Meanwhile, Puck, still in the horny state, pulled on Peter’s clothes.His coordination was already suffering though, and he didn’t get anywhere.Peter let him, enjoying the fantasy it inspired.
Once the skin had mended with the magic of Peter’s saliva, he pulled away, though he checked to make sure there was no mark left there—nothing that would have Puck regretting or resenting once morning came.
Puck’s head had sagged against Peter’s shoulder at some point.Peter looked into those almost closed eyes through a fringe of black hair.Puck appeared younger, though there was still something old in those green eyes.Peter frowned.
“What happened to you?”Peter whispered, almost sure that Puck was too far gone to make out the words.
Unwilling to think about it more, Peter stood and pulled Puck up with him.Lifting Puck was no issue for a vampire with Peter’s strength.Nor was putting him to bed, his head supported by a pillow, his shoes pulled off and placed by the door.
Once he was done, Peter looked at Puck, black hair wild against the emerald coverlet, face pale after allowing Peter to feed.
“Puck,” Peter said on a whisper.As fake names went, this one suited him.
Peter shook his head and folded the coverlet over the young man so he’d not feel cold, all alone in that big bed.
Peter was about to head out the door, but Puck moaned, not a conscious sound.Peter leaned over him.
“All is well.Let sweet dreams find you.”
He reached out, hesitated, then brushed a strand of black hair from Puck’s forehead.
This is not good.Or is it?It’s not what I came here for.I should’ve given the succubus a performance report and then asked to drink from her.If only that weren’t crossing a line.Thor’s hammer, this is a fucking pain.
Once at the door, Peter turned to make sure, once again, that Puck was okay.
“This wasn’t what I came here for,” Peter mumbled, then opened the door.
He headed downstairs to the bar.Celeste was there, and instead of complaining to her, Peter negotiated for Puck’s time.All of his time.Not that it was really a negotiation.Bartering for Puck wouldn’t have felt right.
“I knew you’d like him,” Celeste said when they shook hands.“He’ll do you good, sweetie.”
Peter tried scowling at her.She beamed.“You tricked me, Celeste.And don’t call me sweetie.What will people think?”
Celeste giggled.“I wasn’t aware you could be tricked, and don’t worry, I’d never call you a nickname where Puck can hear.”
“I didn’t mean that.”
“You didn’t?”Her beard did little to hide her amused expression.
“Call me whatever you want if you must.I’m above such things.”
Celeste poured herself a drink, filling a tumbler with expensive amber liquid.“I can see that.I can ask him to call you sweetie.”
“You will not.”
“Cheers to that, sweetie.”Celeste emptied her glass in one go.
Peter left.He’d always known the right time to make an exit.Staying when the straits got dire was simply too much of a bother.
3
Theo
Theogrumbled,feelingtheworld move.Did I fall asleep on the train?No, wai…He blinked his eyes open, realizing what had happened.He’d fallen asleep at Madame Celeste’s, and now he was being shaken awake.Last night, the vampire had bitten him… Theo jerked upright.
“Whoa,” Kira said.She was the werewolf security person on this floor, a tall brunette who took shit from exactly no one.“Celeste told me to bring you up some oat milk and chocolate chip cookies—” Kira pointed to a tray she’d put right next to the selection of condoms.“—and to tell you it’s five in the morning.She says you need to leave on time.”
Theo nodded.“Th-the vampire?”
