Chapter 12
JAMES
Trace and I ate, with Edwin watching. He toyed with a mug of tea I was sure he didn’t really want, but he was very sociable and had told me the other day he wanted to appear more human so he could accompany me to places if I so wished.
I wasn’t entirely sure what he meant, although he had mentioned the seaside, which sounded good in theory.
I certainly had no pressing desire to visit a nightclub any time soon — not after what happened the last time.
A pub might be nice though. I lost myself in a daydream about the two of us huddled together in an olde world tavern, with cramped seating which meant I had no option but to feel the press of his thigh against mine.
A snapshot of Trace’s lean length plastered against my other side tried to muscle in, but I quickly shut it down to concentrate on my Edwin fantasy.
The details got blurry after that, but I was content in my bubble while the other two talked about people I didn’t know.
I started at the feel of Edwin’s hand on my thigh. “James, you okay?”
“Fine. I was…” My face heated as I recalled the direction of my thoughts. He still hadn’t removed his hand. “I was just thinking about the amount of work ahead for Trace, making the other carriage into a home.” Although both guys gave me dubious stares, they didn’t challenge me on my answer.
“It will be an effort, but we’ll help in any way we can. Would you be willing to be awake more in daylight for a while, James, if Trace needs you? I can do heavy lifting and digging, but I know very little about plants, and obviously I’m limited to the hours between sunset and sunrise.”
My breath caught in my throat at his suggestion.
Logically I knew I would be safe with Trace.
For God’s sake, the Evergreen Council vouched for this bloke.
I knew what had happened to the FWNN — eliminated for what he did to me.
These people didn’t play by human rules, so I truly doubted Trace could be any kind of a threat as he obviously knew any consequences for bad behaviour would be severe.
I was also used to taking myself off and wandering the streets while Edwin slept.
That didn’t bother me, so why should working in close quarters on Edwin’s land give me pause?
I could feel my pulse hammering as I struggled to keep my eyes raised.
Jeez, Trace’s gaze reminded me of his crow’s; penetrating, wise, and too fucking knowing.
It was as if he could read my thoughts. I wasn’t comfortable with that possibility.
Yeah, that was the problem all right. I liked the witch.
Liked liked him. Or I thought I might. Which was all kinds of wrong.
For starters, he was older than me, by how much I didn’t know, but it sure as heck wasn’t the titchy four years’ gap between me and Edwin, even if Edwin did have a century’s experience of being twenty-seven.
Trace had eyes that had seen some shit and he’d probably suffered as a result.
The fact he was a vegetarian and grew plants and made herbal remedies and potions was pretty much the only reason I hadn’t run screaming from him.
Otherwise my overactive imagination could quite easily have recast him in a dark fairytale setting, with flowing clothing and a sword or a bow and arrow, while he ventured forth on some quest that involved a lot of slaying of his enemies. I think it was the hair.
“Do you wear leather boots?” I blurted suddenly.
Both men widened their eyes. Trace, thankfully, didn’t laugh at me. “No, I don’t. I don’t wear anything made from the body of anything on Earth. Nor do I eat it, with the exception of dairy, eggs and honey. But you knew that part. What’s bothering you, James?”
I couldn’t tell him. I couldn’t even drum up an acceptable lie.
I think I might fancy the arse off you when we’ve only just met, oh, and by the way, I’m a fucked-up, trauma-addled virgin wasn’t the way to pull a cool older bloke, even if I wasn’t mortified enough that my mind had even gone there.
Add to that my confusion over how I already knew I felt about Edwin — You can’t, it’s much too soon — and I was a hot mess.
Incredibly hot, if the fire in my cheeks was anything to go by.
Just when the silence had stretched to a point where I was tempted to bolt, Edwin cleared his throat.
He crooked his finger at me. I went, immediately bathed in cool relief as he pulled me down onto his lap.
Fuck me, I was a needy, clingy heap of patheticness, but plastered against him was my new favourite place in the universe.
I could only pray he didn’t get bored of me too quickly. He said he’s keeping you forever.
He pressed one of those kisses I’d come to crave to my forehead and said, as calmly as if he was discussing the weather, “I think James and I are suffering from the same affliction, except he’s way too polite to say anything.”
Oh my God, what the fuck did he think I was thinking?
My heart gave a leap like a startled deer.
Edwin encircled my chest with his arms and tightened his grip, soothing and grounding me.
I focused my entire attention on my hearing as he continued in the same matter of fact tone, “You see, we both think you’re hot stuff, Trace.
And while the old me would have propositioned you for a tumble without giving it a second thought, I’ve got my beautiful boy here and I don’t ever want to hurt his feelings.
It gets complicated because I’m almost certain I’m picking up arousal from him too.
He looks at you like he can’t work out whether he wants to jump your bones or leg it down the street. ”
I think I moaned. Oh no! He went there. He really went there.
I would have to leave London and run away to the seaside, preferably to Antarctica where the cold would finally sear the blush from my face and my only possible critics would be penguins.
I couldn’t ever lift my head up again. I was done.
I screwed my eyes up and balled my hands into fists to prevent me clawing at Edwin’s shirt.
But then, I felt movement by our chair. A hand, warmer than Edwin’s, landed cautiously on my knee.
“Don’t be embarrassed, James. You’re lovely.
I’m so flattered, I can barely put it into words.
” A soft laugh. “Either one of you are enough to have given me a workout hiding my arousal this evening. Both of you together…well. There’s a reason I’ve been keeping busy.
” Another gentle chuckle, this one sounding way too musical to have come from the grungy-looking string bean at my feet.
“I’m hardly a catch, and yet it would appear miracles do happen. ”
He stood up. “I’m going to search for Terrance again while you two talk. Just so you’re aware, I’m pansexual and polyamorous, and open to any and all offers that involve consent all round. I’m not one of those guys that think a relationship with three people in it has to be a perfect triangle.”
I listened to the gentle clump of his boots as he headed down the steps and onto the gravel, then deflated like a popped balloon.
“Just going to go and die under the bed now,” I mumbled. Antarctica was too far and it was dark outside.
Edwin laughed. “Oh, sweet James. You are fucking adorable.” He wriggled a finger under my chin. “Look at me, darling.”
I grudgingly raised my head a fraction to peep at him through my fingers. “I’m looking.”
“Babe, I think you forget I’m a vampire.
I can smell when you’re turned on. I could smell it in the garden, and again in the kitchen.
At the risk of sounding big-headed, I already know you fancy me, but as I wasn’t actively promising to bite your neck—” I gave another involuntary moan at the image he conjured up.
“—I was fairly sure your stiffy wasn’t directed my way.
” He tilted my head until he was cradling it in his large hands and placed a gentle kiss on my forehead.
“If you want to explore something with him, with both of us, I’m game.
Fancying him doesn’t mean I want you any less.
” He hesitated before adding, “In whatever way that means for you. I’m aware you’re not anywhere near a point of stripping off for a naked three-way.
” He groaned. “God, I’m such a slut. I would so go for that if you were. ”
I snorted. “You’re such a ho, Edwin. I thought it was just your friends taking the piss, but I reckon it’s the truth.
” About one per cent less likely to burst into flames than I had been, I risked a proper look at him.
Why did he study me as if he wanted to eat me alive?
I shook my head. “Do you think Trace was serious?” I’d known he would fancy Edwin.
Fuck’s sake, dead people would fancy my vampire, he was so beautiful.
Oh, except, did dead mean other vampires?
How did we define dead these days? A giggle bubbled up and escaped, then another.
I had so many screws loose, it was a wonder I could recall my own name.
Edwin didn’t seem to find my amusement off-putting.
He merely smiled wider and rearranged me in his lap.
I could feel the hard ridge of his erection prodding my arse cheek.
Because it was him, I didn’t get the jitters thinking he would attempt to insert it anywhere.
He ran two fingers down my cheek. “Why wouldn’t Trace be serious?
I fancy you. Unless you think my taste in men is appalling, in which case I’m a bit hurt.
” He pulled a fake miserable face that was designed to raise a chuckle from me, which it did.