13. Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven

M itchell woke to moaning. At first, he thought it was him because he felt like shit. But when he woke, he didn't make any noise at all except for maybe the rustling of the covers.

He must have passed out and not realized it. The last thing he remembered was laying in the backseat of a sedan with his head in Seryn's lap. He wasn't in a car anymore.

The mattress was soft and would have been more comfortable if not for his pain level.

When the moans turned to whimpers, Mitchell went on alert. Someone was being tortured. There wasn't any other way to describe it.

Mitchell lay as still as he could and cracked his eyes open, wanting to appear as if he were still asleep.

He scanned the room, looking for anything that might tell him what was going on. It was in a hotel room. Another bed appeared as if someone had been sleeping in it because they had pushed the covers down. No one was in the room with him, but the bathroom door was closed, and the shower ran.

He relaxed because no one was there to hurt him.

At least he knew his survival instincts were alive and well. Everything would feel like a threat for a long time.

And then someone groaned again.

Mitchell pushed the covers off himself and sat up in bed. He gritted his teeth the entire time, but he managed. His legs were shaky when he stood, but with each step, he felt stronger. Even with his ribs and back screaming at him, he felt better just moving around. He had a feeling it wouldn't take much to zap his energy, though.

The door was ajar. Upon pushing it open further, he discovered someone had pulled the shower curtain closed.

"Seryn? Sweetheart. Are you alright?" He tried to keep his volume down, whispering, although he wasn't sure why he felt the need.

Seryn cleared his throat and then made a squeaking sound as if he'd lost his voice. "I'll go with you. Just don't hurt Mitchell."

Oh shit. He was having visions again.

Mitchell pulled back the shower curtain. Seryn sat at the back of the tub, hugging his knees. The water cascaded onto him. Seryn shivering prompted Mitchell to test the water temperature. It was icy cold.

Mitchell cursed and shut off the water. He grabbed two folded towels off the rack and laid one over Seryn's shoulders.

Seryn stiffened, but it didn't last long once he saw Mitchell. His chin wobbled and tears fell. His teeth chattered. "I can't…make…them stop."

God, the poor baby.

Mitchell beckoned Seryn to stand up. "Up, sweetie. Let's get you out of there so I can get you warmed up."

His injuries made it impossible to lift Seryn in his arms and carry him back to bed. It was the first time he cursed his limitations.

When Seryn stood, Mitchell wrapped the other towel around him and then helped him as best as he could to step over the tub. The shivering grew worse.

Mitchell pulled Seryn into his arms, rubbing his back and sides to get his blood heated again.

What the movies and television showed about vampires not being alive in the same way as a human was bullshit. If Seryn could get cold then his heart pumped blood through his body the same way Mitchell's did. But Seryn was more fragile than most. His body wasn't the only way he was like a human. It was also clear that Seryn had demons. How else did someone kill with such ease? And the visions…they made him fragile, too.

Seryn needed someone to take care of him. The realization made every instinct in Mitchell kick in.

Seryn shivered in his arms, clutching the towel. He laid his head on Mitchell's chest.

Mitchell held him. "Shh. I've got you."

Seryn tried to speak, but his teeth chattered.

"Your body temperature is too low, baby." Mitchell kept his arms wrapped around Seryn as he guided him into the main room.

"Lay on my bed. In my spot." The sheets should still be warm. Body heat would help the most.

Seryn complied, pulling the blankets to his chin. He wiped the tears away from his cheeks with the sheet, but more came.

"Stay there." Mitchell grabbed the box of tissues from the bathroom, setting it on the nightstand. It would be within reach if Seryn needed more. Mitchell sat on the side of the bed next to Seryn.

He moved slowly, which didn't bode well for Seryn's body temperature, but it was what it was.

Seryn studied his expression. Mitchell wasn't sure what Seryn expected to find, but he was growing calmer.

As Mitchell wiped Seryn's face, he said, "I'm going to get undressed so I can warm you up faster."

Seryn teeth chattered by way of answer.

Mitchell put the used tissue on the floor. He'd pick it up later. He cupped Seryn's cheek. His skin was still chilled to the touch. "You're going to let me take care of you now."

Seryn leaned into Mitchell's touch, closing his eyes. The gesture was as much of an affirmation as he needed.

Mitchell kissed Seryn and then stood. Reaching behind him to take his hospital gown off was a lesson in why he should never move another muscle again. He groaned and told himself to breathe through the pain.

When Seryn got out of bed, Mitchell shook his head. "Stay there. I've got it."

Mitchell let the gown fall at his feet and then moved around to the other side of the bed, getting in. He opened his arms, inviting Seryn to snuggle into him. "Get right on top, sweetheart."

Mitchell liked the thought of their bodies meshing. He liked it so much not even his pain level stopped him from anticipating it.

Seryn was careful when he laid on Mitchell. "My weight…doesn't…bother you?"

"Weirdly enough, no, it doesn't." It put pressure on his ribs, but otherwise wasn't an issue.

Seryn laid his cheek back on Mitchell's chest.

Seryn was a walking fireball wrapped in a little package. Mitchell had five other analogies, but he needed to stop, or he'd go down a rabbit hole.

It took Mitchell rubbing the warmth back into Seryn and burying them both under the blankets before Seryn stopped shivering. He relaxed a little at a time until his body went slack. His breathing evened out.

Mitchell had had no one fall asleep on top of him before, but he liked it. It didn't take him long to fall asleep, too.

****

When he woke again, Seryn had plastered himself to Mitchell's side, with his arms and legs covering Mitchell. They were both warm. Mitchell's pain level was high, but not so much that it stole his thoughts, which was about the same as he had been.

Seryn rested his hand over Mitchell's heart. He seemed to lose some of the calmness and deceptiveness while sleeping, too. He growled in his sleep and mumbled. Mitchell couldn't make out what Seryn said, but he flashed his fangs at whatever threat he was fighting in his mind.

Mitchell wondered if Seryn had a dream or if they were visions. And what was the difference between those two things? If there was one at all.

Mitchell tightened his hold on Seryn and ran his hand down Seryn's side. "Shh, sweetheart. It's okay. You killed them all. We're safe."

The tension went out of Seryn. He settled against Mitchell, mumbling his name. After he sighed, he settled into a deeper sleep.

Mitchell wasn't sure how long they lay there, but he was in a light sleep when Seryn woke up. What woke Mitchell was the way Seryn's arm tightened around him, as if protecting Mitchell even while he slept. And then he kissed Mitchell's chest, which was where he lay.

"Mate." Seryn might have mumbled, but the word was still clear. "Need blood."

Mitchell stiffened. His first thought was of Seryn's fangs. As pretty as he was, those sharp teeth made him beautiful and dangerous all at the same time. He was exactly the type of guy Mitchell was attracted to but had run away from in the past. Pretty boys with their pretty smiles, who would rip out his heart straight through his chest if given half the chance. Mitchell hadn't ever gone beyond flirting with guys like Seryn.

He couldn't deny Seryn was different, though. He might have fangs and clearly wanted to use them on Mitchell, but he had risked his life for him. Why would he go through all that trouble only to suck Mitchell's blood out of his body in a hotel room? It made little sense. He'd gone through a lot of trouble for a meal, even if Seryn considered Mitchell gourmet.

"Just so you know. I'm not a five-star meal. I'm more like fast food." Mitchell relaxed again.

Seryn sucked in a breath and tried to move away from him, but Mitchell held him in place.

Mitchell chuckled. "You talk in your sleep."

"I have visions." Seryn sounded embarrassed.

"Of sucking my blood?" That was an interesting vision, considering Mitchell wouldn't allow it.

Seryn sighed.

Mitchell let him go when Seryn sat on the bed.

Seryn was naked still. Mitchell had been too preoccupied with caring for Seryn and managing his pain to think about much else. Since he managed both problems, he definitely noticed Seryn's body.

Seryn sniffed the air and then smiled in a knowing way. "I have an excellent sense of smell."

"As in, you can smell my blood? Or the guy down the hall is showering?" Because either way, it was weird and impressive all at the same time.

"I meant I can smell your arousal."

Mitchell raised his eyebrows. "You're hot. I'm hard as a rock."

Seryn chuckled. It was the sweetest sound, mostly because he hadn't laughed very often. Not that they'd had a lot to feel good about up to that point. "Can I help you with it?"

"As much as I would love for you to, I'm not up for the challenge." Despite what his dick wanted, the rest of his body protested the very thought of moving, much less spending the energy needed for sex.

Seryn frowned. "You're in pain."

It was as if it was the first time he realized it.

"Yeah."

"Should I get the doctor?"

A much better question was where the hell was the doctor. "Where are they?"

Seryn pointed to the wall. "In the room next door."

Seryn averted his gaze, sighing before meeting Mitchell's gaze again. "I need blood."

"You said as much." What did that mean, exactly? "As a vampire, do you need it to live?"

"Yeah. It's like needing food and water. But I don't need it as much as other vampires. I'm used to feeding once or twice a month. Others need it once or twice a week." Seryn expression was sheepish. His big brown eyes practically begged for him to help.

"When you were sleeping, you said you wanted it from me." He couldn't hide his apprehension.

"I'm sorry if that makes you uncomfortable."

"It's not like you bit me and just took it." Mitchell wasn't too worried about being Seryn's victim. Seryn seemed to have incredible control regardless of the situation.

Seryn's eyes glowed red. "I would never do that to you."

"I wasn't implying that you would."

Seryn sighed and got off the bed. His naked ass made Mitchell wish to be well again. "I'll get it from somewhere else."

"What do you mean?" Did that mean he'd prey on someone or were there people who gave it up for money? And did that mean Seryn had to bite someone else? Like he'd get in all close to their body and suck it from their neck?

"I don't know what's confusing about what I've said." Seryn pulled on a pair of underwear that looked new. His ass was amazing, in and out of them. Mitchell wanted to kiss each cheek and then open him up so he could see his hole.

Sex might be off the table, but fantasizing about it wasn't.

"Stop getting dressed." Mitchell put as much authority into his tone as he could. Seryn seemed to respond to Mitchell when he took charge.

Seryn's back was to him, but he stopped and held the shirt in his hand. "What do you want from me, Mitchell?"

"I want you to turn around and explain more about being a vampire."

Seryn turned. His eyes were still red, and he wore the empty smile Mitchell disliked, but only when Seryn directed it at him.

Mitchell had pissed him off. No doubt about it. But he kept it bottled like he always did, which made Mitchell angry. But unlike Seryn, who quietly took someone's head off with a smile on his face, Mitchell was used to talking it out.

"Why are you mad at me?"

"You think I'm some sort of monster? Just for being a vampire."

"I don't think you're a monster."

"But you don't want to feed me."

"I didn't say that either." Mitchell patted the bed. "Come here."

Seryn shook his head and kept his gaze averted.

Mitchell raised his eyebrows. "Why won't you?"

Instead of answering the question, he explained why he was mad. "I know I'm different. People think of me as strange. I used to get punished for it. But I didn't want you to think of me that way. I want to be someone you can like."

Shit. "I think of you as the guy who saved my life." When Seryn tried to speak, Mitchell held up a hand, stopping him. "Please, wait until I'm finished."

Seryn nodded.

"I think you're the guy who will probably keep saving my life because I got news for you. You might be strange, but I'm a fucked-up mess. I've always been a fucked-up mess and I doubt I can change it. I don't know how to be any other way." Mitchell sighed in relief when the corner of Seryn's mouth turned up into a genuine smile. "The only reason I'm not more freaked out about the vampire warlock thing, and god knows what else is out there, is because I've lived my life on a goddamned razor's edge. Not much surprises me."

"I did when I said I needed blood."

Mitchell chuckled. "Sweetheart, you're about the only thing that does surprise me. But it ain't because you're a vampire warlock and whatever else you are. You being all that is about the only thing that doesn't, honestly."

"What does then?"

"I'm the only one you smile at. A genuine smile. Not that fake, deadly shit you give everyone else. You're the hottest person on the earth. Probably in the whole damn universe. And you flirt back. You also seem to like it when I boss you around."

"It quiets my mind." Seryn stepped closer, dropping the shirt. His voice was soft, nothing more than a whisper.

"Why does it work?"

"I trust you to take care of me. To do what's best for me." Seryn hesitated, biting his lip and frowning before saying what was on his mind. "Like a Daddy. And a mate."

Mitchell sat up in bed. It took him a while, but he needed time to process all that Seryn had said. Seryn closed the distance, helping Mitchell.

Afterward, Seryn sat facing him. He held Mitchell's hand and let the silence stretch between them. But then it wasn't Seryn who needed to speak next. Mitchell had to respond.

He sighed. "Okay, let's break this down some."

"Do you want to know what it means to be mates?"

That's as good a place to start as any. "You've mentioned it before."

"That's because it's important. Paranormals believe we have a fated mate. I knew you were mine the second I saw you in a vision."

"How?"

"I don't know. It's hard to explain. I recognized you as my person."

Mitchell couldn't deny the connection. The attraction had been there right from the start. Since they've been able to take a breath and things have quieted down, Mitchell realized it's more than just attraction. It was like his soul knew Seryn's, as cheesy as that sounded. "It's the same for me."

Seryn sighed as if in relief. The more they talked, the more he seemed to open up. "Really?"

Mitchell hadn't realized how guarded Seryn had been until he let it all go. "Yeah. At first, I thought, well he's just about the sexy person I've ever seen. But there's way more going on."

"Yeah." Seryn breathed the word. "Yeah, there is."

"Does that mean you'll let me take you out to dinner and a movie? When all this is over." If Mitchell could secure a date, then maybe he'd have a chance for something more.

Seryn frowned. "I don't think you understand."

"What don't I understand, sweetheart?"

"Mating means it's permanent. Like right now. Or almost. We'll need to bond, which means we make love and I'll bite you. But after that, it's for life."

In Mitchell's mind, he protested the very idea of what was essentially an arranged marriage. It seemed like an idiotic way to get caught in a situation and Mitchell had used up all his stupidity already. And as much as he wanted to just tell Seryn how ridiculous it all sounded, he said nothing at all.

The silence had gone on too long for Seryn's liking apparently because he sighed and got off the bed again. When he picked up his shirt and put it on, Mitchell knew he had to talk fast, or Seryn would walk right out that door and suck on someone else's neck.

The jealousy, while completely irrational given how much he baulked at the thought of an immediate commitment, was still alive and well.

"Seryn."

Seryn shook his head.

"I've never been in a long-term relationship."

Seryn pulled his shirt over his head. "I have to find blood."

"If I said you could take some from me, would you still walk out?"

Seryn grabbed a pair of pants. They were black leather and hugged his ass as if they were a second skin.

Fuck. He looked hot as hell.

Seryn met his gaze. "It would start the bonding process. Once we start, it's almost impossible to stop it."

"Like until death do us part?" The way Mitchell was going, death would come sooner rather than later. Which was a big problem when they were talking about commitment.

"Yes."

Mitchell made the problem worse again by staying silent too long.

Seryn shook his head as he put on his shoes. He grabbed his duster off a chair sitting in the room's corner and headed for the door. "I shouldn't be gone long."

"You're going in those pants?"

Again with the empty smile. "They're the only pants I have."

"Seryn."

"Bye, Mitchell."

Mitchell growled. "Don't stick your teeth in someone."

Seryn actually rolled his eyes, which was just about the most shocking thing he'd ever done. And there was one more thing to add to his list of ways Seryn surprised him.

And then he was out the door, without another word being said between them.

Mitchell regretted every stretch of silence. He regretted not taking the leap, especially with the guy who saved his life.

Didn't he owe Seryn everything?

But he didn't want to start a relationship with someone because he felt as if he owed them. He wanted to do it because he loved them. And as hot as Seryn was and, as well as their personalities meshed, he just wasn't there yet.