Page 69 of Gratification in Gluttony

Ignoring Oliver, Jude tucked his hands into his pockets and said, “I’ll figure out some sort of curriculum for you.”

“I’m a very hands-on learner.” Toni leaned against the doorjamb. “So, keep that in mind.”

“Seriously, you’re being gross,” Oliver whined as Liel chuckled into the human’s neck, teeth grazing his throat.

“You literally have a Gymnot gnawing on your neck right now,” Toni said.

Jude nodded. “Yeah, you don’t have room to talk about gross.”

Before Oliver could respond, Liel was capturing his mouth in a kiss, effectively distracting him. Jude grimaced and pantomimed shooting himself in the face.

Toni chuckled. “Good luck with them. I do not envy your night.”

“Tell me about it,” Jude said as he shoved Oliver and Liel—still attached at the mouths—into the lift. “Guys, seriously? I’m standing right here. Oh my god, Oliver—”

The elevator doors closing cut off whatever else Jude was going to say, and Toni shook his head as he ducked back into his flat and shut the door. Gem was cleaning up the glasses, but Toni grabbed him by the wrist, black and red fur soft and thick between his fingers, and guided him toward the couch.

“Leave it. We’ll clean in the morning.” Settling on the couch, Toni tugged Gem in until the Araknis was snuggled into his side.

“I think Jude likes you,” Gem said, and Toni grinned into his curls.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“I hope so. I think I like him too.”

Watching him with several red eyes, Gem said, “More than just sex and stuff?”

“Yeah, I think so. He’s… I dunno, Gemmy. I just like him.”

As Gem channel-surfed in search of something to watch, he silently chewed his bottom lip, fangs catching on the dark gray skin. Toni waited him out, giving him the time to find the words he was so clearly searching for.

At long last, Gem said, “Just be careful, Toni. You jump into things headfirst, all or nothing, and I love that about you. Just…” Heaving a sigh, he cuddled closer, and Toni tightened his armaround the Araknis’s shoulders. “Just don’t forget your life-preserver.”

“How can I?” Toni said, giving him a squeeze. “I got it right here.”

Gem lifted his head to give Toni a beaming smile, one Toni returned in full. “You’re godsdamned right, and I’m not going anywhere.”

Chapter seventeen

High-Five for Butt Sex

Over the next severalweeks, Toni only saw Jude on Sundays. It was the only day Jude could meet, given his summer school, part-time job, and the Saturday evenings he dedicated to completing assignments from the week. Jude went to Toni’s a few times, since he had more instruments, but given Jude’s busy schedule, Toni crossed the veil a time or two as well in hopes of easing the human’s stress.

The first time Toni crossed into the human world had been a trip. Everything was so loud, and there were so many people everywhere. Sure, the Pentagram had a high population, but Chicago felt more, somehow. Foreign and overwhelming.

Toni had clung to Jude’s hand like a vise as they’d navigated through the busy city to Jude’s apartment in the suburbs. Even there, the air had been stifling, hot but somehow wet.

“Humid,” Jude supplied as Toni wiped sweat from his brow. “This part of the country is always humid.”

“At least it’s dry heat on the other side of the veil. I feel like I’m drowning here.”

“So dramatic,” Jude teased as he opened the door to what he’d called, “the loft.”

“Where’s Ollie?” Toni asked as he crept down the hall, peeking into the galley kitchen, then the living area.

“At Liel’s,” Jude said.

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