12. Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Leander

As I enter the expensive restaurant on the second floor of the pre-security departures’ zone, I can sense Hayden’s nervousness. He’s sitting at the table with the hydrangea vase near the floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the tarmac. He’s bouncing his legs, clearly on edge for anyone who’d spent more than a second looking at him, fidgeting with his phone while frown lines crease his forehead.

I approach without announcing myself. He doesn’t notice me, mumbling curses under his breath as his fingers tap away at the device. Positioning myself behind him, I cradle his face with both hands and tip his head back, capturing his lips. His eyes go wide for a single heartbeat, a tiny yelp dying in his throat as he recognizes me and opens for me willingly.

His sweet taste is like balm to my irked psyche. Hunting rampaging vampires is not a favorite pastime of mine. It’s exhausting as much as dealing with the human authorities is. I’ve been fighting a headache ever since I dropped off the fledgling, and even though I took painkillers and caught some sleep on the plane, the throbbing in my temples persisted.

Until now that is.

The smell of night jasmine engulfs me, heightening Hayden’s honey-like taste. His tongue is slick and hot against mine, letting me lead the dance in his mouth as I lick every inch of it. It belongs to me, like he does for the time being, and the greed with which he participates in the kiss unleashes a pleasantly tingling hum just under my skin. It chases away the aches in my body, driving my blood southward to my already swelling cock.

This human is like a drug, so addictively irresistible in the way he affects the most primal of my bodily functions. The almost-week I spent away has made me ravenous, and I can’t get enough of the kiss, deepening it further.

He moans, the sound washing over me and stirring even more desire in my gut. I love the noises he makes when he’s aroused, the way his voice goes gravelly and hoarse, how his breathing skews and turns shallow. His heart is beating so loud I can hear it, every thud reverberating through me and heightening my urge to sink my teeth in his firm shoulder so I can drive us both crazy with pleasure.

“Leander…” he purrs when I pull away so his lungs can get enough air, his face flushed in a lovely tinge of red.

The room has gone quiet, conversations paused as the other patrons seem to have taken an interest in the little show I unintentionally put on. I give them a hard look, preening just a little at how glazed over their eyes are.

“I am of a half mind to have you right here. In front of all these people, so they can see how well you take my cock,” I whisper in Hayden’s ear, teasing the shell with gentle nipping.

He sucks in his bottom lip and shifts in his seat, nostrils flaring. “Fuck. Is there something wrong with me for thinking that sounds insanely hot?” Turning his chair, he angles his body toward me and studies the people in the lounge, his tongue poking out.

“I don’t think so. People like different things, none of which are bad so long as no harm is done to anyone.”

“I’m pretty sure we’d get arrested for public indecency if we fucked here,” he challenges, his shoulders no longer so tightly wound. The nervousness is still there, but as I suspected, my kiss sucked most of it out of him.

“I’ll bribe the police. They’ll look the other way.”

He blinks at me, a slow smile stretching that mouth I want to capture again. “Oh shit. I sometimes forget that you are not only vamp— exotic , but also rich as fuck.” Wrinkling his nose, he laughs. “Wait. Does that make me your sugar baby?”

I consider that. I suppose in a way it does, but it’s more of a byproduct. I haven’t really thought about it until now, but as I let my gaze roam his slouched form, the idea of giving him the things he wants appeals to me. I can picture him with his pretty eyes wide and his mouth curving into an adorable grin.

I don’t think he’s the type to go for that dynamic, though. He’s submissive in bed, but that’s as far as it goes. He needs freedom, his own agency, his own goals. His love for hockey is endearing and I would never take that away from him, even though I have the power to do so. To have anything I want in any way I want it. It would be as simple as turning him into a thrall once our arrangement is over. He’d do anything I told him, he’d live to serve me and feed me his blood. There is a certain appeal in that, I won’t lie, and some vampires keep dozens of thralls around for that very reason. I’ve considered it myself, seeing as it would make feeding so much easier.

But not Hayden. It hasn’t even crossed my mind to enslave him that way. He shines too bright to be dimmed like this, to be extinguished and trapped in an existence of never-ending luxury and pleasure.

“Is that something you are interested in?” I say somewhat belatedly, studying the slight slant of his brows my delay has caused.

He shrugs. “No, not really. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to be rich, but this sounds like one of those scenarios where you’d be asked to sacrifice something important. There’s no way I’m throwing hockey away so I can be someone’s boytoy.”

I wouldn’t ask him to, not when he exudes so much excitement and energy just talking about it. The rules still confuse me a little, but I am confident I can impress him with my newly acquired knowledge when I get the chance to showcase what I learned while being away.

Leaning in, I brush my lips along the curve of his jaw. “You don’t seem to mind being mine when I feed you my cock.”

My words have him suppressing a shiver of desire. His scent intensifies, the musky note it carries growing more prominent. “This and that are different. Horny Hayden applies only to sex.”

“Then I just need to keep you constantly horny, don’t I?”

He throws his head back and laughs. My eyes zero in on his exposed neck graced by the collar I gifted him, the stretch of skin so very enticing. I want to bite him, my mouth filling with saliva. Whatever was worrying him evaporates completely, replaced by a buzz of excitement I can’t help but soak up.

“You can be a bit of a dork sometimes, you know that?” he says, pushing up from the chair and shoving his hands in the pockets of his shorts.

“I do not. It is probably unintentional.”

He snorts. “That makes it even better then. Of course vamp Daddy wouldn’t be a dumbass intentionally. He’s too cool for that.”

Humming, I place my hand at the low of his back and escort him out of the lounge. The small retail section is crowded when we make it there, but the owner of the boutique I’m after knows who I am, so she welcomes us personally. With her help, we pick two outfits for Hayden, one for him to wear tonight at the dinner, and one for the ball. He changes out of his shorts and shirt at the shop.

“This feels a little strange. Are you sure it’s not too tight?” he says when he appears, fiddling with the collar of his chiffon shirt. It’s black like my brocade one, and paired with form-hugging dress pants. “I’ve never worn something like this.”

I walk over to him and rub out the furrow from his forehead, glimpsing the leather collar hiding under his shirt. Good, he’s still wearing it. He knows who owns him. “You look dazzling. The black makes your eye color pop and accentuates your form.”

He rolls his eyes, amusement swimming in them. “ Dazzling ? What century are you from? In this one we say hot.”

“You look hot. So hot, in fact, I am considering bailing on the dinner so I can have you instead.”

Hayden gives me a wolf’s whistle. “Smooth, Leander. Very smooth. You want to get in my pants that bad? It’s been, what? Only a week?”

It felt longer, but I keep that to myself. Steering us out of the shop, I wrap an arm around his waist this time. We make our way to my car and head over to Vivian. Since I know the route, I don’t need Montgomery to drive us there, so I dismiss him for the night.

“You were nervous when I found you at the VIP lounge. Why was that?” I ask as I guide the car onto the highway.

“Hmm…” Hayden glances out the window, rubbing the glass with his index finger. “It’s silly.”

“I’d still like to know.”

“Ok, but don’t laugh?” He sounds a little unsure, embarrassed almost.

“I won’t.”

“I’ve never really been on a date before. Even a fake one. What if I embarrass you in front of your friends? Or what if they don’t buy our act?”

My chest suddenly feels too tight. My stomach twists, flooding with satisfaction. He’s worried about me when I’m dragging him to meet more vampires that he didn’t even know existed .

“Just behave the way you normally do. The fact that you are accompanying me is sufficient. As for the ball… I’ll give you some instructions about etiquette and the like, so there is no need to worry about that either.”

He snaps his head at me, the weight of his hazel gaze palpable in the small space. “Okay, cool. I’ll be my usual horny teenager self, trying to get to your dick at every opportunity.”

“You’d look so pretty riding it,” I agree, glancing at him sideways.

He licks his lips, his heated gaze meeting mine. “Yeah? I’ll wear the collar and…” He shifts in the seat, the rising and falling of his chest a little agitated. “Maybe we could have an audience?”

A bolt of arousal spears through me, lighting my body on fire. “You’d like that?”

He nods, averting his soul-stealing eyes as a rush of heat colors his cheeks. “I… want to try, I think.”

I swallow hard, willing my dick to calm down. “There will be an opportunity at the ball. If you are still interested then. The public can even participate if we allow it…” My fingers dig into his thigh. “But I would advise against letting others join us… Things can get intense.”

Why did I say that? Intense is how Hayden likes it.

“Yeah, um. I was about to say the exact same thing! That might be too advanced for me.” He chuckles nervously, his Adam’s apple bobbing on a hard swallow. “But being watched…”

Tension I hadn’t realized I’m holding uncoils in me at his response, my body relaxing back in the seat as I guide the car to the exit past the sign. While vampires are territorial, sharing under certain conditions isn’t uncommon. Especially at balls and other such parties where orgies take place. But the idea of letting someone get a taste of Hayden rubs me the wrong way. It shouldn’t, especially since this thing between us is fake aside from the sex, but it does.

“They will just watch then,” I state, anticipation pooling in my core now that he’s given the okay. “I will be the only one touching you.”

“Mm, I think we need to stop talking about it though,” he drawls, his voice deeper than moments ago. “I’m getting horny.”

I chance a quick glance his way. He’s lazily palming himself through his pants, the outline of his dick tenting the stretchy material.

“Were you lonely while I was gone?” I place my hand on his thigh again, pressing down with intent. “Did you wear the collar and the cock ring every day as instructed?”

He scoffs, the sound a little breathless. “What do you think? I even got a dildo, but it’s not nearly as good as your cock.”

I smirk, brushing my fingers along his erection. “I’d like to see you pleasure yourself with it.”

“Kinky. I like it. I’ll pencil you in next time I masturbate.”

I turn left onto the small road past the gas station. A couple of houses line up the sides, but the one we are visiting is right at the end. “Do you do that often?” I ask, loving the way Hayden’s lust lingers in the air.

“This past week, yes. I’ve been a bit on edge thanks to a certain someone not being around to give me a good railing.”

“I promise to make up for that.”

“Oh, you will, don’t you worry.”

We arrive at our destination, a spectacular mansion like the one I own. Sprawling grounds surround it, with pockets of trees interspersed with fields and flower gardens. Stables sit next to the main building, their fa?ade ornamented with marble and rose-infested trellises.

“Wow, do all vampires live in expensive-ass mansions?” Hayden whistles, grinning as a horse pokes its white mug to check who’s arrived. Deciding we are of no danger, it cants out into the fenced enclosure. “Oh shit, there are actual horses!”

“My friend breeds them,” I explain, stepping out of the car.

Hayden follows suit, beelining for the stables so he can pat the friendly animal’s head. I cross my arms and watch him, propping a hip against the vehicle’s trunk.

“Welcome, Leander. I hope the drive over was pleasant,” my friend, Vivian, greets me, walking out from the stables with a pair of leather gloves in her hands. She must’ve just come back from a ride.

I dip my head. Just like most pureblood vampires, Vivian is older than me. “Thank you, it was. How have you been?”

We slip into a pleasant catch up, though my eyes remain on Hayden, who’s still engrossed in the white horse. Perhaps I could get a couple of animals, teach him to ride. It’s been a while, but just like driving, riding a horse is not a skill you can forget. He looks like he’d be good at it, and I bet he’d also enjoy it.

“Hayden,” I call him over once we are ready to head inside. He snaps his head my way, beaming a sheepish smile as if he’s just realized we are here, then whispers something to the horse before jogging over to join us.

“Hi.” He offers his hand for a shake. “I’m Hayden. You have a really nice horse. And a very pretty mansion.”

“Thank you. I’m Vivian, one of Leander’s oldest friends.” She gives me an amused look. “Though not that old, considering he’s still a youngling.”

Hayden’s ears perk up. “I was a little disappointed when he told me he’s only thirty-four. How old are you?”

Vivian takes off her riding gloves, stroking the material, and gestures us inside. “370, if I’m not wrong. It’s a little hard to keep count once you are past a certain age.”

Hayden stops abruptly, and sizes up my friend who’s wearing a red brocade blouse, white riding pants and leather knee-high boots. Her tawny shoulder-length hair is tied in a ponytail at the nape of her neck, though a few strands have gotten away.

“No way. I wouldn’t give you more than 150.”

They both laugh. A sense of pride and accomplishment surges through me at the easy acceptance my human receives from one of my dearest friends.

“I couldn’t believe you when you said you’ve found yourself a partner, Leander, but I get it now. A charmer like this is impossible to resist.”

Hayden playfully pokes me in the ribs with his elbow. “And that’s not counting the wild sex. Vampy here stood no chance.”

We enter an opulent dining room with a long table adorned with a lace cover. Candles burn in a chandelier above it and fragrant flowers decorate the space in pots and vases of various sizes.

“If memory serves right, you were the one begging me to give you my ‘monster cock’, Hayden, not the other way around.” To make a point, I knead one of his ass cheeks.

He gasps, mock-offended, but doesn’t shake me off as I tease a finger along his crease. “No such thing. You must’ve imagined it.” He also gives me a squeeze through my pants, winking at Vivian when the vampire’s olive-green eyes narrow in mirth.

“You two do seem rather compatible,” she licks her blood-red lips. “I would love a chance to see how much if you are ever inclined to let me.”

I can feel the harsh breath Hayden tries to hide, his stifled excitement stirring my blood and making me wish I’d had him earlier in the car. But the week we spent apart, as well as dragging out my desire tonight, will only make it more intense when we finally indulge in each other.

We sit around the table and Vivian’s two partners join us. Belle is about her age, but Karl is in his 200s. They are both curious about Hayden, asking him questions about his life. He’s more than happy to oblige and immediately jumps into talking about hockey, waving his arms around and raising his voice as if he can’t help himself.

It’s mesmerizing watching him, twice so now that I know what he’s talking about. His passion for the sport pours out of his every fiber, evident in the excited tone of his voice and his sun-like smile. I’ve never had much interest in hockey prior to meeting him, but as he and Vivian discuss wings and offlines and faceoffs, I find myself engrossed. Wanting to participate even as more of our mutual friends trickle into the room and try to engage in conversation with me.

“So this Park, the one that got you in trouble. He’s the right wing?” I toss in as the name comes up. It’s familiar from Hayden’s sulking rants.

“Yep. And Nick is center.” He perches one eyebrow, tapping his fingers against his chin. “I thought you weren’t particularly interested in the game, though?”

“I didn’t have a reason to be.” Reaching out, I brush my thumb along his full lips. “Now I do. And I’d love to see you on the ice.”

“Vivian,” Hayden clips. “Where are your spare bedrooms?”

My friend’s laughter roars, grabbing everyone’s attention. I fight to stifle down a smile, but I fail the moment Hayden’s enchanting eyes meet mine.

“Did you mean that?” he whispers, while Vivian gives the other vampires a rundown of how smoothly I can flirt with my human boyfriend. “About watching me play?”

I’d not realized I’d said it until it was out, but it’s true all the same. Truer than if I had planned to say it even. “I did.”

I can see how much he loves hockey. Watching him channel that passion on the ice, use it and subdue it and make it work in his favor would be nothing short of a delight. An experience, probably as potent as having him in my bed is.

He chews on his lip, suddenly nervous. “Okay. Well. The charity match. I know it’s after the ball and thus after our arrangement ends, but if you were serious, you can come cheer for me, maybe? I’ve never had anyone come to a game specifically for me and…” He looks away first, tracing the edge of the table with his two fingers. “It would be nice. I think.”

What a silly thing to ask. But so very Hayden. I open my mouth to give him my reply, but he halts me with a finger.

“You don’t have to decide now. It’s like two and a half months away. That’s a long time after we… So, just think about it, okay? No hard feelings if you decide it’s too much trouble.”

I envelop his digit with my tongue, regaining the attention of his gaze. “Okay. I’ll think about it.”

“Oooh, things are getting heated over there! Tsk, tsk! We can’t have that! We are yet to even play a round of cards!” Belle shoves her lithe form between our two chairs and plops a stack of cards on the table.

“I could go for a round or two,” I agree, needing the distraction so I don’t end up feasting on Hayden sprawled on the dining table.

“Blackjack? Poker? What are you in the mood for? The loser handles the logistics of our next trip to Europe!” she entices the rest, earning herself a round of cheers and claps.

I groan. Never mind. If the loser has to handle trips, I’m not interested.

Hayden perks up. “Wait, what? Why are you the only one not onboard with this incredible idea? And even if you lose, organizing a trip to Europe sounds like lots of fun.”

He’s adorably clueless.

I shoo Belle away, pick my wine glass along with the deck of cards and herd Hayden into the parlor where the rest are already setting up around the coffee table. “It isn’t when you are trying to coordinate the very picky preferences of a dozen vampires.”

We sit where the rest have designated for us and I shuffle the cards, handing them to Belle, who will be tonight’s dealer. She parts them in the middle and shuffles them again, then gives each participant their hand.

“Ah. Yeah, I can see how you might struggle with that,” Hayden muses, humming as he studies the cards we’ve been dealt. He’s sitting between my legs, his fingers tracing absentminded circles along my thigh and arm like he can’t help himself but touch me.

It pleases me greatly, so much so I can’t help but lean in and suck on the skin of his neck as I look around the table. The other pairs are examining their own cards and likely coming up with a strategy. I’m not one to lose. I hate it, in fact. But I am also not particularly gifted when it comes to card games.

“And what do you mean by that, Hayden?” I let my voice dip low, relishing the shudder my human companion fails to suppress.

“Oh, don’t pull the Daddy voice on me. It’s totally unfair. All I meant was that you like control, so no wonder you dread having to compromise and find a way to work with other people’s preferences. But don’t worry, vampy.” He cranes his head and captures my earlobe with his teeth, sending a shock of desire down my spine. “I’ve only lost a game of poker once.”