Chapter Twenty-Nine

Theo

Holy hell, dead vampires made a mess. At least it wasn’t one of those exploding scenes from the movies. It was rather underwhelming, except for the whole Abi pop-top maneuver. Remind me never to piss her off.

Abi fell on the bed, shivering uncontrollably, and Robbie was immediately at her side, pulling a cover over her and hugging her to him, weeping. My holographic arm display suggested that there were no lingering effects on Abi. Or Robbie either, which eased my mind a little.

I sat uncomfortably, never really being able to offer too much comfort to anyone other than Robbie that wasn’t in the form of sarcasm or humor, neither of which seemed appropriate here. First thought—guess we’re being charged a room clean-up fee. Second—great arm action, Abs. Didn’t think either would go over well. So, I washed out one of those hotel room mugs (because you know the cleaning staff never does) and filled it with water for her. I sat on the other side of her and was caught off guard when she pulled me in to create an Abi sandwich. There had been months of me holding Robbie as he worked through his stuff. Being a big guy, I guess pillow cuddler was my lot in life.

I was also fucking exhausted. I suppose we all were because it was many hours later that I was woken up to Robbie’s familiar body pressing against me. “What happened to Abs?” I asked, about ready to get up when he pressed me back.

He spoke softly, wrapping one arm around me. “She went to her own room; said she wanted a shower. We talked for a while. She’ll be okay. She just hadn’t realized what it had been like for me all those years, trapped inside my mind for the most part and unable to act of my own free will.”

“Ah, sugar.” I kissed the top of his head and held him.

After a while he said, so softly that I almost missed it, “Thank you.”

“For what?” I asked.

“Everything.” Robbie pulled away from me and pushed up so he could look at me. I wasn’t surprised by the dampness on his cheeks. “You saved me. Saved Abi…”

“What are you talking about? You saved Abs!” I chuckled. “I got it on film if you want to see. You seem to have mastered this whole mind-fu in just a month. Which is impressive.”

“You gave her blood,” he protested, and the memory made my dick twitch, which was a bit disconcerting. Nüwa bite was pure heroin and something I had to limit myself from engaging in. I could see how it could easily become something I sought out often.

“Eh,” I snorted.

As Robbie wrung his hands in his lap, worrying his lip with his teeth, I rolled and propped myself up on one arm.

Robbie went on. “I…I’ve been thinking…”

Uh oh. “Yes?”

“Do you think that I should give up the Commands?” he asked.

That threw me. “What are you asking, sugar?”

“I don’t want to use Commands on people. It just feels so violating. But…last night, with that vampire…” Robbie took a deep breath and shook his head. “I just don’t want to use them all the time, but I think maybe I need the ability. In case we’re attacked?”

He finally chanced a look at me.

“Sugar, I don’t know if I’m even at a place to weigh in here. I want you to feel good about anything you choose to do. But you’re right; you need to be able to protect yourself…and whoever you’re with.” I felt an annoyingly uncomfortable fluttering in my chest and swallowed back the thoughts of that meaning whoever his next boyfriend was. The thought of Robbie with another man made me grit my teeth. “Okay, well, I’m going to go shower and then my vote is to get out of this hotel. I’m pretty sure that smell is not coming from either of us.”

I swung out of bed, leaving him staring after me.

I guessed I only really had myself to blame. It had always been my policy to love ’em and leave ’em. I’ve had a few friends with benefits, but nothing like this. As I stood under the shower stream, I thought more and more about how Robbie didn’t need me anymore. I’d had that thought the night before when he had sent me out of the room, but he had everything under control. And when I had come in, I had watched as he began speaking this eerily beautiful language that was captivating. If nothing else, in the future he could just do that and stop any attack against him. And whoever he was with. Those Commands I’d seen him do were nothing to sneeze at.

As I was wallowing, I heard Robbie come into the bath, then slip into the shower behind me. Like a moth to the flame, his presence comforted me. As I slowly turned, taking in his gorgeous form, I was powerless to keep from stepping to him and folding myself around his strong shoulders.