Page 20 of The Vampire and the Barista

Jamie nodded. “Thankfully. Can we go somewhere and talk?”

“We can go into your room, or mine, which is that door there,” Ivan pointed to a door three down from his.

“Let’s go into mine, then if Karl or Kitty need me, they know where I am.”

Ivan nodded and followed Jamie into the room.

The room was the same size as the other two they had seen, but in blue and white. At a quick glance, he saw that there was also a seating area by a large window with a sofa, chair and small coffee table. There was also the normal bedroom furniture.

Jamie walked over to the bed and sat down, Ivan sitting beside him. Jamie moved to face Ivan, one leg bent, resting on the bed. Ivan mirrored his pose. He put his hand on Ivan’s leg. “Thank you for coming with me and calling for backup.”

Ivan picked up his hand and kissed the back. “I will always help with whatever you need,” he promised.

Jamie scooted closer. “I have so many questions. The first is that everyone says I’m your mate. Is that like the books say, the fates made us for each other? Cause I’ve got to tell you, I think I’m okay with that, what about you?”

Ivan smiled and moved closer still. “Yes, the fates made us for each other. I have a long history which we should probably talk about at some point, but not right now, as not all of it is good and I don’t want to spoil the mood.”

Jamie gave him a quick grin. “Murder vibe, remember. As long as you’re not a psychopathic killer, it’s all good.”

“I can promise you that I'm not. I work for a security company run by David. I’m skilled in pretty much everything, and I'm good with electronics.”

“I’m just a barista. My dreams of being a museum curator and working with old books and documents went out the window when I left home and had to find a job quickly. I was trying to save up for Karl and Kitty to come and live with me, but being a library barista doesn’t pay much.”

“But now look, they are both here and both safe. Max said you had to move out of your current lodgings, so now you can move in here, where you know the three of you will be safe.”

“Ivan, that’s not the reason why I’d want to move in. I mean, sure, I want Karl and Kitty to be safe, but if I stay here, I can get to know you better, and Ivan, I really want to get to know you better.”

“Thank goodness,” Ivan said, putting his hand around the back of Jamie’s neck and pulling him forward. Not that it took much pulling, Jamie happily leant close as Ivan’s lips descended on his.

Jamie sighed to himself, kissing Ivan was everything he had dreamt of and more, so much more. He slipped an arm around Ivan’s waist and put his other hand on Ivan’s leg.

Ivan was blown away. He had kissed many people in his long life and thought he knew what to expect, but he was wrong, so wrong. Kissing Jamie was on a whole other level. He wrapped his other arm around Jamie and pulled him closer still. He licked the seam of Jamie’s mouth, and Jamie instantly opened to him, so Ivan plundered.

Finally, after what felt like forever, they drew apart, Ivan resting his forehead against Jamie’s.

“Wow,” Jamie said softly.

Ivan gave him another quick kiss and then pulled back. “Wow indeed.” This close, Ivan could see a splattering of freckles scattered over Jamie’s face. He was a sucker for freckles. “I love your freckles.”

Jamie grinned. “Thank goodness, as there is nothing I can do about them and believe me, I have tried everything over the years to get rid of them.”

“I’m glad you couldn’t. You also have flecks of green in your grey eye, I’ve never seen that combination before.”

“Me either. Karl, Kitty and my father all have grey eyes, but without the green. I guess I get that from my mum. I’m so glad you came into the library that first day.”

“Me too. I’ll have to thank Dave for having hired mercenaries after him. If not for that, I would never have met you.”

Jamie looked shocked. “Hired mercenaries?”

Ivan nodded. “Yeah, it’s a long story, I’ll let Dave tell you. But you had questions,” he prompted.

“I did?” Jamie replied. He shook his head. “I did. Do you sleep in a coffin?”

Ivan laughed and rolled his eyes. “No, I sleep in a very comfy bed. When I need blood, I drink it from a bag, but I hope to one day drink from you. Yes, I can go outside in daylight. No, I don’t sparkle. No, I don’t cry tears of blood; that’s just nasty. Yes, I have killed in the past, but I’ve not ripped anyone’s throat out in nearly a hundred years. Yes, I am a lot older than you. When we mate, and I’m saying when, because we will do, you will live as long as I do, which could be thousands of years. Let’s see, what else?”

“Stop,” Jamie said, holding his hand up. “Back up a moment. Thousands of years?”

Ivan moved his hand to Jamie’s cheek. “Caught that, did you? I was hoping it would be lost in everything I was telling you.”