Riley leaned forward, barely daring to breathe. He was already getting high off Seth’s sweet, buttery orange scent. Getting this close, it was hard to resist doing something stupid, like licking Seth’s face to see if his skin tasted as sweet as he smelled.
Fingers settled on Riley’s chin. They were rougher than they looked, but Riley liked the texture. He wanted to feel it everywhere, that soft scratch of hard-earned calluses.
The voice inside him stirred, restless with the increased proximity.
Everything smelled like cake.
Chill out, Riley told it.Chill out or we’re leaving.
It let out an angry growl, loud enough that Riley had to fight off a wince at the echo in his skull. Then it settled again, petulant and pissed off.
“How about friends?” Seth asked, oblivious to Riley’s inner struggle. He dusted something along Riley’s eyelid, his one hand still cupping Riley’s chin. “Do you have a good group here?”
“I’m—”—too afraid I’m going to rip someone’s throat out.“Kind of a loner.”
“No wonder you’ve latched onto me,” Seth said, and there was a teasing lilt in his voice. He was using some sort of pencil now, drawing it along Riley’s lash line.
“Do you mind?” Riley didn’t know why he asked. What was he going to do if Seth said yes—stay away? It was unlikely. Maybe impossible.
There was a moment of silence as Seth moved along to Riley’s other eyelid. “No,” he finally said. “I’m kind of a loner now too, moving to a new place and everything. It’s good to make a friend.”
Riley felt the voice twist inside him again, huffing in annoyance.Mate, it corrected.
Friends first, Riley told it.
And then the sneaky little shit flooded Riley’s mind. With impulses. Visions. Riley pushing Seth bodily back on the couch and covering him completely. Riley mouthing at that butter-orange throat. Riley sinking his fangs in and swallowing a hot rush of blood. Seth would like it—humans always enjoyed a vampire’s bite. He’d whimper and harden against them, and Riley’s voice would drink more, drink deeper. They’d bite open their own wrist and?—
Riley’s breath caught. He jerked back before he could stop himself.
Seth’s pretty eyes widened in concern. He settled his fingerswith their light-as-a-feather touch on Riley’s face again. “Are you all right?” he asked. “Did I press too hard?”
Slow and steady. That was the plan. But Seth’s lips looked so inviting. Reddened and full, like he’d put color ontheminstead of Riley’s lids. Maybe he’d been nibbling on them while he did Riley’s makeup.
But that was Riley’s job.Heshould be the one nibbling. Licking.
Kissing.
“Hey, Seth?” Riley asked softly. They were so close still, their knees just touching. And Seth was already gazing up at him, so focused on Riley’s face. That was nice, that focus. At the bakery, Seth’s attention was always split. “Do you ever make orange cake?”
“Um…” Seth swallowed hard, then shook his head like he was clearing it. “Sometimes,” he said, his voice rougher than before. “It’s a less common flavor. But I’ve done a few. There’s this spiced olive oil version that’s nice around the holidays and?—”
“Hey, Seth?” Riley interrupted.
Seth swallowed again, and if Riley wasn’t so focused on those pretty lips, he’d be following the tantalizing motion of his throat. “Yes, Riley?”
“Can I kiss you? I’d really like to.”
“Oh.” Seth blinked at him. “I don’t think?—”
Riley shuffled a little closer, until Seth’s knees brushed against his thighs. “I’ve never kissed anyone before.”
Seth’s fingers trembled against Riley’s skin. “Well, you’re young,” he said in a voice that didn’t sound any steadier than his touch.
Riley frowned down at him. He was really looking forward to the day people stopped reminding him of that. “I’m not a child,” he argued.
It sounded exactly like something a child would say.
Seth let out a harsh breath. “Oh, I’m aware. But there’s a gap in experience here.”
