Page 10 of The Arrival
“Hello, Ren.” Haruka smiles, but he doesn’t move from his seated position on Nino’s lap. “It has been a long time. Are you well?”
“Well enough…” Ren’s butterscotch-colored eyes scan the two of them and Junichi. He glares. “You all have come tonight dressed as… Europeans?”
Nino chokes in a laugh despite himself, almost spilling his drink on Haruka.
Ren narrows his eyes on Nino. “I suppose it isn’t too much of a stretch foryou.”
Junichi speaks up. “No. I’m a character from a legendary Broadway show, and they’re creatures of mythology—like you, tengu. Who made these insane wings?”
“You look great, Ren,” Nino offers. “I love your costume.” As part of Nino’s acclimating to Japan and running their aristocracy together, Haruka taught him early on that the best way to counteract Ren’s volatility is to show him sincere kindness.“It is like handing him an infant,”Haruka once said.“He doesn’t know exactly what to do—only that he should not drop it.”
Ren straightens, setting his shoulders back as if it pains him to accept the compliment. “Thank you… Junichi, will you walk with me? Or will you further publicly shame me by pretending like I don’t exist?”
Sighing heavily, Junichi stands and places his glass down on the bench before he offers an arm to Ren. “I’ll be back—save my seat, please.”
They watch the tall, dramatic pair stroll down the path and into a clustered group of vampires. Everyone steps aside, parting like the Red Sea to make room for Ren’s magnificent wings and Junichi’s flowing cape.
“Not telling Ren about Doctor Davies will only create difficulties later,” Haruka says. “Ren is prone to tantrums—he has always been this way. When he finds out, he will have one, and Junichi will bear the brunt of it.”
Nino tilts his head, looking up at him. “Are you a fortune teller? Why are you being ominous right now?”
Twisting slightly, Haruka lifts one hand to hold Nino’s chin with his long blue fingers. “Because I am Hades—lord of the underworld. Does this not match my aesthetic tonight?”
“No, your aesthetic is sexy as hell and powerful, not foreboding. Kiss me before Jun comes back and yells at us?”
Haruka hums a breathy little sound of satisfaction as he smiles, leans down and does as requested, softly meeting Nino’s mouth as they part their lips for a decadent, teasing kiss. With his drink back on the low table and both hands free, they indulge. Nino wraps both arms around his mate’s waist to secure his position like a seatbelt. When Haruka lifts, Nino’s heart is fluttery like a butterfly on the wind. “Is my mouth blue?” he whispers.
“No.” Haruka touches his fingertips to Nino’s lips, examining them. “This concerns me. How difficult will this makeup be to remove later tonight?”
Nino shrugs, embracing the warmth of his body in his arms. “Don’t know. We’ll get it off, though. I promise.”
“My love, why are you stressed? I have not deliberately read your thoughts, but I sense the unease in your nature. Is it because of Giovanni?”
He leans in, kissing Haruka’s exposed bicep. “Partially. I have a lot on my mind.”
“Will you talk with me when we’ve returned home? Or would you rather not discuss it?”
“We can… but I guess it depends on how distracted we get between my skirt and cleaning you up.”
Haruka’s bubbly laugh rings out once more. He lifts both palms to hold Nino’s face. “Truly, I want you naked under this skirt. Can that be arranged?”
“It can.” Nino’s smile broadens. “Per te farei qualsiasi cosa. What will you do if I make it happen?”
Sighing, Haruka brushes his nose against Nino’s as he whispers, “Touch you. Kiss you… suck you.”
“Jesus.” Nino’s head spins as he parts his lips again and his groin practically catches fire. “Mi hai fatto perdere la testa…”
You make me lose my mind.The sensation and taste of Haruka’s tongue sliding into his mouth makes Nino groan. He meets his mate’s intention while pulling him in closer and tighter against the hardness of his shaft.
“Ex—excuse me?”
Nino’s mouth freezes against Haruka’s. Lifting, he turns his head to the side and folds his kiss-swollen lips. A young vampire with his face painted in full skeleton makeup blinks at the two of them.
“I… I wanted to greet you properly, Lord Hirano.” Hisaki lifts his chin, then bows deeply. “I love your costume. You look exquisite. Celestial.”
Haruka’s eyes are cold. “Will you not acknowledge my mate?”
Hisaki shifts his gaze to Nino, then nods. “Hello, Lord Bianchi.”
