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Riley’s mom had pulled Syrus aside as they’d all parted ways, murmuring to him quietly while Seth and Riley had extracted Luke’s promise of secrecy. Which had been mostly unnecessary. Who was Luke going to tell who’d believe him? His sister? She was out there enough without confirmation of the paranormal.

“She told me about a marine scientist they’d found in the institute’s records,” Syrus said. “She’s going to confer with her associates and give us the address on file.”

Luke supposed the moms would get Luke’s number from Seth. Or show up at his door in the middle of the night, demanding an invitation.

Did they need an invitation to enter? Luke had forgotten to ask. He’d barely asked anything, too overwhelmed by the revelations of the day to question the basics.

Revelations such as…

Luke lifted his head from the steering wheel to turn an accusatory glare on Syrus. “Did you sing me to sleep with magic yesterday?”

Syrus’s eyes crinkled, and he shook his head with a tsk. “Luke,” he crooned, leaning close enough that Luke was made newly aware of the breadth of Syrus’s thigh pressing against his own. His bulk really was a little unnerving in Luke’s compact car. Maybe they should have taken his work truck today. “Am I not very frightening in my true form?”

Luke frowned at him. Was that somehow Syrus’s answer? “You have very sharp teeth,” he conceded.

“Yes,” Syrus agreed, with a decidedly pleased note to his voice. “Sharp and deadly. And it’s very beautiful, isn’t it?” he asked, his dark gaze boring into Luke’s. “My tail?”

“Um…yes? The color is…nice.” It wasn’t even a white lie. Syrus’s tail was something exceptional to behold. Luke just didn’t know why they were covering that territory in this exact moment.

“Mm.” Syrus’s eyes gleamed. “Yes. Much nicer than black eyes and meager fangs.”

What was this? A supernatural beauty competition? Luke had never been overly concerned with his own looks, but Syrus seemed to require a significant amount of appreciation to go about his day. Which still left Luke approximately nowhere when it came to an answer to his question.

“Syrus—” Luke began.

“Luke,” Syrus interrupted, leaning even closer to nuzzle Luke’s ear. “I tire of blood.” His tone was wheedling.

“Oh?” Luke managed to ask as goose bumps erupted all over his body. His ears were sensitive, and now he’d forgotten what he’d been about to say. Or what question of his had needed an answer.

“Mm,” Syrus hummed, nosing along Luke’s jaw now. “And I wish to see your town. So I must remain human.”

“O-Okay?”

“Okay?” Syrus leaned back, his gaze heated. He lifted a hand to Luke’s face, and Luke didn’t so much as flinch when Syrus’s thumb landed on his lower lip, pressing down lightly until his lips parted. “I’ll be very gentle,” Syrus murmured. “As you’ve had a stressful morning.”

He had, hadn’t he? Stressful and confusing. And Luke still didn’t really understand what they were talking about, but that didn’t seem to matter anymore when Syrus lowered his head and pressed his mouth to Luke’s.

He was gentle, as promised. Gentle and coaxing, urging Luke’s lips to part farther, slipping his tongue inside to dance with Luke’s own.

Luke went limp against his seat. He was tired and overwhelmed and kind of cranky—much like the toddler he parented could become—and it felt so good to be…soothed. Because it was soothing, in its own way, as Syrus slowly deepened the kiss. Gentle and coaxing, soothing and sweet, even as Luke’s body heated and his cock filled.

Luke made a sound embarrassingly close to a whine as Syrus broke the kiss, but it was only to move lower, to plant more warm, wet kisses down Luke’s neck. Luke shivered at the gentle touch.

Syrus nibbled at Luke’s collarbone. “Your seat. Lean it back.”

Luke’s hand went to the seat lever without conscious thought, leaning himself far enough back that he was almost flat. Syrus followed him down. He must have been cramped and uncomfortable in the small space, but he gave no sign of it when he took Luke’s mouth again.

Luke moaned into the kiss, and Syrus made a low rumbling sound, somehow very different from the warning rumble he’d given in the bakery. His cool hand slid under Luke’s shirt, moving up his chest. He thumbed at Luke’s nipples, and Luke must have been more sensitive there than he’d ever thought, because the sensation went straight to his dick. It was heavy and full now, straining against the zipper of Luke’s jeans.

“You’ve been very brave, Luke,” Syrus whispered against Luke’s lips.

Luke’s head was dazed and foggy, and he was hard as fucking rock. “I—I have?”

“Mm. You’re brave, and you’re kind. You please me immensely.”

“I do?”

“Oh yes.” Syrus’s heavy-lidded gaze never left Luke’s as his hand trailed down Luke’s chest and his belly to press down on his bulge. Luke groaned at the welcome pressure, and Syrus smiled wide. “Shall I show you how much?”