It is twenty minutes before I pull into the street on the GPS, my right hand holding his head as I steer with my left. We are almost at the address, but this neighborhood looks nothing like where a celebrity of his caliber would live. Food stalls and small retail outlets line the streets, several cars are parked in front of them.
“Over there.” He points and I shudder lightly, taking my hand back. I didn’t realize when he was awake. “Thank you,” he says against my ear.
I shake him off and drive to the yellow building. It's just another roadside food stall and as he jumps off the bike, I blink in confusion, because there is no way a superstar like Pete lives in a place like this.
Like a child discovering the thrills of an amusement park, he runs into the arms of the middle-aged plus-sized woman standing by the doorway with a tray of dirty dishes. Leaning back, he retrieves the tray from her and she cradles his face with motherly affection. I can’t make out the rest of what he is saying as I turn off the engine and alight from my bike. When I turn back, I find them conversing in sign language. She's so flamboyant, with heavy exaggerated makeup, bold gold hair, and a shimmery sequin gown to top it off. I like flamboyant.
“Hei!” Pete waves me over.
With a sigh, I dump my keys in my pocket and strut over. I greet his company and she smiles at me, then pulls me into a quick hug before pointing to a table in the corner. Her once intimidating countenance vanishes into a sweet pile of cuteness. I take a seat and both Pete and her disappear into the building. A few minutes later, Pete slides in next to me on the wooden bench with a first aid kit.
“This isn't your apartment,” I say, my tone quietly scolding.
With a chuckle, he quickly unlocks the box and digs out some cotton wool and antiseptic. “No, it isn’t. Are you hungry? Aunty Lola makes the best sea—”
“Hei!” I slam the table, dragging the attention of the few customers around to us. My eyes travel across the area before I seethe, “Are you fucking with me right now?” He presses the cotton wool into my cheek and I jump back, wincing from the pain. “That hurts!”
“I know, sorry, but seems like the only way to shut you up.”
“Wha–”
“Shh, be still.” He dabs the cotton wool on my cheek and I wince.
Aunty Lola returns with a tray of chai and hands me a glass, that beaming smile on her face is very comforting for some reason. After I thank her, she turns to Pete and they converse in sign language as I watch from behind my glass.
“Would you like some curry rice and grilled chicken? There is also some barbecue fish?” Pete asks.
“Anything is fine.”
They continue speaking in sign language for another minute before he turns back to me and says with both his lips and his hands, “Aunty Lola says you have big ears.” She smacks him across the head and I giggle in my throat. “She said you look tired.” Aunty Lola signs to him again and he translates, “Make sure to eat everything.”
I nod once before rising from my seat and reaching for her right hand. I press my forehead to it in thanks and we share a smile. Before leaving, she signs something to Pete and they both giggle.
“What?” I ask, reaching for my tea.
“She says you’re too young to be that chivalrous.”
I look away, a bit smitten, my eyes follow her inside and they stay with her as she talks to the servers. “Is she… umm…” I straighten, a bit uncomfortable.
“Deaf? It's not a slur, you can say it, and yes she is.” Pete reaches for his tea and sips it before resuming with my face.
“She was born that way?”
“No.” He sticks on a band-aid.
I want to ask more but his no sounds final, like he's trying to tell me to stop asking. I prided myself in knowing everything there is to know about Pete, but not once have I ever seen him sign in public. I never knew he could.
“After dinner, we can get shaved ice cream, there is a really good shop down the street,” he offers.
“Just pay me for the POS so we can go our separate ways.”
“I promise, let's just eat something.”
I don’t try to fight him on this, in truth, I am starving and my stomach hurts, I could eat a whole house right now and still ask for more. I sip on my tea instead and hug myself, the chill is getting to me, even through my winter coat. My lazy incubus genes are worn out I suppose. I’m squeezing a bit tighter when I feel Pete’s jacket slide over my shoulders.
“Winter is the worst for your kind, uh?”
M-my kind? I blink. He knows what I am? He knows! Sitting up, I squeeze the cup's handle. “I’m fine.”
“Okay.” Another pretty smile. “Still, keep it on.”
It must be nice to be a vampire and not have to worry about the cold. The winter season in Hazalu is one of the longest in the world, stretching over six months, it isn’t by chance. Incubi and Succubi thrive in summer and suffer in winter. We are the only race that does, the only reason why the weather was altered.
The food arrives, blood steak with potatoes and vegetables for him, curry rice and chicken for me. He immediately digs in, wrapping his bloodied meat in lettuce before stuffing it in his mouth. His lips tint red from the blood and he licks it, nodding, happy. It’s sort of cute. Why does he chew his food like that? It's adorable how he eats, but still, slow down before you choke.
I have only ever watched vampires eat from afar. Everyone knows how territorial and private vampires are about their food, especially when they are eating directly from the source and not a pre-made dish. I have heard so many things about what their venom does to an incubus. The high, the ecstasy, the intoxicating euphoria. I feel a twitch at the tip of my dick and swallow.
What are you thinking Luke?
With a shudder, I’m stuffing my mouth with so much food. Why did my mind go there? I have never held such thoughts about Pete. Ever. I’m not one of those delusional stans who think they’d ever date their idol. No. I have only ever wanted to see him win and succeed. Thats it. I don’t like this nearness.
“Slow down,” he giggles, “the food is not going anywhere.” He swipes a table wipe and cleans the side of my mouth.
My eyes stay on his lips. Red. So red. Like a rose. Like blood. A vision from my wet dreams. Stop it, Luke! I move his hand away and go back to eating.
“Who were those men anyway?” A question to cast away whatever stupidity is making my mind wander places it should not.
Without giving me an answer he shrugs and I scoff. He’s being cagey. My phone rings and I answer without looking, it's a habit.
“Luke! Do you know what the time is?” Pa's angry voice comes through the phone.
“Sorry, Pa! Something came up with work, I'm fine, don't worry, I'll be home soon, go to sleep.”
“You should have called instead of leaving me worried.”
“Sorry, Pa.”
“Hurry home… it's too late.”
“Ok, Pa.”
He hangs up and I go back to eating.
“When you fell earlier, did you bruise your arm?” Pete asks.
“It's fine.”
Without warning, he lifts my arm and slides his hand under my sleeve. My heart skips several beats when I freeze, suddenly finding it difficult to chew. His hands are unbelievably smooth. They are ice cold, but trigger a sizzling sensation across my body, one that rushes between my legs. I hate this. I stared at his lips too long when I should not have, it messed up something inside me. This is wrong.
Springing up from my seat, I turn back toward the way we came.
“Hei! Where are you going?” Pete calls out to me.
“Home, it's late!”
I hear him shuffling to a stand. “What about the money?”
“Whatever! I'm tired.”
I keep walking and he jogs up to me, blabbing about, trying to convince me to stay longer. We arrive by the motorcycle and he finally stops me and pulls out his wallet and I gape in astonishment.
“How much is it?”
“You had your wallet the whole time!” I scream, making him jerk a little.
“Listen, shortie–”
“That's not my name!”
“I'm Pete, you?”
Grunting in annoyance, I mount my bike and start the engine.
“Wait!” he pleads.
“What!”
“I’m sorry I lied about my wallet, I just wanted to thank you.”
“Normal people just say thank you, Mr. Pete.” I lock in my helmet.
“I said I'm sorry… now… please turn off the engine.” His head tilts to the side with a soft plea in his doe eyes.
“No,” I answer.
“Why?”
“Because I have to go home!”
I drive off before he says anything else, watching him from my side mirror as he watches me. He doesn’t move, he just stands there, and after a few blinks, he is beyond my sight. For a minute or two, I allow myself believe none of this ever happened, the night was an illusion possibly triggered by my low energy. My brain is so fuzzy.
And then it hits me, I still have to pay for the POS. My ego and nerves got the best of me, I really needed that money, but at the same time, if I stayed any longer, I certainly would have crossed a line with my thoughts. A line I can never cross with my idol.
Comments (0)
See all