“Why are you looking at me like that?” I muttered, pulling my sleeves up before tugging the hem of the borrowed shirt lower, just covering my bare thighs.

“Nothing.” Atash’s smirk said otherwise as he shifted to sit up.

“Why do you have to be so damn big?”

“You’re the one who decided to stay half-dressed while we fucked. And you’re the one who whined about not wanting to sit in your own cum anymore.” He stretched, muscles flexing with the movement. “Don’t complain when I offer solutions.”

I could have waited, tossed my clothes in the washers by the locker rooms. But I’d already walked through these halls once, trying to hide the stain on the front of my shirt. I wasn’t about to do that again.

“My senses are heightened. I can smell myself on me.”

His grin widened. “Can you smell yourself all over me?” He stepped closer, lowering his voice with mock intrigue. “Who knew someone could cum so much—” He mimicked a fountain with his hands.

“Fuck off," I grumbled, watching as he stripped.

“Make sure you take it slow in there,” I warned as he headed to the bathroom. “Last thing we need is for you to pass out and crack your head open.”

He didn’t answer, just pushed the door open enough to step inside, leaving it slightly ajar.

The shower handle squeaked, followed by the steady rush of water.

I moved around the small space, taking in pieces of him. He was neat, almost methodical—everything had its place, though there wasn’t much to begin with. No real personality in the decor, nothing that screamed Atash. If not for the few honorary service awards and the framed photo on the shelf near the couch, I wouldn’t have been able to tell who lived here.

I traced my finger over the glass of the frame. A graduation photo—college, judging by the robes. He stood between two older figures, likely his parents, and a girl who had to be his sister. They all looked so damn happy. He’d never mentioned his family to me, but then again, we never talked about much beyond Bulwark and our constant bickering.

Still, there was something oddly grounding about seeing this part of him. Just being here. His scent clung to everything, clung to me. My whole body still smelled like him. Heat crawled up my neck as I lifted the hem of my shirt to my nose, inhaling before I even thought about it.

“Kieran.”

My ears twitched at the sound of my name. His voice carried from the bathroom, low and casual. I set the photo back and headed over.

“What now?” My voice came out sharper than intended as I pushed the door open. Steam rolled out, blurring the space, but I could still make out his silhouette behind the glass shower door.

“Can you help me with something?” Calm, level.

I slid the door open—and a wet hand grabbed my collar, yanking me forward.

“Ash—” I sputtered as water hit my face, but the assault didn’t last long. His body pressed against mine, caging me against the cool tile as his arms boxed me in. He took the brunt of the water, droplets running down the ridges of his muscles.

“I started feeling lightheaded,” he said, tilting his head slightly, dark lashes wet against his skin. “Would’ve been a shame if I collapsed in here, unattended. Don’t you think?”

My eyes narrowed. This shithead.

“And I’ve been meaning to ask,” he continued, voice softer, more serious. “You’re okay after last night, right? Physically, emotionally. I got a little rough, but—”

“I’m fine,” I cut in, heat creeping up my face, burning to the tips of my ears. No one had ever asked me that before. Probably because no one had ever cared enough—it had always just been hookups. “Like you said, I’m not human anymore. I’m not fragile. I healed fast.”

“And during?”

I hesitated. “I… enjoyed myself. Did you?”

“Of course I did.” Casual, like it was obvious.

I swallowed. “I’d be okay with doing it again. Sometime.” I averted my gaze, but I could feel him staring at me.

“Oh yeah?” He reached up, fingers curling around my jaw, tilting my face back toward him.

He was way too pleased with himself. I just wanted to punch him.

“One condition,” I said, voice steady despite the warmth seeping into my skin. “I need your help acquiring Feral pheromones. I don’t want to risk you bleeding again and… something happening.”

His golden eyes gleamed with mischief. “Why?”

I exhaled, jaw tensing. “Because I like you and don’t want you to get hurt again.”

“Pardon?”

“Because I like you.”

“I’m sorry, what was that? My human ears can’t hear over the water.”

“I like you,” I bit out, glaring.

A slow grin spread across his face. “I know. You told me yesterday.”

“I hate you.”

“No, you like me.” He leaned in, brushing a soft kiss over my lips. His heartbeat picked up, quick and steady, matching my own. “It’s cute that you’re trying so hard not to eat me. You must really like your boyfriend.”

I froze. “Boyfriend?”

“Is that not what we are?” His lips ghosted over mine, teasing, testing.

Was this really his way of asking me out, I scoffed to myself.

“I don’t— I don’t really date.” I shoved him, palm against his chest, making him take a half-step back. Not that it mattered—he bounced right back like a damn boomerang. “You must date often. Probably vampires, since you’re into that. Explains why they know you so well in the vamp territory.”

“Public service jobs should require you to know the people you’re protecting.” His voice remained even. “Bulwark doesn’t push for that, but I believe in it. When I was a rookie, I spent time in the vampire sector on my downtime. That place I took you to—The Sanguine Veil—Dimitri, the vamp you met, owns it. One night, when I was off-duty, I got rushed by a pack of Ferals. Almost died. Dimitri saved me, took me to the Veil, patched me up. Taught me how to hold my own against vampires—how to really fight them. Many think vampires are our enemies, but most of them were just humans tricked into believing they’d been gifted a better life.”

Fuck. He was a better person than me.

“That explains a lot…” The words slipped out softer than I intended, the weight of my own assumptions sitting uncomfortably in my chest.

“To answer your question—no, I don’t date a lot. I’ve been either in school or working most of my life. My parents moved to the States when I was a kid, wanted a better life, so they pushed me to focus on that. Not relationships. Though I’ve had some flings here and there, some human, some vamp.”

I hesitated, then offered something of my own. “I moved here because of my parents too. I was already an adult when they helped me get my visa for college, but they were… traditional. Education and a career first. Then a wife. No dating without the expectation of marriage.”

“A wife?” His brow lifted.

“I’m gay, Ash.” I huffed a quiet laugh, fingers threading through his wet hair, pushing it back from his face. “That’s why I’ve avoided dating.”

His chuckle rumbled low in his chest. “You’re gay? Had no idea.” He kissed me again, slower this time, lingering. “So. Boyfriend?”

A smile tugged at my lips before I could stop it. “Yeah. Boyfriends.”