He could freak out in peace, and Blake would have no idea.
Blake
Something was up with Cass.
Blake frowned down at his controller, ignoring Chad’s jeers about falling behind in the game.
Cass had seemed fine over text. He’d said his test had gone well and everything. But when Blake had greeted him, making room on the couch for a welcome home snuggle, he’d gotten…nothing.
He’d expected Cass to pounce on him, as usual. To celebrate his test victory with an eager make-out sesh, or at the very least a prolonged hug.
Now Blake was sitting here without a lapful of Cass at all, and it just felt…wrong, after the last week.
They’d been in each other’s pockets, to say the least, for all of spring break. Blake’s parents had been flummoxed. Not by thebisexual thing, so much—they’d taken that in stride. (Although, Toby had taunted Blake for stealing his thunder by coming outandpresenting a new boyfriend at the same time.) They’d been flummoxed by the PDA, which was so unlike Blake.
Or at least so unlike Blake before Cass.
But maybe for Cass all that had just been the first flush of vampiredom. Maybe he wanted to set boundaries now that they were back in school.
But Blake didn’twantboundaries.
He liked how they were. He liked getting to hold and touch and sniff at Cass whenever he wanted. (Maybe the sniffing part was weird, but Cass smelled super good, okay?)
Was Chad the issue?
Blake paused their game, turning to his friend. “Get the fuck out.”
Chad grimaced at the TV screen, unpausing the game and shooting at more zombies. “What? What’dIdo?”
“Ugh. Never mind.”
Blake threw his controller down and strode to the bedroom door. He knocked once before entering.
Cass was face down on the bed, his head pillowed on his arms.
Blake’s dick twitched. He couldn’t help it—it was Pavlovian at this point. Normally that specific position meant good things were coming Blake’s way.
Cass raised his head at Blake’s cleared throat. It didn’t look like he’d been crying or anything—his eyes weren’t red or puffy—but he didn’t look stoked at life by any means.
“Hey,” Blake said softly.
“Hey.”
Things hadn’t been awkward like this since…well, since Blake had freaked out about the whole fated mates thing. But Blake hadn’t freaked out about anything this time, so what the hellwas up? “Um…were you lying about the test? Did you fail or something?”
“What?” Cass sat upright, indignation taking over his look of misery. “Of course I didn’tfail. I did amazing.”
“Then why are you in here?”
“Just…” Cass fidgeted, plucking at the comforter. “Taking a breath?”
“Okay, but…” Blake tried to think of a way to phrase things that didn’t sound completely pathetic. “Couldn’t I get a little sugar first?”
Mission failed.
Cass stared at him blankly. “Sugar?”
“Like a kiss hello?” God, was this how Blake’s ex-girlfriend had felt when trying to get affection from him? All clingy and…vulnerable? Maybe he should send her apology flowers. This fucking sucked.
