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The thought was like a knife to the chest. “Don’t say that. I’m glad you stayed. I wish— I wish I was stronger. I wish I could help you. Protect you.” Gabe took a deep breath, hoping he could keep off a panic attack. The pressure in his chest just didn’t want to let up. “So…you stay. For now.”

Soren nodded. “I stay. Danny and Roman will be back soon… It sometimes helps to ward him off, having other vampires around.”

They had a week left of Gabe’s brother’s honeymoon. It seemed in that moment like an awfully long time, with so much potential for something to go horribly wrong.

But…the selfish side of Gabe didn’t want Soren to disappear. Not even with an evil ex on the horizon.

Gabe took another deep breath. “Come here.” He motioned with his arms to Soren, who arched a brow at him.

“Why?” Soren asked.

“I want to hold you.” Gabe made “gimme” hands at the reluctant vampire.

Soren was smirking now, the little brat. “Why?”

Gabe sighed but kept his arms up. “Because you just told me a sad story, and I want to comfort you.”

Soren crossed his arms. “I don’t need comfort.”

“Then I want you to comfort me .” It wasn’t even a lie. “Will you?”

Soren huffed at him but stepped around the counter to come stand in between Gabe’s legs. Gabe wrapped his arms around the petite vampire, holding him as tightly as he could, knowing Soren could more than handle his human strength.

There . That was better.

The tightness in Gabe’s chest released slowly as he held Soren in his arms, breathing in that ocean-and-pine scent.

Soren ducked his head into Gabe’s chest, mumbling something that was muffled by Gabe’s shirt.

Gabe pulled back slightly. “What was that?”

Soren stared firmly at his chest, avoiding his eyes, but repeated himself. “I don’t want you to pity me.”

“I don’t,” Gabe reassured. When Soren scoffed in response, he explained further, “I hate that this happened to you. Hate that you had your humanity taken away by someone who didn’t appreciate you, who didn’t take responsibility for what he’d done.

I hate so much that someone out there wants to hurt you.

But I don’t pity you.” He slid a hand around to cup Soren’s face, gently guiding his vampire to look him in the eye.

“I know how strong you are. How loyal you are to those who deserve it. You haven’t let your past define you. ”

Soren bit his lip. “Even though I still run from it, like a little coward?”

Gabe stroked Soren’s cheek with his thumb. “Self-preservation isn’t cowardly. You’ve been protecting yourself.”

Soren pulled his head from Gabe’s hand, moving instead to rub it against Gabe’s chest. Gabe had a feeling his vampire liked cuddling more than he let on. Soren was such a physical creature; how could he not?

“I wish I were stronger. I wish I could protect you.”

Soren tilted his head away from Gabe’s chest just enough that his words came out clear. “I don’t need that from you.”

“I don’t get what you need from me at all, I guess. Other than blood.”

“Orgasms.” Soren smirked at him again.

Well, shit. That was all Gabe was to Soren? He shouldn’t really be surprised. The wealth of this vampire’s life experience was overwhelming. What could Gabe, small-town rube turned small-town doctor, really offer him?

But before he could go to a dark place with his thoughts, Soren continued, the smirk dropping from his face, “Not just orgasms, human. I’ve never told anyone that story.

I spent over a century in a community where any vulnerability was immediately taken advantage of, with a beast who took any opening to punish me for—for my own feelings.

You don’t take advantage. You don’t begrudge me my strength. You don’t make me feel…lesser.”

Gabe laughed. “That’s like, the bare minimum of a healthy relationship, brat.”

Soren looked up to frown at him. “Don’t belittle it.

It means something to me. To feel safe. And don’t put yourself down.

You don’t have to be the big, bad protector to be a worthy partner.

” Soren grinned his manic grin, and Gabe’s heart lightened just a little to see it again. “I’ve got that part covered.”

Gabe smiled back at him at that, but there was still that nagging doubt. Could he really be an equal partner to Soren as a human?

But what was the alternative? Jump on the vampire train like his brother? Turn ?

Soren hadn’t given him any indication that they were anything long-term. And an eternity as an otherworldly creature was the definition of long-term.

Gabe tried to put the thought aside and focus on the vampire in his arms. This was about Soren, not his own insecurities. “What do you need from me right now?”

Soren met his eyes. “Orgasms.”

“I’m being serious, brat.”

“So am I.” Soren reached a hand down to palm Gabe’s cock, which hardened rapidly under even that simple touch. “I want to feel you inside me, Highness. I want to forget the bad memories. I want to feel good. I want to have fun .”

Gabe’s breath hitched as he watched Soren’s eyes darken in arousal. He knew there was more to discuss, but it was a tough offer to pass up. Soren wanted to feel good, and Gabe wanted to make that happen.

He leaned his head down to claim Soren’s lips. Just a gentle, brief caress, a tease of tongues. He was rewarded with the softest, sweetest sigh from his vampire.

“All right, brat.” Gabe’s voice came out husky. “I’ll take you to bed.”