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Concentrating on the human, there was a mixture of scents coming off him. The bottom layer Carver was able to trace down. “Almost like almonds…bitter almonds.”

“Exactly.” Dante shot Carver an approving glance. “Which means that Jesse here is up to something and hiding it.”

“Sorry,” Carver said to the human. He truly did hope that he didn’t get Jesse in trouble.

Jesse waved his hand before giving Dante a great big gap-toothed grin. “It’s nothing bad…”

“Nothing bad,” Dante repeated and the words were full of doubt.

“Nothing bad for you,” Jesse said quickly. He started to swing his body from side to side. “My Daddy might have growled at me this morning.”

“So you roped the troublemakers into paying him back?” Dante questioned.

“Maybe,” Jesse replied quietly. “I don’t like being growled at just because he’s tired.”

Dante nodded. “I know.”

What was happening right now? Jesse was mad at his Daddy for growling at him? And planning a payback? That was something only someone truly comfortable in this environment would do.

“You won’t tell him?” Jesse pleaded with Dante.

Carver would have immediately agreed with the cuteness of radiating from Jesse and the batting of those crystal blue eyes. Dante was obviously made of sterner stuff and he hummed.

“Oh, come on!” Jesse begged. “I’ve been working on this for months. Months! Just waiting for the perfect time to exact my revenge.”

Dante sighed. Obviously ready to give in.

Maybe Dante wasn’t so tough after all. “As long as nothing happens to my boy,” he finally agreed.

Jesse looked back at Carver. “They’re going to love him!”

Who was? Carver had appreciated that the clan members had been keeping their distance during his tour of the house.

Dante ran a hand down Carver’s back. “Don’t corrupt him too much.”

Jesse winked at Carver. “No promises. It’s been a long time since I had another little to play with outside the club.”

Wait! How did this human know that Carver was a little?

“I say you at the club last night when Dante carried you out. I was playing dolls with my Daddy. Do you like playing dolls?”

Carver found himself nodding. He hadn’t even noticed the blond. That was…concerning. And dangerous. He’d been cum dunk with a full belly for the first time in five years. “I play dolls with…a friend.” Shit! He’d almost said Kenny’s name out loud. That was information he couldn’t let get out. Carver might be confused but that was no reason for him to put his best friends at risk.

Jesse bounced. “You have little friends?”

Why did that make Jesse so happy? Didn’t he have a pick of littles to play with? The playroom at the club had been full of potential friends. It wasn’t like Jesse had a big secret like Carver. He was nice, friendly, and adorable. Jesse should have all the friends.

“My roommates,” Carver said, revealing very little.

“That’s so cool!” Jesse darted forward and grabbed the hand that Dante wasn’t already holding. “Come on! I’ll show you my best friends.”

This was weird. Like Carver was starting to wonder if Jesse’s friends were even real.

Jesse yanked and Carver was being dragged behind the human since Dante released his hand.

Carver peered over his shoulder. Dante was just going to let this human take Carver away! Shouldn’t someone at least be worried that Jesse was taking a newly turned, half-starved vampire away? Like what if Carver tried to eat him! Not that Carver would. He lived by a very strict rule. Never take what was not freely given and even when offered only take enough to remain alive.

But these monsters didn’t know that about him!