“You can face me.” Padraig stayed in the doorway. “I’ll bite because I’m a vampire, but only if you allow it.” He chuckled at his horrible excuse for a joke. “Sorry.”

“Ha-ha.” Joachim stomped to his bed and then flopped face-first onto the mattress.

Padraig admired his friend’s position. He could ogle Chim’s ass all he wanted, but the pose made conversation difficult.

“We need to talk.” Padraig leaned against the bedpost of his bed. “Now.”

“Right.” Joachim rolled onto his back. “So you can tell me I’m an idiot. Well, get it out now. I can take it.”

“What are you talking about? You’re not an idiot.” Padraig sat beside Joachim. “But I could understand you better if you could at least look at me.”

“Better?” Joachim sat up and faced Padraig.

“Much, stubborn wolf.” Padraig stared. Joachim embodied the strength of the wolf, but in human form. He exuded power and sometimes patience. But looking at him, Padraig noticed the gauntness under Joachim’s eyes. “You haven’t been eating.”

“Not regularly. Nothing to hunt.” Joachim shrugged. “I’m managing.”

“Uh-huh.” Padraig glanced over at Joachim’s clenched hands. “How old are you?”

“Twenty-seven,” Joachim snapped. He leaped off the bed and then strode to the window. “I’m twenty-seven.”

Spoken like a man trying to convince himself. “Huh. I would’ve guessed you no more than twenty-three.” Padraig eased up behind Joachim without touching him. They’d fit together well—if they ever got their shit figured out. “I’m twenty-nine—well I was before I became a vampire. It dawned on me that we’d never discussed our ages before.”

“We spent most of our time hiding and being quiet. There wasn’t time to chat.”

“True.” Padraig rubbed Joachim’s shoulders. When the shifter didn’t pull away, Padraig continued touching him. “Are you done pouting?”

Joachim gasped, and then his shoulders sagged. “Yeah. I’d say what I was doing wasn’t pouting, but you’d know I wasn’t telling the truth.”

“I’m not sure why you think I’d call you an idiot. I don’t think you are. You’re a tad immature, but since I don’t know how you were raised, I can’t pass judgment.”

“Fine. I’m twenty-three.”

“I assumed as much.” Padraig suppressed his pleasure in guessing correctly.

“How?” Joachim turned around, finally facing Padraig. “No one ever questioned me.”

“You’re sulky, pouty, and not as weary of the world as some people.” Padraig curled his fingers under Joachim’s chin. The man also had a youthful glow and a light in his eyes Padraig couldn’t deny. Oh and Joachim’s smile…Padraig bit back a light moan. His smile melted Paddy’s heart.

“Oh.” Joachim didn’t pull away.

“It’s not a bad thing, being you.” Goddess, he sounded like his father. Padraig grunted. Wouldn’t dear old Dad love to know his gay son had a thing for a straight guy? Padraig swiped his thumb across Joachim’s bottom lip. “Now, about the other thing. I’m bisexual. I tend to swing more toward guys, but some women catch my fancy. Is Ava pretty? Yes. Would I take a tumble in the sheets with her if she asked? You bet. Am I trying to get her into my bed? No.”

“I knew it.” Joachim inched away from Padraig, putting space between them. “You’re not obvious, but I knew you were hot for her.”

“I’m also attracted to you.”