Page 87 of Tell No Tales
Vadim's hair was tied back, same as always, but he had deep creases in his forehead from frowning so much. "I'd wait until we've had some sleep, yes." Vadim glanced at Klaus, and he felt the weight of appreciation like a warm hug. Damn, the man knew how to make him feel wanted. When had he stopped looking at him with disgust? Had Klaus been imagining Vadim's revulsion?
"I'll take the rest of the night's watch so the boys can get some sleep," Yvette said. "Did you bring Trin?"
"Aye," Nola said. "She woke up long enough for me to explain the move, and Roy carried her here."
"Thank you." Yvette leaned down to kiss Nola's cheek. "You'll make a damn fine boardinghouse mistress one day."
"Is that what you'll do when you retire from being pirates?" Klaus asked.
"It's a dream, aye." Nola grinned. "What about you, Klaus? What will you do when this is all over?"
He shrugged. "I didn't see any pleasure houses on Aquarion." He had no intention of starting a pleasure house, as he'd discussed with Vadim, but he didn't want to talk about orphanages while they were all recovering from their battle with the undead.
Yvette shrieked a laugh, and then covered her mouth, trying to hold in more laughter and failing. "No, you did not. Can you imagine?"
"Sex is given freely on Aquarion, though you might charge for the privacy of a room here or there, same as me." Nola studied him with a shrewd gaze. "We might be able to work together. I've always thought Aquarion would be a lovely tourist destination, if we didn't have the empire breathing down our necks all the time. Devon wants the ship, and Mikey and Puck would stick with him as air weavers. We could set up some tours from Glamiere."
"Tomorrow," Vadim said, taking her elbow and tugging her toward the door. "Or better yet, you can talk about it when we return to Aquarion."
"Fun killer," Nola said as Yvette entwined their arms and pulled her out of the room.
Vadim shut the door behind them.
Klaus set his candle on the floor near the fireplace. He didn't know what else to say, so he pointed out the obvious. "No mattress."
"There will be a storeroom on this floor, same as in the other dorm."
Klaus approached, planning to follow Vadim into the hall, but Vadim stayed in front of the closed door, instead.
"Are you all right?" Klaus asked.
"It's so strange, being back here." He grabbed Klaus by the hips and pulled him in, chest to chest. "I'm not as sad as I thought I would be, thanks to you."
Klaus didn't know how to take the revelation. He didn't want to ruin the moment by asking a million questions, either, so he did what came naturally. He grabbed Vadim by the shoulders and kissed him.
Chapter 21
Vadim
Vadim sank deeper into the kiss. He shouldn't be kissing Klaus in the room he'd once shared with Hesse. His conscience kept trying to tell him he should feel guilt, or sorrow, or something other than sheer desire for the man standing before him. Klaus was a part of Vadim in a way Hesse could never be. Hesse belonged to Embertide first, whereas Klaus could belong to Vadim, if he dared to ask.
Vadim's conscience didn't like that idea. He didn't deserve love. He'd killed countless people. Some had been in defense of Aquarion, or the empire, but most had been in self-defense while upholding some sense of entitlement Coryn thought she was owed. How could he deserve a happy ending after all the heartache and devastation he'd caused?
It was better to ignore the pang of his conscience and fall headlong into Klaus's heavy breath and open mouth. Klaus held him in place by his ponytail, and his questing tongue brought Vadim back to the present.
Present was another word for gift, and he wanted to open this one. But not tonight. Klaus had to be tired after destroying so many undead. Vadim hadn't slept that afternoon, either. He'd concentrated on the feel of Klaus in his arms and the smell of his hair. The seeker used conditioning oil to keep it looking so sleek, and it smelled like lavender and sage. The scents were meant to be relaxing, but Vadim had already associated them with Klaus in his mind. Along with anything Klaus-related, they turned him on.
Klaus broke the kiss, panting in Vadim's ear. "Do you want to find a mattress, or are we doing this against the wall again?"
"We should find a mattress, and then we should sleep."
Klaus growled. "Why did I know you were going to say that?"
"We're linked." Vadim couldn't help it. Klaus looked so cute when he scowled.
They were both disappointed when Klaus unlocked the storeroom with his tools, and they found it empty.
"I should have known," Vadim said. "They probably sold the beds. They were all high-quality oak, and as old as the academy itself."
