Page 22 of Worse Fates

I also kinda want to rub up against him. But I do have some self control, even if it’s on a razor's edge.

“Sirs, erm, you can’t do that here—” The server begins.

“Out, all of you.” Lucero’s voice is bedrock deep and as loud as a thunderclap. I flinch, but he soothes me with a hand on my back, as in unison, chairs scrape against the sticky floor. Everyone’s eyes are glazed over as they march towards the door, including the servers. Leaving us alone.

Well that was…odd. But I’m pulled into Lucero’s lap, and forget everything else.

It’s instinct to wrap my arms around his neck and press my face into his chest. His hand strums up and down my back. Like I’m the out of tune guitar lost somewhere in Vidar’s mansion.

“You're safe with me,” he whispers, and I believe him.

“And that's the part that freaks me out, because why?”

Lucero rests his chin on top of my head. “I was turned into a vampire over six hundred years ago.”

Chapter Eight - Lucero

“Cradle robber.”

Chuckling, I nuzzle into Golden’s soft hair, a lightness I haven’t felt in years clearing away my cobwebs. Even under his combat jacket, and the one I gave him, his precious warmth emanates. The few tears Golden shed have ceased, but I will never allow him to become that desperate for my touch again.

“Do you wish to hear my story, or make snide comments?” I tease, tugging him closer.

“I can do both.” He’s made himself smaller in my arms. Head tucked under my chin, hands laid on my chest.

Heart breaking at the thought of his life before me—each day a struggle for Golden to survive—I tighten my embrace. I have no doubt conflict fights within him, but for now he simply surrenders; air leaving him in a whoosh as his body softens.

“I was turned six hundred years ago with my brother. However, he did not live through the change. Becoming a vampire is no gentle process. You must die, then be reborn. I lived, he did not.”

“I’m sorry.”

Golden feels deeply for others, that much is obvious. But I won’t allow my burdens to become his. “I know, sweet boy, but don’t worry, it was a long time ago. Anyway, Vidar turned me. I was a nobody then, but a handsome nobody, and took advantage of that. Rich women enjoyed my company, gave me their trust, and I stole their money. I had little education or money of my own, so it became my way to survive.”

“I guess we’ve both done things we regret.” Golden looks up; I seem to be a puzzle he’s trying to solve. This makes me smile, and the need to take his lips is a hard one to shake. Instead, I hold his cheek.

“I’m not deserving of your compassion, Golden. All my sins I’ve earned.”

He opens his mouth to say something, but I run my thumb across his velvet soft lips. Eyelids dropping to half mask, Golden tentatively, so very sweetly, parts his sumptuous lips a hair's breadth wider, and I sneak my thumb inside.

The heat of him could cripple me, then the tip of his tongue runs along the edge of my thumb. Suddenly, my lungs have no need for air. Only him.

Our eyes lock. His breathing is the only sound I care for, the terrible music in the background forgotten. I have longed for this, for him. My soulmate. The closeness of lovers, and I have it back within my grasp. Francisco, Tristan, Samuel.

Now Golden.

Maybe this time I will be selfish.

“I’ve never had sex.” His confession rushes out, words jumbled tightly together. It’s the bucket of cold water I needed.

His brow furrows, as if he’s also confused by his own confession.

“I’ve wanted to. But ya know…there was never a good time?”

There’s more to this, and I’ll learn his secrets soon enough. For now, I remove my thumb from his devastating heat and cup his face. Smiling to reassure him. “We don’t need to worry about that right now.”

His relief is obvious, but I smirk when I see his disappointment, too.

“Who wants to have sex in an ugly café anyway? Not that…” Red blooming in his cheeks, Golden waves a hand as if to encapsulate the point, and distracting away from his adorable blushing. “Ya know, not that we are going to…for fuck sakes. Stop bloody looking at me,” he grumbles.