Page 14 of The Arrival
When Nino opens his eyes, they meet Haruka’s. His voice is a rough whisper. “Come here.”
Obedient, Haruka lifts, leaning between his gapped thighs as Nino lazily takes hold of Haruka’s sleep shirt and drags it up his body while sliding his hands up the center of his back. Together, they make quick work of removing and tossing the shirt aside before he lies flat into the damp heat of Nino’s stomach, skin to skin. Haruka nuzzles and licks the concave of his neck. Nino lifts his chin and they’re moving together once more—melding in an unspoken, effortless rhythm. The skies and the seas. The planets orbiting the sun in the galaxy.
Mesmerized by the allure and scent of him, Haruka bites down. Nino wraps his arms around his waist and back, coiling around him as if holding on for dear life.
As Haruka’s fangs elongate deep into Nino’s flesh, his mate’s fingertips press dimples into his back and spine. He pulls, swallowing, and the taste of him is perfection. Spicy, but sweet. Vibrant. To Haruka, drinking Nino’s blood is like consuming the life and exuberance at the height of summer, when the sun is high in a cloudless sky and every flower is in full bloom. But underneath this, there’s a subtle, complex layer of something more—the heat and oak of a vigorous fire.
As he indulges, he pours his love and confidence into Nino. The honor he feels in being his mate—that Nino distinctly chose and trusted in him. The assurance he has in their ability to accomplish anything in life together. Everything.
Haruka pulls up, licking his neck to clean the space where he fed. His eyes are still alighted as he raises his head, but he starts when he looks into his mate’s face. Tears are running from the corners of his glowing apricot eyes.
He lifts a palm to hold Nino’s face. “My love, what is it?”
Nino smiles as he exhales, satiated against the pillow. “Your mind—your aura and the way you love—it’s just… profound, Haru. Beautiful.”
Sitting up a little more, Haruka traces the line of his jaw with his fingers, searching with his eyes. “But… if I overwhelm you, please be honest with me and I’ll restrain—”
“No.” Nino laces his hands into Haruka’s hair and urges him back down. “I’m alright, I promise.” He lifts his chin, pressing their mouths together in a kiss before drawing back and staring into his eyes. “Do you want to read me?”
A spark of excitement glimmers in Haruka’s chest, but he swallows. “I don’t have to. I believe you if you tell me that all is well.”
Nino’s smile broadens. “You’re cute, but I know how much you want this. Go ahead, I’m open.”
Unable to stifle his grin, Haruka leans down to bring their foreheads together. He closes his eyes, indulging in the essence of him as he reaches into Nino’s mind and thoughts. The sensation is like stepping through a heavy veil and into a comforting space—his favorite library where every book is open and the words of every page effortlessly seep into his skin.
He misses this, greatly. For a time, they had no choice but to read each other’s thoughts every day. Always having access to and knowing his mate’s mind was comfortable for Haruka. In the very early days of their relationship, Nino had been easy for him to read.
But as their relationship deepens and becomes more complex and layered with shared experiences, Haruka finds that he is not nearly as naturally perceptive as his mate. Often, he feels as if he is in a dark cavern with a flashlight—able to see some things but never the entire scope of his surroundings.
Doing this, opening their minds to each other, the cavern becomes flooded with light and everything between them is exposed.
He inhales deep, sensing the sincere pleasure and joy that fills Nino’s mind. There are muddy spots of worry and insecurity, but on the whole, there is calm. Deep contentment. He opens his eyes, resting his palms against Nino’s chest. “You could never disappoint me. Giovanni is not disappointed in you either.”
“I know.” Nino sighs. “Ignore that. It’s just a nagging thing that flares up sometimes. It’ll probably always be there, but I manage it. And you never need to worry about restraining yourself. We’ve talked about this—so many times.”
Haruka traces his lips, memorizing the exact shape and softness of them. “Like you, I imagine it is a nagging thing that will always reside within me, based on my past experiences. But I do relax. Much more often now than I ever have in my life.”
“You do,” Nino confirms, wrapping his fingers around Haruka’s wrist to hold his hand still. “And I love it. Every time.” He parts his lips, then takes the tip of Haruka’s finger between his teeth. He bites, softly breaking the skin there before sucking and sliding it against his tongue.
Haruka pauses, watching him and considering. “I know, but I am always thoughtful of you. I never want you to feel overwhelmed because of me.”
Pulling Haruka’s finger from the warmth of his mouth, Nino frowns with his nose upturned. Everything falls still as they look into each other’s eyes, saying nothing. Haruka is waiting for his response, but gasps when Nino wraps his arms around him and hurls him to the side.
He lands on his back in a soft tumble of laughter, tangled limbs and bedsheets until their positions are switched. Nino hovers above him in the morning sunlight, haloed like a literal angel as Haruka stares up at him in awe. Sometimes, he has an out-of-body experience where he cannot fathom how he has met and become mated with this kind, intuitive and delicious vampire. It is beyond his scope of understanding.
“Why would I ever feel ‘overwhelmed’ by you?” Nino asks. “The idea is oxymoronic. Itisn’tpossible. And I’ve told you a million times—I can handle you.”
“Alright,” Haruka says, exhaling and letting the subject rest. Nino does handle him, undeniably. But it never hurts to be vigilant. To be considerate and sensitive to another’s past experiences. “Thank you for letting me into your thoughts.”
“You’re welcome. I know you enjoy doing that with me, so I want to try more. It just reminds me of the whole ordeal with Lajos, when that was the only way we could communicate. But… I don’t want us bound by that.”
“We never have to do it if it truly disturbs you.”
“No, I want to… just like I want you to be even less restrained. I want us to work on these things. To be more open with each other.” Nino sighs. The scent of him wafts like spiced-mahogany powder brushing Haruka’s face. “We should shower and start getting ready, but did you come earlier? I was drunk on your aura so I wasn’t paying attention.”
Haruka shakes his head against the pillow, stifling a smile. “I fed from you deeply, so I am more than satisfied.”
“That doesn’t answer my question.” Nino bends, kissing down the center of his naked chest. He pauses at his belly button, his fingers curled into the waist of his pajama pants. “Did you come—yes or no?”
