Page 48 of The Vampire's Receptionist
That was a dig at him, and he glared at the doctor in response. He didn’t need to communicate, because there was noissue. His relationship with Kian was still new. He had no right to make demands. And he never wanted to stand in the way of Kian’s happiness.
Ozen and Doctor Chapman left soon after that announcement. It didn't surprise Dorian in the slightest when Kian immediately started packing. He was relieved, happy, and while Dorian was glad to see him smile, it was hard to return the expression when Kian looked up at him.
“Think I can get away with using a portal to get home? I don’t want to bother anyone to ask for a ride.”
Dorian shook his head. “I’ll drive you. Ozen was kind enough to bring my car here this morning. If you wouldn’t mind waiting, I’ll gather my things and bring you home.”
Kian was amenable to the plan, humming to himself as he packed his toiletries. Dorian left him to it, using the time that he spent packing to take a moment for himself. They hadn’t even separated yet, but Dorian felt the separation like an ache in his chest. A few days staying with Kian meant more to him than he’d expected.
He pushed the thought aside, packing his things carefully when Ozen came to join him. He tipped his head curiously.
“He wants to go already?”
Dorian hummed, keeping his focus on his bag. Knowing his friend, he’d see right through him. He didn’t want to discuss how he was feeling right now.
“What are you going to do with the forest you brought into my home?” Ozen asked teasingly. When Dorian looked up, Ozen’s smile was sympathetic, but he was willing to distract from the situation for Dorian’s sake. Dorian appreciated it.
“I’m not sure. Kian mentioned that he already had plenty of plants in his home.”
“You could always move them to your apartment,” Ozen suggested. He chuckled at Dorian’s horrified look. “You can hirepeople to care for them. Or ask your new feeder to do it. It will give you an excuse to see him.”
He felt a little guilty manipulating Kian like that, but he could admit to himself that he would take any excuse to spend more time with Kian. “Maybe. I’ll have them picked up by the end of the week.”
Kian was waiting for him downstairs when he was finished packing up his things. He was smiling brightly, and his hands moved animatedly as he spoke with Avery. His bag waited by his feet, and he stood as close to the front door as possible without actually waiting outside. Resigned, Dorian picked up Kian’s bag for him and nodded to his friends.
“Thank you for letting us stay.”
“Any time,” Avery replied with a bright smile.
Ozen nodded his agreement, gripping Dorian’s shoulder supportively. “Let me know if you need anything. I’m only a phone call away.”
Kian wiggled his fingers in a bid farewell before practically dashing out the door. Dorian huffed out a laugh as he followed him.
“You’re going to hurt their feelings being so exuberant to leave.”
Kian turned and walked backwards down the sidewalk, his nose wrinkled. “It’s not about them. I mean, not really. They were super kind watching out for us. I just prefer my own space. And work. I’m really looking forward to going back to work. If I had to spend another day ‘resting’–” he made quotes with his fingers when stating the last word– “I’m going to lose my mind. I told you already, I don’t do well with boredom.”
Dorian hummed, a slight smirk pulling at his lips. “I thought we figured out a nice way to pass the time earlier.”
Kian’s responding grin was wicked, and he waggled his eyebrows suggestively. “If we could’ve spent the whole timedoing that, you wouldn’t find me complaining. But I’m pretty sure the doctor would have pitched a fit if we tried.”
As Dorian was about to respond, a human on a skateboard swung around the corner, heading straight for Kian. The beautiful man was still walking backwards, not looking where he was going, and the human wasn’t paying attention either. With a burst of vampiric speed, Dorian snatched Kian out of the way and pressed him against the wall of the brownstone nearby. Once he was sure Kian was safe, he whipped his head around, hissing at the human who had stopped to see if they were okay. The human jumped back, terror written all over his face, but Dorian couldn’t find it in him to care.
Warm hands cupped his cheeks, forcing his attention away from the idiot human and back onto Kian. He pulled Dorian’s lips to his, kissing him softly just once. “You’ve made your point. Don’t make the poor human piss himself for an accident.”
Leaning into Kian’s palms, Dorian growled, “He could’ve hurt you.”
“But he didn’t,” Kian pointed out patiently. “We’ve really gotta figure out what’s going on with you, because I feel like you’re not usually this reactive.”
Not normally, no. Dorian was old enough not to let his feathers get ruffled so easily. He felt out of sorts when it came to Kian. All his instincts screamed at him to keep the man safe.
Leaning around him, Kian spoke to the human. “You should go.”
“I–I, uh…”
As Kian waved away the stammering human, sending him further from Dorian’s wrath, Dorian leaned into the hand still cupping his face, breathing in Kian’s scent. He always smelled like earth and sunshine. It soothed Dorian’s ragged nerves.
“Okay. The evil human is gone now. Let’s get going before someone else sets you off,” Kian teased, his bicolored eyesdancing when Dorian finally looked at him. Huffing out a laugh, Dorian placed a kiss on Kian’s palm before straightening and stepping away. He’d dropped their bags in his haste, but Kian didn’t comment on it, only making a face when Dorian wouldn’t allow him to pick up his own bag. He was still supposed to be taking it easy. Besides, Dorian liked doing things for him.
