Chapter 3 #2
Lochlan huffs a laugh and sinks back against the loveseat, looking defeated. “I know that now, but it was the only way to become one of you.”
“One of us?”
“A supe, Roman. It was the only way. If you’re not born with it, or cursed, vampire it is.”
“Why did you want to become supernatural?”
He crinkles his nose, turning away. “That’s not important right now. The important part is that I really messed up. Jare is mad at me. He broke up with me and said I betrayed him. But that’s not what it was about.”
“I don’t know what to tell you, man. Jareth doesn’t play when it comes to vampires. He barely tolerates Cassius.”
“Who’s Cassius?”
“My… friend. Coworker. He’s a vampire.”
Relief spreads over Lochlan’s face. “You do know a vampire. Could he help me?”
“With what?”
“Being a vampire. I don’t know how to do it and I’m messing it up. Badly. I haven’t been able to find any vampires willing to help.”
“Yeah, they aren’t known for being open to newcomers.”
“No,” he mutters in agreement. “Would Cassius help me?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. We can ask.” I lean in. “But that’s not why you were looking for me. You didn’t know about Cassius. So why were you looking?”
“You know Jareth. Maybe even better than I do. I want to win him back, or at least get to a point where things can be civil.”
I practically recoil. The last thing I want to do is interfere in Jareth’s love life. I have no right. “I can’t do that. Jareth’s an adult and he knows what he wants. Sorry if that’s not you anymore.”
“Does he?” Lochlan reaches out and squeezes my hand. “He’s stubborn and hurt, which makes him even more stubborn.”
That’s a good point.
“I know he still has feelings for me. You’re supposedly one of his good friends. Don’t you want him to be happy?”
“That’s a low blow, Lochlan.”
He pulls my hand to his chest. “Please. I’m desperate.”
My eyes move to the point of contact between us, and I’m distinctly aware of how warm the connection feels when it definitely should not. I’ve touched lots of vampires and they’re always cool to the touch, but not Lochlan.
It doesn’t help that he smells like my favorite everything, like a place I’d love to nest and burrow.
Like home. Why does he smell like that now?
I’ve met him a few times before and other than recognizing that he’s attractive and hating him for getting to have Jareth in a way I can’t, it was pretty uneventful.
His eyes lock on mine, the warmth in them surprising. They’re a soft sage green with flecks of brown in them, but the longer we look at each other, the more intense they grow, pink rings appearing around the irises.
I know what that is. That’s arousal. I’ve learned it can be a spectrum from rage to lust, and he’s definitely not angry right now.
Oh.
I pull my hand away. This is bad. Very bad.
I could never. Not with him. Not after he’s been with Jareth.
My wolf doesn’t agree though, swishing around and making its presence known by causing hair to thicken and spread across my arms. My cock is so hard it’s straining against the zipper of my jeans.
Lochlan’s pupils are blown, and as his pink tongue darts out to wet his lips, it’s all I can do not to lunge forward and taste his mouth.
“What’s happening right now, Roman?”
“I don’t… I don’t know.”
“You feel it too though, right?”
I nod. “I feel it, but…” Closing my eyes for a moment, I exhale slowly. “We can’t. Not us.”
“No.” He shakes his head. “Not us. I’m in love with Jareth.”
“Right. Jareth.” Swallowing hard, I scoot back, putting distance between us, and a wolfish growl escapes my lips.
Lochlan’s eyes widen, but instead of fearful, he looks excited. “This is fucked up.”
“Yeah.” Blowing out a breath, I rub my forehead. “Um, let me see if I can get Cassius.”
“Okay.”
“Okay,” I echo, trying to ground myself. “Stay put. I’ll be right back.”
“Where are you going?”
“Home.”
“Can I come with you? I don’t want to be alone right now.”
I twist my lips. Auri won’t like it and Cassius might tell me to fuck off when he hears the request, but for some reason I’m powerless to say no.
Lochlan is better looking than I remembered, all firm muscles and pale skin dotted with faint freckles, highlighted by the black tank top he’s wearing.
His hair is a deep copper color, with lighter bits scattered throughout, and it rests against his neck, just brushing the tops of his shoulders.
He has just a bit of stubble on his jawline, framing his mouth perfectly. Yeah, he’s a looker, that’s for sure.
If it weren’t for the connection to Jareth, I’d gladly take him to my bed and feast on his body for a few nights.
But he’s in love with the one who got away from me.
If I care about Jareth, and I do, I have to do what I can to help.
Lochlan is right—Jareth is the cut-off-his-nose-to-spite-his-face type when he digs in his heels on something.
I can at least see this through. If I can’t love Jareth, maybe I can help him be with someone who does.
“Okay, I’ll take you with me but stay close and don’t talk until I tell you to. We don’t bring strangers home often.”
His face lights up. “I’ll be good. I promise.”
“I can’t say for sure Cassius will want to help, but if he doesn’t, he might know someone who can.”
“I’m willing to try. I almost died this morning. Or, maybe not die. Whatever happens to vampires when they don’t eat.”
“You didn’t eat?”
“I have a hard time with that. Didn’t think that one through before I turned.”
“What happened?”
“Turns out the sun burns like hell when you’re starving. I went to Jareth and he fed me, which helped me heal.”
I pull my head back. “He fed you?”
“I know. I’m sure it bothered him, but he helped even though he’s really mad at me.”
That says a lot. Maybe more than Lochlan realizes. “We should get going.”
“How do we get there?”
“You hold on to me. It’s a bumpy ride, but you’ll be okay.”
“I’m not scared.” We stand and Lochlan wraps his arms around my waist, bringing our faces uncomfortably close.
My wolf settles inside me, practically purring like a cat, and that confuses me even more. So what if Lochlan smells good and makes my cock hard. I’m horny. It’s been months since I’ve fucked anyone and he’s a hot man. That’s all.
It doesn’t mean anything else. Now if I can convince my wolf, that would be helpful.
“Hold on.” I wrap my arms around him.
He meets my gaze, smiling sweetly. “Thanks for helping me, Roman. I won’t forget it.”
I nod, pushing away every thought but the one that gets me home as I slip us into the void.