Page 20 of High Stakes and Soulmates (Fanged Mistakes #3)

Ezio’s eyes flicker over and catch mine and then we’re just locked in a fucking stare-off while Julian is straight up pressed against Ezio trying to get the collar off.

“The direct eye contact you two have going on is making even me uncomfortable,” Yorick says.

“If someone gave me some freaking clothes, this wouldn’t be so uncomfortable,” Julian hisses.

“You seemed pretty comfortable when I walked in,” the woman says. “I mean… would you like me to deliver some clothes? I’m available.”

“Ha… ha ha. No. Thank you. You are very sweet. You are very… ummm… discreet, hopefully. Yes… please. Bye. Casimir… tip her extra.”

“She already got a tip by getting to see your naked body,” Casimir assures him as the woman slowly exits the room. I think a part of her wants to stay… for science.

“That is true. It’s tip enough for me,” Yorick says before getting a look at Casimir. “Why the fuck is it okay for others to be like, ‘Oh, yes, Julian’s body is the best, but if I joke about it, you want to murder me? I thought we were friends.”

“Friends get me clothes so I can stop wearing Ezio,” Julian mutters.

“On it!” Yorick says as he rushes off and starts yanking out clothes that he hands to Julian.

“Are you going to stay?” Ezio asks me.

“Am I going to stay and watch this strange orgy that’s supposedly leading up to a dog show?

I mean… I don’t have to work tomorrow… I’m not sure I could possibly say no.

Like… when one thinks of vampires, they think of…

prestigious and scary men and women who hunt in the night and not…

” I glance over at Casimir fixing the hair on Gustov’s head.

He fluffs it into a magnificent poof on his head before banding it so it’s out of the dog’s eyes. “…that. How can I miss that?”

Ezio grins. “Understandable.”

“We should probably get some sleep so we can be up before the dog show starts. There are three kings and a sofa bed,” Julian says.

“Yorick can sleep on the balcony,” Casimir says.

“We are practicing kindness this evening,” Julian announces. “Do you think leaving a vampire on a balcony is kind?”

Casimir thinks long and hard about this. “Can I get help from the audience on this one?”

Julian gives him a look. “NO! Stop being evil.”

“It’s his love language,” Yorick assures Julian. “Boy oh boy, that pull-out couch looks quite uncomfortable… I guess I could share with sweet Cyrus.”

Ezio slides in front of me. “Why would you share with Cyrus? Go take a bed for yourself.”

Yorick just grins, pleased with himself as he wanders off, and I’m stuck looking at the man who body blocked Yorick from even thinking about climbing in a bed with me.

Ezio gives me a smile. “I will sleep on the pull-out couch. You can have the bed to yourself.”

I take a deep breath. “I will not melt if you share a king-sized bed with me. Hands to yourself. Pillow fort between us. Understood?”

“Of course. Of course. Hands to myself,” he agrees as he walks into the bedroom we’ll be sharing. There’s a bathroom off it that’s shared with Yorick’s room, but Yorick doesn’t seem to need it, so it’s empty at the moment.

“Go ahead. I’ll be ready in a second,” I say as I shoot Joaquin a text.

Me: Guess I’m staying at some hotel and going to a dog show with the vamps tomorrow. Don’t ask.

Joaquin: Come on… how the fuck do I not ask? I mean… Cyrus… let’s rewind to you making fun of me for hanging out with TotallyRealWoman6969, and you’re over here going to a dog show with some vampires? You kill me.

Me: I love how the only part of her username that stays the same each time is the 69s.

Joaquin: What can I say? I’m good at numbers.

Me: You’re such an idiot. I’ll see you tomorrow. We’ll go to Donovan’s then, okay?

Joaquin: Perfect. Weird… GenuineGal6969 wants to meet me… in a dark alley. She said to come alone… pants optional. Do you think I should meet her?

Me: You go do that. Tell me how it goes.

Joaquin: I’m teasing. I’ll be fine all alone. You have fun at your vampire dog show. Kind of wish I could make it.

The door opens and Ezio walks out. I try not to watch the beads of water running down his neck. Like… did he go in there and toss water all over his face just to snag my attention? And why not dry it off? Did this fancy hotel forget to supply the towels?

“I’m done in there.”

“Great, thanks,” I say as I hurry inside where I will have a very stern talk with my cock about why we do not pay attention to the vampire.

I nearly dunk my own head in the sink, but won’t that just result in me rolling out like he did? Is… that… why he dunked his head in the sink?

Looking over to the door leading to Yorick’s room, I debate crawling in bed with him. He’s a bit out there, but I’m not going to be staring at beads of water running down his neck.

I take a deep breath and quickly finish up before heading to the room.

That’s where I find Ezio lying on top of the covers, arms suctioned to his sides, legs straight, staring up at the ceiling as a pillow fort that splits the bed in half threatens to topple over.

“Do I even ask?”

“Good night, Cyrus,” he says.

“You can get under the covers. You’re just going to sleep like that all night?”

“Sure am.”

I crawl under the covers. “Fine. You sleep in board formation over there and I will sleep in comfort.”

“I will. Thank you.”

I shove the pillows onto his side and they all crash down onto him and still… he doesn’t move. It’s quite impressive.

“You know I’m quite aware that you’re not going to come crawling over to my side, right? Like… you can sleep normally. It’s annoying me more that you’re doing this whole… thing.”

“I can’t hear you beneath the pillows, but I have to assume you’re telling me that I’m doing a good job.”

I knock a pillow off him. “I was actually telling you that you are so distracting like this that I can’t sleep.”

“How? I’m being good!” he says. “I want to be praised.”

I knock another pillow off his head and then pat it. “Good boy.”

He’s all smiles, like he thinks my praise is good and not sassy in the slightest. “Thank you.”

I stare at his pleased face before quickly turning my back to him. What is wrong with me tonight? Why am I over here thinking of the most ridiculous things pertaining to him?

I should close my eyes and go to sleep. Such a simple step. Yes, very simple.

Then why is it I’m so fucking aware of him? When I roll back over a bit, I see his body is back to being as rigid as a board.

“Don’t be looking over here when I’m counting my sheep,” he declares.

“You’re distracting me.”

“How? I’m on my side of the bed. I’m being good. I’m on sheep two hundred and eleven.”

I sigh and close my eyes as I turn my back to him again.