by Flynn Eire
He yanked off his knit hat with a sigh and scrubbed his hand over his head. “Different people have different definitions of ‘done.’ Falcon was saying it was done before the inquisition, but it was built and a few floors had stuff in there like fixtures or whatever. Most were sleeping on mattresses from the pre and post-trans beds. Whatever. Now we’re getting there, but trucks got delayed, and you’re bringing in more. That’s all I know.”
I nodded. “I know there are the pieces ready to be put together for the first apartment building someone suggested and several foundations laid out according to Ellison. That’s further along than I thought.”
“Yeah, there’s a lot of hopping and bouncing all around.”
I swallowed a wince, knowing that tone. “I say this not as a criticism, but as someone who went through what you’re feeling now.” I waited until he nodded that he was open to what I wanted to tell him. “You need to deal with your feelings of disliking change or you won’t make it to be as old as I am.”
He let out a slow breath before letting his head fall back to stare at the ceiling. “I know. I do. Honestly, I do like some changes. I like phones and getting more books. I don’t like when there’s a huge shift. And we’ve had several. I’d never met a Wyrok, and we had a shift with Helios and having one. I was cool with that. It’s feeling like I blinked and this is no longer the camp and place I’ve known for so long.
“When it was changes like getting better people in or less bullying, I’m for it. I’m happy that people are finding mates and falling in love. I don’t think… I don’t have confidence any of this will turn out, and it’s a huge shift. That is what I have such a problem with.”
“Along with being around more pre-trans?” I pushed, nodding when he flinched. “Want to tell me?”
He raised his head and adjusted his neck. “Maybe if you’re in my bed and we have a drink. It’s not an easy topic for me, and only Lynx knows because he covers me in the clinic if someone is having their transition. I can’t handle it.”
I nodded, knowing the answer pretty much then. People who lost siblings during their transitions were understandably traumatized by it. I didn’t have siblings—or any I really got to know—so it wasn’t an issue I understood. “A drink sounds nice, and I can keep a secret.”
“Apparently you’ve got a lot of them,” he murmured. “You going to share?”
I shrugged. “It will probably get out anyways, but then I really will need a drink.”
“If it’s any consolation, London told people to fuck off when they tried to push him. He’s not happy he’s a sponge or people learning about that. He refuses to tell anything he learns.” He winced. “Except when he’s worried for someone. He was worried for Zibon before we knew it was Alastair and all of that.”
“Yes, I heard some of it,” I drawled. “Ancients like to play their games.”
“Kind of like coming first and alone so no one knew you were you?” he drawled, and I winced, feeling his dig fairly accurate. “Hopefully I’ll see you after my shift, but I need to get going and keep watch.”
I nodded. “I appreciate a man who takes his tasks or duty seriously.”
He gave me a serious look. “I like doing different things and filling in, so I do like change, but I take it all very seriously. We’ve lost people, and there’s a war going on. Not panicking all the time is what will make me able to survive the ages.”
“I agree.” He was right. I’d seen a different side and pointed it out because many fell into that sort of trap, but he was right, and I was glad he pushed that way too.
He really was an intriguing man.
5 ~ Jeston
It seemed two trucks had come earlier in the day because after I left Jordan, I saw people helping to bring in a shit ton of drywall into the first floor of one of the houses. They were going to wrap it or something so the trailer could go back with the next delivery. At least the roads were clear enough for that. Someone had gone out with one of our plows to help the county with our area, but overall the state was good at handling the snow.
We got enough of it where they’d had a lot of practice with it.
Liam was working with Nate, trying to show him how to melt snow, not start a fire, and it seemed to be going well. I stopped by to tell him I’d brought food to Jordan, and he thanked me, seeming a bit overwhelmed. It made sense. There was a lot at stake and a lot to do.
And none of us would forgive ourselves if people were lost because we stopped working to build the subdivision because it was winter.
I kept walking, checking out all the nooks and crannies or areas good for hiding since even if I could normally smell a human, it was so cold out that I wasn’t going to take any chances. Hey, even vampires got stuffy noises when it was freezing out.
I was just about to loop around the camp when Evan came driving over on a seriously cool ATV that looked like it was ready for anything and also had a roof to help with weather. I raised an eyebrow, and he just shrugged.
“My mate spoils me. I told him I was going to start taking a lap with you guys or see if we can get two on duty since there’s so much ground to cover until more is in place. He was horrified to learn someone was walking around in this cold without even a place to sit for hours or some protection from the freezing rain. So he ordered four of these.”
I threw back my head and laughed. “Seriously, your mate heals my heart that all council members are complete dicks and horrible people at their core.”
“Yeah, he’s awesome. Even if he’s trying to get his feet half the time and falls into the same mistakes he bitches about, he really takes pause and tries to figure out how to do better. London was right that he was railing against the system but then using the same line that he was a councilman and could do what he was. It’s hard for him too. People buck against him when they shouldn’t, so I get why they start to plow through.”
“Makes sense,” I agreed, climbing on with him and hanging on when he hit the gas. “Plus, there’s just so much it’s hard not to see all the sides all the time. If he stops and looks around, he really cares and always wants to help.”
“You thinking of making a play for my mate?” Evan asked good naturedly, knowing that wasn’t what I meant at all. Plus, he was poking me for a reason. I wasn’t stupid.
“No, got my eyes set on someone else.”
“Yeah, I saw that flower. It looks exactly like your eyes.”
“Yeah.”
“And the guy?” he pushed. “Hot but doesn’t seem your type really.”
“I don’t think I have a type,” I admitted. “I like little, but—doesn’t matter to me just that there’s an attraction and I like them personally.”
“He seems like an oddball and with a lot of darkness in him.”
“Right, so he fits in perfectly with the rest of us,” I drawled.
“Fair enough.” He was Evan, so he didn’t leave it at that though since his gift was to hear what people really wanted to say instead of the words they used. “So the sex?”
“Off the charts, and we’ve not even kissed yet,” I admitted, shrugging when he shot me a surprised glance. “It was just a quick hookup. Two people needing to scratch the itch and—he’s super blunt.”
“Which you love.”
“I do. I’d rather everyone just spit it out and let the chips fall where they may. He’s playing with me a bit, but I don’t know to what extent. I’m fine with that, like it even, but if you’re telling me something, just tell me.”
“Amen, Brother, amen. Too many people never say what they mean, and it’s just a waste of precious time when we are all too busy. That was one of the things I appreciated with Theo. We have certain fundamental alignments. Not so much religion but more beliefs, the way we want to live. It’s strange, but somehow that was how I knew he was right or we would fit for the long haul.”
“And the sex?”
“Shockingly good,” he admitted after a few moments, turning into Ashton’s new r
anch. “We weren’t doing anything so crazy like acrobatics, or it wasn’t like I hadn’t had sex in that way before, but it was just… He was something that made it more. I knew no one else could make me feel that in that way from doing that.”
“That’s how I feel,” I confessed. “It’s terrifying, but I feel like the moth heading for the light, needing it even if it turns out to be a bug zapper. More than that, I like him. He pokes at me and liked when I poked back.”
“Oh, you’re in trouble,” he chuckled as he pulled up next to several more ATVs. “That was exactly what I went through. Lynx said the same about Gary. It’s not that you found the person you dance best with, but being with them changed how you saw the dance, and I don’t mean only the sex.”
“He’s ancient,” I worried. “He’s famous and has money. I don’t know what I could ever bring to the table.” I shook my head when he opened his mouth to argue. “You fit with Ashton and handle parts he doesn’t, like security to make the relationship, your lives work together. Even thinking about trying to ask him out or date and I’m like I cannot see a single reason he would or what I’d bring to the table.”
“You do,” Ashton said from the doorway of his trailer at the front of the fleet of them that he’d brought in for the construction teams. “He’s a guy that everyone wants something from. I know the feeling well, and I’m not anywhere near in his league, and there’s more I don’t even get. But your first thoughts are his wealth and power are scary, not a draw. That’s not most people, Jeston, and probably what he needs most.”
“Thanks, that helps,” I muttered, adjusting my hat. “Thanks for the ATVs. I like walking in the snow, but more and more is being put up or more places to hide, so this helps get around it all better.”
“Good because they were talking about getting more up tomorrow with maybe your help since you can move snow.”
“I didn’t think of that,” I admitted. I shrugged. “Yeah, whatever I can do. There’s supposed to be a few days of clear skies, right? I’ve never tried to screw with snow, water, or ice while it’s coming down.”
“Something fun to play with in the future,” he suggested.
Maybe. I didn’t like to play with my gift in front of people since comics had become a thing as everyone called me iceman or compared me to super heroes, disappointed when I couldn’t surf on the ice I made or anything like that. It was silly to listen or care, but it was just something I didn’t want to deal with.
Why couldn’t I just be me and that be enough?
My shift flew by, and the next thing I knew it was time to trade with Xana. After a minute I went back to Nero’s, wanting to make sure Jordan had really stopped working. It was a good call because he was loading something into that kiln like I’d seen him do before.
“It’s after midnight,” I told him. He grunted at me and moved some other stuff around to make room, but then it seemed pretty packed.
And he seemed exhausted.
“I’m going to carry you out of here in five minutes and drag you to the shower and then a bed so you can rest.”
He raised an eyebrow at me as he glanced at me over his shoulder. “Oh are you?”
“Yeah, and it’s not just because I want you again,” I grumbled. “Liam looked wrecked and overwhelmed, but I saw him head with the others over to the construction trailers. He’s going to beat himself up if he finds out you worked all night or slept in Nero’s garage again.” I held up my hand when he went to argue. “You’re not putting us in the line of fire by coming in the dorm with us. It’s what we do, and we’re in the line of fire too.”
I felt better when he winced, knowing I’d nailed that one right.
“You want me to stay over, yes?” He waited until I nodded. “I haven’t done that in over a century. I never have overnight guests or stay over because I startle too easily and am used to any noise being a threat and reacting.”
I blew a raspberry. “Well, that’s one hell of a risk to get you in my bed, but I think you might be worth it.”
“I’m serious, Jeston.”
“So am I.” I winked at him and leaned against the doorway. “No one’s going to let you live out a distance from the rest of us, so I know it will be hard, but you need to try. There is no chance that any zakasacs get near the dorm without warning when we have two people that can sense them. One for hundreds of miles or something.”
He was quiet a few moments. “Fine, but you wash me. I’m tired.”
“Fine, but I’m fucking you too.”
“Fine, but I want a blow job.”
“Fine, but we’re sleeping naked, and you’re giving me a few really good kisses.”
He didn’t immediately come right back. “Fine, but you’re only fucking me if we’re kissing and doing sleep overs.”
I slowly smiled at him. “You aren’t fucking anyone else then.”
“I’m not sure when I’d even have the time,” he muttered, scrubbing his hand over his head. “Let me set what I need to and then you can carry me off.”
“You’re at about three minutes now,” I teased him.
He rolled his eyes, and it was about thirty seconds until he was done. He grabbed his jacket and slid on his boots while I caught a deep whiff of him. He did need a shower, but he smelled of sweat and man and even like fire. It was hot.
He was hot.
“This is new,” he muttered as he checked out the ATV.
“Ashton got us four when he heard we were walking our shifts,” I explained. “Apparently we were one of the most neglected camps. Hell, we have our pre- and post-trans chopping wood for a month because we have wood burning furnaces that are ridiculously old. I guess that’s getting updated as well, electric in the new one.”
“There is something beautiful to wood burning fireplaces, and I loved the old kilns that needed the logs, but the environment is more important.”
“Yeah, I feel the same.”
“Thank you for dinner. I was hungry.” He cleared his throat and crossed his legs towards me as we zipped along. “The food is rather good here. I guess I expected gruel and slop like you see in military movies.”
“They make the food awesome so we don’t all want to always use the camp vehicles to get off base.”
“Makes sense. My personal chef has the same mentality that if it’s extra good, I won’t skip meals. It tends to work.”
“You have a personal chef?” I asked, trying not to put any inflection in my tone like it might be a thing.
“Yes, as I tend to neglect myself and the only cooking I do is glass. I mostly did it for Liam and my apprentices so they could stop worrying about me and focus on themselves. I found a vampire who wanted to go to cooking school and I promised my protection and to pay for culinary school in Boston if he would then be my personal chef and also for Liam and the others. He loves it. He does all sorts of experimenting with recipes and loves to cook.”
“Nice that it worked out.”
“Does someone having money bother you?” he asked when I was quiet as we pulled into the camp and I waved at the tower, knowing one of the Wyrok were there as they took shifts now.
“No, but I never know how to react,” I admitted as I hit the brakes when Xana came walking out of the main building. “Ashton got us toys. There are several gas cans by his trailer if you need a refill.”
“Got it,” he replied, nodding to Jordan as we slid off our seats. “We’re doing coms now instead of just Gilroy and I, so next shift get an earpiece. Wally’s normally on that shift.”
“Oh, Roarke will love that I’ll be talking with his mate,” I drawled.
“He said the same but was just glad it wasn’t Evan, but he said it just to poke at Ashton. It was funny. Wally promised to only talk about all the sex he has with Roarke.”
“I don’t want to listen to that shit,” I grumbled.
“Yeah, I can’t see Wally doing that, can you?”
“No, but I’m sure it set Roarke off.”
�
��We need to get our laughs somehow.”
“Xana, do you have a weapon?” Gilroy asked on the coms. “We have to keep cover in case any humans try to sneak in again, and you can’t just go around with a sword.”
“I have a side arm, I promise.”
“Have a good one,” I said, giving a wave as Xana climbed on. Jordan gave him a tired wave as well before I led the way to the dorm. We were quiet getting to my room, Jordan seeming lost in his head as I unlocked the door and let him in. I took off my jacket and boots, noting he did as well. I also stripped off my sweater and jeans before grabbing my shower stuff and two towels.
He was shirtless and still a bit sweaty from working so hard, leaving only his jeans on. I wasn’t sure what was going on, but he followed me to the showers without a word. It wasn’t until I set everything down and turned on the water that I realized he was running on autopilot. Well, that was better than awkward or something going on, but not what I wanted when I got another chance with him.
I stripped off my boxer briefs and corralled him under the water once it warmed up. He closed his eyes and let the water soak into his weary body. I leaned in and kissed his cheek, working my way to his ear and then down his neck. He angled his neck to give me more room, giving me all the signal I needed that he was there with me.
Going with the big guns, I started softly singing “Stay With Me” by Sam Smith, knowing I had a good voice even if it was much deeper than the artist.
“It’s not love?” he chuckled after the chorus.
“Not yet,” I murmured as I reached for the shampoo. “I was thinking of ‘All of Me’ by John Legend, but that seemed a bit much for the start of something.”
“I really love that song though,” he admitted as he grabbed the soap and started washing me as I lathered up his hair. “Like would totally get on my knees if someone sang that to me with your deep timber.”
“I’ll sing it, but I want that tomorrow since you’re so tired.”
“And you want me for another night.”
“Yes,” I confirmed, not wanting to beat around the bush on this. There was something about him that just pushed all my buttons and made me need to know he was okay and check on him. I finished his hair, and he leaned back, letting the water rinse the shampoo away. “Damn, you are so fucking sexy.”