Page 25 of Bound in Blood
Logan rolled his eyes but didn’t argue, instead taking a step deeper into the house. He moved like he was afraid of disturbing something, his gaze filled with a kind of reverence that made Mateo’s chest ache. What did he care if this random kid liked his decorating?Heliked it,Marcoliked it, and that’s all that should matter. Shouldn’t it?
It was Marco who broke the silence, clearing his throat and motioning to Logan with one of the suitcases he’d picked back up. “Come on. Let’s at least get you settled in your room. Then we can do a more formal tour.”
Logan hesitated for only a second before following Marco up the stairs. Mateo trailed behind, watching as Logan took in every step as if the stairs might disappear out from under him. It was so cute, Mateo forgot to make a joke about his view of Logan’s backside.
At the top of the staircase, Marco veered left, leading them down a short hallway with two doors on either side. He opened the last door on the right, nudging Logan forward. “This one’s yours.”
Logan peered inside, expression and shared emotions unreadable. Mateo had expected some hesitation, or maybe a little skepticism, but the way Logan’s shoulders stiffened at the sight of his new room made something uncomfortable coil in the pit of his stomach.
“You’re sure?” Logan asked after a way-too-long pause.
Marco arched a brow. “I mean, I know it’s a little sparsely decorated, but I figured you’d want to decorate your own space. The other spare bedroom is where guests typically stay, so?—”
“No, I mean…” Logan stepped inside, finally, looking around the space. “It’s so… big. This is all just for me?”
“If it’s too much room, you can always bunk with me,” Mateo purred, stepping in behind him.
“Is all the blood in your body just reserved for your dick twenty-four seven?” Logan huffed, shooting Mateo a half-hearted glare.
“No, of course not. Some of it is reserved especially to help horny little fledgelings find their teeth,” Mateo said.
Marco groaned, rubbing a hand over his face. “Mateo, lo giuro su Dio?—?*”
“Che cosa?! Sto solo dicendo la verità!?*”Mateo held up his hands in mock innocence, though his smirk gave him away.
“Truth or no, you’re making him uncomfortable.” Marco gestured to the fledgling in question, who was about two shades redder than a tomato.
Logan opened his mouth, then closed it, clearly fighting between a retort and a reaction he didn’t want to give away. Mateo could feel the flicker of something flustered through theirbond. God, it was so cute. He was so happy they were keeping him.
Mateo couldn’t fight the grin, stepping in a little closer to Logan to watch his blush deepen. Hetskedat his brother, “I make him feelsomething,but I’m not sure ‘uncomfortable’ is in the right ballpark. Besides, he’s never told me to stop yet.”
“There’s still time,” Logan muttered, shooting Mateo a glare that held very little heat.
Marco sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Can we get through one conversation without you trying to seduce him?”
Mateo placed a hand over his chest as if he’d been wounded. “There’s notrying, fratellino.He knows there are no hard feelings if he tells me no or asks me to stop. Yet he doesn’t.”
Marco groaned, rubbing his temples. “Five minutes younger, Mateo.” He paused, looking over at Logan, “I’ve slept one hour in the last two days. I’m going to bed.”
Logan crossed his arms, shifting his weight onto one foot as he leveled Mateo with a dry look. “We’ll see how much I let you get away with once I’ve properly slept.”
Mateo raised his eyebrows. “You promise?”
“Go tobed,Mateo,” Marco growled, shoving him towards the door. “He needs to rest.”
Mateo scoffed. “What do you mean, he needs to rest? He’s been asleep all?—”
Marco’s glare cut him off before he could finish, and Mateo raised his hands in surrender. “Fine, fine. But I keep my door unlocked,bello,just in case you… need anything.”
Logan didn’t dignify him with a response, instead electing to sit down carefully on the edge of his bed, his hands running gingerly over the quilt.
On the way out, Marco turned to look back at Logan. “Really, though. Whatever you need, please don’t hesitate to ask. This is your home now, too.”
Logan hesitated, looking up at the two of them for a long moment before nodding. “Yeah, thanks. I’ll… keep that in mind.”
Mateo watched Marco nod in return before pulling the door shut behind them. Mateo leaned against the hallway wall, arms crossed. “I think he’d rather jump out the window into direct sunlight before he’ll ask us for anything.”
Marco sighed. “We’ll keep an eye on him.”
