CARNIVORE [MxM+]

Chapter 37 [Revised]

Tycho Black.

I DIDN'T DREAM LAST NIGHT, and that was okay with me.

I woke up content and warm. The room was dark and quiet, with only the sound of slight breathing heard. Riley was still pressed into my left side, his mess of curls reaching my face and tickling my cheek. Alexei was still hiding in my neck, his nose pressed on my collarbone, like he was inhaling my scent. I was warm, but not sweaty. Their body heat combined felt like a damn heater, and I was all for it. I looked past Alexei's sleeping form, expecting to see Mr. Mendoza, but he was gone.

Click.

Never mind. The door to their bedroom opened, and in came the devil himself. Surprisingly, he wasn't in his usual attire. He had sweatpants on and an oversized graphic t-shirt. For such a sophisticated guy, this definitely wasn't his style, but I recalled a conversation I had with Alexei a long time ago about his hidden love for music.

As good as he looked in this different state, I could tell he was still a mess. His hair was disheveled and uncombed, and stubble formed across his face. I wondered what his deal was.

When he saw I was awake, he gave me a curt nod, then motioned for me to follow him. He turned, expecting me to follow him, then looked at me questioningly when he realized I hadn't moved yet. I motioned to the two sleeping men who were practically on top of me.

His voice came out in a low rumble, filling the room like the sounds of animals filled a forest. "They're heavy sleepers. Trust me, just move them."

I expected them to wake at his voice, but they didn't even stir. I tested his theory more, slowly pulling Riley from my side. He still didn't wake up. I lifted Alexei from my neck and placed him next to Riley, finally crawling out of the large bed.

My feet met the ground with a soft thump, and I turned just in time to see the two gravitate toward each other like magnets in their sleep. They held each other, not noticing I had left. 

"Come on. We need to talk about things." As much as I dreaded the conversation in front of us, I knew he was right. There certainly was plenty to talk about.

I followed him into the hallway, but stopped short. "Before we do, can I shower? I'm kinda smelly."

He looked down at me, then took a step forward. My breathing froze as he suddenly leaned down, his face near mine. Like an animal, his nose twitched, and he inhaled through his nostrils, right under my jawline. I looked in his eyes as he seemed to think for a moment.

After a few seconds, he winced. "Yes, I agree. You smell."

I let out a sarcastic gasp before I could stop myself. "Oh my! I did just say that to you. Almost like I knew that or something."

I clamped my mouth shut at the accidental disrespect. Fuck.

He searched my eyes, trying to gauge if I was serious. I tried to make it apparent that I wasn't.

I expected anger, but to my astonishment, he smirked. "Well, it's unusual for you to admit it, considering you do every day."

My jaw dropped. Did he just... Give me sass? "Excuse me?"

He laughed through his nose. "You heard me."

Without skipping a beat, he walked toward the kitchen. "Shower quickly. I'll have breakfast ready for you when you're out."

I nodded even though he couldn't see it. In those thirty seconds, I've seen more emotion out of Mr. Mendoza than I have in the past few months. What a time to be alive.