(PERCY POV)I was utterly bewildered by what had just transpired. It was the most intimate and powerful experience I'd ever had with a vampire. Before, every encounter was rough, violent, and aggressively impersonal. They'd often force me into doing other things right after feeding, seldom bothering to heal the bites.That's why I was so covered in scars. But this time was different. No vampire had ever tried to cuddle with me after. Yet, here I was, nestled in a vampire's arms, and he seemed so content, almost radiating joy.Overwhelmed, I asked, "Why was it so different this time? All the other times, it was always so rough and aggressive. What just happened... it wasn't like that."His face was buried in my hair, his lips pressed against the back of my neck, and I could feel his grin. In a hushed tone, he whispered, "Because none of them cared about you like I do, Cariño.""Cariño, what does that mean?" I asked.When he didn't respond, I rolled over to face him, eager to look into
(JO POV)Being trapped in my body, able to see and hear everything but unable to move, was a torturous improvement over the complete darkness that had enveloped me before. The realization that Dane had been changing my diapers and feeding me with a bottle while I was incapacitated was mortifying. Part of me wished to remain oblivious rather than face such indignities.When Deirk introduced his new human, a striking blonde guy who strongly resembles Dane, I was thrilled. I couldn't contain my excitement about having another human around, especially since I had been isolated from any human companionship since this all started.Dane returned from the market with food that catered to our new housemate's tastes, which apparently didn't align with my usual food choices. Sitting in Deirk's lap while he perched on a bar stool, we watched Dane cook. According to what he said, he was preparing chicken and eggplant parmesan, the new guy's favorite. I was eager to eat it, particularly since my
(DEIRK POV)My original plan was merely to bathe Percy and ease him into what wards are expected to endure. However, as the bath progressed, I found myself apologizing repeatedly. I felt a profound sense of remorse for the position both he and Jo found themselves in, caught in a demanding situation they barely understood. Thankfully, they ended up with us, where I hoped their experiences would be far less harsh than they might have been elsewhere.As things unexpectedly moved forward with Percy, he climaxed swiftly, and I was secretly relieved. Midway through, I realized that not only could Jo see us from where she was, but she was also paying close attention. Not wanting to disrupt the moment, I continued. I knew that if it made her uncomfortable, she would have expressed it.I didn't need to feed much but was curious to experience what many spoke of. The intense moment when feeding coincides with a human's climax, supposedly enhancing the flavors and sensations of their blood. The
(PERCY POV)Waking up with Deirk holding me tightly was comforting and a reminder of the previous night. It felt like he was clinging to me like I was the only thing keeping him together, and perhaps I was at that moment. The usual tension in my chest each morning had loosened slightly, maybe because I didn't feel alone in this strange new world for the first time in a long while.Deirk's presence, a comforting constant through the night's delirium, had somehow held the shadows at bay.The nightmares had tormented me again last night, vivid and terrifying. Between the haunting replays of situations I unfortunately found myself in, I was in a dark, endless void, with eerie whispers and shadows that seemed to be closing in on me. But then, they shifted. I was back at the orphanage, surrounded by the first kindergarten class Miss Morgana had allowed me to lead after I proved to her I could. Strangely, this shift made me feel even sadder than the nightmare. I missed those kids terribly.
(DEIRK POV) Navigating the market was a familiar routine for us, but today felt different with Jo and Percy in tow. I'd always cared for females, so naturally, I didn't have a single item to suit Percy, especially given his larger build. None of my clothes would fit him.As we prepared to leave, I caught Percy eyeing Jo as she playfully snapped her collar on before leaning up and kissing Dane. His expression was somewhere between curious and totally horrified. The dynamics at play here were admittedly hard to understand.Jo, ever enthusiastic about the smaller joys, had found herself some teddy bear pajamas she adored. Percy watched, clearly surprised by her childlike delight. As for Percy, he made choices that reflected his maturity. He opted for sensible jeans and shirts, selecting a few slacks and button-downs that hinted at a preference for a more classic, understated style. His selections were practical yet smart, suitable for various occasions, and far from the whimsical choic
(PERCY POV) Returning to the townhouse, Jo was acting like a completely different person. Deirk mentioned that it was all for show, but it was still disorienting to see her behaving like a child, throwing tantrums and pouting. It didn't make sense to me, and I couldn't help but question what was really going on.We were trying to eat dinner when Jo threw her fork on the floor for the second time. Dane's eyes went dark, and he calmly stood, picked her up, and walked out of the room. Moments later, we heard the sounds. Sharp pops and anguished cries.It was clear what was happening.I turned to Deirk, confused and a bit alarmed. "Okay, explain, because I have to know what's going on here.""Look, wards are expected to act with childlike obedience after they get through the initial stages of acting out," Deirk explained, "It's all part of the academy's way of maintaining discipline and control.""So, Dane and Jo are okay with it?" I asked, trying to grasp the whole concept."Not really,
(DEIRK POV) He was turning me on, and I was honestly blown away by how much.I tried to keep my cool, to hide my reaction, but I knew I was failing miserably. When Percy kissed me on his own, without any prompting. His willingness surprised me.Kissing a vampire so soon was a shock because of the natural self-preservation humans typically have until they trust us fully.One that sent a rush of heat through my entire body.We had unleashed something uncontrollable. He slid into my lap as I kissed him passionately. He couldn't stay still, grinding against me with a hunger I hadn't experienced before. His hands roamed through my hair, shoulders, and back.His aggression caught me off guard in the best way. I liked the intensity, the urgency. It was the kind of connection I'd always hoped for but never entirely believed I'd find.Unable to contain them, my fangs popped out with force.I worried it might frighten him, that he'd pull away or hesitate, but he didn't. He kept kissing me, hi
(Dane POV) Jo was sitting on the bed totally naked, watching me as I cleaned up the room. Things had gotten a little wild. It's been a while since we'd been intimate, and she had been aggressive. It felt good to be close to her again, to feel her energy, even if it meant cleaning up afterward.I leaned in and kissed her nose, "I'm thrilled you're back. I missed your spunk."She eyed me. "I'm sure you did. You seemed to enjoy yourself. I like it when you let me be on top.""Always," I replied with a grin, unable to hide my amusement at her bluntness.Jo's smile faded slightly as she asked, "Why did you refuse to feed on me during sex? Really? Tell me the truth. I'm good to go, you know that, right? I don't want you to worry abou... Wait... where have you been feeding if not on me?""Well, I haven't," I admitted.She frowned, "You know you can't just do that. You need to feed to keep yourself steady.""No worries," I said, "Deirk helped me out a time or two to keep me straight."She