“I spent a lot of time with the hounds, I love dogs and they like me. As you’ve seen, they listen to me. It will be fine,” reasoned Tally.
Sam stared at him, searching for any sign of a lie or Tally trying to comfort him by protecting him from the truth. But as always, Tally’s face beamed with honesty.
Sam took in a deep breath and tried to calm his racing heart. Tally was safe. There was no danger, everything was going to be okay. Somehow, none of that was reassuring as it should be. Sam looked up at Felix.
“Why aren’t you freaking out?” he demanded, far too flustered to be wary of the dancer.
Felix shrugged eloquently. “Seen a lot of weird shit in my time.”
Sam shook his head. He should have known that not even a hellhound would scare the terrifying dancer. Sam, on the other hand, was finding it all too much to take in. His mind rebelled and refused to digest what he had seen.
“Fine,” muttered Sam, unable to find any more words. Absentmindedly, he walked back to the bar.
A deep survivalist part of himself took over, putting him on auto pilot mode. Dazedly, he went back to restocking the bar, going through the motions.
He had worked this bar for years, and the rhythm of it was ingrained into his body. It enabled him to open the bar, serve customers, all whilst feeling he wasn’t really there. His mind and soul far away, wrestling with everything he had believed to be true about the world.
Hell was real? Hellhounds existed? Tally wasn’t delusional? He really was his lover from a past life. Tally had escaped hell to be with him again. Sam had been a celtic warrior prince. It still seemed so unbelievable, even though he had seen the hellhound with his own eyes. He had also seen Jinx appear out of the shadows. He had evidence now, he didn’t need to trust Tally. He just needed to accept the truth. Why was it so hard? He wanted it to be real. He wanted to fall into Tally’s arms.
The whole night passed in a daze. It was like a dream. Sam wondered if he was in shock. He breathed a sigh of relief when work was finally over and he could go upstairs to the sanctuary that was home. His poor, bewildered mind really needed some peace and quiet.
Tally grinned at him excitedly as they got into bed.
“Are you ready to have sex now?”
Sam wordlessly shook his head. He still felt numb. A little removed from the world.
Tally pouted, “But you know I’m not crazy now?”
“I know,” agreed Sam, “It’s a lot to take in, just give me time.”
Tally darted forward and gave him a quick peck on the cheek, “Of course. I know you don’t remember me and I still need to woo you.”
“Woo?” chuckled Sam. He hadn’t heard that word for a long time.
“Oh yes, I’m going to woo the shit out of you.” grinned Tally.
Sam laughed. That didn’t sound bad at all. He had never been wooed before, but he was sure it was something he could get used to. He supposed Tally had already started, but he got the impression the young man was going to up his game.
Not that he was going to need to. Sam was quite certain as soon as his mind could accept it was all real and Tally wasn’t confused and vulnerable, he was going to whip the young man’s clothes off so fast, they were both going to get whiplash.
Tally wriggled close, and Sam snuffled his pink hair. The two of them, alone like this, was the best thing ever. Suddenly, that reminded him of something and he was struck with a random thought.
“Where is Jinx?”
Tally shrugged. “Off having fun somewhere, I guess. He’ll come back if he needs anything.”
“Are you sure he is going to be okay?” asked Sam.
“Sam, he is a demon. I’m sure he will be fine.”
The thought was not reassuring. It filled Sam with a prickling sense of unease. He had shared a bed with a demon. It made him feel incredibly grateful for Tally’s declaration of ‘mine’ and the protection it had given him. He shuddered to think what might have happened otherwise.
“Will Chris be okay?”
Tally nodded. “Chris would have had the time of his life and feel nothing worse than a little tired.”
Feeling somewhat reassured, Sam tried to let it go.
