Page 5 of The Vampire’s Receptionist (Charmed Away Temp Agency #4)

CHAPTER FIVE

His hold on the magic slipped long enough for Dorian to escape. Kian braced himself to hit the wall from the force of it, but Dorian stumbled before they could go more than a few feet. He bared his fangs, shaking his head roughly, and shoved Kian away.

“Go! Now!”

Kian rolled his eyes. “Yeah, right. And unleash you on the rest of the building? Not going to happen. You need to feed. I can either portal you to your feeder or you can take a donation from me. Take your pick.”

“I can’t–” Dorian grimaced, shaking his head again like he was trying to clear it. “My feeder has rules. I can’t just show up. I–” He snarled and took a step forward before shoving himself back again.

Kian was a little impressed at how much control the vampire had.

He was obviously hungry if a little paper cut was enough to set him off, but he refused to hurt anyone to get what he needed.

Only really strong or really old vampires had that kind of control.

Kian got the feeling it was a little bit of both.

Unbuttoning his sleeve cuff, he rolled it up and offered Dorian his wrist. “Guess you’re stuck with me then.”

Dorian shook his head, but he couldn’t look away from Kian’s wrist. Kian fought the urge to roll his eyes again.

“Now is not the time for chivalry. Hurry up before someone else comes in.”

Reluctantly, Dorian stepped forward. His hands were cool and soft as they touched Kian’s skin, making him shiver a little from the contact.

He felt the warm breath on his wrist and he waited for the pinch of pain, but Dorian hesitated again.

He really didn’t want to do this. It was written all over his face. Kian softened a little.

“It’s okay. I’m a paramedic, remember? This isn’t my first blood donation in an emergency situation.

Just take enough to tide you over and accept that I’ll be an enormous pain in your ass until you’re back on your feet.

I don’t judge anyone for overextending themselves. You won’t find me starting now.”

Dorian searched his eyes for a moment before nodding once. “I apologize. I promise, this isn’t how things normally work here.”

Kian was going to comment about how every job had dangerous supernaturals to deal with, but Dorian’s fangs pierced his skin, and he flinched automatically.

Then groaned as the euphoria kicked in. It usually wasn’t strong enough to do much more than make him breathless, but with Dorian, it hit him like a mack truck and made his knees weak.

Dorian caught him and pulled him close before he could sink to the floor.

His heartbeat thrashed in his ears, and he felt himself harden in his slacks.

That was new. He’d never had that kind of response to a blood donation before.

He was a little disappointed he hadn’t offered the vampire his neck.

It probably would’ve felt a hundred times better.

He was getting close to coming in his pants when Dorian pulled away and licked the holes closed.

Kian made a noise of protest, his head resting against Dorian’s shoulder.

He wasn’t sure when that had happened, but damn, the vampire smelled good.

He leaned a little closer, burying his face against Dorian’s chest, before he realized what he was doing and stiffened.

Pulling back, he looked up at Dorian in confusion, only to be met with the same expression on the other man’s face.

“What–”

There was a thud as someone connected with the break room door.

He’d forgotten he locked it with his magic when he first froze Dorian, because he didn’t want anyone else walking in and ending up on the vampire’s radar.

They both jumped apart at the noise, and Kian slammed his eyes shut, willing himself to calm down.

It wasn’t happening, and he wasn’t willing to open that door while he was still hard as a rock and practically panting for more.

He threw open a portal, ignoring Dorian calling after him as he dashed through it.

Dorian stepped forward to stop Kian before he ran, but the portal closed before he could get more than the man’s name out.

As soon as the portal closed, the magic keeping the door locked dissipated, and the door swung open.

Joey, an imp on the design floor, looked confused as his eyes darted around the room.

“Why was it locked?”

“I got a personal call and needed a moment,” Dorian lied smoothly. “I’m sorry I was hogging the breakroom.”

It wasn’t the worst lie he could’ve come up with. Joey looked skeptical, though.

“You didn’t want to use your office for that? Isn’t it more private?”

“I got the call while coming out here for more coffee.”

Joey’s gaze slid to his right a few inches, and Dorian looked over his shoulder to see the empty coffee pot a few feet away. His lie was unraveling fast.

“I was going to make more when I got the call. Are you on your lunch? Why are you on this floor?”

“The microwave broke on our floor, and the temp handling reception doesn’t know how to get it fixed.

Figured I’d just use the one up here,” Joey said, his voice still tinged with suspicion.

“Was someone else here with you?” He shot a pointed look at the lunches on the table.

The lunches of the two men Dorian had forced to portal to get away from him.

He would never forgive himself for letting it get so bad. He knew better.

“Those were there when I got here. I’m sorry, but I need to go. Enjoy your lunch.”

Hightailing it out of the breakroom was only a little embarrassing. Thinking about what he was going to say to the man who’d offered up his own blood to protect him from himself compounded the embarrassment. What the hell had he been thinking?

Once he was safely ensconced in his office, he dropped into his chair and buried his face in his hands, letting out a groan.

He’d been alive almost longer than all of his friends, and yet he somehow managed to let himself get into a situation where he couldn’t control himself.

He was too old to act this way. It was shameful.

The things his mother would say if she knew.

A pang of sadness tugged in his chest at the thought of his mother.

Vampires were almost immortal compared to the rest of the races.

He thought he had a lot more time with her.

But vampires were one of the few species who couldn’t match their lifespans to their mate’s.

The nonsense that humans made up about vampires turning people was just that; nonsense.

His mother’s mate wasn’t his father, they’d gotten divorced long before she met George, and when he passed on, she chose to end her life to go with him.

That was six months ago, and it still stung.

He hadn’t even had the nerve to tell his friends yet.

He banished the heartache away. He had more important things to focus on.

Namely, apologizing both to the young human who he’d nearly attacked, and to Kian, who’d stopped him from doing the unimaginable.

There were severe consequences for vampires who took blood without consent.

Consequences Dorian agreed with wholeheartedly.

He wouldn’t have fought them if he’d actually managed to hurt someone.

It was almost like Kian knew that when he plainly told him he had consent to feed from him. He knew the right words to make him feel at ease enough to accept his offer.

Harlem was going to be pissed.

He wasn’t in any kind of relationship with his feeder, but Harlem had been with him for years and while exclusivity wasn’t part of their contract, they’d been working together long enough that it felt like it was.

Dorian was sure he’d understand after he explained, but it was probable that he’d get yelled at anyway.

He almost wished he could hide it from the man just to avoid it.

He didn't have the energy to be berated right now.

He was still debating how long he could go to avoid it when the universe answered by having Harlem call him instead. His head dropped forward in defeat. Nothing was going the way he’d hoped in the past few weeks.

Picking up the phone, he put it up to his ear. “Hello, Harlem.”

“Oh, so you remember I exist? I thought maybe you forgot. Either that, or you’re ignoring your health again in favor of overworking yourself. So which one is it?”

“That latter, I’m afraid,” he replied. It was better not to argue. It would only piss the kitsune off. “Listen–”

“No, you listen. You haven’t eaten in a week. That’s not only idiotic, it’s dangerous. I’m putting my foot down. I’m coming over tonight. You’re going to feed before you accidentally hurt someone.”

His feeder was a good friend, and he appreciated the concern. He probably should’ve just popped in when he needed to earlier. It would make this conversation significantly less painful.

“Unfortunately, it’s a little late for that. I–”

“What?! What happened? I called your office, so you can’t be in prison right now. You didn’t beguile someone, did you? That’s so fucking gross, Dorian! You know how important freely given consent is! It doesn’t count if you beguile them first!”

It was hard to get a word in edgewise when Harlem was on a rant.

He had to raise his voice just to get through to him.

“I didn't beguile anyone, Harlem, I promise. I did almost attack someone. One of the new temps offered to feed me, because I waited too long. I’m sorry. It was a matter of safety. I didn’t want to accidentally hurt someone. ”

The line went quiet, and he winced. The guilt was overwhelming, both for betraying his friendship with Harlem and for what happened this afternoon. He should have listened to himself when he decided he needed to call Harlem earlier.

“Why didn’t you call me?” Harlem demanded, a hint of hurt in his voice.

“I meant to. I swear, I did. I was going to finish my shift and go straight to your apartment. But I was a little out of it, and one of the men in the breakroom got a paper cut. Just the smell of blood set me off. I–”

“No, you idiot! Why didn’t you call me sooner? You should’ve never let it go this far! People are going to think I’m a bad feeder for not taking care of you!”

He didn’t have anything to say to that aside from, “I should have. I’m sorry.”

Harlem let out a frustrated growl, and Dorian could practically see the man stomping his foot.

His feeder was a little dramatic sometimes, but he was a good person.

Dorian hadn’t even considered how it would look for him if he ended up lashing out.

Feeders reputations were important for them to continue working.

If their feeder relationship ever ended, it would reflect badly on Harlem in the future if something went wrong while Dorian was under his care.

“Did you feed enough from the new guy, or do you need a supplement? You’re lucky I’m not vindictive, because a part of me wants to make you suffer for being such an idiot.”

With a sigh, he said, “I only took enough to clear my head. I’d like to see you tonight, if at all possible.”

“Of course it is, dummy,” Harlem growled. “Whose house are we meeting at?”

“I’ll pick you up around seven and take you to dinner as an apology. Sushi sound good to you?”

“You’re already prepared to grovel. Good. Our friendship depends on you making this up to me.”