Page 38 of Becoming D'Vaire
“Is that what that noise was? I thought it might be, but it’s always nice to get confirmation. Now, did you want dessert before we go home and jerk off?”
“I need something for Greggory and Roger.”
They hailed the waiter over and ordered treats for the wizard familiars. Grigori’s shirt was bone-dry, and he hoped it meant that in the future he wouldn’t spaz out around Delaney. Once his nerves were out of the way, he found it so easy to talk to him, and he was enamored with him. Grigori was going to do everything in his power to build a relationship with Delaney.
Chapter 13
No one ever told Delaney how exhausting a matebond would be in the beginning. In the last few days he’d managed only a handful of hours of sleep, but he didn’t have any complaints. The night before after a delicious meal, he arrived home and poured out his entire evening to Idris. Then he received a text message from Grigori. The vampire was wearing nothing but a towel, and his wet hair was tangled around his face. His message informed Delaney that Grigori needed a shower after all his sweating and that he was expecting a return photo promptly.
Feeling brave, Delaney headed to his bedroom and dug out his dragonskin pants. He laced up the front, tossed his shirt to floor and, feeling like an idiot, flopped down onto his duvet to take a picture. Since he hadn’t received an immediate reply, Delaney peeled off his clothing and with Grigori’s image smiling back at him, jerked off. He’d barely gotten his pajamas on afterward when his phone rang.
On the other line was the satisfied voice of Grigori, and once again they spent hours talking about everything and nothing at the same time. The vampire told him how explicitly he’d enjoyed Delaney’s response to his nearly naked snapshot. Delaney had helplessly gotten hard again as Grigori painted a fantasy of the two of them together. They hadn’t known each long, but Delaney was more than ready to start working on losing his virginal status.
Shaking off his errant and delicious thoughts, Delaney focused on getting his brain on board so he could get something done during his workday. He found himself alone in the Dark Indigo office; he suspected Idris was off somewhere flirting with Mac. The couple adored each other, and Delaney had a momentary vision of someday being the same with Grigori. They would be mated and seek each other out to talk or maybe to sneak a kiss.
The illusion turned to smoke when Duff sauntered through the door. Delaney grabbed his coffee and wished he could make the shifter disappear.
“Hey Scary, what’s up?” Duff asked with a smirk as he plopped down onto one of the sofas in the large space.
“I’ve asked you not to call me that. Idris isn’t here, so tell me what you want or beat it.”
“Carter’s not around either. I can’t believe you hired him for my job.”
“It’s not your job. You quit and if you wanted to keep it long-term, you should’ve shown up on time and showed a little motivation during the day.”
“Whatever, I needed the money and the shit you do is boring.”
Delaney’s brows rose in surprise. “Needed the money? Aleksander gave you plenty when you arrived. I know, he gave me the same amount. How in the world did you go through seven figures in less than a year?”
“If you had a life, you’d understand.”
“I have a life, Duff.”
“Yeah, I heard your mate finally dragged himself to a date with you.”
“I’m not going to discuss Grigori with you.”
“He’s too good for you, Scary.”
“It’s none of your damn business.” Delaney wasn’t going to keep telling Duff not to use the name he was given as a child, but he hated to hear it. Duff was just saying it to get under his skin, and Delaney needed to be an adult and let it go.
“Do you know what’s funny?”
“No, and I don’t care.”
“It’s funny that you tried to get me kicked out of D’Vaire, and now you’re going to be the one leaving Scary.”
“I can assure you I am certainlynotleaving D’Vaire.”
“Then I guess you’re going to reject that sexy vampire Fate gave you because his mother’s the Vampyress. I doubt very seriously she’s going to be okay with her son moving to some isolated place in the middle of nowhere Arizona, even if it is to be associated with a name as powerful as D’Vaire. He has duties, we met him at a party.”
Delaney’s chest tightened at the idea of leaving his first home and the family—minus the increasingly irritating Duff—that he loved. “Don’t worry about my matebond,” he managed.
“You’ll be living in Las Vegas, shunned by everyone around you because you’re some creepy-ass dark wizard that no one likes.”
“What the fuck is your problem? Are you that pissed at me because I wouldn’t have sex with you? Live your life however the fuck you want, and stop commenting on mine. Like I said, it’s none of your damn business. We share a roof—that doesn’t mean we have to be pals. I think you’re a liar, and someday that’s going to come and bite you on the ass. This is my office, and you no longer have any reason to be in here, so get out.”
“You missed out, Scary. I would’ve fucked you until you screamed out my name.”
