Page 26 of Vampire Claus
“It sounds fantastic!” Paul beamed. “And I know a great place to start.”
“The shelter?”
“Right. Damn, they need so much help. Workers to fix the building. Paint. Better furniture and clothes for the residents—”
“Done. Consider it part of your new job, then, to get contractors lined up for the shelter as well.”
Paul blinked and bit his lower lip. “I want to, but… Taviano, I’m not really qualified to manage construction or money or a philanthropy. What if I fuck this up?”
Taviano pulled him to his feet and into an embrace. “Paul, we already trust each other with our lives. You, when you make love with a vampire. Me, because you’ll know where I sleep and that all it takes to destroy me is a bit of sunlight. I think we can figure out how to make the rest of it work.” He kissed Paul soundly and leaned back with a smile. “Right, dude?”
Paul took a steadying breath. “’Kay ’kay. We can do this. Now will you take me to Castle Dracula? I want you to fuck me in a real bed.”
Taviano growled and opened his jaw to rest his fangs against Paul’s throat. He reveled in the gasp it evoked, and the shiver that ran down Paul’s body. Already he felt his cock stirring, and his demon’s contentment. It had exactly what it wanted: for Taviano to find passion and purpose.
Could it last? He would have to feed, and Paul might grow troubled by that. Or by the source of their wealth, or a million other details about sharing a home with a fiend. Someday soon, Paul would ask Taviano to drink from him while they made love. He’d want to know what it was like, and Taviano would have a hard time resisting.
And if they survived all that, it seemed inevitable that Paul would one day ask Taviano to turn him. At that moment, Taviano was confident he would refuse the request with every ounce of his strength. He wouldnotcondemn Paul to the eternal darkness that was his fate.
But Paul made his own light, and Taviano’s demon had its own plans. His resolve might not be enough to deny the combined will of the man working his way into his heart and the creature that already lived there.
He shook his head clear while Paul gathered a few things he’d need. Those were problems for another time. And as his demon said, they had all the time in the world if they chose.
“Ready?” he asked, taking Paul’s hand. “Let’s go spend Christmas night in our new home. Together.”
“You know, my nonna already thinks I’m easy. What’s she gonna say when she finds out I’m shacking up with a two-hundred-year-old guy from Naples?” At Taviano’s no-doubt shocked expression, Paul burst into laughter and mock-punched him in the shoulder. “Just kidding, dude. Let’s go find out if I’m naughty or nice.” He winked. “The safe money is on naughty.”