He awoke with his mind in a haze, as he always did at the beginning of a new night. There was a weight against his back and something equally heavy slung over his waist. It took him a moment to realize he could smell the deep scent of Jacob all around him. Abruptly, he realized he was still lying on the wide couch in Jacob’s place, with the werewolf sandwiched between Azrael and the back of the couch.

Carefully, he drew his phone from his pants, and to his shock, realized another day had passed as they slept. It marked the first time Azrael had ever slept somewhere other than his hiding place since becoming a vampire. Looking around carefully, he realized every single window in the place had been covered so no light came through. Jacob had woken at some point in the night, to cover the windows, so the sun wouldn’t harm him if Azrael stayed.

The realization brought a smile to his face as he nuzzled into the werewolf. For all Azrael’s fears of what Jacob would do and say if he realized Azrael was no longer human, he never dreamed it would be so wonderful. By all accounts, the two of them should have loathed each other from the moment they discovered what the other was. Yet he lay with Jacob, curled up in his arms, feeling safe for the first time in his life, knowing he would sooner die than hurt Jacob.

He knew their future was still uncertain and likely filled with a great deal of hardship and pain. His thoughts were interrupted when Jacob shifted behind him, grumbling a little in his sleep as he burrowed his face deeper beneath Azrael’s neck. He chuckled softly as he drew Jacob’s arm tighter around his waist. It was hard to think bleak thoughts when Azrael could feel how relaxed and at peace Jacob was, just by being with him. He could remember the number of times he’d seen Jacob sleep, and despite feeling a little creepy about it, he gained a measure of peace. His only regret as he lay on the couch, was that he couldn’t see the man’s face as they lay together.

Jacob stirred again, his body shifting so it was flush against Azrael’s. Another smile curled the corner of Azrael’s mouth as he realized Jacob was hard. The werewolf made a low noise that Azrael took to be pleasure as he rubbed against Azrael’s body. The man wasn’t even awake yet and he was ready to go. Azrael could only imagine what his younger self would have said and done if he’d known just how Jacob would look and act as an adult.

“Keep doing that and you’re going to find yourself with me on top of you,” Azrael murmured softly.

Jacob pressed his nose to the back of Azrael’s neck, kissing him. “Promise?”

Just the sound of Jacob’s sleepy voice, thick with a mixture of arousal and grogginess, was enough to warm Azrael all over again. He wished there had been a way for them to have this a long time ago. That neither of them were stuck in the middle of a dangerous situation without any good options available. He wished they could spend the rest of their lives together, both human and completely ignorant of the supernatural world, and happy. Azrael could easily see how happy they would have been together without all the complications.

Jacob kissed the lobe of Azrael’s ear. “Mm, are you doing that dangerous thinking thing I told you to avoid?”

Azrael chuckled. “You caught me. I was thinking about how wonderful it would have been if you and I didn’t have to deal with all this vampire and werewolf shit. If we could have just been two normal people when we met again in that bar. Can you imagine?”

“I’ve never thought about being human, since it was never in the cards for me from the start,” Jacob told him.

Azrael nodded. “Makes sense, you were born what you were. I guess it makes a difference when you’re turned into something that isn’t human anymore.”

“You don’t like being a vampire?” Jacob asked.

“I don’t know. Some of it’s great, but some of it’s not so great. Other vampires are the worst, but I kind of like being so hard to kill, and living forever won’t be so bad once I figure out what I want to do with eternity. It’s kind of hard to figure out what you’ll do for the next few centuries when you never gave a thought to what you were going to do in the next week as a human,” Azrael said with a small laugh.

Jacob sat up, stretching as best he could in the limited space. “I think you just do what I said to do last night, do what you want to do. I mean, I know vampires are typically bound to their masters but after I’m done here, you can just leave. I’ll deliver my report to the sept, let them do whatever they do after we’re long gone.”

“And then what?” Azrael asked as he sat up, scooting over so the larger man had more room.

“I don’t know, are you really attached to vampire living?” Jacob asked.

In truth, he hadn’t tried to think about it too much. Sure, he didn’t like that so many vampires treated humans like second-class citizens, or worse, as simple-minded prey and toys. But did he really think vampires as a species deserved to be wiped out? There were bound to be vampires like himself, who lived day to day, just doing what they could without building some grand philosophy around it. Even Seamus, for all his airs, wasn’t terrible, just more honest about the predator that lived in every vampire.

“Do we really all deserve to be killed because of what we are?” Azrael finally asked.

Jacob frowned. “I guess I’m just going off the fact that I was told you guys are unnatural and dangerous.”

Azrael cocked his head. “You’re a guy who can turn into a wolf and then that half-man, half-wolf thing people always think of when they think ‘werewolf.’ And last I checked, those fangs, claws, and all that muscle wasn’t just for show. By those standards, all werewolves deserve to be killed too.”

“Gaia made us,” Jacob said simply.

“And the humans would say God only made the animals and humans, everything else, like say, werewolves, are abominations. Going off the word of your representative deity isn’t exactly a reliable method for judging shit,” Azrael said with a laugh.

Jacob rubbed his face, trying to wake up more. “I guess I never really thought too hard about it. I mean, they tried to really push the whole ‘Gaia’ thing on me. In some ways it made sense, but I don’t know, I didn’t worry about it. I just know most of the vampires I’ve met have been monsters.”

“How so?” Azrael asked.

“Well, if they aren’t playing with people’s lives, they’re hunting them,” Jacob said.

Azrael nodded. “You’ve got me on the first bit. A lot of vampires seem to enjoy messing with people’s lives. I think after a century or two, they get bored and start screwing with people to see what they can do. But the other thing? I mean, we feed off humans, and we do have a predator’s instinct, just like you have instincts. You can’t blame us for doing what we do,” Azrael protested.

“Yeah, but the killing part? You guys don’t have to kill,” Jacob said with a frown.

“No, I guess we don’t. I bet there are vampires out there like me though, who don’t kill on purpose. Well, except for some of them, but that wasn’t hunger killing, more a job,” Azrael said.

Jacob rolled his eyes. “I’m not going to lay blame at your feet because you killed a few human monsters.”

“Maybe that’s what I should start feeding on from now on,” Azrael said quietly.

“What? Criminals?” Jacob asked.

Azrael nodded. “Yeah, you know, murderers, rapists, awful people. That way, if I kill them by accident, I don’t have to feel too bad about it. The last guy who died because of me didn’t deserve it. I was just trying to see how long I could go without feeding before I started to lose my shit, but I lost it when I started. Well, I went too far anyway. The guy was just a miserable drunk, and he didn’t need to die just because I didn’t know how to control myself yet.”

Jacob eyed him, looking curious. “You ever thought about drinking from me?”

“I can’t, apparently werewolf blood is poisonous to us. Even if I could though, I wouldn’t, not without your permission, anyway,” Azrael added hastily.

“I didn’t know it was poisonous. Which is weird, because your guys’ bits and whatever, aren’t poisonous to us. And what you’re saying is, you totally would, if you could and I gave you permission,” Jacob said with a smirk.

Azrael could feel himself blush. “Yes, I probably would. Not all the time, because that could probably be dangerous. But I mean, it’s blood, and that’s something amazing to my kind for obvious reasons. That, and if I were to ever lose control, you’d be more than capable of making me stop, unlike some human.”

“Ah well, I guess you’ll just have to stick to sex with me to get your rocks off then,” Jacob said in mock remorse.

Azrael held the back of his hand to his forehead. “Oh, the horror, however will I survive?”

Jacob looked thoughtful. “I suppose I’ll just have to make it up to you by making sure to keep you well sexed at all times.”

“See, now you’re the one making promises. You sure you can keep up?” Azrael asked with a wide grin.

Jacob looked down at himself, still half-hard and smirked. “You know, something tells me I’ll be able to keep up. The question is whether or not you’ll be able to handle it.”

Azrael pointed at him. “Just so you know, I expect some reciprocity sometimes.”

“Ooh, big word just to say that you want to fuck me,” Jacob said with a laugh.

Azrael moved so he could slide over Jacob’s lap and look him in the face. He had a moment where he realized just how much larger Jacob was than him. Azrael had always been a bit on the small side. It had made him a prime target for some of the larger and more aggressive boys in the neighborhood while growing up. It taught Azrael early on how to fight, to defend himself and eventually others. It had also made him quick on his feet, and he knew his size gave him an advantage when it came to going unnoticed.

He’d long since had a habit of choosing sexual partners that were considerably larger than he was, and Jacob was no different. If Azrael were honest, he guessed Jacob was the largest man he’d been with so far. The werewolf had always been tall for his age and the few extra inches he’d gained since their teenage friendship made him tower over Azrael. Add in his breadth and Azrael felt like he was trying to sit atop a human tank. He loved it, though, and he happily ran his fingers over Jacob’s shoulders, tracing the lines of muscle.

Jacob’s eyes glittered with amusement. “Is this you following through on your promise?”

“And what if it is?” Azrael asked, voice low.

Jacob winced apologetically. “Then I would have to tell you to hold that thought because I kinda need to tend to the call of nature.”

Azrael laughed at that, reminded that while Jacob was indeed a werewolf, he was still very much mortal. He had all the associated mortal needs and bodily functions, and that would mean trips to the bathroom after waking up. The vampire slid from Jacob’s lap, but not without stealing another kiss. He laughed when Jacob caught his bottom lip between his teeth before releasing him with a wink. There was so much of the easy playfulness and comfort from when they were younger that Azrael almost forgot it had been over a decade since they’d seen each other. When they’d spent time together before their secrets had been brought out into the open, it had been nervous-but-happy time well spent. Azrael had thought Jacob knowing he was a vampire would ruin everything, but what it had done was bring back the old familiarity they’d once shared.

As he watched Jacob stand, stretching out as far as he could reach, he thought it wasn’t total familiarity. He had lusted after his friend more than once, but never in such an open and honest way. When they were younger, his desire consisted of fleeting thoughts and darting glances. Azrael had thought that including Jacob in his youthful fantasies went too far and preferred to find a different outlet rather than mentally tarnish Jacob’s image. As he watched Jacob walk away, taking in the muscles of his back and the curve of his ass, he realized the fantasies wouldn’t have compared to the real thing. Knowing what it felt like to have Jacob hold him, to feel him deep inside, and be able to openly ogle the man was far better than any teenage daydream.

As Jacob disappeared down the hallway of the apartment, Azrael stood up. He thought about following and waiting until Jacob was done with his business. It would be all too easy to pull the man into the shower and see what kind of mischief they could get up to. The image of the werewolf’s body, streaming with water, rose up in his mind. The memory of the first time he’d seen Jacob’s naked body was a good one, and a tempting offer.

He shook himself, grinning as he caught himself acting like a horny teenager all over again. Azrael had always had a healthy sex drive, even more so as a teenager. It had only bothered him when he found his mind wandering to thoughts of Jacob. As soon as he tried to think about his best friend in any way other than platonic, Azrael had been quick to find someone else to fill that place. Now he had Jacob all to himself, it was hard not to take advantage of him.

Hoping to distract himself so he wasn’t constantly groping Jacob, he opened one of the windows. It took a few moments of prying tape away from the cover to be able to see through, revealing the lights of the city outside. They were going to need to figure out something for Azrael in the future that didn’t involve the two of them being forced to choose between having their view blocked or Azrael burning up at a stray beam of sunlight. There were probably a lot of changes in both of their futures if they made it through everything with their lives intact.

Jacob’s voice floated down the hallway. “You know, if we’re going to end up doing this ‘being together’ thing, we have to talk about your taste in air fresheners.”

Azrael turned, frowning in confusion. “What are you talking about?”

“This stupid flowery air freshener you have somewhere in here. It smells awful, what the hell is it anyway?” Jacob demanded, sounding irritable.

Azrael scoffed. “I haven’t even been in your bathroom, other than that one time in the shower. Why the hell would I put an air freshener of all things, in there? And a flowery one?”

“I mean, I guess it’s not too strong but it’s still pretty bad,” Jacob complained.

Azrael shook his head. “A little bit of flowers never hurt anyone. Maybe it’s coming in through the vents or something.”

“Well, someone needs a better nose, because this one is just too much,” Jacob grumped.

The phrasing caught Azrael’s attention. “What, uh, what kind of flower would you say it is?”

Jacob sounded confused when he answered, “Um, I think it’s jasmine? Reminds me of jasmine, because this one werewolf I knew used to wear a wreath of them all the time. Hated the smell, but it’s not the same in here, I don’t know. What are you doing out there?”

Azrael was hurriedly gathering up their clothes, his throat tight. “Getting our shit together. Alexia was here, we have to go, now.”