Page 45 of Unleashing Mayhem
Matteo smiled for the first time since they’d sat down for dinner. He slouched back in the booth with a contented sigh. “Okay.”
“Is that really all you have to ask?”
Nightmare knew, somewhere in the deep recesses of his soul where his reason lay, that he was asking for far too much too soon. It made sense that a rational human might have many questions and reservations for him.
Did Matteo really care so little for his life as to enter such a bargain so hastily?
The thought had Nightmare gritting his teeth, his rage suddenly overwhelming. Not toward Matteo, but toward the world. This realm. For failing to protect him. Failing to nurture his tender spirit.
A small hand covered Nightmare’s clenched fist, squeezing lightly.
“I want to keep you,” Matteo said clearly, looking straight into Nightmare’s eyes. “The rest is extra. I’m not hopeless, Scary. I’m hopeful, for the first time in my life.”
Nightmare allowed the words to soothe his anger. He unclenched his fist and turned his hand, clasping Matteo’s fingers with his own. “We’ll be linked, our souls tangled together. You may feel my emotions at times, which could be…disturbing for you.”
Matteo shrugged. “I doubt that.”
“Matteo,” Nightmare chastised, the flippancy beginning to concern him again.
“Scary,” Matteo countered in a singsong tone.
They were interrupted by the arrival of their waitress, who began refilling water Nightmare hadn’t been drinking, leaving his glass close to overfilling. She had short dark hair, equally dark makeup, and enough tattoos to rival Nightmare’s own (though his were not human ink but the evidence of his magical contract etched onto his flesh).
She’d commented on Nightmare’s marked skin when she’d first arrived to take their orders, and Matteo had growled at her, disguising the sound poorly with a contrived cough when she’d looked at him in alarm.
Now, as she leaned over their table to take away the small plate Nightmare hadn’t used, Matteo stabbed into his chicken with alarming force, his gaze on her all the while. He savaged the animal’s flesh with his teeth as she scurried away.
Nightmare let out a soft huff of laughter. “You know where my interest lies, little human.”
Matteo gave him a sheepish look as he swallowed his oversize bite. “I can’t help it. Everyone’s always ogling you.”
“I stand out.”
Matteo ran an assessing gaze over Nightmare’s human visage. “We should put you in something with a hood.”
“I prefer my vision unimpaired.”
Matteo pushed his plate away with a huff and grabbed the Book. “Can we do it here? Now?”
Nightmare’s blood ran hot at the sudden enthusiasm, and his shadows itched to come out to play, to reward Matteo for his eagerness. Even Nightmare’s cock twitched with interest, with the knowledge of what was to come. Still, he shook his head. “You would not appreciate the location, I think. The bond requires…consummation.”
Matteo’s tongue darted out to wet his lips. “We get to fuck?”
“Your body will demand it,” Nightmare explained. “As will mine.”
Matteo’s dark eyes shone across the table. “I’m done with dinner,” he said firmly.
“You have taken but two bites.”
“I’mdone. We can get a box if you want.”
“So eager,” Nightmare murmured, unable to keep his sharp smile contained.
Matteo nodded, unashamed. “Yes.”
When the waitress arrived to drop off the bill, Matteo did not so much as look at her. His gaze was locked on Nightmare, his eyes full of promise.
They would wait no longer.
