Chapter 18 Nikolas
Nikolas
Tommy is uncharacteristically quiet that day as Isidoro takes us on an extended tour of his residence.
Now that he doesn’t have to hide who, or what, he is, he’s eager to show off.
Alongside the usual rooms, he’s got a bath space with pools of blood instead of water, a giant walk-in fridge-freezer with dozens of preserved bodies and bags of blood, another torture chamber, a chapel-like building on the edge of his property.
Rich people stuff, really, minus the bloody peripherals.
“Tommy, you’ve been awfully quiet,” I say once we’ve been lounging by the outdoor pool for a while. This one has real water, not blood, a well-stocked bar, sun umbrellas and chairs. “What’s wrong?”
Tommy shifts his weight from one leg to the other.
He’s been alternating between leaning against a trellis abundant with blooming flowers and pacing back and forth along the pool’s edge.
“I don’t know, just… I guess I’m still processing everything?
You know, this vampire stuff, the assassination we’ll be part of, you and me… ”
I pick up my cocktail from the small table next to my sun chair, gulp it in one go and place the glass back down as I stand and walk over to Tommy. He opens his arms for a hug as soon as I’ve entered his personal space.
With a sigh, he lets me gather him close to me. He smells like the flowers climbing the wooden construction and sunlight. “Do you think we can pull this off? I know Isidoro said he’ll get us some stuff, so we aren’t completely defenseless when we walk into the Gala, but still.”
I want to tell him that everything will be fine, but that would be a lie. I can’t guarantee his safety or that the plan will work. “You should sit out—”
“No chance in hell. I’m going with you.” Tommy pushes off my chest and tilts his head up so he can look at my face.
Then he frowns, determination sharpening his features.
“Sorry. This is shitty of me. I’m just overwhelmed is all.
But you’re not going alone. I’m coming with.
And I’ve got your back. Always. I know I’m very new to this, and there is a lot I still need to learn about the world you live in, but Niko, you have to let me do this.
I promise not to get in the way. So don’t even suggest I sit this out. ”
The fierceness with which he declares this flips my stomach upside-down. Tommy is such a sweet, angelic-looking man, so delicate at first glance. But with every day that passes, I am more and more convinced that he is the devil incarnate.
Damn. I can’t believe how perfect he is. And it was stupid of me to even think for a second that he might agree to stay diligently at home, waiting for me to come back. That’s just not how cute, willful Tommy operates.
“Okay. I won’t ever mention it again. You are coming with me.
But you let me lead this time, okay?” I clasp his hands and bring them to my mouth so I can press a kiss to his knuckles.
“I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to you.
” He opens his mouth to argue or rebut me, but I shush him.
“No complaints allowed. And no running off trying to be a hero. You stick to the plan, got it?”
Pressing his lips into a line, he nods. “Got it. I promise I won’t put us in unnecessary danger.”
Good. Still, this is crazy. He should stay behind, but I know that he never would. The truth is I want him with me, as dangerous as this is going to be, because as crazy as it might sound, I will feel at ease if I have him by my side, where I can see him.
“I will teach you everything you need to know. We start today. There isn’t much time until we have to head out, but we can go through some basics.”
He’s fared exceptionally well so far, given the hell we’ve been through. He hasn’t broken down or gone into shock. I think he’s got what it takes to be Nikolas Stavros’ partner in more than the bedroom. Despite his unassuming size.
“Oh!” Tommy’s eyes light up, his entire face transforming into the sun. “No way! Really? You’re gonna teach me to be as deadly as you are?”
I shake my head, fighting off a smile. “We can’t do it in one day, I’m afraid.
Or a month. It takes years to get ‘as deadly as I am’, Tommy.
But everyone starts somewhere.” I cast my gaze around, taking in the lush nature, the soft whisper of leaves, the splash of the water that the fake waves create.
“I’ll show you how to shoot and some basic combat moves today. How does that sound for a start?”
He grins ear to ear. “Like a shit ton of fun!”
Groaning, Tommy pushes open the door to our bathroom that evening. “Ugh, my everything hurts. You seriously didn’t go easy on me.”
I place the Glock Isidoro lent us on top of the drawers and lean one shoulder against the door frame as I watch him undress. “You got the hang of it in the end, didn’t you?”
He scrunches his mouth and shakes out his wrist. “That recoil is a bitch.”
“It’s a good thing I didn’t start you on an assault rifle like you wanted to, then, isn’t it?” I cross my arms and arch an eyebrow at him.
He rolls those pretty eyes at me and starts the bath. “Whatever.” Tipping his head to one side, he gives me an expectant look. “Well, aren’t you joining me?”
I bounce my attention to the tub, then back to him.
He’s already down to his underwear, an expanse of smooth skin revealing itself before me.
Contrary to what I expected, he’s got some muscle on his thin frame, like he’s put in some work.
I was too lost to lust the other night to notice it in the dim light, but now, with the last rays of afternoon sun streaking in through the giant windows, there is no chance to miss it.
I step into the bathroom and pull my shirt over my head. “Since you are asking me so nicely and all…”
He chuckles. “Yes, big guy. Get your ass in here.”
By the time he rids himself of his last bit of clothing, I’m down to nothing. He steps into the tub first, gets the bubbles going and makes himself comfortable. I follow suit, slipping into the space behind him until I’m seated and he’s wiggled his way between my legs.
“Ah, this feels so good after a long day…” His sigh is so deep I feel it with my own body.
I prop my chin on his head, wrapping my arms around his torso. “You did good, Tommy. Really.”
“I know I did. I mean, I’m nowhere near as good as you are, and it will take me some time to even get halfway there, but… It was fun. And I get to go with you to that Gala and not feel like I’m a sitting duck, you know. I can sorta protect myself now.”
He’s mostly wrong. The people, or vampires, we’ll be dealing with are very dangerous. Deadly. Hell, I barely scraped by and I am a pro at this. But this time, I’m going prepared. And if everything goes to plan, we’ll be in and out before anyone figures out what we are doing.
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I don’t want you running off and trying to be a hero, remember?” I chastise him gently, needing his verbal confirmation that he won’t put himself in any unnecessary danger.
“Yeah, yeah. How many times do you need me to promise that?” He scoffs, hanging his head back until it’s resting on my pecs. Our eyes meet. “I don’t want to make your life any harder than it needs to be, Niko. So I won’t do anything stupid.”
I kiss the space between his eyebrows where a line appears. “That’s my good boy.”
He snorts and shakes his ass, the friction immediately causing my dick to take interest. “Now, now. Is this an invitation for some fun of the naughty type? You totally didn’t get enough of me the last night, did you?”
The glee in his voice is adorable. The smirk on his face almost undoes me. But he is not wrong, and we both know it.
“With the way your thing is poking me, I’d say that’s a yes,” he says before I get to reply.
I love the sass. I think it might be one reason why I even took notice in the first place. You know, other than how cute he is or how he’s got a bit of crazy going on inside him. But we share that. Only someone as insane would take a look at me and decide they want me in their life.
Gently, I slide a bit further down, so I’m more comfortably positioned. My hard cock brushes along his ass, getting more excited by the second. The little devil grins, then wiggles around on purpose before he lifts himself and sits on my lap facing me.
“Tommy…”
“Yes, Niko?” He bats his eyelashes at me, sucking on a finger innocently. “Is something the matter?”
His dick grazes mine and I almost lose it right there and then. His smirk grows even more wicked. I can’t win against him, I really can’t.
“Nothing’s the matter,” I grind out as my body succumbs to the fire inside me. “I just… Stop with the teasing, or I can’t promise I will behave.”
He pulls on his bottom lip with his teeth, eyes blazing with arousal. “Threatening me with good times, really?”
God have mercy on me. I’m digging my own grave here and I love every second of it.
Spreading my hands over the two plump globes of his ass, I pull him closer until his chest is flat against mine. He looks up at me, eyes dark and breath catching. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
He opens his mouth to rebuke me, which is exactly what I was counting on. I lean in and shove my tongue inside, the sweet taste of him hitting me immediately in the chest. I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of it, or of him.
“Ooh, I see what you are doing,” he says between gulps of air and stifled moans as I pillage his mouth. “And I have to say I am completely onboard.”
Of course he is. The little devil has been on a mission to seduce me since the day we met. And now that he has me, I doubt he’ll let go. Which is perfect, because I have no intention of letting him do that anyway.
I knead his ass, pulling the cheeks in opposite directions. His dick twitches where it’s trapped between us. I drag one finger down toward his crease, rubbing the tip against his small hole.
“Is this what you want, huh?” I lick the shell of his ear, letting my voice go dangerously low.
Tommy shivers with his whole body. “Yes, please!”