Guardian

“I want to hear it, if you want to tell it. But not because I deserve or need an explanation, okay? I’m not judging you; I just wanted to know. Because—honestly, we’ve all been wondering about it.”

Venkat flushed and took a drink.

“Not in a bad way. Just, everyone really likes you, and—the way he acts is…”

“Embarrassing.”

“No.” More like abusive.

“Oh, it is, I promise.” Venkat sighed. “I don’t know why he’s like this. I wish I did.”

Because he’s a courtly fae psychopath. But John couldn’t say that. Whatever was going on here went deeper than he knew, and all that mattered for the moment was Venkat’s safety. “Come home with us tonight.”

Venkat shook his head. “I can’t. I want to.” He lifted his gaze, eyes huge and wet. “For a lot of reasons. But then he might say I can’t play on the album. He really wants the money—and thinks it could make me better known, which would be even more money. But if I push him too far…”

John frowned. “What are the terms of your agreement?”

Venkat drained the end of his drink and set it on the bar. Staring into the empty glass, he said, “I can only play for him.”

 John had known heartbreak many, many times in his long life. Mila’s mortal death, though inevitable, had only been the latest.

Until now. And if he was shattered to hear it, how must it feel for Venkat, who’d lived with it for almost a decade? John wrapped both arms around Venkat, and he melted into him, arms around John’s waist, head against his chest.

They ducked into a quieter room a few minutes later, set up for conversation instead of full-on dancing and drinking, and found an unoccupied corner. “I should go back soon,” Venkat said as he tucked up beside John, pulling his knees up beneath his chin. “It’s getting late.”

“Whenever you’re ready,” John said.

 “So, never.” Venkat chuckled.

“Do you want to talk? Tell me how this happened? Or do you just want to—”

“You said you’d kiss me. A lot. If you were interested in me. And then you implied—well, you said that you are.”

John nodded. “I would. And I am.”

“Can we do that? Please?”

That… was not what John had expected, but he sure as shit didn’t have any objections. Sure, he probably shouldn’t be running headlong into a relationship that had incredible potential to break his heart, considering how romance-shy he’d been for the last few decades.

But he’d worry about that tomorrow. The heart wanted what it wanted.

And it wanted to kiss Venkat breathless. He ducked down, hair curtaining around them, and caught Venkat’s pretty, dark lips with his. Vee unfolded, sliding an arm around John’s neck and both legs over his lap, turning full body toward him for a better angle. He tilted his face up, lips sliding wetly against John’s, breath warm with whiskey. John pulled him into his arms, Vee’s ass tight against his thigh, wondering at how easy it would be to pick him up and carry him off.

But there was nowhere he could carry him where he’d be safe from his problems. So all John could do was his best to help him forget, for a little while.