Kyrone shrugged. “I’ve got no idea. Maybe. And if he did, there’s no reason the two of you can’t get to know each other all over again, is there?” He paused, and Jared could feel tension gathering in Kyrone. “There’s no reason you couldn’t be friends.”
Jared wanted that to be possible, if for no other reason than that his boyfriend didn’t have to feel torn between them. “I’d like that,” he said slowly. “But I don’t think it’s going to be that easy for him. I’ve seen it with my parents and sisters. They’re effectively grieving for me, which is doubly hard because I’m still there.” He winced. “Physically anyway. I’m not the person they knew. I’m not the son they want back.”
“That must be hard,” Kyrone breathed.
“You can’t imaginehowhard,” Jared agreed.
“But at the same time, I can’t understand why they’re not happy to embrace the person that you are,” Kyrone went on. “You’re amazing, babe. So strong and brave. They must be mad not to see that.”
Jared pressed his hand over his face as heat rose to his cheeks. It was nice to hear such high praise from Kyrone.
“Jag will see it,” Kyrone said confidently. “He just needs a bit of time. Iknowyou two will be friends again one day.” There was an odd wobble to his voice, and his body quivered beneath Jared.
Frowning, Jared shifted his hand so he could look up into Kyrone’s face. “Are youjealous?”
“Of a guy you can’t even remember?” Kyrone was smiling, but his words were forced.
“Yes.”
Kyrone’s shoulders slumped. “A little, yes.”
Jared struggled to sit, regretting the action when dizziness made his head swim. He winced and pressed his hand to his forehead for a second, breathing through the nausea. Kyrone gave him the time, rubbing firm circles on his lower back, which helped to ground him.
“Why?” Jared asked once he was stable enough to turn to face Kyrone.
“You were in love with him.”
Jared tilted his face. “Are you telling me you don’t have guys who you were serious about inyourpast? Guys you can actually remember?”
Kyrone looked into his eyes. “I’ve been with lots of guys,” he confirmed. “I’ve dated a few of them.”
“ShouldIbe jealous?”
“Are you?”
Jared grinned. “Something tells me you’d like me to be.”
Kyrone pinched his lips together. “A little.”
“Then maybe I am, a little.” He stroked Kyrone’s face. “But they’re in the past. You’re not with themnow. You’re with me.” He hoped so anyway, although he couldn’t be sure the nervous quivering in his stomach wasn’t from doubt rather than post-blood test queasiness.
“I am,” Kyrone agreed before stealing a kiss. “But something tells me you’re questioning that.”
Jared raised his eyebrows. “Who? Me?”
“Yes, you.” Kyrone kissed him again. “I didn’t just fill a bottle with piss and let a vampire nurse take my blood for no reason.”
Jared choked out a laugh. “You make it sound so romantic.”
“Oh? You want romance, do you?”
Jared didn’t have time to answer because Kyrone scooped him up and laid him over his lap, holding him in strong arms. Breathing hard, Jared stared up into Kyrone’s eyes.
“Is sweeping you off your feet romantic enough?” Kyrone asked.
Jared swallowed and nodded while wishing they were somewhere much less public. That feeling grew when Kyrone leant down to kiss him, tenderly at first, with closed mouths, but that didn’t last long. Soon they were kissing passionately, sucking lips and tongues, clashing teeth, rubbing hands over each other’s backs.
When Kyrone finally pulled away, his chest was heaving, his lips were damp and swollen, and his eyes were bright. “You definitely give as much as you take,” he said huskily. “And I can’t wait to get my hands on you tonight.”
