“I’m already blood bonded to someone,” Everett explained.
Wyatt’s broad face broke into a huge grin. “Ah, I hadn’t heard! Congratulations.” He snapped his fingers and the blood pet returned to his side. “What about you, Mr. Raul? You’re not blood bonded, are you? Fancy a taste of this fine Texas vintage?”
Luke looked at Raul and tilted his head to the side, a flirtatious smile on his lips as he slowly traced a finger along his jugular.
Raul shook his head. “No, thank you,” he said politely declining the offer. “But I will take a glass of that excellent Texas añejo tequila that I know you brought up with you.”
Wyatt laughed, unbothered by the dual rejections. “I was waiting for you to ask.”
Another member of his entourage, a vampire who’d been changed late in life, opened a leather case. He pulled out two bottles of Republic Tequila Extra Añejo.
Raul signaled, and a cocktail server brought their table fresh glasses.
The gray-haired vampire poured Wyatt, Everett, and Raul each a generous drink. They all raised their glasses, brimming with amber liquid, for a toast.
“Cheers.”
“Salud.”
“To your continued health.”
After clinking his glass against the others, Raul took a hefty swallow of the tequila. It was smooth on his tongue and warmed his chest going down. “Perfect,” he said.
Before he could take a second drink, his phone buzzed. He excused himself and took the cell from his pocket. Thumbing it open, he saw a text message from Ji-Su on the screen. Of course. It was Wednesday. He’d let the time get away from him. If he left now, he could be there within the hour for his appointment with Ji-Su.
Raul thought about it for several long moments. He loved drinking Ji-Su’s blood. But he also hated that for the time being, he had to hold himself back and not show how much it affected him so that Ji-Su could do his job without worrying. That thirty minutes a week that he’d thought would be easy had turned out to be anything but. Deciding to give himself a break this week from the self-inflicted torture, he answered Ji-Su’s text.
Have to stay late at the casino tonight. I’ll miss this week’s feeding. Go ahead to bed.
Raul hit send, then swallowed another mouthful of tequila, determined to forget that Ji-Su was waiting for him at home. Once he wrapped up the night, he would return to the ranch, go to bed, and be spared this week’s torture of feeding from Ji-Su without letting his desire and longing for more show.
FINALLY, A TEXT POPPEDup in response to his message to Raul. Ji-Su was surprised and a little disappointed at Raul’s answer that he wouldn’t be coming for his feeding but he understood. Work was work and sometimes it kept you longer than you planned. He sent off a brief reply.
Okay.Don’t work too hard.
Again his message showed as Read but this time Raul didn’t text back. Figuring Raul must be really busy, Ji-Su put his phone away and got up from the booth. Before heading upstairs, he grabbed a pack of cheese crackers and a bottle of water. He would stay up for a while. If Raul still wanted to feed when he came home and he was awake he would let him.
In his room, he changed into his pajamas, a soft white T-shirt and sleep shorts printed with clouds and snoozing puppies. He zipped up a hoodie over the shirt. Then he curled up in the center of the bed and pulled a throw blanket over his legs.
To keep himself occupied, Ji-Su turned on his Switch and started to play Breath of the Wild while he waited. Occasional glances at the clock showed the time ticking to four, then four forty-five.
Eventually he started to get sleepy. The room was warm and he was comfortable. He changed positions, laying on his side. He would play for a little while longer...
Chapter 16
It was late, nearly five in the morning when Raul walked into the quiet, still house. The day butler greeted him at the door, asking if he needed anything. When he said no, they left him alone. As he climbed the stairs to his bedroom, Raul thought about Wyatt’s offer to try one of his farm-raised blood pets. Turning him down had been easy.
Their blood would have tasted like ash in his mouth after Ji-Su’s sweetness. And he damn sure hadn’t wanted what else was clearly on offer. His one sexual encounter with Ji-Su had been weeks ago but he still had zero desire to so much as touch anyone else.
Walking down the hall to his room, he saw that Ji-Su’s bedroom door was open and a light was on. Damnit. He’d hoped that Ji-Su would already be asleep. He drew abreast of the door, prepared to give a quick goodnight as he passed by on the way to his room. But when he looked inside the room, he saw that Ji-Su wasn’t awake. He was asleep on top of the comforter, with a throw blanket tossed over his bare legs.
Raul stopped and stared at Ji-Su curled up in the center of his bed. He looked adorable. His blond hair glowed under the lamplight and his rosebud lips were parted for his slow, even breaths. Noticing that Ji-Su’s game unit was in danger of falling to the floor from his lax hand, Raul stepped into the room. He moved quietly, intending only to move the game to the nightstand and turn off the lamp. But just when he reachedtoward the bed Ji-Su stirred. He stretched, his eyes slowly opening as he covered a little yawn with his hand.
“You’re back,” he said sleepily.
Raul nodded. “Just walked in.”
“It’s Wednesday. You missed your feeding. I tried to wait up for you but I guess I fell asleep.”