Nino breathes a laugh. He gently bumps his thigh against Haruka’s as they sit close on the couch. “Do you think we’ll be messy?”

Haruka shakes his head. “I don’t know.”

Nino points to the table and frowns. “You’re already messy so it’s probably inevitable. Look at this. What are you doing? How is this organized?”

“It is a controlled chaos.”

“It is not.” Nino chuckles as he straightens the table. “We need to keep the piles straight, not ‘spontaneous’… Are there ink smudges on these envelopes—”

Haruka leans into him, stealthily sliding his fingers onto his leg until they follow the curve inside Nino’s thigh. He hasn’t used his energy at all, but Nino is suddenly motionless, his eyes blinking. Haruka caresses the tip of his nose along Nino’s smooth jawline, then leans down to lick the concave of his neck. His honeyed skin pulses warm and salty. Haruka wishes he could feed from him again, but it’s too soon since he fed deeply the night before.

“I express spontaneity in many ways.” Haruka kisses the spot he licked. Then again, firmly pressing his lips into the elegant curve just beneath his jaw. Nino softly inhales as he slides his fingers higher up his thigh. “Is this also unacceptable?” Haruka asks between kisses.

Nino still doesn’t speak, but his eyes shift, glowing with bright golden light. Haruka grins, pleased. He knowingly allows himself to indulge. Just a little. He slides his fingertips closer toward the firm bulge between Nino’s thighs. “You were so garrulous just a moment ago, but now nothing?”

There’s a knock at the door to the outer room. Haruka casually removes his hand from inside Nino’s thigh. He sits back and folds his arms just as a maidservant appears beneath the archway. She bows.

“Apologies, my lords. Master Giovanni has returned early from his trip. He wishes that the three of you would go to Porta Romana for dinner tonight. The attire is semi-formal.”

The maidservant looks to them both. Nino is leaning forward, his elbows against his thighs and his palms massaging his face. The maidservant raises her eyebrow. “Your grace?”

“Yeah, okay,” Nino says, his voice muffled. “Tell him we said okay.”

Twenty-Nine

A couple days later, Nino is sitting at a tall, sleek black table in a fashionable restaurant. He glances toward the bar area. A beautiful floating shelf filled and lined with leafy green palms hangs above the bartenders as they work. Tall potted plants have also been tastefully placed along the glass walls, giving the delicate impression that he is eating lunch outside in a tropical garden rather than within an enclosed space.

It’s impressive, but his business mind wonders how much time and money it costs to maintain all these plants.

When he senses Cellina nearing the restaurant, he looks up toward the door. A moment later, she enters. Nino beams. Cellina never just walks. She saunters—confident, like a vampire that knows their beauty and worth. Her tightly coiled auburn hair is swept up in a bun to emphasize her dramatic earrings. She is wearing light jeans that perfectly hug her fit curves, a deep teal sweater and a fashionable, oversized beige coat. As always, she looks impeccable.

Nino stands when she reaches him and wraps her up in a tight hug. She’s carrying a pink bakery box that he recognizes.

“Ciao bella—is this for me?” he asks, releasing her.

She sits on the other side of the table. When she’s comfortable, Cellina slides the box across the smooth surface and looks up at him from beneath her lashes. “A peace offering.”

“For telling me to go to that miserable party and then ditching me?”

She pouts. “Nino.”

“I’m not mad,” he says. “But I’ll take the cannoli anyway. Chocolate cherry?”

“Of course.” Cellina winks.

When Nino thinks about that night at Moretti’s estate, it turns out it was a blessing in disguise. The tumultuous evening had somehow brought him and Haruka even closer.

Cellina leans onto the table with her elbows, cradling her chin in her palms. “You smell like you’ve made some significant progress with your handsome friend.”

Nino turns his head and lifts his arm to sniff his coat. “G said that as soon as he saw me the other day. I can’t smell anything.”

“Well, the purpose is to let other vampires know that you are off the market as a feeding source. That you’re being taken care of.”

Nino smirks. “Is that why you never let me feed deeply from you? So you were always free to shop around?”

“Don’t be stupid.” She waves her hand. “What’s going on? Give me the scoop. He finally pulled your aura, yeah?”

“He did. It was better than any sex I’ve ever had.”

Cellina laughs and claps her hands, bubbling with delight as a waiter approaches to take their drink orders. When he walks away, Cellina coolly runs her hand up her hair, patting her large bun. “I’m so happy for you, Nino—you need this. The actual sex will be phenomenal.”

Nino’s entire lower half stiffens. He takes a breath to calm the arousal. “Lina… Jesus.”

“It will.” She smiles warmly. “You two are gorgeous together, like perfect bookends. Sunlight and moonlight. Jupiter and Mars… Mercutio and Romeo.”

“Cheesy.” Nino frowns. “They weren’t a couple.”

“Maybe they should have been? So talk. I’m listening.”

He considers for a moment, allowing the charming image of Haruka to flood his mind. “We’re just… taking it slow and doing whatever feels natural. It’s unbelievable, Lina, I never—I don’t know. I never imagined that I would meet someone like him. It sounds cliché but being with Haru is so easy and comfortable, and now…”

Nino stops to think again, the warmth in his heart overwhelming him.

“And now?” Cellina gently prompts.

“He’s opening up. In a new way. It’s slow, but I’m seeing more of this… seductive and frisky side of him that I didn’t expect. He’s still being careful, but a lot less formal and rigid than he was when we first met. Maybe… this is the real him? When he’s comfortable…”

Cellina sits straight and smooths her hair again. “Ugh, I am eating this shit up. This is amazing.”

Nino laughs. “I’m glad you’re entertained. You know what I told him? He’s like a black panther. He’s watching me and taking his time thinking, prowling around me in a circle with those wine-colored eyes.”

“Mm, if he’s a panther then you’re a tiger.”

“Can you please stop?”

“When is the panther going to start feeding you?” Cellina leans against the table, folding her arms as she rests. “Am I off the hook today?”

Nino frowns. “Have you been on the hook? Am I troubling you?” The waiter returns to the table with their drinks and appetizers. He lingers a little longer than necessary, smiling and chatting in Cellina’s direction. When he walks away, he winks at her.

“Of course you’re not,” says Cellina. “But if he’s seducing you, pulling your aura, and you enjoy these things, he should feed you. You feed him. Don’t you want his blood?”

He sighs. Nino wants his blood like a hungry wolf wants meat. His body is aching for it. He ignores the feeling as best he can, but the longing burns hot from the inside out. He leans forward with his elbows on the table, running his hands into his hair as he drops his head. “I want everything from him. I want all of him.”

For the first time, he admits it aloud and to himself. The quiet truth has been acknowledged. He can’t keep pretending otherwise.

“So…” Cellina says. “You want to bond with him?”

“I just want to be with him. I love having him close like this and always talking to him. I want to touch him and I don’t want any more boundaries between us. If all that means forming a bond then yes.”