Chapter Text
Ray’s eyes followed Gavin as he paced the floor, footsteps quickening with each passing minute. “Gav, please calm down. Everything’s going to be fine.”
He shook his head. “Ray, I don’t know how to feel about this. Your instincts are so different from mine, what if you—”
Ray stood up. “It’s Joel and Geoff. Joel said he trusts me, and Geoff won’t take any bullshit. You know that.” He reached for Gavin’s hand and clasped it between both of his. “You don’t need to worry.”
Gavin’s hand trembled, but he nodded. “Geoff’s coming up the stairs now, I guess we don’t have a choice.”
The door opened without a knock, and Ray turned to say hi but coughed instead. “Holy mother of God, Geoff, you stank.”
Geoff guffawed as he and Joel walked into the kitchen. “That never gets old.”
“Burnie almost cried when I told him he stunk.” Gavin laughed.
Geoff shrugged. “Ain’t me that stinks, it’s Joel and his gross venom.”
“If it weren’t for my ‘gross venom,’ Ray would’ve eaten you by now.” He turned to the young vampire and winked. “You ready?”
Ray nodded. “Anything to get that smell out of my nose. Goddamn.” He waved his hand in front of his nose and held out his arm.
Joel looked to Geoff and nodded, and Geoff backed into the kitchen while Joel walked around the counter and slid his teeth across Ray’s forearm.
Ray shrieked and Gavin was instantly on him, pressing his head into his chest and petting his hair, tutting and cooing at him.
Geoff frowned. “Well that’s gross.”
“It’s typical behavior. Gavin is the elder of the two and Ray was turned specifically to be his mate. Instincts are making him protective, and we can’t do shit about it.” Joel shrugged.
“It’s disgusting.”
Ray’s wails were calming down, and Gavin’s whispers were trailing off. Joel stood protectively in the area between the kitchen and the living room, and puffed up slightly when Ray took a deep breath.
“Oh, that’s better.” He took a step back out of Gavin’s embrace, and stared at Geoff. “Wow. Humans smell good.”
Gavin looked at Joel, and the older man raised an eyebrow. They turned to Geoff and he shrugged.
The three of them turned back to Ray and he stared at them. “What?”
“What do you mean, ‘what’?!” Gavin flailed. “You should be going NUTS right now!”
Ray shook his head. “I’m fine. I mean, he smells fucking delicious, but I don’t want him.”
Joel’s jaw dropped. “That’s bullshit.”
“Why would I lie?!” Ray frowned.
Gavin slid his arm around Ray’s waist. “Shh, calm down. This is just really unexpected.”
Geoff shrugged. “Look, guys, I was only stopping by on my way to get some steaks for the grill. You should stop by later, if you’re feeling up to it.” He tugged at Joel’s sleeve. “Need a lift?”
Joel nodded. “Yeah. Listen,” he said, turning to Gavin, “you text me if you’re planning on going to that party tonight. Gonna be a lot of humans there.”
“Joel, calm down, I’m fine,” Ray whined.
Gavin elbowed him. “I’ll just tell you right now, we’re going to stop by once it gets dark.” He raised an eyebrow, and Joel nodded.
The two older men walked out the door and made sure they were in the car before they spoke aloud, knowing the other vampires might overhear.
“I don’t like it,” Joel said. “Never seen a vampire act like that. Even Miles had instinct trouble after I marked him and that kid can hide almost anything.”
Geoff nodded. “By the time they show up at my place, most of the people should be gone. It’ll be just me, Griffon, Millie, and whoever else decides to hang out that long.”
Joel chewed his lip as he thought. “I’m thinking we should call Miles and Monty, have them there just in case.”
“Kara too?”
“Couldn’t hurt. And we’ll let the humans know the situation. Don’t want anyone getting into something they don’t want to.” Joel started tapping his feet against the floorboards.
Geoff side-eyed him. “Joel, don’t keep shit from me. This is my family and my property.”
Joel shook his head. “I have a feeling we’re gonna catch hell.”