Haruka frowns, not following. He shifts against Nino’s body to sit up, then pauses. He understands. Haruka looks at him, his eyes patient. “Nino, you do not need to be ashamed of your body’s reaction. This is natural.”

“Right, okay. But if you get up, I can go take care of it really quick.”

They only watch each other for a moment before Haruka swiftly wraps his fingers inside the waist of Nino’s pajama pants, then smoothly urges them down around the curve of his ass and to his thighs. Nino protests in shock as Haruka quickly sits up and pulls the cotton pants down and off his body, tossing them onto the floor.

Haruka immediately settles back down between Nino’s long, tanned legs. Without hesitation, he eagerly licks up the inside of his firm thigh. Nino writhes and swears while Haruka diligently cleans his body, lazily dragging his tongue across Nino’s skin where his raw release has settled. Every aspect of this purebred tastes divine—his woodsy, spicy essence resonating strongly all throughout his body.

When he grips Nino’s shaft, he considers briefly, but only licks and cleans the tip. His nature within him is already twisting and threatening to voluntarily release. It is taking considerable effort to keep it constrained. Plus, they need to be careful. Haruka sighs. This will not be easy.

When he’s finished, he slowly crawls and kisses up the center of Nino’s tight stomach and chest—fully indulging in his sumptuous body. He presses his lips to the nape of his neck before finally hovering over Nino’s handsome face. Haruka smirks. “In truth, it was my mess to clean up.”

“Jesus.”

“I felt strongly that I should take responsibility for my actions.”

Nino’s eyes are filled with something. Stress? Trepidation? He reaches up and twists his fingers into his coppery waves.

Looking down at his naked body in the morning light and against the soft white sheets, Haruka blinks, suddenly afraid that he has gone too far. He has lost his composure and acted without thinking. Has he read this situation incorrectly? Is this something Nino wanted?

He sits up slightly, his face very serious. “Nino, have I overwhelmed you? If—if I have overstepped my boundaries I sincerely—”

“Don’t.”

Nino reaches out and threads his fingers into Haruka’s hair, pulling him back down toward his face. “No—I… Don’t be polite right now. I’m fine, Haru, I just…” He takes a breath before lifting his chin and pulling Haruka down into a firm kiss. He immediately parts his lips, urging Haruka inside. Haruka accepts the invitation and Nino promptly meets his tongue, licking and stroking into him with want. With urgency.

Their previous kisses were cautious, sweet. They were carefully learning each other and politely walking this new line between friends and lovers.

This kiss is different. Passionate—ravenous and seeped in unspoken need. It’s as if Nino desperately wishes to convey something to Haruka that he cannot say with words.

Haruka rests his body down against him, exhaling a muffled moan from the satisfaction of his own arousal being pressed into Nino’s naked warmth. They slow the rhythm of the kiss, the affection turning more playful as they lie together against the cool sheets.

Nino slides his hands underneath Haruka’s shirt and up the center of his back. When his palms rest firmly at his spine, Nino softly breaks the kiss. “Should we… Can I take care of you?” He slowly lifts and rolls his hips up and into Haruka, acknowledging his hardness between them.

Haruka shakes his head. “You take care of me by feeding me, and I simply enjoy being with you like this. But I would like for us to talk about something. Are you free today?”

“You’re the busy one… running around town and going on dates with my brother.”

“Not dates.” Haruka frowns, sitting upright. “However, in spending time with him, perhaps I have come to a conclusion. Separately, why is Giovanni unbonded?”

Nino pauses briefly, then pushes himself upright as well. He is suddenly anxious as he looks around the room. “My brother’s situation is complicated. Sorry, Haru. What’s your conclusion? And where did you throw my pants?”

Thirty-One

Haruka shamelessly watches Nino’s long, naked frame as he scoots from the bed, swiftly grabs the discarded pajama pants from the floor and disappears into his closet. He hadn’t intended to completely undress Nino when he instigated things, but he is not ungrateful that it has happened. His beautiful, golden-honey body is lean but perfectly sculpted, like an exquisite work of art that he would like to devour.

He shakes his head, focusing and ignoring the hot pulse in his groin. “The situation in Brazil is causing much restlessness among our race—across many aristocracies.”

“I don’t understand,” Nino says from inside his closet. “What’s happening in Brazil feels isolated to me. Whatever the argument is over there, it’s over there. Nothing is being reported in any other geographical aristocracy, so why is everyone focusing on this?”

Haruka shifts to the top of the bed, relaxing his back against the headboard and folding his legs. “The concern is that the discontent will spread to other communities. Much of the conflict comes from Ladislao’s lack of diplomacy—his lack of balance and leadership. He ignores his kin and their concerns, and left to their own devices, this uprising has formed. I know that you dislike hearing it, but on an admittedly smaller scale, this environment is similar to the events preceding the Vanishing. As I have met with many members of the Milan aristocracy, they share my opinion of the situation.”

Nino walks out of the closet wearing soft-looking sweatpants and a long-sleeved shirt that drapes his square shoulders. He sits on the bed beside Haruka.

“That being said,” Haruka continues, sighing, “I feel that I should consider returning home.”

Nino’s eyes widen. “Really?”

“I believe it is irresponsible of me to leave my family’s realm unattended given this increasingly tumultuous environment.”

“When would you go back?”

“I’m not sure… I wanted to discuss this decision with you.” Haruka reaches over. He entwines their fingers together as their hands comfortably rest against Nino’s thigh. “You are my true friend and source, and now my lover. Your opinion is weighted heavily in this situation. You are also my research partner.”

Haruka smiles and waits, but Nino doesn’t speak. The amber vampire sighs heavily as he runs the fingers of his free hand through his hair. Sensing his distress, Haruka holds his hand a little tighter. “To be clear, it is not my intention for us to end our relationship. This is not a farewell conversation.”

“How can we continue as we are if you move back to Japan?” Nino’s beautiful eyes are naked in their anguish. “I can’t feed you if we’re in different countries.”

“Correct. Which means that I would need to secure another resource. But this is not so uncommon, Nino. Unbonded vampires feed from multiple sources in a lifetime, sometimes simultaneously.”

“But you can’t just feed from any random vampire, Haru.” Nino frowns, shaking his head. “You need consistency and high quality because of your bloodline. If you get another Elsie, your body chemistry and nature will be all messed up again.”

“Feeding aside…” Haruka grins. “How should we maintain our working and personal relationship? Would you be willing to visit me? Once I am settled and if your schedule allows? Please do not feel pressured to—”

“Of course I’ll visit you. I think… If you wanted me to, maybe I could…”

Haruka waits, but no words follow. “Yes?”

“I… I don’t know.” Nino drops his shoulders. He rests back against the headboard. “Maybe as we collect more surveys from couples across international communities, we could meet in different places? Like research vacations together.”

“The phrase ‘research vacation’ feels oxymoronic, but I understand your intent. I would like this very much.”

A peaceful silence settles between them, their hands firmly clasped. The clouds shift, allowing the sun to shine a little brighter through the skylights.

“So…” Nino breaks the silence. “We’ll just be apart then.”

Haruka takes a breath, nodding. The sadness of the statement weighs heavily in his chest. He doesn’t want to be apart from Nino, but he should return to his realm. He has been running away from his responsibilities for seventy years.

The irony is that Nino has been the primary catalyst in strengthening and healing Haruka. But in doing so, they will now be separated.

“I don’t want us to be apart.” Nino lowers his head, staring down at his thighs. “Is there any way for us to stay together? Would you want that?”

Haruka swallows, his throat tight. “I do want that. But Nino, I would never ask you to uproot your life and established business for me, especially considering… I cannot promise you that we would form a bond.”

“That’s fine,” Nino says, meeting his eyes. “I’ve never thought about living in Japan, but now that I am, it might be interesting for me. I can start a business anywhere.”

Haruka’s heart is light. His nature twists with joy rather than the usual angst or turmoil. But is this too much to ask of Nino? Should he discourage him? Even as the doubts float across his mind, he wants to ignore them. Maybe he is selfish, but he wants this very much.

“The only problem,” Nino says, his gaze downcast once more, “is finding a new source. Once you’re in charge, will you help me find someone we can trust that can nourish me?”