Page 7 of Aries (PAHL #1)

Aries

Bouncing beside Vin, Aries looked from stall to stall. There was so much to see. Amazing arts and crafts, food, candles, jewelry, and more. It reminded Aries of home. His mama always had her own stall then she met his father and they had two.

When they didn’t have games or practice, Aries loved to help his mama. Neither Gem nor Nix had been big on going with her, but Aries had loved it. The people were eccentric and fun. Nice. Some of the best people Aries had ever met. The best food ever too.

Not that Aries was hungry.

Vin had not taken Aries to the local pizza place he’d expected. They’d had lunch inside a restaurant at one of the big casinos. Barely old enough to gamble, Aries had never been in any of the casinos in the city. It had been neat. So many people. Artwork. And the food! That was not any kind of pizza that Aries had ever had. Even the salad was tasty.

Maybe there was something to Vin’s entire health-nut kick. Not that Aries was going to admit that out loud. It might give Vin ideas on looking at Aries’s snack stash. Aries had never felt better in his life. He was playing the best hockey. And finally felt like he was right where he was supposed to be.

It helped that Vin seemed to naturally take charge, making things so much easier for Aries.

Sure, the vampire was bossy. Turned out that Aries liked bossy men. Who knew?

And Vin didn’t even get irritated when Aries got excited, or bouncy, or anything. Vin would just smile at Aries and encourage him to be himself.

“I wish you could see my mama’s stall back at home. She always took care of her customers. They would come back week after week. Did I tell you she started beekeeping right before we left?”

“Beekeeping?” Vin asked. He was carrying a couple of bags from where Aries had found really cool items for his apartment. It had been Vin’s idea to change the decor to something that fit him better. Even promised Aries he’d help move things around once they got home.

Aries was practically floating on air he was so happy.

They still hadn’t found the apple stand yet.

“She’s going to make honey.” Aries got back on track.

“I do love honey,” Vin told him.

“You do?” That was new information. Aries loved finding out something about Vin he hadn’t known.

“Yes,” Vin replied.

“I’ll have her send us some.” Aries grabbed Vin’s arm. “We can try it together.” He frowned. “Except you might have to help me find the post office. I always get lost.”

“I know where it is,” Vin said.

“Of course you do!” Because Aries’s friend was super smart.

“And I think I found what we were looking for.” Vin pointed in front of him.

Aries whirled and there was a beautiful pile of shiny red apples right in view. “Apples!” he shouted before racing away.

They were so pretty.

His mouth already watered.

He could practically taste the juiciness.

“Don’t run, boy,” Vin called after him. “You don’t want to trip and fall.”

That was true. Aries slowed down. The market was busy. He couldn’t allow anything to keep him from those gorgeous shiny apples!

“Oh, you came back!” the lovely lady named Jasmine said, spotting him.

“Hi, Jasmine!” Aries gave her a quick hug. “Of course I’m back! I was so sad when all my apples were gone. My friend here brought me back. I need apples!”

She laughed as Vin joined them.

“I’m so happy that you enjoyed them.” Jasmine nodded at Vin. “He wanted to buy all the apples, but I talked him down to just three dozen.” She looked back at Aries. “I can’t believe you already ate them all.”

“He has an addiction,” Vin informed her with a grin. “I’ve had to start counting the amount he eats a day.”

She nodded. “Probably a good idea.”

Aries had already abandoned the conversation to peer down at the barrels in front of him. “How much for a barrel?”

“A barrel holds about six dozen,” she told him.

“Perfect!” Aries replied. They had been the best apples he’d ever eaten.

“Are you sure?”

Aries turned to let her know that he was certain, but she was looking at Vin not him.

“A barrel will do for now,” Vin said.

“Yes!” Aries pumped his fist before hopping around. “Apples! I got a barrel of apples! So many apples!”

“He’s really excited,” Jasmine said.

“I’m going to have to keep them in my apartment,” Vin told her with a shake of his head. “I have a vision of him eating all of them in one night and being sick.”

“That would be a concern,” she agreed.

“I’m not that bad!” Aries argued. He was. When he’d been little, his mama always had to watch him. He still managed to sneak apples from the tree with the help of his brothers. The same way that Nix slept in a pumpkin patch to get his fix and Gem would crawl around the vineyards to steal grapes.

They all had their unique quirks.

A fruit that they became obsessed with. His mama’s had been cherries.

She’d always said that at least none of her boys had the same obsession so she hadn’t had to worry about them killing each other. At least as long as they weren’t on the ice as opponents. That was a whole different thing.

“You can have one,” Vin told him as Aries’s fingers twitched to touch.

Aries glanced back over at the vampire as he passed Jasmine money. “Oh! I can pay!”

“It’s fine, boy,” Vin told him. “Choose your one apple. That’s all you get until after dinner.”

“But we just ate lunch!” Aries whined. “That’s hours from now.”

“You had a salad, an entire pizza, and crab cakes. One apple,” Vin said sternly.

Okay, Vin might have a point. But which one to choose? They all looked so good! Should he pick a big one since he had to wait until after dinner for more? Aries wasn’t starving, so should he have a little one and save the big ones for game days? Oh! Why did he have to choose?

Vin reached over and picked up a medium apple passing it over to him.

It was the perfect choice. Not too big and not too small. “Thank you!” Aries beamed at him.

Vin smiled back. He lifted the barrel in his big arms and Aries could appreciate his muscles.

“Well, aren’t you a strong one.” Jasmine laughed.

Vin winked at her.

Aries scowled. He didn’t like that. Only he should be admiring Vin’s muscles. “Are we going now?”

Vin turned to him.

“We’re done, right?” he demanded.

He received the raised brow. Still not fair.

“Thank Jasmine and then you can lead the way to the car,” Vin ordered.

Aries was totally acting out of character. “Sorry. Thanks, Jasmine. We’ll see you next time.”

“Thank you for your business!” Jasmine called as they walked away.

Vin followed him. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” He totally wasn’t. Aries didn’t get jealous. Never. He had no idea why he’d acted like that. It was weird. His tummy felt weird.

“It’ll be okay,” Vin told him.

Aries hoped so. He just felt off. And he hadn’t even taken a bite of his apple. Aries took a big bite. A little snacky snack always made everything better.

* * * * *

Vin

By the time they reached Vin’s SUV, whatever had seemed to be bothering Aries was gone. The little shifter was munching on his apple as he continued to look at the stalls they passed. Vin wanted to think Aries was jealous, but he didn’t know for sure. There were times that Vin wished all the myths about vampires were true. It would be amazing to read Aries’s mind right about then.

They passed the last stall and Aries smiled at him.

“Did you have fun?” Aries asked. “It’s amazing, isn’t it?”

Vin had enjoyed himself more than he’d thought he would. “Yes, I liked it.”

“So we can come again?” It was important. Apples were the best.

“We’ll come again,” Vin promised.

“Cool!” Aries danced around. “And we got stuff for my apartment. You’ll still help me?”

“Of course I will,” Vin responded.

“Awesome!” Aries stopped walking. “I really shouldn’t have let that decorator make all the decisions. In my defense, she wouldn’t listen to me. She laughed at all my ideas.”

Vin stopped beside him. “She laughed at you?” He was furious.

Aries nodded.

“What were your ideas?” Vin questioned.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“I think it does.”

Aries shrugged a shoulder as he hung his head.

Damn it! Vin was going to have to track down some decorator and teach her some manners.

“I don’t want to talk about it.” Aries headed off in the direction they’d parked.

Vin followed behind until Aries stopped at the back of the SUV. Vin set the barrel down before shoving his hand in his pocket to drag out his keys. He hit the Unlock on his key fob. Aries opened the back, allowing Vin to toss the bags inside. He grabbed the barrel of apples and placed them carefully as well. He wouldn’t let anything happen to Aries’s precious treats.

Once everything was tucked away, Vin closed the back. He walked Aries to the passenger side of the door and opened it and helping him in. Vin was bothered by how quiet Aries was. The boy had never been this quiet before.

Leaning over, he buckled Aries in.

“Thanks,” Aries said softly.

Vin caught Aries’s chin between his thumb and finger, forcing the boy to look at him. He could feel Aries’s sadness. “We’ll fix it.”

Aries caught his bottom lip between his teeth.

“I promise,” Vin told him.

“I don’t like my apartment at all,” Aries confessed.

Vin’s heart squeezed in his chest.

“Nothing is permanent,” Vin assured him.

“I let her bully me. It doesn’t feel good.”

Fuck! “I know, little one. You never have to see her again.”

“Okay.”

Leaning forward, Vin brushed his lips over Aries’s forehead.

Aries wrapped his hand around the front of Vin’s shirt, holding on tight. “I feel better when I’m with you.”

Vin smiled. “I feel better when I’m with you too.”

“Okay.”

Vin backed away, forcing Aries to release him. He gently closed the door. Aries beamed at him through the window. Vin winked at him. He’d get Aries home, would start the redecorating, and make all right in his boy’s world.

He strolled around is SUV as he made a plan in his head.

Vin would even give him boy a little treat. He knew just what Aries needed to make the boy feel all better.

Sliding behind the wheel, Vin smiled over at Aries. “Let get home.”

“Okay.”

* * * * *

Aries

“This is sooo good,” he mumbled around the bite of food in his mouth.

Vin gave him the one-brow raise. “Swallow your food. Don’t talk with your mouth full.”

Aries swallowed the bite of his fried cinnamon apples. He shoveled another spoonful. So good.

Vin hummed. “I think we made a good dent in the living room and kitchen. Before you know it, this place will start feeling like yours.”

Lifting his head, Aries nodded. It already did. Vin had removed the breakable vases and other statues that Aries didn’t even know what they’d been. He also yanked down the expensive artwork that Aries hated.

Instead of the black and white theme, his living room was covered with soft tan blankets and pillows, a straw organic vase holding white lilies, and hand painted canvases filled the walls. Everything they’d picked up at the farmers market.

The neutral tones made Aries feel much better in his space.

It wasn’t perfect yet, but Aries believed it would be. Vin had kept his word. He’d taken care of everything. Even taking the barrel of apples to his own apartment, only leaving Aries with six shiny yum-yums.

“I found out that the university is holding an art walk next weekend. I think that’ll be a good place to find more things for your apartment.”

Aries’s spoon scraped against his empty bowl. The Chinese food had been delicious. Vin had even ordered them fried rice instead of the healthy white stuff that he insisted on normally. But the best thing ever had been the tub of hot cinnamon-spiced fried apples. So freaking good.

Looking up at Vin from his place on the floor as he ate over the coffee table, Aries didn’t know how to respond to Vin. Why the vampire was going out of his way to take care of him.

His palms grew sweaty as he stared at Vin.

Vin lowered the carton he’d been eating out of. He was sitting in one of Aries’s chairs across from him. “Is there something wrong? Do you not want to go to the art walk?”

“I want to go!” Aries said quickly. That would be another awesome day of hanging out with Vin. Aries loved hanging out with the grumpy vampire. Although he had sort of stopped being grumpy around Aries.

“Great. We have a game Saturday night. How about Sunday afternoon.”

“Yes, please!”

“Good boy.” Vin smiled kindly. “You’ve gotten better about not responding with a yep. It only happened a few times today.”

He felt his cheeks burn. Vin’s praise…it made him feel things. A lot of confusing but exciting things. Aries climbed onto his knees.

Vin set the carton of food on the coffee table then leaned back in his chair. “Aries?”

“You take very good care of me,” Aries pointed out.

“I’m glad you think so.”

“Why?” The question burned through his body.

Vin watched Aries as he scooted closer.

“Why have you been so nice to me? Taking care of me?”

“Why not?”

Aries shook his head. “That’s not an answer.”

Vin sighed.

Aries closed the distance until he was kneeling between Vin’s legs. “Do you like me?”

Vin barked out a laugh. “Of course I do. Everyone likes you.”

“But—” This was going to sound so stupid. “But do you like like me?”

He expected Vin to laugh at him. Instead, Vin smiled sweetly. “Yes, I like like you.”

Wow! Aries swallowed hard. “Even…even though I told you that I don’t…I can’t…not yet…”

Vin leaned close enough to cup Aries’s face. “I would take care of a teammate no matter what. That’s what friends do. It’s different with you. I knew from the start that you were something special.”

He sucked in a sharp breath. “I’m special?” Sure, Aries was good at hockey but so were his brothers. Truthfully, when push came to shove, most people liked his brothers more. Nix was the fun one. He loved people and had more hookups than Aries could count. Gem was the smart triplet. He got along with everyone. Aries was the annoying one. He couldn’t sit still. Aries bounced more than he walked. He had friends but a lot of people thought that he was too much.

“You’re very special,” Vin told him.

“No one thinks I’m special.”

“I do.”

“Will you kiss me?”

Vin’s fingers trembled. “Are you sure?”

Aries nodded. Then bit his lip. “I think so.”

“You think so? I need you to be sure, boy.”

“I would like for you to kiss me. I don’t want to do more than that. If that’s okay. I know kissing leads to—”

“We’ll never do more than you’re ready for,” Vin promised.

Aries believed him. “So…kiss?”

“Close your eyes,” Vin ordered.

Aries blinked his eyes closed as he waited. Awareness vibrated around him. Vin leaned forward. Aries couldn’t see him but he knew.

“Such a good boy,” Vin whispered against his lips.

Before Aries could reply, Vin’s lips brushed over his.

Aries pressed closer. Smashed their lips harder together.

Vin’s hand moved from his cheek to the back of Aries’s head. He licked at the seam of Aries’s mouth. Aries gasped, allowing Vin’s tongue to brush over his.

Aries moaned.

He leaned into the kiss as he grabbed Vin’s knees. Aries was shaking but it wasn’t from fear. He’d been kissed but never like this. Each stroke of Vin’s tongue over his lit Aries’s entire body. Need coursed through him. Desire. He wanted Vin.

Vin pulled away but he didn’t stop kissing him. He peppered kisses at Aries’s chin, across his cheeks, on his nose. When he finally put distance between them, he appeared as affected as Aries.

“Wow,” Aries breathed.

“That was a lovely kiss,” Vin said.

Aries laughed. “It was smoking hot!”

“Smoking hot,” Vin agreed with a nod. “Come here.”

Aries stiffened. He thought that Vin understood that he didn’t want to go further.

“No, shh,” Vin murmured. “Lean on me. Wrap your arms around me.”

Still kneeling between Vin’s legs, Aries wrapped his arms around Vin’s waist.

Vin immediately embraced him, holding Aries’s cheek against his chest. “There you go, baby boy. Let me hold you.”

Oh! Had this been what Vin wanted? He didn’t want to fuck Aries? He wanted to hold him? That was nice.

He pushed against Vin’s chest. Not to get away but to somehow get even closer.

“I got you,” Vin whispered.

“I got you too,” Aries replied.

“I know you do, baby.” Vin nuzzled the top of his head.

“Are we boyfriends now?” Aries asked. It was an important question. Aries hated not knowing important things.

“Is that what you want?”

“I don’t do casual, remember?”

“There is nothing casual about us, boy.”

Aries tilted his head up to peer at Vin. “So, boyfriends?”

Vin laughed. “Boyfriends.”