Page 69 of Lore and Lust
“Sorry,” she says. “I’ll try to do better, but I have shit to do. Why are you whispering?”
“I’m on the train. They don’t like people talking on phones on the train here—or eating. But it’s after rush hour and the car isn’t very full.”
“Got it—so you’re happy?” she asks.
“Yes. Very.” Maybe this is the happiest Nino has ever been in his long life. He never anticipated this—that within a matter of months, his life would be wholly and wonderfully changed forever.
He is bonded. With another purebred vampire. It’s unbelievable.
“Good,” Cellina says. “How’s Haruka? Is he adjusting?”
“He’s much better. I can tell he still grapples with the shock of it though. He’s been reaching out to Historians in other countries… his network of dusty vampire-professor nerds.”
Cellina laughs at this. Nino smiles as he continues. “He wants some kind of empirical data or logical reasoning for why we bonded so quickly and easily. I tell him it’s because we’re meant to be. He calls me a romantic and sticks his handsome little nose back in a book.”
“Cute,” Cellina says. “It’s that ancient blood of his—combined with the fact that you both genuinely trust each other. It’s a beautiful thing. How’s the aristocracy treating you?”
“I had a big meeting with the ranked vampires in Osaka and Kyoto last week. It went well, and I feel good about the role I’m creating for myself. Everyone is really receptive except for a couple of vamps here and there. I’m going to oversee the major cities in Kansai and Haru is going to take Chugoku and split it with another purebred in Hiroshima.”
“Oh, is that the same purebred that oversaw his realm while he was away? The ‘substitute’ you mentioned?”
“Yeah.” Nino laughs. “He’s not popular. So tell me about the museum. G keeps asking me how you’re doing. He’s been pretty grumpy since you moved to Athens.”
There’s silence on the other end and Nino bites back a grin. “Lina?”
“You wonder why I don’t answer your calls?”
* * *
It’sdusk when Nino finally walks into the quiet master bedroom. The light of the newly replaced lamp is soft in the impending darkness. Instinctively, he glances through the open patio doors. The bamboo fence is vibrant and green against the luscious pink of cherry blossom trees. They delicately shed their petals in the stillness, reminding him of snowfall. Haruka is there, slowly sinking his long, naked body down and into the water.
Immediately deciding to join him, Nino walks over to his mate’s side of the bed to get the tube of liquid from the nightstand drawer. He rounds the corner of the mattress and is met with a small hoard—stacks of books, shuffled papers and an empty wine glass are set against the hardwood floor. Nino shakes his head as he steps over his husband’s miniature nest.
“He has a libraryandan office. Why does there need to be books and papers in our bedroom, too?”
He breathes a laugh, knowing Asao will fuss at him and say the same thing when he finds the mess. Bottle in hand, Nino swiftly moves toward the master bathroom to quickly shower.
The sun has dipped below the horizon when he’s finished and walks outside. The sky is an incredible blueish-purple with clusters of dark, lingering clouds. They slowly drift, as if playing hide-and-seek with the silvery twinkle of stars above.
Haruka is sitting on the underwater ledge lining the inside of the spring. When Nino approaches, he stands, then dips underneath the water’s surface. Nino moves further into the spring, only stopping when his mate emerges just in front of him. Haruka smooths his dark hair back. He opens his haunting burgundy eyes. “Hello, my love.”
He steps into Nino, wrapping his arms around his naked waist and tilting his head to place a firm kiss against his mouth. Nino returns the affection before lifting his head. “Asao is going to fuss at you for leaving your research stuff in the bedroom.”
“He will get over it.” Haruka smiles, leaning in to catch his mouth once more. After a moment of indulgence, he pulls back. “How was the first meeting?”
“It was good,” Nino mumbles, busy kissing Haruka’s face. He moves near his ear, then down the line of his neck to his shoulder. His skin is so soft and damp from soaking in the warm water. He wants to tell him about his day, but the combination of Haruka’s muffled scent, the bath and the clean, spring night air is doing a number on Nino’s mental capacities. His voice is husky as it passes through his lips. “Can I tell you about it later?”
Haruka laughs, affectionate and deep from his throat. Nino loves that sound. Maybe it is his favorite sound. Haruka kisses him, then grasps Nino’s free hand beneath the water to drag him toward the edge of the hot spring.
Once there, Haruka lifts himself to sit atop the underwater bench, simultaneously pulling Nino between his spread thighs. He wraps his long legs around Nino’s waist in the water, bringing their bodies tightly together. Nino leans forward to place the bottle of lube at the edge of the spring, friskily taking Haruka’s mouth as he does so. With his hands free, he reaches down and grips Haruka’s ass. He lifts him into his body, the weight of him like nothing from the buoyancy of the water.
They cling to each other, their bodies slick and their mouths moving and teasing underneath the dark celestial sky. Just as Nino is building up his courage, Haruka lifts his head from the kiss and lazily looks into his eyes. “My love, if you desire me, you can have me. You do not need to hesitate like this.”
“Well… I… I thought we weren’t supposed to be intentionally reading each other’s thoughts until we practiced more?”
Haruka smirks, unwrapping his legs from around Nino’s waist to stand on his own. “Intentionally reading your thoughts is superfluous. You are an open book.” Haruka turns his back to him and Nino shrugs in agreement. Fair point.
His mate places one knee against the bench, partially lifting his body from the water to quickly grab the bottle and hand it to Nino. Mesmerized by the sight of his long, creamy back and firm cheeks slick in the moonlight, Nino’s eyes glow to life as he steps into him. He presses his chest into his spine and tilts his head to kiss Haruka along the curve of his shoulder. Multi-tasking, Nino makes quick work of lathering his fingers as he indulges in the taste of his skin.
