It wasn’t a question.Theo watched as Peter walked over and whisked the French press out of his hands, their fingers touching.There weren’t sparks exactly, but when Peter touched him, Theo feltsomething, and fear wasn’t it.
Peter appeared unaffected.He measured out coffee grounds and went about boiling water in a fancy-looking kettle.With nothing better to do, Theo dug the ingredients for a sandwich from the fridge and put together something resembling breakfast.He even went so far as to cut an apple into slices and drizzle it with peanut butter.If I don’t sleep, I can at least eat healthy once in a while.
Theo was hardly ever in a chatty mood in the mornings, which was why studying in the library worked so well for him.What he wouldn’t give to be in the library where there were no distracting vampires looking firm in all the right places while pouring coffee.Peter’s kitchen was not an ideal study setting.
Theo sliced his sandwich diagonally and carried it over to the table, sitting in the chair Peter had put him in the previous day.When the vampire sat down across from him about five minutes later, placing a steaming mug of coffee right next to Theo’s plate, he was glad to find Peter could just shut up and let a person be.
At some point, Peter vanished right back to wherever he’d come from.Theo finished his breakfast, put his plate in the near-empty dishwasher, then refilled his mug and carried it over to the football field of a living room.
The contract was still on the table, along with the new laptop Peter had apparently gifted Theo.Without giving it much thought, Theo put his mug down, reached for the pen, and signed the paperwork.
He straightened the papers.I wonder why he didn’t insist I do this last night?I’m pretty sure he didn’t forget.Maybe I should’ve made sure he’s not Bluebeard before signing this.But those doubts felt reactive, and his heart wasn’t in it.Theo blamed it on the near sleepless night.
Thinking about nights and sleeping—or not—had the unfortunate side effect of making Theo’s mind wander again.The muscles in his thighs clenched.
It felt so good, doing it with him.But maybe I’m misremembering.It was a long day and…The memory replayed in Theo’s head, Peter inside him—thrusting, holding him, thrusting deeper, finally coming undone.
I shouldn’t have dozed off after.Who does that?Celeste wouldn’t be happy.She seemed happy when she sent me home with him though.Theo leaned back in the richly upholstered chair.How did I get myself into this whole mess to begin with?He shook his head, hoping to make the memories leave him be.Coffee in hand, Theo walked over to one of the large living room windows.
The street outside was moderately busy, and would likely be more so once rush hour came.The people on the sidewalks looked like they had places to be, but there were also tourists strolling and residents doing their shopping or running errands.Parents or nannies pushed strollers and smiled at neighbors, or ignored the world around them with their earbuds in.
Theo people-watched for a few minutes.Then he froze, his body seizing up and getting ready to run.
“N-no—”
His fingers jerked and the mug dropped to the floor, shattering into a thousand pieces and spilling warm coffee all over Theo’s socks.
Not two heartbeats later, Theo found himself wrapped in a set of strong arms.He could barely comprehend the speed with which Peter had gotten there.He hadn’t heard him make a single noise.
“What is it?”Peter’s frost-blue eyes searched Theo’s face.
“Bernard, he’s out there, he—fuck…” Theo’s voice came out a shaking mess as if he were sobbing.Am I?I have to be if I’m talking like that.
Peter, pressing Theo against his side, looked out the window, surveying the scene.
“I don’t see him.”
“He was there!I’m not making this up!”
“Shh, Theodore.I believe you.He’s not out there anymore though, the coward.”Peter rubbed a hand down Theo’s back, the sensation instantly soothing.“Let’s get your socks changed, hmm?”
Theo looked at his feet, where the coffee had stained the edge of the carpet and ragged ceramic shards had made a sharp mess on the hardwood floor.
“I’m sorry about your floor,” Theo said.Another fear rode him.Everything in this place was so neat and tidy, it looked barely lived in.Peter had said he liked his solitude.What if he decided he didn’t like all the many small messes a human might make and kicked him out now, severing their contract?All Bernard would have to do then was grab Theo, and he wouldn’t be able to do a single thing about it.
Peter put a hand under Theo’s chin and tilted it up so their eyes met.“It’s just a floor, and it lacked character to begin with.I’m not sorry you gave it some.”He brushed his thumb over the edge of Theo’s jaw as if to punctuate his words.He didn’t do anything else.
They were so close though, and Theo’s heart was racing in his chest.If he kisses me now, then I…
But Peter didn’t.All he did was hold Theo until his body finally stopped trembling from fear.
13
Peter
Peterdidn’tlikeBernard.At all.
In fact, Peter wanted to go and find Bernard and explain to the other vampire why it was such a shame the blood eagle had fallen out of fashion, and wasn’t it just the most wondrous thing if done right?Peter knew how to do the damn blood eagle right.He had an urge to show Bernard.
