Don't Drink the Holy Water (8 page)

Axel landed on his ass on the cement. “What—”

West shot to his feet and turned as if to run.

“West, wait! What did I do?” Axel needed to know. There’d been fear in that cry, and it trumped his own humiliation at being dumped like garbage on the sidewalk. “Please,” he said when West only stood with his back to Axel. “Tell me.”

West shuddered, then to Axel’s shock, West sobbed. Just one hushed sound, but it tore at Axel’s heart and soul. He shot to his feet but didn’t touch West like he longed to. “West? It’s okay. Whatever it is, we can make it better. I’m sorry for—”

“It’s me,” West got out in a stripped voice. “Not you.”

“I’ve heard that before and never liked it,” Axel muttered. “Don’t punish me then, if it’s not me. Don’t leave.”
Don’t leave me here.
He had no way to contact West, no idea where he lived other than in the city. “Please, just talk to me.”

West took a step away from him.

Axel didn’t understand how his heart could break. He barely knew West at all.

Chapter Twelve

It would be so easy to run. West stood frozen, having taken a step away. Axel pleading with him to talk rendered West incapable of fleeing like he’d planned to do. He touched his neck where Axel had nipped, and shuddered. That one small action had sent the nightmarish memories cascading into West.

“West? Please?” Axel’s footsteps were as tentative as his voice. “T-tell me what I did wrong?”

West closed his eyes. If he told Axel the truth, he’d be putting all of the coven members in danger.
If
Axel even believed him.
Why would he? I sure wouldn’t have believed someone if they’d told me vampires existed—not until I was bitten.

“West?”

Axel’s voice was softer but came from closer than before. West listened and could hear Axel’s heartbeat, and scent the metallic tang of his blood. He hated being a predator.

“West?” Axel said again. “Did something bad happen to you?”

The bitter laugh slipped out of him before he could stop it. West opened his eyes and pressed a hand over his mouth. Why wasn’t Axel leaving? Did he really think getting laid was worth this much trouble?

Axel moved around to stand slightly in front of him. “You can tell me, West. If…if you want to.”

West wiped his mouth then scraped his palm over his thigh. He couldn’t quite bring himself to look Axel in the eyes.

“Or you can not tell me, that’s okay, too,” Axel added. “Just, please don’t run off on me and leave me wondering what I did wrong. We were…we were both enjoying what we were doing, then something— I did something you didn’t like.”

West touched the spot on his neck again.

Axel exhaled sharply. “I bit you. You don’t like biting? I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I won’t— We can just be friends. I just don’t want to lose you.”

West raised his gaze to Axel’s. What did that mean, even? Whatever it meant, Axel was sincere. It showed in the worried expression he wore, and the way he wrung his hands. West decided that he could offer Axel some of the truth. Still, he trembled as he spoke. “Someone bit me there, and it was…it was bad. Bleeding and terrifyingly bad.”

Axel recoiled. “Who would do something like that? Did— No, anything else you want to tell me, you can, but
I
will tell you this. I’ll never do that again, okay? If there’s ever a chance of us, you know. Making out again.”

West watched Axel fidget for a moment. Axel was clearly distressed, and it bothered West. Now that his own panic had ceased, he didn’t want Axel to be upset. It felt like the biggest risk he’d ever taken when he reached out and cupped Axel’s hands in his. “There’s more than a chance, if you think you can put up with me being weird.”

“You’re not weird!” Axel huffed. “God, something bad happened to you.” Then he frowned. “Is it going to bother you if I touch your neck with my hands?”

West thought it over then shook his head. “I don’t think so. It’s only the one area.”
Jeez, this is hard to talk about!
His cheeks were hot enough that he thought he’d make water boil if he dunked his head in it.

Axel moved closer to him. “Do you want to sit back down?”

He wanted something else, something he considered more important than making out. And after his almost-flight, he needed to ask for it. Even so, West surprised himself by tugging Axel closer. “Can I have a hug?”

Axel was pressed against him a split second later, his muscular body warm and firm against West. They held each other, and West listened to the steady beat of Axel’s heart, the soft, shaky breaths as they embraced.

He knew then that he wanted more than just friendship with Axel, and more than just someone to mess around with. West was beginning to think he wasn’t the ‘mess around’ type anyway.

But there was more than just his own life on the line, and there were coven rules he couldn’t break without risking expulsion. With his siblings settled in and happy, he didn’t want to risk that.

Patience.
He could almost hear his mother saying it. She’d always been on the go, never winding down, and waiting had driven her nuts—but she’d done it with a grin, muttering about patience and her lack of it.

He could be patient for Axel, for what they might have. West held on to him a little tighter. He took in the scent and feel of the man, and felt more at peace than he had in a long time.

He needed to get over his stupid neck phobia. West wanted to be normal—or as normal as a vampire could be. Any additional hang-ups beyond the fangs, battiness, and so on were ones he didn’t need.

What he did need,
who
he just might possibly need, was right there with him. West turned his head just enough to brush his lips over Axel’s.

Axel’s lips parted easily, his mouth warm and welcoming as West slid his tongue in. He could feel Axel tense up, smell need in the air around them.

And West
ached.
He wanted as he never had before.

Chapter Thirteen

He wasn’t going to screw up tonight. Axel vowed to pay more attention to West’s reactions—
if
they did anything. They’d talked again after West had finally returned to sit on the bench. Axel couldn’t help but feel there was something huge that West was keeping from him. Maybe whatever went along with that biting incident. His gut cramped when he thought of West being hurt, and he was afraid of what else might have happened to him.

“No pressure.” Axel wrung his hands then snorted at himself. He was so nervous, and something else bothered him about West’s past. Specifically, there had been nothing but smooth, sweet skin on West’s neck. No scarring of any sort that Axel could detect. In fact, he’d been entranced by the texture and the taste of West, and he firmly remembered there not being any kind of marring of his skin where Axel had nibbled.

Axel shoved aside his doubts. Something bad had happened to West, that much was clear. He glanced up in time to see West rounding the corner. Axel stood, smiling so big he’d bet he looked like an utter goofball. “Hey, West. How was your day?”

West blushed and stopped in front of him. “Good. You? When do you have to go back?”

That was a worrisome thing. Axel would eventually have to go home. But, he had his winnings coming soon. “I was going to leave tomorrow, but I’m thinking I’d like to hang around a while. See more of the city. See more of you.”

That blush darkened and West lowered his lashes as he licked his lips. “Oh. I’d like that, but—”

“No buts,” Axel said as he took West’s hand. He didn’t want to hear any arguments for why he shouldn’t stay. “I really like spending time with you, West, and I’m hoping, if we get to know each other and you like me, too, then we can work something out. I’m not but a few hours away from here. Well, five hours or so. We could give this a chance, if you want to.” He’d never moved so fast on a man in his life, but West was different.

West glanced at him. A timid smile pulled at his lips. “I’d like that.”

Axel could have let out a whoop and danced with joy. He settled for giving West’s hand a squeeze. “So, about that movie. Do you want popcorn?”

West looked a little sad. “I can’t. I’m allergic to corn.” A small tic at the corner of his right eye kicked in. “There’s actually a lot of things I can’t eat.”

Axel looked him over. “Wow, you’re really fit for a guy with a restricted diet. Want to walk or take a cab? The theater’s about half a mile out.”

“Let’s walk.” West cleared his throat. “And thanks. You’re in good shape too.”

Axel laughed. “Well, yeah, I bust my butt almost every day.”

“Are you going to continue competing for years?” West asked as they began to make their way to the theater.

“Eh, I don’t know, honestly,” Axel answered. “Truthfully, this isn’t a well-known sport and the winning pots aren’t all that great. I have a little money from when my grandma passed away. I’ve been living off that and competing, but that’s going to run out in the next year or so. Sometimes I think I really just need to grow up and get a real job, a real career.”

“I don’t think you’re
not
grown up,” West said. “You have a job. It may not pay well, like you said, but lots of people are in the same situation. Working, not earning much. What about sponsors?”

“I have a few, but that doesn’t pay for more than my traveling costs and hotels. Well, and I get some of my equipment for free.” He shrugged. “Still don’t make much.”

They walked hand in hand to the theater. Axel was relieved to see that it wasn’t crowded at all. Not surprising on a weeknight. He bought their movie tickets and skipped the popcorn. Since West was allergic, and he wanted to kiss West very badly, the popcorn wasn’t an option.

Axel got a bottle of water but West declined anything. They entered the theater room for their movie, an action one Axel had been wanting to see. “You like The Rock?”

“How could I not?” West returned. “Think anyone else is going to show up?”

There was a hint of strain in West’s voice.

Axel was paying attention. He frowned, then noted the slightly enlarged bulge at West’s groin. Was West getting hard?

There was only one way to find out. Axel guided West to the back row of seats. “This okay?”

“Yeah.” West sat and Axel took a seat beside him.

Axel looked at him. West had his hands tented over his crotch. “Are you turned on, West?” There weren’t going to be any misunderstandings tonight.

West’s cheeks darkened. He nodded slightly. “You. It’s just because of you.”

It might not have sounded like much praise, but Axel knew it really was. West was horny because of him.
Him.
Even after last night. Just from being with him.

Axel’s dick perked up and he squirmed in his seat. “Yeah? Well you do it for me, too, West. Not like anyone else has before.”

West looked at him sideways. “Jukie’s pretty sexy.”

“Jukie is pretty damned psychotic,” Axel muttered. “He left me out in the desert that night. Retaliation for breaking up with him over a month earlier. Add in—” Talking about Jukie’s addictions wasn’t cool.

West, however, didn’t seem surprised. “Yeah, I heard.”

Axel thought about it. “Oh. The guy you were with.”

“Right. Terrence. He mentioned Jukie having some, er, problems.”

Since West was blushing again, Axel had a feeling those problems might not just be the drugs and booze. Although they were probably caused by it. He didn’t ask if Jukie hadn’t been able to get it up or come. That was too much info for him.

“Yeah, anyway, Jukie’s just…” Axel didn’t want to talk about his ex. “In the past. You’re here, with me.” He ran a hand down West’s arm and noticed him shiver. Axel looked into West’s eyes, and even though the lights weren’t dimmed and anyone could walk in and see them, he didn’t care. Axel leaned over and brushed his lips over West’s, once, twice, then he slanted them fully on West’s.

West mewled softly as he parted his lips. He clutched at Axel with one hand, holding on to his shoulder.

Axel kissed him eagerly, licking in deep and almost coming in his pants when West sucked on his tongue. He closed his eyes and lost himself in West, pressing in closer, trying to touch him wherever possible.

West eased back, breathless, panting. Axel opened his eyes, stunned by how needy he felt.

“The previews are starting,” West rasped.

It was only then Axel even realized the lights had been dimmed. A second later, the screen flickered with the first of many previews.

Axel was good. He made jokes and fervently hoped no one else came into the theater. His hopes were dashed for a moment when a group of four came in, but they settled into the front row.

“That always gave me a neck ache,” West mused.

“Me too. West?” Axel held his breath, shocked that he was going to ask what he was going to ask. But damn it, West’s cock was hard still, and Axel’s was too.

“Yeah?” West squeezed Axel’s hand then rested it with his on West’s thigh.

Was that a hint? Axel couldn’t decide. He’d vowed not to screw up tonight, and he fully intended to keep that vow. So, clarification. “Do you…” God, he had to swallow and try again because his voice cracked. “Do you want me to touch you?”

West’s eyes rounded. Even in the darkened theater, Axel could see his shocked expression. “
Here?
”

Axel nodded. “If by here, you mean in the movie theater, yes. If by here, you mean—” He slowly unlatched his hand from West’s and stroked up West’s tensed thigh. “Stop me if you want to stop me, West. I won’t get mad.”

West gulped and after a moment’s hesitation, he spread his legs slightly.

That was an invitation. Axel knew it was. He moved at less than a snail’s pace, giving West every opportunity to tell him no or stop him.

The movie started, but neither of them paid any attention. Axel slid out of his seat, onto his knees, and looked up at West imploringly.

West shuddered and shut his eyes. “Axel—”

Axel moved his hand and finally, he was able to feel the heat through the denim of West’s jeans. He cupped West’s dick and almost moaned at the thickness of it.