Chapter Ten
“ W hy would I want to share a bed with him? All that farting and drooling and snoring. We have separate bedrooms and I get all the sleep I need. And if we want something more we have options. Just not the leather sofa.”
Peter snorted. He did love this group of women and the fact they talked about everything. There was no subject they wouldn’t discuss. As Mildred had once told him, when you got to their age you had zero fucks to give.
If only he could tell them who Minho was, Peter was certain they would have plenty to talk about. And there would be more questions than Minho had faced from Sammy and Rex.
“Who was that man in here the other night?”
Peter froze then turned slowly to face Breda. After feeling under the weather, today was the first day she’d come in. “What man and what night?” And why was she asking him now?
“It might have been dark but you appeared to be having an interesting conversation.” Breda winked. “He has a nice bum.”
Minho!! Breda saw us!
Who and what did she see?
Us in here having sex!
“How do you know he has a nice bum?”
“Because they were fucking on the table. I do hope you disinfected it, dear. People sit there to eat and drink.”
“He had sex on the table? With a man?”
“Could you say it any louder, Pat? I don’t think they heard you in the next state.”
Oh my god.
Do I need to come over? I can stand at the back of the cafe.
Fuck no!
Did you just swear, Peter?
“Nothing happened.” Peter smiled and picked up an empty cup. “Do you need anything else?”
“I’m happy you had some fun. It’s been a couple of years since Diane died.” Breda patted his hand. “I understand how hard it can be to move on.” Breda smiled at the ladies. “His man was delicious.”
“Thank you.”
Peter almost dropped the cup, but managed to keep hold of it when he heard Minho’s voice by the back of his shop. Why are you here?
I like them, so I thought I should come over and see them again.
“Oh yes! That’s the man I saw.”
“Minho? You made us think you were only friends, Peter.” Mildred patted the empty seat next to her. “Come and sit with us so we can get to know you better.”
“She means interrogate you.” Pat grinned and ignored Mildred, who glared at her. “She’s all bark and no bite.”
“That’s because my James has passed. Though you do look good enough to bite. I can see why Peter let you do what you did on the table.”
Peter watched Minho take a seat on the table next to them, away from the light. “It was a fun night.”
“I never thought I would see Peter with a man.”
“I guess he needed to meet the right man.”
“How old are you? You’re much younger than Peter.” Mildred narrowed her eyes. “We won’t let you take advantage of him.”
“First, I’m older than I look, and second, I’ve waited a long time for Peter, so I would never take advantage of him.
“How long?”
Minho leaned back in his chair, crossed one leg over the other and smiled. Peter’s heart sank. He knew Minho was going to say something. “Thirty years, give or take a year.”
The women all burst out laughing. “You’re funny. How old are you?”
“Hmm. Not far off three hundred.”
Pat had her phone in her hand and was busy scrolling. She looked at the screen, then Minho, then back to the screen. “It is you.” She showed everyone her phone. “You’re a vampire,” she whispered.
“I am.”
“Prove it.” Elin leaned forward, peering at him.
“In here? Now?”
“Do something quick and easy.”
Minho’s eyes glowed and Peter prepared to do something but he had no idea what. The women all stared at him then peppering him with questions. Peter left him to it and went to help London behind the bar when business picked up. At this rate, Minho might as well take an ad out in the local paper. So much for vampires needing to remain a secret.
By the time he’d finished serving, the women were all laughing with Minho, and Peter stood watching. How had he done it? Sarah was staring at him all googly eyed and Mildred looked like she was about to enter her second youth. Pat was laughing, and Elin had a permanent smile on her face, even Breda smiled softly at him.
You are a charmer.
Not really. They’re lovely women. Once they got over the shock, we talked about the past. It’s nice and they don’t care about me being a vampire. They said there had to be more than humans because most humans were as dumb as a rock. The intelligence had to have gone somewhere.
They know not to say anything?
They do.
Peter came over and stood next to Minho. “I can see why you let him have you on the table.”
“Thanks Mildred.” He wasn’t sure why he was thanking her, but for some reason it sounded like the right thing to do.
“I have a doctor’s appointment. Meet here tomorrow?” Elin stood and put her phone in her handbag.
“As we always do.” Sarah touched Elin’s hand. “Let us know in the group chat how it went.”
“Did you see the new pictures Charlotte posted?”
“How is their vacation going?”
Charlotte?
One of the women has gone to Disney World with her husband.
This isn’t all of them?
Oh no. There are usually eight or nine of them. The table across are the men, their husbands. They have their papers to read. He saw Minho glance over and nod. They come in almost every day.
It’s good to have friends as you age. Being socially active has positive benefits.
Peter looked at Minho, who looked back and smiled. “I have to go, but it was lovely meeting you all.”
“We’ll see you again?” Sarah looked outside. “You’re lucky it’s winter and cloudy.”
“I am. We have more freedom at this time of year. Summer can be tricky to handle.” He waved to the women and walked out to the back. I have to go. See you at home later.
Peter smiled and then all the women cooed at him. “Look at him all happy and lovey dovey. Got yourself a nice man, er, male.” Pat shook her head. “What do we call him?”
“Peter’s,” Sarah told them.
“I like that.”
Peter went back to serving customers and cleaning tables. When the women and their husbands left, he smiled and waved them off. The day passed quickly, a steady stream of customers coming and going, and before long night had fallen and it was time to close up the shop.
As he closed up for the day, Peter heard a sound coming from the alley. Not thinking much of it, Peter finished locking up and walked toward the alley, curious as to what had caused the sound. As he approached, he saw a head peek around the corner, then away.
Furrowing his brow, Peter’s walk became a jog. Reaching the entrance to the alley, he stopped and looked around, not seeing anyone. Taking a few steps into the alley, he jumped when someone shot out from behind a dumpster and headed to a doorway farther along the alley.
Giving chase, he followed, hoping to catch whoever it was before they disappeared. When he reached the doorway he found it empty. Checking the door, he realized it was locked. Taking a step back, Peter scanned the area. “What the hell?”
Certain the man had run to this point, Peter checked the door again, pushing and kicking it but it refused to move. “How?” Minho?
Peter. Have you finished for the night?
I have and I saw someone watching me, but they’ve disappeared.
Where are you?
The alley near my place.
“Peter?”
Peter glanced to the left and waved at Minho. “I saw him run here but he’s gone. He can’t have gone through the door because it’s locked.”
Minho kicked the door. “It wasn’t the other day when I was here.”
“Where could he have gone? Could he have moved like you do?”
“Possibly, which means we need to improve security around your shop.”
“Could they be watching me because of you? Would they even know about us?”
Minho crouched and Peter watched him search the ground. “I don’t think it’s us. I saw someone here before. A young man, teenager. I actually thought he looked like Rex but you told me he was with friends studying. He came down here and disappeared into this building. I tailed him, but he disappeared.” Minho stood and looked around. “I wonder if you saw the same person.”
“Maybe. I wasn’t able to see his face, but the way he moved and ran said it was a man or male.” Shrugging, Peter headed back toward the street. “He didn’t want me to catch him.”
“If it’s the same person I followed, he wouldn’t. He met someone as well.”
“Could be this is a meeting place for a couple of teenagers who shouldn’t be out or are meeting in private? We were all young once.”
“It was a very long time ago for me.”
Peter chuckled. “I forget you’re older than I am. Doesn’t help when you look so young.” Peter looked Minho up and down, remembering how he looked naked and his body reacted. “With a strong and firm ass.”
“And completely yours. Now and always. Never forget that, my mate.” Minho pulled Peter close and Peter looked into Minho’s hazel eyes. “You are my everything, Peter. I have been yours from the moment I saw you.” Minho slid his lips over Peter’s, then deepened the kiss.
Peter sighed as they kissed, their tongues dancing together. His hands slid down Minho’s back to grab his firm ass. Minho had a body Peter could spend forever exploring and never tire of. Minho changed their positions and pushed Peter against the wall. Peter pulled Minho closer, moaning softly when Minho’s phone rang.
Growling, Minho pulled away from Peter and wrenched his phone out of his pocket. “Yes, Key.” Peter watched as Minho’s eyes narrowed. He looked at Peter as he spoke, “Peter’s just chased someone here. Can you pull up CCTV and get an ID?” Minho nodded. “Sure I’ll come in now.” Ending the call, he kissed Peter, then rested their foreheads together. “Want a lift home?”
“No, unless you have a few minutes?”
Minho grinned, kissed him again. “I wish, but I don’t. I can take you home then I have to see Key.” Peter kissed Minho back, enjoying having him close, feeling his hard body on his own. “I’ll be home soon and we can do something with this.” Minho palmed Peter’s erection, causing him to hiss and pushed up into Minho’s touch.
“Home,” Peter murmured.
“My home is with you. We haven’t actually discussed it…”
“You want us to live together so soon?” Peter moved back slightly, staring into Minho’s eyes. “Well, I guess we mated the first night, so it makes sense. I need to think about the boys, though.”
“I understand. I’m going too fast—”
“No, you’re not. I want you with me, so we’ll make this work.” Kissing quickly, Peter murmured, “Go and see Key, then come home to me. I’ll be waiting for you.” Minho returned his kiss and when Peter opened his eyes, he stood in his bedroom. Minho smiled then left, leaving Peter alone. Hearing movement downstairs, he shouted, “Rex?”
“Are you upstairs? Did Minho drop you off?”
Jogging downstairs, which was strangely easier than before his mating, Peter walked into the kitchen and found Rex sitting at the kitchen table. “Homework?”
“More like torture. Why do I go to school, then come home and do work as well?”
“Because that’s what you do. If you go to college like Sammy, you’ll have more of this.”
Rex glanced away. “I haven’t decided.”
“I know, but you’ll have to soon unless you don’t want to go.”
“I have things to deal with.”
“Like what?” Peter sat at the table and waited for Rex to answer, but all he did was gather up his homework and shove it in his bag. “Rex? Are you okay?”
“Just a lot going on with school right now. I’m gonna get an early night.”
Shaking his head, Peter watched Rex leave. “I don’t remember being like this when I was his age.”