The boys stayed silent as they kicked the snow about with their feet. Vinny's family were still in the dining-room, talking about why they have so much security around the mansion. Jasper wanted to help immediately, feeling angry that they kept him in the dark about something so serious. A kidnapping was beyond unacceptable.
Vinny stared at the boy who he was madly in love with, and the relationship they are forming is far from regular. He found himself thinking about why it was happening to them. Is there a purpose behind it or are they picked at random? He wasn't sure if he believed the part about fate. How could his Granddad possibly know that?
Oliver was thinking about their souls. He found it easier to picture two circles that slowly merged to form one. But nobody knew if a bit of that circle would be left out, or if the whole circle would connect. He wondered what would happen if their souls did that, but if it has never happened before, why would it happen to them?
Vinny then had enough of the silence. He wanted to be silly with his soulmate to stop their minds from thinking too deeply into the unknown. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around the human.
Oliver gasped when Vinny picked him up and spun him around, then dumped him in the deep snow. He laughed and lay on the ground, picking up a handful of snow to throw at Vinny, but missed.
"How did you miss me? I'm right in front of you," Vinny chuckled.
Oliver grinned and stared at the clouds moving in the blue sky.
Vinny pulled him back to his feet and asked, "What's on your mind?"
"You." Oliver bit lightly on his bottom lip. Neither of them forgot about the challenge. He took off his gloves and unbuttoned the top few buttons on Vinny's jacket before pushing cold hands in and wrapped arms around the vampire's waistcoat.
"You're so warm," Oliver smiled, hovering his lips close to his.
Vinny couldn't move his gaze away from his soulmates mouth; he felt the sudden need to kiss him.
Oliver moved his face and pressed his lips to Vinny's ear, and the vampire shivered.
"I was also thinking about what you'd look like with no clothes on," Oliver whispered and nibbled his earlobe.
Vinny's heart almost jumped out of his chest, and his senses felt fuzzy and muddled.
Oliver pulled his head back to see his soulmate's wide eyes. But then, he saw something else, something he has been waiting to see all morning.
Vinny blushed.
The vampire cleared his throat and diverted his eyes, trying to blink back the heat but it wouldn't leave. Every time he thought about what Oliver said, it kept deepening.
"Oh my god," Oliver chuckled. "That is the cutest thing I have ever seen." He watched how Vinny tried to pull himself together, but the vampire then thought, why not tease him too? So he quickly moved his face close enough for their noses to touch.
"Well, I was thinking the same about you."
Oliver felt his cheeks heat up. "Dammit Vinny, you couldn't just let me have the glory could you?" he chuckled.
Vinny watched with affectionate eyes. He still couldn't get what he said out of his head.
Oliver's cheeks were still crimson, but now a smirk had appeared.
"At least I know what makes you blush, but I think it's sweet how you blush at things like that."
Vinny expressed a little smile.
"It's just- I haven't thought about things like that which involves a male," he said truthfully.
Oliver understood.
"That's okay; I know it's still new for you. We have all the time in the world to get used to each other in that way." He placed his hands back inside Vinny's coat and wrapped them around his warm body.
"I would love to be close to you in that way. Thank you for understanding that I will need just a little bit of time." Vinny ran a hand through the back of Oliver's hair. He hasn't overthought about taking their relationship further. It is something he couldn't wait to do, but he needed to be entirely sure that he was ready because Oliver will be his first.
Some vampires mess around with other vampires until they're eighteen, then it's time for them to meet their soulmate. Vinny didn't. He kept his innocence and wanted to wait for his soulmate, that way it would be incredibly special for him. Oliver was even his first kiss, but he wouldn't tell him that.
"We'll take it one step at a time," Oliver smiled, seeing Vinny's gaze flicker to his mouth.
"Okay," The vampire whispered.
This time, instead of just hovering near Vinny's lips, Oliver didn't stop until he connected them. They kissed delicately, aware that Jed would be somewhere. Oliver tightened his arms around Vinny, loving how far they have come regarding showing each other affection.
Vinny then pulled away, and Oliver opened his eyes.
"What?" he questioned.
"I just- I love you so much."
Oliver couldn't hold back a goofy smile. The happiness spread through his bones.
"I love you too."
At the same time, they pulled one another into a tight embrace. Oliver loved to feel surrounded by the strong arms of his soulmate, and Vinny felt the same.
Long minutes passed as they shared their warmth and comfort. They could stay like this forever, but it was beginning to get cold.
"I think my head feels clear now," Oliver mumbled into the side of Vinny's neck.
"Mine too. Would you like to go inside now?"
Oliver nodded with a chuckle.
"I made you blush."
Vinny rolled his eyes before pulling Oliver's arms out of his coat and buttoning it back up.
"If you tell my parents that you made me blush, you'll regret it," he warned, eyes full of amusement.
"Oh yeah? And what will you do?" Oliver questioned while Vinny sank his hands into his own coat pockets so his soulmate couldn't hold them.
"I'll take you to the front door, and I won't just kiss you in front of the reporters, I will make out with you."
Oliver raised an eyebrow. He liked the part about a passionate make-out session, but not in front of lots of people who would be streaming it live on TV.
"If you do that, then I'll tell your parents how I made you blush."
Vinny narrowed his eyes.
"You wouldn't."
"Oh, I would," Oliver grinned. He then tried pulling on Vinny's coat sleeve to get his hand out of his pocket. But when that failed, he put his hand in Vinny's pocket and forced him to hold it.
Vinny still didn't take his hand out, but he did intertwine their fingers.
As they approached the back door, the human felt the heat. "I love that your mansion is so warm," he breathed and stepped into the dining room.
"Our mansion," Vinny corrected him as they took off their winter gear. "I'll go and put these in the cloakroom. Go and get something warm to drink." He kissed Oliver's temple before walking towards the door.
"NO!" He heard Madison shout and Vinny froze, turned, and frowned. "Boy's, come here." They walked over with confusion. "Under no circumstances must you leave each other's side."
"Why?" Vinny asked.
"Because this whole bond situation could randomly strengthen at any time, and if it decides to complete itself when you're not together, then I don't even want to think about the outcome."
Vinny saw the distress on her face, and he knew it would most likely involve their lives being in danger.
"So, at some point, it will just hit us?" Oliver asked.
"Yes. We don't know when. Jasper thinks it'll be soon." She watched her son share a curious glance with his soulmate. "Promise me that you will stay together no matter what you're doing."
"We promise," Oliver said. "So, does this mean we have to shower together?"
Duke nearly choked on his tea, and Madison's eyebrows raised when Vinny felt that unfamiliar warmth rise to his cheeks again.
"That's twice now," Oliver laughed. "And all before lunchtime."
Vinny tried hard not to think about what was making him blush.
"You're terrible," he muttered. "I'm getting you back for that."
Madison then understood.
"Ah, I'm guessing you just won that silly challenge you made this morning," she chuckled.
"I won about twenty minutes ago; now I'm just taking advantage."
Vinny knew this would happen. He knew his soulmate wouldn't be able to resist. He also knew that Oliver would stop if he wanted him to.
"How did you get him to blush the first time?" Madison asked.
Oliver knew that saying it would be a step too far.
"I shouldn't really say."
"Oh." Madison glanced at Duke.
"I'm never letting you speak to my parents alone." Vinny grabbing Oliver's arm and pulled him through the dining room.
"What are you talking about, I would never say embarrassing things about you," Oliver said with fake innocence. "But that shower thing-" Vinny then covered his mouth and pulled him through the door.
Madison and Duke laughed together. They loved Oliver, especially when he jokes around with their son because they know Vinny does the same to him.
"I could sit and listen to them all day," Duke said and rested an arm around his wife's waist when she sat next to him.
"Me too. If the boys are like this now, I wonder what they will be like when their bond strengthens."
"I still can't process it yet. Although, I knew there was something special about them."