Page 24 of Mutual Obsessions

The beautiful blond man smirked. Etienne’s eyes softened and his playful smile covered his face. “At your service, mon amour. Can I ride home with you so we can talk?”

Traffic was heavy for early summer, but some tourists liked to start the day early. “What do you want to know?” I asked Etienne.

“Do you play chess? Do you like music? How about gardening? I’d love to have an herb garden in the back of the house for Gerard to harvest for use in the restaurant. Would you consider planning it with me?”

“Uh, let’s see. I do play chess, though probably not up to your caliber, but if you train me, I swear I’ll get better. I love music of all kinds. One of my foster mothers used to plant a garden I had to weed, but it was nice because I got to spend time alone. I can help you plan a garden, and we can tend it together.”

That brought a happy little clap from him. We chatted about places around New Orleans we’d like to see. “How about touring the cemeteries? Is that something you’d ever want to do?” My first year of law school, I was a poor student, so for entertainment, I’d walk the cemeteries and read the epitaphs, trying to imagine their lives.

“That, I’m afraid, is something Stephen will enjoy doing with you. For me, it hits a little too close to home, being dead and all.” We both had a hearty laugh at his joke.

After turning left onto Canal, I drove down Dauphine and parked in front of the house. I stepped out and walked around, opening the door for Etienne before offering my hand to him. When he got out, I led him inside, and after I closed the door, I shoved him against it.

“I’d like to talk to Stephen if you don’t mind.” I watched as the alluring silver eyes met my gaze and the sexy smirk replaced the sweet smile.

“That’s going to take some getting used to. Before we go any further, there’s something I want. Cubby showed me the marks on his thighs from Rory. He said it was the most incredible feeling he’d ever experienced. I want to know how it feels to have you sink your teeth into me.”

Stephen kissed me passionately, and as my tongue swirled in his mouth, I felt the same sharpness from one of his teeth as I’d felt the last time we kissed. My tongue began to bleed, and Stephen sucked on it harder.

I jerked away. “No. I want you to bite me in the same place Rory bites Cubby.” If I was going in, I would jump in headfirst.

Stephen sliced open my polo shirt with a fingernail before kissing down my chest until he got to my pants. My shirt dropped from my shoulders, and then my pants were open and fell from my legs.

“How the hell did you do that?”

His laugh made me smile. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

I looked down to see those gorgeous silver eyes staring up at me, taking my breath and my voice. He was beautiful. He was exactly what I wanted, and when he sunk his teeth into my groin, the pain sliced through me before euphoria set in. It was unlike anything I’d ever experienced.

After a moment, Stephen sunk my cock into his throat, and took me away from all my worries. His tongue swirled around the head, setting the nerves there on fire and drawing me closer to the edge. Far too soon, I shot down his throat.

I gasped, trying to catch my breath and stay on my feet, but Stephen picked me up. “Which room is yours, Ryker?”

My body was too weak to do anything but point. Stephen carried me upstairs and into my room, placing me on my messy bed. “I’m sorry I didn’t make my bed.” It felt important to say.

Stephen turned on the bedside light and covered my nakedness with the sheet before Etienne’s smile appeared. “Are you okay?”

Seeing his gorgeous face, I knew I was meant to be with them. However, it worked. They were mine.

Chapter Fourteen

Etienne/Stephen

Etienne

For the remainder of the summer, Ryker, Stephen, and I enjoyed the best of what New Orleans had to offer. Ryker was pulled from the oil rig case and devoted his time to setting up the Tremblay Foundation, a nonprofit organization that directed endowments to various charities in New Orleans and neighboring parishes to benefit needy families and children.

I ran the restaurant with Thomas stepping in to assist me when Stephen or I needed to be with Ryker, and I had no idea life could be so full, even for those of us with eternal life.

One hot August night, Ryker came into The House of Tremblay, taking his regular stool at the end of the bar. Rory and Cubby had moved to Portland at the end of June, and Ryker was troubled.

After seating a party of five, I made my way to the bar and sat next to him, placing a hand on the back of his neck. “How was your day, mon amour?”

Sabine placed a crystal tumbler in front of him with two fingers of whiskey and a glass of blood-infused Pinot Noir in front of me. It was a special bottle that was just for Stephen and me. Ryker had consented to donate blood for the wine, and we loved him more for his thoughtfulness.

We touched glasses and each sipped our drinks before Ryker spoke. “I spoke to my landlord today. If I want to stay in the house, I have to start paying the full rent. Otherwise, he’s going to rent the other rooms starting in September.”

We’d been splitting time between Ryker’s rental house and our apartment. Stephen and I had discussed the best way to convince him to move in with us, but we hesitated because, as the only human after Cubby and Rory moved, we weren’t sure he’d feel comfortable there.

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