Page 45 of Lore and Lust
“Good.” Haruka sighs. “I should release my hold on these contemptuous vampires.” A moment later, he pulls his energy back into himself once more and movement at the table resumes.
“I have never professed to be an expert on the historical details of the Roman Empire,” Signor Moretti says curtly. “Sopleaseforgive my offense, your grace.”
“No offense has been committed.” Haruka picks up his wine glass. “We all have our strengths and weaknesses. I believe it is better toeducateand share our knowledge instead of patronizing each other. Nothing productive can be accomplished that way, andnoneof us is perfect. Do you not agree, signore?”
Haruka calmly takes a sip of his wine to allow Signor Moretti time to respond. Simultaneously, Nino affectionately squeezes his hand underneath the table. Moretti’s flat eyes flicker to Nino before focusing back on Haruka. The older vampire raises his eyebrow in arrogance.
“Iagree, your grace,” Signor Moretti says. “Point well taken.”
Twenty-Six
Nino climbs the stairs toward his bedroom a couple hours later, still aggravated by Signor Moretti’s behavior. He’d anticipated some adverse response to his suddenly attending a social event within his realm, but the older male had seriously gone overboard.
Nino flips his coat from his shoulders a little harder than necessary. “I can’t get over how much of an asshole he was.Whywould Lina tell me to go to his house?”
“Perhaps she was unaware of his arrogant demeanor?” Haruka says, trailing Nino up the stairs. “Although… how this fundamental truth could be kept hidden is beyond me.”
Walking into his room, Nino throws his wool coat over the ottoman at the end of his bed. His manservant has already lit the small hearth, so the room is warm and filled with orange firelight. Nino kicks his shoes off before throwing his body onto the bed. He lies flat on his stomach, his voice muffled as he presses his face into the down comforter. “I’m not going to another social, aristocratic damn vampire event for alongtime. Jesus.”
The bed shifts as he hears Haruka’s deep, calm voice. “Practice makes perfect?”
Flipping himself onto his back, Nino sees that Haruka is sitting on the edge of the mattress beside him. Nino scoots up higher so that he can rest his head against the pillow.
He smiles. “Do I need to be perfect? You once told me that I was lovely just the way that I am. Remember that?”
“I do.” Haruka grins, his outline glowing from the fireplace burning brightly behind him. “And I stand by my statement. Butbecauseyou are an exceptionally intelligent, bright and engaging male, it would be a shame to deprive our society of your talents and thoughtful nature.”
Nino’s smile broadens, his heart light and feathery. He pulls one leg up and relaxes with his hands cradling his head. “Thanks, Haru… I’ll keep trying. Why did you tell Moretti that you haven’t found a vampire you’re compatible with when he asked you about mating? You said you never wanted to bond again.”
“I do not. That was my socially couth response to an invasive question. To declare that I do not wish to bond creates a spectacle that I am unwilling to endure.”
“Makes sense…” The room falls silent as Nino thinks back to Haruka pressing his energy outward, coolly stunning everyone at Moretti’s party. “Thank you for helping me tonight. When you’re with me at these events, it’s always much better.”
“I feel the same way about you,” Haruka says. He briefly looks away, like he’s considering something. “Nino, who is Cosimo De Luca? Is this person related to Cellina?”
Nino groans and drops his leg flat onto the bed.
“You do not have to answer me,” Haruka reassures him. “I don’t mean to pry—”
“No, you’re not prying.” Nino turns onto his side to face Haruka. He leans against the pillow with his elbow, resting his face in his palm. “Cosimo is Cellina’s younger brother. I grew up with Lina and Cosimo because our fathers were best friends. Maybe around the time I came of age, Cosimo started being flirty with me.”
Haruka nods in understanding. “He was a romantic interest.”
“Not really. Not for long. He—he’s not a bad vampire. He was just adamant about wanting to feed from me eventually. He always told me, ‘You know, when you’re ready.’ But he asked me if I was ready every day.”
His friend laughs at this, deep and throaty the way Nino adores. His laugh is like the rumble of thunder, but if the oncoming storm were a thing of great joy. Nino grins as he continues. “He was like, ‘Whenever you’re ready,’ and then literally five minutes goes by and he looks at me, dead serious. ‘So are you ready?’”
Laughing openly this time, Haruka brings his palm to his forehead. Nino loves making him laugh. It feels as if he needs it, and every time Nino succeeds, the sensation is akin to sunlight breaking through a dark, overcast sky. Haruka breathes, gathering himself. “That does not sound ideal.”
“It wasn’t. I… had a female lover for a little while in England. Human.”
“Really?” Haruka’s eyes widen as he whips his head toward him.
“Yeah. But I never fed from her. Humans don’t even smell appetizing, you know? I thought she was nice, but she… I don’t know. Maybe I was fulfilling some kind of fantasy for her? She always begged me to feed from her. She used to call me ‘my purebred vampire,’ which was awkward. Like I was some kind of pet… Showing me off to her friends.”
“Nino, these situations sound terrible.” Haruka shakes his head, his palm still covering his face. “And her moniker for you was… painfully unimaginative.”
Nino laughs. He agrees wholeheartedly. Theywereterrible. Being cautious and primarily keeping to himself across the span of his life, Nino has only had a handful of sexual experiences with other vampires. None of them worth discussing in any detail.
