Chapter 6 #2
Theo raised an eyebrow. Spike was talking nonsense and he was starting to regret thinking Spike was a sane, normal guy. Clearly, he was losing his marbles...
“Other form? What are you, like, an alien or something?”
Spike narrowed his gaze seriously at Theodore. “No. I’m a hellhound.”
It took everything in Theo to not laugh at the sincerity and seriousness in Spike’s voice. It was as if he truly believed what he was saying.
A part of Theo wanted to refute such madness, but he couldn’t deny there was a part of him that felt a strange warmth in his chest from the words.
Theo regaled him with a raised eyebrow.
“I know it sounds crazy, believe me, but it’s the truth. I was literally cursed for a century as a hellhound until—Izzy—until she kind of forced my transition back because she’s my mate.”
The words were bonkers to Theo, but there was a truth in how Spike spoke that Theo couldn’t ignore. Either the man was certifiably insane or Theo was still drunk from the previous night. The latter was unlikely, as he had the hangover to prove it.
Spike pursed his lips. “Izzy bit me, because she’s a vampire and—”
Theo could not help but laugh as Spike’s story seemed to be getting crazier by the minute.
“What’s so funny?” Spike asked.
Theo shook his head. “You, Spike. You realize you sound bat shit insane right now.”
Spike narrowed his gaze. “I know it must sound crazy, but it’s the truth. And I think you know it is, you just don’t want to acknowledge it.”
Before Theo could respond, Spike implored his gaze with a serious one of his own.
“Izzy bit me, because she’s a vampire, and if you remember, last semester when I was out for that big test in lab... well, it was because I was sick. Because she bit me and our bond wasn’t complete.”
“Vampires, Hellhounds, and bonds, oh my,” Theo muttered as Spike crossed his arms.
“Izzy and I were fated mates. Just as Mars and Lorelai, and Cate and Gunner, and Hades and Darcy, and—”
Theo shook his head. “Spike, you’re talking nonsense.”
Spike pursed his lips once more. “The diviner is what showed them their bonds. It’s an artifact, one Professor Leehan had uncovered and brought here, where it’s been on display for the last six months, and now it’s gone.”
“So the thing that’s missing is some kind of fate-diving artifact that tells you who you’re going to marry or whatever?”
Spike’s expression was stoic. “No one said anything about marriage.”
Theo scoffed, shaking his head. “Of course not.” He turned away from Spike for a moment. “Don’t you have to get back to the gallery or whatever? Look for this diviner?”
Spike nodded. “I do, but...”
Theo nodded toward the door. “Then you should probably go.”
Spike looked between Theo and the door, before he spoke. “I should.” His words were careful, steady. As if Spike himself felt obligation or guilt for the situation, even though it made no sense.
And something about that made Theo feel as if he’d gotten off on the wrong foot with Spike. With Calliope.
Who was next? Trick?
“Thanks for the ride,” he said as he moved to head to the door that lead inside the building to the elevators.
Spike did not chase after him. He only said, “Five pm.”
Theo turned to see Spike standing in the lobby, in the same spot he’d left him.
“What?”
“Iz and I work until four on Sundays. Callie usually comes in around two, stays until five to close up the gallery.”
Spike twisted his lips as he shrugged. “Figured as the new work study, you might want to know the hours our boss keeps.”
Spike’s words settled on Theo. Calliope was his boss. Miss Perfect was the gallery manager. What were the odds?
Though Theo couldn’t help but feel a spark of hope, despite knowing this truth. Callie may have been his boss, but she was still a person outside the gallery. A woman with desires and wants and needs, and they just happened to have this—the gallery—in common. That had to count for something, right?
“Okay, thanks for the heads up,” Theo said as Spike headed for the door.
Theo spoke again, stopping him. “You, uh... still have my number?”
Spike turned and nodded. “I do. Why?”
“I mean, if you guys need any help later... or you have an update or something... you know, on what I’m supposed to do or... just, keep me posted?”
Spike gave him a reassuring smile. “Yeah, of course.”
And with that, Spike left Theo alone once more.
When Theo had managed to make it up to his dorm room, he was surprised to see it was quiet and empty. No Trick, or Shaun, or anyone.
“Maybe they’re just busy,” he said out loud as he headed for his bedroom, figuring a hot shower and a long nap was just what he needed after his adventurous night and crazy morning.
His thoughts wandered to Spike’s words as he undressed himself, heading for the bathroom. It was rare that he got time to himself at the dorm, what with Trick and his teammates often times occupying most of the dorm most of the time.
Theo slipped out of his briefs, stepping into the spray of the shower with ease, relishing in the warmth of the hot water on his muscles, letting out a groan.
His mind wandered to Calliope, to their speed date and drinks, to this morning.
Spike’s words replayed in his brain. She’s a muse.
What was a muse, exactly? Theo wasn’t sure what it all entailed, and part of him wanted to talk himself out of believing in Spike’s words, but he knew there was a truth in them, even if he couldn’t explain it.
Theo ran his hands through his hair, washing it back. The warm water sluiced down his skin, soothing his aching muscles. Falling asleep on Calliope’s floor had done a number on his back and shoulders.
His thoughts wandered to last night, to her sweet kiss, and her words that awakened something inside of him.
Worship me.
On your knees.
All yours.
Theo closed his eyes as he fell into the memory, remembering just how Callie tasted on his tongue, remembered just how she felt, her tightness wrapped around him. Her mouth on his. Her body pressed against his side as she drifted off to sleep in his arms...
Theo had never felt such intense warmth before. Holding Calliope, worshiping Calliope, it all felt so undeniably right. His cock jumped at the thought and Theo groaned in annoyance.
Now was certainly not the time!
But no matter what Theo did, he could not settle his overactive cock. Not with a cold turn of the faucet or even when he tried to think about geese of all things, to alter his thought process. Nothing worked.
Theo groaned, giving into defeat as he wrapped his hand around his cock, relishing in the instant relief it brought.
He closed his eyes, guilt and desire hitting him. And just like before, when he’d tasted her, when he’d felt her, his orgasm started barreling toward him with an irrefutable force.
But in the privacy of his dorm room shower, Theo gave in to his desire, his guilt. He let his cock respond of its own accord, remembering what it felt like for Calliope to stroke him, touch him. How she’d taken his cock into the back of her throat.
And without warning, Theo’s orgasm hit him and he cried out, his voice echoing in the small bathroom. His vision once again turned white, a faint flicker of violet flashing behind his eyes for only a moment.
His entire body loosened, his heart racing as he sprayed the shower wall with his release.
Theo pushed aside his guilt and cleaned himself up, convincing himself perhaps a good masturbation session and a nap would fix him right up. And as he crashed on his bed, he could have sworn he smelled the faintest scent of vanilla and spice.
* * *
There was a warmth that surrounded Theo he’d never felt before. The world around him was shades of red and violet, melding together with deep shades of green. Up close, the colors blurred, fading into one another.
Theo’s gaze traveled down the swooshes and streaks of color, each one standing out against the pale canvas before him. Each one bleeding into the next, he watched streak after streak emerge. But the light flickered, violet and shadow existing together like a lighthouse beacon.
Theodore chased the light, but it seemed too far away. The scent of vanilla was cloying and tempting, and he could hear the sounds around him, or more accurately, a name. His name...
The colors stood out as they became distant, and just as Theodore was about to make sense of what these beautiful colors formed, the sound of the door shutting awakened Theodore from his deep sleep and everything faded into shadow once more.
His vision was blurry once more, but the hangover was gone, thank goodness. He grabbed for his phone, noting it was almost dead, and groaned. Not only was his phone dying, it was nearing four pm. And there had been no word from Spike.
“Theo!” Trick called out. “You back yet, dude?”
Theo groaned once more as he pushed himself up from his bed, heading into the living room slash kitchenette to see Trick looking a little worse for wear.
“He has risen,” Trick said with a grin. “You look like shit. Must’ve had a good time.”
Theo scoffed at him. “Not so bad now. At least my hangover is gone.”
Trick made for the refrigerator. “Nice. Must’ve been epic.” The grin on Trick’s face was obvious. He wanted details. Details Theo wasn’t sure he wanted to give...
“I mean the night wasn’t bad, but this morning... could have been better.”
Trick sucked in a breath. “Ouch, that sucks, man.”
Once again, Theo debated telling his friend the truth.
Especially considering he wasn’t entirely on board with the truth itself.
He couldn’t stop thinking about the diviner.
Spike said this artifact was one of fate, that it told who someone was supposed to be with.
Truth or not, an artifact like that sounded quite powerful, and Theo surmised that if it were to fall into the wrong hands, perhaps it could be disastrous.
If it was truly a tool of fate, perhaps the thief was trying to influence their own somehow.
But thankfully, Trick was not one to dwell or focus, and instead, he clapped Theo on the back and said, “Glad to hear the Tricky Techniques paid off, man. That’s more than I can say for some of us.”
Before Theo could ask what exactly his roommate meant, Trick let go of him and headed for the couch, kicking his shoes off and collapsing onto it.
Theo noticed the way his shoulders fell, and the deep sigh that escaped him.
It was unlike Trick to be anything but confident and cocky, and Theo felt as if at the moment, perhaps he was witnessing a rare sighting. A deflated Trick.
Had something happened to the man? Should he press him about it? Theo knew as much as anyone that most men were not the sharing feeling variety, and Theo wasn’t entirely sure he was, either.
Still, there was a part of him that begged to open up, to discuss what had happened. To connect and be there for his friend in the way Trick had for him. But as Theo’s gaze drifted to the digital clock on the wall, noting it was nearing four twenty, he felt torn.
He hadn’t heard from Spike, and while he knew he could likely text the man, he still felt awkward asking for updates on a situation he wasn’t entirely a part of.
Yes, he would be working with Calliope and probably Spike and Isabelle, and yes, there was an emergency—albeit one that his boss and co-workers were trying to keep under wraps, which should have been a red flag to Theo—but Theo felt a strange sort of possession when he thought of the—what had Spike called her? A muse?
And then Theodore remembered Spike’s words, or rather how weighted they’d been.
About how Spike and Izzy would be gone at this time of day, but Calliope would be there. Closing up. Alone.
And Theo surmised that it was probably not safe to be alone in a gallery that had recently been burglarized.
So he told himself, he was just being a proactive, good employee.
He was just doing what any gentleman would do, and totally not stalking Miss Perfect.
But the little voice inside Theodore Lange, as quiet as it was, knew the truth he dared not speak.
He was protecting what was his.
All yours.
All mine.
So Theo did not press his roommate and instead, left him to his uncharacteristic moment of melancholy and said, “Heading out, I’ll be back later.”
Trick dismissed him with a grunt and a wave, and Theo headed out the door. The evening sun was warm and it was quite balmy out, but for Theodore it felt as if the sun had truly just come up.
He slid his hands in his pockets, heading for his car.
Spike’s was much prettier, sleeker than his basic red Focus.
Part of Theo was jealous, even though he knew he shouldn’t be.
He’d worked hard for his car, putting in hours at his uncle’s landscaping company all through high school, and it had gotten him from point a to point b for the last few years without protest or issue.
But suddenly, Theo felt inadequate, even though he couldn’t figure out why.
You know why, he tutted to himself, but instead of dwelling, he picked up his pace and hurried to the parking lot. When he finally found his car amongst the lot, it was nearing four thirty and he sighed.
Turning the car on, the radio blared at him, the familiar sounds of Undisclosed Desires filled the air, and Theo couldn’t help but chuckle with a dose of sarcasm, since he knew the artist well.
Muse.
How fitting.
It was almost as if fate itself was taunting him. If fate existed...
The singer crooned on about wanting to recognize that one’s beauty was not just a mask, and Theo felt the words with the utmost truth. So he did not change the channel, and instead turned it up as he pulled out of the parking lot and headed toward the gallery.