Page 44 of Johann

“Mm. I noticed. And you’ve maybe got a bit of a thing for words of affirmation too, don’t you, kitten?” Alexei teased, thinking back on how much Jay had wanted to be told he was doing a good job in the bedroom.

Jay flushed, his already rosy cheeks darkening even more. “Maybe.”

“And you like to make people comfortable,” Alexei said, now thinking about the five blankets and the many glasses of water. “Acts of service.”

Jay nodded. “Yes, that. Also, it was very nice when you brought me a cupcake. I liked that. Gift giving.”

Alexei couldn’t help his laugh, could only hope Jay knew it came from deep affection and not any sort of mockery. “Well, now you’ve named all five, haven’t you?”

Jay’s flush deepened, if that was possible. “I guess I have. Is that horribly greedy of me?”

“Maybe, but I don’t mind. You’re hungry for affection; I’m hungry to give it to you.”

Jay beamed down at him. “Have I told you lately you’re the nicest human?”

“Only to you.”

Because you’re special and perfect and I adore you even though we’ve only been technically dating for a day.

Alexei wondered, staring up at that gorgeous, happy face, if he could make the words come out. He wondered if he even should.

But there wouldn’t have been time for it, anyway.

Because the little vampire atop him suddenly cocked his head, the smile dropping from his face as he turned with a start to the yellow house behind them. “We need to go back in, Alexei. And you need to stay behind me.”

“Sorry?”

But Jay had somehow already pulled Alexei to standing and was tugging him back to the house by his hand.

Inside, Jay’s friends were squared off to the front door. Danny was pushed behind a growling Roman. Soren was in front of Gabe, held tightly to him, as if Gabe was preventing him from leaping forward. And in front of all of them was…well, he sort of looked like the head of a British boarding school, really. A slim man in a brown tweed suit, his light-brown hair slicked back severely.

“I will ask you one more time,” Roman warned, and holy shit, that dude could really growl when he wanted to. “Whoareyou?”

The stranger caught sight of Jay and Alexei then, and a cold smile graced his lips, one that didn’t reach his flat brown eyes. “Ah, Johann. There you are,” he said coolly, his accent very much matching his clothing.

The stranger inclined his head to Roman then, as if he was being introduced at a dinner party rather than two steps away from having four different vampires jump his ass. “My name is Wolfgang. Or Wolfe, should you prefer the simplicity.” He met Alexei’s eyes. “I’m Johann’s fiancé.”

thirteen

Jay

Well,thiswasjustgreat. So flippingfantastic. See? Jay could do sarcasm with the best of them. Sometimes. When the situation warranted it. And this situation most certainly did. Sarcasm and maybe even a few swears.

Jay squeezed Alexei’s hand in his, grateful his human hadn’t pulled away yet. “Hello, Wolfe,” he said despite his annoyance, because really, it would be rude not to greet a friend he hadn’t seen in months. But then, because hewasreally actually quite annoyed, he said, “You shouldn’t have come without asking.”

Because Jay had been texting and calling and generally trying to get a hold of Wolfe for freakingdays. After Jay’s declaration of wanting to stay in Hyde Park, he’d only received a single ominous text:You’re not staying. I’m coming to get you.

And since that was obviously unacceptable, Jay had done his best to try to stop that from happening, but…nothing. Wolfe hadn’t responded to a single message. And now he was justthere.

Like, what the heck? It was frustrating, and a little scary (because he may have been Jay’s friend, but Wolfe was also Wolfe), but mainly it was just freakingrude.

Wolfe—clearly intent on being a complete butthead—only arched a brow at him.

Jay dared to steal a glance at Alexei, who hadnotfollowed directions and was hovering at Jay’s side rather than behind him. Jay clearly needed to work on putting more authority into his tone when issuing commands. Not that he wanted to issue a bunch of commands at Alexei all the time or anything, but safety was very important. Although, to be fair, it could also be because Jay hadn’t let go of his hand yet.

The point was, though, his human was looking a little green around the gills and seemed to be mouthing the wordfiancéto himself.

They’d been having such a nice moment outside too. Talking and kissing in the snow like characters in some kind of lovely fairy tale. It just wasn’t fair to be interrupted this way.

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