as the empty plate behind it. Viktor’s bonding with Able. Just thinking of it made him feel warm inside.
But it still didn’t tell him where the two were now. Following the flow of air, a fresh breeze coming from the utility room, Ant poked his head around the door and noticed there was a second door leading to the outside.
It was daylight – early morning from what Ant could see in terms of sun position. There was a part of him that was quietly shocked. He didn’t think he’d slept that long in forever. But that did explain his rumbling stomach and the pressure on his bladder. I have to find Viktor and Able first.
Keeping the coat tight around him, he moved toward the open door, peering outside. The bright sun made him blink and stopped him seeing anything for a moment, but when he could see clearly, Ant’s smile grew.
Viktor and Able were both in a large, fenced back yard. There was a lot of well-kept grass, a few scattered gardens, and toward the back, there were four large trees that would provide some welcome shade on a hot afternoon.
Vampire and dog hadn’t noticed him yet. Viktor had a stick and was holding it up, encouraging Able to jump for it. As Ant watched, he noticed Viktor wasn’t making it so it was impossible for Able to get it, and when the dog did get his teeth around it, Viktor let it go. Able ran around in circles, the stick proudly in his mouth, his tail wagging madly, which was a clear indicator of how much he was enjoying the game.
Viktor was chasing the happy dog. Ant knew how fast the vampire could move. He literally could not be seen with a human eye when Viktor wanted to run. But he was lunging after the dog, making out he was just about to catch that stick, but Able would duck just out of the way of Viktor’s hand, looking over his shoulder, the stick still firmly in his mouth.
Huddled in Viktor’s coat, Ant leaned on the doorframe, just taking it all in. Able didn’t get to play very often. He was a highly trained support animal and he and Ant had been together since Able was ten months old. Ant relied on him, and as he worked all hours of the day or night, Able did too.
But there was something heartwarming in seeing that his dog had never lost the ability to play. Ant knew that from a logical perspective, but it was lovely to see. And Viktor…he was a total surprise. Every time Ant had seen him, Viktor’s energies had all been about raw power and brute strength. Ant didn’t think he’d even seen Viktor smile before.
Which is what made the scene he was watching all the more endearing. Viktor had got rid of the suits and was wearing a pair of jeans and a deep blue t-shirt that clung to his torso like a second skin. His dark hair had probably been tied back – Ant felt Viktor probably did that every day without thinking about it. But as he was running around, his hair was all askew. Combine that with the sexy grin – Viktor was laughing and looked just as happy as Able.
“You’re wearing me out, puppy.” Viktor dropped to the ground – no concern about grass stains on his pants as he sat down. Able immediately went over, his tail still wagging as he dropped the stick in Viktor’s lap. Chuckling, Viktor put it to one side, and patted his thighs, letting Able climb up on him. “You are a good puppy, aren’t you a good boy.”
Ant’s heart melted as he quietly shuffled off to find a bathroom. Then he’d check and see what Viktor had in his refrigerator. If there was one thing that would have Able come running was the smell of bacon cooking, and Ant imagined Viktor would probably respond the same way.
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It wasn’t the smell of bacon that had Able running into the kitchen, it was more likely the clang of the cast iron pan on the stove top. After a bit of searching, Ant found Viktor’s frying pan – it was bigger than the one Ant used to help improve Bridget’s moods, so there was a bit of a clang as he set it down.
Seconds later there was the scrabble of claws on the wooden floors and Able came flying in, almost bowling Ant over as his dog let him know how happy he was that Ant was finally awake. “Yes, I saw you playing.” Ant chuckled as he bent over, scratching behind Able’s ears. “You’ve got yourself a new friend, I see.”
Able accepted the scratches and then went to the bowl left on the floor for him, lapping at it furiously. Ant glanced over to the door to see Viktor was watching him.
“I don’t think I’ve ever slept so well.” Ant felt a shift in the energies and his cheeks heated. “Thank you for caring for Able. You have a lovely smile.” Shit. Why did I say that? Ant turned back to the stove top. “I was just about to cook breakfast. I hope that’s all right.”
“Are you all right?” The words were deep, sending a shiver down Ant’s spine.
“Fine. Fine. Truthfully I’m embarrassed.” Ant busied himself opening the bacon package. “I’m certain Bridget will tell me I broke a dozen new mate rules by falling asleep on you the way I did. Is an apology appropriate?”
“You barely moved all night so you must have needed the rest. You don’t have to apologize for feeling comfortable enough around me to sleep so soundly.”
Ant hadn’t thought of his behavior like that. “I did do that, didn’t I?” He flashed a quick smile at the brooding vampire. “Not a lot of fun for you, but thank you for letting me sleep. Shall I cook all of this?” He held up the bacon package.
Viktor nodded. “There are eggs as well, and I dashed out and got a fresh loaf of bread as soon as the bakery was open.”
“All the fixings for a great breakfast.” Ant hummed happily as the smell of cooking bacon filled the air. It was the best smell in the world, in Ant’s opinion. Well, that and freshly baked bread and equally fresh coffee which Viktor was making.
The scene was all very domestic, again in Ant’s opinion. He had no idea of how Viktor was feeling. While Ant didn’t usually get any visions of things to come, he did get inklings of foresight. The way Viktor moved around him as they prepared breakfast and set it on the kitchen counter boded well, at least in Ant’s opinion, for their future together.
That didn’t mean everything was glowing brightly in the morning sun. Ant waited until Viktor was halfway through his meal before asking quietly, “So, are you going to share what’s bothering you, or are we meant to indulge in mutual orgasms first? From your energies, it’s difficult for me to tell which action is most pressing from your perspective.”