“But thank you,” Julien said, “for tonight.”
“It was no problem. I’m sorry you had to miss the movie,” Luis said.
“Yeah,” Karim leaned against the counter, a fanged grin plastered on his face, “It had a throuple ending.”
The reminder had the back of Luis’s neck prickling.
“Oh, did it?” Julien said with clear interest. “You don’t get that very often.”
“No, you don’t,” Karim agreed, but his eyes were on Luis.
Julien looked between the two of them as if he could read what had happened from the sudden tension. Luis’s heart sped up guiltily. “And is that where it ended?” He asked.
“Unfortunately. Your phone call timing is impeccable,” Karim groused.
That made Julien laugh. “The universe agrees with me, clearly.”
Karim muttered something under his breath as he turned away to finish the dishes. Luis didn’t catch it, but Julien laughed harder.
“Patience,” Julien crooned.
“Yeah, whatever,” Karim said. “But now I’m hungry.”
Luis cast a look at the time, but it was too late for the bar.
“We went out yesterday,” Julien said.
“Yeah, well, maybe I’m just extra hungry this week,” Karim said, putting the last of the dishes into the dishwasher.
“Hungry, I’m sure that’s it,” Julien said dubiously with a knowing smile.
Luis finished his bowl, pushing it back across the island for Karim to take care of. “You could bite me,” he volunteered.
He wasn’t sure if it was the good food, finally getting to fix their website, or what had happened after the movie, but he was feeling open to it. Excited about it, even.
“Oh yeah?” Karim said, eyes bright.
Luis shrugged. “I’m always trying to keep my levels down, and a bite isn’t that much blood,” he said.
“Right,” Karim said as he turned to put the bowl in the dishwasher. “Mutually beneficial healthcare.”
Julien said something under his breath in French. Then he looked guiltily at Luis. “Sorry. I said, ‘oh, how noble.’”
Karim let out a choked laugh. “Are you now going to translate everything to Luis?”
“It’s rude to not include him,” Julien said, “I need to break the habit.”
“Oh, this is going to be fun,” Karim said with a devilish grin. Then to Luis, “Shall we?”
In the living room, Luis sat and Karim took up the seat beside him.
Julien sat primly on the opposite couch. “I’ll time,” he said.
“Great,” Karim said and sidled closer to Luis, wasting no time. A hand landed on Luis’s shoulder and his nerves shot up.
Each time he did, it ended up more loaded than the last. It should’ve started to become more normal and less nerve wracking, but after the movie…
Karim leaned in and guided Luis to tilt his neck. “Ready?” Karim asked, voice breathy against his skin. Luis trembled.
