Page 28 of The Psychic and the Vampire

Chapter Twenty-One

“What do you usually do in your down time?” Viktor was bored – not with his mate – but he really wasn’t used to spending time doing nothing at all when he was with another person. After Bridget had left, he and Ant had cleaned up the kitchen, then Viktor encouraged his mate back to bed. They got up in time for lunch, but now they were sitting on the back porch watching Able sniffing out rodents in the back yard.

“I don’t think I have down time as such.” Ant scratched his nose and then wrinkled it. “I read a lot, but often I’m working on cases or lesson plans, and sometimes people want to see me for private consultations so I’m usually busy. What about you?”

“I’m like you,” Vincent admitted. “I enjoy reading if I want non-people time, but in the past couple of years at least, Tony would’ve normally called me by now wanting to see me about something.”

“I know Officer Mike has been calling me, but I’m supposed to be on mating leave. It’s weird, don’t you think, how people take three days off if they find a fated mate? Why do they do that, do you think? Are we meant to learn everything there is about each other in three days?”

Viktor chuckled. “I think you’ll find most new fated mate pairs spend their three days in bed sexing each other to death.”

“Is that what you expected to do?” Ant peered up at him. He was wearing an old band t-shirt and a pair of jeans that had a few rips in them. “We’ve done it twice already today – three times if you count the shower blowjobs.”

“You are a very sexy man, so we could go back to bed if you wanted to. I wouldn’t consider it a hardship.” Viktor said with a chuckle, draping his arm over his mate’s shoulder. “But I’venever been the type to spend all day and into the night in bed. I’m more…” He struggled to think of the best way to put it. “It’s like, I know we’ll be going to bed together tonight, and I’m sure if we’re not exhausted, there will be more sexy times then. I like that anticipation, I suppose you’d call it. You could easily arouse me any minute of any day ending in ‘y’, but sex has never been something I’ve had to have all the time.”

“Hmm. Anticipation.” Ant nodded. “I like that idea, too. Am I meant to say you’re sexy, too? Or do you already know that? No, I’m sure you already know how attractive you are. But if I don’t say things you think I should, then just ask and I will. Bridget does that sometimes. For example, she’d say ‘don’t I do lots of things for you,’ or words to that effect. When she does that I know then I’m meant to say thank you for all the things she does do.”

“I think this mating will be good for both of us then,” Viktor said, considering what Ant was saying. Truth be told Viktor rarely said things partners expected him to say, especially along the romantic lines. “If you think about it, you’re already a psychic, we have a mind link, and we share feelings through our bond, so that cuts out a lot of the unnecessary chitter-chatter and reassurances some people seem to need, don’t you think?”

“Well if you need me to say words, you just have to ask. Honestly, it’s the easiest way with me.” Ant snuggled against his chest, and then tilted his head. Seconds later Able started to bark, running around the side of the house. “Someone’s here…” He paused for a moment. “Officer Mike’s just turned up. What’s he doing here when he knows we’re on leave?”

“There’s only one way to find out.” Viktor went to jump up, but at the last minute, dropped a kiss on Ant’s hair and then stood up.It wouldn’t hurt for me to try a bit of affection every now and then,he thought as he went around the side of the house tosee whether Able had added biting a police officer to his resume.Am I a shit for hoping Ant might have some work we can do?

No.Ant’s voice came through loud and clear.Unless you’d be mad at me because I was hoping the same thing.

We have a lot in common.Viktor hadn’t realized he was projecting through their bond, but he found he liked hearing his mate in his head. That could definitely have some interesting uses at a later time.

Just as Ant had said, Officer Mike was just about to knock on the front door, his cruiser parked on the side of the road. “We’re out the back,” Viktor said, hiding his smirk as Mike jumped. “Come on, around. Able, that’s enough. We know he’s here. Yes, you’re a good boy,” he added as Able came running at him clamoring for a pat.

“I needed to talk to Doctor Channon. I know this is your bonding… er…mating time…” Mike coughed, and his cheeks suddenly went bright red. “Is he dressed?”

Viktor suddenly realized he was shirtless, and his feet were bare. Flexing his shoulders, he said, “Yes,” and then he couldn’t resist adding, “for now. As I said, come on around the back.”

Able had already gone back to Ant by the time Viktor and the nervous Mike arrived. Ant gave a small smile. “Is there a problem, Mike? Your face is all red.”

“Yes, yes. I…er…” Mike must’ve just realized he couldn’t lie to Ant, especially with Viktor present. Viktor sauntered around the flustered officer and sat next to Ant, draping his arm back over his mate’s shoulder. “It’s not important. I know you asked for three days off, but I urgently need you down at the precinct.”

“Is there a problem with one of the cases?” Ant didn’t seem surprised, but then Viktor didn’t think Mike was the type ofofficer to just drop around to a respected psychic’s place for coffee either.

“Tony Manzano is demanding to talk to you. His lawyer has filed a motion to dismiss the murder charges on the grounds that as a psychic, you had no way of knowing the events leading up to the death of Mr. Fallows and he wants your testimony removed. As Mr. Viktor…”

“Just Viktor,” the vampire snapped. “No Mr. necessary.”

“As Viktor’s fingerprints are on the katana, along with Manzano’s and traces of Mr. Fallows’s blood, the lawyer is also suggesting you two were working in cahoots to bring down a respected local family.”

Ant frowned. “I hadn’t met Viktor when I read the Fallows crime scene. How could he have impacted my testimony?”

“Tony thinks the attack at this house last night would’ve shaken you up,” Viktor said shortly. “He likely believes that by insisting that you face him now, so soon afterward, that terror most people would feel after being shot at would cause you to falter in your already recorded testimony. That’s all his lawyer needs – a shred of doubt, and with that Tony can walk free.”

“I’m not having that. I know Tony killed Mr. Fallows in cold blood, and no event before or after can justify that.” Tapping Viktor’s chest, Ant got up, and then darted in and kissed Viktor’s cheek. “I’ll just change my shirt. Bridget says button downs are more suitable than t-shirts for precinct visits. Did you want to put one on as well?”

“We’ll go to my place and pick up a few changes of clothes on the way,” Viktor agreed, still quietly chuffed with Ant’s expression of affection. It was cute. “Can we meet you there in about thirty minutes?” he asked Mike whose eyes were almost falling out.Viktor wasn’t sure what had caused the reaction, but he could guess. “Mike?”

“Yes. Yes. Thirty minutes is fine. I’ll let the Manzano lawyer know and get the captain to arrange a secure interview room.”

“We’ll see you there.” Viktor grinned and showed his fangs. “We’ll try not to be late.”

The man’s face was beetroot red as he hurried back around the side of the house.

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