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Jesse shook his head in disbelief as Emory went back to brushing. “So, if haemophiles get cavities and shit, how do any of you have any teeth left?”
“What do you mean?” Emory said, wiping his mouth on a towel and baring his teeth in the mirror to inspect them. The sight of his needle-sharp canines and incisors sent an odd shiver over Jesse’s skin.
“Human teeth fall out in less than a lifetime,” he continued. “You guys live for loads of lifetimes.”
Emory came out of the bathroom with a small smile on his face. “If we lose a tooth, we grow a new one.”
Jesse blinked. “No way.”
Emory stooped for his underwear. “Way.”
“So why brush?”
“To smell nice,” Emory said, pulling on his trousers and jumper. “To taste nice. And, well…growing new teeth is not pleasant.”
“It hurts?”
“Yes.”
Jesse hesitated. “Can I see them?”
Emory went still. “Why?”
“I’m just curious.”
“You’ve seen them,” Emory said softly, sitting on the bed to put on his socks.
Jesse slid across the bed and ran his hands up Emory’s back. “I think…” Jesse said softly, gathering his courage. “I think I’d like to feel them.”
Emory went still.
“Em?” Jesse said softly, going cold at the look on his face.
“Never ask that, Jesse.”
Jesse frowned. “You’re the one who went on about controlling my pleasure, about not being ashamed.”
Emory faced him. His eyes were hard. “I’mneverbiting you. You should not ask.”
“But why?”
“Did you not see Tom? Hear his story?”
Jesses made an impatient noise. “That wouldn’t have happened if he hadn’t got something out of it.”
“It nearly killed him, Jesse,” Emory said in a low voice. “Could still, one day, if he ever slides back. There are bad people among my kind, just as there are in yours—ones that would take advantage of someone’s vulnerability. I willneverdo that. And you do not want me to, either.”
“You can’t tell me what I want and don’t want,” Jesse said, crossing his arms. “That’s up to me.”
“Of course it is,” Emory said, looking momentarily surprised. “Your sexuality is your own, Jesse. But your need for pain is something else. And I’ve already told you I won’t be part of that,”
Jesse growled and flung the covers back. But Emory took his wrist to stop him storming away. His face was still hard, but when he spoke, his voice was softer.
“This is great, what’s between us,” he said. “I’ve not had a physical connection with someone like this in a long time. But you forget I can sense and smell more about you than you can about me. I’m not going to tell you you’re wrong for any of the things you want. But I amnevergoing to hurt you, even if you ask. You will have to accept that if this is to continue.”
Jesse glared at him for a long time with his heart doing somersaults in his chest. Emory kissed the corner of his mouth.
“Sleep, my love,” he whispered. “It’s been a long day.”
