Blood Claim by Laura Mykles (free e books to read .txt) 📕

He stood. “One of these days, will you tell me more about this mysterious man that you're hung up on?"

Matt had considered it. Rod should know, after all, about the man who'd helped him to acquire the Koffee Hous in the first place, but Matt had chosen to keep that little tidbit of information to himself. In this case, what Rod didn't know wouldn't hurt him, and not knowing the full truth would be safer for him. “Maybe someday."

Rod screwed his lips into a confused frown. “Have you called him yet?"

Matt focused on the paper napkin lying on the counter before him. “Not yet."

"Are you going to?"

Shredding the rough brown recycled paper, he nodded. “I think so. Yeah."

Three months, two weeks, and four days since Wolfe had quietly left his apartment. Time enough for Matt to do a lot of soul searching. Time enough for him to work through fear, rage, and sorrow to emerge with shaky renewal. A lot had happened to him personally in that short time. He'd decided that he was just about ready to confront the thing foremost in his mind.

Rod sighed. “Well, I hope it's nothing I've done to throw you back at him."

Matt laughed. “No, it's nothing you've done. I just think I need to see him again."

Rod nodded. “Closure. I get it.” He glanced toward the cash register, at the photograph pinned to the corkboard over it. Him and a taller man with short black hair, dark almond-shaped eyes, and a wide smile, arms around each other as they posed. “I had to do something like that for Henry. Although...” He shrugged.

Matt nodded. “I know.” He reached over the counter and squeezed his friend's hand.

He didn't need the rest of the sentence to know what followed. Henry, Rod's boyfriend, had been one of the other men killed the night Daniel died. That connection was the reason they knew each other. In the month following Wolfe's last visit, Matt had sought Rod out, wanting to see how other people Wolfe had “taken care of” were faring. It hadn't taken much to find Rod and the coffee house that he'd owned for a little over two years. Rod spoke of Henry often, always fondly, but clearly he'd gotten on with his life in a much healthier way than Matt had. Of course, Rod knew nothing of the vampires. As far as he knew, Henry had been molested and left for dead, as told by the official report. Matt saw no reason to tell him the real truth.

Rod gave him a brave little grin as he squeezed back. “But, hey, life goes on.” He stood back, spreading his arms to indicate the shop around them. “I've got the shop and you've got this mystery man. Do bring him around sometime so I can sigh over him, would you?"

Matt grinned. He knew better. Rod, unlike him, had started dating again over a year previous. No one serious and he still missed Henry, but he was doing just fine.

"I'll do that. And on that note—” He stood, sliding his jacket from the back of the stool. “—I'm going to head out."

Rod checked his watch. “Whoa, is it twelve thirty? I should start clearing up.” He looked past Matt. “Hey, any of you going to need refills before closing?"

While the students roused themselves to decide if they needed a last-minute caffeine fix, Matt bade his friend goodbye and slipped into the night.

Standing on the corner, bathed in the cool light of the overhead lamp, Matt shoved his hands into the pockets of his jacket and turned his face up to the moon. Cool air caressed his face, shuffling through his loose hair. Wispy white clouds drifted across the otherwise clear sky, glowing bright silver as they passed in front of the moon. He took one last fortifying breath before pulling his cell phone out of his pocket and punching speed dial.

Wolfe picked up on the third ring. “Matt?"

"Hi, Wolfe."

Pause. “What can I do for you?” That silken voice was carefully modulated but still painfully sexy. It forced Matt to fondly remember countless phone conversations.

"I'd like to see you."

"When?"

"Tonight good?"

"Certainly. Where."

"My apartment.” He started to walk down the street. As it turned out, the Koffee Hous was a just a few miles from his place, a nice forty-five-minute walk. “I'll be there in about an hour."

"All right. I'll meet you there.” Still very carefully said.

"'Kay. Bye.” He hung up.

Wolfe was there when he walked up the outside steps to his front door.

Three months, two weeks, and four days had not diminished his reaction to the man. His smile was genuine, reflecting the leap of his heart. “Hello, Wolfe."

Wolfe's answering smile was cautious but warm. His elegant hands were hidden deep in the pockets of his slacks. “Hello, Matt."

Matt put his key in the lock. “Will you come in?"

"If that's what you want."

Still wearing the smile, Matt glanced at him. “That's what I want."

He couldn't blame Wolfe for being careful. It was touching, actually. Wolfe wasn't sure what was going on or why Matt wanted to see him, so he was treading carefully. Matt would think less of him if he didn't behave that way.

He flipped on the light and shrugged out of his jacket, tossing it onto a chair as he crossed the living room. His apartment wasn't much different than it had been the last time Wolfe had been there. Most of the changes in Matt's life had taken place outside of the confines of his small home.

Sitting on one end of the couch, he motioned at the other end. “Sit?"

Wolfe did, smoothing his hands over the deep brown of his slacks. The emerald of his silk shirt did wonders for his eyes. All but a few errant wisps of his glorious hair were pulled back into a ponytail, which Matt thought was a shame. Although, it was probably better this way. The eyes alone were distraction enough. With the hair loose, Matt might very well forget what he