Page 41 of Fated Mates and How to Seduce Them
Well, if Ian was fine with it, André was content to be there a while longer. It wasn’t like he wanted to move.
Unfortunately, he rather had to, they would stick to each other soon. He shifted enough to pull out and remove the condom, but couldn’t manage to fully let go of Ian just yet. What was this clinginess? Seriously, he never acted like this. Ian just broke all of the rules, apparently.
André wasn’t one to ruin a moment, but he had to apologize. Sucking in a breath, he lifted up on his forearms so he could look as he spoke. “I’m sorry the bite hurt.”
Ian tilted his head as if puzzled by his words. “It didn’t.”
That didn’t sound right to him. Lifting his head a little more, he gave Ian a searching look. “Not at all? Generally, people tell me it stings while I’m feeding.”
Still lounged on the pillows, Ian gave a shake of his head, and he seemed perfectly genuine. “It felt good, actually. No pain.”
A spark of something like incredulity lit in the back of his head. There was no way. “Hold on, let me test something.”
Lifting Ian’s wrist, he licked the skin before lightly biting in. Just two sucks, his eyes on Ian’s the whole time, gauging his reaction. Ian’s eyes dilated a little, lips parted in a pant, but he showed no sign of discomfort.
Surely…not? Surely André was grasping at fantasies right now.
He licked the wound clean before facing Ian again, feeling a type of wonder. “Ian, be perfectly honest with me—no pain? Not even a smart or twinge?”
Ian’s brows furrowed. “No, nothing like that. Uh, André? Why do you keep asking me this?”
“Because…well, that’s not a normal reaction. Only those who are highly compatible with vampire chemistry feel no pain in a feeding.” André’s mind whirled with possibilities, and his common sense wasn’t able to keep him grounded for more than a second. If Ian didn’t feel anything, then was he possibly a mate? Could André have stumbled into him by chance like this, with such incredible odds?
Shit, could this be why his vampire side had taken one look at Ian and glommed on? Because some part of his instincts recognized what Ian was?
Damn, it was a wild theory, but he couldn’t say it was impossible. Not considering how Ian reacted to a feeding.
Ian blinked rapidly. “Um. Isn’t no pain normally how it goes in novels and movies? Feedings are usually depicted as an arousing scene for both parties, so I’m surprised why you’re acting like it’s not normal.”
“They tend to romanticize reality. I’m legit floored. I had no idea you’d be compatible with vampires.” If he was a mate…well, it was a little too far-fetched, surely. The odds of that happening were astronomical.
The suspicion wouldn’t leave André’s head, though.
He shook the thought off for now, as he wanted to clarify something else. He could come back to that question tomorrow, when they both had better brain power. “So…are we officially dating now?”
“We are officially dating,” Ian confirmed without hesitation. Then he snorted. “I had this plan to take you out on a fancy dinner date and confess to you. You completely derailed me.”
It delighted André so much to get a yes, he didn’t mind this one bit. He snuggled more into the man’s arms, heart feeling like it might well explode from happiness overload.
“You can still take me on a date. I don’t mind,” André assured him.
“Oh, I’m still taking you on a date. I think it’s very much my turn to spoil you. Also, as much as I enjoy the cuddling, we’re starting to stick together.”
“Unfortunately, yeah. Let’s clean up a little and then snuggle.”
“Yes, please.”
It took a few minutes to unravel themselves, clean up, and then get resituated. Ian curled right up against him, head pillowed on André’s shoulder, which was the cutest thing ever.
They talked of trivial things in soft tones, just enjoying each other. It didn’t surprise André when Ian drifted off to sleep, as the man had a full day. He kissed his forehead gently, drew the blankets up a little more to cover Ian’s shoulder, and let him sleep. André almost couldn’t believe he finally had Ian. Two months. Two months of consistent patience in order to bring about this moment. It had been incredibly hard at times, thinking he’d never win this guarded man, but now, having his boyfriend tucked into his side, all warm and sleepy, those two months had been incredibly worth it. André wasn’t sure whether he was more elated or satisfied, but he was incredibly happy. All was right in André’s world, so he joined Ian in dreamland with a smile lingering on his face.
His last thought was to wonder how Ian felt about morning sex.
Auntie Im waited precisely until André and Ian were upstairs in André’s room before racing for her phone and calling up the mistress. Mrs. Castor would definitely want to hear about this.
She answered quickly, concern in her voice. “Is everything all right?”
“It’s good news I’m reporting. Master André brought his boyfriend home with him.”
