But it hadn’t been Riley staring back at Seth. And it hadn’t been the fangs and the black eyes that had keyed Seth into the change. It had been a…difference in Riley’s presence. Like a shift in the air around them, something subtle but distinct.
When Seth and Sascha had talked on the phone, Sascha had been vague about what happened when someone was turned into a vampire. He definitely hadn’t said anything about an entirely different entity taking over when they fed. But that was what it had felt like in this moment, so Seth had acted accordingly. He’d asked for Riley to be returned to him like that was a reasonable thing to request, and the creature wearing Riley’s face had agreed.
Seth should probably stop and take a breath—he’d just been bitten by a vampire, for fuck’s sake, one who seemed to have a split personality—but he couldn’t do it. He wanted to give Riley something. Something good. He wanted to make him feel even half the pleasure Seth had felt from Riley’s kiss and his touch and yes, even his bite.
Or—fuck it—maybe Seth just wanted to touch Riley’s dick. He wasn’t above admitting as much.
Riley groaned, dropping his forehead to Seth’s shoulder. “Fuck. Yes. Of course it’s okay. I want it. I want everything.”
Everythingwas a lot to consider and too much to process with a million different thoughts battling for dominion in Seth’s brain. But thinking could wait.
Right now, Seth wanted to feel. He wantedRileyto feel.
For one brief, terrifying moment, Seth had thought he’d lost him, this strange, captivating friend of his. A friend who’d gotten under his skin in barely any time at all. A friend who Seth already didn’t think he could bear to lose.
And maybe sex wasn’t the best way to come to terms with that, but it was the way Seth’s body and soul were demanding.
Seth hastily scanned the attic. He hadn’t been paying attention when he’d arrived—too distracted by the sight of Riley upright and none the worse for wear—but there was a massive armchair by the window, low to the ground and perfect for Seth’s purposes.
He steered Riley backward in that direction with one hand on his broad chest, working to unbutton Riley’s jeans at the same time. Seth pushed Riley down into the chair, and he went easily, his gaze locked onto Seth’s face, something akin to pure devotion in his dark eyes.
Not for the first time, Riley was looking at Seth like he was something precious. Something…beautiful.
His vampire self had looked at Seth differently. He’d gazed at Seth with an almost haughty sort of possessiveness.
The naked hunger, though,thatexpression both sides of Riley seemed to have in common. And it was fucking heady to see.
Seth knelt in front of Riley, rubbing his hands over Riley’s denim-clad knees. “I want to suck you,” he told him, his voice hoarse and way too raw. “Does that still sound okay?”
In answer, Riley threw his head back and groaned.
Was that a no? Riley’s dick certainly seemed on board, tenting through his open jeans in a decidedly distracting way. But maybe it was too much too soon.
Seth waited him out, and after a moment, Riley tilted his chin down, somehow managing to peer at Seth from under his thick lashes despite their height difference.
“I’m going to embarrass myself.”
“How?” Seth asked.
“I’m going to come in, like, two seconds.”
“Oh.” Seth grinned, giving Riley’s knees a squeeze. “That’s not embarrassing. That’s hot.”
Riley gave him a dubious look. Seth beckoned to him. “C’mere.”
Riley leaned forward obediently, and Seth kissed him. Thoroughly. Leisurely. A dance of tongues and sighs and the scent of forest all around them.
When some of the tension in Riley’s frame finally relaxed, Seth broke the kiss, murmuring, “It’s a compliment, that I can turn you on like that. Do you want me to swallow?”
Seth’s hands were still on Riley’s knees, so he could feel the full-body tremor that ran through him at the question.
God, it really was a sort of compliment. Even more than that. It was like a shot of pure adrenaline, the reactions Seth got from this beautiful man.
He’d told himself he needed to be careful with this one, right?
He probably should have heeded his own warning.
Seth tugged at Riley’s jeans. “I’m going to take these off now.”
