“Let me. We’re about to have company, and I don’t think you’re in any shape to face them,” Dad says as he walks over and easily picks up Knots, being careful of his injury, before facing my friends. “Come inside where it’s safe, and I can help him.” I watch him lead everyone inside the door and disappear, leaving us three musketeers.
I take in the couple in front of me and realize they might not be happy with my interruption. I finally experienced what it’s like to be cockblocked recently, and given the frenzied state they’re in, I don’t think they’re going to react as pleasantly as I did. JP is frantically dry humping Zeke’s thigh and moaning as Zeke treats him like a slurpee in the process. Looking at the complete bliss on JP’s face, I can only imagine how good he’s feeling.
Fuck. Please don’t kill me for trying to keep you alive. And I’d really enjoy keeping my dick attached.
“Hey, big guy, let’s go,” I say, squeezing JP’s shoulder. He lets out a guttural moan, shudders, and leans back into my body.
I glance down at the front of him and notice the wet spot on his crotch.Well, it’s nice to know I have the magic touch. I’m so taking the credit. This had nothing to do with the euphoria of Zeke’s bite.
I grab JP’s arm and swing it over my shoulder, and Zeke’s eyes pop open before hissing at me.
“Bad Zeke,” I say, bopping him on the nose. “I’m not taking away your man. I’m just guiding you to safety. So follow me,” I say, slowly walking backward after he seals his wound and follows us. His eyes track every muscle like I’m prey.
‘Hey, Rezzi-bear. Just a heads up. We have a post-blitz JP with possible blood loss, and a crazed-out Vamp coming in. Think you and the guys can help?’
‘What?’Her worry blasts through our connection, and she meets me at the door as we come through with a flash of light.
“Shit! Zeke, come here,” she says, grabbing his attention and sitting him down on a small sofa before offering her wrist, which he takes hungrily.
Knox and Ryker come over to take JP from me, guiding him over to the table and chairs across the room.
“What happened?” Levi asks, looking JP over.
“Euphoria is my guess,” I absently say, finally taking a look around the room. It’s not at all like the home I grew up in. For starters, we didn’t live in Hell, and two, I grew up with a small cropping of hills and mountains in my backyard.
We’ve walked into what looks like a small sitting room with our bags tossed around various places in the estranged room. On the right-hand wall, there looks to be a closet and a mirror. Hopefully the mirror isn’t an heirloom because Reaper is chewing on the bottom corner of it. On the left side of the room is a small table and chairs where Levi and Ryker are attending to JP. There is a small sofa where Rez feeds Zeke, and Knox runs his fingers through his hair nervously as he paces the length ofthe sofa. Moni and Chester are sprawled out on the floor, looking as if they are about to doze off, and on the back wall, I notice a simple wooden door and an archway leading into a hallway.
“No. I mean, what set him off?” Levi clarifies.
“Oh! Knots’ blood, I think,” I answer truthfully. “Speaking of the doorknob, where is the Woodpecker?”
“Your dad is patching him up in the medical room away from everyone,” my mother states, pulling our attention to her in the archway. “Is he okay?” she asks, nodding in JP’s direction.
“I believe he’s lost more blood than normal, but other than that, he’s fine,” Levi explains, looking over in Zeke’s direction.
“Oh dear.” Mom grabs at her chest and visibly recoils slightly. “Let me go get something to help,” she announces before turning to me and giving me the look. You know the one I’m talking about—themomlook. The one you know isn’t to be questioned. “Sweetie, do you mind helping?”
“Wait. Will we be okay with those demons out there?” Rez asks, her eyes wide with worry.
“Of course! This place is indestructible, plus I’m sure the tunnels will take care of it if they want to,” she answers with a smile. “Ready, Son?”
“Sure,” I answer and follow her out of the room, down the short hall into an open-concept living room and kitchen. Both rooms are decorated in the same matching light browns and creams with forest green furnishings from my childhood. I feel my body release the tension immediately, and a sense ofhomecomes over me at the reminder of my past. As my mother heads into the kitchen, I take a few moments to glance around the room.
Most of the room looks unfamiliar to me. Some of the furniture and rugs are new, but as I look at the fireplace, something catches my eye. There’s a silver framed picture of a drawing I did before I left to find Rez of my mother hanging upclothes out of my window in the meadow. I must say, it looks like shit, but I remember being so proud of it, and apparently they were too, to keep it.
“You kept my drawing?” I ask in awe of the fact.
“What d—oh! Of course.” She turns to look over at me with a smile. “We kept everything of yours.”
“Well, that’s sweet of you. I never really stopped to think of what you would do with it when I got the call,” I say as I walk over to the counter she’s working at.
I take a few moments to observe any differences I see in my mother and realize there aren’t any. Even though time has flown by, she hasn’t aged, and she’s magnificent. Seeing my parents again is kinda overwhelming in a good way. I never expected to see them so soon, let alone on this journey. I could have done without the rough start with Dad, and Mom freaking out about me being dead because I was in Hell, but I’ll take it if it gives me time with them.
Mom has already taken down two mugs and is pulling out two dark pitchers from the fridge. “Oh, I kept them so I could show them off to your mate.” She gives me a sly smile as she places the pitchers down on the counter and reaches for the dried herbs over the sink. “It’s a right of passage of sorts to show off embarrassing pics of your child to their significant other.”
A groan leaves my mouth as her meaning dawns on me.
“Ugh. I thought you loved me.”
