Foxx giggled. “Well, you aren’t normal, as you said, and maybe that’s why Wes isn’t able to fully help you. But…you know as well as I do that I’m not normal either.”
“You aren’t, but you do feel more than I do. You hurt more easily than I do.” Harlow caressed his cheek. “I felt nothing as I saw those vampires on that platform, not even for the children… You, on the other hand, bleed for them, and are still bleeding.”
Foxx bit his lip when it wobbled, tears starting to fill his eyes again.
“And, to be clear, Wes isn’t like Johansson. He doesn’t hate vampires, and he isn’t a jackass. He is also the one who told me I'd have to say something if I wanted more than just sex with you. That it wasn’t fair of me to put restrictions on you when I wasn’t willing to offer you more.”
Sniffling, Foxx took in a deep breath and let it out. “Well…that at least tells me he isn’t an idiot.”
Could he…talk about all of this with someone other than Harlow? Should he? “I’ll…think about it… That’s all I can promise.”
“That’s more than I expected.” Harlow gave him a brief peck on the lips before his arms slid back around him. “Let’s go back to sleep.”
Foxx grunted in response. Closing his eyes, he buried his face against Harlow, praying to the Goddess that he dreamt of nothing else tonight.
Harlow’s eyes snapped open, and he rubbed at them as the songPlay With Firestarted to play. “Foxx,” he rasped, his voice rough with sleep. “Phone.”
Harlow hissed as the song continued to play, only getting louder, each word echoing in his head. His ears seemed to be the most sensitive when he first woke up, as if his brain had forgotten how to tone it the fuck down overnight.
“Foxx,” he groaned again, lightly shaking the man who was cuddled on his chest. “Answer it. It’s your phone. I don’t have one, remember?”
Foxx let out a whine that did not help his pounding head. “No…”
“Foxx!”
When the man didn’t respond or move, Harlow turned onto his side, dumping Foxx off him.
The vampire hissed as he landed, and whined some more, before huffing, “I’m supposed to whine and you answer!”
“It’s on your side!” he growled.
“Fine!” Foxx snapped. Sitting up, the man grumbled as he grabbed it. “I’m moving it to your side after this.”
Harlow rolled his eyes. “Brat.”
Foxx stared at the still ringing phone, his mouth twisting. “It’s…Charity…” The song cut off when the vampire accepted the call with what seemed to be trepidation and set it to speaker phone.
Instead of her normal annoying ass cheerful tone, when Charity spoke, she sounded hesitant. “I know you two don’t want to, and shouldn’t be hearing from me, but…”
“Charity, it’s too soon,” Foxx said stiffly. “Harlow isn’t ready. I don’t even know if he will be ready in a week, which is the deadline you gave us. His senses randomly flare up and go screwy. At this very moment, he’s wincing in pain because his ears are too sensitive. And since the world isn’t soundproof, like our apartment is, the flare ups will be worse out there.”
Ah…so Foxx had noticed. Not that he was trying to hide it. He was better, but Foxx was right, he had mostly been in quiet environments while dealing with this shit. The loudest being when they’d driven to and from the cabin.
“I know, Foxx, I know, but…we’re?—”
“Short staffed?” Harlow sighed.
“No,” Foxx snapped. “I don’t care what is going on, the answer is no. It can wait.”
“It can’t. It really can’t, Foxx,” Charity said, sounding helpless.
Harlow frowned, sitting up when he realized the woman had yet to use a single nickname. “Charity, whatisgoing on?”
“Multiple teams have been sent, but it’s too much ground to cover. It can’t wait. I wouldn’t have called if it wasn't important. Just…check the news, on your phone, or anywhere.”
Foxx sighed as he set the phone down, before grabbing the remote from his nightstand and turning the TV on, lowering the volume as he did.
“Breaking news. The cities of Lowville, Laketon, and Dorbin, Iowa are on lockdown. Violent and deadly vampire attacks have been reported throughout those areas. Officials are advising all residents of those three cities, and the surrounding areas, to stay inside, lock your doors, and arm yourselves, if possible. I repeat, vampire attacks on paranormals and humans alike have been recorded city wide in Lowville, Laketon, and Dorbin.”
