Page 31 of Hollow

“Sorry about that.” Dimitri leaned back momentarily, shrinking his horns.

“Wow. They get smaller?”

“And bigger, if I so desire.”

“There’s a joke somewhere in there.”

Dimitri grinned. “No jokes. You are no jester; you are a beautiful prince.”

Jack lost himself in Dimitri, the two of them kissing and grinding their bodies against each other as the night sky took hold. They didn’t go any further, but Jack would’ve done everything with Dimitri, anything for Dimitri, to Dimitri.

It was hard to imagine a time Jack found himself so swept away in another person. Never anyone who’d seen all of him.

CHAPTER EIGHT

The following days with Jack had been really sweet. They continued exploring each other without going too far. Dimitri would kiss Jack, tease Jack, teach Jack. It sparked life into Dimitri, reminding him of all the joys he’d long since given up on. Jack’s jovial nature washed away the horrors Dimitri couldn’t bury. He could lose himself in happiness for a little bit each day.

Jack still preferred wearing his pumpkin mask, which Dimitri respected, but he did enjoy seeing Jack without the headgear when they cuddled in the evening. When they kissed. When they caressed each other, learning which spots were sensitive in the most arousing of ways, and which areas were merely ticklish. Jack had about a dozen ticklish spots that Dimitri could and would easily exploit whenever the mood struck.

But for now, all Dimitri did was focus on cooking dinner. Jack had gone out to town to set up for his final shows of the season. Apparently, with Halloween done, the tourist season would soon settle. Dimitri wouldn’t complain about fewer humans in the area.

“You wouldn’t believe the madness going on today,” Jack said, returning with Astaroth.

The dog quickly trotted off to his bedroom.

“Oh?” Dimitri asked, focused on thinly slicing his vegetables.

“A flock of crows attacked the local florist. There were reports of crows dive-bombing people all over town. Someone even said they robbed a grocery store.”

Dimitri tried to make the most of Nikolai and the services his flock offered. It saved him the hassle of venturing into town to run errands. The crows would soon be flying south for the winter, only staying this long out of courtesy to Dimitri. The bond between crows and wolves and Leshy was more universal than anything else. As Dimitri peered through the kitchen window at the changing leaves fluttering between the fog, he wondered if any wolves might migrate to these woods. Surely, they wouldn’t abandon their homes for a region so far.

Then he remembered his father’s teachings. How wolves treated Leshy as a member of their pack. How crows treated Leshy as a member of their flock. The creatures also held a strong bond of their own, one forged without the presence of Leshy. It amazed Dimitri how two animals so starkly different in nature formed such strong alliances.

The more Dimitri’s mind lingered on his fallen father, the more bitter his mood turned, and this wasn’t meant to be a somber night. Dimitri buried the memories and gave Jack a small smile.

“They did not rob,” Dimitri corrected. “Money was left at all destinations.”

“Huh?”

Dimitri didn’t answer, merely letting his gaze fall to the bouquet of flowers. There was an assortment of Dimitri’s favorite flowers from orchids to lilies, marigolds, lavender, and even a wily sunflower who convinced Nikolai he’d make an excellent addition. Dimitri didn’t know which flowers Jack might like, so he picked ten of his favorites and promised each flower that if they put on their best performance, he’d plant them somewhere lovely. In truth, Dimitri had already chosen a spot in the woods for each of the flowers in this bouquet.

“So, you put a hit on the florist for pretty flowers?”

“I did not hit the florist or instruct Nikolai to assault those working there,” Dimitri said with a huff. “I merely wished to make a fancy dinner.”

“Oooooh.” Jack’s shadowy expression twisted into surprise as he glanced over at all the ingredients.

“You are home earlier than I expected.”

“That explains why the birds were divebombing me in the woods.”

“Wait, what?”

“That’s so sweet,” Jack said, practically swooning, and glossing over the murder of crows that tried to attack him.

Dimitri would have to have words with Nikolai. He explicitly asked them to warn him of Jack’s return, not to prevent it.

Jack walked into the kitchen, watching Dimitri work. “Question, how’d you get money?”