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But from Bel’s playful and kind questions to the way they’d talked over food options to even the simple warm conversation in the lab, everything laid out the kind of person Bel was. There was no subterfuge to Bel. River felt sure there wasn’t a manipulative bone in Bel’s body. The vampire spelled out clearly what he wanted, and it all largely came back to protecting those he cared for. While he preferred to use science, Bel would obviously use force if necessary.
“Okay, so no science,” Bel said, sounding as if he were trying to force some lightness into his voice as he released River’s arm. “What do you like?”
River tensed as he turned the question over. He’d not given it much thought in a long time. Either no one had cared about what he liked or there had simply been no chance to enjoy such luxuries.
“Music. Books, but fiction. Action movies. Making things with my hands. Puzzles. That sort of stuff,” he finished a bit awkwardly. It was easier to get Bel talking about himself. River didn’t want to talk about himself, didn’t want to think about things that he wasn’t sure when he’d get to enjoy again.
“My questions…they don’t make you uncomfortable, do they? I never meant to upset you—”
River stopped the words by pressing his fingertips to Bel’s parted lips. Blue eyes widened, and he swallowed hard. The most beautiful blush painted Bel’s cheeks, bringing back River’s earlier amusement with the vampire.
“They don’t bother me. You’re not proposing to cut me open and pull all my organs out.”
“Never,” Bel whispered, his lips brushing River’s fingers.
River lowered his hand to his side. “Then ask me anything you want.”
“Okay, but you have to promise to tell me if it becomes too much.” Bel’s eyes were wide and his expression incredibly earnest. “Ethan complains every time I ask for just a tiny bit of blood. He hates needles.”
Laughter erupted from River, and he rocked against the table behind him. Bel’s hand fell away. He was looking awkward once more but also amused.
“Ethan is the vampire mate for your brother?” Bel nodded to River’s question. “And he hates needles?” He chuckled again. “How is he afraid of getting a little blood drawn when he’s a vampire?”
“What’s all this laughing about?” Wyatt asked as he strolled into Bel’s lab. He was still pulling on his T-shirt, giving River and Bel a delicious view of his beautiful abs.
Slipping his hands under the hem of Wyatt’s worn, soft shirt, he sent one around his back while the other snuck up his chest to pluck at a hard nipple. The scent of pine and earth drifted around him along with Wyatt’s heady musk. When they’d been with their pack, there had been only a few stolen moments before they were discovered. And then the MacPherson clan kept them as wolves, leaving River feeling like he’d been waiting half his life to touch Wyatt as much as he wanted.
His lover dipped his head as if he meant to steal a kiss, but he stopped and looked over River’s shoulder at Bel, waiting. Seeking permission. There was a part of River that wanted to snarl and snap at the idea that his powerful lover was waiting on a vampire’s benevolence to claim a kiss.
But River swallowed back the anger. The fact that they were standing together like this was a vast improvement over their last circumstances. Plus, Wyatt was being cautious. They hadn’t won Bel over yet, and this was his home. River closed his eyes and stomped on the irrational feelings. Bel isn’t Brett. Bel isn’t Brett.
“Oh…umm…yes…excuse me,” Bel stammered. “Let me just…I-I need to see to…” He started to step around River and Wyatt as if he meant to give them some privacy in his private laboratory.
Wyatt chuckled and his hand shot out, grabbing Bel’s arm. The vampire yelped as he was pulled in until he was held pressed to both shifters. River blinked over at the blushing Bel, letting that soft scent from the vampire gently soothe ragged nerves and old wounds.
“We weren’t trying to run you out of your private sanctum,” Wyatt said. His voice was so wonderfully deep that River wanted to roll in it.
“Oh.” That single syllable came out breathless and so hushed, River could barely hear it.
“I just wanted to make sure it was okay with you if I kissed River,” Wyatt continued.
“Of course.” Bel looked from Wyatt to River before licking his lips, as if he couldn’t decide which of them he wanted to kiss first. As if realizing his train of thought, Bel’s bright eyes widened, and he was quickly stepping away from them both. “Sorry. Yes. Of course you can. I just need to get a drink. Excuse me.”
River watched Bel hurry out of the room, intrigued by his behavior. Was Bel interested in Wyatt? Or even him? That was a definite change from Brett…and very curious indeed.
