“You're human, huh?”
Kip shoots me a sly grin. “Yeah.Myhuman. You’re stuck with me now, Charlie.”
Chapter Fifteen
Kip
Body Electric
Charlie fumbles with his key, trying to unlock the door to his apartment, while I push up against him from behind. His hair smells clean and sweet, like cinnamon, as I press my nose into it.
“You’re not making it any easier for me to get this door open.” Charlie huffs, but I can hear the smile in his voice.
“I’d say sorry, but I’m not.”
The lock finally clicks open and Charlie steps inside. I try to stumble after him, but I’m hit with that same invisible wall as last time.
Charlie looks at me with a puzzled expression. “You coming in or?”
I push my hands against the invisible barrier to show him I can’t come in. “This happened that night that I…when I…well, I tried to bring you home first but couldn’t get in. That’s how we ended up at my place instead.”
Charlie’s brow furrows, and then he has a look of realization. “Oh! I think I have to invite you in!” He sounds way too excited. “This is so cool, just like in a movie!”
“Yep, it’s real cool, Charlie.”
“Wait, so you didn’t have to be invited into your own apartment, though?” He asks, looking like he’s solving some complex math problem.
I think back. “Nope. I walked right in.”
“Must have something to do with having your name on the property.” Charlie shrugs. “Anyway…I hereby invite you into my humble studio abode, Kip.”
My hands immediately fall through the now absent barrier, making me stumble since I was leaning my weight on it.
Charlie shoots forward, trying to catch me, but I’m taller and heavier than him by far, so we both end up going down.
“Eugghhh!” Charlie screeches as he falls backwards, and the sound mixes with my “ooomphhh”.
“Shit, you okay, little dude?” I hastily roll off of him, knowing that I’m probably crushing Charlie’s lean body underneath my weight.
Charlie wheezes. “Yep. Never better.”
I crawl over top of his body, holding my weight above him. “You sure?” I search his pretty brown eyes, which are crinkled at the corners as he starts to laugh.
I’ll never get over his laugh. It’s so earnest and full of life. It’s completely opposite to how he was the night I met him. On the outside, he shows this tough exterior. It’s clear that he doesn’t get close to many people, and often doesn’t open up. But he’s chosen me to let his icy exterior melt for, and I feel blessed.
“You’re beautiful, Charlie. I like you so much.” I’m pretty sure my eyes have turned permanently heart-shaped because of him.
His laughter fades, and is replaced with a soft smile. “I like you too, Kip.”
Leaning down, I gently brush my lips over his. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of the feeling of his body against mine. He fits perfectly. It might seem stupid, silly, or even unbelievable, but there’s something more between us than just two people who met a week ago. It’s impossibly fast, but there’s a connection between us.
During my time holed up in my bedroom, hiding away from everyone, I had a lot of time to think, watch movies, and hell, I even read. Can you imagine? Me, Christopher ‘Kip’ Kohl cracking open a book and actually reading? I haven’t done that since high school. And even then it was usually just using CliffsNotes. Okay, so I didn’t really crack open a physical book, but I did read some stuff on my phone. And it wasn’t some intense old school boring shit. It was more like…okay, fine. So I read some omega-verse stuff. Did you know that was a thing? Mpreg. Can you believe that? I wonder if that shit is real. No fucking thanks.
Anyway, I’m getting off topic. My point is that I’ve been reading some books about supernatural creatures. Most of them being romance. But I mean, that’s like the most common genre of supernatural books. People loooooovvveee to read books about non-humans getting freaky with humans, or other non-humans. It kind of a cultural phenomenon.
Anywho, in a lot of those books there’s something called ‘fated mates’. And it got me thinking…what if that’s what Charlie and I are? It would explain how drawn to each other we are. I mean, I’ve never felt this way about anyone. I’ve never wanted to date someone, or spend every waking second with them. I’m kinda a one and done type of dude. Like, greet their downstairs nice and quick so we both get off, and then say sayonara, never to be seen again. I’ve greeted a lot of different people’s downstairs businesses. Not that I’m bragging, I’m just being honest. And generally, if Charlie was anyone else, I woulda already seen his nether regions and moved on. But with him, I want to take my time. I don’t want to jump right into fucking. I want to know him, and see him. I want him to be mine.
All I’m saying, is that this is not the norm for me. And I don’t think it’s the norm for vampires either. Case in point? Tyson. He isn’t the settling down type either. He sleeps around just as much as I used to. Never has he ever actually dated anyone. So, becoming a vampire isn’t really what changed me, I don’t think. Charlie is.
