Chapter 9 #2
“You look like you were worried about me,” Gideon teased as he ambled over to Ryder.
His lover retreated so Gideon could enter his place.
After Ryder closed the door, Gideon wrapped his arms around him and snuggled in close for the nice, tight hug he knew Ryder had waiting for him.
Ryder hugs were some of the very best. His amazing man squeezed until it felt as if he were going to sink into Ryder’s chest.
“Apparently, I shouldn’t have been,” Ryder murmured as he placed his head on top of Gideon’s and breathed him in. “You ran into Rafe.”
He’d known full well Ryder would pick up Rafe’s scent on him and couldn’t help a little tease. “What’s wrong? You jealous? You don’t trust me with Rafe?”
Ryder huffed at him but still tightened his hold on Gideon. “I trust Rafe, but that doesn’t mean I’m not jealous of anyone who gets near you.” Ryder’s voice dropped so that it was nearly a pout. “I want to be the only one who touches you.”
Gideon laughed and stepped back so that he could see Ryder’s sad expression.
His big, scary man was so perfect. Grabbing one of Ryder’s hands, Gideon pulled him into the living room where they sat.
Well, it was more that Ryder sat and Gideon snuggled close, half in Ryder’s lap and half on the couch.
“Well, this was a pleasant conversation I had with Rafe that you will probably like,” Gideon began, resting his head on Ryder’s shoulder.
“Forgive my skepticism when it comes to our boss.”
A soft snort jumped from Gideon. Rafe’s idea of helpful rarely matched everyone else’s idea of helpful.
“We’re dating, right?” Gideon inquired.
Ryder turned his head toward him, one eyebrow arched hard. “Yes?”
“And it’s exclusive, right?”
“Very exclusive,” Ryder growled. That was a very definite answer. Ryder wrapped one arm around his waist and pulled him completely onto his lap. “I don’t share, Gideon. I can’t share you with anyone.”
Gideon placed his arms loosely behind Ryder’s neck and pressed a tiny kiss to the tip of his nose. “I don’t want you to share me with anyone else.” Gideon paused and let out a long, deep sigh. “But I have to say that the current living arrangement is not working for me.”
Ryder tensed under him. “What do you mean?”
“I’m running out of excuses for why we need to sleep together each day.
We can’t sleep separately anymore. My bed is too big without you.
And too cold. We have to figure something out.
Like you sleep in my bed on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and I’m in your bed on the other days of the week.
Or maybe we rotate weeks. One week we sleep at my place and the next, we sleep at yours.
I don’t want any more anxiety over wondering if I’m invading your space and how I’m going to lure you into spending time with me. You—”
Ryder’s lips cut off Gideon’s torrent of crazy words. It began as a small kiss, but it steadily grew more heated with each pass of Ryder’s talented tongue as it stroked along Gideon’s.
When Ryder ended the kiss, he simply said, “Done.”
Gideon rested his forehead on Ryder’s, his brain mush and his dick hard. “Huh? What were we talking about? Wasn’t it important?”
“We were,” Ryder murmured, sounding as if he were barely holding on to his laughter. “You said that we can’t be apart any longer. I agree. That’s why I’m going to pack up all my clothes and move into your place tonight.”
Gideon jerked so fast he would have fallen out of Ryder’s lap if his lover wasn’t holding on to him. “Really? You will? You are?”
Ryder chuckled. “Why are you so surprised? Since the first moment I met you, all I have ever wanted is you. An eternity stretching on as a vampire was a prison sentence until I met you. Now I look forward to each night because I know that I’ll get to see your smile.
I’ll hear your laugh. Gideon, you are my happiness, and I love you with everything that I am.
I’ve loved you for years. I’m happy to live with you. ”
Pure joy was exploding in Gideon’s heart, threatening to choke him.
Never in his life had he thought he’d hear such beautiful words from Ryder.
He placed a trembling hand on Ryder’s cheek, smoothing his thumb across his cheekbone.
“I love you too.” With an impish grin, he added, “But are you sure you want to live with my messiness?”
Tightening his hold on Gideon, Ryder swung him so that Gideon’s back was on the cushions and Ryder was hovering above him.
“You mean how you always leave the wet towels on the floor rather than hanging them up to dry? Or how you have stray socks spread throughout every room? Or that when you can’t figure out something to wear, you’ll leave a pile of clothes on the bed instead of putting them away? ”
Gideon’s eyes widened and his mouth fell open. Oh, shit! Ryder had noticed all his bad habits.
“Or how you’re always cranky the moment you first wake up each night and you roll yourself up in the blankets like a vampire burrito?”
“Hey!”
But Gideon’s argument was swallowed in the next second as Ryder’s hand slipped under his shirt and plucked at one of his nipples.
“I’ve learned that if I want my sweet Gideon after the sun sets, I just need to push my cock deep inside of his ass.
” Ryder flicked his hard nipple with his fingernail as he spoke.
The sensation combined with Ryder’s words was sending the most delicious heat surging through Gideon’s body.
“I can also suck on that perfect dick of yours until you’re coming down my throat.
That’s another way to make you less grumpy. ”
“Evil man. You’re so evil,” Gideon mumbled.
Ryder grinned at him. “I might be evil, but I’m your evil. And I’ll always be yours.”
“Yes, you are.” He was pulling Ryder close for a kiss that would hopefully lead them to being undressed when a strange thought occurred to him. “Wait! There’s something you haven’t told me yet!”
Ryder jerked away, his brow furrowing and his eyes turning serious. “What?”
“If we’re mates in love and living together now, shouldn’t I know what your special gift is?”
Ryder sighed heavily and sat up. This wasn’t good!
Gideon didn’t want to lessen his chances of getting railed so hard he could taste his soul on his tongue.
He propped himself up on his elbows and gazed at his lover, telling his hard cock to settle itself.
This was bothering Ryder, and he needed to be serious.
“If you don’t want to tell me, that’s fine,” Gideon said. “I never meant to upset you.”
Ryder stared at him, his eyes narrowing slightly for a heartbeat before widening again. “Twenty-nine years, seven months, three days.”
“What?” Gideon choked out while his brain raced to make sense of that time period.
“That’s my gift,” Ryder grumbled. The poor vampire appeared utterly dejected. “I can glance at any vampire and know precisely how long they’ve been a vampire.”
“That’s…”
“Boring,” Ryder finished for him.
Okay. He had to agree. That was a little boring. Guess all the vampire powers couldn’t be interesting and scary, like the Varik brothers.
“It’s useful,” Gideon attempted, which only earned him a skeptical glare.
“It is. The older the vampire, the more powerful they usually are. I’m sure Rafe has made use of your gift more than once.
” Gideon shoved up and climbed into Ryder’s lap.
“Besides, you’re already big and scary and insanely strong.
It wouldn’t be fair to the rest of us if you could also fly or become invisible or shoot fire from your fingertips. ”
One corner of Ryder’s mouth twitched. “So, it’s a fairness thing?”
“Definitely.” Gideon stole a kiss and grinned at him. “Do you want to see something really unfair?”
Twisting in Ryder’s lap, Gideon threw out his left hand toward the open space in the living room, and the air was filled with golden sparkles like glitter was raining from the ceiling.
“What the…” Ryder breathed. His eyes were wide, and he looked utterly mesmerized by the display.
“That’s it. I can create sparkles,” Gideon said, so completely unimpressed with his gift.
“I’ve seen that some nights where you’re dancing, but I always thought it was something Rafe rigged up. I didn’t know that was you.”
Gideon cuddled close, his cheek pressed to Ryder’s as he stared at the sparkles as they dimmed.
“I use it when I’m in a great mood or if the crowd vibe is amazing.
I’ve also used it as a distraction to get away from evil people, but that was a long time ago.
Thanks to you and Rafe and Lola, my sparkles are for fun now. ”
“They are the perfect power for you,” Ryder murmured. His arms wrapped around him tightly. “You bring light and beauty to the world with your smile.”
Gideon giggled. “And with my sparkles.”
I’ve got a surprise.
More vampires are coming!
Yes, I am working on a spin-off of the Lords of Discord called the Kings of Chaos. This is a new vampire clan that is coming into the Variks’ territory to find a clan member who was stolen from them.
They will be a very tight-knit found family, bringing their own brand of bickering and brotherly devotion.
The first book - Two Thousand Dreams - is up for pre-order. Right now it is slated for November release, but I’m hoping to move it up to the beginning of fall. Lock in your copy now and don’t miss a second of the action and romance!