During the drive, Luis’ mind never shut off, never stopped telling him how fucked up this all was, but now, silence ruled.
On some level, it was sick to seek comfort from the man he’d previously hated, but these last few weeks had shown him a lot about Gerome and his vulnerability. How could he hate him once he’d gotten to know him? He couldn’t, and lately, he’d started to see more to Gerome: a man he liked. A friend.
And somehow, his mate’s embrace comforted him when his emotions were in turmoil inside of him. Kissing him was just the logical conclusion. One that he didn’t regret. Gerome tasted great, and his possessive neck grip sent shivers of lust through Luis while his fingers clutched Gerome’s shirt.
Their tongues danced, an equal match, neither of them trying to be more dominant. Gerome’s beard stubble scratched against him, adding a new layer of sensation and lust.
He finally came up for some much-needed air, although he refused to open his eyes and face reality. Being in a happy little bubble with Gerome tempted him much more. And while his friends knew he’d be arriving soon, they could simply stay here a little longer. He pressed a small kiss to Gerome’s lips and ran his hands up and down his back.
Should he say something? They needed to talk about what happened, what they were doing right now, but he didn’t want to. He only wanted to stay in Gerome’s arms.
Slowly, he opened his eyes and met Gerome’s gaze. His mate smiled and kissed him again. Gerome took over holding Luis close and turning a simple peck on the lips into yet another open-mouthed kiss.
When they separated a short time later, Luis couldn’t even sort his thoughts anymore.
“I have no idea what we’re doing here. You?” Gerome asked.
Luis shook his head. He didn’t know how to answer the question, but having Gerome’s warm body close enough to ward off the chill of the cold winter day at the same time the man’s cologne filled his sense of smell seemed so right. They weren’t ready to do anything else, but this... this they could keep up. Instead of saying something, he tried to catch more of the delicious scent and Gerome’s warmth by nestling his face into Gerome’s jacket lapel. Gerome’s fingers caressed his neck while his other hand rested on Luis’ back. “I have absolutely no clue what we’re doing here. I mean, we shouldn’t—”
“Shh. We can. No one can tell us what to do. We broke all the rules on how a mating should be, and if we both feel that this is okay, then I suggest we simply do it as long as you’re okay with it.”
Luis chuckled, then raised his head and pulled Gerome into yet another kiss. When they finally came up for air, Luis whispered, “Does that feel like I’m not okay with it?”
“I don’t want you to think we have to do—”
Luis interrupted him. “Come on. I will no longer let anyone pressure me into anything. I did once, but during these last few weeks, I think we’ve established that we have a different dynamic to our mating than others do. I will stop you if I’m uncomfortable with anything, and I hope you’ll do the same.” Luis stared at his mate.
“Of course. I would never do anything... well, you know what I mean. We’ll simply start fresh, okay? What happened, happened, but this,” Gerome looked between them, “is something completely different, even though I have no idea what it is.”
“I think we’ve already established that neither of us exactly knows what we’re doing here, but it’s okay. We’ll figure it out.”
“But first, I think we should meet your friends before they start looking for you. You texted them earlier to let them know we were on our way, and we haven’t shown up yet. I hope they won’t think I kidnapped you.” Gerome smiled.
“I think it’s a bit late for that worry. Come on, let’s go upstairs.” Luis chuckled and stepped back. The loss of Gerome’s body heat sent a shiver down his back, and he had to stop himself from wrapping his arms around his mate again. Seeing his friends would be great, but he’d like to explore this chemistry between them a bit more.
He turned halfway around, hesitated and stole another small kiss from Gerome, then pressed the doorbell. A few seconds later, they were buzzed into the front door. Luis reached back, taking Gerome’s hand in his again, and then he pushed the door open. Every small gesture of support would help him because he knew meeting his friends would hurt, although not as much now as he’d first believed.
Gerome didn’t comment as Luis led him up the four flights of stairs until they stood in front of Albert’s door and a madly grinning Albert who waited for them.
“Hey! Come here!” Luis’ fingers slipped from Gerome’s as Albert pulled him into a big hug. He wrapped his arms around his best friend, hugging him tightly. Tears welled up, but he pushed the emotions down. Albert had seen him cry a few times, but he didn’t want to destroy this moment. He was happy to see them, not sad, even though it still hurt a bit.
“I missed you,” Albert whispered in his ear, and Luis swallowed hard against the lump in his throat. Fuck. He was way too emotional.
“I missed you as well.” He hugged Albert one last time, then stepped back to look at his friend. He hadn’t changed in the last seven months. His black hair was still buzzed short, and his blue eyes still glistened. A couple of centimeters shorter than Luis, Albert’s build spoke of just a bit too much fast food and not enough exercise. Luis cleared his throat and introduced Gerome. “Albert, this is Gerome, my mate and the Crown Prince of the Munich Coven. Gerome, this is Albert, one of my best friends. Where is Kevin?”
Albert bowed, showing his neck to Gerome. “Welcome, my prince. I apologize for not addressing you sooner. Please forgive me my mistake.”
“Thank you. There is nothing to worry about, and please, call me Gerome. I’m not here as the prince. I’m here with Luis.”
Luis watched the exchange, stunned at Albert’s submissive behavior. He’d never seen his friend like this.
“Thank you. Please, come in, Kevin’s been waiting as well. He just had to go and rescue the pizza we put in the oven when you texted that you were on your way. You arrived a bit later than we expected, so he had to take it out before it burned.” Albert opened the door wider and stepped back.
Gerome followed Luis as he walked into the apartment he’d once visited almost daily. Now, it seemed foreign, like a distant dream. He’d not been here in about seven months, and while nothing directly had changed, everything was different.
The hallway, cluttered like always, included cheap, ragged sneakers thrown together in a pile, as well as several jackets heaped onto a small table because Albert never put hooks on the wall. Luis slipped out of his parka, took Gerome’s as well, and added them to the mound on the table like he’d done a hundred times in the past. Somehow, it still wasn’t the same. He slipped out of his shoes and placed them next to the collection on the floor, and then he and Gerome followed Albert into the small, one-room apartment.
In the small kitchenette, Kevin balanced a sheet with a pizza pie on top on top of it. “Hi! I’ll be with you in a second.” His dark brown hair was in dire need of a cut, and his clothes clung to him like always. Where Albert was stocky and solidly built, Kevin was lanky and always looked half-starved, although he ate enough. Albert and Luis had always made sure of that, but somehow, he never managed to gain weight.
“Don’t hurry.” Luis looked around, taking in the familiar setting that pushed tears into his eyes again. A king-sized bed dominated the room, the bedding unmade as usual. At least, Albert had managed to pick up his dirty laundry because there were no socks laying around. But other than that, books mixed with files and anything else imaginable were stacked on the floor. How his friend would make it as a lawyer, who had to be neat and tidy, remained to be seen. For now, Albert did well with his studies but not with his housekeeping skills.
Kevin closed the oven door and strode over to Gerome and him. “Come here!” As Albert had done before, Kevin wrapped Luis into a tight hug while whispering in his ear how much he’d missed him. Luis fought back tears for the second time—winning again. Damn tears. They didn’t have a place here.
Kevin finally released him, and Luis introduced Gerome. Just like Albert, Kevin bowed, apologizing for not paying tribute earlier. What the fuck was up with them? Gerome handled it coolly like before, telling Kevin it was fine.
“We can eat, if you want. The pizza is done,” Albert said. “My prince, I apologize that we can’t offer anything else to eat, but I could order some take-out if you want. We didn’t expect you, so we didn’t prepare anything else.”
“Please, call me Gerome. It’s fine. I’m not here as the prince but as Luis’ mate. I don’t need anything special, and I’ll gladly eat some pizza with you.” Gerome smiled at Albert, who looked away, clearly not happy with the prince’s presence.
“Thank you. Still, I’m sorry. Luis, you should have told us the prince would be with you.”
“You mean you would’ve cleaned up here then?” Luis chuckled as Albert’s face reddened, but then his friend laughed along with him.
“At least, a little more than I already did. Okay, let’s sit down and eat.”
Luis picked up two plates, handed one to Gerome, and maneuvered a slice of pizza onto each. Then, just as he’d done a thousand times before, he went over to the bed and sat cross-legged on it. Gerome hesitated a second, then followed Luis’ example. He looked slightly out of his comfort zone, but then, he’d probably never eaten pizza on a bed in an apartment where a table didn’t fit.
Albert and Kevin got themselves some pizza as well, then Kevin sat down on the floor and Albert sat on a pile of books so that they faced each other.
Silence settled between them as they ate. Luis tried to come up with a subject they could take up. They’d discussed the mating on the phone already, and he didn’t want to talk about it now that Gerome was there, not to mention that things had changed between them now anyway. He didn’t need to tell his friends about this new development yet. He and his mate needed to figure out what they were doing first.
Chewing slowly on his pizza, Luis watched his friends. Kevin’s gaze met Albert’s every once in a while, and while they clearly tried to make it inconspicuous, there was something happening here. Something like— “Did you guys hook up?” Luis finally blurted out.
Both heads turned in his direction. “Why would you... I mean, we don’t—we didn’t...”
“I see you glancing at each other. Was it a one-time thing or are you two now together?”
Worry clear in his voice, Kevin asked, “You’re not mad or sad about it?”
“No, I’m not. Why should I be? I’m happy you two found each other. If you manage to stay friends that is. I don’t want to end up in the middle should something happen between you two,” Luis said half-jokingly. He really didn’t need his two best friends to have a fight and not speak to each other because of it.
“No, we’ll be adult about it. No need to worry,” Kevin answered, his eyes wandering to Albert again. They were perfect for each other, but somehow, it took years of friendship for them to discover that. Good for them. It meant they’d no longer bring home any asshole boyfriends.
They all munched their pizza while Luis slowly relaxed more and more. Things were different now. They would no longer be hanging out all day, learning together, bitching about teachers and tests, or sharing their last savings so they could get something to eat. But the old camaraderie began to appear once more. They didn’t seem to be able to forget that a prince was in their midst, but they finally managed to treat him like every other boyfriend they’d brought home over the years. Albert handed out bottles of beer, giving one to Gerome as well. Kevin and Albert chatted a bit about the courses they were taking, how their studies were going and all that stuff, but because Luis and Albert especially had spoken a lot on the phone, there wasn’t much new news. Well, except for the being a couple part, but Luis fully understood why they hadn’t said anything. A few weeks back, this kind of news would’ve sent him into a downward spiral he probably wouldn’t have survived. Now, happiness filled him at the thought that his two best friends had found each other. They had probably never seen it before, but they were made for each other.
Luis munched another piece of pizza, something he didn’t miss. Cooking with Gerome had proven to be a nice experience. And having a fridge that never lacked a thing, he wasn’t used to eating cheap food anymore. Not worrying about money had its advantages. And being around Gerome was fun, even though his mate didn’t really know how to cook.
Absently, he glanced at Gerome, and their gazes met. Was his mate watching him eat? Maybe. Nothing was impossible after that kiss—if he only knew what to make of the kiss. Were they a couple now? Okay, they were already mated, but together as in literally together? He wasn’t ready for anything more intense with Gerome, but he could get on board with some more kissing.
Their visit passed with some more chatting, but Luis still felt like he no longer belonged to their circle. It wasn’t the same anymore, and it wasn’t Gerome’s presence stopping them from goofing around like they had in the past. Somewhere along the way, Luis had changed, grown apart from his friends.
The realization hurt, but what could he do? He hadn’t seen them in months and, of course, Albert and Kevin had changed as well. Maybe they could reconnect and spend some time with each other, but he wasn’t one of them. As much as it hurt to admit it, money wasn’t an issue anymore, and neither were his studies. He couldn’t cry about teachers or too much work. His safety didn’t leave his mind for a second either. Every time he wanted to visit, he would have to bring D or Gerome with him, which would take the spontaneity out of the meeting.
A glance at the clock told him they’d have to leave soon, as it was nearing seven and had grown dark already. They had over an hour’s drive ahead of them, and Gerome most likely had more work to do now that he’d spent his afternoon with Luis.
They said their goodbyes, and Albert and Kevin hugged him tightly.
“Call us. Please. We miss you,” Kevin, sniffling loudly, whispered in his ear. Tears threatened Luis again, but he swallowed them. He wouldn’t cry. They would meet again soon, and they could always talk on the phone.
Albert didn’t seem to want to let him go because he kept him in his arms forever until Luis gently removed them.
Gerome didn’t take his hand until they were in the car. He sat there, silently waiting until Luis buckled up.
“You miss your friends a lot.”
It wasn’t a question.
“I do. We were together all the time. I’ve shared everything with them—every success, every downfall. They were more like family than my real family if that makes sense.”
“It does. I don’t like it, but I understand,” Gerome said quietly.
Taken aback, Luis asked, “Why don’t you like them?”
“Your friends are okay. I just... I have a problem with them hugging you. I know it’s stupid, but I really don’t like it.” Now his voice bordered on inaudible.
“You’re jealous of my friends? Of them hugging me?” He couldn’t believe his ears. Gerome jealous? What the fuck?
“I’m not jealous. I just don’t—”
“You just don’t like them being close to me. That’s jealousy, my friend. Nothing else. But you don’t have to worry. They are only friends, and I won’t stay away from them because you have a problem with them. You have nothing to fear, but I also won’t neglect them or stop myself from touching them because you are jealous. There is no reason for it.” It sounded much harder than he’d intended, but Luis didn’t care. Gerome could shove his jealousy wherever he wanted.
“I know, and I’m sorry. I have no idea what’s up with me. Technically, I know there’s no reason for it to upset me, but I really had a problem with them clinging to you so much. I’ll try to ignore it, okay?” He sounded rueful.
“Thank you. I appreciate it.” Luis reached over and took Gerome’s hand, lacing their fingers together. He leaned over the hand brake, ran his free hand over Gerome’s beard stubble, and turned his head. As their eyes met, Luis leaned forward, pulling Gerome in for a kiss.
“There is no reason for you to be jealous,” he murmured when they broke apart and then pressed his lips to Gerome’s again.