Bed and Breakfast [Bloodkin 1] (Siren Publishing Classic ManLove) by Scarlet Hyacinth Page B

along, that he and Vane were a terrible match. And yet…Moss couldn’t quite bring himself to let go of that small part of him, the part that desperately desired for Vane to touch him.
    With a sigh, Moss pushed off the blanket and left the bed. Back home, he’d have gone for a walk to clear his head, but here, he was reluctant to bother the other occupants of the house. Home. Did he even have one now? Elmya could no longer qualify, and his current lodgings were provided merely as a payment for his services and convenience of his employer.
    As he stole a look out the window, Moss released a soft, bitter chuckle. A convenience, that was his role in Vane’s life. Not a lover, let alone an equal. Just the idea was laughable.
    Perhaps he’d have fallen into hysteria altogether had a sudden voice not sounded behind him. “Are you all right?”
    Moss turned toward the door and almost yelped when he saw Vane standing there, looking as mysterious as ever. “You look upset.”
    That was the understatement of the century. Of course Moss was upset. Nothing made sense anymore, except this strange ache in his chest whenever he was around Vane. But he had to respect the contract and Vane’s desires. He had to stay professional. He’d committed to this, and he couldn’t fall apart every time he had a bad dream.
    “I’m fine. I’m just having trouble sleeping.”
    Vane arched a brow. He obviously didn’t believe Moss, but for once, he didn’t argue. “Would you like to have a drink with me?” he asked.
    The offer surprised Moss. “I’d be honored, Your Lordship.”
    He was dressed only in his nightclothes, so it was a little awkward to leave his room like that. Vane didn’t seem to mind, though. The bloodkin led Moss downstairs and into his office. Moss could have sworn he saw a shadow move from the corner of his eye and surmised it must have been Benson.
    When they reached the office, Moss sat on the couch, feeling awkward and out of place. Vane poured him a drink and offered it to him. Moss eyed the glass warily and at last took it. He wasn’t much of a drinker. He never had been. Still, perhaps it would be worth a try.
    Moss gently took a sip from the glass. To his surprise, it had quite a pleasant kick, burning his throat as he swallowed. “Good?” Vane inquired with a small smile.
    It was an unexpected expression on Vane’s face. Moss liked it. The strange fist clenching around his heart started to loosen. What had he been so worried about? Nightmares came and went. They were irrelevant.
    “Thank you, yes,” he replied. “I apologize for taking you away from your important tasks with my foolishness.”
    “It’s not foolishness,” Vane countered. “You’re uncertain, and I can understand that.”
    Moss winced. “I admit I haven’t adapted to the circumstances as well as I should have.”
    “You’re doing an excellent job,” Vane encouraged him. “You just have to stop worrying about things you can’t control.”
    Moss wondered what that meant, what Vane knew, how much he’d been able to grasp out of Moss’s sometimes erratic behavior. “I’ll try,” he promised. “I’m sure I’ll do better once I get a better grip on your financial situation.”
    He was doing his best to remain professional, even if what he truly wanted was something else entirely.
    Vane couldn’t have been fooled by this clumsy attempt. “I’m sure you will,” the bloodkin said. “Just know that I…You always have my full support.”
    His own uncertainty was so apparent that Moss decided to give him a break. “You’ve helped a lot,” Moss assured him. Placing the glass on the coffee table, Moss got up. “I should get back to bed. You have my thanks again, Your Lordship.”
    “Good night, Moss,” Vane murmured. “May Mother Earth guard your dreams.”
    Moss was surprised at the mentioning of the elven deity, but he tried not to let it show. “Good night,” he replied simply.
    When he left the office, he had more