Twenty - One

A/N: Dedicated to @Moon_music for their support! Thank you so much for reading! Comment & Vote!

"Let's be realistic here."

Tanner scrubbed a hand over his face. The two weres barreled through the living room almost knocking over an end table. Griffin sighed and righted it. Marco skittered to a pause, cocking his head curiously at Griffin before timidly approaching and resting his head on the couch beside him.

The creature looked different without all the extra equipment. The only thing on him was a thick black collar--and it wasn't the electric kind. "It's just a date Griffin. And Cayden was very interested."

"I'm not emotionally ready. Whatever happened to giving me to get used to being alone?"

Tanner grit his teeth. "I got impatient. And I don't recall ever telling you that. Reagan was a shit show. He was rude and selfish. And not even that attractive to be completely honest."

Griffin looked floored. "He completed me!" He sputtered furiously.

Tanner couldn't help but roll his eyes. Luca pattered over to Marco who seemed to be enjoying being pet. He ignored the pup as he jumped on him, nipping at his legs in an attempt to engage him. "Luca stop."

The pup looked at his Daddy in surprise--Daddy always let Luca play rough. "I doubt those little teeth will get through his thick fur. Honestly, I wonder if I should thin it out some. He must get hot." Griffin ran his finger through the thick hair. "Although I suppose it is natural protection against teeth."

"Luca bit me earlier." Tanner looked st his hand. He had faint puncture marks left that would fade within the hour. Still, a bite was a bite. "I never really addressed it."

"Well you can't punish them after the fact--all the guides say that." Griffin told him unnecessarily. "But it can become a nasty happen--especially with pups."

"I know, I know. Hopefully it was just a one time thing!"

"Hopefully," Griffin nodded.

"So Cayden."

The vampire rolled his eyes in distaste. Marco grumbled a bit in his chest, copying his Master's distaste. "I told you no date Tanner. Honestly, it's your fault if I devastate this kid."

"Fine, fine." Tanner shrugged in indifference. He couldn't care less about the boy's feelings. "So you'll give it a try right?"

Griffin sighed and Tanner took it as his consent. "Wonderful. You're picking him up tomorrow evening. At 7."

"Jesus you've got it all planned haven't you?"

"Nope. You can chose the venue."

"Because my last restaurant date went so well?"

"Don't do conventional then." Tanner was suddenly enlightened with ideas. "You could take him bowling."

Griffin sputtered to laughter. "Jesus H--be more old Tanner."

"What?" Tanner's brow furrowed. "Sven loved it when I took him."

"You two should come with us!" Griffin looked thrilled at the idea. "That'd make it a million times less awkward!"

A double date? A date with Sven? "Uh I don't know--"

"It's the only way I'll do it." Griffin stated solemnly. "Besides, what's the big deal? You two are just friends right?"

Their occasional sexual encounters hadn't been disclosed in fear of Griffin turning it around and claiming the loveless old vampire was still in love with his ex. Now it was too late to do so with hurt feelings, repercussions, or his friend backing out of the date Tanner had set up. He sighed. "Sure. I'm certain Sven will appreciate a night on the town." An unforeseen complication skittered back into the room; this time he had a sock in his mouth. "What will we do with Luca?"

The pup perked his ears and, assuming he was in trouble, returned the questionably clean article of clothing to its owners feet. Griffin examined it briefly for holes before setting it aside. Then his eyes drifted to his were. "Well--"

Tanner, following his line of vision immediately objected. "Absolutely not Griffin. Are you stupid?"

"The crate in the back room is big enough for both of them--"

"I don't need you were making a snack of mine--we all know he can't control himself when he's hungry."

"That was food, Tanner. Not another werewolf. You can't cart him with us all night."

"I'll figure something out." Tanner sighed. "But we're definitely set for tomorrow, right?"

"We can go get some drinks before hand," Griffin suggested.

Tanner shook his head. "Sorry--Luca and I have plans."

"Oh?"

"A little park. Where he can play with out weres like him."

"Huh. Good for you guys I suppose. I'm not going to lie, I'm not excited for this. I'm not going to stop loving Reagan because you didn't like him."

Tanner sighed--but that was an argument for another time. The goal had been accomplished--he was going a date. The first step in him hopefully getting over Reagan.

Back home Tanner put Luca in his bed and went to find Sven. He wasn't in his room as expected. He found him on the upstairs patio with a crystal goblet. A gold family crest was imprinted in it. "Breaking out the fancy drink ware, I see." Tanner commented as he slid the glass door shut behind him. "What's the occasion?"

Sven turned with a small shrug. The moon beams caught his light blonde hair, sending ivory streaking through it. His skin had a faint pearly glow to it and soft shadows complimented the gentle curve of his swan-like neck. The man cocked his head curiously. "What's that look for?"

Tanner shook his head and smiled boyishly. "Nothing. Admiration."

The vampire laughed. "Oh really? Is this light flattering?" He mocked a pose that set a feral urge through Tanner. The sapphire cashmere sweater hugged his slender body perfectly. It was odd how Tanner had ever overlooked the beautiful specimen. "Tanner?"

Tanner had prowled forward a bit. He hid his lustful intents with a smooth grab of the wine glass, bringing it to his lip.

O-Negative--the sweeter of the natural varieties.

He pulled the goblet back and let the taste settle in his mouth. The sharp tingle down his thirst reminded him that he hadn't drank real blood that hadn't been processed and pumped full of sugar in ages. It hit him much faster however, his vision momentarily sharpening to an extent where he could see every perfect pore on the vampires' face in front of him, every hair in the cashmere, and every grain of wood in the patio railing.

Everything pulled back to its usual focus as the sip wore off.

"You came to find me for this?" Sven smiled, exposing his elongated canines. They only sons that if he hadn't been eating regularly or if he was aroused. "I can make you a drink, Tanner."

"I'd much rather you be my drink."

Pheromones zipped between the two vampires as they stared at each other hungrily. Both knew they were once again, crossing a line between boss and employer and more importantly friends, but they didn't care. They had more primal needs to tend to.

QOTC: thoughts?

Sexy time next chapter or nah?

Goal: 30 comments?! ❤️😍