The Real You

by N. J. Nielsen

  “We decided to make sure you made it home okay,” they both said, taking up positions on either side of him. Both smiled when he didn’t complain or pull away. Mitch’s skin tingled from their nearness and the weirdest shit kept running through his mind. They didn’t even really talk about anything in particular while they walked, yet the chatter never seemed to stop. All three of them were laughing by the time they stopped outside his small bungalow.

  “I’d invite you both in, but honestly, I don’t think we’d all fit. My place is kinda small,” Mitch teased while he unlocked the door. He couldn’t believe he was actually flirting with them, but where these two were concerned, he couldn’t seem to help himself. Claudius and Isiah stood in complete silence, staring at him. It was hard, but in the end, he managed let go of their hands. They still hadn’t said anything, so he kissed each of them on the corner of their mouths. “Well, goodnight. I had a really fun time.” Mitch gave them one last wave, then he stepped backward through his front door. They stood mutely watching until he locked the door, blocking them from view. Peeking through the spy hole, he watched them whispering to each other as they turned and left.

  * * * *

  When Isiah and Claudius walked into their living room, Daven looked over the rim of his cup of blood at them. They ignored him completely until they’d both taken a seat on the couch.

  “Where the hell have you two been? One minute you were there with us at the club and the next, you were both gone,” Daven demanded.

  “We walked Mitch home,” Isiah said. He lay his head on his Claude’s shoulder and continued. “We’ve made up our minds. We’ve decided we want Mitch to come and live with us. We don’t need to think about it anymore.”

  “Definitely,” Claudius agreed.

  Daven studied them both closely for a moment. “You do realize that if Mitch moves in here,” he said, “he’s still going to have Lewis, his boyfriend, in his life.”

  “Lewis is not his boyfriend,” they said coldly in unison.

  “Well, neither are you two,” Daven retorted.

  “No… We’re not.” Sadness seemed to wash over Isiah when he was forced to agree.

  Daven sighed deeply. He realized nothing anyone said to Claudius and Isiah was going to change their minds. They wanted Mitch and they’d do everything in their power to win his heart. He couldn’t say he blamed them. Not that he knew Lewis at all, but everything he’d heard wasn’t casting a positive light on the guy.

  “So tell me, why do you really want him to move in?” Daven asked.

  “Mitch is our True One,” Claudius stated matter-of-factly after they got to their feet. “It’s time for bed.” They held hands as they went to their room.

  “Claude, I don’t think you should have told Dav that Mitch is our True One. He won’t believe it,” Isiah said quietly to him.

  When they slipped into bed, Claude sensed Isiah’s nervousness and it only fed his own. He snuggled into Isiah’s side, taking what comfort he could, and said softly, “But we do.”

  “Yes, we do,” Isiah agreed with him.

  Claude moaned in want at the sensation of Isiah ghosting his hands over him. Claudius was amazed that after all the time they had been together, the lightest of touches from Isiah still sent fireworks through him. He whimpered when Isiah pinched his nipples for a second before he closed his mouth over the sensitive flesh and bit. Not enough to break the skin, but enough to have his balls drawing closer to his body in need. Claude had always loved the way Isiah could make his body sing without even trying.

  “Please, Isiah.” Claude arched his back, pressing farther into his lover’s mouth. A shiver coursed through him at the way Isiah moved his lips lower on his body until they were wrapped around Claude’s aching cock. The heat of Isiah’s mouth was overwhelming—almost to the point where he thought he would pass out from the pleasure. Each time Isiah sucked him in to the root, Claude felt the head of his cock nudge against the back of Isiah’s throat, politely demanding permission to go deeper.

  “Isiah!” Claude groaned at the sensation of sliding past the muscles and into Isiah’s throat. The snap of the lid on the bottle of lube sounded like thunder in his ears. Seconds later, he felt Isiah breach his hole with two slicked fingers. Isiah sucked in time with how he was stretching Claude’s ass, and all Claude could do was whimper in need at the double invasion.

  “Close…too close…need you in me. Please, lover. I need you to fuck me.” Claude grunted as he tried desperately to hold on. He didn’t want this to be over so soon. He wanted to feel the heat of Isiah emptying his seed inside his body, the way he had done so many times. “Please.” Claude tugged gently at Isiah’s hair, trying to get his attention. “I want you inside me, Isiah. I ache. Please, love… Oh God, Isiah.”

  The feral grin on his lover’s face after he released Claude’s cock was almost Claude’s undoing. The predatory way Isiah slid up his body was seduction to the nth degree. Could Isiah be any sexier? Spreading his legs, he brought them up to wrap them around Isiah’s waist. He wanted to pull his lover in as close as possible. “Kiss me. Show me how much I mean to you.”

  Luckily, Isiah didn’t need any encouragement as he swooped in and hungrily devoured Claude’s mouth. Claude trembled in anticipation the instant Isiah’s cock nudged against his hole. Breaking the kiss, he said, “Inside me, damn it. I want you to fuck me into oblivion.”

  “Your wish is my command, my sexy man,” Isiah replied. At the same time, he thrust, filling Claude to perfection. After a few seconds to adjust, Isiah began to move

  Claude gasped at the fast rhythm, loving every second of the forceful way Isiah was taking control. The slide of their bodies together was magical, and Claude knew once they had Mitch with them it would only be better. Claude had always loved the way Isiah gave him everything that he was. The way his lover never stopped until they were both fully worn out and sated.

  “Harder, Isiah. I won’t break, love.” Much to his delight, Isiah quickened his pace. To send it up to the next notch, Claude whispered, “Imagine how much better this will be with Mitch lying here with us.”

  Heat raced through his body at the suddenly frantic way Isiah was making love to him. It was like the man was trying to fuck his way into his very skin. His balls ached with the need to release, but still he fought the urge to let it all go. He lost all ability to speak when Isiah looked into his eyes, and Claude saw all the love there.

  “I love you, Claudius.”

  Those words did him in.

  “Isiah!” Claudius screamed into the early hours of the morning. Lightning powered through him, his cum shooting out between them, bathing them both in his seed. The sensation was matched by Isiah pistoning into him and filling him. Sex was always good, but between mated vampires, there was nothing better. “I love you, too, and I always will.”

  Holding Isiah tightly to his chest, he finally felt sated. They stayed that way, unmoving and uncaring of the mess they’d made as the dawn came and sleep claimed them both.

  Chapter Three

  Two days had passed since the night they’d all gone dancing. Poppy and Mitch were joking around while they were leaving work. It took only a moment until Mitch saw two familiar figures approaching. By the time the men had stopped in front of him, excitement filled him at their presence. “Hey, Eric. Hey, Isiah,” he said as he looking behind them and asking, “Where’s Claudius?” He’d never seen one without the other.

  “He’s with Dav. We decided you can have our spare room,” Isiah said in a rush.

  “Really?” Mitch hugged him enthusiastically and was surprised to see the way Isiah blushed. “Thank you so much. When can I move in?” He held his fingers up millimeters apart. “I was this close to moving in with Lewis and Shelby,” he said to Eric.

  Eric was still staring at him.

  Mitch realized he hadn’t yet let go of Isiah.

  “We’ve come to tell you we’re moving you now, babe. This guy here and Claude are really anxious to
get you all settled into their house.”

  “How sweet.” Mitch laughed, then he hugged Isiah even harder. After letting go, Mitch stepped back. “You won’t regret letting me move in, I swear.”

  “Claude has taken Dav to wait at your apartment,” Isiah said softly.

  After a round of goodbyes, Mitch watched Poppy head in the direction of her unit. He needed a moment to control his emotions before he did something stupid, like starting happy-dancing right there in the middle of the sidewalk.

  “Are you ready to move house?” Isiah asked.

  Mitch looked at his watch. “I’m supposed to meet Lewis.” He shook his head and pulled out his phone. “But moving sounds like way more fun than one of those boring business dinners that Lewis keeps dragging me to.”

  “Why do you go if you don’t like them?” Isiah asked.

  “Honestly, I haven’t got a frickin’ clue. Lewis makes me feel bad when I don’t want to attend. Like I’m letting him down or something. I think I go mainly out of guilt.”

  “That’s called blackmail, babe,” Eric snorted.

  “He’s not that bad,” Mitch defended. “Is he?”

  “Yes, he is,” Eric and Isiah said together and bumped fists with a grin.

  Sighing, Mitch pulled out his phone and made the call that was going to turn his life into a living hell for the next few weeks until Lewis finally calmed down.

  * * * *

  Isiah placed his hand on Mitch’s shoulder to stop him from obliviously walking out into the traffic. He knew Mitch was still upset by what that prick Lewis had said to him over the phone. It wasn’t like he was purposefully trying to eavesdrop, but Lewis had been screaming for all he was worth so that everyone around had heard his rant. The man had all but accused Mitch of ruining his career. Mitch seemed barely conscious of the fact he’d nearly gotten himself run over not once but twice. Yet, the moment Isiah’s hand came down to rest upon his shoulder, Mitch seemed to snap out of his stupor, then he turned and wrapped himself around Isiah’s body. They walked the rest of the way to Mitch’s apartment with Isiah’s arm draped around his shoulders to keep Mitch from accidentally wandering into traffic again.

  * * * *

  Mitch couldn’t help but feel good at how Isiah and Claudius fussed over him since he’d moved in a few hours ago. It was like having two mother hens hovering over him. Two men who made his toes curl every time they turned his way. Mitch was amazed that he didn’t even feel self-conscious while they helped him unpack his clothes and put them all away. They gave him a full tour of the apartment, then led him out into the lounge to sit on the wide couch. No sooner had he sat than Mitch realized there was room for all three of them. Now wasn’t that interesting?

  “You don’t have to do this, you know.” Mitch said when Claudius placed a cup of coffee in front of him. “I mean, you don’t have to wait on me hand and foot.”

  “I want to,” Claudius said as he sank to the couch beside Mitch. Isiah had already claimed the other end of the chair.

  “We want you to be happy,” Isiah stated. “We want you to stay.”

  “We’ll never make you sad like Lewis does,” Claudius said. He laid his head against Mitch’s shoulder.

  The three of them ignored the amused faces Daven and Eric wore from where they sat in the recliners. Mitch wasn’t sure what he was supposed to do. How easy it would be to walk away right now, to walk away from Lewis and take what was being offered to him. The problem was, he didn’t know if it would be fair to any of them.

  “Come on, Dav,” Eric said after he got up and pulled Daven to his feet. “Dawn is approaching, and I want to stop off at the store on the way home.” After kissing Mitch’s cheek, he whispered, “Keep them safe for me. You have my number, so call me if you need anything. I’m also number one on speed dial for the home phone.”

  Mitch chuckled then got to his feet and walked his friend to the door. “Just go already. I won’t let anything happen to them, I promise.”

  “Remember, don’t let in any strangers, especially if they tell you they’re Isiah’s cousin, Gabriel, or the person claims to be their day warden.”

  “I promise…Scout’s honor,” Mitch made the hand gesture known world over as the Scout’s oath.

  “You, my dear, were never a Scout.” He kissed Mitch once more on the cheek, then Daven pulled him through the door.

  Mitch was still shaking his head at Eric’s orders when he turned and saw Claudius standing in the hall outside the room he shared with Isiah. “Will you come and sit with us while we go to sleep?” he asked shyly.

  “Sure.” Mitch patted his arm once he was standing in front of Claudius. “You go and jump into bed with Isiah, and I’ll be there in a minute, sweetie.” Claudius gave Mitch a breathtaking smile as he went into the room to wait.

  Mitch let out a slow breath. He quickly cleaned up the lounge and rinsed out all the mugs, then made his way back to the bedroom. Standing outside the partially closed door, he could hear them talking. Not wanting to intrude on their private moment, he waited.

  “You shouldn’t have asked him, Claude. Mitch doesn’t want to watch us be in bed together. He won’t understand.”

  “He’s not Gabriel. He isn’t going to hurt us.”

  Taking a deep breath, Mitch made up his mind. He could do this. He could go in there and sit with two naked vampires while they went into their day sleep. He pushed the door open and walked in. A quick scan of the room provided no chair, so he sat on the bed beside Isiah’s feet. Isiah stared at him warily, but Claudius appeared happy to see him. They were lying close together, and Mitch realized they had both put on clothes—probably for his benefit. Possibly so he wouldn’t feel uncomfortable. How sweet. “So what should we talk about?”

  “Will you tell us about yourself?” Claudius asked.

  Mitch shrugged. “It’s a pretty boring story. There’s not a lot to tell, actually. I’m human. I’m twenty-one, and I work at the gas plant part time to pay the rent, and now I live here with the two of you.”

  “Tell us about your family, and what it was like for you growing up,” Isiah said.

  Mitch frowned. He didn’t really like talking about his past too much, but he understood they needed to know who he was, seeing as they had trustingly taken him into their home. “I was born in Brisbane. My father died before I was born, so it was only Mum and us three kids. Me, my brother, Markus, and my sister, Tia. Mum couldn’t afford to feed us all, so I was fostered out to her cousin, Lois. Growing up, I called Aunty Lois ‘Mum’ because that’s what she became to me. Markus died not long after he turned three, and my sister, well, she turned strange and went missing about three years ago when she was twenty-one. I don’t even know what happened to my real mum, but Mama Lois died last year and I had to sell everything to pay off her debts, and to bury her.”

  “Tell us about Lewis.” Claudius yawned.

  “Actually, I met Lewis the same night I met Eric. We’ve been dating for two years now.” Mitch frowned. Thinking about it now, the past two years felt like a lifetime or more. “Lewis claims to be human, but I think he has some sort of ‘otherness’ in his ancestry somewhere. He was so sweet in the beginning. He literally swept me off my feet.”

  “We don’t like Lewis,” Isiah mumbled.

  “Sometimes, neither do I,” Mitch admitted after they had fallen asleep. He waited until he was sure they were truly out for the count. When they were, he undressed them. Lifting Claudius’ arm, he moved it until it was draped it over Isiah’s chest as he had seen them the first time he’d witnessed them sleeping. They looked so angelic lying like that. He kissed them both lightly on the cheek, then he folded their clothes, covered them with a sheet and headed to the door where he stopped and looked back. Claudius had already snuggled closer to Isiah, and for some strange reason, Mitch found himself wanting to crawl into the bed to join them. He wanted to forget all the bullshit going on in his life, even if for just a little while.

  After walking back ou
t to the lounge, Mitch curled up on the corner of the couch with his book to read. His phone vibrated against his leg. He had switched it to silent so it wouldn’t disturb the two sleeping men in the apartment. Mitch chuckled softly when he saw the Caller ID. “Hey, Eric. You checking on me already?”

  “Just seeing how you’re doing with your new charges. I didn’t actually realize how hard it was going to be, giving them to you to care for. No problems, I hope?”

  “No. No problems, but I don’t think Isiah likes me very much, or maybe he feels really uncomfortable with me here.”

  “Why would you think that?” Eric asked curiously.

  “Nothing major. Claude asked me to sit with them while they went to sleep, and Isiah didn’t want me to,” Mitch admitted.

  “It’s not because he doesn’t like you, because believe me they both really like you.”

  “Then what is it?” Mitch asked. What the hell am I missing?

  “I think it was more that he didn’t want you to see them in bed together. Isiah can be pretty touchy about things like that. He thinks no one understands that he and Claudius aren’t related.”

  “Why, for God’s sake? He already knows I’ve seen them sleeping together. Why would now be different?”

  “He doesn’t want you to think they’re perverted. Like I said, they really like you.”

  Mitch rolled his eyes, then he remembered that Eric couldn’t actually see him. “By the way, I’m rolling my eyes at you.”

  “So what happened? Did you go and sit with them?” Eric asked.

  “Yes, I sat with them, and we talked. After they fell asleep, I undressed them both, wrapped Claude’s arm around Isiah, covered them with a sheet, then I left them to sleep.”

  “They put clothes on for you?” Eric asked, incredulous.

  “Yeah, but I know they normally sleep naked. So I stripped them, and I can tell you it’s not an easy thing to do when they’re dead to the world.” Mitch couldn’t help but smile when Eric burst out laughing.