Chapter Eighteen
Elliot
“What’s got you so freaking happy?” Johnny asked as I whistled tunelessly while ladling broth into containers.
I grinned to myself. “Knowing your shift’s about to end, dipshit.”
That wasn’t the real reason, but it did help. No, the real reason was that Ricky had moved in yesterday, which meant we’d finally gotten to have our first official night together. The whole night. As ‘roommates.’ Who shared a bed.
And fucked a lot. Like, all the time.
Rather than shutting up, Johnny appeared in my periphery as he leaned his hip on the counter, arms crossed. “Paul said he saw you coming into work this morning with that human dude in the other kitchen. The new one.”
I shot him an unimpressed glance as I reached for the lids. “Yeah, and? We’re roommates.”
Johnny’s eyes bugged out of his head. “What? For real? You’re roommates with a human? Grody, dude. Why?”
“He needed to find a place, and I had a spare room.” I snapped the lids onto the containers. “Why’re you wigging out? Not like it’s any of your fuckin’ business.”
“Uh, because it’s weird, dude.” He paused, head cocking. “Don’t you, like, get the urge to go in there and eat him while he’s sleeping?”
I snorted, a wide grin stretching my mouth. Oh, I got the urge all right, and I indulged in it as often as possible, just not while Ricky was sleeping. The other night, I’d introduced him to the wonders of rimming. He was already addicted.
I glanced at Johnny as I scooped several handfuls of croutons into a separate container. Ghouls liked ’em to still be crunchy when they ate their broth. “Maybe you shouldn’t work in a mall filled with humans if you lack that much self-control, dude.”
He scowled. “I have a ton of self-control, assface. I’m just saying. Plus, doesn’t he see your food in the fridge? What if he accidentally eats it?”
“He doesn’t eat my food because he’s not an asshole.” I slid all the containers into a bag and turned, holding it out to him. “Take this out, then get lost. Your shift’s over.”
Huffing, Johnny took the bag and turned to leave. “Dick. Later, Paul.”
“Um, yeah,” Paul said hesitantly while chopping carrots. “Later.”
Once Johnny was gone, I felt Paul look over at me as I stabbed the receipt onto the spike and moved on to the next order.
“Um, hey, sorry,” he said awkwardly. “I wasn’t, like, snarking or anything. I just mentioned seeing you and, uh…”
“Ricky.”
“Yeah. I just mentioned seeing you.”
I shrugged, setting out three new containers. “No prob.”
We lapsed into silence. Through the wall, I could hear sounds from the other kitchen. Utensils clattering on the metal counters, the muffled guffaw of Brett’s obnoxious laugh. Casually, I glanced up at the clock over the door and grinned when I saw the time.
Making sure Paul was still busy chopping carrots, I reached for the big container of croutons and set it down precariously on the edge of the counter. When it didn’t tip, I frowned and nudged it with my elbow.
Croutons showered onto the linoleum before the bucket hit with a crash. Paul jumped and looked over.
“Whoops.” I made a show of putting my hands on my hips and shaking my head with a self-deprecating laugh. “I’ll go get the broom.”
Uninterested, he turned back to the chopping board. “’Kay.”
“Might take a dump too,” I added casually as I headed for the door.
“Grody, dude.”
“Back in, like, ten minutes. Maybe fifteen.”
“Fifteen? You need more human in your diet.”
Snickering, I pushed through the door and strode to the supply closet at the very end of the corridor. When I slipped inside, Ricky was already waiting for me, fidgeting among the cleaning products.
Ignoring the scent of mildew and lemon disinfectant, I grinned and wrapped my arms around his neck, immediately yanking him in for a deep kiss.
He chuckled against my mouth. “You know, we don’t really have to do this anymore now I’ve moved in.”
I pouted, fiddling with his hair. “But I like seeing you during the day too.”
He gave me a shy grin. “Me too.”
“I really like seeing you at night, though.” I kissed across his cheek and down his neck, gently nibbling his warm skin. “All naked and sweaty and moaning my name while I ride your dick. Or you ride mine.”
“Oh my god, El.” He gave my stomach a weak nudge, and when I lifted my head to grin at him, his face was bright red.
“Your sweat tastes so good.” I was getting a boner, so I pushed my hips firmly against his. “And I wanna drink orange soda out of your bellybutton again.”
He snuffled out a laugh. “We got all sticky, though.”
My eyes hooded with arousal. “Yeah, it was rad. You tasted awesome.”
Ricky grinned at me, his cheeks still sweetly flushed. “No eating your human boyfriend, remember?”
Solemnly, I raised three fingers right in front of his face. “Ghoul’s honor.”
He laughed, curling his fingers around mine and lowering our hands. “Isn’t that the Scouts?”
“Same diff.” Cupping his nape, I dragged him closer and smiled into our kiss. “Promise I won’t eat you, muffin. I want to keep you around for as long as possible.”