Page 14 of Siren in Love (In Love #1)

Corvin

W hen Mike got back into the van as well and closed the driver’s side door behind him, the world felt just a little more in balance than before.

Corvin, still clutching the dictionary against his chest, let out a slow breath while Mike turned on the engine and fiddled with the heater.

“Honey, are you sure you’re okay?”

Corvin looked at him. “Your boss said something about being left quite curious? About you bursting into song or whatever? Do you…do you sing at the office? Also, how come you’ve talked to him about me when you never told me about him? You two seem sort of chummy.”

Mike looked straight ahead, even though the traffic still wasn’t moving yet. Warm air blew out of the vents, only making Corvin more aware of how he was shivering.

“Work isn’t that interesting. No one sings. A lot of reading and paperwork though.” Something seemed to register, and he turned to meet Corvin’s gaze. “Chummy? You think I’m too close with Peter? Honey, if—”

“No! I mean, no. Just.” Corvin released his hold on the cat-bane volume.

“It’s that you would leave me with him. And he said something about promising to keep me safe.

Mike, you just parked me in your boss’s massive house because I’ve been a bit cold.

I’d never do the same for you, not because I want you to freeze to death or have to resort to cannibalism, but rather because I’m just not that close with my boss.

Or any of the professors who submit their research requests to me, for that matter.

Also, did you know he has a first edition of On the Origins of Species on his bookshelf?

Dedicated to some other Peter? A first edition , Mike. ”

“Yeah, Peter collects old books. It’s a hobby. I’m guessing he found one that was dedicated to someone with the same name? He and I get along fine, and I knew he’d be home and would be happy to offer you a place to warm up for a little while.” Mike shrugged.

Up ahead, the road was getting unblocked finally. Corvin bit his bottom lip. I sound like I’m nagging, right? Why am I nagging? He did a nice thing for me, and it wasn’t like Peter looked like he was worried about Mike. If there had been an office affair, Peter would have cared at least a little.

“I…I think the adrenaline…” Corvin shook his head. “He collects old books. Why didn’t you tell me that? I dig old books.”

Mike looked over to Corvin. “Maybe I didn’t want to share your attention. Peter can be quite intense, as you’ve seen. And he’s not for everyone. Like licorice.”

“Licorice?”

“Yeah. Intense.”

Intense my ass. The man might not be able to charm the pants off me, but he could scare me into wetting them all right .

“Huh. That’s one way of putting it.”

“Hon, what matters is that you’re okay. And you really knocked the cat out.” Mike’s voice lifted, pride blooming in his voice.

“I…guess I did.” And then his boss broke its neck. “What was that thing anyway? Peter called it a yule cat. And what were you doing humming at it? I mean, I know you like to hum and it’s charming, but what the fuck, Mike? That demon cat could have fucking gored you!”

They were finally moving again and slowly speeding up, leaving the cover of shedding oak branches behind them.

“Yule cat… Peter’s of Scandinavian extraction, so that’s just a Scandinavian thing, you know? I heard cats like listening to soothing melodies, so I thought I’d give it a try.”

Corvin shivered. “Mike. For your information, I’m suppressing the urge to hit you over the head with this here dictionary right now for being so indescribably stupid as to serenade a feral cat, because you’ve fucking seen it on some nature documentary or whatnot.

Do you understand you could’ve gotten hurt? You could’ve fucking died!”

Mike glanced over at Corvin, his blue eyes full of lapis-colored fire. He took Corvin’s hand, wove his fingers between Corvin’s, and kissed Corvin’s knuckles. “You came to rescue me. You really did.”

“ Of course I came to fucking rescue you!”

“I love you, Corvin Belya. You know that, right? I love you so much.”

Corvin groaned and rolled his eyes, but he made no attempt to pull his hand away from Mike’s hold.

“You’re such a dummy sometimes. I demand shelf space for being a fucking angel of patience.

And for not unleashing my dictionary on your head.

” Corvin looked at his box of memories. “I really like you too. I don’t need the drama of saying ‘I love you,’ but you’re not so bad. ”

Mike chuckled. “I’ll take that, honey. I can be the drama queen in the relationship.”

“Not if it makes you sing at cats, Mike. I forbid it.”

“Do you?”

“Yeah.”

“Right. Didn’t know you spoke Mandarin, by the way. Really hefty, that dictionary.”

“I don’t, but they were going to trash it. What was I supposed to do?”

Mike smiled. “Right. That makes sense. We’ll see about the shelves.”

They spent the last few minutes of the drive in silence.

Mike started one of his low hums again, and the sound made Corvin relax, even if he knew he should be mad about the way Mike had endangered himself.

They turned the final corner, and Mike’s house came into view.

Corvin had always thought it was too spacious for one person, what with the garage and the basement, the kitchen Mike loved cooking in, as well as the living room with the large flatscreen and the excellent sound system.

There was a piano in the living room too, tucked in a corner for the best sound, according to Mike, and he used it to produce casual, sweet melodies Corvin had never learned when he’d played the instrument.

His house is going to be less spacious now. Or more crowded? Are two people a crowd?

They pulled up in Mike’s driveway, and Mike engaged the hand brake of the van before saying, “Listen, I need you to keep your eyes closed when we go inside.”

Corvin cocked his head. “Why? Is it messy? I didn’t think you could do messy. You probably thought I never noticed you tidying my place and making my bed, but I did. I don’t mind if you’ve left your socks on the floor, Pineapple Mike.”

Mike smiled. “Nothing like that. It’s a surprise.”

“Huh?”

“There’s a surprise for you inside, honey. My moving-in present.”

Corvin huffed. “I don’t think you have to give me anything since it’s your house I’m moving into.”

“Agree to disagree. Come on, eyes closed. I’ll lead you to the door.”

Corvin rolled his eyes. “I’ll walk to the front door with my eyes open, and then you can prevent me from stubbing my toe or walking into things once I go inside, okay?”

“Yes, right, sure. Just excited.” Mike grinned and got out of the van. Corvin joined him, but he couldn’t quite meet the bounciness of Mike’s hurried steps down the path and up the porch. Mike turned his key and opened the door a crack, then waited for Corvin. “Okay, close them now.”

“Fine.”

“You’re not looking?”

“No. But if you’d rather put a blindfold on me, I’m sure your neighbors wouldn’t mind the entertainment that would bring.”

“My neighbors aren’t really that interested. This isn’t the suburbs. You’re not looking?”

“Mike, it’s fucking cold out here.”

“All right, all right.” Mike wrapped an arm around Corvin’s waist and pulled him tightly against his chest so he could walk him across the threshold.

Corvin grumbled, but mostly for show. He squeezed his eyes shut, trusting Mike.

“Excited?” Mike asked. He sounded very damn excited himself. He kicked the door shut behind them and began maneuvering Corvin down the hallway.

“Very.” Corvin held his hands out in front of him instinctively.

“I think you’re lying. Still upset about the yule cat? I mean, the cat. You really don’t have to be worried.”

Corvin sighed. “No. I mean, yes, I’m upset. But you’re okay, so that’s good. Mike, I didn’t get you a moving-in present.”

Mike chuckled. “I already live here.”

“Thank-you present then. Didn’t get you one of those.”

“I’m sure we can figure something out.”

Corvin groaned. “And there it is. You only want me for my body, and you’ve been plotting to get me to submit to you, put on your blindfold, and beg.”

“I don’t have a blindfold.” Mike sounded amused.

“Hah! Not denying the rest of it! I got your number now, Pineapple Mike!”

“You sure do. Careful now, we’re going down three steps.” Mike tightened his hold on Corvin, the arm banded across Corvin’s belly firm and welcome.

“We’re going down to the den?” Corvin asked, taking the first step, then the second, then the third.

When they got to the bottom, Mike kissed Corvin’s cheek. “Not quite. Open.”

Please don’t let it be some weird surprise party . Corvin opened his eyes. It wasn’t a surprise party. It was much, much better.

The den was south facing, the large windows letting in lots of golden October light. Corvin’s jaw dropped.

“You see, this isn’t my den anymore. I turned it into your library.”

The walls had been fitted with bookshelves that were made to look inbuilt, and lower shelves had been added to partition off a reading corner with a low couch that looked ridiculously inviting with the mountain of cushions on it.

In the room’s center, a round bookshelf doubled as a table, with the base made up of shelves.

The new chairs were large enough to curl up in with a good book and a big mug of coffee or hot chocolate.

Corvin knew that all his books would feel at home here, and that there was enough space to go out and buy more books. More importantly, he knew he would feel at home here, and since there was enough room for two people to read, he was hopeful he wouldn’t be alone.

“You…”

“Yes?” Mike said, sounding annoyingly pleased with himself. “Do you think there’s enough shelf space?”

Corvin turned and looked at Mike, standing one step above him and grinning from ear to ear.

“I want you to fuck me. Now.”