Page 14 of The Death God
Two months in the castle was enough for him to realize they’d been fed bland, tasteless food all their lives. It was almost worse than having to meet customers. Almost.
He put the baking pan in the oven and turned around. A startled yelp escaped him when he spotted Gregory still sitting in his chair watching him. He must be more tired than he’d believed. Never before had he forgotten there was another person in the room with him.
Gregory raised an eyebrow at him.
“Sorry.”
“I’m not sure what you’re apologizing for.”
Thanatos shrugged and moved toward the coffee maker. He needed something to make his brain wake up.
Once the coffee was brewing, he grabbed a pot and eggs from the refrigerator. When the eggs were boiling, he fetched the honey from the pantry.
“Want coffee?” He glanced at Gregory.
“Yes, please.”
He placed two cups on the counter and filled one with coffee and left room for plenty of milk in the other. He carried the full cup over to Gregory only to freeze a couple of steps away from him.
“I don’t bite.”
“I know for a fact that you do.”
Gregory grinned. “I won’t bite you.”
“I still don’t believe you.”
“I gave you my blood. I won’t risk creating a bond by drinking from you.”
Thanatos studied him. Rufus had said they’d be partially mated for a couple of weeks. It had been a couple of months now. It should all be gone. “There is no risk now, is there?”
Gregory rubbed his chest, and Thanatos followed the motion. “There shouldn’t be, but I still wouldn’t risk it. It would mean we’d be linked forever.”
“I know. I…eh…talked to Jaki about it.” He believed he knew all there was to know about vampire matings by now, including how they’d die at the same moment and could never hook up with anyone else. Thanatos had no interest in hooking up with anyone, but he suspected Gregory did.
His tense muscles relaxed. Gregory would never risk being tied to him. More than once, Rufus had made some comment letting them all know Gregory didn’t lack lovers. He’d never want to settle for only one. Especially not someone as damaged as Thanatos, whom he didn’t like.
He had no idea why Gregory was still in the kitchen. Normally, he avoided him like the plague, but it should be safe. Or close to safe. They were in the busiest room in the house; anyone could walk in. Gregory wouldn’t want people to see them together, he didn’t think. He’d made it pretty clear he didn’t like Thanatos.
Sex was still an option. You didn’t need to like someone to want to fuck them, and there had been that spark in his eyes, but would he risk it in the kitchen? Nah, Thanatos didn’t think so.
Stepping closer than he ever had before, he put the cup on the table in front of Gregory. “Here you go.”
Gregory studied him. “What was the inner debate about?”
“Huh?”
“You were staring at me for several seconds, your eyes distant, and then you…melted.”
“I didn’t melt.”
“You relaxed.”
The timer went off, and Thanatos removed the eggs from the stove and poured cold water over them.
“You didn’t answer.”
“I’m busy.” He sipped his coffee and watched the water overflow in the pot with the eggs.
