Johann (Vampire's Mate, #4)

by Grae Bryan

Wolfe, who arched a brow at him as if to say, What are you gonna do now?

LOVE him 🥰

He apologized mentally to the vampire part of himself—the little bit of his being that didn’t like the bright light—for irritating its senses. I’m sorry, little beastie.

People were always calling Jay “honey” and “sweetie” like that. Jay supposed it had something to do with his looks: he was petite, his facial features were maybe kind of doll-like, and he knew people thought of him as cute. He supposed that made them want to call him pet names. He didn’t mind it though—in truth, it warmed his chest when people called him nice things. It made him feel wanted, even if all it really meant was that he was nonthreatening.

“I don’t like being alone,” he declared, his voice ringing in the silent apartment. There, he’d admitted it. He’d voiced it out loud.

🥺🥺🥺🥺

The barista couldn’t have been any taller than five feet five, with dainty features and a mess of dark hair, the oversize, electric-blue sweatshirt with the kittens on it so large on him he’d had to roll it over about a dozen times to get it above his elbows.

Alexei had the momentary, completely bizarre thought that he wanted to steal him. To put the stranger in his pocket and take him back to his apartment, stash him there for the foreseeable future. Just…keep him. Because apparently Alexei’s recent hermitage had melted his fucking brain.

He simply couldn’t look away. The guy was so…pretty. Gorgeous in a soft, unassuming way, with that little button nose, those Cupid’s bow lips. And really, the bed head look he had going on was too much; it was sending Alexei’s brain into dangerous territory. Like sweat-soaked sheets and a dark head bobbing between his legs and a million other dirty things he shouldn’t be thinking about.

and he’d never before felt like he was two steps away from leaping over a coffee shop counter and— And what, planting a kiss on the guy? Hoisting him over his shoulder? What was wrong with him?

And, to be fair, Alexei had also once overheard Jay compliment his fucking cash register for opening “so smoothly and quietly.” He also greeted every canine guest in the café like visiting royalty, waving and beaming and handing out dog treats like Oprah giving away a free car.

🥰

He’s so…strange. I think he might be an alien.”

He’d seen, just the other day, a suited customer trying to show off his Rolex, and Jay had countered with his own glow-in-the-dark waterproof number, of which he was apparently incredibly proud.

🥰🥰🥰🥰

He wasn’t going to leave the guy alone. A good man would. But Alexei had never been a good man, had he?

Jay wanted to rub against those arms like a cat. His beastie did too.

So really, Alexei didn’t need to wear anything super bright to still be the nicest-looking thing in the room.

because the human smelled so, so good. It always made Jay’s beastie perk up in interest (well, perk up more; his beastie was always very interested in everything Alexei).

Alexei huffed a not quite laugh. “No cupcakes, kotyonok.” Jay’s heart warmed at the nickname Alexei had started giving him. It meant “kitten” in Russian.

oh, Jay just really, really wanted a nibble. Just a little nibble of the delicious-smelling regular with the handsome face and pretty eyes and strong-looking forearms with his sleeves rolled back.

What was Alexei hoping to accomplish even? Slow seduction via increasingly complicated coffee orders?

Alexei’s first coherent thought after his brain came stuttering back online was that it was a shame the manager had to die.

Alexei smelled so very good. Jay’s little beastie really wanted a taste. Just one itty-bitty taste.

His little beastie even started speaking to him, which it rarely ever did. Just a little taste, it pleaded. No, beastie. No biting without permission.

“Oh! I’m very good at following directions.” “I bet you are, kotyonok.” Alexei’s voice came out kind of throaty and husky and weirdly sexy. Maybe from being in the cold too long? Jay had to turn back around to hide his blush.

🫠

(Ferdy always needed water after a run, and Alexei had just had a walk, so that was probably a good idea for him too.)

“Feed from me. I like the idea of giving you something you need, kotyonok. Let me be of use to you. Please.”

And maybe Jay just really wanted to be held. The human looked so strong and smelled so good. Was it so horrible that Jay wanted to be as close as possible?

He should always be here, Alexei thought dreamily, listening to the strangely erotic sounds of Jay’s greedy gulping. In my arms.

“Do you know how long I’ve wanted you on my lap like this? You are making me feel good, kitten. The way you smell. The way you look right now, flushed and fucked out and desperate. Move your hips. Just like that. Fuck into my fist. We’re not stopping until your cum is coating us both.”

🥵

He smiled at Jay, and Jay felt positively spoiled with the number of those smiles he was getting from his stern regular. “Like I said,” Alexei murmured. “Gorgeous.”

🥰🥰🥰🥰

He did that sometimes, and Alicia always made sure to give him a free coffee drink, winking and warning him not to tell Colin, and then Colin would always make sure to give him a free pastry, frowning and warning him not to tell Alicia.

😂

And Jay watched everyone, happy to be surrounded by such nice vampires. He didn’t know what he’d done to deserve it—or rather, he did know he hadn’t done a single thing—but he felt very lucky anyway.

🥰🥰🥰

“Just looking to see how you could possibly manage to fit such big feet into your mouth at every opportunity.” Gabe smirked at him. “You know what they say, baby brat. Big feet, big—” “Please, for the love of God, don’t finish that sentence,” Danny begged.

🤣🤣🤣

Jay was never going to get to have a boyfriend, was he?

🥺

He was growing. He was changing. He was. He could be more than what his maker had made of him.

Because I’m entranced and obsessive and I need to know the exact nature of your relationship or I’ll simply pass the fuck away.

🤣

Alexei loved that “we.” He absolutely fucking adored that “we.”

Not when he had such a perfect new friend, one who looked like all Jay’s secret fantasies and smelled like everything yummy and good. Didn’t Jay deserve some good?

Yes you do 🥺

(“sweetheart” and “kitten,” all in one go!)

Maybe with enough practice, Jay would become a new kind of vampire, one who could feed on every part of Alexei. His blood, his sweat, his cum. Was that gross to think about? Maybe Jay would just keep that to himself.

And somehow, virgin that he is, he still managed to suck my soul out through my cock.

🤣

That sleazy doctor Monroe was in here earlier, practically salivating.”

No no no Eric, you just wait your turn

Why the fuck couldn’t he be Jay’s mate? He’d be the most devoted mate there ever was, given the chance.

🤭

Jay loved the outdoors? Alexei would live in a forest cave with him, if he asked. Jay wanted to be around people? Alexei could handle that, if it was for Jay. He’d let Jay do all the talking, all the inadvertent charming, and it wouldn’t be so bad. Jay wanted a messy house? They’d make blanket forts, have a million pets, destroy their kitchen with culinary experiments. Alexei could be enough. He could try. He would try.

🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

Because you’re special and perfect and I adore you even though we’ve only been technically dating for a day.

“My name is Wolfgang. Or Wolfe,

Love him 🥰🥰🥰

How could anyone—no matter how vicious, how fucking bloodthirsty—want to hurt this sweet vampire?

But Alexei was still smiling at him, stroking Jay’s face. “We’ve got a budding pillow princess on our hands, huh?”

“Even if I were capable of such an emotion, he’s most assuredly not my type.

I know who is 🤭🥰

“He’s the most perfect vampire to ever exist in the fucking universe, asshole. You would be so lucky.”

“My perfect vampire,” he crooned. “My perfect kitten. My perfect mate.”

Its mantra at all times was to touch Jay, taste Jay, claim Jay, love Jay.