Page 33 of Vampire Lee

“I saw his arms when he wore a T-shirt, but I didn’t look for scars.”

Dillon shrugged, and Lee massaged his neck some more.

“Do you want to cover the scars with tattoos?”

“I’ve never thought about it. Devin was tattooed before he was taken. If I went and got tattoos now, they wouldn’t mean anything other than something I use to cover up scars I already know are there.”

“Yeah, I guess.”

Silence fell, and Dillon closed his eyes. A few seconds later, he jerked, and his eyes flew open.

“So I was born on a sunny day in April in Scotland.”

Dillon huffed a laugh. Scotland made sense. He should’ve known it was where the rolling Rs came from.

“Sleep. I’ve got you.” Lee drew circles with his thumb on his back.

* * * *

A whimper tore Lee from his sleep. Fuck, he’d closed his eyes only a moment ago. Dillon’s warm form jerked against him, his muscles tense.

“Shh…It’s a dream.” He rubbed Dillon’s back. “Come on, sweetheart, relax.” He put a little more force into his caress, wanting Dillon to either settle or wake.

A scream shook the walls, then Dillon leaped. He pressed a knee on Lee’s chest and his hand grabbed his throat, fingers digging in around his Adam’s apple as if ready to tear it out. He’d heal, most likely. Dillon only had human strength and speed. He wouldn’t rip his voice box from his body, but it didn’t mean he wanted to live through whatever damage he could cause.

“Dillon.” His voice was strained, and he reached up and placed one hand on Dillon’s hip and the other on the thigh above the knee pressing into his chest. He could throw him off, but he wasn’t sure Dillon was awake, and if he woke to Lee throwing him, it wouldn’t be good.

Heavy breathing was the only sound.

“Dillon, are you with me?” He tapped his fingers on Dillon’s thigh, and he bent his head to look at Lee, forgetting to avoid his gaze. Lee didn’t try to enthrall him. He could have, but then what little trust there was between them would be ruined forever.

“Are you awake?”

The grip on Lee’s throat loosened, and Dillon looked around the dark room.

“We’re in the manor house.”

A shuddering breath left Dillon. “Third floor.”

“That’s right. Third floor.” He gently but determinedly pushed Dillon’s knee down, making him more or less straddle Lee. Then he pulled at Dillon, so he was lying on top of him and hugged him. “You’re fine.”

“I’m not fine.”

Lee grunted and rubbed a hand over the small of Dillon’s back. “Perhaps not, but you’re unharmed, and so am I, so we’re good.”

“Oh, God, I could’ve killed you.”

Lee chuckled. “Not at all, love.” He kissed his forehead, he didn’t know why, his body acted without his mind’s consent. “I didn’t want to scare you by throwing you off. If I’d been afraid you’d hurt me for real, I would have.”

Dillon nodded, then froze and pushed at Lee. “What are you doing?”

“Holding you.”

“You’re not fucking me.” He tried to scramble off Lee, but he held him in place.

“Take a moment.”

“What?” It was an impressive snarl. Maybe he had more shifter traits than he believed.

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