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I tried not to let my indulgent grin. Everything in me itched to give into him. He was stupidly pretty.

“I’m parched. Thanks, Jules.”

He got a glass of wine for himself. We clinked our glasses together and drank. It was delicious. Then my eyes fell on the blood red liquid Jules sipped.

Hang on…is that blood. Shit, is he a vampire?

That would explain a lot.

“This is the sweet berry wine I make every summer.” He handed me his glass. “Take a sip. It would be a shame if I only made it for myself. It’s good.”

Without overthinking it, I accepted the goblet and drank.

Whatever it takes for him to smile like that again.

“Wow, that’s fucking fantastic! You made this?”

“I did.” He inhaled, and then gave me another of his cautious smiles.

“You’re great at this.” Grinning, I took another sip, then contemplated it. “Sorry, I…”

He waved me off. “Keep it. I’ll get another glass for myself.”

We toasted each other before Jules busied himself with a pot on the stove. I couldn’t quite see what he was doing, but within minutes he ladled thick stew into two bowls.

It was steaming hot and smelled fantastic.

“I hope this is to your liking, Nikolai.”

You are to my liking.

“I’m sure it is. It smells delicious. Mmh,” I hummed around a mouthful. “Tastes great, too. I’m starving.”

In no time I cleared my bowl and inhaled two thick slices of the bread that I assumed Jules had also made himself.

Of course he made it. Where would he get it out here?

There wasn’t exactly a grocery shop around the corner.

“Wow, that was amazing.”

“Would you like some more stew? A big guy like you has got to eat.”

I looked up at him, one eyebrow cocked, and found him blushing a deep crimson.

“I did not mean to say that aloud,” he choked out.

Pressing my lips together, I nodded.

Yeah, a big guy like me loves to eat.

“I’d love a second helping,” I told him, still fighting the urge to laugh. “But only if you have enough.”

“Plenty,” Jules muttered as he got up, collected my bowl made from brown ceramic, and ladled more stew into it.

“Thank you.”

He stopped next to me for a moment, his green eyes flitting over my face and his finely cut cheeks still flushed.