Page 31 of Dead & Dating
Vesper chuckles beside me, his fingers tracing lazy circles on my thigh that send pleasant tingles up my leg. "He's been obsessed with horror movies since we came to Earth. Says they inspire his nightmare creations."
As if to prove a point, Vesper flicks his wrist with casual grace, and the shadows in the room start to dance. They move independently of the flickering lights, twisting and writhing across the walls like living things searching for prey. One of them forms the shape of a hand, elongated fingers reaching out toward Milo, and he yelps, swatting at it with exaggerated alarm.
"Vesper, stop!" Milo laughs, grabbing a piece of popcorn from the bowl and throwing it at him.
Vesper catches it in his mouth with perfect precision, grinning triumphantly. "What? I'm just adding to the ambiance."
I laugh, grabbing a handful of popcorn from the bowl balanced on my lap and tossing it at Vesper in retaliation. He dodges, moving so fast he's almost a blur, and the popcorn sails past him. I move to throw another handful, my elbow bumping Milo as the popcorn falls over my shoulder, raining down on Duske behind me.
Duske raises an eyebrow, his dark eyes meeting mine with mock severity. "Really?"
I grin, shrugging innocently even as I fight back more laughter. "Oops?"
He growls playfully, a sound that rumbles through his chest and into my back, his hand slides up my side to tickle me. I squeal, trying to twist away, but his grip tightens on my waist. The popcorn bowl tips precariously, kernels scattering across the couch and floor in a cascade of white.
"Duske!" I gasp between laughs, my sides already starting to ache. "Stop!"
Milo joins in, his fingers finding my other side and I'm helpless between them, trapped in their playful assault. Vesper just watches, his grin widening as he enjoys the show, clearly pleased with the chaos he's indirectly caused.
"Okay, okay! I surrender!" I manage to get out, my sides aching from laughter.
Duske releases me immediately, pressing a gentle kiss to my temple as a peace offering. "Behave."
I settle back against him, still grinning as Milo slides off the couch to start picking up the scattered popcorn, tossing pieces at Vesper when he thinks I'm not looking. Vesper retaliates by making the shadows steal Milo's pieces mid-throw, the kernels disappearing into darkness before materializing on the other side of the room. Soon they're in a full-blown shadow-popcorn war, which is ten times more amusing than the movie at this point.
I watch them, my chest warm with affection that feels almost too big to contain. This is what I've been missing. This playfulness, this easy intimacy that comes from truly being comfortable with someone. I never got to have this when I was alive, too worried about my lack of scent, too insecure about not being a proper Omega to let myself relax like this.
Darkness shudders behind me, Duske shifting into his other form, his tail wrapping around my thigh like they keep doing. Heat pools low in my belly in response as his thumb starts rubbing gentle circles on my hip that somehow feel both soothing and arousing. I can feel his breath against my neck, warm puffs of air that make me shiver.
"You okay, sweetheart?" he murmurs, his voice pitched low enough that only I can hear over the movie.
I nod, leaning back into him and letting his strength support me. "Yeah. Just happy."
"Good."
The popcorn fight dies down, Milo slinking back onto the couch and placing his head in my lap. I run my fingers through his hair, returning my attention to the screen.
Some killer is chasing the final girl through a dark house, her screams echoing through the speakers. Milo suddenly morphs without warning. His head shifts into that carved pumpkin, the transformation seamless and unsettling. The jagged grin stretches wide across the orange surface, and the flickering candlelight from the real pumpkins makes his face look even more sinister, the shadows in the carved features deepening.
"Boo," he says, his voice deeper and more distorted than usual.
I jump, my heart racing as adrenaline spikes through me as he sits up. "Jesus, Milo!" A small giggle follows as the cutout for his eyes wiggles up and down.
He shifts back to his human face, grinning with obvious satisfaction at having startled me. "Got you."
Vesper shakes his head, but he's smiling with clear amusement. "You're going to give her a heart attack."
"She's already dead," Milo points out with impeccable logic.
The movie continues, the final girl making her escape, but I'm only half paying attention now. Duske's tail is slowly sliding higher up my thigh, the tip teasing the edge of my shorts with deliberate intent. His hand on my hip is grounding, the heat radiating from his body and seeping into mine.
Vesper's hand on my other thigh starts to wander, his fingers tracing intricate patterns on my skin that seem random but feel purposeful. I glance at him, and his hazel eyes are dark with heat, pupils blown wide. He leans in, his lips brushing against my ear with feather-light contact.
"You smell so fucking good, princess. Like vanilla and honey and pure temptation."
My breath hitches in my throat, my scent blooming in response, sweetening the air around us. Duske's tail tightens around my thigh possessively, his body tensing behind me.
"Are you trying to start something?" I whisper, my voice coming out breathless.
