Hastily stripping my bloodstained clothes, I dragged on the closest available shirt and pants–ignoring the twinge my new bruises gave–and hauled ass back out the door. I’d need a shower later, but the look to Dimitrius’s eyes, as if he were holding on by a thread, was enough to make my decision.
The shower could wait. Everything that wasn’t absolutely necessary could wait. He needed help so I’d be there. If I were being honest, he needed time to himself to decompress and grieve over what we’d seen, but neither of us could have that yet.
Just a floor below me were nearly a dozen kids who all needed to be washed, tended to, and their families tracked down. As it was, his staff had their hands full with the last bit, which left Dimitrius and I to handle the first two.
I didn’t mind. Whatever it took to make the haunted look leave his eyes sooner, I would do it and that was that. Breezing back into the main room where the children sat, huddled together and watching everyone warily, I caught Dimitrius’s eyes again.
The dark edge from before was still there, lurking under the surface, but having something–someone–to focus on was helping. It would have to do for now.
Stopping at his side, I offered what I hoped was a comforting smile. “Ready when you are.”
He nodded stiffly, hand drifting to grip mine in a steel like hold, before pulling away reluctantly. Turning to the children, he swept a long glance over them. “Those of you who are capable of washing themselves and do not wish for help, please step to the side in a line. I will point you to the bathroom to cleanse yourself.”
Immediately, most of the kids scrambled to where he pointed. After the blur of motion settled, only one form stood apart. The boy from before and his eyes were locked on us with equal parts wariness and hope.
Kneeling to be at his height, my leather still wrapped tightly around his shoulders, I offered. “Do you want me or Dimitrius to help you?” With his injuries, it was no shock he couldn’t do it alone–though for all I knew his age played a role too, how young was too young for children to bathe themselves?
Shaking aside the thought, I watched him bite his lip, careful consideration passing through his eyes before he gestured to Dimitrius. “Him, please.” The words were hardly a whisper, nerves shaking every syllable as I nodded.
“Alright then.” Standing carefully, making sure not to move too sharply as to not startle the kids, I turned to the others and smiled. “You guys ready to get clean? I’ll get you some towels, soap and after that I’m leaving you to it.”
Relief painted across each of their faces in turn before they nodded. Pausing long enough to squeeze Dimitrius’s hand, his face still carrying a green tint that worried me, I guided the group of kids toward the guest bedrooms.
The showers were more than big enough to fit at least two or three of them at once and pairing the elder kids with younger ones would ensure everyone was adequately cleaned.
Stopping in front of the line of doors, all guest rooms, I waved to them. “In each of these rooms are bathrooms. Just give me long enough to make sure they have what you all need.”
With that, I did a quick check, making sure the towels and soap were in easy reach before coming out with a nod. “Alright, it’s clear for you all. I’ll find some clothes while you get clean. Want me to leave them outside the doors to the rooms?”
A few kids blinked up at me, wonder clear at being asked what they wanted, and I resisted the urge to hurl at it. They shouldn’t be amazed by such a small thing.
Forcing the pity back, I continued after they each agreed. “Once everyone is clean I’ll tend your injuries.” With that, I turned, giving the kids some desperately needed privacy. Before I could get far into my search for clothes–where exactly would Dimitrius’s staff keep kids’ clothing?–Scott rounded the corner with an armful of the clothing I looked for.
Seeing me, he smiled a touch grimly. “I figured you would need these. I wasn’t sure how many kids there were so I grabbed our entire stock. There should be roughly thirty pairs of shirts and pants in here, ranging in size as well. If we need more, let me know and I’ll head to the store.”
Gingerly taking the armload, I nodded. “Thank you, I was just about to hunt someone down to ask about this. I don’t think we’ll need more, since most of their families will be picking them up…” I trailed off, thinking back to the boy.
His mother gave him up and he didn’t mention a father… Putting aside the fist tightening around my heart at the similarity to my own childhood, I continued. “One of the boys–the scarred one with Dimitrius–he said his mother gave him to those monsters.”
Scott’s face darkened, the same rage that howled in my chest echoing in his eyes as he grimaced. “Not the first time we’ve dealt with that, unfortunately. I’ll do a check to see if his father had a willing or unwilling part in this, but it’s likely the father wasn’t in the picture.”
At that, I raised a brow. “How do you know that already?”
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Because one of the parents had to be either a succubus or incubus, and I can’t see the mother being one of us and knowingly giving away her son. Not to say it’s impossible, but generally in this situation the human parent panics.”
Yeah, I knew that better than most. I’d never known my father, but it was painfully obvious I’d gotten my magic from him. Shaking aside the old bitterness, I hummed. “Fair enough, I think it’s likely the kid is going to be a permanent resident here though. When I mentioned him being safe here he didn’t mention anywhere else he’d rather be.”
No, he’d all but broke down, not that I could blame him. If someone had offered me a safe place to hide when I was being hunted I would have done the same.
Scott sighed. “You’re right, but I’ll do a cursory check just to be sure. A room will be made up for him just in case though.”
The distant sound of water running pulled me back to the task at hand and I shifted the pile of clothes into my other arm. “Alright, thanks for helping out. I’m going to get these set outside the doors and hunt down a first aid kit.”
Scott pointed to the closet to the side. “In there, we keep one in nearly every bathroom too if you run out of supplies.” With that, he turned, going back to researching. Once he was out of sight, I separated the stack of clothing into smaller ones and put them outside each door.
Pulling the first aid kit from the closet, I barely turned before one of the doors creaked open and a hand shot out to grope for the pile. Biting back a smile at the sight, I called. “Two inches to your left.”
The hand froze, a few seconds passing in silence before the hand moved in the wrong direction. This time the snort came and I tried again. “Your other left, bud.”
This time the fingers closed around it and disappeared back inside. In hardly ten minutes the kids stood clothed and clean in front of me, wary–though slightly less scared–eyes watching my every move. Holding up the first aid kit, I gestured to the nearby room.
“Alright, who needs seeing to first?”
The kids exchanged looks before a few stepped forward. Thankfully disinfecting and wrapping their injuries didn’t take long. Stepping back from the last kid, I nodded. “Alright, your parents should be on their way.”
Turning serious, I asked. “Do any of you not want to back to them? It’s fine to tell us if they hurt you. This is a safe place.”
A few kids toed the ground, one raising a shaky hand while the rest shook their heads. Taking that in stride, I gestured to the door out to the hallway. “When a nice man named Scott comes back, those of you who don’t want to go back need to tell him. He’ll handle the rest.”
Before I could leave and finally find Dimitrius–the itchy urge to check on him only getting worse by the minute, a quite voice from behind me called my attention.
“What if our parents don’t want us, what happens then?”
Facing the little girl who’d spoken, I answered to the best of my ability. “Then you’ll stay here, I assume.”
She relaxed a bit to that, looking around at the walls in wonder. “Really? Wow.” Then she paused again. “Will the other man really not mind?”
Considering Dimitrius had told me this was a sanctuary for his people, I sincerely doubted it. Smiling, I shook my head. “Nope, the man from before wants kids like you to be safe and so do I. Long as it’s what you guys want, I’m guessing this will be your home now.”
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Then, before they could start raining questions on me, I turned. “Scott should be by soon, feel free to ask him all your questions. I need to check on Dimitrius and your friend.”
All but running away before they could speak up, I followed long, winding hallways back to Dimitrius’s room. The familiar wood door swept a wave of familiarity and comfort through me as I opened it, walking in with a tired sigh.
“Hey, all the other kids are clean and tended. How is-?” I froze, two sets of gold eyes locking on me as Dimitrius and the boy turned my way. The younger hid behind Dimitrius, bandages covering most of his visible skin and I quickly turned around to give them privacy.
“Sorry boys, didn’t realize you were still in the middle of that. I’ll just-.” I hardly made it three steps back toward the door before the boy called out, voice slightly more confident.
“You don’t have to leave, Dimitrius told me about you.”
Keeping my back to them for now, I asked. “Oh? All bad things, I’m sure.” My tone smacked of teasing and a quiet bubble of laughter came.
“No, he said you’re really nice and that you…” He trailed off, uncertainty clear before powering through. “He said your Mommy left you too.”
Oof, I didn’t particularly want that bit aired but I could see why it’d come up. Biting back the spark of irritation with Dimitrius, I reluctantly turned with a nod.
“Yes, she did. Years ago, but still.”
Dimitrius winced, an apology in his eyes that soothed away any lingering aggravation as I gave a tense smile. “You can stop looking terrified, I’m not going to bite. I take it the topic came up and you wanted to reassure him?”
He nodded, though the apology didn’t leave. “He worried I would not accept him due to his mother’s rejection. It seemed an easy comparison to make and before I could think…”
He’d already said it. Couldn’t blame him for that, my filter was worse than his.
Waving, I wiped away the last of the tension in his shoulders. “It’s fine.” Giving a tired smile to the kid, I nodded. “You’re not the only one who’s been abandoned kid and just like me, you’re safe here. Dimitrius isn’t the sort to care if someone else rejected you.”
The boy’s features softened, the scars cutting through his face standing out in contrast as he inched out further. “He said your name is Julian?”
I hummed, waiting to see where he went with this. After a minute, he smiled showing a gap in his teeth. “That’s a cool name. I’m Avery.”
Not a name I heard often, but it fit him. Before I could say anything else, a knock sounded and Scott’s voice came from the other side. “Is Avery ready to join his friends?”
Avery perked up, wiggling down from the bed. Dimitrius had apparently already found him some clothes since he had pants on. His chest was bare aside from the bandages though and he limped unsteadily to the door.
Pulling it open, he smiled up at Scott. “I am! I’m all clean now too.” He puffed up his chest, gold hair now free of grime just starting to puff out from drying. Scott chuckled, stepping back.
“Well, let’s get you out to them then. I’m sure they’re anxious to see you well.”
Avery bounded after him–as much as he could bound while still limping–and I turned my focus to Dimitrius. Some of the green had left his face, but a long soak was definitely needed. We’d made sure the kids were settled, now it was time to focus on us.
Before I could move for him, small arms wound around my leg and only instinct stopped me from lashing out. Dimitrius shifted forward as if to intervene, Avery’s form now clamped to my thigh–was he supposed to be that short by his age?–but I waved him off.
Gingerly patting the boy’s back, I relaxed when he let go and smiled shyly up at me. “Thank you for rescuing me.” Then, without giving me time to assure him that thanks weren’t necessary, he zipped off, Scott following with an amused shake of his head.
Once the two were gone, I focused my attention on Dimitrius who now sat on the side of the bed, feet touching the floor. Sitting beside him, I put my palm face up between us and asked. “How are you holding up?”
He looked at the hand for a beat, before curling his around it, the calloused palm and warmth soothing some of the ice still clinging to my gut. “As well as I can be. And you?”
I shrugged, tracing small circles to comfort him and myself. “The same.” Silence passed for a beat, before my eyes landed on the bathroom. Words weren’t what either of us needed right now, but I knew what could help.
Standing up, I tugged on our still joined hands. “How does a bath sound? Together or separate, whichever you’re comfortable with.” After what we’d seen today it was fair to think his trauma was closer to the surface. If he needed some time to himself or to not be touched, then I’d accept that.
I hardly finished the sentence before he stepped forward, arms winding tightly around me until not an inch of space sat between us. Hooking my arms around his back, I stroked slowly, a whisper barely loud enough to hit my ear puffing against my head.
“Please, stay. Alone…Alone is the last thing I wish to be right now.”
And with that simple sentence, he guaranteed I wouldn’t be leaving his side for the rest of the night.
Nodding into his chest, I pulled him toward the bathroom. “Come on, let’s get you in the water. If you want, I’ll join you. No funny business, I promise. I can also sit on the edge of the tub to keep you company if it’d be more comfortable.”
His grip tightened on me as he led the way into the polished marble bathroom, gorgeous black and white swirled stone catching my attention briefly before he spoke, yanking it back to him.
“If you would join me, I would appreciate it. I wish to hold you.”
A pulse of aching warmth settled in my chest and I agreed with a hum, following him to the tub, past the massive shower that could easy fit five people. Later, I’d want to explore that and the many knobs in it, but not wasn’t the time for it.
Dimitrius set the temperature, water gushing from the taps as his hands drifted down to the leather still gripping his frame. With each layer he shed, another patch of bare skin met my eyes, tan flesh stretching with every movement.
For once, hormones didn’t spike, the subdued atmosphere holding them in line as I took in the well toned muscles, and the scars covering him. Scars dusted him, everything from small lacerations to large cuts trailing from his feet up to his chest.
When I got to his hips though, I froze. The skin on his hip was knotted, black and twisted in a way that swept ice down my spine. A burn-no, a brand. A brand in the shape of the letter B.
Red washed through my vision, snuffing out everything as rage shouldered its way past my shields. Someone had dared to brand him, as if he were nothing more than cattle.
The culprit was probably long dead and it was very fortunate for them, because I would have it my new life mission to ensure they suffered for every waking moment until hell itself broke through to claim them.
Taking a slow breath, I swallowed down the killing rage, looking away from the brand before I could say something stupid. He didn’t need my anger, not right now. Somewhat steeled for it this time, I started at his feet and swept a long glance over him.
Smatterings of scars freckled his back and pelvis, but before I could sink into those I forced my thoughts away. Only pity and wrath would come from that line of thinking and neither was welcome right now.
The firm, tan globes of his ass pulled my focus to the present, before I mentally slapped myself. For fuck’s sake, lust wasn’t any better than pity right now!
Comfort, Julian, comfort!
Keeping that in the forefront of my mind, I stripped. His eyes bore into me, nearly a physical caress as I dropped the last piece of clothing down. Once we were equally bare, I met his eyes–don’t you dare look down, Julian–only to bite back a hiss at the desire warming his gaze.
“Ravishing.” The word was a growl, rubbing me in places it had no business being right now as I took the hand he offered. Brow beating my hormones back, I squeezed his hand and warned.
“Right back at you, but this isn’t the time. No sexual stuff today, if you still want it tomorrow, then we can, but right now we’re both too raw. You’re vulnerable and I’m not taking advantage of that.”
I’d already decided that the second I thought of the bath, despite my hormones all but staging a riot. If he still wanted to explore tomorrow then we could, but not today. Anything we might do could be cause for regrets tomorrow and nothing we did should make him regret it afterward.
He stared deep into my eyes, gold orbs intense as he nodded. “Yes, tomorrow. For now, we rest.”
So saying, he sank into the water, helping me to lean back against him as we soaked. Twining our fingers, I floated leisurely as the tension fell away by inches. We’d have to get out soon and face the world, but for now, this was perfect.
Snuggling into him, his arm winding around my waist, I sighed. “I wish we could stay here forever.”
His mouth brushed my ear, words nothing but a whisper. “I agree. While that is not possible, perhaps we could include this in our rouTina? Dinner, time in my study, then this.”
Imagining just that, a warm gooey gush of feelings spread through my chest and I nodded. “Sounds divine.”
Unfortunately, all good things must end and after who knows how long, the water began cooling. When it hovered just on the edge of cold, I reluctantly rose, Dimitrius’s hands lightly tugging on my hips in an attempt to prolong it just another minute.
I almost gave in too, but I hated cold and this was no exception.
“Come on, if we move to the bed we can sleep. Not as comfortable or warm to do that in the bath. I already agreed to do this again in the future so this won’t be the only time we get this.”
He conceded the point wordlessly, pulling the plug before following behind me. Eyeing the piles of clothing on the floor, I asked. “Do you have a spare shirt I can borrow? I like how yours smell.”
In answer, he moved to his wardrobe and opened it, lips twitching up into a small smile. “Pick anything, I care not.”
The easy affection in his tone stroked along my battered nerves and I offered a tired smile of gratitude. Snagging a lavender sweater–the color matching my eyes–I tugged it on, clamping it closer to relish in the soft Dimitrius scented material.
One of his hands rose to twirl a lock of my hair around his fingers, light tan skin only a few shades off the blonde of my hair. Letting it drop, he cupped my cheek, his intent clear. Leaning to meet him halfway, I soaked in the chaste brush of his lips against mine, the sorrow and horror of the past few hours draining away until nothing but us remained.
Today had been hell in a hand basket, there was no getting around that, but at least we’d both made it out alive. Some days we’d have to be content with that.
Stepping back reluctantly, I poked him. “Pick your clothes so we can get some rest. I’m about to fall asleep on my feet as it is.”
He didn’t argue, pulling a pair of sleep pants out, only to glance down at his bare chest for a long moment. Another beat passed before he shook his head and pointedly shut the wardrobe.
Tugging on the pants, he faced me and offered tentatively. “I wish to feel as much of your touch as possible and a shirt would hinder that.”
I didn’t need him to explain, I could see the ache for contact burning behind his eyes. Twining our fingers again, I nodded, tugging us back to the bed without a word.
We’d deal with everything else tomorrow. Right now it was just us and we needed rest. Waiting for him to get comfortable on the bed, I curled into his side, nose buried in his throat as his arms settled around my waist. Once we both settled, I muttered, sleep already rising to claim me.
“If you want space, let me know.”
His grip tightened and he shook his head. “I doubt that will be a problem, though I will inform you if that changes. Get some rest, my darling. Tomorrow will be every bit as exhausting as today has proven to be.”
I hummed in agreement, letting sleep rise up to claim me as the steady rise and fall of his chest–paired with the beat of his heart under my ear–sent me off into the most peaceful, dreamless night’s sleep I’d had in years.