Nodding, Haruka quietly makes a decision. “I will take care of this. Once I am settled, you should visit. If you find that western Japan is pleasing to you during your trip, then we should decide together.”

In a slow, cautious movement, Nino lets go of Haruka’s hand, then shifts himself so that he’s straddling Haruka’s lap. He rests his weight down against his hips and in the hollow of Haruka’s folded legs. Nino’s eyes gleam as he bites his bottom lip. Haruka wraps his arms around his waist to hold him close.

“I love this plan.” Nino cradles Haruka’s head with his hands. He leans in and sweetly presses his lips to the small blemish just off the bridge of his nose. “It’s much better than research vacations.”

“We could do both?” Haruka smiles, closing his eyes.

Nino kisses his lips. The soft fullness of his mouth combined with the weight of him is marvelous. He lowers his face, moving down Haruka’s jawline. When he reaches the curve of his neck, he breathes in deeply before kissing him there.

“You’ve seen me naked,” Nino says, his voice low. He languidly drags his tongue against his neck—over and over as if Haruka is his most preferred flavor of lollipop. “But I haven’t seen you. It feels a little unfair.”

“Does it?” He smirks, opening his eyes.

Nino sits up straight, focused. “Haru, how… do we feel about sex?”

“Considering my behavior this morning, I think my feelings should be obvious—”

“Okay, but I mean… more.” Nino lifts slightly, moving his hand down between them and tugging at the waistband of Haruka’s pajama pants. He slowly crawls his hand inside until Haruka feels his warm, long fingers firmly wrapping around his naked length. “Like… everything,” Nino says.

Haruka breathes through his nose, focusing. “How do you feel?”

Nino leans in again, gently pressing their foreheads together. “I want you. In every way I can have you.”

“I want you.” Haruka sighs. “However, we should be careful that we do not squander our intimacy.”

Nino’s hand freezes. He sits straight and inhales deeply as if steeling himself for something. “How many times are you comfortable with?”

Laying his head back, Haruka sighs. He doesn’t want to seem strict, but based on everything he has read, everything he knows and all the research, the safest number is the lowest average number. “No more than four.”

“Four?” Nino’s body tenses, his voice jumping several octaves. “So low?”

“It is safest. Most purebred pairings in Lore and Lust became bonded after making love between four to ten times. Five times might be acceptable, but it is risky.”

“But exchanging blood is mandatory in establishing a bond, too,” Nino reasons, his coppery brow creased over anxious eyes. “We’re not, so we should be alright?”

“That… may change.”

Drawing back slightly, Nino blinks. “Yeah?”

“Yes. As such, I have already limited us to only three times after my spontaneity this morning.”

“But this morning… Does that count?”

Haruka blinks, considering. “You were physically gratified?”

Climbing off Haruka’s lap, Nino sits beside him in a heap, puffing out a breath. He reminds Haruka of a child that has been told recess is over. He stares straight forward, his gaze distracted. “Okay… three times.”

“Nino, I can also emotionally please you with my mind and intentional thoughts as I feed. And there is much more to our relationship than physical intimacy, is there not?”

Nino’s gaze is fixed on the far wall. “Yeah. You’re right.”

Haruka pouts. It’s as if Nino’s soul has been sucked out of him. The prospect of only making love with Nino three times is uncomfortable for Haruka as well, but he doesn’t want to risk being bonded. He won’t. He doesn’t want to be so strictly beholden and vulnerable to another vampire again. The first time had been too painful, humiliating and filled with regret. Too much self-sacrifice. He cannot do it again.

Anxious, Haruka raises his eyebrow. “Are you having second thoughts about our plan?” Nino breathes a laugh and rolls his shoulders, the trance broken.

“Absolutely not. Haru, I love—”

Eyes wide, he stares into the side of Nino’s handsome profile. His amber eyes are wide as well as he looks straight ahead at the wall. Haruka reaches down to grasp his hand, then brings it up to his mouth to place soft kisses in his palm. Nino relaxes his shoulders, stifling a grin.

“No, I haven’t changed my mind. I’m excited about my trip.”

Haruka pauses in his kisses. “And I am grateful.”

Thirty-Two

Haruka left Milan Sunday afternoon. Simultaneously, Nino feels as if there is a gaping hole in his chest.

It’s Monday and Nino is sitting alone in his brother’s office. As he waits, the memories of the week he and Haruka spent together run through his mind like a rosy movie reel. Everything is sepia toned with soft edges.

He can kiss Haruka now—openly. Greedily. He can also touch him. He was naked and Haruka had done… other things to him that had nearly sent his body into a state of shock. He stares blankly, recalling the moments in detail as his groin tightens.

The panther is not shy. Or squeamish.

Despite this, Haruka is still restraining himself. Nino can feel his knotted, muted aura deep within him. But if they can only have sex two more times, Nino supposes he has to hold back.

Two. Because things got out of hand again with Haruka’s feeding the night before he left Milan, when Nino took him out to a jazz club in Navigli. Another surprise attack from Mr. Spontaneous. It was great, but they still hadn’t even been naked. If possible, next time, Nino is very much hoping for a lack of clothing in their final countdown of physical intimacy.

“Two more times. Jesus.”

“Two more times what?” Giovanni strides into the room like a vampire on a mission. He moves toward his desk looking sharp but simply stated in tailored black slacks and a patterned button-down. “Has tall, dark and complicated offered himself to you yet?”

Nino frowns, decidedly ignoring his brother’s first question. “No.”

Giovanni stops before he sits down, his brow creased. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I’m waiting for you to yell at me or say something rude.”

“Why? Because I walked in on you sucking face with your boyfriend?” He sits down, smirking as he checks his titanium wrist watch. “I’m not going to yell at you. I’ll probably be rude though.”

So embarrassing… Nino folds his arms tight, bracing himself. He also didn’t go with Giovanni when he took Haruka to aristocracy meetings and social visits. Not once. Haruka was his guest, so ideally, Nino should have accompanied them. But after the terrible dinner with Signor Moretti, he had felt drained.

Giovanni lifts his chin. “What’s the plan with Haruka? Talk.”

He takes a deep breath. “Haru is going to return to his realm.”

“He should.”

“After he gets settled—maybe a couple months?” Nino guesses. “I’ll go and visit him. If I like it there and we agree, I’ll move and stay with him.”