Page 22 of The Vampire's Werewolf Bodyguard

Cody

Cody adores the chill of Simon’s body. A month ago, he would have scoffed at the thought. But now, everything about Simon is perfect. His eyes shifting between blue-green and red as Cody drove him wild. His taunting words. His death-cold flesh tempering the heat of Cody’s desire. A soothing balm during a fever dream.

Fine hair tickles Cody’s chest. No breath, because Simon only breathes when he wants to speak. His weight fits perfectly beneath Cody’s arm.

Or the other way around. Simon is immortal. Cody’s the one who gladly fits around him. Like Simon is a second moon reshaping Cody’s soul.

The real moon still hums at the back of his mind. It isn’t urgent, and Cody is settled in this shape for now. Not because his emotions are steady—anything but. It’s because he’s somewhere he belongs. Anchored to someone who could belong to him in turn.

Which is ridiculous to spring on someone after one night together. Another werewolf would understand, but Cody should probably slow this down.

Tracing the contours of Simon’s ribs, Cody starts, “I was wondering—”

Simon props himself up to glare. “I said not to say anything.”

“—what’s immortality like?” Cody continues, steadfast.

Simon’s glare melts into surprise, then wariness. Either he’s more expressive than usual, or Cody’s just hyper-attuned to him. “Why do you ask?”

“I want to know everything about you,” Cody says. “But that’s coming on a little strong, so I thought maybe one question at a time.”

Simon settles back down. Not quite as melted and comfortable as before, but he hasn’t fled. “Everyone handles it differently. Sometimes it’s hard, watching people die, or leave, or change. But there are moments… There are moments I never would have reached in a normal lifespan. Those moments are worth everything.”

Cody exhales into Simon’s hair. He used to think about vampires as creatures of the past. But Simon speaks of the future. The gaps not yet painted on the walls.

What will Simon be like in another fifty years? In five hundred? Immortality never sounded appealing until now.

Perhaps Cody’s question was a mistake. Simon lost a brother to another werewolf’s greed. He would never bare his throat for a claiming bite .

But there are options in between nothing and forever.

“After this job, I’m going to take some time off,” Cody says. “I’d love to take you out for a drink or something.”

Cold fingertips alight on Cody’s throat.

“A drink?” Simon asks.

Cody swallows beneath the touch. “Not like that.” Even if Cody’s starting to wonder what a vampire bite would really feel like. What do the eager human victims at the Broken Cross know that Cody refuses to see? “Would you hate seeing me again?”

Simon slides to the edge of the bed. “I might actually enjoy it.” His confession sounds easy, though knowing him, it isn’t. He doesn’t look back over his shoulder, but he must sense Cody’s grin, because he adds, “Don’t get full of yourself.”

Too late. Cody stretches out, settling his hands behind his head, luxuriating in the permission behind the understatement. “I would never. Are you leaving?”

Still avoiding eye contact, Simon bends to collect his clothes and handgun. “Sunrise is soon. I should go downstairs.”

Sunrise is hours away, but Cody doesn’t call out the lie. The desire to retreat means Simon felt something tonight. Maybe even as intense as what Cody felt.

“See you at sunset, then?” Cody says, reaching for his sweatpants. He hesitates before putting them on. He should shower.

Simon pauses at the door. “Unless the moon will trouble you again tonight.”

The question startles Cody. He keeps forgetting it’s the night before the full moon, because he feels so settled in himself. Then there’s the sweetness of Simon’s consideration.

“No more trouble tonight,” Cody says softly. “Thank you.”

“That’s good.” Simon lingers in the doorway for the length of one undead heartbeat. Then he slips away into the hall.

Cody waits until Simon’s footsteps fall silent before dragging himself to shower. Thankfully, soap and water can’t scrub Simon’s scent from his skin.

***

No more trouble, Cody had promised. That might change now, when he finds Tobias in the kitchen.

Tobias cradles a mug of coffee. By the haggard twitch of his eyes, it isn’t his first. He takes another gulp, then sets the mug down hard. “There’s blood in the fridge.”

“I warned you it was weird.” Cody sits across the table. “You should be asleep.”

“I’m the boss. You don’t get to tell the boss to go to sleep.” Tobias rubs his eyes. “Fuck. I’m sorry I messed up. This wasn’t the plan.”

Tobias’s sense of responsibility is one of the reasons Cody likes working for him so much. Tobias holds Cody accountable, and he holds himself to the same standards on the rare occasions he fucks up. Even when he’s tangled up in a paranormal job he just isn’t equipped for.

“It turned out okay.” Cody hopes nothing in his expression gives away how much better than okay it turned out. “Simon’s safe downstairs again, you just need a nap, and I didn’t scratch up the furniture. Pretty good outcome. ”

“I need a better report than ‘all’s well that ends well,’ Weston,” Tobias says sternly. “Why was tonight different?”

Because Simon feels safe. Comfortable. Pack. Because Cody’s wolf hates being trapped. Because—

“I like Simon,” Cody says, because there’s no other explanation. He’s going to have to tell Tobias sooner or later.

And he just can’t hide his wide, sappy grin anymore.

Tobias stares. Then slumps, head in hands. “For fuck’s sake. We have policies, you asshole.”

“You could put me on probation after this job,” Cody suggests helpfully.

“I’m too tired for this shit.” Tobias straightens up, finally looking more alive than exhausted. “I was wondering why you looked so fucking smug. Don’t tell me anything else—I’m going the fuck to bed.”

Which is when Cody knows they’ll be okay. If Tobias was going to fire him, he would do it right now. Anything that could wait was something they could sort out. That’s good. Cody’s done shoving himself into the cage of professionalism, and this whole situation isn’t a job anymore.

He isn’t protecting Simon for the paycheck.