Adorable.
He sat up to get a better view.
“I think Glenn’s sire was on my front porch when I got home,” he blurted out.
“What?”Regretfully, the humor left Jaks’s face.
“Yeah.He was blathering about buying my house.When I said no, he claimed he’d have something better to bargain with the next time he came.He’s super creepy.”Quentin ended on a cheery note.
Jaks scowled.“You need to set up protections around the house.”
“I already have some.If he could stand on my porch, he didn’t currently mean me any harm; otherwise, the wards would’ve kicked him out.I would’ve captured him, but there’s not a bounty or warrant on him as far as I know.Besides, I still don’t know his name.For someone eager to buy my house, he hasn’t given me a single business card.”
Jaks’s mouth quirked up on one side.“What would they even say?Vampire real estate?”
“Truly evil house stealer?”
Jaks’s bark of laughter swept away the rest of Quentin’s sleepiness.It was hard to remain groggy when something so beautiful stood in front of him.He hooked his right foot around Jaks’s leg and tugged him closer.
Jaks allowed it, stepping near enough that the fine linen of his pant legs brushed the tops of Quentin’s feet.“Can I help you with something, darling?”
Damn, he smelled good, like bergamot and expensive whiskey.
Quentin took another sniff before he replied, ignoring the amusement in his lover’s eyes.“I’m sure there are a lot of things you can help me with,” he purred.
Jaks’s eyes, darkening, lifted Quentin’s confidence.He couldn’t deny it was an ego boost for this highly desirable vampire to want Quentin of all people.
“We need to do something about that vampire soon,” he declared firmly.
“I’m trying.”Jaks scraped a hand through his hair.“Unfortunately, I don’t have a lot of sway with the council.Compared to them, I’m a young vampire, new to my position.I’m still shoring up my power base after you took care of my predecessor.I haven’t even had time to claim you as my consort formally.”
“I thought I was already thoroughly claimed.”Quentin offered what he hoped was an enticing grin.“In fact, I was hoping to be claimed again, soon.”
“You haven’t been claimed in front of my people.”
“What?”he asked with growing alarm.“What are you talking about?I’m not having sex in front of your clan!They’ll just have to take your word for it.”
Jaks threw back his head and laughed.
Quentin kicked him lightly on the shin as he blushed fiercely.“Shut up.If that’s not what you meant, what are you talking about?What’s all this consort business?You never really explained it.”
Jaks kneeled before Quentin and captured his hands.He pressed them between his larger palms like a benediction.“You are mine, beloved.Some of my clan know of your place in my heart and by my side, but not everyone, and no one outside the mansion.I want to take you to the other enclaves and declare you as my consort, but I won’t if you’re unsure of us.You must be confident, my heart, or others will push their way between us.If you aren’t formally declared mine at least to my clan and Glenn’s sire does something, I can’t legally retaliate.”
“Right.”One excuse after another flitted through his head.Quentin frowned as he examined his feelings.At first, he’d been appalled at Jaks’s staking his claim without asking, but over time, Quentin had become quite fond of his overbearing vampire.It took only seconds for his mind and heart to reach consensus.
“I would be proud to be at your side.”He bit his lip.“But I’m not in any hurry to be a vampire.”It worked out for his mother, but only because the alternative was death, and Glenn had always been a little cracked.
Jaks’s smile could’ve powered the city.“You don’t have to be a vampire at all.If we’re properly bound, you will share my lifeforce without compromising your humanity.”
“I thought we were already connected.You got me a fancy necklace and everything.”He hooked a finger through the chain and lifted it slightly from his neck.
“We are bonded between our souls, but not through a proper ceremony with witnesses.”Jaks kissed him hard before leaning back.“While the clan considers you mine, legally you aren’t unless we formally declare our bond before the clan.Once a couple is bound by blood, word, and soul, they will both live the lifespan of the longest living race in the relationship.”
Relief had him swaying, lightheaded after that reveal.He really didn’t want to be a blood drinker.Blood didn’t make him queasy; he just had zero interest in drinking it.
“I’ve never heard that before.The lifespan thing.”He tried to remember his Being Studies class.Surely, he would’ve remembered that one fact if nothing else.Weird, random things usually stuck in his head.
“We keep that information hidden.Please don’t spread it around.”
