Haruka shamelessly watches Nino’s long, naked frame as he scoots from the bed, swiftly grabs the discarded pajama pants from the floor and disappears into his closet. He hadn’t intended to completely undress Nino when he instigated things, but he is not ungrateful that it has happened. His beautiful, golden-honey body is lean but perfectly sculpted, like an exquisite work of art that he would like to devour.
He shakes his head, focusing and ignoring the hot pulse in his groin. “The situation in Brazil is causing much restlessness among our race—across many aristocracies.”
“I don’t understand,” Nino says from inside his closet. “What’s happening in Brazil feels isolated to me. Whatever the argument is over there, it’s over there. Nothing is being reported in any other geographical aristocracy, so why is everyone focusing on this?”
Haruka shifts to the top of the bed, relaxing his back against the headboard and folding his legs. “The concern is that the discontent will spread to other communities. Much of the conflict comes from Ladislao’s lack of diplomacy—his lack of balance and leadership. He ignores his kin and their concerns, and left to their own devices, this uprising has formed. I know that you dislike hearing it, but on an admittedly smaller scale, this environment is similar to the events preceding the Vanishing. As I have met with many members of the Milan aristocracy, they share my opinion of the situation.”
Nino walks out of the closet wearing soft-looking sweatpants and a long-sleeved shirt that drapes his square shoulders. He sits on the bed beside Haruka.
“That being said,” Haruka continues, sighing, “I feel that I should consider returning home.”
Nino’s eyes widen. “Really?”
“I believe it is irresponsible of me to leave my family’s realm unattended given this increasingly tumultuous environment.”
“When would you go back?”
“I’m not sure… I wanted to discuss this decision with you.” Haruka reaches over. He entwines their fingers together as their hands comfortably rest against Nino’s thigh. “You are my true friend and source, and now my lover. Your opinion is weighted heavily in this situation. You are also my research partner.”
Haruka smiles and waits, but Nino doesn’t speak. The amber vampire sighs heavily as he runs the fingers of his free hand through his hair. Sensing his distress, Haruka holds his hand a little tighter. “To be clear, it is not my intention for us to end our relationship. This is not a farewell conversation.”
“How can we continue as we are if you move back to Japan?” Nino’s beautiful eyes are naked in their anguish. “I can’t feed you if we’re in different countries.”
“Correct. Which means that I would need to secure another resource. But this is not so uncommon, Nino. Unbonded vampires feed from multiple sources in a lifetime, sometimes simultaneously.”
“But you can’t just feed from any random vampire, Haru.” Nino frowns, shaking his head. “You need consistency and high quality because of your bloodline. If you get another Elsie, your body chemistry and nature will be all messed up again.”
“Feeding aside…” Haruka grins. “How should we maintain our working and personal relationship? Would you be willing to visit me? Once I am settled and if your schedule allows? Please do not feel pressured to—”
“Of course I’ll visit you. I think… If you wanted me to, maybe I could…”
Haruka waits, but no words follow. “Yes?”
“I… I don’t know.” Nino drops his shoulders. He rests back against the headboard. “Maybe as we collect more surveys from couples across international communities, we could meet in different places? Like research vacations together.”
“The phrase ‘research vacation’ feels oxymoronic, but I understand your intent. I would like this very much.”
A peaceful silence settles between them, their hands firmly clasped. The clouds shift, allowing the sun to shine a little brighter through the skylights.
“So…” Nino breaks the silence. “We’ll just be apart then.”
Haruka takes a breath, nodding. The sadness of the statement weighs heavily in his chest. He doesn’t want to be apart from Nino, but he should return to his realm. He has been running away from his responsibilities for seventy years.
The irony is that Nino has been the primary catalyst in strengthening and healing Haruka. But in doing so, they will now be separated.
“I don’t want us to be apart.” Nino lowers his head, staring down at his thighs. “Is there any way for us to stay together? Would you want that?”
Haruka swallows, his throat tight. “I do want that. But Nino, I would never ask you to uproot your life and established business for me, especially considering… I cannot promise you that we would form a bond.”
“That’s fine,” Nino says, meeting his eyes. “I’ve never thought about living in Japan, but now that I am, it might be interesting for me. I can start a business anywhere.”
Haruka’s heart is light. His nature twists with joy rather than the usual angst or turmoil. But is this too much to ask of Nino? Should he discourage him? Even as the doubts float across his mind, he wants to ignore them. Maybe he is selfish, but he wants this very much.
“The only problem,” Nino says, his gaze downcast once more, “is finding a new source. Once you’re in charge, will you help me find someone we can trust that can nourish me?”
Nodding, Haruka quietly makes a decision. “I will take care of this. Once I am settled, you should visit. If you find that western Japan is pleasing to you during your trip, then we should decide together.”
In a slow, cautious movement, Nino lets go of Haruka’s hand, then shifts himself so that he’s straddling Haruka’s lap. He rests his weight down against his hips and in the hollow of Haruka’s folded legs. Nino’s eyes gleam as he bites his bottom lip. Haruka wraps his arms around his waist to hold him close.
“I love this plan.” Nino cradles Haruka’s head with his hands. He leans in and sweetly presses his lips to the small blemish just off the bridge of his nose. “It’s much better than research vacations.”
“We could do both?” Haruka smiles, closing his eyes.
Nino kisses his lips. The soft fullness of his mouth combined with the weight of him is marvelous. He lowers his face, moving down Haruka’s jawline. When he reaches the curve of his neck, he breathes in deeply before kissing him there.
“You’ve seen me naked,” Nino says, his voice low. He languidly drags his tongue against his neck—over and over as if Haruka is his most preferred flavor of lollipop. “But I haven’t seen you. It feels a little unfair.”
“Does it?” He smirks, opening his eyes.
Nino sits up straight, focused. “Haru, how… do we feel about sex?”
“Considering my behavior this morning, I think my feelings should be obvious—”
“Okay, but I mean… more.” Nino lifts slightly, moving his hand down between them and tugging at the waistband of Haruka’s pajama pants. He slowly crawls his hand inside until Haruka feels his warm, long fingers firmly wrapping around his naked length. “Like… everything,” Nino says.
Haruka breathes through his nose, focusing. “How do you feel?”
Nino leans in again, gently pressing their foreheads together. “I want you. In every way I can have you.”
“I want you.” Haruka sighs. “However, we should be careful that we do not squander our intimacy.”
Nino’s hand freezes. He sits straight and inhales deeply as if steeling himself for something. “How many times are you comfortable with?”
Laying his head back, Haruka sighs. He doesn’t want to seem strict, but based on everything he has read, everything he knows and all the research, the safest number is the lowest average number. “No more than four.”
“Four?” Nino’s body tenses, his voice jumping several octaves. “So low?”
“It is safest. Most purebred pairings in Lore and Lust became bonded after making love between four to ten times. Five times might be acceptable, but it is risky.”
“But exchanging blood is mandatory in establishing a bond, too,” Nino reasons, his coppery brow creased over anxious eyes. “We’re not, so we should be alright?”
“That… may change.”
Drawing back slightly, Nino blinks. “Yeah?”
“Yes. As such, I have already limited us to only three times after my spontaneity this morning.”
“But this morning… Does that count?”
Haruka blinks, considering. “You were physically gratified?”
Climbing off Haruka’s lap, Nino sits beside him in a heap, puffing out a breath. He reminds Haruka of a child that has been told recess is over. He stares straight forward, his gaze distracted. “Okay… three times.”
“Nino, I can also emotionally please you with my mind and intentional thoughts as I feed. And there is much more to our relationship than physical intimacy, is there not?”
Nino’s gaze is fixed on the far wall. “Yeah. You’re right.”
Haruka pouts. It’s as if Nino’s soul has been sucked out of him. The prospect of only making love with Nino three times is uncomfortable for Haruka as well, but he doesn’t want to risk being bonded. He won’t. He doesn’t want to be so strictly beholden and vulnerable to another vampire again. The first time had been too painful, humiliating and filled with regret. Too much self-sacrifice. He cannot do it again.
Anxious, Haruka raises his eyebrow. “Are you having second thoughts about our plan?” Nino breathes a laugh and rolls his shoulders, the trance broken.
“Absolutely not. Haru, I love—”
Eyes wide, he stares into the side of Nino’s handsome profile. His amber eyes are wide as well as he looks straight ahead at the wall. Haruka reaches down to grasp his hand, then brings it up to his mouth to place soft kisses in his palm. Nino relaxes his shoulders, stifling a grin.
“No, I haven’t changed my mind. I’m excited about my trip.”
Haruka pauses in his kisses. “And I am grateful.”