Page 7 of New Nebraska Home (New Nebraska)

Liz

THEY WERE ROOMMATES!

“N othing good ever follows the phrase ‘we need to talk,’” Brock said.

This was the most awkward thing I’d ever done, and that was saying something. Why wasn’t there a Ms. Manners for humans interacting with supernaturals? How was I supposed to know what the right way was to address uncomfortable topics with these men?

Hell, if the attack at the store was any sign, Ms. Manners may not have approved of me having tenets of mixed species. Or maybe it was being a young single woman living with a bunch of men she would disapprove of? I didn’t even know anymore.

There was so much about my life that most who followed social etiquette guidelines would frown upon. Why bother worrying about one or two more?

“It’s nothing too bad, I hope,” I said, pressing my fingers into my temples. Why was this so hard? In an ideal world, this should have been an easy, quick exchange. Just confirming everyone was cool being roommates. “So, what do you guys think of Malik?”

“The super-hot shifter of unknown origin currently teaching the little half-pint how to throw a punch?” Brock asked.

“That would be the one,” I confirmed.

“I think he’s one of the hottest men I’ve ever seen. But if he thinks he’s taking away my new bestie, I don’t care what he is. There will be a fight.”

“One of the hottest men you’ve ever seen?” Callum repeated, raising an eyebrow, with an edge in his voice that I wasn’t sure how to place.

I still had no idea what their deal was. Were they a couple? Or maybe I was reading into it too much and they’re friends that decided to be roommates? Were they roommates that would turn into more than roommates? How did I ask that?

Brock looked at Callum, crossed his arms over his chest, raised an eyebrow of his own, and said, “I said what I said.”

“Right, well, he was looking for a place to crash for a while, and I still have the room up here that’s empty. So, I offered it to him. His lease is month-to-month, but I didn’t know if you guys would be okay with that or if there would be an issue or…”

“Why would there be an issue?” Brock asked.

How did I admit to him I had no idea what the deal was between shifters and vampires? Was there animosity? Most pop culture references seem to think that shifters and vampires were mortal enemies. How was I supposed to know what was true and what was just something all the smutty books I liked to read played up on?

“Just making sure,” I answered, looking down at my hands pressed flat on the table. “You guys were here first, and I wanted to make sure there wouldn’t be an issue renting the room upstairs.”

“Upstairs, as in with you and Leif?” Callum still had that edge to his voice.

“No, on this level. He would take the room just off the living room.”

“It’s cool with me,” Brock said, leaning back. “Mr. Grumpy Vampire, can you play nice with the shifter?”

Callum tilted his head, as if mulling over a response. “He isn’t a wolf, so it shouldn’t be a problem—I hate that pack mentality shit. I don’t like not knowing what he is, but this isn’t my house. And he won’t be in the basement, so I have no complaints. So long as he minds his manners.”

I let out a breath that I hadn’t realized I was holding. Not only did I feel safer with Malik around, but the money he would pay for rent combined with the other rent would cover the rest of the bills for the next month.

It wasn’t enough to live as comfortably as I would have liked, but it was enough to keep Leif and me fed, clothed, and water and electricity on while I found a job.

“Thanks, guys.” I gave them each a wide smile, which Brock returned. Callum looked a little lost in his thoughts. He and Brock exchanged a loaded look I couldn’t read. It was a mix of apprehension and worry, with maybe a touch of desire.

Really, what was their relationship status? It wasn’t any of my business, and I knew not to pry, but I just wanted to know.

“I’m going to go to make sure that he doesn’t steal my new best friend. Some dude with muscles and a motorcycle will not upstage me.” Brock stood and went outside to hang with the others.

Part of me wondered if it was because he didn’t trust Malik, so he wanted to keep an eye on Leif, which I appreciated. Leif trusted Malik, so I trusted him. But having someone else looking out for the kid was never a bad thing.

“Is it wise?” Callum asked, startling me.

“Is what wise?”

“Allowing a shifter you don’t know to move in so suddenly. I can’t even tell what kind of shifter he is. Not all of them are all bark and very little bite, like wolves.” His tone was condescending and made my hackles rise a little. “There are shifters that are far more dangerous, even on their own. Bears, lions, even some rare ones, like alligators.”

“Are alligator and bear shifters more or less dangerous than a master vampire and a mouthy water elemental?” I asked, with a mock squint at him. Just because he was pretty didn’t mean that he had to talk down to me.

“Point taken,” he sat back for a moment and stared out of the glass back door. Leif was perched on Malik’s shoulders and trying to block streams of water that Brock was shooting at them. I had to admit, it was adorable. Even with Malik’s intimidating size and tattoos covering his arms, he smiled like a little kid. The second I met Brock, I knew he had that boyishness playful side in him. But it looked like it might have been unusual for Malik.

“Leif has always had this sense about people. I don’t know if it’s a supernatural thing because he’s half-Fae or what, but he always knows if someone has malicious intent.”

“Always?”

“Always,” I nodded. “When he was four, I went on a date with this guy, who I thought was sweet and kind, the proper gentlemen type. Leif begged me not to go, gave me the biggest tears you have ever seen. Eventually I agreed, and I canceled the date. About two weeks later, he was arrested for drugging and assaulting another woman who wasn’t as fortunate to have someone like my little brother looking out for her.”

Callum nodded for a moment. “Is that why you rented to us?”

“Yes,” I said simply, seeing no reason to hide the truth. “We had tons of different people interested in the basement, but you two are the only ones he approved. Until now. If he trusts Malik, so do I, unless Malik gives me reason not to.”

Callum nodded for a moment, then turned his attention back to the boys outside.

He stayed at the table, watching and lost in thought, so I picked the newspaper back up and looked at more wanted ads.

Almost all of them specified what species they wanted to hire. The gyms were all looking for shifters, wolves preferred, and many of the different power plants in the area wanted elementals. Even the police had a long list of species they preferred, but none listed humans. The only job posting I could find where humans were acceptable was working at the vampire diners.

The pay they were advertising was fantastic. When added to the income from the rent, I could work part time, to make ends meet and a little extra to put in a rainy-day fund.

There’s something really tempting about that, to be able to be home with Leif as much as possible, which was good, as his babysitter was one of the first to leave town.

“Callum, can I ask you a question? It’s a little awkward, but…”

His head snapped up as he met my gaze. His eyes were so intense they made shivers run up and down my spine. “Sure, you can ask.”

“What are vampires like with the donors at the diners and feeding dens and such, if you know? How do vampires usually treat their feeding sources?”

“Is there a reason you’re asking?”

“I need to work,” I said, like it was obvious.

“Well, I wouldn’t advise to take a job as a blood donor unless you are comfortable giving a lot more than just blood.”

“What does that mean? The job just says—”

“The job is giving blood, but blood lust and lust are very close for a lot of vampires. Some can get carried away and use their unique gifts—most vampires have at least a little power of persuasion—to make their donor more willing than they should be. Technically, the practice is frowned upon, but vampires who run these places all look the other way. Especially since most donors take the job looking for that experience.”

I was about to interrupt but he wasn’t finished.

“If you’re okay with a vampire touching your breasts or between your thighs as he drinks from you—”

His words cut off as I abruptly stood from the table. I moved to the refrigerator, opening it, letting the cool air calm the fire in my cheeks as I grabbed a pitcher of iced tea. It was a hot day, but Callum’s soft voice as he spoke of a vampire touching me had made the temperature in the room skyrocket.

“Are you okay?” he asked, standing behind me. He was just close enough I could almost feel the warmth of his skin and the scent of his cologne, which reminded me of libraries filled with leather-bound books.

Dear Lord, why did he have to smell so good?

“Fine, it’s just a hot day. Would you like a drink?” I didn’t move from the open door of the refrigerator, needing the kiss of the cool air on my heated skin.

“What kind of drink are you offering?” He whispered in my ear as he brushed a lock of hair from my shoulder, exposing my neck.

“What’s it like?” The question tumbled from my lips before I’d even thought it.

“For the biter or the bitee?” The tip of his finger tailed from just below my ear down my neck to my clavicle.

“Both.” I closed my eyes to enjoy the feeling of sparks racing over my skin from his stroke. It had been so long since I enjoyed the touch of a man, and even then, it didn’t feel like this.

“For the bitee, it feels like a tinge of pain that makes the pleasure more intense. It feels like being worshiped, devoured, and craved. If the vampire is strong enough, he can make every cell in your body cry out in ecstasy with his bite and his touch will make you crave more. Even a moderately strong vampire can make a woman come apart for him with a single touch, and, if he is so inclined, can take away any discomfort and replace it with euphoria.”

My knees went weak, and I had to put the tea back and brace myself on the frame of the refrigerator, the cool air no longer doing anything to soothe my overheated skin.

“What’s it like for the vampire?” I asked, my words barely above a whisper.

“It’s the greatest high anyone can feel. The blood of a human is different from the blood of other supernaturals. It doesn’t give us the same rush of power, but it feeds something else inside us. A yearning to dominate, to possess.” He moved closer, stooping as he spoke, until his nose was grazing my neck. “Each human tastes a little different but always sings of desire and the most exquisite sex. So if I were to bite you, take even just a taste from you, it would be almost impossible to keep my hands off of you.”

His hands were on my hips, holding me in place as he pressed his body against my back, and I could feel his hard length pressed into my ass. Jesus, I wanted him so badly. I ached for him to kiss me, touch more of me, anything.I wanted to let him take charge and do what he liked. I’d only ever been with one guy, a while back now, and never reached orgasm. Truth be told, as high as my inner fires were burning, I needed an experienced stoker, someone to surge the flames out fully from under my skin with every caress, every kiss.

“I imagine you taste like sun-kissed summer days on the beach, peach tea spiked with moonshine, and pure erotic bliss.”

I didn’t know what to say. I wanted to turn in his arms, reach up on my tiptoes, and seal my lips over his, but I was terrified that if I moved, the spell would break, and this would end.

“How far does it usually go?” I asked.

“In a public setting like a diner, you would probably have hands all over you, some sneaking under your clothes maybe, if they are bold sliding under your skirt. In private, I doubt any vampire would be strong enough to stop before you were under them crying out their name in ecstasy.”

“Doesn’t sound too terrible.” I was trying to hide the growing tremble in my tone. My words were stumbling, sticking together with adrenaline and nervous energy.

Leaning deliciously close, his hands pressed firmer on my hips as he spoke slow and silky words a fraction from my ear shell. “No, not too terrible at all.”