I cleared my throat, and reverted my gaze to Kroven. He took a quick glance in the direction I’d come from, and he shook our intertwined hands like a baby’s rattle.
“They don’t matter, remember?” He soothed my skin with his thumb, bringing me back to reality. “They’re the monsters. That’s what you told me.”
“And I stand by it.” I affirmed, rolling my shoulders as a symbol of my refresh. “Thanks for reminding me.”
“Always,blomsjett.”
My ears perked at the non-English word. The look of panic that skittered across Kroven’s face told me he hadn’t meant to say it, that it was a natural slip of the tongue, but there was no chance in hell I was letting it slide.
“What’s that mean?”
I could have sworn Kroven was blushing, even though I’d only seen it happen once before as his cheeks became a slightlydarker shade of pale. “It’s sangamar for something that’s quite similar in your language to…lover boy.”
Enveloping my lips so I didn’t start burst out laughing, I shook my head. Looking at Kroven again once my hysterics settled, I could see the vulnerability in his eyes, despite the smirk he was wearing.
“That is the cutest thing I’ve ever heard.”
Seeing that sangamar blush decorate his face again, I returned the favor by unlinking our hands and kissing the back of his, loving the growl of desire that escaped him that didn’t go unnoticed.
Our server came back with our food, setting down the communal mac and cheese balls along with setting our respective plates in front of us. We thanked her and set our sights to fill our stomachs.
Dinner went by comfortably. As we ate, I told Kroven more about myself, but it quickly turned into me just telling embarrassing stories and Kroven guffawing with interest. Apparently, the humiliation of a gay human was really enjoyable.
I told him about how I’d once gone on a date with this guy who ended up taking me back to his place, but made me crawl through the basement window because he lived with his parents. And his parents hadn’t even been home, he just hadn’t wanted the neighbors to see me coming through the front door. Because me shoving myself through a basement window wasn’t twice as conspicuous.
His favorite story, judging by the amount of laughter he did around his spicy alfredo, was about when I had first answered Thayer’s ad about needing a roommate and I’d thought it was a cover for a discreet hookup. It hadn’t taken me long to realize that Thayer was actually looking for a roommate, and after we’d been roommates long enough, I told him how suggestive his ad had been. Thayer had gone red immediately, saying “Did all those guys before you think I was trying tofuck?” which had ended in both of our bellies burning from laughter.
Recalling my latest conquest of misfortune, I ended with telling him about the bathroom encounter at the blood center and how worried I had been that someone was going to find out. About how my fears took form when Babs had called me into her office asking me to start working in the Orb wing right before we’d met.
It was refreshing how easy it was to talk to Kroven. I’d been on dates with guys before and it had always felt like pulling teeth or I was trying my hardest to ignore the obvious red flags to garner another date that I figured less talking was for the best.
But with Kroven, he not only listened intently, he tossed conversation back like he was backhanding a tennis ball. He’d told me about his first crush that had made him realize he was gay before he even knew what the word meant. I’d stared in awe as he told me about sneaking into an elaborate party thrown during the 1830s with the big wigs of the industrial revolution and their socialite wives. Kroven didn’t mention Jargenne again, or about their time together, but he did say that he’d only been in love once in all his six hundred plus years, and I simply assumed it had been Jargenne to have been given the honor.
He ended up paying the bill, and I persisted that we split it but he refused. A part of me thought it was kind of nice to be wined and dined by this ethereal being, so unlike all the men I’d dated in the past that already, despite our short time together, he’d already completely raised the bar.
Though it took very little convincing, I’d managed to get Kroven back to my apartment, and as soon as I walked up to the door, he pressed against me, crashing his lips against mine with feverish need. My back was shoved against my apartment door as our hands explored each other, as if we couldn’t wait to feel skin on skin.
A whimper left me as he broke our kiss, and I felt a tingle dance across my spine as his hands were placed on my hip and chest. “We don’t have to.” He squared his eyes, dipping his head lower to emphasize his seriousness. “I know we joked about “dessert” but I hope you know, I don’t expect a single thing from—”
Interrupting him with another kiss was my rebuttal, and I ended it just as quickly as I’d started it. “If you don’t get in my apartment right now, I’m going to lose it.”
Chapter 15
Expecting morelip locking as soon as we broke the threshold of my apartment, when it didn’t happen I tried not to pout. Kroven was taking in my familiar surroundings with a lopsided smile attached to his face, making him look boyish in a way that he normally didn’t. Like all the wonder in the world was hitting him all at once, and I couldn’t help but grin as I took in his reaction.
“I love your place,” Kroven said, head swiveling from the kitchen to the living room and back to me. “Are you sure you live with a straight man?”
Shaking my head, I laughed. “Thayer’s more of a neat freak than me, so the level of cleanliness is all him.”
“A straight man that enjoys a well kept space,” Kroven tsked, clearly amused. “Color me surprised.”
I closed the space between us, letting my hands roam to his toned back so I could pull him closer, hoping he could feel that the last thing I wanted to discuss at present was my roommate’s hygienic tendencies.
When he growled low and leaned forward, Kroven started to kiss underneath my ear, sending a direct line to my dick as Imoaned into the open air between us. His mouth moved down to my neck and I was desperate for more. More, more, more.
“Please tell me your roommate isn’t here.” He whispered into my ear, his voice all breathy and fifty shades of horny.
“He won’t be home for hours.” I panted back.
