The day came and went. I didn't know what to do with myself while Ricky slept. It didn't feel right to stay in Yuki's company after how badly I fucked him over. Kuza was making him smile at least, and that's all I really cared about. He was telling Yuki about where he came from on Earth, asking him questions about what his life was like growing up in Japan. I really wasn't expecting them to develop a bond like this, but in way, it makes sense. They both had their lives and bodies completely altered by something that was out of their control. At least they've got that in common.

I had nothing better to do, so I went down to the kitchen and baked. It's the least I could do after the girls saved Kuza's life. Apparently, Rune had taken an interest in me after we briefly met earlier. Ville asked if I'd spend time with him and I was happy to oblige. I had the privilege of learning his story. His mental disability, as far as Ville knows, was present from birth. He was born a fairy, but at a young age, an unknown abuser cut off his wings. From the sounds of it, Ville knew close to nothing about his past. Even figuring out that much took a lot of guess work based off of context clues. He's lived here for about eight months. I was hoping Ville would've told me it was longer. I didn't want to think that poor baby has been exposed to violence and abuse for so long.

Rune was happy to help me in the kitchen and he was a fantastic assistant. His infectious smile allowed me to escape reality for just a little while. Aside from his shyness, you'd have no idea he'd spent the last sixteen years of his life in a living Hell. We made a delicious chocolate cake together, of which the girls practically inhaled. I made sure Rune got a piece as a reward for his help. Ville explained to me that he doesn't like to eat around strangers or be talked to while eating. It was probably time for me to check on Ricky, anyways.

I slipped into his room quietly. He didn't wake up immediately, which I'm not used to. He usually senses me immediately. How much damage did I do? Physically, and emotionally? I sat down beside him, leaning over him and kissing him gently. "Hey, baby." I whispered, "How're you feeling?"

"Meh." Ricky sat up slowly and rested back against the headboard. "Still tired, but I don't think we should put things off any longer."

"We both fucked up. Can't we just move on?"

"Chris."

I sighed, "I know. I know. We never really talked about what we were to each other, what we expected. You never told me you wanted sexual exclusivity, but that's still not an excuse. I shouldn't have slept with another man."

"It's not just about sex." He replied, "You slept with your ex, and I know how much you still love him. That raw passion you have when you fuck me so close," Ricky grabbed me by my shirt and yanked me in. "So intimately. When you make me feel like the only man alive, you gave that to someone else. Then, that wasn't enough. You couldn't just leave him on Earth. You brought him here, to our world. You brought him into the life we share together."

"Ricky, listen, because I'm not the kind to play games and I'm genuine in what I say. You know that." I caressed his cheek delicately. His baby blues glistened as they gazed up at me. He was so fucking precious to me. "I do regret sleeping with Yuki. At the time, I was hurt over what had happened between us before I left, but again, that's no excuse. I'd take it back if I could and I'm so fucking sorry. I won't apologize for bringing him here, though. When I found out he'd become a ghoul, and he's been all alone in isolation for the past fourteen years, I felt so guilt because it was my fault.

"It was my fault he was killed in the first place. It was my fault he lost his life, his family. Then I went and selfishly brought him back, and it's my fault he became a monster. I have no intention of dating him again, but I have a responsibility to help him. That's why I brought him here. I hope you can understand that."

His breath shook, "I do. That emotional part of my brain wants to be real damn upset right now, but the logic part knows better. This is the best place for him. Ville can help him heal, give him a new family." Yeah, that does sound nice, doesn't it? I really like the thought of that for him. Ricky fell quiet for a minute. I didn't say anything because I could tell, he was trying his damnedest to muster up the courage to continue. "Chris, I- I'm sorry about... I didn't know it'd hurt you. I-" His head dropped as he began tearing up.

I immediately pulled him into my lap. "Hey, it's okay. Baby, it's okay. You saved my life."

"I put you in that position in the first place!"

"It wasn't your fault. You had no way of knowing a healing pool was going to harm me, and you wouldn't have thrown me in there in the first place if I'd kept my dick in my pants." I said.

Ricky laughed through his tears, feebly punching my shoulder. "I hate you."

I chuckled, "I hate you, too, babe." Gently kissing his temple, I placed my hand beneath his chin and guided his eyes to mine. "So, why don't we lay it out now. Keep anything like this from happening again. What do you want me to be?"

"I want you to be my spouse. I want to be the only body you ravish, the only bed you sleep in at night. I want to be the only one who's allowed to sneak in your coffin."

He'd kill me if I called him cute, but he was so fucking adorable. I smiled as I remembered how it felt to have his chest against mine in the tight confines of my coffin. "Then, from this day on, that's what I'll be. I'm yours, only yours." I reassured him.

Ricky draped his arms around my neck, zeroing in on my lips. "Damn right."

When you're as old as us, you can see a person's true intentions so easily. We didn't need to spend hours talking about what happened. I knew his feelings, and he knew mine. We still have so much else to deal with, between finding Yuki a new home, building a country, and defending ourselves against certain demon lords. I'll start thinking about that in the morning. Right now, here tonight, my only focus is giving this boy the best makeup sex he's ever had in his life.

I still had so much unused energy from feasting earlier. My veins were pulsating with adrenaline and vile lust. For a vampire, there's nothing quite like a good fuck when you're at your high. The savage and the gentleman in me were in perfect harmony, and my little twink had no idea what was about to happen to him. I wrapped my fingers around his jaw, slamming him down into the mattress. My hands ravaged his body, tearing away his clothes thoughtlessly.

Ricky decided to be feisty tonight. He threw his arms over my shoulders, bringing himself onto my lips. I sat up, pulling him into my lap. Our hips against each other's, skin flushed with desire, he began grinding against me, his tongue never leaving the inside of my mouth. Fuck, he's driving me crazy. I dug my nails into his back and made him bleed just to let him know, he can't get away with being such a tease. He tilted his head back, whimpering so pathetically when his long hair hit the open wounds.

His neck was perfectly exposed for me. I wasn't going to drink from him. He's lost enough blood recently and I was full up, but I can certainly treat him to a few drops of venom. As I started scraping my fangs along his flesh, he put his hand on my throat. "No. You're going to fuck me tonight without your little parlor tricks."

I gawked at him for daring to speak to me that way. "Watch your mouth, whore." In one swift motion, I had him on his stomach with his wrists pinned behind his back. I shoved my hand into his mouth until he choked, then used his spit as lube to slip my fingers inside his asshole. He quickly remembered his place and began begging for my cock. I'm not going to deny my baby. It wasn't long before his hands were clutching the comforter desperately while I fucked him raw. My pale skin became misted with sweat that glistened under the candlelight. When Ricky looked at my nude body, coupled with the way I was destroying his insides, he couldn't control himself.

He was a crying mess, begging for release. Give a man good sex and they'll never see anyone else. Whether he'll admit it or not, he's addicted to me. Tonight, he was a druggie getting a fix after weeks of going through withdraws. I might as well have given him pure euphoria. After a fucking amazing orgasm, we collapsed into the mattress beside each other. Ricky's hair was matted to his face, damp from sweat. He smiled blissfully as he fought to catch his breath.

"You're so beautiful." I said through my own panting.

"I'm a disaster." He replied, "But you make me beautiful."

I looked at where his hand rested on the bed beside him and gently took it in my own. Even the healthiest of relationships will have their issues every once and awhile. It's completely normal. We're all imperfect, after all. What matters is how you move on from it, how you evolve. As much as I hated the mistakes we made and how we hurt each other, I think it was necessary to deepening our bond. We'd finally broken down the wall of formalities between us.

Ricky sat up, gripping the silk sheet up to his bare body. Sex is fantastic, but there's nothing that can replace the feeling afterwards. When you truly love someone, there's not a thing in this world better than seeing them glowing and vulnerable after sharing intimacies. I loved everything about him—His fluffy mane of jet black hair, his pale skin decorated with the most elegant tattoos, the curves of his thin waist and hips.

He glanced outside the window, noting, "The moon is red. Ashe has finally started."

"Seems appropriate. We're turning a new leaf, and so are the seasons." I said.

Ricky glanced down at me and just stared for a moment. Then, he giggled, jumping into my arms. We cuddled and laughed together, messing around until we relaxed in one another's embrace. He may be scared of the four letter word right now and that's okay. Deep down, I know the truth, and I know how I feel. There was a song coming to mind. I wanted to sing it for him, but I didn't want to upset him by bringing the topic up again. For now, it'll reside inside my mind.

Whenever I'm alone with you
You make me feel like I am home again
Whenever I'm alone with you
You make me feel like I am whole again

Whenever I'm alone with you
You make me feel like I am young again
Whenever I'm alone with you
You make me feel like I am fun again

However far away
I will always love you
However long I stay
I will always love you
Whatever words I say
I will always love you