When Blindfolds Fall

9: New Skies Don't Shine As Bright As Yours

For a while now, Josiah had grown used to waking up alone in bed, with only the crisp evening air there to greet him.

As an unmated vampire, he could have never even imagined the sensation of waking up next to a mate. And yet, tonight someone granted his life long wish, and that man was the one laying next to him.

The ambassador fluttered his heavy eyelids open, his blood red eyes picking up the pieces of his new reality. There was warmth, a comfortable and soothing warmth that made him wish to stay longer in bed. Josiah followed the strong arms wrapped around his body until they connected into the man he had bonded his soul to.

Josiah couldn't help but smile with a blush when he found his mate mark on his shoulder and its match on Viktor's. He felt he was dreaming, for he had been longing for this event for centuries and it never once became true until now.

At feeling his new mate wake up, Viktor exhaled and stirred.

"Evening." Viktor mumbled in a deep, raspy voice.

"Good evening." Josiah smiled and pressed his nose against the doctor's chest. "Am I the only one who still can't believe this?"

"I can't believe it either. Specially because all my life's studies said this was impossible."

"B-But, are you happy about it?"

"Of course I am. There's no more room for self doubt anymore Josiah." Viktor brought him closer and rested his head on top of his. "It's only you and me from now on."

Josiah's smile widened at that and he took a deep breath before settling back into his mate's arms. Viktor was also drifting back into his own deep slumber.

However, this touching moment was short-lived because as soon as Josiah remembered it was a work day, he sat up in a hurry.

"Viktor we're late!" Josiah exclaimed and kicked off the blankets to get to the bathroom. "Oh no! Oh no, no, no!"

"What??" Viktor grumbled and sat up on the bed.

"We're mated now. People are . . . Viktor they're all going to know! I-I have your scent now and y-you have mine! We have the marks! How are we gonna lie to people?! It's clear as night that we're--!"

"Quiet down, Josiah. I have the solution. Geez, you're loud in the evenings."

Josiah flinched when he saw Viktor get up and the sheets reveal his toned, strong, naked body. That was one sight he simply could not get used to.

On the other hand, he was only wearing what appeared to be Viktor's last night's button up.

"I have a solution, but for now you need to shower and be extra mindful of your mark." Viktor picked up a new set of Josiah's clothes from his armoire.

"But that won't be enough." Josiah argued as he received the clothing.

"It's enough to buy us time so we can get to my office. I've developed a topical treatment that if applied directly on a mate mark, it can neutralize the scent of the bond for twenty four hours. Shower and we'll go get that done before working."

"Is it going to affect our bond??"

Since he had no idea how fragile mate bonds were, Josiah was worried and frankly opposed to any tampering with their bond. He had longed for this for so much, he wouldn't carelessly risk it.

Viktor caught the concerned look in Josiah's puppy eyes and couldn't help but look away before it became too adorable to handle. These dommate impulses were so irritating, and yet he still wanted to indulge in all of them.