Nikolai watched idly, still using Doc as a pillow, as Doc returned the kiss.
The werewolf stepped back and then went after his brother.
Doc put his tablet on the end table and leaned back on the couch.
"You and Allan seem to have worked things out."
"I guess," Doc replied tiredly.
Nikolai stood. "We're all exhausted."
Doc nodded but didn't follow when Nikolai took a few steps toward his room. "Where are you going to sleep?"
"Couch, I suppose."
Nikolai held out his hand.
After an uneasy glance toward Ed's bedroom, Doc stood and slid his smooth hand into Nikolai's calloused one and followed him to his borrowed bedroom.
Nikolai released Doc's hand and held his out in front of him. Blue motes filled the space, moving to the edges of the room.
"There, now we can talk, and no one can hear."
Doc arched an eyebrow. "Do we need to talk?"
"You, my friend, need blood. I need your fangs in my neck."
His other eyebrow rose before his eyes darkened, turning predatory. "I hardly call that talking."
Nikolai's pulse raced at the look Doc was currently giving him. "What do you call it?"
He stalked forward. "The guys call it starting shit." His lips curled into a hint of a smile. "And if I didn't need blood, I'm not sure I'd have the energy."
Nikolai nodded. "I am not trying to forget about Sofia." He felt he needed to clarify. "But we also must continue our lives."
"I'm over a hundred years old," Doc whispered. "This is something I'm well aware of."
"Also, you do not usually let yourself get close to anyone." His heart skipped a beat when Doc slid his hands up Nikolai's arms.
"No. Doesn't mean it has never happened."
Nikolai stepped into Doc, and the vampire kissed him. He parted his lips, letting Doc explore his mouth, before he did the same, running his tongue along Doc's fangs, digging his hands into the vampire's back.
He wanted more, but he also knew it wasn't a particularly good time to push Doc's boundaries. They both wanted comfort and some form of reassurance, and right now, this would do.
Doc pushed him back until his legs hit the bed and he had to sit. Doc straddled him, knees on the bed, lips locked on his.
He leaned back, needing to breathe. His blood pounded in his veins, and his jeans grew far too tight.
"Perhaps, you could give me a moment to change into some sleeping pants. These jeans are very tight," he managed to gasp out.
Doc's eyes glinted with amusement, and he let Nikolai up, backing away a couple of steps to give him space.
Feeling a little shaky, he went and leaned on the dresser. He dug out a clean pair of flannel pants and tossed them to Doc.
He changed, though the heat of Doc's gaze on his back burned into him. When he turned around, Doc was sitting on the bed, changed into sleeping pants, staring at him, clearly as aroused as Nikolai. He hadn't even heard him move. He studied the other man's muscled chest, noting the thin scars crossing it
"You heal quickly enough, I wouldn't think you would scar."
"Depends on how much blood I've had. I've been well fed recently. Getting shot wasn't going to be a problem. Sometimes, not so much." He tilted his head. "Change your mind?"
"Ah, no. Was just looking."
"The ones on my back are from a werewolf. Much harder to heal."
That got Nikolai's interest. He twirled his finger, asking Doc to turn. He obliged, standing and putting his back to the mage.
He came over and traced the thin lines that crossed most of Doc's back. "They healed fairly well."
"Nearly killed me."
"Fortunately, it did not." He brushed Doc's hair out of the way, then touched his hair tie with magic, liking his hair down.
Doc's breath caught as his hair fell free. "That's Sofia's trick."
"I'm sorry," he replied, his own voice catching. "I won't do it again."
"No. It just surprised me."
He rested his forehead against Doc's shoulder, hands on his arms. "So many things we should have done."
"Nikolai," Doc whispered. "I'm not sure we could have done much more. Maybe we should have tried to get help from other mages, but in this time, we have to be so careful. As you've noted, it hinders us. What else could we have done?"
"Not left her alone."
Doc stiffened for a minute before nodding. "That is one thing we should have done. She should have been safe in her dorm."
"We'll get her back." He dragged his hands down Doc's bare arms, callouses catching on his smooth skin.
Doc's breathing quickened again, and he turned, bringing Nikolai to him and sinking back onto the bed, pulling the mage with him.
He pressed his lips to Doc's, and the other man devoured his lips, biting, though not hard enough to draw blood. They kissed, exploring each other, Nikolai resting on his forearms, fingers curled in Doc's hair.
Doc traced his muscular back with his fingers, igniting his nerves. He pressed into Doc
"If you keep that up," he gasped when he came up for air, "you may shake my resolve to not push your boundaries tonight."
Doc's lips curled again, not quite smiling, but clearly pleased with himself. He grabbed the mage and turned them both so quickly, Nikolai barely had a moment to register he was now underneath Doc before he was pressing his fangs lightly into his neck.
"We wouldn't want to test your self-control," Doc murmured against his neck.
"It is not so good in these situations," he admitted, gasping out the words as Doc applied more pressure. The vampire pressed into him, and he thrust against the other man, grinding into him.
Doc growled what might have been a warning before sinking his teeth into Nikolai's neck.
For a moment, Doc let him experience nothing but the icy pain of his bite, then he hit the mage with pleasure. The contrast undid him. He clawed at Doc's back, crying out his release and thrusting against
