A/N: I struggled to write this for some reason, but the plot should pick up in the next chapter. Enjoy <3

While Julien didn’t appreciate how intense the man with a buzzcut was being, it was a good distraction from the events from earlier. He couldn’t remember the man’s name, nor the one he just fed from, effectively nicknaming him Manbun, who was slowly returning to his senses. The blood loss made him weak, and he acted like a drunk person, but it was evident that he was willing to continue in whatever fun Julien and Buzzcut were having. 

That is until Manbun spotted the brooding guard over by the ottoman. It was like being fed from never happened, a sudden burst of newfound energy as he ogled Rowan.

Julien understood Manbun’s obsession loud and clear. Rowan was an attractive vampire, even more attractive as his contemplative look grew on his face. The narrowed eyes, clenched jaw, and the way his arms crossed to showcase his toned arms made it impossible to resist admiring. All that training Rowan insisted on doing really did pay off, so much that even the company of the two men in his bed wasn’t enough of a distraction. He found himself staring at Rowan more and more as the night progressed.

It had never been like this with any of his hundreds of previous guards, even those who had shown interest in joining Julien in bed. 

While Julien would’ve loved for Rowan to join in the fun, Julien was sure Rowan would rather skip training than ever partake in such activities. He had teased Rowan a couple of times during the first few years of being guarded by Rowan, but it was clear Rowan showed no interest.

But watching people drape themselves over him and expect the same troubled Julien more than he could understand. From the lady at the Blue Vein to the many partners Julien invited over who seemed to fancy Rowan more, it was getting on Julien’s nerves more recently. 

He knew inherently why it did, but that didn’t stop the frustration and confusion.

Jealousy was a cruel beast, one that Julien knew shouldn’t even exist in their situation. Rowan was free to date, sleep, or be with anyone if he so desired, just as Julien did the same. 

Maybe it was the mere idea that Julien could manage to get anyone he so desired, everyone except Rowan, who’d insist it’d go against his job as a guard, not that it wasn’t allowed. Guards or other staff weren’t prohibited from sleeping with the Rosenthal family—certainly, his older siblings slept around with their personal attendants in the centuries they’ve lived. Julien even speculated that Felix and Jean had slept with each other at some point, though neither of them would admit it.

Or, it was likely that even if Rowan did show any sliver of attraction, romantic or not, to anyone, it wouldn’t be Julien. That thought hurt more as he watched Manbun stumble toward his guard, hands gripping the front of Rowan’s shirt as he lost balance. 

Rowan showed little interest, glancing between him and Buzzcut, who had long tired himself out and resorted to pressing bruising kisses along the back of Julien’s neck. Julien ignored it, watching intently as Manbun extended his neck to Rowan. 

As expected, his guard merely stiffened, barely batting an eye at the mortal in front of him. Frustration grew and festered in Julien’s chest, despite Rowan being more relaxed than he was at the Blue Vein with the mortal woman. Rowan hadn’t asked for Manbun to approach him, nor did he want to participate. But what was more frustrating was that Rowan wasn’t saying anything, completely complacent in this human’s advances when it must’ve been uncomfortable.

When Manbun wrapped his arm around Rowan’s waist, brushing the edge of his shirt, Julien had seen enough.

“Don’t be such an Owain,” Julien said sternly, effectively startling Manbun. Despite the man’s blood loss from earlier feeding, Julien was surprised the safe word—ironically, his dead brother’s name—had gotten through to him on the first try. Most times, his guests would need it repeated at least twice to come to their senses and stop whatever it was Julien didn’t like. 

The self-control Manbun had was impressive; Julien would try to seek him out again if it was not for the way he manhandled his guard. Not using his coercive powers behind a command came in handy, especially with Julien’s level of control over his powers. Coercion only worked with a clear mind and clear intent, and sometimes it was hard to get it to work when Julien was often too dazed or disoriented. It was why Julien insisted on establishing a safe word with most of his partners, an added layer of security—not that he needed it with Rowan around—but it gave Julien more control. The fact that his blood tasted decent for B+ blood was just a bonus. Though, still not tasty enough for Julien to understand Rowan’s tastebuds.

After utilizing the safe word, Manbun stumbled back to the bed, clinging to Julien’s arm with an apologetic look on his face. It was easy to ignore the man’s puppy dog eyes as Julien’s attention was on his guard. It wasn’t until Buzzcut had slipped an arm around Julien’s waist; his lips enraptured him in a heated kiss. With the second bout of energy he and Manbun had, Julien wondered if they were really human. Julien fought back, kissing the male with a force that rivaled his as he turned to face him. It would be a waste not to indulge, even if his mind were stuck around his guard. 

His hand wound around the mortal’s neck as Manbun peppered Julien’s neck with kisses. His fangs extended, the scent of arousal and scent enticing him to that delicate patch of skin of Buzzcut’s neck. He wasn’t particularly starving, but Julien leaned forward as if he was, his fangs piercing the flesh, blood spurting forth onto his tongue. He suckled there, sending goosebumps up and down the mortal’s skin. 

The taste was not as pleasant as Manbun’s, but it would have to do. He could feel the strength and warmth the blood lent him wash over him, satiating his appetite. He only took half of what he normally fed from a mortal, already sated with Manbun’s, but took his time, savoring it even though it had been B+ blood and not his favorite A+ or O blood. But as his eyes wandered to his stoic guard, Julien’s jealously flared again, and his fangs dug deeper into the mortal before him. Buzzcut elicited a sharp gasp, clawing his hands into Julien’s back.

In a way, Julien wished the sight of him in the arms of these mortals made Rowan more uncomfortable than having a clingy mortal at his side. At least then, it would indicate that Rowan felt the faintest interest in Julien. 

Julien knew that that wish was near impossible, but that didn’t stop him from trying.

—

Despite his blood thirst being sated, Julien was still cranky, tired, and frustrated. Both Manbun and Buzzcut had been knocked out quickly, sprawled against each other on the crumpled sheets, most likely the lack of blood keeping them deep in an unconscious state.

Julien had dozed off for a little, occasionally waking up to see Rowan still stationed at his normal place. The guard hardly slept, and even if Julien had dismissed him now, Rowan would probably stay, given that his guests were still beside him. 

After contemplating whether to sleep, Julien sat up in bed, shooting Rowan a glare. “Shouldn’t you rest?”

Had Julien not been tired, he’d utter the same words Rowan always said. “There’s little time to rest with this job.”

Job. Julien mulled the word over, rolling his eyes. Just some job. “You can rest on the couch. I doubt these two will be waking up anytime soon.”

Or on this bed, Julien wanted to add but knew better. 

“I’ll rest later,” was his guard’s response. 

“Fine,” Julien caved. “Come here, then. I had something I wanted to tell you.”

Rowan’s frown lines deepened before crossing the room, standing at the foot of the bed. Julien expected a witty remark, but Rowan remained silent. 

“You should come up with one. A safe word that is.” Julien tilted his head. “For situations like the one at the Blue Vein. Or for my guests.”

Rowan blinked. “A safe word?”

“Yes,” Julien replied. “Like I just did with them for invading your space. You should come up with one for us to use in situations like this. While most safe words are used for plays, they can be effective in just about any setting. It doesn’t have to be directly correlated with sex. If you get uncomfortable or feel like whatever is happening is too much for you to handle physically or emotionally, having a word to halt everything is pretty useful.”

“I don’t see why I require one.”

“Well, take today, for example.” Julien gestured to the two men lying motionless on his bed. “I didn’t like how he was all over you and trying to get you to join when you clearly are uninterested. I invited him over; pretty disrespectful to ignore me completely.”

Rowan’s frown deepened. “It’s not the first time a guest has tried to convince me to join.”

“No,” Julien drawled. “But, this was different.”

“Different, how?”

“Well…” Julien paused. “Well, I just didn’t like it. And I’m sure you didn’t either, but you weren’t going to say anything.”

“I could force them to stop if I wanted,” Rowan said, crossing his arms. “If I had to, I could coerce them. Besides, I thought you enjoyed it when they tried to convince me to join you. It’s never been an issue before.”

“Well, now it is.”

“It is?”

Julien groaned. “I dislike it. It’s just annoying, and you’re still your own person. You shouldn’t just let them do whatever the hell they want with you.”

Julien hated that his words sounded so hypocritical. In his early years, before Rowan had been his guard, he abused his coercion powers to get blood and sex from mortals at the Blue Vein and other bars around town. While his previous guards had always tried to get him to stop, his lack of control over his budding powers always made it difficult to stop him from fully coercing a mortal.

“Hence why a safe word is a good thing,” Julien added. “Sometimes it’s hard to read what’s appropriate when people’s opinions and feelings on certain things change. Even when I tease you about it, it’s nice to know where to draw the line. When people can’t take the hint that it’s not going to work on you and upsets you, it’s annoying. It’s all about setting boundaries.”

“Coercion would work just fine. ” 

“Not all the time. Especially if you can’t focus enough.”

“And a simple word would?” he challenged.

Julien wanted to scream into a pillow. “Just give it some thought, would you? At least so I know when they or I’m really bothering you. That way, it doesn’t get to a point where you’re super uncomfortable or….”

Or decide to quit and leave for good. Julien couldn’t find it in him to finish his sentence. It couldn’t be an option, not when Rowan’s been the only stable constant in his life for this long. If it was too much and Rowan decided he could no longer be his guard, Julien wasn’t sure what he’d do. He still had years before he’d reach the age of maturity, years of nameless guards who’d quit after a couple of days with Julien. Sure Rowan was irritating, and talking to him was like talking to a brick wall sometimes, but he couldn’t imagine anyone else being his guard. 

Rowan blinked. “If that is an order, then I shall think of a safe word.”

“Yes,” Julien said. “Fine, that’s an order, then.”

Rowan bowed his head before glancing at the two men behind Julien. “Should I send someone to see them off?”

“Yes.” Julien couldn’t wait to get rid of them. “Will you rest once they’re gone? Or do I need to make that an order?”

A smirk threatened to form as Rowan replied, “I’ll rest once someone collects them.”

“Good,” Julien spat, watching as his guard left to retrieve someone to remove his failed attempts at distractions.

Want something a little more Rom-Com? Check out Out of Order!