Page 118 of Map of Pain

“See? Nick thinks it’s funny. Nick’s on my side.”

“Nick has sense enough not to destroy expensive farm equipment for fun,”Ophelia repliedcoolly.“Unlike some people.”

Nick watched their banter with warm amusement. Adam wasusuallya considerate housemate—quiet when others were sleeping, helpful with chores, respectful of everyone’s space. But he had a streak of mischievous curiosity that occasionally surfacedwhen Vincent wasn’t around to redirect his energy into more private pursuits.

Speaking of which, Nick was grateful his room was at the far end of the farmhouse. Vincent and Adam could be... enthusiastic in their physical relationship. The soundproofing wasn’t perfect.

“I’m going to find Luka,”Nick announced, stepping away from the tractor before Adam could convince him to join in whatever agricultural mayhem he was planning.

“Coward,”Adam called after him, but his tone was fond.

Nick waved them off and headed back toward the farmhouse, leaving Ophelia to continue threatening Adam’s prosthesis. Their voices faded as he crossed the back porch and slipped inside.

Nick found Luka in their room—their room, not just the guest room where Nick was staying—sitting on the edge of the bed with a book in his lap. The vampire looked up when Nick entered, jade eyes warming with the kind of automatic smile that still made Nick’s stomach do a somersault.

«Good evening,»Luka said, setting the book aside.

Nick’s ASL improveddramaticallyover the past two months, though he still relied on simple phrases and easy gestures.«Ophelia and Adam fighting about tractor.»

Luka’s eyebrows rose in amusement.«Adam wants to drive it?»

«She threatened to steal his leg.»

Luka laughed, shaking his head. Nick loved that laugh—the way Luka’s whole body participated in his joy, unguarded and beautiful.

Nick crossed to the bed and settled beside Luka, close enough for their thighs to touch. Eight weeks of sharing this space taught them each other’s rhythms, preferences, boundaries. Nick knew Luka liked to read before their evening routine, that he whistledwhen he was content, that he always spent a go portion of his time after work running his fingers through Nick’s hair while Nick pretended to sleep.

“How was your day?”Nick asked, letting his shoulder bump against Luka’s.

Luka considered the question, his hands moving through a series of signs Nick was still learning. When Nick looked confused, Luka reached for his phone and typed:‘Matteo had a good start. Drank half a bag without issues. Vincent stressed about quarterly reports. Petrov fixed the washing machine again.’

“Busy,”Nick summarized, and Luka nodded.

They sat in contented quiet for a moment, Nick appreciating the simple pleasure of Luka’s presence. The vampire’s scent—clean skin and something that might have been cedar—became synonymous with safety in Nick’s mind. Sanctuary smelled like Luka now.

Nick reached over and picked up the book Luka had been reading, flipping through pages of what looked like a vampire mythology book.“Light reading?”

Luka’s mouth quirked in what might have been embarrassment. He typed on his phone:It’s amusing to see what people think about us.

“Learning anything interesting?”

Mostlythat vampires have always been dramatic.

Nick snorted with laughter.“Present company excluded, of course.”

Luka’s grin was answer enough.

Nick set the book aside and stretched, working out the kinks from dish duty.“I should practice piano before everyone gets too active. Less chance of interruption.”

«Play for me?»Luka asked, and there was something hopeful in his expression.

“It’s not ready yet,”Nick said, feeling heat creep up his neck.“Still working out the fingering for the melody. One hand makes it complicated.”

Luka reached over and touched Nick’s wristgently, just above where his hand ended. The contact was casual, absent—the kind of unconscious affection that spoke to how settled they’d become with each other.

«No pressure,»Luka signed.«Just like hearing you play.»

The idea that Luka enjoyed his fumbling attempts at reclaiming music, that he found beauty in Nick’s halting progress rather than impatience with his limitations, made Nick's face feel too warm.