"I suppose I'm not very good at any sort of relationship," Doc said, voice contemplative.
"Seems to me, you're doing fine."
"Allan and Ed were grateful for anyone who even remotely understood them. Sofia, I have no idea how we attracted her."
"Stop. You and the werewolves are quite likeable. Also, attractive. Of course, Sofia was drawn to all of you. She can be herself with you, and you make her feel safe. I can see no reason why she wouldn't want to be with any of you. Or, in this case, all of you. Just because modern times are not friendly to your kind, or any of us really, doesn't mean you won't find someone who loves you."
"What about you?"
"What about me?" Nikolai asked.
"You don't seem to mind vampires."
Nikolai chuckled. "As Sofia has already figured out, I like vampires. Peter, he was my best friend for long time, and the others that fought with us, I was friendly with, as well."
Doc turned onto his back so that he could look up at him.
Nikolai brushed some of the hair out of his face. "Though I do get the impression you're not used to having men interested in you."
The vampire blushed. "I'm not used to having anyone interested in me. At least, anyone it was safe to get close to."
The mage smiled and leaned forward, his shoulder length hair brushing against Doc's face, his lips just barely brushing the other man's. "I'm safe," he whispered, and waited, letting Doc make the decision.
After a moment, Doc put his hand behind Nikolai's neck and pressed their lips together.
Doc opened his mouth when he ran his tongue over the vampire's lips. He explored Doc's mouth with his tongue, his heartrate quickening, breath coming faster. The vampire responded in kind, fingers twining in Nikolai's hair. They explored each other's mouths for a few minutes, before Doc released him. Nikolai straightened, grinning, breathing heavily. Doc returned his smile, eyes shining. He liked seeing the touch of his blue magic shining in Doc's eyes, though he wouldn't have minded Sofia's lavender dancing there, as well.
"Get some more rest," Nikolai ordered. "I will take a nap in the morning."
Doc rolled back onto his side, pressing a little more firmly into the mage. His breathing finally quieted, and Nikolai went back to reading about this strange future he had found himself in. Though, he reflected, his current circumstances had some distinct benefits, and he looked forward to thoroughly exploring them.
Chapter 18
Allan
Allan woke with his back against Sofia's front, one of her arms curled around his chest, holding him tightly. Ed was pressed into her back, curled around her. Though he wanted to stay, his stomach growled, and he knew he would regret ignoring that. He generally liked being a werewolf, and he rarely minded how much he had to eat to stay fed, but at times like this, he wished he could comfortably sleep in a little.
Ed stirred when Allan got up.
Sofia pressed more firmly into Ed, still asleep. She was used to waking up in Doc's arms, and Allan didn't want her to wake up alone. When Ed opened his eyes a crack, Allan whispered, "Stay with Sofia. Doc and I can make breakfast."
Ed's lips curled into a smile, and he snuggled Sofia closer.
Allan went out into the living room, thinking he would find Doc awake. He hesitated when he saw Doc asleep, using Nikolai's lap as a pillow. The mage had one hand tangled in Doc's hair. The other supported his chin as he stared out the big window.
The sheer comfortable intimacy that scene evoked bothered Allan far more than seeing the two of them kiss had. If Doc was going to sleep, why hadn't he just come to bed? Allan snapped his jaw shut when Nikolai stiffened slightly and turned, sensing his presence somehow.
Nikolai tilted his head, obviously not understanding Allan's confused expression. Allan truly wasn't sure if he understood his own reaction or not, either. He just knew he couldn't deal with the mage right then. Instead of heading to the kitchen, he went out the front door, shutting it a little harder than necessary behind him.
He didn't have the super sensitive hearing that Doc did, but it was pretty good, and he heard Doc startle awake, despite the shut door.
"What happened?"
He could picture his friend looking around confused, long hair in his face. He never used to wear it down so much, but Sofia liked it down. Allan did, too.
"I am not sure. Allan is upset about something," Nikolai answered.
Whatever Doc replied, Allan was finally out of hearing distance. He headed into the woods, wondering why he was so upset.
He had barely come to terms with having to share Sofia with the mage. He hadn't considered that he might have to share his best friend, as well. Allan really hadn't been bothered by watching Doc and Nikolai make out with each other. He'd certainly been turned on. But this?
"Fuck." He kicked at a tree with his bare foot, just hard enough to sting a little.
"Allan, what's wrong?"
He jumped, spinning around. Doc rarely snuck up on the werewolves.
"I…" His heart clenched.
Doc's hair hung around his face, messy from sleep. He was also barefoot, and his shirt was half tucked into his jeans. He was hot as hell, and Allan didn't know what to do about it. At the same time, Sofia was with more than one of them…was it really that different if Allan had those sorts of feelings for both Doc and Sofia?
Doc frowned, as if trying to make sense of what he could read from Allan. He now had a pretty good idea of what Sofia had been going through when she realized both the werewolves and Doc could essentially read her emotions from her body's reactions.
He turned to walk away. He couldn't deal with this right now. He didn't know how.
Before he could get more than a step, Doc grabbed his arm and turned him
