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“Hmm….” he hums then smiles brightly. “If I could do anything? ”

He looks incredible when he smiles; it lights him up. It makes me want to eat him. I can’t help but smile back.

“Yeah, anything.”

“House-mate.” He says it with a nod, his body tense with fragile confidence. My grin gets wider, I can’t help it. I also can’t help leaning forward, my elbows planting themselves on the permanently sticky bartop, leaning into his space again.

“That right? You want to be a family man? Stay home and take care of the kids?”

His face screws up and his hair falls in his face when he pulls back, completely appalled. “Absolutely not!”

One hand flies to his chest with his declaration.

It’s so surprisingly dramatic, and so incredibly real, a bark of laughter rips out of me, and I have to stuff my fist in my mouth.

We’re drawing attention I really don’t want from the rest of the bar.

For once, I don’t want all eyes on me. Just Finn’s.

“You said you wanted to be a house-mate!” I cry with a laugh, but Finn wags a finger at me.

“You sound like my mother. I said house-mate. Not stay at home parent. I don’t think I actually want kids.” He adds the last bit in a whisper, like a secret confession.

“Ah, so you want to cook and clean and take care of your mate then?” I ask, another chuckle taking over me when he baulks again.

“Gods no. That sounds terrible.”

He continues to pull faces while he considers the idea, looking more and more offended with each second.

“So what do you plan to do as a house-mate then?” I ask around my laughter. I really have to go—Belinda is looking pissed—but Finn is considering his answer again and I need to know what he has to say. He’s fiddling with the cocktail pick in his glass, swirling it between his fingers.

“Well, I figured I’d decorate and look good. Go to the gym, plan dinner parties. That sort of thing.”

I have a new favourite thing in life, even more than the adorable blush that colours his cheeks. It’s the cheeky, conspiratorial grin on his face. He’s leaning in towards me now, like he needs to be in my space too.

“So you wanna be a trophy-mate?” I snicker. His face is so close to mine, I can see the hint of the freckles that dust his nose, smell the blood on his breath.

His eyes dart down to my lips then back up as he nods slowly. I swear his tongue is toying with his fang.

“That’s it. That’s the one. Trophy-mate.”

I laugh again, pulling back reluctantly. If I don’t leave now, Belinda’s liable to hose me down with the soda gun.

“You and me both, Finn. You and me both.”

He snorts when he laughs, covering his mouth with an embarrassed hand when it slips out. We both know I heard it, though.

It takes me too long to get back to him. Belinda very pointedly serves him his next couple of drinks. I don’t miss that it’s straight blood, so he’s not too tipsy when I manage to find myself in front of him.

“So, where are you from anyway?” I ask, filling glasses to deliver to one of the tables.

Finn looks up from what he’s reading on his phone. He’s been looking at the thing all night, and it’s made me curious about what’s so interesting on there. To be fair, though, I’m curious about everything with him. He’s fascinating .

Is it a bit weird that he’s quite obviously here because of me?

Probably. But I’m egotistical enough to be flattered.

Plus, he doesn’t give out creepy stalker vibes.

I’ve dealt with that enough over the years to know the signs.

It’s more… lonely. Usually that’s not my thing.

But on Finn it’s different. Maybe because he’s putting himself out there despite how uncomfortable he is. It’s brave, and that is always hot.

“Oh, uh, Carconnois. But like, down south near the Whisper Woods. A place called Twin Heads.”

I nod to show I’m listening when I have to turn my back to get a bottle off the shelf. “Oh yeah, that’s cool.”

“Have you ever been?” Finn asks after a moment when I get distracted having to measure out some spirits.

“Nah. I’ve been to the Overlands as a kid, but I’ve never really left Osneau, let alone Ulydessia.

Nikolo, you know the guy I danced with? He’s been all over.

Before he turned, he was a mage. From the clans to the south of here.

But he left when he was a teen, ran away and travelled as much as he could. Even after he turned.”

“No shit? Really? How’d he even manage that? Getting back here after I turned was enough of a nightmare. I couldn’t imagine trying to travel the world as a vampire.”

“Sounds like there is a story in that one.” I look up just in time to catch Finn trying to fix his hair in the mirror behind the bar.

It’s a wasted effort though, the long blonde strands flop around his round face however they please. I want to tell him not to bother, it looks good the way it is, but I keep my mouth shut.

“Meh,” he waves me off. “Not an interesting one. Was just a steep learning curve.”

Something about what he says, or maybe the way he says it pricks something in my head but I’m not focused enough to figure out what it is. Plus I need to get my hustle on tonight, otherwise I really won’t be getting any tips and then what am I going to do? Use supermarket shampoo? Unlikely.

“Too right.” I need to get rid of these drinks so I can pay attention to him properly. “I’ll be back when I can.” I nod to the tray of drinks, offering him a genuine smile.

“Yeah, no problems. I should probably go anyway. Lots to do tonight and all that.” He reluctantly slides off his stool, his lower lip tucked between his teeth, his white teeth chewing into the pink.

“I’ll see you soon, yeah?” I hide my disappointment by picking up the tray of drinks, pretending it’s heavier than it is to excuse my grimace.

Finn nods quickly, not meeting my eyes. He pats himself down to make sure he’s got his things, a smile tugging at his lips.

“Definitely. Will do.”

It’s an awkward goodbye, and I almost drop my tray watching him weave his way out of the club, but nothing could dull the happy buzz in my veins.

I knew tonight was going to be a good night.