Stu asked his question first. “What makes you think you can find a cure?”
Ah, the biggest question of them all. Could he find a cure? And if so, would he discover it in time?
“What's my other choice?”
A low, husky voice broke into their conversation. “If you kill the vampire before you turn completely, you'll be saved.”
A tall figure dressed in black stepped through the doorway, his wavy blond hair spilling down his back, the same scorching blue eyes as Stu's raking Aric from head to toe. Aric clenched his mug and began to fidget under that uncomfortable gaze. So, here was another god gracing his presence. The guy practically preened as he stealthily glided into the living area. Aric scratched his head. He hadn't heard the front door open or close.
“Cor, you came.” Stu set down his mug and hurried to his brother, swinging him into a bear hug. “I knew you'd come. That was quick.”
“I was near here. On business.”
The brothers were a contrast in body type except for the Hamilton eyes and golden hair. Stu stood taller, broader, and more substantial in build, while his brother's slender physique was bound in tight, sleek muscles.
The brother pulled away first but kept his grip on Stu's shoulders. “Are you okay? I was worried.”
“I'm fine. It's Aric. He needs our help. There's a strix after him, and he's running out of time.”
Corbin remained unperturbed by his brother's rambling explanation, as if he heard this kind of news every day. Maybe he did. Corbin's dark catsuit reminded Aric of a ninja from one of those animes. The brother turned his full attention on him. He walked to the bed, took the mug from Aric's hands, and placed it on the nightstand. He turned back to Aric, his lips curved seductively, his hands on his hips.
“You're nice…very nice. But I thought my bro was into girls?”
Aric jumped up from the bed, sidestepping to avoid running into Corbin. His big toe caught in the spilled bedcovers. Corbin sprang forward and caught Aric by the arm, the corners of his eyes crinkled in amusement. “So, you're turning into a strix. Interesting.”
“Can you tell just by looking at me?” Aric gasped.
“By the gold specks in your beautiful eyes.”
Corbin laughed a rich, melodic baritone. “Just kidding. I overheard your conversation.”
Aric pulled back and swallowed. What, could the guy hear through the walls? Corbin hadn't walked in but a minute ago. But then, his own acute hearing was becoming more sensitive to outside sounds. If he concentrated hard enough, he could pick up people's conversations from several feet away. Maybe this was also a trait of a vampire slayer?
Aric shrank back from Corbin's gaze. Corbin smiled, but it didn't convey warmth; it was too feral for that.
Two beautiful men were two too many. Making matters worse, Corbin was sending out major gay vibes with the slight flutter of his eyelashes, the intensity of his gaze, and the tease in his voice.
Stu came between them and yanked Aric to his side. He kept his hold on Aric's hand, and the possessive gesture was not lost on either Aric or Corbin. The brother's eyebrows flew up in question, his steady gaze spearing Aric to the floor. He lifted a strand of Aric's hair and let it fall between his fingers.
“Are you just getting up?”
Aric flinched. The amusement in Corbin's voice was replaced by what sounded like an accusation.
Stu lightly slapped his brother's arm. “Cor, don't tease him.”
“I'm not.” He stepped into Aric's personal space. “Answer me. Why are you here with Stu, dressed like that?” He snapped the waistband of Aric's boxers.
Aric glanced at Stu, then back at Corbin, his hands clenched. Corbin's tone rubbed at his irritation, making it blister. “It's none of your fucking business.”
“I think it is.” Corbin's voice turned from serious to threatening.
Aric screwed up his face and raised his chin in defiance. “I don't answer to you.”
Stu grabbed Corbin's shoulder and pushed him back. “Stop it. Are you here to help us or to harass Aric?”
So, the little brother could stand up for himself. Aric crossed his arms and smirked at Corbin, who glared back and then swept his hair from his shoulder in an indignant gesture. “I'm here for you, Stu. You know that.”
“Then stop your interrogation.”
He'd had enough of the Hardy Boys. “I never asked for you to come. Or for Stu to get involved. I don't need either of you to help me.”
The last thing he needed was some naive kid insisting on protecting him and his overprotective brother breathing down his neck. He had enough to deal with in just keeping it together without the added stress of these two. He pivoted around the brothers and reached for the front door. But before he could escape, Stu grabbed the hem of his T-shirt and yanked him back.
“You might want to change into your clothes first.” Stu plucked Aric's waistband.
Aric turned around, face-to-face with his handsome ally. He could scarcely breathe looking into those compassionate eyes. Stu was creeping his way into his heart. But he would be crazy to trust this jock. Stu would only leave him. They always did. That was how it went with straight men, gay men—any man.
He curled his upper lip into a snarl. “I'm going into the bathroom and changing into my clothes. Then I'm going to walk out this door. Once I do, stay out of my life.”
Stu shook his head. “I can't do that.”
Corbin's shadow caught Aric's attention. “Stu's telling the truth. He has no choice. A Kresnik is honor-bound once he gives his word. I'll help you because he's my brother. But I can't let anything happen to him. Do you understand what I'm saying?”
A frosty arrow pierced Aric's heart. The Hamilton brothers were not about to let him go. And Corbin would hurt him without hesitation or remorse if he even hinted at harming his precious brother. Anxiously, he hurried past them.
* * *
Aric skipped taking a shower, threw on his clothes, and fled Stu's apartment. Only once he'd escaped could he breathe easier. His life had just gotten a hundred times more complicated. And as with added complications, stress knotted every muscle in his body. It was best to avoid Stu, at least as much as possible. When Devon had walked out of his life, Aric had made a solemn promise to never, ever date straight guys again. He'd vested himself in his and Devon's relationship and had believed in their love. Turned out he was a fool. And he had other, more serious issues to take care of, which were far more important than wasting time thinking of Stu Hamilton.
Aric slowed his pace as he gnawed at his lower lip. Okay, so he was intrigued by Stu. This whole slayer business came as a complete surprise, as did a naked Stu walking in on his shower. All hot and willing. Christ, that had really thrown him. In just one night, this guy had tilted his world on its axis, and all his secrets had come tumbling out. He had to be more tight-lipped, but he feared it was already too late for that.
Even if Stu and Corbin took their oath seriously, could they really protect him from a bloodthirsty vampire? And if he didn't discover an antibody, he would turn into one of the undead. Instead of protecting him, Stu would be forced to kill him.
Stu lay on his back, staring up at the ceiling. He kicked his bedcovers aside. Hot and bothered by his dreams, he'd awakened drenched in sweat. The images burned into his brain caused his heart to race. Too real, too vivid, too heartbreaking. He'd stood with blood dripping from his hands, the strix's head lolling at his feet. But too late. Aric stood in front of him, larger than life, with burnished amber eyes blinking owlishly in a pale, narrow face. Fangs—sharp, long, and lethal.
He rubbed his throbbing temple, a headache spreading through the haze of his brain. He flexed his hands, trying to bring life back into his limbs. When did it get to be like this? When did the call of his heritage begin blaring louder than brass horns in his ears?
Before his brother left, he'd thrown Stu one of his “we'll talk later” looks. Corbin was not pleased to find Aric in Stu's bed. Stu had known Aric only a day, and already he understood the selfish boy would break his heart. He already missed their bodies touching. And other things—things he tried to reconcile in his foggy brain. These newly discovered feelings startled him, forcing him to reevaluate his perception of himself. Not that dating girls was ever a priority in his life. First, there was football; second, poetry; and then, of course, his family, made ever more important when his father died.
He shoved the pillow over his face and groaned. Thinking of his family brought forth the image of his mom—the disappointment on her face if she ever thought her youngest son walked the same path as Corbin, a gay vampire slayer.
Stu's response to the knock on the door was another deep groan. His brother would not bother to knock, and Aric had fled his apartment so fast, he'd left no trace of his presence. But then he brought the sheet up to his nose and inhaled a rich cinnamon sweetness. Aric had marked it with his scent, and it made Stu feel warm inside.
Another knock resounded throughout the room, and groggily he peeled back the covers and stumbled out of bed. He raised a pair of boxers over his hips before opening the front door.
Nick faced him, the look in his dark, almost black eyes hard as flint. The broad-shouldered quarterback could intimidate the best of men. But Stu was used to his friend's fierce expression. He relaxed and rubbed his stubble while motioning for Nick to enter.
Nick walked in and slung his body onto the sofa. He looped his beefy arm over the backrest and rested his ankle on his thigh. His foot jiggled, but his face remained placid.
Nick never minced his words. “Where the hell have you been? I've been texting you, and you haven't answered your calls.”
“Lower your voice. My head's ready to explode.”
“Late night?”
“Nope.
Just couldn't sleep.” Stu sauntered into the bathroom and removed the bottle of aspirin from the medicine cabinet. He dry swallowed two pills and rinsed out his mouth with cold water. Next he ducked his head under the faucet, hoping the icy blast would unscramble his brain. He returned to the living room, a towel thrown over his shoulders to catch the drips from his hair.
Nick had typical Italian good looks and a bold personality to match his broad mouth and lively dark eyes. “You look like shit. Why did you miss the party?”
“Had to finish my report—”
“Amy saw you Friday night with that pretty boy.”
“Yeah, so what?
I ran into Aric leaving the library. I bought him a late dinner as an apology. He had quite a knot on his forehead.”
“So why didn't you guys come to Jason's afterward? It was an all-nighter.”
“He doesn't go for parties.”
Nick's eyes flashed. “He's gay, isn't he?”
“So? I've never known you to be a homophobe.”
“Look. You also missed our team luncheon.”
“Fuck. Sorry.” Stu massaged his temple, but the dull pain persisted.