In the same motion, Nino grabbed Ben by his collar, pulling him away while he twisted the vampire's arm so unnaturally up his back that the vampire's bones cracked. Vomit collected at the back of Ben's throat, and he had to look away. Nino slammed the vampire into the wall, using his other hand to slam his face deeper inside, splitting the wall into splinters.
Ben's head pounded as he scrambled back, glancing at the woman's horrified face and the other vampire's stillness. Somehow, this seemed like more of a nightmare for them than Ben. He held his arm to his chest to help keep his heart from popping out.
"I told you, Brian's a vampire, didn't I?" Nino asked, his voice so even. After a silent beat, Nino slammed the vampire into the wall again, yanking on his arm. Another horrible cracking noise split the air and Ben flinched away. He didn't want to see this.
Nino said, "That wasn't a rhetorical question."
"You did," the vampire grunted.
"And who am I?"
"Prince Nino Ventura."
"Exactly, so if I say he's a vampire, what is he?"
"A vampire, sir."
"Great." Nino dropped him and the vampire struggled to stand, holding his bad arm with his good one. The other man grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and forced him outside. The woman preserved her smile. "He'll be dealt with."
"I imagine so." Nino fixed his clothes and scowled at her. "We never spoke."
She bowed and took her leave from the store too. Ben let out a relieved breath and full-on hugged Nino. He thought he earned it.
"Can I see your arm?" Nino asked in the smallest voice. His brows were scrunched, and Ben held out his arm. It was red, threatening Ben with a future bruise. Nino's touch was so gentle, it was like he didn't want to touch him at all. "I'm sorry. This was stupid. I should've taken Evie by myself. We can go back to the apartment right now."
Ben smiled, his heart calming. Ben touched Nino's face anyway, weakly smiling as all the adrenaline fizzled out like flat soda. "No. I wanted to come with you guys. Furniture shopping is fun."
"Are you okay?" Nino asked, his brow still furrowed.
Ben nodded. Nino didn't linger in Ben's hold for long. "How about you?" Ben asked, and he did it again. He made Nino's brow furrow so deep. The times when Ben could make Nino smile seemed to be long gone.
"You're asking me that?" Nino returned Ben's question with another. He looked at Ben like he just grew an extra head.
"I know you don't like that stuff," Ben said, remembering the way Nino told Bianca he wasn't proud of their family. He could feel Nino being upset. "If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't have to do that stuff."
"Let's not play the blame game. I'm competitive." Nino smirked again and turned out of Ben's touch. He went to the door and retrieved Evie. She scurried inside and she couldn't soak in enough of the store. Her hands were back in front as she fussed with her fingers.
"Um..." she spoke up. "Maybe, we should go home."
"What?" Ben looked down. "No way." He bent down to her level and tilted his head, trying to meet her eyes. "Forget it. We are not leaving here until we find you a new bed frame, a nightstand, a dresser, and maybe a desk, okay?"
Evie glanced at Nino to make sure. He nodded. "Yeah, kid. Go nuts. Pick out whatever you like."
"Whatever I like?" she echoed.
"Anything you like. I promise," Nino said, placing his hand over his slow beating heart.
"I don't know... I'm not sure..." She looked around at the big empty store.
"Take your time, Evie. There's no rush. We can start with colors. What's your favorite color?"
She looked at Nino again, seeking more permission. When he didn't have an answer, she admitted, "I don't really know. Um, my mom usually picks out my clothes and my furniture and um..." She quirked her lips and looked at her shoes again. If Ben had to guess, he thought Evie might be embarrassed, and that realization weakened Ben's resolve into mush.
"Hey, that's fine. I don't have a favorite color either, so since you don't have one, we'll add it to the to-do list." Ben smiled and turned Evie around. "Go on. Run. Explore. Have fun."
After she got a nod from Nino, she smiled a little and sped off in a flash. Ben couldn't help but try to catch one last sight of her. She was gone.
"You don't have to lie to her," Nino pointed out. He started walking, hands in his pockets, as he looked around the store, leaving Ben behind with that question.
"What do you mean?" Ben forced himself to walk faster just to be by Nino's side.
"Your favorite color is green."
Ben's mouth gaped slightly. "Why do you know that?"
"Given the option, you always go green. Green couch, green plates, and you have tons of green clothes."
Placing his hand over his eyes, Ben asked, "What color are my eyes?"
"Brown," Nino said.
"What's my favorite meal?"
"Me."
A laugh flew out of Ben's mouth, and he was extra giddy just from the sound. It was the first time Nino made him laugh since Evie arrived. It felt so much closer to them.
"Speak for yourself," Ben said, and shoved him a little. He wandered over to a couch and fell into it, checking the spring.
"Uncle Nino!" Evie called out, "Can I have a desk! And a chair!"
"Yes!" Nino yelled back. "Anything you want!" He walked through the kitchen section and Ben got up to follow him. They fiddled with drawers and cabinets. Nino said, offhandedly, "We could really just clear up the space issue if we just get you a new fridge."
"I can make room. Trust me, I won't be devastated to lose the spoiled jar of pickles or the bottle of ranch that smells like blue cheese."
"What about the guest room?"
"I'll..." Ben made a face. "I'll figure it out. I think I have closet space."
"You can always junk some of that stuff."
"No way. I might need some of that stuff."
"Nino! Nino!" Evie called out again and Ben couldn't help but smile. "Can I get pillows too?"
"Evie, it's a yes. It's always going to be a yes."
"Okay!"
Ben chuckled. He wandered over to the nearest bed and hopped on top, letting himself bounce. "Are you not worried about spoiling her?"
"I'm allowed to spoil her," Nino joined him, flopping down on his back. He smirked and Ben fell back too, curling towards him. "I'm her uncle. I'm actually very good at spoiling my loved ones when I want to."
Their eyes met, and Ben's chest squeezed. He shifted a little closer. It wasn't a beg or anything, but he wouldn't mind being a little spoiled after a handful of near-death experiences. Nino held his head in his hands, staring down at Ben.
"This bed is nice," Ben said.
"Just the bed?" Nino raised his brow.
"So stupid," Ben grumbled, pretending he didn't enjoy a nice steaming hot plate of cheese. He pushed Nino but didn't move his hand. Instead, he grabbed a handful of his shirt and pulled the vampire forward.
One kiss wouldn't hurt.
Maybe Ben was the kissing demon, but Nino was the one that made him that way. Without him, Ben's homeland was a dry, empty desert that hadn't seen an ounce of rain in months. Then, Nino comes along in an array of sparks and his life is in flames. A birthplace for devastation.
Nino dipped his head, meeting Ben's lips for a kiss, tilting his head and cracking Ben open like his favorite book, his hand thumbing over his favorite passages. Ben pulled at him to bring Nino closer and feel all his weight. He liked the impression Nino's body made on his. Nino kissed him as if he found a need way to feed and Ben's skin was sensitive to his electricity. These kisses were different. Every touch had changed from the way Ben remembered.
Nino kissed him like they've had a fight and he was trying to make up for it. He touched Ben the way a man would, knowing the smell of his blood when spilled from violence, knowing the way bruises bloomed on his skin and he wasn't a fan of the color. Nino held Ben in hands like there was a tomorrow.
Ben broke the kiss, his mouth wet and skin so hot. The light scratches from Nino's scuff burned his chin and he probably already looked like a mess, like an innocent teenager. Ben caught his breath and reminded Nino, "Wait. Wait. What about Evie? I don't..." he swallowed. "I don't want her to walk in on-"
A devilish flicker brightened behind Nino's molten lava eyes. "What? Walk in on us doing what? What do you want me to do, Ben?"
Ben took another deep breath, feeling every inch of his body pulse. He was so suddenly aware of Nino leaning into Ben's body with his legs open and welcoming the vampire. Ben flushed an unforgiving red and Ben opened his mouth to answer, when Nino kissed him again, pressing, rubbing their middles with only that pesky fabric between them. It sent signals straight to his crotch that this was now a ticking time bomb.
"Hmm?" Nino hummed, smiling wickedly. He leaned into Ben's neck, nuzzling him with nose, whispering, "Speak up."
Pressing his lips together, Ben grabbed a handful of Nino's hair and pulled him. He kept that beautiful face barely an inch apart and kissed him only once. He met Nino's smile and raised him a lip bite. "Be nice or you're not getting anything."
"Yes, sir," Nino whispered so quietly it's like it just escaped his throat. Sealing that answer with a kiss, Nino pulled back while pulling Ben up. He draped Ben's arms over his shoulder and picked him up, popping him up and Ben laughed.
Ben closed his eyes and just let Nino sweep him away as he kissed him over and over, running his hand through Nino's loose curls. Nino's hand ran up his spine and Ben curled towards him, arching his back and holding Nino's face. It was in the details. The softness of Nino's hair. The strength of his hands and arms. The way his throat hummed if Ben spent enough time kissing his neck.
Nino kicked in the bathroom, dropping Ben as they fumbled between getting each other's pants off. Ben struggled to get both legs out of his pants, so he just let one side hang off with the inside out part hanging to the side. The counter was ice cold against his bare ass, and he laughed out of surprise. Nino kissed the side of his head as he unveiled a lubed-up condom, before making it disappear inside of Ben, who cursed and hit the back of his head against the mirror. Ben glanced behind his shoulder and smiled.
Nino wasn't showing up. He didn't bother with any concealment. Too focused on Ben, too wrapped up in the next kiss and pressing all of Ben's buttons. Or at least, that was what Ben liked to think. Nino didn't seem like the type to waste time on unnecessary things, so maybe that meant Ben was compelling enough to take care of.
Twisting, Nino's fingers made Ben's bones quake out of place. He moaned, covering his mouth so Evie couldn't hear them, that seemed to give Nino a terrible idea as his hand wrapped around the base of Ben's cock. Ben jolted up, pressing his hand harder against his mouth, accidentally cutting off his air so he had to gasp louder.
"Oh, Ben, Ben, Ben," Nino whispered as if he was supposed to understand what he meant by that. Nino pulled out his fingers and pulled Ben's hand off his mouth, replacing it with his lips. He pulled Ben's legs up, which Ben down. Nino lined his hard cock up to Ben's entrance, looking him right in the eyes and that look cut right through him. Nino pushed inside and his mouth opened, and Nino put his hand over his mouth this time. Ben braced himself against the mirror as Nino held one of his legs up while Nino pounded him. Ben pushed back. This could be deeper, could be more, could be harder, could be rougher, Ben wanted to be made a mess of by Nino, who seemed to hear his prayers.
This wasn't like one of Nino's feedings. This was itching a scratch for relief and Nino gave it to Ben deep. The waves of ecstasy overwhelmed Ben, crashing into him, and Nino was merciless. Nino was getting off on driving Ben crazy. Nino grabbed Ben's burning hard cock again and pumped. It was slick, and he'd pump hard and then when it seemed like Ben was crash-landing into the edge, Nino would slow down. He'd stop right at the base and leave Ben trembling and shivering from the hint of an orgasm. He was starving Ben. Giving him just enough to acquire the taste.
"You're so tight," Nino huffed, but that didn't stop him. Not at all.
Ben groaned, his voice vibrating into Nino's palm. He peaked at Nino, his eyes a flash of red and brow furrowed, and Ben's body buckled. Nino leaned down, pressing his forehead against his and Ben held him just as close. It was hard to breathe, hard to move, and Ben thought he'd never stop shaking. His brain was turning funny, into the fizzle of a broken television hot and thick with electricity.
A loud crash made Nino lean up, pausing with his hand halfway up Ben's cock and Nino's still inside of him.
"Shit," Ben spit out.
Practically growling. Nino pulled Ben off the counter and flipped him around. Ben dropped his head and held onto the counter. He couldn't catch his breath as Nino pounded relentlessly into him, forcing them to drive fast over the edge, and Ben jerked himself with a greedy sense of urgency.
He covered his mouth as Nino ripped the orgasm out of him and he came across the bathroom tile. Nino pulled out, and he heard Nino scrambling to buckle his belt.
"Stay here," Nino huffed and ran out of the room.
Ben sighed, pressing his forehead against the counter. His skin was hot, and his limbs were weak as he pulled himself together, pulling pants back up and he cleaned the mess they left. It wasn't long before Nino returned with a guilty look on his face.
"Is she alright?" Ben asked.
"Evie's fine," Nino said, rubbing the back of his neck. "She found what she wanted and thought we were taking it home today. She just dropped a twin sized bed."
Ben's brow furrowed as he tried imagining Evie carrying a bed overhead and he couldn't think of it in a way that didn't sound like it was from a cartoon. "Well, that's good. What did she pick?" Ben asked, turning back to the floor as he continued to clean up. If he forced someone that worked here to clean up after him, Ben would actually die from equal parts embarrassment and guilt. "I'm going to guess she has an old lady aesthetic. This isn't an insult. I just think she'd fit in like those creepy haunted dolls you'd find at thrift stores-"
It took Ben finished up to realize Nino wasn't saying anything. He turned around, unable to see him in the mirror. Nino's somber expression cut across Ben's heart. "What... what's wrong?"
"I think..." Nino said. He stared down at Ben, still on the ground, studying his face as if burning it into his memory. "I think it's best if we... if we kept things platonic between us." He motioned between them and Ben could see the bricks falling from the ceiling and building a wall between them. "This has to be the last time-" He caught himself "-at least for the summer."
"But..." Ben stood up, crossing his arms.
"I don't want to lose focus, and something happens to Evie."
Shaking his head, Ben asked, "But what if you have to eat?"
"I'll figure it out." Nino put on a smile. "We'll just focus on getting through this summer alive and worry about the rest later."
The rest, Ben realized, were the terms of their agreement that would be changing. Everything was changing.