Gerome woke slowly. TV noises came from the living room of their hotel apartment. How long had he been asleep?
He rubbed his eyes. Exhaustion had hit him hard, so it must have been quite a while. But falling asleep in the car was awful. And going back to bed after said nap in the car was even worse. But he’d worked too much lately, and now he paid the price. Eventually, his body needed sleep, no matter where he was. Vampires simply dropped when they got too tired. It was something he’d experienced time after time. He could go for days until he reached a certain point—a point he’d found once more. It didn’t matter what he’d told Luis about being able to go on and on without stopping. He couldn’t. By now, Luis had probably seen through his façade and realized how much he suffered from the workload his father dropped on him. The work Luis had taken off his shoulders helped, but he couldn’t go on like this. Making room for a week’s vacation had almost been too much for him, and his father hadn’t taken the plans well. He’d simply added more work to the list Gerome already had, but he’d managed. He’d finished the tasks, and now he was here with Luis and a full week all for themselves.
With a groan, Gerome sat up. It was growing dark outside, and the snow on the mountain caps glistened in the falling sun. He figured he’d slept about three hours. That wasn’t enough, but he’d simply go back to bed with Luis tonight.
He threw the covers to the side and reached for his trousers. He still wore his boxers and T-shirt, so Gerome pulled up his pants, but left off the dress shirt and tie. After all, he was on vacation. Instead, he grabbed a sweater from one of his suitcases. Later on, he’d dig out his PJs. Luis probably wouldn’t appreciate it if he slept naked like he did at home.
If he and Luis got naked with each other, it would be because they both undressed at the same time, and not because Gerome liked the feeling of the sheets against his skin. And if they didn’t get naked together anytime soon, then Gerome would have to accept that as well. He’d hurt Luis, and while they’d begun to work something out between them, he couldn’t assume they’d have sex in the near future. Hell, if they never had sex again, Gerome would have to accept it, even though he didn’t like the thought at all.
Once he was crowned king, he could slowly try to change the rules and fight to get rid of the old mating laws. His fate was sealed, but that didn’t mean others needed to suffer as Luis had.
But for now, they had a week free of responsibilities, a week to get to know each other better. Right now, that meant he had to get Luis something to eat because he didn’t smell any food, which meant his mate, who needed to gain some more weight, had not ordered room service.
When he walked into the living room, only a small light on the wall and the TV illuminated the area. If he wasn’t mistaken, Luis was watching some kind of comedy.
“Hey, sorry I slept so long.”
Luis turned his head, looked up, and smiled. “I think you needed the sleep. Feeling better?”
“A bit. I need some more rest before I can say I’m back up and running. I think I’ve worked too much these past weeks.”
“You think? I’d never have guessed.” Luis chuckled quietly.
“Wiseass. Did you eat? It doesn’t smell like it in here.”
“No, I thought I’d wait for you so we could eat together.” Luis silenced the TV.
“That’s nice of you. Then let’s go down and see what the restaurant offers.”
“Okay. I’m hungry. If you had slept much longer, I would have gotten room service.”
“What are we waiting for then?”
Luis got up and shut the TV off, then turned to Gerome. He smiled at him. “You look much better now.”
Gerome raised his lips into a smile as well. “Thank you.” He stepped to the door and opened it. After taking a sniff to make sure no one was in the corridor, he allowed Luis to go first, following closely behind.
Every time Gerome saw Luis in his own clothes, he realized again and again how good he looked in them. His jeans were artfully ripped, but not in a cheap, accidental way. He must’ve spent hours ripping them, fixing them, and decorating them with small patches of fabric. His green sweater matched some of the patches and highlighted his short blond hair. The new haircut suited him, although it’d already grown out a bit. Now it was nearly the perfect length for his taste. Not that he watched his mate that closely. He’d merely noticed it. Just the way he’d noticed how much the jeans clung to Luis’ frame.
Perhaps they could add a shopping trip to one of their day plans. Luis clearly knew what he was doing when he picked these clothes. Seeing him browse through a more expensive and exclusive selection would be nice.
Continuously sniffing for any sign of a threat, he entered the restaurant after Luis. No trace of another vampire hung in the air, and he allowed himself to relax a bit. No one would get to Luis. He’d been careless once, with Alex. He wouldn’t make the same mistake again.
A waiter greeted them and led them to a table in a quiet corner of the restaurant. Gerome’s mouth watered at the smells in the air. The hotel was one of the best, and while food didn’t do anything for his hunger, he simply loved to eat. Years ago, he’d stumbled upon an article about how eating was one of the most sensual things a person could do. Drinking blood was to sustain himself. Eating food satisfied another hunger, one he couldn’t even quench by having a man. He’d tried, but the sex usually left him yearning for something he hadn’t found yet. Only eating stopped the craving.
A couple of women seated together and one man who sat alone at a table watched as Luis followed the waiter. Gerome noticed their gazes. There was no threat, only interest, but he barely managed to stop the low growl from rising in his throat. How dare they? Luis was his. No one was allowed to look at him as if they wanted to strip him naked and have their way with him. Yes, Luis was more than beautiful, but he was taken. He belonged to him. Jealousy flared up, but he ruthlessly pushed it down. It didn’t have a place here, and he wouldn’t win any brownie points if he started a pissing contest with another guest.
Nevertheless, he shot a deadly glare at all three of the watchers. The women instantly averted their gazes, but the man just smiled and licked his lips.
He couldn’t stop the growl now. The man couldn’t get away with this. He couldn’t make a scene here, but if he ever saw the man alone outside staring at his mate again, it’d be the last thing he did.
He shot another glare at the man and fought his instincts to wrap an arm around Luis. It would look stupid if he did it now.
They passed the man, and after one last threatening glower, Gerome focused back on Luis. The waiter stood next to a small table partly hidden by huge plants. It was a great spot with lots of privacy, just the way he liked it. Luis took his seat, his eyes on him. Damn, his mate had probably heard the growl. Gerome smiled apologetically and sat down.
The waiter handed them their menus and recited the wine selection. Gerome picked a Merlot, and the waiter left them in silence.
After a couple of seconds, Luis said, “Have you ever thought about changing the mating laws once you’re king? As long as they’re in place, they will be followed. You have the power to change that. We’re stuck with each other, but you could save others. Have ever thought about it?”
Before he answered, Gerome hesitated. Luis deserved the truth. “Yes, but vampires are really settled in their tradition and I’m not sure how long it would take to change the laws, even when I’m king. But I promise you I’ll look into it as well as the issue about mates being forbidden to work. You’ve helped me a lot these last few weeks, and it’s stupid that I can’t have you by my side simply because of these laws.”
“Thank you. I mean it. Maybe we can help others find a partner they love, not someone who buys them, which is the first thing I’d change, by the way. The idea of buying and owning someone is offensive. Not one of us is an animal.” He glared at Gerome.
“Yes, yes.” Gerome tried to hide his smile. “I’ll talk to my father once we’re back home, okay? Maybe he can do something, but I can’t do much from here.”
“Absolutely. Thank you for thinking about it.” Luis smiled at him and covered his hand with his. Gerome didn’t know what brought up the subject, but Luis was right. The laws needed to be changed. He’d fucked society’s rules already by giving Luis more freedom, his own money, and the promise to never hurt him.
But first, they had to order their dinners. The waiter already hovered close again, but Gerome shook his head. They needed a couple more minutes.
In a matter of weeks, he’d made more progress with his mate than he’d ever dreamt he could. Luis didn’t shy away from his touch anymore and, with the assurance that he wouldn’t be punished, his sparkling personality and easygoing character shined a bright light on Gerome’s usually dark days.
Gerome’s decision to throw aside his pride and the laws to allow Luis to be himself had been the right thing to do. If he changed the rules and allowed everyone to mate who they wanted, he really might be able to save some other humans and paranormals. The owning part of a mating needed to stop, better now than tomorrow.
“Let’s order our dinner. Otherwise, the waiter will have a fit. He’s making me nervous.”
Luis laughed again and opened his menu. “Then let me find the most expensive dish since you’re paying.”
“Hey, no need to get cheeky, or I’ll use your credit card.” Gerome smiled to soften his words.
“Do that. It’s your money anyway, so I have no qualms about spending it.” He looked at the menu and frowned. “So, what do we have here? Eewww... oysters. No thanks. Who eats oysters? What else do we have? Escargot... no. I don’t think I’ll pick the most expensive thing, after all. Brrr.” Luis shook himself, still chuckling.
Gerome smiled. “They don’t offer frog’s legs, do they? You could try them.”
Luis looked up, his eyes wide, but a smile played around his lips. “Stop it. I’ll stick with steak, thank you very much. And don’t you dare to pick something like escargot. I’ll move to a different table.”
Now Gerome laughed. “Okay, duly noted. Frog’s legs and oysters for you then.”
Luis stuck out his tongue. The waiter interrupted them before they could continue their banter, and Gerome went with a filet of flounder, and Luis ordered a steak.
After the waiter had left, Gerome raised his wine glass. “Cheers. It’s nice to be here with you this week.”
Luis smiled and picked up his wine glass as well. “Nice to be here with you.”
Looking into each other’s eyes, they touched their glasses and then took a sip.
“Hey, this stuff is good.” Luis took another sip, then put his glass back on the table.
“I’m glad you like it.”
They chatted a bit longer about the old laws and about how they might have come to be. Most likely, they were once used as a way to unite covens, to help them gain power and strength, and as a way to make peace with hostile covens. But now, they were outdated. Gerome needed to talk to his father about changing them. There had to be a way to make it happen.
The damn waiter interrupted them by clearing his throat, but he stopped their conversation for only a minute, and then, eating while talking, they returned to their discussion.
They finished their dinner with some warm chocolate brownies with melted chocolate inside them. Licking his fork with every bite, Luis ate his whole portion. Gerome couldn’t take his eyes away from his mate’s lips. Did the man know how much the gesture aroused him? Most likely not. But then, maybe Luis knew very well what he was doing. Gerome caught his gaze, and Luis traced his lips again with his tongue. Fuck. Heat rose in Gerome’s cheeks, and with a dry throat, he swallowed. Was Luis trying to kill him? Clearly not, but if this didn’t scream seduction, Gerome didn’t know what did.
He liked watching Luis, and a certain heat rushed through his body at the thought of those lips wrapped around his hard cock. What exactly was Luis implying with his behavior? Gerome didn’t know, but he’d simply go with whatever Luis initiated. However, if the situation got to be too much for his mate, he could always stop it.
Luis ran a hand over his stomach and leaned back in his chair. “God, that was good. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten food more delicious than this. You picked a great hotel and restaurant.” His beautiful blue eyes sparkled.
“I’m happy you like it, and yes, the food was very good. Let’s go back to our room, and I’ll have the rest of the wine brought up.”
They hadn’t finished it, and Gerome didn’t want to waste it. He considered having a couple more glasses before he went to bed.
“Yeah, I think I could sleep now.” Luis raised his hand to cover his yawn. “Sorry, I think all this food has made me tired.”
“Let’s go then.” He barely managed to keep his eyes open as well. It was time to go back to bed. Gerome signaled the waiter, and after making sure the bottle would be delivered upstairs within a few minutes, they left the restaurant.
They made their way up to their suite in silence and met a waiter with their wine waiting for them.
Gerome opened the door, indicating that Luis should wait until he checked to make sure everything was secure. He took the wine from the waiter and put it on the small table. Only the dim lights from the village shining through the windows bathed the nearly dark room.
Luis came inside after him, but Gerome stopped him when Luis’ hand hovered over the light switch. “Come here.” He held out his hand, and Luis took it without hesitation. Gerome closed the door with his other hand, leaving them in the dim light falling through the window. Using his vampire vision so that Luis wouldn’t stumble, he easily guided his mate around the furniture and led him to the window.
Stopping Luis in front of the huge pane of glass, he said, “Isn’t it beautiful?” Gerome slowly slid behind Luis just as he’d done earlier in the parking lot and embraced him. His heart beat hard when Luis leaned back into the embrace and rested his head on Gerome’s shoulder.
“It’s more than beautiful.”
The mountains were dark. The lights from the village and their reflection on the snow offered the only illumination. Everything glistened and blinked, enveloping the whole valley in a romantic light.
Luis covered Gerome’s hands with his and pulled his arms even tighter around his slender frame while pressing a kiss to Gerome’s cheek. “Thank you for bringing me here. It’s truly beautiful and getting away from the palace for a while is great.”
“I have to thank you for coming with me and for giving us this second chance. I don’t think I’ve ever said it, but I’m very happy you allowed me close to you.” He didn’t know why he admitted it, but the words were true, and he wanted Luis to know it.
Luis didn’t speak for a couple of seconds. He just stood there, wrapped in Gerome’s embrace. “You know, I think the way things happened was all good. I don’t mean all of our mating, but the fact that we somehow found a way to work together. I don’t know where what’s between us will lead, but so far, it’s good.”
He turned his head, allowing Gerome to reach his lips. They lost themselves in a kiss as sweet as the chocolate brownies they’d just eaten, and even when Luis turned around in his arms, they didn’t stop. This time, Gerome took charge of the kiss, his tongue meeting his mate’s while his hot body pressed close enough that their chests and groins touched. Luis sighed deeply, relaxing even more into the kiss as his fingers roamed up and down Gerome’s back.
Finally, when oxygen became necessary, Gerome released Luis and rested his forehead against his mate.
“I still can’t thank you enough,” he finally whispered.
“You’ve changed a lot these last several weeks. It made it easy for me to like you. I think Sam had a lot to do with it as well, but most of it came from the fact that you managed to leave your upbringing behind you.”
“I don’t know. I still feel like I’m failing most days.”
“No, you’re not. You’re doing great. Just look at us. I think it’s the best outcome we could’ve wished for.”
“You think? I don’t want to make you unhappy. I know you still have problems because you’re stuck with me.”
Instead of an answer, Luis reached up to Gerome’s neck to kiss him again. When he released Gerome, he only whispered, “That has changed a lot during these last weeks as well.”
They didn’t talk about anything else for a while, but instead, just kissed in front of the breathtaking view.
Finally, Luis told Gerome in uncertain words that they should go to bed now. His mate was right, but that didn’t mean Gerome wanted to let him go.
Luis fit so perfectly in his arms, and he wanted to hold him all night—be able to kiss him and breathe in his scent. When he stood this close, he could even smell the blood running through his veins. It sang to him, beckoning him, even though Luis was not close to feeding him yet. But he could have Luis by his side tonight. He just had to ask, and perhaps he’d be up for it. “Do you want to spend the night in one bed? I promise not to try anything, but I really would love to hold you.”
Luis nodded against his neck. “Yeah, I think that’d be nice.”
“That’s good. Thank you.” He smiled and led Luis away from the window and to the bedroom. They both took their turns in the bathroom, undressing there, and when Gerome came back in his PJs, a half asleep but smiling Luis waited for him as he raised the covers in an invitation to join him.
As soon as Gerome’s head had settled onto the pillow, Luis rested his head on his shoulder, kissed him one last time, murmured “good night,” and closed his eyes.
Gerome shut off the light, wrapped his arms even tighter around Luis, and with a last deep breath, he succumbed to slumber as well.
****
Breathing in the scent of the man who’d spent the night in bed with him, Gerome woke slowly. They had moved during the night, and Gerome now spooned Luis from behind.
He pressed a kiss to Luis’ neck and closed his eyes again. Though well rested and awake, he didn’t need to get up. No appointments and nothing else awaited him other than a beautiful man still asleep in his bed. He’d be crazy if he got up now.
He’d have laughed if someone had told him two months ago he’d be doing this with Luis. But now, he couldn’t imagine being anywhere else or doing anything differently.
About half an hour later, Luis started to move. He didn’t scoot away but snuggled closer into Gerome’s embrace. “Morning.” His voice sounded rough and deep. Sexy. Very sexy.
“Morning. How did you sleep?”
Luis stretched and turned around, never leaving Gerome’s arms. “Good. You?”
His hair stood up in strange directions, and his face contained a certain sleepy softness. Gerome’s breath stopped for a second before he leaned forward to capture Luis’ lips in a kiss. Luis had never looked more beautiful. His mate responded instantly, kissing him as well, but he pulled back after a moment. “Wait! Let me brush my teeth first.”
Gerome chuckled. “I don’t mind, but okay. I’ll use the bathroom myself as well. Can we go back to bed after that?”
“You’re not in a hurry to get up today?” Luis sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. Regretting the loss of contact, Gerome followed his movements with his eyes.
“No, no hurry at all. I’d rather go back to bed.” With you, he added silently.
“Give me a couple of minutes, and I’ll go with you.” Luis smiled and walked to the bathroom, closing the door behind him. Gerome let himself fall back onto the soft mattress and waited for his mate’s return.
Luis, still dressed in his sweats and T-shirt, opened the door a few minutes later. His hair was combed, though not styled, and he appeared to be much more awake now. Would he really come back to bed, or was their cuddling session over?
Luis, with a smile on his face, slipped beneath the covers. Instantly, he snuggled close and rested his head on Gerome’s shoulder while Gerome wrapped him in his arms.
“Didn’t you want to go to the bathroom as well?” Luis asked, not making a move to let him get up.
“Yeah. Sort of.” He didn’t want to get up because Luis fit perfectly in his embrace.
“Then off you go.” Chuckling, Luis released him. “I’ll be here when you get back.”
“Okay, okay, I’ll go.” He really, really didn’t want to leave the warm, cozy bed, and especially Luis’ embrace. After a couple more minutes, he finally dragged himself out of the bed and made his way to the bathroom. He hurried to get ready so Luis wouldn’t have to wait too long. With clean teeth and somewhat fixed hair, he made his way back to his mate. Luis snuggled back into his arms, his head comfortably resting on Gerome’s shoulder again.
Gerome stole a kiss and kept his mate close. “What do you want to do today?” he finally asked after a few minutes of silence.
“I don’t know. What can we do here? Take a walk? Do some sightseeing? I’m not sure there is much to see, as the village appears to be rather small.”
“We have my car, so we can always go to another village. I was thinking about taking you shopping, but other than that, I’m open to suggestions. We can always sit outside in the sun and drink coffee. Or we can stay in bed and do nothing,” Gerome suggested.
Luis laughed quietly. “That sounds good as well, the staying in bed part, but I think we should get up at some point and have breakfast.”
“Probably. Then let’s go shopping today and maybe take a walk. There’s nothing to rush us this week, so let’s just stay here a little longer.”
“I can get behind that plan,” Luis whispered before burying his nose in Gerome’s neck.
They didn’t do anything except cuddle. Gerome’s hands stayed on top of Luis’ T-shirt until his mate’s stomach rumbled loudly. “Let’s get up and have breakfast or order room service. Either way, you have to eat.”
“I don’t want to.” Luis pouted as he pressed another kiss to Gerome’s lips. “But if I have to, let’s get up. I don’t want food crumbs in the bed.” Luis kissed him again, and then sat up.
He was right. They should get up and Luis needed to eat, but he’d prefer to spend the day in bed doing nothing. Although, taking Luis shopping or just sightseeing would be great as well.
Gerome looked up to see Luis slipping out of his shirt and nearly swallowed his tongue. He stood there bare-chested, his back to Gerome, the muscles rippling as he threw the shirt to the side. Then he bent to retrieve a new shirt from the suitcase, his fine ass on display in the sweats.
Watching a half-naked Luis sparked quite a bit of interest, and a certain warmth spread through Gerome’s groin. Hot damn.
Sadly, Luis pulled a T-shirt over his head and hid all the delicious skin. He turned, catching Gerome’s eyes. “Up with you, or should I come back to bed?”
“As much as I want to say come back to bed, you need to eat, and I could use a cup of coffee or two.” He swung his legs over the bed just in time to see Luis vanish into the bathroom with his jeans in hand. Sharing a room might not have been the right decision. He could already foresee a date with his right hand in the near future. He’d never do anything Luis wasn’t ready for, but he needed to get his raging hormones under control.