And right now, he wasn’t ready to share Fox with his brothers.
Chapter 12
Fox kept a close eye on Winter as they left the guest room and trudged down the stairs. The vampire’s idea of updating his family about the latest development—including the part where he moved a witch into his loft—appeared to be a hastily sent text message and then a silenced phone. He couldn’t decide whether Winter was intentionally trying to be a dick to his brothers, which seemed a distinct possibility, or if he just didn’t want to talk about it.
There wasn’t anything Fox could really say about it. He didn’t have siblings. Maybe this was a normal part of their interactions.
And in truth, Fox’s main focus was Winter. He still seemed uneasy and a little more withdrawn. Of course, it wasn’t like the vampire was the most emotionally effusive creature—he couldn’t be described as chatty. But he seemed quieter than normal for him.
“Is it the lack of ghosts or that I’m causing it that’s bothering you?” Fox blurted out after they finally agreed to throw a couple of frozen pizzas into Winter’s never-been-used oven. He slid onto one of the stools at the breakfast bar and watched as Winter dug up some plates.
He paused and stared at Fox as if he were giving it serious consideration. “I think it might be a little of both. Not that I’m blaming you,” he said, quickly tacking on the last part. Fox wasn’t insulted. He rather liked Winter’s honesty.
“Don’t get me wrong. It’s a relief that the ghosts are gone. The quiet is wonderful. And there’s this extra layer of stress that’s fallen off that I didn’t even realize was there.”
“But…” Fox prodded at the sudden heavy silence.
Winter placed the plain white plates on the island and shrugged. “I find myself waiting for the other shoe to drop. I’ve wanted it for so long, and now that it’s happened so unexpectedly, I’m afraid to trust it.” He made a noise of disgust or maybe frustration. “It’s been my experience that good things don’t just happen. There’s always a price.”
Fox grinned at him. “Well, obviously the price is me. You’re stuck with me until we can find another way to make this permanent.”
Winter rolled his eyes before turning to pull down a couple of glasses. “As prices go, that’s pretty freaking weak.”
“Oh, you have no idea how annoying I can be,” Fox teased with a dancing laugh.
Winter snorted. “And I think you forget that I have three older brothers. When it comes to annoying, no one tops Rafe.”
Okay, maybe he wasn’t more annoying than three older brothers. Winter had him there. At least, he hoped he did. Fox didn’t want to be annoying, period. But this development was good. He could do this without being an utter disappointment. This magic ability that he couldn’t tap into was finally good for something. And if he was lucky, Winter would keep him around now just to hold the ghosts at bay. He was at least a little less inclined to kill him now.
It wasn’t an ideal situation, but it was a good start. Hope and excitement bloomed in Fox’s chest, and it was all he could do not to wiggle on the stool. He was getting to keep his vampire.
“I guess for now, you just have to enjoy the quiet while you have it.”
Winter nodded. “You’re right. We’ve got bigger things to worry about. We can figure out this unexpected bonus after we take care of Damon.” Winter paused, his frown returning as he seemed to glare at the island. “Of course, you’ll be returning to Denver after Damon is taken care of. We probably won’t need to figure it out. It’ll just…end.”
A lead weight settled into Fox’s stomach, and he wasn’t sure he could eat the pizza they were cooking. He wasn’t ready for this to end. A normal life, his own place—that would all be nice to have again. But he also wanted to continue seeing Winter. He knew he wasn’t enough on his own to keep Winter’s attention. The sexy vampire had an exciting life, and he needed an equally exciting partner. Someone capable and smart enough to handle all his dangerous missions.
Fox could find a way to be like that, to be enough to hold on to Winter, even if the vampire decided he didn’t need Fox for his stunted magical abilities.
The man intrigued him in a hundred little ways, and he wanted to figure him out like the best puzzle. Fox didn’t want to let that go.
“What’s the next step when it comes to Damon and his evil bloodsuckers?” Fox paused and smirked. “That almost sounds like a band name—Damon and the Evil Bloodsuckers.”
“I wouldn’t go see them,” Winter muttered, but there was the smallest hint of a smile.