Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The Night We Met- Lord Huron

Eve hated Friday nights.

Friday nights usually meant bartending at Rick's. Or rather, Rick's Roadhouse. It was some shitty little dive bar that brought in the usual crowd of backwoods men. They would often have live music. They advertised themselves as a "music venue", but that was a term she used loosely. She thought of it as a knockoff Coyote Ugly. The stage was small, the liquor too cheap and the regular patrons too... unbathed.

However, some nights were busier than others, it all depended on the act performing. Sometimes they would get a random, mixed crowd of new faces when particular groups were booked. These nights were always the most interesting. Seeing the folks from the city mix with the regulars usually ended in a bar fight, or some odd excitement.

"I really don't want to do this tonight," Eve groaned, pulling her combat boots on.

She always wore these while bartending. If anything spilled on her feet, she'd be solid. Or if any glass shattered, she didn't have to worry about cut feet.

"Come on, it won't be that bad. Can't get any worse than last Friday," her best friend, Freya, joked.

"Oh God, don't remind me."

They both laughed. Last Friday, a drunk patron decided to strip naked in the bar.

"That was almost traumatizing."

"You know you liked it, shut up. We finally found you a boyfriend," Freya teased.

"Puh-leez."

Freya would often accompany Eve on these Friday night shifts. She loved live music and would never pass at the opportunity to get out of the house. Plus, the people watching was always top tier at Rick's. She especially didn't want to miss this show, because her distant cousin would be performing. Aron's father was her uncle, and he had moved his family overseas to the UK years prior. Before she was even born. She rarely ever saw them, but Aron had been messaging her recently, telling her about the show. She figured this was the only time she might ever meet her cousin in real life, so she convinced Eve to take this extra shift.

The girls took one last look at themselves in the mirror.

Eve wore something cute, but something practical for being behind a bar. She had on black shorts, fishnets covering her legs. For a top, she wore a black Rick's T Shirt, tied into the front in a tight ball, the orange letters pulled tight against her large chest. The management at Rick's always encouraged the female staff to "dress the part". In other words, dress for tips. Being plus sized, she had to walk a faint line between showing too much, and showing just enough. A deep shade of red on her lips and light, neutral eye makeup, she blinked at herself in the mirror, satisfied with the lashes she had put on. Her black hair was curled, coming down to her waist, and her porcelain skin contrasted beautifully.

Freya wore a form fitting black T shirt, tucked into a black and white striped skirt. Black tights covered her legs, accompanied by black boots as well. Her petite frame looked super nice in vertical stripes, it accented her legs. She had bright blue hair that drew much attention to her- and she secretly liked that. Light makeup was always a go-to for Freya, her hazel eyes speaking for themselves.

The girls looked at their reflections and posed cutely.

"We look hot. Let's go."
________

"So.. you've literally never met him?" Eve asked, looking at Freya with harsh disbelief on her face.

They were in the venue at this point, Freya seated at the bar with a Pineapple Malibu and Eve doing her opening chores. The venue was pretty much empty aside from a random sound guy appearing here and there.

"No! I facetimed him like once or twice a few years back, but we've always just messaged each other. He's never been to the states, so he had a lot of questions", Freya answered.

"Yeah, I can imagine."

"I texted him when we got in here and told him to visit the bar after they load their gear in," she said, opening her phone and checking it while speaking.

Like clockwork, a man approached the bar. Dressed in black from head to toe, he matched Freya and Eve. His short hair was a caramel brown, styled perfectly on top of his head. He was as pale as Eve, which took her off guard. The figure walked toward them with a swagger in his step, smiling with his eyes locked on Freya.

Eve felt a pit form in her stomach quickly, the pit becoming a dull ache once he started speaking. First to Freya, hugging her, her light voice chirping back in response to whatever he had said. A thick, Welsh accent filled their space, and bright blue eyes shifted to Eve.

Fuck.

"Hello."

Eve knew she looked cool, calm, and collected on the outside. But on the inside, she was fighting for her fucking life. Freya looked at Eve.

"Hi."

A motion interrupted the distance between them as he held out his hand for Eve to shake. She couldn't help but notice how wide and.. strong his hands looked. Rings adorned his fingers, glinting under the neon bar lights. A dark Raven tattoo sat atop his skin, a precursor to more colorful designs up his arm. Eve shook his hand, his cold fingers wrapping around hers. The pit grew even duller.

"I'm Aron. It's nice to meet you. I've heard so much about you," he said.

She shot a look at Freya, who gave her a "whoops" expression.

"It's nice to meet you, too. Can I get you anything?" Eve responded.

She noticed his eyes slowly flicker down her body, then meet her back up at her pupils.

Oh. He was trying to be so sly about it.

"I'm a beer fan. I'm not familiar with beer here in America, so I'll have to trust your judgment."

To Freya, this looked like a normal conversation. But between Aron and Eve, there was electricity.

"Dark beer, or light?"

"I go both ways," He smirked.

"Okay, Miller High Life it is. 'The Champagne of Beers'" she quoted with air fingers.

Grabbing it from the cooler, she turned back around to face him and clearly noticed his eyes on the lower half of her body.

I've heard that men in Europe are more direct, but fuck.

She wasn't used to such direct interest that didn't gross her out. Usually, when men approached her, she didn't like the ones that came off too strong. They were too much, it made her feel claustrophobic. Or like a piece of meat. But this.. felt different. He was clearly interested, yet kept his distance. Which was actually really refreshing.

It sparked a feeling in her that she hadn't felt before. Fine, if he was going to be so direct, yet so laid back, so was she. Let the games begin.

Taking a pint glass, she tilted it as she poured the beer to make sure there wasn't too much "head" in the glass. The perfect amount of foam sat on top the liquid as she pushed it forward. His mind was obviously in the same place.

"Great head," He winked playfully. She noticed just how crystal blue his eyes were as they sparkled at her.

"Thanks. I only get good reviews," Eve shot back.

Freya giggled loudly, her tipsiness becoming painfully obvious.

Aron looked down at her.

"And what are you drinking?" He made a face.

"Oh, nevermind, I can smell the coconut from here."

His piercing gaze moved back to Eve as he reached his card toward her. She shook her head and waved it away.

"Enjoy the show," he said, words laced with a slick undertone.

And he walked away.

Chapter Text

Sugar- Sleep Token

The lights on the stage dimmed and the modest audience began to cheer. From Eve's understanding, they had just released an album a few months prior, called This Place Will Become Your Tomb. She hadn't listened to it yet, but Freya brought it up frequently.

An electronic intro began to play while a fog machine filled the stage with a thick cloud. Blue lights illuminated the stage, and a figure slowly walked out.

Woah.

Not what she was expecting. A tall, cloaked man stood on the stage, his abdomen exposed. His skin had a layer of dark black paint over it, and several long necklaces hung from his neck. His hands were painted also, fingers adorning thick, chunky rings on almost every finger. But the most intriguing part about all of this was.. His face. Or lack thereof. A white mask concealed his identity, a large red sigil sitting upon it. 6 black slits seemed to be carved into it, acting as eyes. An opening around the mouth exposed the bottom half of his face, which had also been painted black. She'd never seen anything like it before and it completely pulled her in.

He stood with his head hunched toward the ground, slowly raising a microphone to his mouth.

"Every once in a while, something changes.."

Eve looked at Freya, who's face wasn't hiding any of her excitement, hazel eyes twinkling.

"I told you!" she whispered, "you wouldn't listen to them when I tried showing them to you!"

Laughing quietly, Eve glanced back to the stage. By now, there were four members playing. All of the figures were dressed entirely in black, the guitarists and drummer were all wearing what looked to be ski masks with some white design on them.

The bassist was huge, limbs moving everywhere. He was the tallest and lankiest out of all of them, but he had the vocalist pretty much tied for height. The drummer was hidden behind his set and the fog, but she could clearly hear his talent. The guitarist was the last one she laid eyes on, and suddenly it clicked. That was Freya's cousin Aron. Why had she not asked what instrument he played earlier?

The songs ebbed and flowed into one another, the vocalist staying silent in between songs. Eve thought this was odd, because usually, vocalists that played this venue were desperate for any and all attention they could get onstage. This one was different. He seemed reserved, yet completely engulfed in the music. Almost as if this wasn't work for him. This music was something that came out of him naturally. He was fully entranced in performing, as if it were a ritual of some sort. As if the crowd wasn't even there.

A catchy little melody danced into the air, and they were on again. Although this time, Eve noticed the vocalist and the bassist getting very close to each other.

"Sugar..." the singer breathed, wrapping his hand around the bassist's throat, then dragging his face close to his own. The bassist went right along with it, tapping his own mouth with his finger urgently, insinuating a kiss.

Her eyes widened while her jaw dropped. Sure, she'd seen countless shows in this venue. She'd seen some odd performances, some egotistical vocalists showing off.. But she had never seen two band members openly tease the crowd like this. Most "heavier" bands were scared to openly show affection on stage, scared that they would soften their hardcore image. This band going against the grain sucked Eve right in, she thought it was sexy.

Such a bold move, she thought.

Anonymous outfits, stage production, and everything else aside, she really loved their music. She liked all different genres, and this band seemed hard to shove into just one category. They dipped into several different sounds, sometimes all in one song. She was intrigued and wanted to hear more. Which... she was sure she would. Especially if Freya had anything to do with it.

Without speaking a word, the band stopped playing and bid their audience farewell with waves and bows. The lights shut off, plunging the room into darkness.

______________

Eve wondered if any of the other members would visit the bar after the show. On live music nights, the venue would often stop serving once the music stopped. But tonight, there were still a few bands left to play.

Her manager, Adam, squeezed past her. He started taking customer's orders. Over his shoulder, he yelled to Eve.

"Hey, you can head out if you want. I'll take over."

"Are you sure?" she replied, glancing at the bar clock. 10:04 glowed in bright red letters. She usually left at 3 AM on Fridays.

"Yeah, it's up to you," he shrugged. "I need to work extra to cover my flight next month. Unless you want to share a bar, but it'll be less tips for both of us. You weren't originally scheduled tonight, go have fun."

She smiled.

"Thanks!"

"Count whatever cash is in your tip bucket, we'll put your credit card tips on your check. Just make sure you punch out this time!" He laughed.

____________

Freya was about 3 doubles in, and Eve had only taken one shot at the beginning of the night. They were walking out to Eve's car, the cold gravel crunching under their shoes.

"Did you hear anything from Aron?" Eve asked Freya, hoping she didn't seem too interested.

"Yeah! I guess him and the rest of the band just got to their hotel. He asked if we wanted to meet up and have 'a pint'" she imitated his Welsh accent. The girls laughed.

A quick wave of anxiety washed over her. She was nervous to not only meet the others, but to interact with Aron again. She normally wasn't so skittish when it came to men, but something about Aron sent chills down her spine.. while also giving her a twinge of excitement.

Freya sent Eve the address, and soon the two were on their way.

Pulling up to the hotel, the anxiety in Eve grew even worse. Was it a bad gut feeling? Or just nerves? She scolded herself mentally.

Eve, get your shit together. This is no different than any other time you've interacted with a band. They're just people.

"Looks like I'll be needing this," she muttered to herself, pulling out a small Crown Royal shooter and slamming it. The liquid courage clawed her throat on the way down. It settled and burned in her stomach.

The girls approached the room. A shiny gold number 22 hung on the door. They heard muffled laughter and music coming from inside that sounded like early Asking Alexandria.

Freya knocked. The laughing stopped, someone shuffled to the door, and it swung open.

Eve hoped his eyes wouldn't have the same effect on her that they did before. She hoped maybe it was just social anxiety, or any other excuse. But no.

Aron beamed as an herby scent wafted into the hallway, hitting both girls.

"Hey! Party time!"

He stepped away from the door and motioned for them to come in. The room was your standard cheap hotel room. Two double queen beds, a couch and small table adorning a bottle of Jameson was surrounded by chairs. It wasn't glorious, but it wasn't dingy either. The door shut behind them and Aron stood, gesturing to each man at the table.

He pointed to a lanky, goofy looking guy. This was obviously the bassist. He had shoulder length, bleach blonde hair and a thick brown mustache. He looked gaunt, with high cheekbones and a strong jawline. Blue eyes looking glassy, he waved with a huge grin. Eve thought he looked rather goofy.

"That's Liam."

"Cheers."

Eve had never heard a British accent so thick, much less in person before. It almost made her laugh outloud, but she quickly caught herself.

To the right of Liam sat another very tall man. His legs slightly spread, he had his hands on his knees. Mid-length brown hair sat messily on his head, yet he looked so put together. His nose was downturned and his jawline very sharp. Those lips.. He had such a unique lip shape. His eyes were a deep shade of blue, and when they met Eve's, the pit in her stomach intensified by a hundred.

Oh no...

It felt as though she were glued to the ground, yet she had this primal flight response. Something in her told her to run, that a threat was present. A hunter. A predator to her kind. She may as well have been staring death in the eye. All the alarm bells in her mind were ringing, but she was ignoring them.

He smiled, and it felt like a crack had formed in her heart.

"That's Desmond."

"It's a pleasure," he drawled, staring at Eve. Almost as if the room were empty aside from those two. Eve's heart plunged to her stomach. He had a proper English accent and a very strong, deep voice. She noticed his accent sounded a tad different than Aron's. Not by much, but she could tell they were from different areas.

She had to force her eyes away from Desmond to be introduced to the last member.

"That's Camren."

A shy smile and small wave greeted both girls. Camren had ashy, light blonde hair, soft facial features, and pale blue eyes. He was the least threatening presence in the room by a long shot. He was definitely the drummer. There always had to be one quiet friend, I guess.

"Hey guys! It's really cool to meet all of you. I'm so interested in hearing what your first impressions of America are," Freya said eagerly.

"You're Aron's cousin?" Camren spoke up.

Aron and Freya looked at each other. He shrugged loosely, clearly under the influence.

"I mean, I guess, yeah," they both began to laugh.

"And you hadn't met in person until tonight?" Liam added on. He was clearly feeling the same disbelief that Eve felt earlier.

Freya and Aron both shook their heads.

"Well bloody 'ell, let's celebrate!" Liam said excitedly, lifting his glass in the air.

They noticed both girls were drinkless. Quickly, liquor appeared in both girls' hands. The vibe in the room was light hearted and fun. Eve's anxieties slowly began to melt away.

This is going to be an interesting night, she thought.

And she was right.

Chapter Text

Reckless & Relentless- Asking Alexandria

It was hard to believe they'd just gotten off stage an hour ago, it felt as though it had been at least five hours. Some of the men even had remnants of black paint still on their hands and necks, just subtle smudges they didn't feel like intensely scrubbing.

A mix of metal genres played on a bluetooth speaker nearby, becoming background noise that also served as a talking point. They all sat around the table in the hotel room and were about to start a game of quarters. Bottles of Jameson, Kraken Gin, and Jagermeister sat in the middle of the table. Everyone had their own drink, whether it be a beer or something else to serve as a chaser. It was very clear these boys were trying to unwind and loosen up.

Freya, who'd already been tipsy on the way to the hotel, was having a hard time understanding the rules of the game. Camren sat next to her, patient as ever, going over the rules once more. Eve noticed he spoke with his hands a lot.

Freya nodded softly as he spoke, "Okay, so, we fill the shot glass. You take the quarter in your hand, and try to bounce it off the table into the shot glass. You get one free chance to do this. You can try again if you miss the first time, or you can pass it off to the person next to you. But if you miss on that second try, you have to take the shot. If you get the quarter in on the first OR second time, you get to pick who takes the shot."

"Babe, we've played this before," Eve teased her friend jokingly.

Freya laughed, throwing her hands up. "I don't remember! But I think I can play now."

The shot glass danced in circles around the table. The boys all took their first quarter bounce very seriously. Some were making the shot on the first try and forcing another man to take it, which he happily did. Freya was becoming louder and louder, which made Eve smile. She deserved this, after being put through hell the past few months. She was glad her friend was able to finally meet her blood cousin in person after all these years.

That cousin.

Blue eyes beckoned to her from across the table. She felt it the entire night so far. Eve didn't know why she felt so.. intimidated by him. It was obvious he was receiving her well, but she couldn't shake the odd feeling. Maybe she was scared of getting rejected? No, that obviously wouldn't happen and she knew it. Maybe he would just use her? Her brain racked trying to pinpoint the feeling.

Agh, it was her turn again, Liam pushing the shot of Jager in front of her. He played it safe that time, which was surprising coming from him. He had a "do now, regret it later" mentality the entire game so far.

"Your turn, luv!"

A chuckle left Aron.

"I'd like to see you actually play now, Eve. You've been holding out on us, and you clearly have to catch up" he made a small circular motion around the table.

The others laughed, a wide smirk appeared on his face. It reminded Eve of the Cheshire cat. So sly, so charismatic. He clearly enjoyed humiliating her.

She decided in that split second, to give him exactly what he wouldn't be expecting. To throw him off. She quickly grabbed the bottle of Jameson in front of her, lifted it to her lips, and began to chug while keeping eye contact with Aron.

She could see arousal increase in his eyes. The Jameson felt like fire the entire way down, the taste of black licorice on her tongue. After a slow, 5 second chug of straight liquor, she set it back down. Everyone had a look of surprise on their face. Desmond stiffened in his seat. Freya grinned ear to ear. Camren looked thoroughly impressed.

"I 'fink I luv you," Liam laughed, breaking the silence.

_____________

After an hour, the Jameson and Kraken bottles were both empty. The group was loopy, drunk, and carefree.

Liam took to sliding over to Aron, grabbing his hands in a sarcastic way and pulling him up. The men danced together to a heavy guitar solo, laughing their asses off. Eve truly was enjoying herself, she hadn't had this much fun for as long as she could remember. This group made her feel so carefree even though they were literal strangers.

Liam announced he was going to head outside for a cigarette break, Camren and Freya both taking the opportunity also. Eve didn't smoke, so she opted to stay in. Aron and Desmond did the same.

The three left and the door clicked shut behind them, leaving just Aron, Desmond, and Eve together. She felt her heart skip a beat. Or two?

Two pair of eyes burned into her. She knew her face was bright red, feeling her cheeks flush.

God, this is embarrassing.

"So, I assume you ladies will be staying here tonight?" Desmond's deep, silky voice asked. Her heart fluttered, though it was an innocent question.

"Yes.. I can't drive and neither can she."

"Well, we weren't going to let that happen anyways," Aron replied dryly.

"T-thank you," was all Eve could come up with in response.

Out of seemingly nowhere, Desmond prodded.

"Had you listened to our music before tonight?"

What a complete subject change.

"No," she answered honestly.

"And what did you think?" She almost felt as if she were being tested.

"I really liked it. You guys are fun to watch," realizing the direction these devils were going to take that last sentence in, she openly flushed even more.

"You have no idea, darling."

They both laughed darkly. Her head spun.

What?

The room door opened and the other three came stumbling in. Freya quickly dipped into the bathroom, flinging the door shut behind her. Camren had a look of concern on his face. Liam was lost in his own little world.

"Are we having a sleepover?" he flashed a goofy look at Eve.

"Well, Liam, it's 3 AM. I would assume so."

Aron's accent made her so weak.

Eve quickly got up to help her friend in the bathroom.

___________

After getting sick, Freya looked a hot mess.

Lipstick smudged all over her chin, mascara tears on her cheeks, hair matted.. she was struggling.

Eve put cold water on a rag and put it on her friend's forehead, gently pulling her hair behind her shoulder. They looked in the mirror and Eve softly laughed.

"Freya, you can not let them see you like this. The type of jokes they'll make?"

Freya giggled.

"I know...." she paused for a moment. "Do they make you feel different, too?"

Eve nodded, and continued to clean the smudges off her friend's face for her.

"Hm. Are we sharing a bed?"

"Duh."

The girls returned to the main room. There had already been makeshift beds placed around the room. One on the couch and three on the floor. The beds were empty.

"Oh.. Freya and I are okay with sharing a bed, you don't have to clear two separate ones for us." Eve stated.

Liam, shirtless, laughed and plopped backwards on one of the beds with his arms spread wide.

"Why don't we ALL share this bed?"

Desmond was in the process of removing his shirt, exposing the same abs Eve had seen earlier on stage.. This time pale flesh instead of black paint. A yearning from inside her reared it's head and she looked away quickly.

Why not? A brief thought flickered in her mind. She dismissed it as soon as it came.

"Get up, you fuckin' chav. Stop being a clown, let them sleep," Camren irritably scoffed.

"They know I'm just playing!"

Freya and Eve both laughed.

"See." Liam made a dramatic curtsy and winked at Freya.

Good God.

The girls climbed into the same bed anyways, as they'd done many nights before.

Liam made a makeshift video camera with his hands, pointing it at the girls in bed, and pretended to look through it.

"Aaaand GO!" he cracked.

"LIAM!" Camren barked. Liam and Freya erupted into a fit of giggles.

Aron wasn't saying anything, just observing the situation.

Interesting.. Eve noted. Now he's quiet?

Desmond reached for the nearest light switch, wasting no time in flicking it. Darkness filled the room and Eve heard bodies settling into the makeshift beds.

No sooner had the light went out, Freya was fast asleep. Eve could tell by her breathing. She preferred to stay awake for a bit, making sure she was one of the last to drift off. As a woman, she always had these "survival" instincts memorized, even though she felt safe with this group. It was just second nature to her.

Eve lay in the darkness for what seemed like some time. One thing she noticed was that it felt as though someone else was also lying awake. Or.... all of them? Stillness. That's all the room was. So quiet you could hear a pin drop. No restful, deep breathing, no tossing, no snoring. Being in a room with four men that should be asleep... this was odd. More time passed.

It turned out there was at least one person awake, and he made sure she knew it. A deep voice emerged from the void.

"Goodnight, Eve."

Chapter Text

Call Me- In This Moment

The next morning, Eve and Freya woke to an empty hotel room.

At first, they thought maybe all of the men had just stepped out for a cigarette at the same time. That idea was squashed quickly when Freya checked her phone.

Aron: Sorry to leave you both, but we didn't want to wake you. We're recording today, had to get to the studio right when they opened. We need as much time as we can get.. Liam likes to stall.

She was disappointed. Even though it was silly, she'd hoped to maybe get breakfast as a group together.

They both put their shoes on, grabbed their purses, and headed to the parking lot. A light layer of dewy frost blanketed her car, cold from the October air. Eve noticed a bright white square tucked under her windshield wiper.

Are you fucking joking? A ticket? I'm literally in a parking lot!

She grabbed it as Freya got in the passenger seat. Flipping it over, Eve read a small message. It was a phone number, and underneath it was one letter.. A.

Aron.

Butterflies filled her stomach once more, but she decided she wasn't going to text him right away. That's exactly what he wanted. She was going to make him wait.. play the game right back.

Eve and Freya decided they were going to take advantage of their off day together by having a girls' day. They made their way to the nearest mall, King's Grove Plaza.

The two found themselves at the food court right away, hangovers almost paralyzing them with hunger. They each grabbed food; Freya bought an Asian dish and Eve decided on Pizza. Sitting at a table in the food court, the conversation immediately shifted to the night before.

Freya definitely felt a connection with Camren. This was super obvious to Eve. He was sweet and soft, this was something Freya had always gone for in guys. She also found Liam to be super charming, and this made Eve laugh. But as goofy as Liam was, he too seemed like a nice guy.

Eve shared her interest in Desmond's appearance. She wasn't sure how she'd tell Freya that she liked her cousin. Throughout the conversation, Freya's phone lit up repeatedly, each time displaying Aron's name. Eve felt an intense urge to take advantage of the note, to text him. Eventually, she let it slip to Freya. Freya seemed unphased, surprising Eve.

"Girl, I know you so well. I was drunk, yeah, but he looked at you like you were something to eat. And I can tell when you're interested in a guy."

Eve's cheeks burned.

"Oh."

She picked up a pepperoni and chewed it, feeling about as red as the pepperoni herself. Freya laughed.

"We've been friends for over 10 years.. I know you better than you think," she paused. "And, no.. I don't mind. You're both adults and can do as you please." She shrugged.

"I was under the impression they'd only be playing a show here, but I guess they're staying nearby to record a new album. So they may be here awhile."

Eve felt cleansed with relief. It was quickly replaced with an intense amount of gratitude for their friendship. Her heart glowed with love for her friend.

"Soooo, does that mean I text him then? Because he gave me his number."

Freya made a face, poking her noodles with the chopsticks in between her fingers.

"Um, no? You make that motherfucker WAIT."

They both laughed, eventually making their way into several stores throughout the mall. The girls stopped at Sephora, fawning over the different perfumes that were way too expensive.

Spencer's next, they laughed at the back half of the store, not because everything was risque, but because it was all so over-the-top. Victoria's Secret pulled them in, both girls having the men in the back of their minds while browsing lingerie, yet they wouldn't dare say it outloud. Not this soon. Eventually they wandered into Hot Topic, the male cashier making googly eyes at them the entire time. They left quickly.

"Why do men.. Exist?"

"I don't know, that's why mine is battery operated," Freya said, the girls bursting into laughter loud enough to alert an old couple walking past them.

I think it's time, Eve thought.

She pulled out her phone, which was ridden with an insane amount of notifications. Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, even Pinterest clawed for her attention.

The algorithm seemed to be doing it's job. Upon opening Facebook, she saw a Facebook friend post photos of the show the night before. Photos of the band onstage, a drink from the bar, and a slew of drunken selfies filled the post.

Eve didn't realize how big of a following the band had, though she never really thought about it up until this point. But it seemed as if they had quite a decently sized fanbase, and the fans were die-hard. Almost cult-like.

Wow.

She immediately scolded herself. There would be NO way she'd let herself fall under some stupid musician's spell. Yeah, the whole musician trope was attractive. But she'd be damned if she fell victim to heartbreak over it again.

It seemed like her fingers typed the message all on their own.

E: Hi.

Neutral enough, she thought.

Her phone buzzed within seconds.

A: You've kept me waiting.

Was he in her damn head? She scoffed at the message, her insides became snakes, twisting and slithering. Glimpses of his bright blue eyes flashed in her mind, and she cursed the universe for plaguing her with this infatuation. Heat ran to her cheeks.

Being single was drama-free, for the most part. She enjoyed going places by herself, not having to answer to anybody, or to ask for permission from anyone. She could come and go as she pleased, and the only person she'd have to satisfy was herself. Relationships were complicated, and messy.. At least from her own prior experience. Sure, she got lonely, but she always had her best friend to fill that void with companionship.

"Did you text Aron?" Freya's voice snapped her back to Earth.

"Yeah."

"And?"

"Nothing too exciting," she lied.

She wasn't going to text him back right away. No way. She knew the game all too well, and knew just how to play it.

____________

A few hours later, the girls were in Freya's apartment. Tapestries covered almost every wall, and little trinkets adorned shelves. Neon lights lit her room in a beautiful glow. Eve and Freya were watching Twilight on Freya's huge TV, snacks in their hands.

"Jasper is literally so creepy," Freya motioned to the screen with a grimace on her face.

Eve's phone buzzed.

A: Are you free tomorrow? I'd like to take you on a proper date.

Eve paused. Did she want to go on a date with him? Of course she did, but did she want to admit that to herself? Admitting that meant becoming vulnerable. Within the past couple years, she had been down for the occasional hookup, but never any other kind of intimacy from a male.

Part of her hesitated because she knew she couldn't sleep with Aron, even though it would be too easy. She knew damn well she'd end up catching feelings. And with him being g Freya's cousin.. it could get messy. The other part hesitated because she felt like she couldn't help herself. That this was something the universe needed her to do.

Keep it neutral, she thought.

E: Yes.

A: 7pm?

E: Sure.

A: Wear something cute ;)

She rolled her eyes. He was so flirty, but she knew he could back all of it up. He just had that air to him. She sent him a thumbs up emoji in response, leaving it at that. Eve wasn't giving in that easily.

Chapter Text

Good For You- Selena Gomez

Aron pinned her arms behind her back with one hand, using the other to gently brush hair out of her face. His ice cold eyes burning into hers, he brought his lips to her neck, delicately brushing them across her skin. She could hear her own heartbeat, drumming under her skin, and felt him smile darkly into her neck. He inhaled against her flesh.

"Mmm.." he growled.

His free hand running a finger down her abdomen, she shuddered. His hand wandered lower, just grazing the button of her jeans.

And she woke up.

It was 11 AM and she laid in her own bed. Her bedroom window revealed a gray, rainy sky outside. The house was empty, any odd noises echoing under the high ceilings. She stared at her ceiling fan go round and round, recounting the dream.

It felt so real.

All Eve wanted was to make the dream a reality. And knowing that she probably could truly did not help the temptation.

She decided to get up and make some hot cider. Laying on her couch, she bundled up under her favorite plush blanket, which was a burnt orange color. Orange pumpkin string lights glowed above her TV. She flipped through Hulu trying to find something for background noise. Finally, she settled on As Above, So Below, one of her favorite movies.

She took this opportunity to Google the band and read their lyrics. Intrigued, she wanted to learn as much as she could. It would be less she'd have to ask. Going over the lyrics, Eve found them beautiful. Complex, yet open enough to be interpreted in a variety of different ways. She began researching the band's lore, heavily intrigued by the deity known as "Sleep".

Being a practicing witch herself, she was determined to decipher just which deity that may be. Hypnos was the first to immediately come to mind. The Roman God of eternal sleep.. The son of both death and night. This made perfect sense to Eve. The album "One" had poppies on the cover, and Hypnos' symbolic flower was a Poppy. In detective mode, she began piecing things together as if it were her job.

The hot cider burned her mouth, but she found solace in the peacefulness of this moment. Of her own company.

Bzz.

A: How'd you sleep?

She laughed at the irony.

E: Like a baby. And yourself?

A: Up all night.

E: Why? Do I make you that nervous?

A: You wish.

She sighed. Either this was going to turn out to be months of just hooking up, or it would quickly fizzle out. Eve wasn't sure she wanted either one. But there was no way any guy that spoke to her like this had any intentions of actually wanting to be with her. Not a chance. Her body type alone would prove this relationship to be futile. She had extremely large hips, large breasts, broad shoulders, thick thighs, and a belly. Why would he be interested in seeing her naked when there were so many women who had a more "appealing" body type? Slimmer? One he could easily pick up and throw around?

She was stumped, but remembered just how his eyes lingered over her body the first night they met. How he took his time taking in the sight of her. Slowly.. Ingesting it. As if he was just as taken aback by his attraction to her as she was of him. Even Freya said it was obvious. This was clearly just a self-esteem issue Eve had, and she'd admit this to herself.

Eve spent the rest of the afternoon doing chores around the house, straightening and tidying. It gave her time to process her own thoughts. Why was she so drawn to Aron? It was magnetic. And Desmond... ugh, she didn't even want to think about that. The draw she felt to Desmond was almost disturbing, as if it were against her will.

An intrusive thought of both Aron and Desmond touching her flashed in her mind's eye, immediately making her hands pause on the dish she was scrubbing. It felt as if she were under some sort of spell, or that there were some higher power involved, drawing her to them. As if she didn't have a say in it. This pissed her off. She knew she was genuinely attracted to both men, hell, all of them. But were they really this special? Why did she have to resist so hard? It was usually so easy for her to detach.

Around 5 pm, she hopped in the shower. Wanting to play it safe, she shaved her entire body, exfoliated, and did a deep conditioning treatment on her dark hair on top of her usual shower routine. She didn't want to give into lust so easily tonight, but knew damn well she'd have issues.

Eve didn't want to appear as if she tried too hard appearance-wise. Of course, she was given zero information about where she was going tonight, just to dress "cute". What the hell did that even mean? Were we going to a bar? For a walk? A fancy dinner? To a concert? Each would require a different type of outfit. But Aron kept her guessing. This had clearly become a pattern with him. Frustrated, she sighed as she stared at her closet, black clothes and shoes spilling out of the small frame.

6 pm.

"Ugh!"

Twenty minutes later, she decided to play it safe and dress in layers. Underneath, she wore a matching black lacy bra and thong set. She always wore thongs. The less material, the better, she always thought. For the outfit itself, she wore a dark tank top under a large black oversized Deftones t-shirt. For bottoms, she wore her favorite black faux leather leggings. They were stretchy, comfy, yet subtly sexy. A large black and white flannel went over the top, her neck adorned with many crystal necklaces, one being Amethyst to calm her nerves. Her fingers, as usual, sporting rings. Her stretched ears contained white plugs. For makeup, she opted for a soft glam. Black booties were on her feet. Cute, with an inch heel, yet comfortable enough to walk around in.

6:45 pm.

She stared in the mirror, contemplating her entire existence. On any prior date, she'd never felt such a pit in her stomach, never once over thought her appearance or outfit. It seemed as if the concept of Aron just made her crumble.

There was a fleeting idea to text him and tell him she was sick, or had an emergency come up.. Possibly had to tend to a family member? Was called into work last minute? Had fallen out of bed and broke her leg, etc. etc.

Her pitifulness made her sick. Standing in front of the bedroom mirror, she gave herself a pep talk outloud. This was also something she'd never done before. Coming to terms with the looming panic attack, she texted Freya for reassurance, sending her a picture of her outfit.

F: You are so beautiful, please do not be worried about anything at all. He's going to like you no matter what.. He already does. Don't panic babe, you look great. Text me if you need anything, otherwise have fun! And be safe ;)

Her heart swelled.

7 pm.

Like clockwork, a different contact lit up the screen.

A: Your chariot awaits.

Her hands shook as she locked the house up. She gathered all the strength in her body as she continued down the hallway, out into the main corridor. She hadn't noticed the sun had set, but night swallowed the sky.

Opening her door, her breath caught in her throat.

A slick, black Jaguar XJ sat by the curb. Aron, dressed in all black, leaned against the passenger side door holding a bouquet of purple flowers. He smiled, and she froze, commanding her own body to move.

She approached the car with lead feet.

"Hello."

The first thing he ever said to her, replayed almost as if he were reintroducing himself. She smiled. His rich brown hair was styled perfectly. He looked so... pretty.

"For you."

Aron handed her the bouquet. Dahlias.. her favorite flower. How could he have possibly known that? Freya didn't even know that. Their hands brushed together as she took the stems from him.

"Dahlias.. They remind me of you."

Did she just hear a bit of nervousness in his voice?

"Thank you. These are actually my favorite flower.... And my favorite color." The shock of the odd coincidence was prevalent in her voice.

He paused, smiling to himself. She watched him mentally give himself a high five. He opened the passenger door for her and gestured for her to get in. How was it that this man who introduced himself with fuckboy vibes was suddenly this insane gentleman? Eve felt emotional whiplash. Suddenly, she felt guilty about her dream this morning, blushing at the thought.

The faint smell of the dahlias, the leather seats, and a hint of his cologne filled the car. It made her insides twinge.

Upon entering the car himself, he smiled at her again with that heartbreaking grin.

Fuck being detached.

She knew from this moment on, she was doomed.

Chapter Text

Cosmic Love- Florence And The Machine

They drove off into the night, fresh tires gripping the wet pavement of the road.

"How was your day?" Aron asked, Welsh accent filling the car.

"It was good, I did a lot of cleaning."

"Cleaning, hm? So did I."

The thought of Aron dusting didn't seem right to her.. such a beautiful creature had no business doing such mundane tasks.

Then it clicked. Why would he be cleaning a hotel room? How did he even get her address? Who's car was this? The band had flown over here, there was no way this was actually his. And, where were they going? She realized they had never actually been alone with one another, the thought giving her goosebumps. They didn't know each other well at all, this thought filling Eve with a brief moment of sadness. She wanted to know everything she could about him, her level of interest surprising herself.

"I have so many questions," Eve spoke.

"I would assume so," he chuckled, hand on the steering wheel, "Go on."

"First off, how did you know my address? I didn't give it to you."

"Freya," He obviously found that question boring.

"Oh."

"Eve.." The way he said her name made her shiver. "Freya is rooting for this. She's been quite useful when it comes to information."

The idea of Freya and Aron talking about them together made the pit in her stomach return.

"Whose car is this?" She prodded.

"Our label rented a few for us while we're in the US. None of us could bring our own, and they didn't want to leave us stranded in this country without means to get around by ourselves."

"Fair enough. But this is a luxury car."

"Would you assume I have cheap taste?" He looked at her. Even though the car was dark, she could tell his brow was furrowed.

"No..."

"Good. Because you wouldn't be sitting in it if I did." She blushed, thankful the car was engulfed in shadows.

There's that cockiness.

The car twisted through windy, dark roads. A light mist of rain lingered from storms earlier in the day. His hand reached out to grab hers softly. It was the first time they had really touched each other aside from shaking hands the other night. Electricity replaced her veins when his skin touched hers, his hand firm.

"You said you were cleaning earlier.. Was it the hotel? Where are you staying? Freya mentioned you would be here for a while to record an album?"

"Yes, we will be staying here for a while, at least three months. Recording is a lot cheaper here in America than back home, so the label made us choose a city here to record in. I specifically chose here because I have family here, and I'm the only member who even knows anyone outside of the UK."

"Ah."

"And as for where we're staying.. Well, the label put us up in a house with a short lease. They didn't want us living in hotels for months, and we are very grateful for that. We stayed at the hotel our first week, and we've just transitioned into the house. So.. it's been a messy process, as you can imagine, and that's what I was cleaning earlier."

She was silent for a moment, thinking.

"Anything else?"

"Yes.. where are we going?" her fingers on her free hand fidgeted with a loose thread on her flannel.

"Dinner, of course."

She felt stupid for a split second.

Obviously, Eve. That's what most people do on dates.

Dayseeker played quietly on the car's sound system, Rory's voice crooning over melodic guitar melodies. She hadn't noticed the music playing until now.

"Enough about me. I have some questions for you."

Anxiety punched her in the gut.

"Okay."

"What do you like to do in your free time? Aside from being with Freya. What do you do when you're alone?"

The question could have easily been meant as an innuendo, but Eve could tell by his tone that he was serious. This was a new side to him she'd never seen before.

"I watch a lot of movies. Umm.. horror and comedies mainly. I love going to the theater to see new movies when they come out, especially horror movies. I like to listen to music, as pretty much everyone else. I love-"

"What genres?"

"Honestly, I'm not picky. I like alternative genres the most, though."

"Interesting."

It seemed as if he were studying her.

"I apologize for my crudeness up until today. I really do want to get to know you. You're just so..  distracting..," Aron trailed off, as if his mind began to wander. She felt his eyes leave the road and land on her thighs.

She laughed, her smoky voice tempting him even further.

The car pulled up to a large farmhouse set in a rural area, darkness surrounding the entire lot. No light leaked through the windows. If the headlights weren't hitting it, she wouldn't have even known there was a house here. A long driveway snaked up to the home, Aron pulling in and shutting the car off. He was out of the car, opening the door for Eve in an instant.

"This place looks kind of scary," she laughed. "Is this the beginning of a missing person's case?"

He laughed, the sound musical to Eve's ears.

"No, honey."

Honey.

She followed him to the front door.

"But, I do need you to stay right here for just one moment."

"Okay."

He disappeared, and Eve heard shuffling throughout the house. She stood near the door on the wooden front porch, listening to the crickets singing and cicadas buzzing. He was back, a black silhouette grabbing her hand and gently guiding her in.

"It's dark, watch your step."

Still no lights on? He is absolutely going to kill me.

The house was dark, Aron's hand guiding her through a long corridor. An intense smell hit Eve,  a pang of hunger assaulting her stomach. Before her mind could process the association of the dark and the smell, she was pulled to a small, cozy dining area. The sound of soft music filled her ears.

A small wooden table was lit up by candles, and two plates sat out for two. The kitchen behind the table was very dimly lit, just enough for a cook to be able to see what he was doing, but not enough to illuminate the rest of the room.

Unexpected tears pricked behind Eve's eyes. This is not the date she was expecting, and such romance was not what she anticipated from Aron. She fully expected to be given bar food and fucked in his car. The shock was almost too much, but she could feel herself turning into goo under his influence.

Aron squeezed her hand.

"I hope you're hungry."

"It's... beautiful." Aron pulled a chair out for Eve, she softly fell into it.

"A night fit just for you."

He sat down, and she looked at her plate. The steam rose from it.

"Braised lamb with red wine sauce, steamed garlic asparagus, and rosemary potatoes."

She looked at him, dumbfounded.

"Feel free to compliment the chef in any way you see fit," he winked, charisma oozing from him. He offered her a glass of Rosé, and she took it.

"What a gentleman."

"Don't be fooled.. A gentleman is but a patient wolf."

She felt butterflies like none other, almost afraid they'd fly up and spill from her lips. Never before had any man done anything like this for her. Or person, really. She had never been treated to such emotional intimacy without feeling as if it were transactional. No one had ever gone out of their way to make something so special for her. Eve blushed heavily.

Over dinner, they talked about many different things. It was banter back and forth about the UK, America, cultural differences between the two, Freya, music, art, and finally the conversation shifted to Sleep Token. Aron didn't want to spend much time on this topic. Eve wondered if maybe he just wanted a break from thinking about the band for a couple hours. She felt herself becoming more and more comfortable with him. Still affected by his charm, yet able to see his personality poke through a bit more.

"Where are the rest of the guys?"

"I made them leave." He put it simply.

They finished dinner, Aron clearing their plates. A pit formed in Eve's stomach, wondering what was to come next. The house was still dim with shadows filling the attached living room.

He walked over to her, holding his hand out.

"Come here."

Without hesitation, she grabbed it. Eve knew the second he pulled her close to him, she would buckle.

"I just want a moment with you. You're so.. intoxicating."

He pulled her into his arms, his scent surrounding Eve. She closed her eyes and inhaled softly, not wanting it to end. He swayed softly to the music, which had become a few levels louder. She would have laughed if the dancing had been awkward. But it didn't feel awkward.

The acoustic version of "Cosmic Love" by Florence And The Machine played softly, Florence's voice filling Eve with ease. Harp notes filled the air, and she rested her head on Aron's shoulder as they swayed.

"I took the stars from my eyes and then I made a map.
And knew that somehow I could find my way back."

Eve's heart felt as if she would explode. Where would they go from here?

"Then I heard your heart beating, you were in the darkness too.
So I stayed in the darkness with you."

Eve felt Aron pull back a bit. In the low lighting, she saw his face looking back at her, his eyes gentle and vulnerable. He placed a hand under her chin. It seemed as though the world had paused for a moment. A brief pause in the music occurred, the air was silent as they looked at each other.

And their lips met, sparks exploding in Eve's mind.

His lips were softer than she expected, her body melting into his almost instantly. He kissed her softly, gently, almost as if he were asking her a question. She kissed back slowly as his hands went up to her hair. He pulled back again and looked into her eyes once more, the eye contact turning her to liquid.

"You are so, so beautiful Eve."

His mouth was on hers again, this time the kisses were shorter, more frequent. She kissed him back again, matching his intensity, a warmth beginning to glow at her core. His hands made their way down to the small of her back, then down to her ass. They rested on her ass until she bit his lip teasingly. He growled, just like he did in the dream, a deep noise making her even wetter. His hands squeezed her ass, and she pulled back.

"I want you so fucking bad. I've wanted you from the moment saw you."

She felt a sliver of courage, quite unaware of what she was about to unleash.

"Yeah? Prove it."

In a split second, he cleared what was left on the table with his arm, making glasses fall into the floor and shatter. She had finally given him permission. He kissed her roughly, face in his spare hand, pushing her body up against the table. His face moved to her neck, nipping and moaning into it. The sound of his deep moans made her whimper, driving him even further. He spoke into her ear.

"Mm, yes. I want to hear you."

Her head swirled, trying to find her voice. She could feel him hard on her thigh, and craved him inside her more than anything.

"I said, I want to fucking hear you," he demanded, putting his hand around her throat.

Her hands found their way to his jeans, and she palmed him over it. She moaned into his ear and felt the pressure in his jeans increase.

The lights suddenly clicked on, flooding the space. Camren strolled into the kitchen, and immediately put his hands up.

"Oh my god. Oh god. I'm so sorry, mate. I'm sorry!" Bright red, he turned around and walked quickly back into the hallway.

"What do you want?!" Aron yelled to the front door.

"I forgot my drum key here."

"Are you joking?"

Camren's voice was filled with regret.

"'Fraid not. Wish I were."

Aron looked at Eve, who was scarlet as well.

"I'm not done with you," he said, before walking to the front door.

Chapter Text

Romance- Varials

Eve woke alone the next morning.

She was in her own bed again, ruminating over the night before. Her orange cat, Percy, jumped up next to her, purring and nudging her hand. He chirped while staring her down.

"Yes, I'll feed you, goof."

He meowed.

"A gentleman is but a patient wolf."

Those words plagued her mind over and over, taunting and teasing.

Aron had taken her back home soon after Camren had interrupted them. Things weren't awkward between the two, if anything, they both found it funny. The look of pure shock on Camren's face quickly became an inside joke between Aron and Eve.

Bzz.

A: Good morning, love. Come over?

She set her phone down for a few minutes while cutting up wet food for Percy, the cat nudging her legs and chirping loudly.

Bzz.

A: Don't make me beg.

E: Okay. Give me an hour.

Bzz.

A message from Freya.

F: Hey! How did last night go?

E: It was nice. He's really sweet.

F: He better be!

She wasn't sure what Aron had in mind for the day. It was rainy again, the cool October wind blowing around. She threw on a black HIM hoodie. It was one of her favorites, with a bright pink heartagram on the back. She paired it with solid black leggings and white Docs. A beanie was added to the outfit. It looked chilly outside today.

She drove her black Jeep down the same winding roads Aron had taken the night before. Pulling up to the house, she took in the sight of it. It looked way different in the daylight.

The house was large and made of stone. It was old, obviously built in the late 1800's/early 1900's based on the design. There was a very "homey" element to it, shutters on the windows and a large wooden porch wrapping around the front.

Freshly potted plants were placed intently on the porch, and Eve wondered who was responsible for that. Probably Camren. He seemed like the kind of guy to spruce his living space up. The thought of Camren made her smile.. She could tell he was such a sweet person. She hoped Freya and Camren would hit it off eventually, picturing them being good together.

She locked her car and made her way up to the front door. Before she could even knock, the door flew open.

"Eve?!" Liam yelled, his long limbs excitedly flew into the air, then wrapped around her.

"Hi!"

Aron appeared at the door, looking very annoyed with Liam's enthusiasm.

"Hello love," he smiled and pulled her in for a kiss right away, which shocked not only Eve, but Liam. She saw his eyes widen and he laughed.

"Bloody 'ell, seems you two have made on quite well with each other."

He shut the door and she followed the boys into the living room. It smelled heavily of incense, with a faint herby smell mixed in.

There were scattered attempts at decorations on the walls. Luggage bags still laid around the house, along with the random amps and cords. A bright green bass, she assumed to be Liam's, sat on the couch. He'd obviously been playing and had just set it down to answer the door. A random game show played on the large TV, although the sound was muted. Eve wasn't sure what to expect their living quarters to be like, but she thought it would be a little more exciting. It didn't feel much like a home.

"Would you like a tour?" Aron asked her.

"She might need it, mate. Sounds like she's only seen the dining room so far." He laughed and Eve wanted to crawl in a hole.

"Come off it." Aron rolled his eyes. For some reason, Eve found it really attractive. "We're still settling in, so please don't mind the mess."

He grabbed her hand and lead her through the dining room, smirking. They walked into a room full of shiny, silver appliances.

"Obviously, it's a kitchen.. feel free to make anything you'd like if you're hungry. Or, ask for food. I don't mind making something for you." She smiled at him in gratitude. The dinner he made last night was incredible, she'd finished her entire plate.

Down the hall, he stopped again.

"This is the study. Desmond has been spending a lot of time here. When he's not in his room, he's in here usually. Lots of old books, I guess. He's a reader." She looked around the room at the bookcases, record player, and paintings on the walls. "I believe it used to be a bedroom, and the previous owners just converted it to a study."

She nodded, running her finger over the cold leather chair. "Hm. It smells really nice in here."

"That it does."

He showed her a couple other rooms on the main floor, Liam's bass rumbling faintly from the living room.

They approached a staircase and Aron signaled for her to go first. She could tell he was staring at her ass the entire time. At the top, a walkway branched off into two hallways mirroring each other, full of doors.

Ah, the bedrooms.

His hands grabbed her hips from behind, and she felt him, hard, on her ass. He just couldn't keep his hands off her.

"The bedrooms?"

"Correct." She felt his breath.. warm, on her neck.

Aron kissed it then, putting his hands on her chest and squeezing her breasts over her hoodie. She gasped.

A door opened and she froze. His hands were off of her immediately. Desmond appeared, hair tousled, and he did a double-take at her. Clearly, she was the last person he expected to see.. especially in their home. He glanced at her with oceanic eyes, then looked at Aron standing behind her.

"Lovely to see you," his rich voice uttered. She couldn't tell if she detected sarcasm or not. He passed them and went down the stairs.

Aron pulled her into one of the doorways, grinning. Arousal filled his eyes and he grabbed her chest again. They were in his bedroom now, obvious due to the open guitar cases and music equipment around the room.

"T-This is your room?" She nervously asked, stupidly, trying to distract him. She didn't necessarily want the entire house to hear them having sex for the first time. And she knew she had an issue keeping quiet.

He looked at her.

"I'm not wasting any more fucking time."

"I-"

His lips were on hers and he pushed her up against the door, taking her hands and pinning them above her head. He laughed into her neck.

"You have 'fuck me' eyes and you don't even know it. I might have to make you apologize for looking so fuckable."

Aron kissed her neck more, pulling her hoodie up and over her head. He tossed it on the floor, looking at the tank top she wore underneath, turned on by the sight of her perky breasts due to her push-up bra. Her right arm had a sleeve tattoo, Aron not getting a closer look at it until now.

He groaned as he took in the sight of her full chest.

"I'm going to have to fuck those." His lips were on her chest immediately, sucking on the tops of her breasts and leaving dark marks from his teeth.

His hands moved around to grab her ass and he squeezed, earning a moan from Eve.

"Get on your knees." He said, pushing her to the floor. She obliged, increasingly getting more and more turned on.

"You look so pretty looking up at me." He grabbed her face, turning it to the side and bringing it to his waistband.

She leaned against the bulge in his jeans and stared up at him, turning the "fuck me" eyes on even more.

"A gentleman is but a patient wolf."

He stroked her face gently, studying it.

"Open your mouth."

A natural brat, she shook her head, a smile in her eyes. He slapped her cheek.

"Open your fucking mouth."

Her lips parted. He took two fingers and stuck them in her mouth.

"Suck. Show me how good it would feel if those pretty lips were wrapped around my cock."

While maintaining eye contact, she sucked on his fingers, then he pushed them back into her throat. A loud gag escaped her, tears welled in her eyes, and he slapped her again.

"Be quiet." he growled.

Her hands reached for his belt, but he pushed them away.

"Don't you dare fucking touch me."

He slowly undid his belt, making sure to take extra time just to tease Eve. His wide, sturdy hands undid the button and zipper, and he slowly pulled them down, exposing himself to her.

He wasn't cut, which she had been curious about. She knew circumcision was mainly an American thing, but she had never been with someone who was uncut. He was thick, with just enough length to please. Deep veins ran along his shaft. He'd recently shaved, short stubble on his skin.

"Worship it."

She took him in her mouth immediately, making him gasp. Taking as much in her throat as she could, she gurgled, the noises driving Aron crazy. She bobbed up and down continuously, cupping his balls with one hand and resting the other on his abdomen. He ripped his shirt off quickly, and she lightly dug her nails around his navel. His abdomen was ridden with many tattoos, same with both his arms and neck.

His hands were in her hair, pushing her head down even further.

"I know your pretty little throat can take all of me.. just a bit... more.."

Tears welled in her eyes again as she deepthroated his shaft, her lips meeting the base of his cock. She moaned, vibrating around him, and he nearly lost it.

Throwing his head back, he moaned.

"Goooood fucking girl."

She continued, making sure to pay attention to his balls as well. Eve stroked him and stared up at him dreamily while he fucked her mouth.

"Anyone could walk past the other side of this door and hear us.. I bet that excites a little whore like you, eh?"

He pulled her to her feet, bringing her to his bed and pushing her down. Her mind swirled.

"This is the first thing I should have ever done to you. I should have brought you into that ladies room at that bar and fucked your brains out. God knows I was thinking about it."

She moaned as he took her tank top off, then unclasped her bra. Her large breasts fell out and he was in front of her immediately.

"Put them together."

"You're a sick fuck."

He grinned devilishly. He fucked her chest, demanding eye contact the entire time. Her body ached to have him inside her. She wanted all of him, every inch. She stared at his tattooed biceps while he looked down at her bright eyes.

He pushed her down again and was between her legs, pulling his own pants off completely. He hooked his fingers under her leggings and yanked them down, over her ass and down her thighs. He kissed her stomach and moaned when he saw her thong.

"A thong?" He put his finger under it and quickly let go, snapping it against her skin. "What a dirty slut you are." His accent wrapping around the word "slut" did unimaginable things to her.

"Please.." Eve begged. She had a hard time finding her voice in between stifled moans, and all she wanted was to be fucked, her heat throbbing between spread legs.

"Please what?" He continued to kiss down her stomach, over the stretch marks and imperfections.

"Fuck me...."

"Not yet."

He kissed in between her thighs, then licked once over her thong, driving her mad. She moaned loudly and grabbed the sheets on his bed, her hips bucking, begging him.

"What the fuck did I say about being quiet?" He lightly bit the inside of her thigh.

She looked down at him, desperation filling her doe eyes.

Aron pulled her panties to the side, as soaked as they were. He gently inserted two fingers into her and began making a "come hither" motion inside of her. Fuck. He was so good at this. It clearly was not his first time. No other man she'd been with could even find the clit by himself, much less work her body like this.

Her toes curling, she bit her lip to contain her moans. The fingers on his other hand opened her folds and delicately planted wet kisses on her clit. He started swirling his tongue around it, making the glowing orb behind her navel increase. She arched her back and bucked her hips, putting her hands in his mocha hair.

"P-please don't stop," she softly whined.

He kept his mouth on her while increasing the speed of his fingers. Hooked behind her navel, she was ready to explode. She threw her head back. Eyes rolling to the back of her skull, she saw stars.

"A-Aron!"

She felt a light splashing hit her pelvis while he continued pumping his fingers in her.

Riding out the high, she looked down at him. The sight she was met with make her insides tremble. Aron had his tongue against her flesh, licking every drop. His eyes were closed and she could tell he was thoroughly enjoying every moment.

"That was.. so.. fucking hot. Oh my god," He moaned.

He put his fingers in his mouth, tasting her, and she noticed his face was wet.

Did she squirt? She'd never done that before in her life. But that was easily the most powerful orgasm she'd ever had. Ripping her panties down her legs, he balled them up and reached for her face. Aron shoved them in Eve's mouth while she looked at him pleadingly.

"I'm going to split you open."

He positioned himself between her thighs and slowly entered her, hissing out loud as he did so. They moved together; her moving her hips to allow him to get to the innermost parts, and him moving to reach them. He grabbed both of her tits and plowed into her, using all of his strength to fuck her roughly. Eve couldn't form words, she was floating on cloud nine.

"Look at your fucking body. Those wide hips, and those tits bouncing. My god, you don't know what you... do to.. me," he grunted in between breaths.

He placed his hands on her hips, slowing down, yet still fucking hard. He felt her get wetter and wetter the more he spoke to her, the wet heat in between her legs overflowing onto the sheets.

Aron flipped her on her stomach and continued. He grabbed her neck with both hands from behind, speaking right into her ear.

"You're going to cum again."

She felt herself begin to unravel.

"3...."

He fucked her deeply.

"2...."

She dug her nails into the sheets once more.

"1..."

He felt her walls tighten around him, her body shivering and moaning, the moans muffled by the gag. Her body responded to him so well.

Aron knew he was close. He could slowly start to feel his balls tighten as he watched her ass bounce on him with every thrust, it jiggled. He'd never fucked a girl as thick as her before, relishing every moment.

"You're going to take all of my cum, yeah?"

Eve nodded, looking behind her with longing in her eyes. The pitiful look on her face made him weak, he smacked her ass and pounded harder until he was right at the edge.

He pulled out of her quickly and pumped his hot cum on her pale ass, she began to shake it as he came and he groaned loudly. What a fucking sight.

Aron picked up a spare shirt next to the bed and wiped her off, then reached up and took the panties out of her mouth.

She rolled onto her back and smiled at him, both of them panting like they'd just run a mile. Sweat glistened on her chest. Aron offered her a shirt of his, and she pulled her panties back on.

"You are.. so fucking incredible." His hands grabbed her chin, pulling her to him.

"You did so amazing, you're such a good girl." He rubbed her arm, tracing the tattoo.

"I can't believe I squirted," she laughed.

"That was one of the hottest things I've ever seen," he kissed her neck again, both still obviously in the mood.

He laid next to her, studying her. She was on her side, facing him, and she slowly started to drift into unconsciousness. He studied her thick, black eyelashes, that appeared to have no makeup on them. Her soft freckles under her eyes, her brows, and the faint beauty mark above her lip.

"So beautiful.." he whispered out loud.

His finger gently traced her cheekbone, down to her jawline. He knew, no matter what happened between them, he was bound to her. Forever.

Chapter Text

If I Was Your Vampire- Marilyn Manson

She woke to Aron giving her a soft kiss on the forehead and shaking her gently.

"Eve."

She groggily came to, not realizing she'd fallen asleep in the first place.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep."

"No, it's more than okay, baby. You needed rest." He smirked, playing with a lock of her long hair.

She giggled.

"Yeah, I guess I did, didn't I?"

The smell of his bed overwhelmed her. It was a mixture of laundry detergent, spicy cologne and.. him. She couldn't quite explain how he smelled, but it quickly became one of her favorite scents.

Eve got out of bed and stretched, her muscles quickly greeting her with soreness.

"Oh my god, I'm sore!"

He was behind her quickly, rubbing her hips with his hands.

"And that was just a taste." He kissed her neck.

"Mmm." She closed her eyes.

"Let's head downstairs. The boys are ordering dinner."

She slipped on the leggings she was wearing earlier, still wearing Aron's oversized Sleep Token shirt. Making their way downstairs, she padded behind Aron down the steps.

Liam, Camren, Desmond, and Freya sat on the couches, playing video games. She had no idea that Freya would be here. All of them turned to look at the two coming downstairs at the same time. It was very obvious what they'd done, given Eve's hair was messy and she was wearing a shirt that clearly wasn't hers. She stopped, red as a cherry. Aron laughed, proud of himself. She swore she saw him puff out his chest.

"Busteddddd!" Liam cracked.

Freya raised her eyebrows, shooting a "girl I know you didn't" look to Eve. Eve made a "whoops" expression and shrugged. Freya laughed and rolled her eyes.

"Well, at least you're over the awkward ice breakers," Camren mused.

"Oh, far past that, mate!" Liam laughed again.

"Hey! You've just shot me!" Camren looked at Freya in shock. He pointed at the TV, where his player lie under a red banner.

"You looked away while the match was still going. It was a fair shot," she playfully answered, throwing her hands in the air.

Eve picked up on a look the two shared.

Hmmmm. That looks familiar.

Aron sat next to Liam, Eve going to sit next to Freya.

"So... You ladies are probably hungry?" Desmond's deep voice finally filled the air. The four men looked at the girls, as if they were the ones deciding if the group ate or not.

Freya and Eve looked at each other.

"I could eat." Eve answered with a shrug.

"Do either of you know a good place here in town?"

The logistics were figured out, and soon they had Chinese food arriving at the door. The smell made Eve's stomach rumble, not realizing how starved she was until now.

The six grabbed their appropriate containers and headed to the couch, turning on some goofy movie from the 2000's. Eve couldn't remember the name. She often looked over at Aron from across the room, and he'd meet her eyes with either a subtle wink or smile. Occasionally, while looking at Aron, she'd catch Desmond staring at her from her peripheral.

Staring.

He had daggers for eyes, blue and sharp. She glanced at him here and there, quickly looking away, feeling a twinge of panic whenever their eyes met.

Why is he looking at me like that?

After the movie and food, the group decided to liven the vibe. Aron grabbed several full bottles of alcohol from seemingly out of nowhere. Jameson and Kraken Rum made another appearance, this time paired with Jack Daniels and Smirnoff Vodka.

Jesus, these guys know how to drink.

It seemed as though they could drink twice the amount other people could, but be affected half as much. Half a bottle of alcohol would only give these guys a buzz. She didn't want to think of them as functioning alcoholics, but these guys could really throw it back and handle it well.

Meanwhile, Freya and Eve had only 2 doubles each and were buzzing heavily.

Just like the first night they all met, there was loud music in the air. Camren was controlling the music, getting defensive whenever Liam tried to play a goofy song.

"Another round of shots!" Liam demanded.

Everyone picked up a bottle and took a large swing, Freya audibly gagging as the Smirnoff burned her throat.

"That means you're doing it right, darling," Liam flirted with Freya, who laughed before giving him a sarcastic, "Thanks."

The hours passed, the music played, and the drinks flowed. Eve still kept catching Desmond staring at her, as if he were waiting for something. It sent a chill down her spine. He barely even talked to her. What did he want?

It got to the point where Freya and Eve had naturally been separated, both girls drunk. They were too intoxicated to keep tabs on each other's whereabouts in the big house. Freya wandered somewhere drunkenly while Eve lie on the couch, fighting the spins.

Some time later, Freya's petite figure emerged into the living room, grabbing both sides of Eve's face and kissing her on the cheek. They both swayed happily, drunk as ever. Freya always got super lovey when she drank.

"I looove you," she told Eve in her lilted, sing-song voice.

Both girls noticed that all four men were staring at them. Liam grinned ear to ear, waiting for the action. Camren's interest was peaked, though he tried to hide it. Aron's eyes were set strictly on Eve, searching for contact with her eyes, and Desmond glanced between the two girls, surveying the scene.

Eve and Freya laughed.

"I love you," Eve booped Freya's nose.

Freya tried her best to stand up on her own with wobbly legs.

"Treat time!"

Freya always referred to cigarette breaks as "treat time". She called her vape her "smoky treat". She always said it felt weird referring to her strawberry vape as anything but a "treat".

The girls made their way outside, at first not realizing the boys had followed them out to smoke also. They were all standing in the backyard, bright moonlight illuminating the large plot of land surrounding them. Casual conversation between the group of men started, Freya and Eve began goofing off together.

She wasn't sure what had happened, or how it happened. Before Eve knew it, she was falling on the hard, cold ground. The smell of grass filling her nostrils. She'd tripped over something and felt a sharp sting on her leg. Lifting her leggings, she immediately saw bright red smeared on her skin, and felt the cold air hit her hot, wet wound. Eve glanced to her right and saw a garden till, large blades gleaming in the moonlight. Her drunken mind spun as she connected the dots- she'd tripped over the rusty till.

Freya began to walk over.

"You okay, ba-"

Absolute chaos ensued in that moment.

Loud hissing and growling surrounded them. A booming, demonic voice filled the air.

"NO!"

They looked up, drunk and dazed. Eve's hand clung to her bleeding leg.

All four men were staring down at them, but they weren't the same men. Instead of four pair of blue eyes, there were four pair of hollow, black eyes. They had mouthfuls of serrated teeth, higher cheekbones, and more defined brow bones. They stood over the girls, salivating.

Eve screamed. Freya went silent and began to tremble, frozen in fear.

"W-what the fuck?!" Eve slurred.

They blinked and the creatures were gone. Just like that... in a split second. The growling noises were not coming from inside the house, yet the girls could still hear them from outside.

Eve passed out, having an adrenaline rush that spiked so intensely she fainted. Freya followed suit, collapsing in a heap next to her.

Both girls had no idea how just much their lives would change from this night going forward.

Chapter Text

We Only Come Out At Night- Motionless In White

Eve stirred, wrapped in a warm blanket. Coming out of sleep-induced bliss, the pounding in her head began to increase. Slowly, she was brought back to reality.

"It was just a nightmare, just a really bad nightmare.." she thought. Her hands instinctively reached out for Aron, but didn't feel him. Instead of another body, she felt the fabric of a couch.

Where am I?

Opening her eyes, she groggily looked toward her feet, where she spotted Freya on the other couch wrapped in a blanket. Her long, curly blue hair was spilling out into the pillow like water.

"How much did I drink?" She asked herself.

She tossed, turning over on her side, and looked right up into eight eyes again. An immediate pit in her stomach told her that it was, in fact, not a nightmare.

She stared, wide eyed, as Camren, Liam, Aron, and Desmond looked back at her. They sat on the couch across from her, clearly waiting for her and Freya to both wake up. None of them moved, they rivaled statues in their stillness.

"Please, take the medicine if you need it," Desmond spoke. He gestured with his hand to the table in between them.

She hadn't even noticed the bottled water and Tylenol packet sitting in front of her. Someone had placed that intently.

Her first instinct was to scream, her throat becoming hot.

"Shh. Don't scream." As if he read her mind, Aron locked eyes with her.

She wanted to run, to leave the room, but couldn't find access to her legs. She then remembered the deep cut on her limb from the night before. Throwing the blanket off of her, she sprang up, desperate to get to the front door.

Her survival instincts kicked in, urging her to escape. Eve knew it would be no use, as once she started moving she realized how slow she actually was. Her foot caught the side of the couch and she toppled to the floor, crying, tears streaming down her face. Her foot throbbed with pain. She curled into a ball, shielding herself from her natural predators in the room.

"Please, please don't hurt me!"

Aron was in front of her immediately, her face in his large hands. Ice blue eyes locked onto hers.

"You're okay. No one is going to hurt you. I'm sorry."

She struggled.

"Please.. listen to me."

"Eve." Desmond's commanding, deep voice jolted her brain, almost factory resetting it.

"Come sit."

She looked into Aron's eyes, searching for any remnants of a threat. As her adrenaline started to come down, she felt lightheaded almost. Eventually, she made her way to her feet, going to the couch and sitting. Freya had woken up during all of the commotion, but seemed to be processing internally, trembling silently.

"I know this is.. Not ideal. You're both probably so confused," Camren started, shaking his head.

"We expect that you have a lot of questions," Liam added.

The room sat in silence for a few seconds that seemed eternal.

"Yes," Freya broke her silence, saying the first words she'd said at all this morning.

They all looked at her, waiting for her to speak. She glared daggers at Aron, Eve could sense that she felt heavy betrayal from her cousin. She had a look on her face that Eve had only seen maybe once or twice in the decade they'd known each other. Sheer anger twisted her features, her jaw clenched and her fists tight. Eve knew Freya was about to explode.

"Did you lie to me?" She spat at Aron directly, "Are we even related? What the fuck is going on?" Her hands angrily went in the air in frustration. Eve was shocked that her friend was so willing to yell at creatures who could kill them in a split second.

Aron looked guilty and disappointed at the same time. He sighed, answering her apprehensively.

"Yes, we are actually related. Although.." he paused. "It's very, very complicated. I had to lie slightly, as we all have to." He motioned to the band sitting on either side of him.

"Last night was completely unexpected. Neither one of you were ever supposed to know." Desmond said, clearing the air. "That amount of blood was unexpected, and we'd been drinking.. our self-restraint wasn't what it usually is."

"You both got extremely lucky last night.. Desmond had everything he could do to fight the three of us off. To prevent us from...." Camren trailed off, looking disgusted with himself. He was on the verge of tears.

"I need you both to know that it was not intentional. It's just, the blood.. we can't always help it. It's easier to resist if we expect it, but that wasn't anticipated. It all happened so fast," Aron continued.

Eve and Freya looked at each other, fear still mirrored in both pair of irises.

"So... you're vampires." Eve said. It was a half-question, half-statement. She needed confirmation. She shivered as the word left her mouth. It made it real.

They stared silently for a moment, still as granite.

"Yes," Desmond answered.

The confirmation almost made Eve feel better, if that were possible.

The men... creatures... sitting across from them didn't seem apologetic. All eight eyes flickered between Freya and Eve as the girls sat in silence. Eve processed mentally. She tried to go over every interaction she'd had with Aron since they met, trying to find any sliver of a clue that would make more sense now. Things she maybe didn't understand about him? Things her intuition told her were... off? The first moment her mind thought of was the night they slept in the hotel room- how still and silent it got. How she'd questioned the group's sleeping habits even on that first night.

Every vampire movie or book she'd ever read flashed through her mind. Twilight, The Vampire Diaries, Dracula, The Lost Boys, True Blood, Nosferatu.. so many questions began to build up in her mind.

The expressions on their faces shifted to slight concern, possibly annoyance. They were anticipating the girls to speak, but nothing was coming out.

Finally, Eve found her voice.

"Do you sleep?"

Camren's face softened once she spoke, obviously relieved to have been asked a question by one of the girls.

"No," Desmond answered her.

"Well, we can," Liam spoke up. "But, we rarely choose to. There's really no point. We only do it if we're bored, honestly."

So they WERE all awake in the hotel. That's why Eve didn't hear any snoring or deep breathing.

"How can you drink alcohol? Do you actually get drunk?"

All of the men laughed, the attractiveness of the sight almost scaring Eve. It was a musical sound. This question had obviously taken them all by surprise.

"We have blood also. Nothing like human blood, it's an entirely different substance. Almost sludge-like. But... we can become intoxicated, just like humans. Though we have to drink about 3 times as much to feel it. Same goes for other substances."

She was quiet.

"Bats?" She felt it would be too ridiculous to say the words out loud, she didn't want to ask these men if they turned into bats.

Liam snickered. Desmond rolled his eyes immediately.

"Absolutely not."

The room fell silent again, the girls obviously pondering their next inquiry.

"You haven't asked us the most.. important.. question." Desmond's rich, deep voice said. His tone contained a sly smile. The group suddenly had a glimmer in their eyes.

"What do you eat?" Freya said, it was almost a whisper.

"Human blood." Aron answered.

The silence was deafening, Eve's breath caught in her throat. She felt as if she were being strangled. She already knew the answer, but hearing it out loud was almost too much.

"We don't always feed to kill. Sometimes it's just enough to get us by. However... Some of us enjoy the process." Desmond answered again.

Eve quickly realized that by "some of us", he meant everyone in their group. Her thought was validated by the smiles creeping onto all of their faces. Terrifying, sexy, and captivating.. it was a bodily reaction that Eve knew she couldn't control.

"When you feed, how does that work?" Freya chimed in again.

"Exactly as it sounds. We drink until we feel restored. We're capable of feeding on humans without killing them, we just have to feed more frequently. Just because a human is bitten doesn't mean they'll turn into a vampire, it's not that simple. Sometimes we'll get by with blood bags if we have access. Like we do now." Aron said.

"But, there is.. nothing.. like fresh blood," Liam closed his eyes and smelled the air gently. When they reopened, they were no longer blue, but a deep brown.

Desmond quickly reached a hand in the air, in a "stay" motion. Camren put a tattooed arm across Liam's chest, keeping him in place.

"Stop."

"I'm.. I'm sorry. It's still difficult. You both are so mouth watering. The scent increases when you're scared."

Desmond steamed.

"Liam, shut the fuck up. Focus. That's why we're making sure they stay calm."

Liam blushed with embarrassment. It was odd to see such human, brotherly behavior come from a group of dead creatures.

She noticed the way Desmond said "we're". It was a team effort. She also noticed how the group seemed to obey Desmond's commands, and how he often took initiative to lead. After all, he was the frontman of their band.

"Are you a...?" Aron picked up on exactly where her mind was at.

"We're a family." For some reason, hearing those words leave his mouth made her heart swell.

"A coven, if you will. Not blood brothers.. but, brothers for the blood." Liam added. He smiled as if he were proud of himself for such a quirky saying.

Camren put his head in his hands, shaking it. Aron stifled loud laughter, his expression becoming taut. Desmond groaned in annoyance, turning his head to look at Liam with a grimace.

"God, you are so insufferable sometimes."

"What??"

"We're having a serious discussion."

"I know!"

Freya cut them short.

"Aron, you said you had access to blood bags right now. Is that because of who I'm thinking of?"

Aron looked embarrassed again.

"Yes."

"So he fucking knows?" She was angry again.

Aron nodded slowly.

"Is he one too?!" She was even more heated, rapidly increasing with controlled rage. For a moment, Eve thought Freya might shoot up off the couch at Aron.

"No. No, Freya. This goes back... a very long time. Before you, or even him. We have to have a discussion about our family separate. It's too much to do here. But rest assured, he's human."

Her face was deep crimson with anger. But she accepted his answer.

Eve knew exactly who she was talking about. Freya's father was a doctor. Slowly, it all began to click. That's why they chose to stay in this city.. they had a blood bag hook-up here.

Hoping to lighten the mood, Eve asked another question.

"Aron, you cooked with garlic the other night."

He seemed amused by this, his eyes twinkling with internal laughter.

"That's nothing but a myth."

"So.... Coffins?"

"Only the weird ones use them," Camren answered, the group lightened up again.

"And the sunlight?"

"Doesn't affect us. We're all wearing special rings." Aron held up his hand.

"Like.. The Vampire Diaries?"

The disgust was prevalent on all of their faces. Desmond almost physically recoiled.

"Please. That's insulting."

She pondered for another moment.

"Can you drink animal blood?"

"Yes," Desmond was happy to answer this. He leaned forward on his knees, speaking with his hands. "It gets us by. But it's nothing compared to human blood. Especially fresh human blood. It would be like a human living off nothing but broccoli for a week straight. It's.. a very depressing diet. And it makes us sluggish. We're nowhere near our full potential on animal blood."

Eve wanted to ask them if they had powers, or any special abilities, but she didn't want to embarrass herself any further than what she already had.

As if reading her mind, Liam piped up.

"And no babe, we don't sparkle," he winked. "Matter of fact, I'm team Jacob."

Aron, Camren, and Liam cracked at this, laughing for a solid thirty seconds. Freya softened.

"You stuuupid fucking bloke," Camren laughed, his wide smile making both girls relax.

"We also can't read minds," Desmond spoke again. "But," he held up a finger, "Naturally, we are more inclined to sense a nearby human's emotions. So it's very easy to assume what one is thinking. It is partially true that we can manipulate emotions, and hypnotize humans.''

"How so?"

"Aron?" Desmond spoke.

"Allow me," He smirked.

He locked eyes with Eve, ice blue pulling her in. It was different this time. Suddenly, it seemed as if everything around them was a white fog, twisting and swirling.. It felt as though her surroundings were in another dimension, still around her, yet she couldn't touch them. The noise around them was muted. All she could focus on were Aron's eyes, the ice melting and drowning her. His voice had become silkier, itching a scratch in her brain that she couldn't place. He smiled, her heartbeat going into double time. His accent rang in her ears.

"After all.. we are your natural predators."

Her body felt as though she were sitting in a massage chair. She was warm, engulfed in pleasure, the tension releasing from her muscles. She felt a sudden urge of lust, almost to where it was unbearable. All she wanted was to be under Aron, her legs spread, her mouth moaning his na-

She was snapped back to reality, the white mist completely gone. The feeling of perpetual bliss she was wrapped in was gone, anxiety crushing her. She'd realized that this was the anxiety level she carried around all the time; that she JUST experienced true serenity for the first time in her entire life.

Embarrassed, she blushed heavily. He winked at her. The guys laughed gently.

"We don't like doing that often. We're believers in respecting free will as much as possible, leaving humans with some type of dignity," Camren said.

Freya's voice filled the air again. It seemed she'd calmed down a little bit.

"So. What exactly are you?"

"We belong to the shadow realm. We are in between this universe and another. Servants to Sleep. You could technically refer to us as 'demons' if that makes it easier to digest," Desmond used finger quotations around "demons", answering for the group again. This was the most either girl had ever heard his voice.

"Hm," Freya crossed her arms.

"And we don't age," Liam said.

"You don't age?"

"No, not physically at least. We're frozen in time at the age we transformed. It's a blessing and a curse. Because I'll never get to be a silver fox." Liam tried to make light of the situation again, as if that were even possible. How does one soften the blow of admitting you're a demon?

Desmond scoffed.

"What? YOU'RE older than I am." He shrugged.

"You're daft."

At this point, Liam had become his usual animated self again. Aron played with his tattooed hands, while Camren smiled gently at the girls. Desmond rubbed his hands on his thighs. Eve felt a twinge at her core while watching him.

"Do you have any other questions?" Camren fished, his eyes gentle.

"Yes," Freya paused and looked at Eve. "Are we.. safe?"

"Yes," they all spoke and nodded simultaneously. Not a single hint of deception lived in their eyes. Both girls believed them.

"You will always be safe if we can help it. Just please.. do not share the secret. Or it will cost you your life, and.. not by our doing," Camren warned.

In that moment, Eve put two and two together; that these four creatures in front of them were not the only vampires in existence. That she may have come across them many times before. That these creatures walked the same earth she did. She wondered where the men came from, how old they were, how and why they were changed. She felt very miniscule and small at that moment.

Her mind reeled, her intuition bouncing between comfort and terror. The crushing realization that everything would change from this point forward hit both girls. They sat breathless, in the presence of four dead souls.

Chapter Text

Would That I- Hozier

Rain pattered on the windshield, making the glass hard to see through. Windshield wipers clearing her vision, Eve tried her best to stay on the road. Her mind was so clouded.. her and Freya both sat in silence the entire drive to Eve's house.

Hozier's velvety voice filled the car, offering a small sliver of peace in the girls. Both were almost stone, processing the events of the night before and day of as much as they could. The only reason the two girls left their house was to get some space for a few hours and to hang out with Percy for a bit. She'd been gone for a night, and while he could occupy himself, she didn't ever want him to get lonely.

He chirped as Eve put her key in the lock, both girls trying to shield themselves from the rain. She opened the door and Percy ran to greet them, rubbing against both their legs. His orange tail twirled as he puttered.

"Hi, baby!"

Seeing Percy lifted Eve's spirits immediately. She scooped him up and held him in a hug, putting her head on his and bouncing lightly. He purred loudly.

A new question popped in her mind, even though Eve didn't want to think about the subject anymore. Question being.. would Percy be safe around Aron, or the rest of the boys? They said they drank animal blood at times, but also said they could resist.

She put Percy back down and went to feed him. She tended to him for a few minutes, making sure he was taken care of and he nudged her hands in a form of thanks.

Freya and Eve both sat on the couches. Eve hadn't even bothered to turn the living room light on yet. The only light came from the kitchen, trickling into the room. Not nearly enough to illuminate the entire room.

Freya sighed loudly.

"Yeah..... I don't know."

"I just. I'm so.. confused, Eve."

"Me too."

They sat for another minute.

"But, at least it's not just one of us finding out. At least we have each other, I guess," Eve said.

"Yeah. I understand why he wouldn't have told me.. I just can't seem to accept it for some reason. I feel like he lied to me. How do you keep that from your own family..?"

"I think he had to. You saw the look on his face earlier.. he looked so guilty and ashamed."

"I know.."

The two tried to take their minds off things by agreeing to both turn their phones off for the rest of the night. They decided to just hang out as if everything was normal. They watched TV, swearing off anything Horror or Romantic. The Office was decided on, and they ordered take out again.

Eve watched TV while also doing a load of laundry. She needed this normalcy to bring her back down to Earth. Aron's light eyes flashed in her mind as she folded a shirt.

Eventually, the girls winded down. They went to Eve's room, crawling onto their already-established side of the bed. Both Freya and Eve were insanely exhausted on all levels, but mentally topped them. The girls drifted off to sleep quickly as Percy curled in a warm, orange ball between the two.

____________

The next morning, both girls felt better. Eve figured her mind maybe just needed some time to process things and the shock to leave her nervous system. Upon turning her phone back on, Eve had quite a few messages. She'd only felt the need to pay attention to one contact.

A: Please take all the time you need. xx

Freya wanted to go home, so she took off. Eve debated on going back to the house or not. She was tempted to invite Aron over, to pick his brain and ask more questions. But she was worried about Percy.

E: I want you to come over.. but Percy.
A: He'll never be a risk.

Just me, she thought.

E: Please come over. Door will be unlocked.
A: Of course.

She unlocked the door and sat on the couch, not feeling herself lose consciousness. She woke just a few minutes later to the sound of her front door closing and light footsteps in the hallway.

"Darling.." His voice made everything better.

"Hi."

His arms opened, quickly pulling her in. He smelled faintly of vetiver, mixed with his own unexplainable scent. She seemed to forget everything she'd learned within the past day, sinking right into his chest. But she quickly remembered, pulling away. Aron's spirit visibly sank.

"Please tell me you aren't afraid of me now, Eve."

She hesitated, then slowly shook her head.

"Listen.. I completely understand and I'm willing to give you space. But that doesn't mean it won't.. hurt. I feel so attached to you. I've never felt this way before.. about a human, vampire, anyone.. and I want to be completely honest with you."

Eve looked back into his eyes, her heart dancing.

"When I'm with you, I.. I feel the most alive I've ever felt. Even as a human. You make me feel emotions I haven't felt in forever."

He paused.

"You can hate me, tell me to leave, you can never speak to me again and I truly wouldn't blame you. You're safer when you don't speak to me. But, I just needed you to know that. I couldn't live with myself knowing I never told you that."

The idea of never speaking to him again had never even crossed her mind. She felt a deep wave of sadness even just thinking about it.

"It's mutual, Aron. I'm just so fucking-"

"Scared? I know."

He took her face in his hands, peering at her through clouded irises. The next words that left his mouth were slow, Eve knew he meant every word.

"You.. are.. everything."

She kissed him, needing nothing but his skin on hers and his presence to overtake her. She felt such a primal need from deep inside her. Eve didn't care what he was, all she knew was that she couldn't be without him.

For some reason, Aron kept trying to apologize. Eve's hand wrapped around the nape of Aron's neck, keeping him close to her, yet his mouth kept trying to find words.

"I know we haven't known each other long, b-"

"Aron, shut up," she breathed into his neck.

"R-right."

His hands slid under her leggings, pulling her hips to his. In between kisses, she'd walked them into the kitchen. Aron found the nearest counter and pushed her ass into it, grinding his hips into hers.

"I can't get enough of you.. it's scary." He said as he kissed her neck.

She pulled back.

"Scary? Coming from you..?"

"Coming from me," he grinned, reaching back down to her face.

He put her up on the counter, undoing his belt in one swift motion. His fingers found her waistband again, pulling her leggings down. Her feet were suddenly by his shoulders, her wet core exposed.

Before she knew it, he was inside of her. She tightened around him, her mouth opening in a moan, her eyes closing as her head fell back.

He moved at a quick, yet gentle pace. It was way gentler than the last time. It was a different emotion, something she'd never seen from him. There was passion, but it wasn't mixed with aggression.. It was mixed with desperation and vulnerability. His lips were on hers, softly kissing her, soft moans escaping his lips.

"Let yourself go," He whispered softly. "I want all of you, Eve."

She felt herself peak, shivering under his hands. He finished quickly after her, kissing her intently and groaning into her ear. She pulled him back down to her, wrapping her arms around him. She just wanted him as close to her as possible. And so did he.

They sat in silence, embracing for what seemed like eternity.

"Tired?" He asked. It always seemed as if he could read Eve's mind.

She nodded into his neck.

"You haven't physically shown me where your bedroom is, but.. I can smell it from here. Smells like your perfume." She could hear the smile in his voice.

His arms wrapped around her bottom and she felt as if she were flying. In a millisecond, she was in her bed.

"Wh-?"

"It's a little perk we have. The whole super-speed thing is real," He laughed,"It's honestly very convenient."

She couldn't help but giggle. Her body had turned anxiety into humor at this point.

"This is going to take a lot of getting used to," she said drearily.

"I know. And I have time... trust me."

He laid next to her, tattooed hands brushing hair out of her face. His fingers stroked up and down her arm gently as her comforter cocooned both of them.

"Sleep, love."

It was alarming just how relaxed and at ease she felt in the presence of a monster. She couldn't quite understand it. But, she was more than okay with it. Wrapped in his arms, she quickly drifted off to sleep.

Chapter Text

We Fell In Love In October- Girl In Red

A week passed.

The year ascended into Autumn, pulling Halloween closer. Each day was rainy and cold, crunchy leaves blew at night. Soups and hot beverages were indulged in daily. The Halloween enthusiasts were growing more and more excited as the days passed.

Eve and Freya often found themselves at the boys' house, stopping home only to recharge their social batteries and visit pets. The front door of the home was a revolving door, between work shifts and six people's daily traffic.

Almost immediately, an unspoken routine had become prevalent. The individuals came and went during the day, either working, recording, or gallavanting around the small city. By night, the group (or the majority) would get together and usually pop in a horror movie while they ate dinner. Turns out, Camren loved cooking just as much as Aron. It made sense that Camren would enjoy the most human-esque activities; gardening, cooking, taking isolated walks outside, he even slept on occasion. Just for the hell of it. His soft aura was always such a nice presence to have in the home, though not to be mistaken as weak.

Eve and Camren had become quite close. It was similar to a sibling bond, but siblings who actually enjoyed each other's company. Eve found Camren very easy to talk to, despite being an immortal creature. Camren found Eve to be warm and comfortable. She was very open-minded, they could talk about almost anything with ease. The conversations flowed naturally.

Eve would often forget she was watching a vampire cook in the kitchen. He'd accidentally grab a glass too quickly, shattering it with his strength upon touch. Sometimes he'd accidentally bend knives by using too much pressure, or shove things into the oven too quickly. The old appliances in the house were outdated and definitely not equipped to keep up with super-human speed.

"It's so interesting that you don't eat food naturally, yet you love cooking."

Eve sat on the countertop, watching Camren whisk eggs effortlessly, his hands turning into a blur. He chuckled under his breath.

"I was a chef in my human life. Head chef, to be exact. I have to give myself credit.. many decades were dedicated to feeding those around me."

"And now you can't enjoy food the same."

"I can still enjoy food. It tastes the same as it used to, but, it really doesn't do much to satisfy hunger. It would be like you eating one single peanut each hour. Almost futile."

"So.. why do you still do it?" She prodded. This was the first mention of his human life she'd received.

"To me, it's an art form. It's also a necessity for our favorite guests." He smiled at her softly and shrugged, alternating between four sizzling pans on the stove.

Freya had sweetly requested breakfast for dinner. Camren usually asked the girls what they were craving, what they wanted, and him or Aron always delivered. Though Camren was always a bit more eager to get in the kitchen, he thoroughly enjoyed it.

"You could also chalk it up to habit, maybe. Like I said, this was my life's purpose." He barely paid attention to his hands as they moved, yet he was cooking perfectly. Eve nodded at him.

"I started cooking very young. Cooking with scraps to feed my mother. She was very ill, so I had to provide meals for her. It was almost a game to see if I could make something out of nothing. I frequently stole lettuce, breads, things of the sort from food carts in the town square. I'd take them home and whip something up for her.. and often, I'd go hungry. But, that didn't matter to me."

Eve's heart dropped.

"She passed away when I was still a boy. I like to think my meals kept her alive longer than she would have been if she was malnourished. I tried my hardest. And once she passed, I was completely alone. I worked my way up from Escuelerie to Head Chef throughout the years. You'd be surprised how many recipes you can learn and memorize over time."

His eyes shimmered with pride as he looked out the window, hands still busy.

"Escuelerie?" Eve questioned.

"Fancy word for Dishwasher. Though back then we didn't even have running water on a tap. It was a pretty messy job."

"Oh!"

He smiled to himself, clearly reminiscing on memories. Eve could feel Camren's love for his mother from across the room.

"I guess you could say I still cook in her memory. To take care of others in honor of her spirit. You could also say it makes me feel close to her still. Even though.." he laughed, "That was many, many moons ago."

Eve felt so much pride just being in the same room as him. She was truly impressed by how big of a heart he had, the absence of a physical heart irrelevant.

"You're a beautiful soul, Camren. Really. And you're absolutely right, you doing this truly does keep her spirit with you."

His mouth in his permanent, warm smile, he looked at Eve.

"Thanks, Eve."

"And that being said.. breakfas- well, dinner is ready!"

Food was divided onto plates, everyone grabbing one and heading into the living room. The girls wolfed their food down, not having eaten all day. The boys picked at theirs like birds, offering their extras to the girls.

"You know," Aron started, pulling everyone's attention to him, "Halloween is a week away and.. You couldn't tell it in here."

He gestured around at the lack of decorations in the house.

"Wot?" Liam raised an eyebrow at him mid-chew. "You mean the house full of vampiyuhs?" His accent made the words funnier.

Freya laughed loudly.

"Yes. It needs some... spookiness. I don't know, maybe some pumpkins or something?" The word "pumpkins" seemed to excite him quite a bit, his eyes lighting up and a smile suddenly on his face.

"There is a pumpkin farm nearby, actually," Freya said. Aron quickly snapped his fingers and made finger guns at her.

"Perfect! I'll drive. Desmond, are you coming with or are you going to stay behind and be cranky all night?"

"I am not cranky."

"Sure. Well?" He looked at the girls, asking if they were ready.

In minutes, two cars were filled with people and they headed to the nearest pumpkin farm. The sunset plunged the sky into a kaleidoscope of purples, oranges and pinks.

"Desmond, I don't think the girls have ever seen you let loose, actually. You're always so uptight around them," Aron taunted Desmond in the car.

Desmond rolled his eyes.

"I'm really not. You lot just annoy me."

"Me??" Eve asked, pointing a finger to her chest.

"How could you be annoying? You're the sweetest thing ever-"

"Would you two get a room?" Desmond snipped.

"We've got one. Want a key?" Aron jabbed his elbow into his friend's side, who sat in the passenger seat.

"I'm just saying. You can relax a little. They know about us and, well.. they obviously accept it. You don't have to have your guard u-"

"I don't remember asking you to be my therapist."

Eve's eyes widened and she sank in her seat, the bitter tone of his words stung her like she'd been whipped, and he hadn't even been talking to her. Aron, on the other hand, seemed completely unphased.

They pulled up to the farm, parking right next to Camren, Liam and Freya. They didn't split up like this on purpose, it always seemed to just naturally be that way.

This pumpkin farm had everything. A petting zoo, food court, hay rides, photo ops, and of course... a giant corn maze.

"Bloody 'ell! We NEED to do the maze, are you joking?" Liam said to the group. They all followed closely, getting into the gates.

There were tons of children running around, and this was the first time Eve had ever seen the group around children. She was nervous for a moment, then realized this was definitely not the first time they'd been around them and could control themselves. Aron seemed to sense her nervousness, squeezing her hand as they walked and smirking at her.

"Littol babies, huh? So sweet."

It still dumbfounded her that they had genuine emotions. It was a mental whiplash for her, meeting them under the impression that they were human, finding out that they were immortal beings, and then fusing the two together.. but she was working on it.

Liam and Camren lead them to the maze immediately, turning back around to look at the group.

"Okay, us three are going to go in first. And then you guys come in about a minute later. I want to see who can find the end first."

"Say less," Desmond replied, a competitive edge to his voice.

Oooh, competitive? Eve thought.

The three ran off, Freya giggling as she fought to not get her shoes stuck in the mud.

Eve, Desmond, and Aron looked at each other, competition reeling in their eyes.

They ran into the maze, close behind the three ahead of them. Apparently Camren had gotten them confused with several dead ends in a row, Liam yelling at him and Freya trying to get them to hurry.

Aron had flown past the other group, Desmond and Eve close behind. Desmond let out a loud laugh that made Eve twinge with yearning inside.

"Dead end!" Aron said, taking off before the other two. Desmond spun around and Eve walked right into him. It felt like she'd run into a brick wall at full speed. She slipped on mud and his cold hands grabbed her arms. He looked down at her, ocean eyes pulling her in. She felt as though she was drowning, she studied his lip, the dimple in his chin, his jawline, and...

"Go."

"S-sorry."

She felt off for a few minutes, mainly because she noticed that while she was looking at him, he was looking at her too, his eyes trailing around her facial features.

"Go away, you sod! We're going to win this one!" Aron had begun to get nasty with Liam, who matched his energy, the two bickering like children. The other group had finally caught up to them. The two girls laughed at the boys together, feeling weightless again.

Eve looked at Freya, who was simply covered in mud.

"What happen-"

"You know me. These long legs can get me far, but.. when I fall, I take a tumble."

They erupted into giggles, making all of the men turn to look at them. Happiness oozed from their eyes, even Desmond's. It seemed as if the men had all forgotten they were competing.

Desmond cut in.

"I'm not losing this."

He strided over to Eve, pulling her hand and yanking her on his back. She gasped. Quickly, he and Aron began to run, quickly, through the maze.

"Cheater!" Camren barked from a mile behind. Eve thought he had said "Cheetah!" at first. It made her giggle.

Aron and Desmond laughed darkly, their stubbornness rearing its head. The three went around corner after corner, winding until Eve got dizzy. Darting through the maze, they quickly found the exit.

"Aww you've gotta be focken' kiddin me!" Liam and Camren both groaned.

"Well, I've got a pretty girl, I guess I can't win everything," Liam winked at Freya, her cheeks lit up red.

"You better be careful talking about my dear cousin like that," Aron said to Liam. "You could really end up as family someday. I'd love for literally anything else."

Liam playfully punched him in the arm.

Camren led the group over to the big pumpkin area. They all picked pumpkins, Liam of course picking the most obnoxiously large one. Aron and Desmond had settled for decently sized ones also, while Camren opted for a smaller one.

He shrugged.

"For pie."

After buying their good finds, the group began the walk back to the car.

"Mine's bigger," Liam poked at Desmond, winking.

Desmond responded with a "Hmph."

On the drive home, Eve kept thinking about when she bumped into Desmond. The look in his eyes... she felt her heart race just thinking about it. His greenish blue orbs commanded her attention, while claiming dominance over her. Just a preview.

He intimidated her immensely.. It was almost painful to hold eye contact with him. Guilt washed over her. How dare she be involved with Aron, while also thinking of his friend? What was wrong with her?

Once they returned to the house, they all carved their pumpkins at the dining room table. The boys made sure the girls took extra care while using the knives. Cute Halloween music played on their speaker, and everyone was in a silly mood- even Desmond.

The evening ended with the girls passing out on the couch. Aron carried Eve to his room and laid her on his bed, Liam did the same with Freya, but in his room. Camren spent hours making pumpkin pie for the girls by hand. He wanted the scent to fill the air by the time they woke. Desmond returned to the study to read, and he did, until the morning sun peeked through the clouds.

The wheel of the year continued to turn, getting deeper into Fall. The veil between the living and the dead was thinning, almost nonexistent at this point, and everyone in the house could feel it.

Chapter Text

WE KNOW WHERE YOU FUCKING LIVE- Marilyn Manson

"I want to do something.. spooky," Aron said.

The group sat in the living room, a horror movie on the large TV. The room was pitch black aside from the light casting from the television. The guys sat sprawled on the living room furniture, Eve and Freya laid cuddled under a blanket together.

"What is it with you and 'spooky'?" Desmond quoted with his fingers, "You're literally dead."

"Yeah and?"

"And, just go eat a human and get it over with."

"No, I mean like.. adventurous."

"That's not adventurous?"

"No, I-" Aron made a loud noise of frustration. "You know what I mean! Something fun!"

"Have any of you been Urban Exploring?" Eve asked.

"Exploring abandoned places?" Liam questioned.

"Yeah. There's an abandoned hospital about 20 miles away. It's really far out in the country. But it's been there for years and they're just not demolishing it. It's been abandoned for a really long time." She answered.

Aron's eyes lit up at this.

"Yes. That's what I'm talking about. Let's go."

"This sounds like a bad idea.. I'm in," Liam said.

After a bit of convincing, Desmond and Camren reluctantly followed suit. They piled into cars and made their way to this hospital.

It was in the neighboring county, on the crest of a large metropolitan city. The dark engulfed the car, swallowing them all whole. The vast countryside around them was an ocean of darkness. Stars poked through, glimmering and dancing. They were bright out here, away from the city lights and haze.

Due to heavy instructions from Freya, they parked a good 10 minutes away on a stray dirt road. Freya was concerned about police presence, while the men around her laughed.

"That's a good one," Desmond said. You'd think she'd said she was concerned about chihuahuas.

They left the car, making sure to lock it. Camren scooped Freya on his back, Eve was on Aron's, and they quickly sped to the building.

It loomed over them, towering at a huge height. The old red brick had started to crumble, weeds and ivy had overtaken the sides. The glass in the windows had been shattered, no doubt by a group of vandals.

"We have to go in through the back." Eve said. "Front door is chained shut."

"It's actually really cute that you guys think that could stop us," Liam said, laughing darkly.

They humored the girls, squeezing through the small makeshift entrance on the South side of the building. Once inside, they were plunged into darkness again until Eve activated the flashlight on her phone.

The building was still full of old medical equipment, patient forms, and cobwebs. Liam had a fun time putting on an "old-timey voice" and reading information from the papers while adjusting fake glasses.

The men had sparked discussion about old illnesses and diseases that no longer existed, or were now easily curable. They talked about the plague for quite a bit. This bored the girls to no end. Eve and Freya had wandered away from them, intrigued by each new room they entered. They knew the boys would find them easily when they wanted to.

Freya and Eve made their way onto the second floor, being extra careful not to break through any of the old steps. The stairs squeaked under their feet, making both of them nervous.

"Maybe I shouldn't have eaten that burger last night," Eve joked.

Eventually, they made it to the end of the long corridor on the second floor. They entered the last room on the right, flashlights guiding their way. They almost jumped out of their skin when their lights illuminated a group of men that were not.. their.. group.

The room was dark, but there was a small lantern in the corner. The group was about 5-6 men, all white, most of them twice their size and covered in prison tattoos. The light was clearly being used to illuminate the wall, which was in the process of being spray painted with a large swastika. The men had been laughing about something. They turned around quickly when the girls' footsteps entered the room. The two girls froze.

Skinheads, Eve thought.

Fuck.

Her breath caught in her throat as her eyes met the leader's. All of the men smiled wickedly, clearly amused at the sight of Eve and Freya. Though, even more amused by their obvious fear. The two looked like deer in headlights, wide-eyed and frozen. Eve felt sick to her stomach. She was always on the lookout for her safety as a woman, and all of the emergency alarm bells were ringing in her mind. Freya bravely uttered out loud.

"S-sorry to bother you, we'll be goin-"

"No. Stay. It's really a party now that two whores have arrived." The men all laughed as they walked toward the girls.

"Stop!" Eve's voice wavered.

They had completely forgotten about the boys downstairs at that moment. Their only focus was to get out of this situation alive.

Eve's legs felt like concrete. She couldn't move even though she was trying her hardest. Just stuck, glued to the cement, a mouse caught in a trap. She put her arms in front of her to brace herself as the bald man strided over to her.

She was quickly unglued and knocked onto the floor, toppling over Freya who also went down. Loud growling filled the room and the men were startled.

"Who the fuck are you?!" A voice yelled.

Eve focused on getting feeling back into her hands, moving her wrists and searching for Freya in the dim room. Tears fell from Freya's eyes and Eve heard soft sobs coming from her. She'd clearly broken something. Everything around them was a blur.

Eve glanced up to witness the most horrific scene she'd ever laid eyes on.

Desmond, Liam, Camren and Aron all had their backs turned to them, guarding the girls. The skinheads looked horrified, their faces twisted in fear.

One of the members held a large black gun in his hand. He quickly pointed it at Desmond and shot it, the bullet ricocheting and flying into the brick wall. The group snickered as the man's panicked eyes darted between all of them.

"I'm going to enjoy this one.. I haven't eaten a Nazi in years, how nostalgic," She heard Camren speak, but his voice was so much lower than it usually was. He cocked his head to the side.

Desmond laughed darkly, the sound terrifying to Eve.

"I still hate you just as much as I did in '41, you pieces of shit," Aron said.

The four became blurs, shooting over to the men. Eve watched as they grabbed the skinheads, launching serrated teeth into their flesh and ripping pieces out, spitting them across the room and laughing. The room erupted into animalistic shrieks and screams of agony, filling Eve's ears painfully. Her hands flew to her ears and she muffled the noise out as much as she could.

Aron and Liam danced over to one man, grabbing both of his arms and twisting them both at the same time, loud "pop!"s filled the air.

They feasted, drinking like a newborn baby on milk, eyes dark as night.

"Oh no you don't," Camren stalked over to the corner, where one man sat curled in a bawl, vomiting on himself.

"Fucking disgusting," He snarled.

Loud "crack!", "pop!", and "snap!"s filled the girls ears along with wails of anguish as the men laughed and toyed with their prey.

Eve had buried her face in Freya's back, but glanced up to see the entire gang on the floor, lifeless and blood soaked. Body pieces lay scattered around the cement. Only one man remained: the leader who'd spoken to the girls. He'd been restrained by Desmond, who'd latched onto his neck and drank, leaving the man dizzy and weakened.

The three stood up and walked over to Desmond, wiping blood from their pale chins.

Desmond pushed the leader back, making him fall into a sitting position. He yanked him back up to standing, looking him eye to eye and shaking his head. The man looked petrified, his lack of blood making his skin look translucent as he held eye contact with Desmond. Eve could tell the man was barely even conscious.

"May I remind you.." Desmond spoke.

"You lost the war."

He launched his hand into the man's chest cavity, reaching in and ripping his heart out. A blank expression washed over the Nazi's face as the life left his body and he fell to his knees. Aron appeared behind him and grabbed his head, twisting it off cleanly. All four had clearly been having the grandest time.

Desmond tossed the man's heart off to the side, where Liam, Aron, and Camren began to play hacky-sack with it.

He spit on the Nazi's corpse and the other three followed suit.

"Nazi fucking scum."

The entire attack felt 60 seconds long. Eve and Freya both held each other, sobbing into one another, finding comfort in a familiar body as they tried to block out the sights and sounds of the massacre. Eve's entire body was on fire with pain, shooting down her arms and legs. She knew Freya was deeply injured. The metallic scent of blood was overwhelming, making her lightheaded and nauseous. Her brain swirled, her head dizzy. Her entire body trembled.

In milliseconds, the two were split apart, Eve being carried in a strong set of arms. She didn't dare open her eyes, she just sobbed uncontrollably, hyperventilating.

"Hey.. sh, sh. It's me. Breathe, baby. I'm right here. Please breathe. In and out. You're okay. You're okay... you're okay. You're safe."

Aron's normal voice had soothed her, washing yearning over her. She was terrified, shaking, but the familiarity of Aron comforted her.

"Look at me," His gentle voice requested.

He'd stopped running. They were in the car, he'd set her in the back seat and clicked her seatbelt in a flash. The overhead car light filled the space.

She glanced up at him and met his familiar ice blue eyes. They were the brightest she'd ever seen them. His skin glowed. His caramel hair was rich in color, and his skin, oh did his skin feel so smooth. It felt like the first time she'd seen him, her stomach twisting into a knot and her heart racing.

"Come here. Keep breathing. It's okay. It didn't happen, it wasn't real."

He pulled her into his chest, petting her hair and holding her tight. He smelled like death. Actual death. In fact, the entire car did. Desmond drove quickly through the winding country roads.

"I'm right here. Sleep.." he urged softly.

His hands continued to rub her soothingly.

"It wasn't real," he whispered.

Chapter Text

Third Degree- Movements

Eve sat on the wooden chair, her legs crossed at the ankles. She was nervously picking at a loose strand on her cardigan, something she realized she'd recently adopted as a nervous tick. She used to bite her nails and the skin around them, but pulled herself from that habit. This obviously replaced that. Light indie music trickled through the overhead speakers above her.

She was in a coffee shop on Main Street. Since it was a small town, only regulars seemed to swing through this business. It was a medium volume clientele, locals mainly, rarely a passing traveler would wander in. This place was a hidden gem for the most part. The smell of fresh coffee beans filled the air.

The tiny table she sat at was meant just for two, with a chess board atop it. The black and white squares seemed to challenge her, as if they were insulting her intelligence. She couldn't be bothered to care, her mind was clouded with swirling thoughts. Wind roared outside of the tall window next to her, rain and wet leaves slapping the glass in the blowing air. A nearby intersection had its lights burnt out, an odd car passing here and there. The town was sleepy today. So was she.

As she looked outside, she'd come to the conclusion her brain looked the same as it did past these windows, just inside her skull.

Aron was at the counter ordering drinks for the two of them, no doubt non-verbally putting his charm on the cashier. The older man blushed, stuttering as he handed Aron two cups. Aron smiled as he turned on his heel. Eve knew he charmed people on purpose. He loved to watch them get flustered and struggle to appear normal.

What a sadist, Eve thought.

Then again, she knew if she had that power.. she might do the same. Have to make eternity a little exciting, right?

He reached the table, sitting down across from her and handing her a hot cup. She was quiet today, and she knew Aron could tell. He brought her here as a means of getting her out of the house. Seasonal depression had always choked her around this time of year, and he could sense it creeping in on her. Of course, the events of the night before hadn't helped. She was still trying to process everything and they hadn't discussed it yet. It was a large elephant in the room that Eve wished she could just run away from.. but she knew she couldn't.

"I got a hot chocolate for you. Extra whipped cream. I even managed to get some shaved cocoa on it for you." He smirked, pleased with himself. That was obviously thanks to his flirting.

"Thanks."

She took the cup, feeling the heat from the scalding hot liquid creep through layers of plastic.

Aron took a swirl stick and played with his drink, looking down at it.

"What did you get?"

"Tea."

"Ah."

The silence was awkward and made Eve want to hide under the table. This was the first time her and Aron ever faced an awkward silence. He seemed content, but she was clearly not herself. She sipped her chocolate drink and felt the heat claw down her throat.

They sat for a couple minutes before Aron gently grabbed her free hand on the table.

"I.. really care about you."

She looked up at him, meeting his eyes. They were soft and gentle.

"And... as much as I want to apologize for last night, I'm not sure I can. I can't apologize and honestly express remorse, because I don't regret what happened."

He lowered his voice as her eyes darted to the floor.

"They were going to kill you, Eve."

His grip tightened on her hand as a means of support.

"I have no qualms about what we did."

She bit her lip.

"However... I can express genuine remorse for what you saw. I wish you didn't see any of it. And I sincerely apologize." His voice laid emphasis on the last two words.

She nodded.

"Being that I care about you.. and what we have between us, I want to be completely open with you. And I want you to know everything about me."

She blinked slowly.

"If you're ready, that is. And.. if you want to. I could understand if you wouldn't, of cou-"

"I do."

The stress in his brows softened momentarily.

"I have a lot of questions."

It was his turn to nod.

"Anything you want."

"What year were you born?"

"1922."

It felt like a sudden slap to the face. She wasn't even sure what year she expected him to say. She tried to do quick math in her mind but was struggling to pull numbers.

"So you're..?"

"I'm nearly a hundred years old."

She made a face, clearly uncomfortable. Her eyes studied his face, not a day over 25. He didn't look like a teenager, not at all. He had the high cheekbones and sharp jawline of a grown man. This confused her.

"So how old were you when you turned?"

"23."

He chuckled softly. He could see her trying to do math in her mind as she studied his face. He shook his head and shrugged.

"I know, it's weird. Even as a human, I looked a bit older."

"Can you just tell me everything..? In your words? I have so many questions and I don't even know where to start."

His eyes smiled at her.

"Of course."

She took another sip of her drink and prepared for the influx of information she was about to receive.

He took a deep breath and released her hand, grabbing his drink. Aron made sure to keep his voice hushed just enough to where passerby couldn't overhear him.

"I was born in 1922 in Cardiff, Wales during the Great Depression. My parents were farmers. Potato farmers. I had many siblings, as most farm families did. I had 9.. some older, some younger. We lived on scraps. It wasn't the best life, honestly. But our home was filled with love. We fought like siblings do, and we worked hard in the fields all day, but when we got home it was all warmth."

Eve watched his face as he talked.

"When I was 17, World War II began. People thought the world was ending, especially since everyone around us was heavily religious. It was the end times and we were all preparing to die. In 1941, I was 19 and the Cardiff Blitz happened. The Nazis attacked Wales with bombs. This was when my brothers and I were drafted.. all at the same time. My father was so proud. My mother was heartbroken. When we left, she thought it was the last time she'd see any of us alive. I'll never forget the way her and my sisters sobbed."

She felt a pang of grief in her heart.

"I fought for four years. Killed many and was wounded often. Felt like a zombie almost the entire time I was there. But I was defending my country, my father and mother and siblings who couldn't fight for themselves. It gave me pride.. gave me a purpose.4 The war officially ended in 1945. I lingered in the area for a few weeks, getting my bearings together before going back home. And.. that's when I was changed.

The military never heard from me, I never filled out discharge paperwork, so they assumed I died in battle. Especially because they never found my body. To them, I'd vanished. I didn't keep in contact with any of the fellow soldiers I met, I was just gone. Little did anyone know, I was transforming in an empty bunker all by myself.

The military filed official death certificates for me and alerted my family. At this point.. I didn't know what to do. Desmond proposed an offer to me, to stay in the clan, but I rebelled. I was so angry and wanted nothing to do with it. I resented him for changing me. For years I'd waited to go home to my family. And now the war was over and I couldn't even do that."

Eve followed along. She completely forgot Desmond would exist in this story and felt foolish once she realized Desmond was the only reason Aron sat in front of her.

"I eventually decided against my better judgment and went home. I just missed them all so much, I had no one else. I remember it vividly. It was early in the morning, I'd over fed myself on blood so my family wouldn't be as much at risk. I came inside and my parents were scared. They were grieving my death and here I come, walking through the front door like a ghost. My father tried to shoot me. It didn't work and things got.. intense. My mother thought I was a demon."

He laughed.

"She wasn't entirely wrong, I guess. Eventually, they broke down and listened to me. My parents crumbled and told me I needed to stay in the cellar. I did as they told and lived under the house for years. They fed me small animals, rabbits mainly. Or they'd drain blood from livestock and send it down to me. But I could never fully satisfy the thirst.. I was so starved and knew they were just upstairs. The temptation was too much. I couldn't bear to even think I was tempted to kill my own family. But they insisted on keeping me hidden. Absolutely nobody could know I was back, since the rest of Cardiff thought I died in battle."

He rubbed the top of her hand with his thumb.

"My parents and I sat down and realistically had a talk about the future- how I would outlive them and they would be at risk for the rest of their lives.. not to mention my siblings. Mutually, we decided it would be best if I moved away. I couldn't have them risk their lives every day just to keep me around. So... I said my goodbyes forever."

He paused, clearly fighting emotions that rose to the surface.

"I rekindled with Desmond and moved to London. And I've been with him, Camren, and Liam since. They are my family now."

"So they were with him before you were?"

"Yes.. I was the last one to turn and the newest to join. They often tease me about it. I'll always be the younger brother to them." He laughed softly and rolled his eyes.

"But that's why our stage numbers are one through four. I'm the fourth one to have joined."

Eve sat back in her chair.

"Ohhhh. I see."

She continued to digest, slowly taking everything in. Suddenly a burning question formed in her mind.

"How are you related to Freya?"

He sighed.

"It's very close generationally. One of my youngest brothers, Sion, is her dad's father. Sion moved to the US in the 1960's and her father was born here. We have a very large family tree."

"So you're her gre-"

"Please don't say it. It's just as weird for me as it is for you."

They both stayed silent for a moment, looking at each other. As if on cue, they both burst into laughter, their nerves dissolving around them.

"Her father's been helping us out while we're here and smuggling blood from the hospital. We're trying to remain as inconspicuous as possible. The less human attacks, the better. That's why last night was.. a lot. The combination of thirst and our anger towards them was intense."

Eve nodded, playing with her hands in her lap.

"I think.. I'm out of questions," she said, looking up into his eyes, "at least for now."

Aron smiled at her again and her heart thumped loudly.

"Thank you for being so open with me. You really don't owe me anything, much less telling me things like that."

His brows quickly furrowed and he reached outward for her hand again. She obliged, putting her soft hand in his.

"Of course I'm going to be honest with you. Learning all of this isn't easy, and you've been nothing but gracious in accepting what I am."

On instinct, she almost told him she loved him. She had to bite her tongue and pull back, the overwhelming urge was almost too much to fight. How could she feel so strongly about someone she'd known for such a short amount of time? Sure, he was charming and incredibly handsome, but she felt an underlying magnetism toward him. She'd never felt this way about any other person before, not even her long-term exes. Eve had felt intense infatuation before in her life, and she could tell this wasn't it. This was.. cosmic.

Chapter Text

Closer- In This Moment

The next few days flew by.

Eve worked a few shifts at Rick's, Freya worked her usual Starbucks hours. Their time not working was spent bouncing between their own places and the boys' house. The girls didn't see each other much due to having complete opposite work schedules.

The guys were recording here and there. It wasn't every day, but on the days they weren't recording, they were busy writing.

Halloween landed on a Saturday this year, meaning Rick's had two back-to-back Halloween shows. One on Friday and one on Saturday. To help encourage tips, skimpy costumes for the staff were encouraged. Eve opted to be a sexy black cat. It was her go-to costume each year if she didn't feel creative or got lazy. It suited her, with her jet black hair, pointy black nails and almond shaped eyes. On Saturday, she ended her shift at 4 AM and drove to Aron's. He immediately opened the door with a grin.

The guys were scattered about the house. Camren was in the living room. He waved as Eve walked past him on the way up to Aron's room.

Once in his bedroom, Aron shut the door behind him. A wicked grin danced across his face.

Eve missed him. His mouth found hers and they kissed with passion. He pulled back and groaned into her neck, then his hands went to her ass again. He smirked into her neck as his fingers toyed with her fake tail.

"Now... Percy will always be safe with me. But.. this is a kitty I'd love to eat."

Her heart leapt.

"Sit. Be a good pet."

She sat on his bed, looking up at him.

Aron's wide hands fell to his belt, maintaining eye contact with her. He pulled downward on his waistband, exposing his lower abdomen. His tight gray shirt rose up slightly and he chuckled. It hugged his muscles so perfectly, giving her just a taste.  Aron always took such pleasure in teasing her. Lust burned in his eyes as desperation increased in hers. In one swift motion, his belt was out of the loops and in his hands.

He walked over to her and bent down, wrapping the belt around her neck like a leash.

"Mmm. Mon chaton..."

Eve melted at this. She knew bits and pieces of French, taking it on and off throughout high school. He'd breathed "My Kitten" in her face. Having a man speak any other language to her was a turn on.. but French? During foreplay? With his accent? She couldn't control herself.

She stood up quickly, just to be yanked forward by him. An inch away from his face, he scolded her. His brows furrowed and he cocked his head to one side.

"Tsk. So eager. So.. greedy."

He shook his head slowly, his eyes burning into hers.

"Lay down."

She listened to him, eagerly awaiting his next move.

He was between her legs, kissing her thighs again. She wore a black leather miniskirt and fishnets to work tonight. However, she didn't wear panties.

He spread her legs and groaned loudly.

"No panties? Who the fuck let you out of the house like that? You're such a dirty bitch.. I need to taste how badly you've been wanting to be fucked all night."

Aron ripped her fishnets and kissed her in between her hips. His tongue found all of the right areas and his fingers worked just as they'd done several times before. In minutes, she was a writhing, squirming mess underneath him about to unravel.

"No."

He denied her, pulling at his belt. She rose up close to him and he kissed her mouth hungrily. She accidentally bit her own lip and he tasted blood, spiraling. His eyes turned black as night, hollow orbs underneath thick lashes. Deep indentations appeared on his forehead and he growled loudly in frustration, pausing and turning away from her.

Eve knew she should be terrified. She should want to scream, to run away. The only time she'd seen him in this dark form was when he was ready to feed or wanting to attack. She'd never witnessed him like this up close. Everything in that moment was turning her on beyond belief, she felt a hotness at her core and she moaned, bucking her hips against his and grabbing his shirt.

"P-please.. fuck.. please. Fuck me like the devil you are."

Something in Aron snapped.

He pinned her hands down and put his face in her neck, breathing her scent in.. growing hungrier. He kissed the crook of her neck, then licked up it, and she instinctively wrapped her legs around him.

"I could fucking kill you, Eve. And I know if I got a taste.. I'd drain you dry." His voice was an octave lower than normal, laced with thick lust.

"I don't care. Please. Just do.. anything you want to me. I'm yours, I'm-"

He was suddenly inside of her, moaning under his breath. She'd never been used in such a way before. He was violent, and dominant, and... terrifying. He didn't hold back as much as he had the first few times. He kept going, and forced her to look him in his coal black eyes.

"Did I say you could look away?" He snarled.

He yanked on the belt that was a makeshift leash, pulling her face to his as his length went in and out of her. He grabbed her face and forced her to look down at him fucking her. She moaned loudly and Aron pulled out of her quickly.

"Get on your knees. On the floor."

She followed, dropping and looking up at him with her light eyes.

"Close your eyes."

He walked to the light switch, turning it off with a flick. Eve heard shuffling around in a drawer before Aron's voice filled her ears again. When she opened them, the lighting in the room was dimmer than before. The only light came from a small lamp in the corner. The room was heavily cast into shadows, with just enough light to softly illuminate both bodies.

Her gaze averted up his body and met his face. It had now been completely covered, obscured by the mask she once saw him use onstage. The last time she'd seen this mask was the first night they met. It clicked in her mind just how much had changed since that evening, how much she'd grown to adore this man, creature, under her hands.

"I like to dress up for you, too, you know," Aron's silky voice danced. She could hear the smirk in his tone.

Eve noticed that his eyes were still jet black, and the lack of contrast between the black mask and his empty eyes made her mind blur.

"Play nice, kitty."

His fingers wove into her thick hair and she was bobbing on his length, taking all of him in her throat, as much as she could. She gurgled, earning moans of approval from Aron. His hips began to buck against her face and he gasped, tightening his hands in her hair. She maintained eye contact with the soulless eyes staring down at her as he thrusted into her mouth. Moans vibrated around him and an almost whimper escaped from the mask.

"P-please fuck me again," Eve pulled back and gasped.

He seemed to ignore her, turning around and going to sit on the bed by himself. The masked man dressed in solid black, he almost resembled a shadow figure. She got up to follow him, but he quickly disapproved.

"Nope."

He snapped his fingers, then pointed to the floor.

"Crawl to me. Slow."

She did, enjoying every second of the tease. He was rock hard already, and his dark eyes did something unexplainable to her. It drove her crazy in a primal way.

Her hands paved the way in front of her and she arched her back, on all fours. Slowly, she sauntered over to him with a smirk on her face and sex in her eyes. Reaching his knees, she pulled herself up and onto his lap, straddling him.

Breathless, he hissed through his teeth as his cock slipped under her skirt and into her wetness. His head fell back. She whined loudly, tightening around him and moved her hips, using both hands on his chest to move her weight back and forth. Her large hips were straddling his, his hands full of her ass.

"You feel so fucking good, Eve. Fuck, luv, you're so amazing," He breathed as she rode him.

She looked down at him, black curls dangling above him, and spit on the mask. He growled loudly and quickly had his hands around her neck.

"Do I have to punish you?"

Eve giggled and her eyes rolled back as she bit her lip again. He grabbed her hips and rocked them back and forth, encouraging as much movement as possible. Her knees shook with pleasure and the knot at her core pulsed. His dark eyes stayed focused on her through the mask.

"Look at me," she said breathily, "look at me while you cum inside me."

No sooner had the words left her mouth, both of them finished simultaneously. His hands squeezed her ass as he filled her, her mouth opening with a moan as she throbbed around him.

She collapsed into a mess next to him and threw off her cat ears. She stripped whatever clothing was left on her off and threw it to the floor. He kissed all over her body, slowly, relishing every one.

His hands continued to rub her skin and she looked down at him to be greeted by soft blue eyes. He was so.. intimate. Every brush of his fingers was sentimental, every glance was deliberate.

He stripped also, and Eve found it funny just how comfortable they'd become with each other. Here she was, in a vampire's bed, naked, post-sex. How the fuck did she get here? She laughed to herself, thinking that her younger self would be SO impressed with her now. She'd always been a fan of vampire-lore, and had actually hoped they were real, but never imagined she'd find their existence in her small town. But she was so grateful for it.

"You're quiet. Are you okay? Did I hurt you?" His tone suddenly concerned.

"I'm okay. Just thinking."

"About?" He rolled on his side and propped up on an elbow, studying her face. His other hand ran fingers across her warm flesh tenderly.

"I'm just grateful I know you," she kept it simple, not wanting to overwhelm him with mushiness.

He smiled and kissed her cheek.

"Likewise, love.." his fingers trailed, "I just hope you know how utterly perfect you are."

On paper, everything he said was too correct. Too perfect, a character out of a cheesy romance movie. But when his voice said it, it was backed with authenticity. It came from his soul and Eve felt it.

Eve quickly drifted off, dreams filled with familiar faces and coal black eyes. And so did Aron. Surprisingly, he allowed himself to rest. This was the first time he'd actually slept next to a woman in years. The two lovers lie with limbs tangled together, dreams of each other.

Chapter Text

The Ghost Of You- My Chemical Romance

The next few weeks passed in a blur. The air turned cold and dewy frost hardened on the grass overnight. Days became shorter, the inky black sky swallowing the world whole. Camren's porch plants had withered into sad, lifeless weeds in their pots.

Eve continued her usual cycle of work and bouncing between her own home and the boys'. Percy and Aron had become acclimated with one another, Percy finally letting his guard down around him. He could sense that Aron was a natural predator of his. At first, if Aron was in the house, Percy would vanish. But eventually he made his way out through coaxing and lots of baby talk from Aron. The treats he offered helped as well. Aron always came bearing treats for Percy, and Eve found it adorable.

Aron and Eve reached the point of just dropping over at each other's houses unannounced. Today, Eve felt like stopping over. The boys didn't really do too much outside of recording or staying in. Sometimes they'd go for drives and explore the area, maybe pop in a bar if they were really bored. But never anything too rowdy- they kept that energy in the house. They never did anything to attract attention to themselves.

Cold wind wrapped around Eve as she got out of her car. Her arms in a bear hug to preserve as much body heat as possible, she broke into a run to the wooden front door. She lifted her hand to knock, but it swung open before she could make contact.

Desmond's tall, lanky stature stood in the doorframe, dressed in a loose black hoodie and gray joggers. He almost had to duck to enter and exit the house. Eve only stood a little over 5', meaning Desmond towered over her, him easily being over 6 foot. His eyes sent a chill down Eve's spine. His brown hair was disheveled and his eyes had deep bags under them.

"He's not here," he firmly said.

"I-?" Eve wasn't expecting him to open the door, much less to have such a tone in his voice.

"Okay?" she replied.

His brown eyes stared into her. They were usually blue, she noticed. Realizing what that meant, a pang in her stomach surfaced. He was thirsty... that would explain the crabbiness. The staring match seemed to last forever, both looking at each other with a slight scowl.

"Can I at least come in?"

"Why?"

"Because it's cold?" She asked defensively, throwing her arms up.

She'd never felt unwelcome here before. As if on queue with her words, a huge gust of wind blew, causing her to shiver and hug herself again. She wondered where Aron was, and who else was in the house... if anyone. The cold chilled her to the bone and made her even more irritated.

He looked down at her. She knew what the answer was. Right as she was about to give up, to turn on her heel and walk back to her Jeep, he relented.

"I guess if I don't, I'll never hear the end of it," he groveled, stepping away from the frame and letting her in.

She walked past him and stepped through a cloud of his scent. It was the first time she smelled him. It was a mix of deep amber and musk, with a faint undertone of sandalwood and... smoke? Yet, it was a bit sweeter than the smell of Aron.

The door closed with force behind her, making her jump. What the fuck was HIS issue? Eve had done absolutely nothing to him.

She stood in the front hallway, unsure of where to go. She hadn't thought this far. Was she supposed to just go into Aron's room and wait for him to get back? That could be awhile depending on where he went, and Eve knew it would feel awkward. She decided to stake her claim on a portion of the sectional. She pulled a nearby blanket on top of herself and kicked her feet up on the couch, leaning back against one of the couch pillows. Desmond was staring daggers, and Eve could feel it from across the room. His dark pupils burned into her.

He sat on the other end of the sectional, thick tension filling the room for no apparent reason. All Eve did was stop over, and this had been fine each time before. The guys were usually home and were always lively, especially Liam. He always made her laugh upon arrival. To be greeted with such animosity was so.. different. She couldn't quite understand what had made Desmond so angry, actually angry, with her. She'd never even really spoken to him much, especially not just one-on-one.

She looked at him, a surge of courage coursing through her.

"Did I do something to you?" She locked eyes with him.

He almost rolled his eyes, glancing away.

"No."

He picked up a book he'd obviously been reading before her arrival. Averting his attention away from her, he made her feel invisible. The hardcover book in his hands looked so tiny between his fingers. The wind howled outside, rattling the old windows in the living room as he flicked to the next page, completely ignoring her presence. She felt as if she were intruding.

The silence was so awkward.

It was never this quiet in the house. They were obviously alone. She took note that it felt.. lifeless without the group occupying it. Eve grabbed her phone and checked Freya's location. Starbucks. She texted Aron.

E: Hey, I stopped over but you're not here.

A clock behind Desmond ticked. She could hear her own breath, her lungs expanding and deflating. Suddenly it seemed as if she could hear every small sound in the universe and it overstimulated her beyond belief.

She decided to push Desmond.

This wasn't just his house, she thought. It belonged just as much to Aron, too.

"What are you reading?" She asked, and he answered in a monotone voice without looking up.

"The Man of Feeling. Henry Mackenzie."

"Oh, I've never heard of-"

"I wouldn't assume so," He replied dryly.

She sat silent for a moment, anger building inside of her. How could this man that sat before her be the same one that took part in saving her life just a few weeks ago? His tone was so cold and so bitter, she almost felt ashamed to even be in the same room as him. She was equally confused and hurt. The words left her mouth before her brain could tell her to stop.

"What the fuck is your problem?"

The second they left her lips, she regretted it. His eyes flickered up to hers, full of malice. She knew he was going to hurt her. Physically, most likely. But even if he spared her life, he would hurt her emotionally. On instinct, her body tensed and braced itself.

"You want to know my problem, Eve?" He chuckled darkly, making her heart drop. He snapped the book shut in his hand.

"My problem is that I think you're selfish." Even though she was being scolded, his posh accent made the words sound beautiful.

Her throat was hot with fear, yet she still managed to speak. She truly didn't know what he was about to say.

"Selfi-?"

"Yeah, I think you're selfish. You come around here, clinging to Aron's side knowing damn well he's not like you. That NONE of us are like you. I thought once you found out, both you girls would run. I wanted you to. But of course.." he trailed off, clearly annoyed and angry.

"Listen to me. You're going to put Aron in a really intolerable spot. You're either going to make him feel pressured to cave, to change you, or you're going to get hurt. Both of these things put ALL of us at risk.

All I wanted was to come here to write and record, that's it. To be able to work without distractions at home. I truly did not want to become acquainted with people like YOU. I did not want to stumble into being a background character of a damn vampire romance novel." His words dripped with disgust.

Eve held back sobs, her throat squeezing in on itself. She fought against them so hard. The threat of tears began to prick behind her eyes.

"I wish you'd leave us alone. Both you and Freya, but you especially." He paused. "At least Freya has a fucking excuse... YOU just linger."

"You're a fucking asshole," She spat as she shook her head.

"Yeah, I might be. But you seem to be forgetting that I'm a fucking vampire. We're NOT like you. And it's best that you realize that and stay the fuck away."

She stood up, instantly wanting to just leave. She was so hurt and felt such betrayal, her heart raced and she felt a sob building in her throat.

"For your own good." Desmond said, his voice bitter.

He knew he hurt her and obviously had no issues with it at all.

She ran out the front door, tears streaming down her face. She felt so stupid. How could she really think any of this would work out? That she could live happily ever after with a fucking vampire? As much as she hated what he said, Desmond was right. She needed to stay away.

Once in her Jeep, she completely lost it. Gut wrenching sobs escaped her throat, clouding her vision and making it hard to see. She continued to drive, just wanting to be safe at home. Eventually, she made her way into the house and went straight to her bed. She wanted to disappear. Laying in the fetal position, she continued to cry, it just wouldn't stop leaving her body.

Percy came running, puttering and jumping on top of the crying lump under the covers. He nudged his way to her face and she squeezed him close to her. She thought about a few weeks ago, when Desmond ripped the skinhead's heart out of his chest. That's exactly how his words towards her felt.

Who did she think she was? How could she have been so fucking stupid? Her embarrassment made her want to die. Her world felt as if it were collapsing around her and it was hard to breathe. Eve grabbed her phone and shut it off quickly, not wanting to read any replies Aron may have sent earlier, and not wanting to talk to anyone. For the first time in almost two months, she wanted nothing to do with him and that thought made her feel so empty. In the low light of her room, she cried herself to sleep, reassessing her place in the world and in this life.

Chapter Text

Smother- Daughter

Eve spent the next four days in her bed.

She found coverage for her shifts, kept her phone off, and hibernated under her sheets with the blinds shut and the TV cranked to drown out any of her own thoughts.

The only time she left her room was to use the bathroom or to wander to the kitchen to feed Percy and grab food herself.

On day 2, she turned her phone on briefly to text Freya. Eve knew her best friend would be riddled with worry. She told her she was just taking a few days to herself, that she was okay, and didn't need anyone to check up on her. Freya respected her space.

Her phone immediately was blown up with texts and calls from Aron on almost every social media platform, but she didn't want to read them. She knew it wasn't fair to ghost him, but.. Desmond was right. Aron didn't deserve to be put at risk by her. All she wanted was to be alone. But even Camren had reached out politely.

On day 3, she got her period. This didn't help all the emotions that engulfed her. The sadness was overwhelming and she couldn't understand why she felt so horrible. It's not like any of this was coming from Aron. She didn't even know Desmond like that. It was the embarrassment that caught her up the most.

Because she knew deep down she didn't have business associating with any of them. She knew things probably wouldn't work out with Aron and she wondered why he even liked her in the first place. This opened up a huge can of worms and she was forced to face her insecurities directly.

What did he even see in her?

On day 4, loud pounding at her door woke her. As she ventured into the hallway, she realized night had fallen and none of her living room lamps were on. The only person that ever really stopped by randomly was Aron or her mom, neither of which would be knocking like this. Her anxiety spiked as she crept closer to the door, wrapped in a thick blanket.

"Police, open up!" She heard through the door.

Her heart rate continued to beat fast, but she pulled open the door anyway. The chain lock stopped it from opening completely and she clumsily undid the lock. Two officers stood outside of her door in dark uniforms, eyeing her appearance heavily with raised eyebrows.

"Hi," Eve greeted shyly. This was definitely a first for her.

"Hi, may we speak to Evelina Morrow?"

She shifted weight on her feet, looking between the two officers nervously.

"Yes, that's me."

"Ah, okay. We got a call for a wellness check. Seems like people haven't heard from you for awhile and they're worried. Everything ok?" The shorter cop asked her, still eyeing her.

Oh god.. how embarrassing, she thought.

She relaxed a little, hand loosening on the door edge.

"Oh, yeah, I'm totally fine," she lied. "Just kind of uh.. hibernating, I guess. It got cold outside quickly."

She could have kicked herself for sounding so stupid. Both cops seemed to buy it, laughing softly and handing her a business card.

"If you need anything, ma'am, please take advantage of these services." He nodded to her as a goodbye and both men began to walk off, radios squawking and beeping. They clearly had more important things to do.

The card was lightly colored with several phone numbers on it. All were local mental health crisis lines and therapists.

Eve turned bright red.

What. The. Hell?

She closed the door and quickly turned her phone back on once she returned to her cocoon. It froze up due to the amount of notifications assaulting her queue. Eventually she was able to sort through the apps and catch up on things she'd missed. An influx of messages from Aron lit the screen. She opened their text message log and felt guilt wash over her. For the past four days, Aron had been nearly frantic, but especially these past two days.

A: I'm sorry I wasn't home when you stopped over, I was meeting up with Freya's dad for more bags and it's a bit of a process 😅
——-
A: Have I upset you? I apologize, love. How can I make it up to you? 😏
——
A: Okay.. seriously. You actually seem upset. Can we discuss it?
——-
A: Please answer me 😔 I'm worried.
——-
A: Eve.
——
A: I talked to Freya, what's going on? She said not to disturb you but I can't help but think I did something?
——
A: Whenever you're ready, I'll be here.
A: ... but I hope it's soon 😰
——
A: Good morning, sweetheart. xx
——
A: Eve, I'm really worried.. are you okay?
——
A: We're recording but I honestly can't focus. I need to know you're okay. That's all, and I'll give you your space.
A: I promise. x
——
A: Your house is dark.. Yes, I checked on you. I just hope you're well and I hope it doesn't seem creepy.
——
A: Eve, I have no choice but to do this. Freya is starting to get concerned now, too. I'm an outright mess. I need to know if you're okay.
——
A: Don't be mad at me.

Eve blinked at her phone. The flurry of messages from Freya fought with apps from other notifications as her phone continued catching up.

Did he seriously call the police to do a wellness check? Oh my god.

She called Freya and told her she was depressed. Nothing too serious, but that she didn't feel like her usual self and just wanted alone time. She assured Freya she was safe.

No sooner than ten minutes later, her phone buzzed again.

A: I can't properly rest my mind without knowing if I upset you. I know you're safe now, but... I miss you.

Her heart ached. She actually did miss him. She wanted nothing more than to be curled up in his arms in bed, but Desmond's voice echoed in her mind.

"YOU just linger."

She lifted her phone and typed out a quick response to Aron. She knew she owed him so much more, but just couldn't do it.

E: I'm okay.

Immediately.

A: ❤️
A: Can we talk? I'll come over?

She paused. She should stay away. The past four days did seem like an eternity, but.. she should stay away.

E: Sure.

Her fingers sent it within milliseconds. She lay in her bed and within 10 minutes, Aron was knocking at her bedroom door. Their house was a 20 minute drive away.

"Yes."

Aron emerged, looking as sullen and heartbroken as ever. He still held his own dignity, but there was a sadness to his eyes and face that just weighed him down.

Eve sat up in bed and he sat at her feet.

He was silent, almost afraid to touch her. It was very clear that something was off, and he braced for the worst. His gaze was focused on the floor, deep in thought. He brought his eyes to hers, then quickly pulled them down to the floor again. It was obvious to Eve that he was wrestling with his own thoughts. He thought she was about to leave him.

"Please don't say it.." he whispered gently, almost to where she didn't hear it at first.

Her heart broke and she burst into tears. Aron quickly dismissed any hesitation he had and was at her side immediately, cradling her and kissing her head.

"Honey, please talk to me..? What happened? Something's so off."

"I just feel like I-I-I put you at risk and it's not f-fair to you or your family to ris-k-k your lives for me" her voice wobbled and Aron was clearly confused. He pulled back and thought to himself for a moment.

"What are you talking about..? You don't really put me at risk. I mean, a very small amount, but it's nothing I haven't considered before. It's okay, baby." He cradled her again, wrapping his large arms around her. She sniffled into his chest.

"Where is all of this coming from, Eve?" He looked at her seriously, desperation in his eyes.

She caved and told him everything about her encounter with Desmond. He seethed, jaw clenching and expression hardening from sadness into anger.

"So you mean you've been struggling for almost an entire week because Desmond can't keep his mouth quiet?"

"Please don't say anything!" She begged. "I don't want to start drama!"

Aron steamed with his fists clenched.

"Drama?"

Within seconds, he'd left her bedroom and she heard her front door shut. She felt a panic attack tightening in her chest. It was obvious as to what would happen from here on out.

She called Freya immediately. Her panic attack choked her as she tried to tell Freya everything. If there was anything Freya could do, it was to make her feel better. Freya understood her emotions and offered for Eve to stay the night at her place. It would help her get out of the house and change up her environment. She obliged, packing a bag and getting in her Jeep. It wasn't long at all before she was knocking at Freya's door, an anxious mess.

"I still don't understand why Desmond would act that way towards you. Even if he was hungry. That's a bit much," she responded to her as they sat on her couch an hour later. "He's never been hostile towards you before, has he?"

"Not really, but Freya... he's right."

"No. He's not," Freya was firm in disagreement.

Eve tried her hardest to not let him get in her head, but it proved impossible. She hated knowing the two were probably fighting and that there was heavy tension at their place, that she was the center of all of it. Freya was getting texts from Liam and Camren, both requesting to come over.

"It must be bad.." Eve worried aloud.

"Well, they'll get over it. I'm sure it's not the first fight they've had," Freya responded. And it was true. This wasn't the first time, and she was sure it wouldn't be their last, either. They lived in too close of proximity with one another for it to never happen. She was slowly starting to feel better.

Liam and Camren arrived shortly after, just as Freya popped pizza rolls in the oven.

"Eve!" Liam greeted, quickly walking to the couch with open arms. He grabbed her, closing his arms around her in a bear hug. His gigantic limbs surrounded her and he picked her up to quickly spin her. It caught her so off guard that she laughed in shock.

"There she is! I don't want to see you upset," Liam pointed at her smile like she was a child. His goofy grin won her over and she felt lighter. Happier.

Camren sat down next to her on Freya's couch and hugged her from the side, just like an older brother would. He squeezed her shoulder.

"Please don't take what Desmond said to heart. Seriously. He's just dramatic. I promise you that NONE of us want you girls to distance yourselves. Either one of you." His soft blue eyes sparkled gently with reassurance.

"Mhm," Liam backed his statement and nodded.

Freya walked back into the room and smiled hugely at the group, but mainly at Eve.

"See? I told you."

"You guys didn't hear HOW he said it though," Eve responded. "It wasn't like he was just annoyed, it felt like he truly hated me. I've never felt that horrible before.."

"Yeah, Desmond is a little intense. We can easily give off auras, just like humans, but ours are much more powerful. So for instance, when we're annoyed, we might seem like we're ANNOYED when we're really just slightly miffed." Camren explained with his hands.

The rest of the night flew by, with the four of them watching movies and enjoying each others' company. Another night in as the wind roared outside. Eve sipped some apple wine to soothe her nerves. She didn't hear much from Aron for the rest of the night, all he sent her was a goodnight text after midnight. Things would obviously be sorted out soon, but for now... she was content with her friends.

Chapter Text

In Normal Ways- Gia Margaret

Eve sat on her couch, hot drink in hand and remote in the other. She felt like was all she'd been doing lately. The thought of a walk crossed her mind, but quickly left as it was bitterly cold outside. Yet, she was in much better spirits today.

The Office played on her large flat screen, Michael Scott doing some stupid impression of another character. This was her comfort show. Easy enough to have on as background noise, yet entertaining enough when she wanted to pay attention. She always thought she wanted a Jim to her Pam, but their relationship didn't seem too perfect? either. She couldn't help but notice how Desmond and Stanley had a similar grumpiness, and she cracked herself up, bursting with giggles that made Percy look at her in confusion.

She thought of Desmond but quickly tried to replace him with something else. While she wasn't as hurt anymore, she didn't want to focus on him too much. She missed Aron. He hadn't texted her much this morning. She wondered what he was doing, because obviously he wasn't asleep. Then she reminded herself that it wasn't any of her business, truly, her and Aron weren't even an official couple. As stubborn as it might make her, she'd never bend and ask a man to be her partner. Call her old-fashioned. She would always, always wait until they asked. And... if they didn't? Clearly they didn't want it enough. She was holding out to see how long it would take Aron. It felt as if it were coming soon, but.. just how soon? They'd been intimate for a decent chunk of time now, and yet.. nothing. The thought annoyed her and she lifted her phone to open Candy Crush.

A knock on her front door commanded her attention. Excitement filled her chest, she knew it must be Aron. She looked forward to greeting him positively, there had been so much negativity lately that she felt butterflies at the thought of his face. Percy quickly ran, scurrying under the couch as Eve hopped up and danced to the front door on her tiptoes basically.

She hummed as she unlocked the old chain and opened the door, a smile wide on her lips. But her eyes didn't meet Aron's. Not Aron's ice blue eyes, but a deeper blue. Her smile immediately fell from her lips as Desmond stood at her doormat. Slight fear rose in her stomach seeing him outside her door. Instantly, she slammed the door shut as he raised his hand in a casual wave. She whipped around and put her back to the door, processing the sight with wide eyes. Blinking, she tried to make sense of the man on the other side of the wooden slab. Why the hell was he here?

"Eve.." his smooth, deep voice said.

It still gave her chills when he said her name, almost factory resetting her brain for a split second.

"Please open the door." He said it slowly, as if he had to think about every word.

She huffed. He really thought he could just show up at her house uninvited, and demand to be let in? Although she realized she'd just done the same to him the other day. Did Aron know he was here? If he did, why didn't he give her a heads up that Desmond was stopping by? Sighing heavily, she called out.

"What do you want?"

He stood in silence for a moment.

"To talk."

If it wasn't so shocking, she knew she'd be very annoyed.

Was he here to kill her? The thought made her heart race. Although at this point, she decided, fuck it.

She opened the door and scowled up at him. He had his large, pale hands down in front of him, rubbing them together slowly. It almost seemed like a self-soothing action. Was he.. nervous?

His light sweater outlined broad shoulders, and he matched this with dark jeans. Out of all the men, Desmond was always the most... polished. Aron preferred to dress in solid black, all the time. Desmond was always in neutral or pale colors, and almost always in a long sleeved top with pants. While he clearly wasn't afraid of wearing black, he opted to mix it with lighter colors, also.

"May I come in?"

Confused, she looked up at him.

It was ironic that the roles had been reversed from the other day. Suddenly he was the one standing outside, uncomfortable, asking to be let in, and she was the resistant one.

"I owe you an apology." His accent made these words so alluring to her, pulling her right in.

She thought of Percy.

"I have a cat."

"I know, I can hear his heart racing. He's not in danger around me." He nodded at her in a silent promise.

She stepped back, pushing the door up against the wall behind her and reluctantly motioned for him to come in.

He stepped inside and visually studied her apartment, while she (not so) sneakily studied him. It wasn't often she got to look at him without his eyes piercing through her. She still felt anger toward him, but it started to dissolve slightly as she studied him. She noticed that his hair was rich in shades of deep cocoa. Aron's was more of a caramel. His jawline was extremely sharp, while Aron's was just a bit softer. She hated the fact that she drew comparisons between the two, but simply couldn't help it.

Desmond's eyes flickered around, and it felt very surreal to have him in this space. This was her safe space, and she'd never gotten completely warm feelings from Desmond. He made note of the orange lights strewn above the TV, the plush black rug on the pale hardwood flooring. He smelled many things- the soil dried around the tiny, neglected plant on the windowsill; the cinnamon soap next to the bathroom sink, Percy's warm blood, the pumpkin candle in the middle of the living room table, and the shampoo lingering in Eve's hair... vanilla sugar. He inhaled softly, absorbing Eve's home into his senses. He already felt as if he knew her more just from being in her space.

"Sit if you want." She spoke, bringing him back to the present moment.

He walked to the black couch, gently sitting down on one end while Eve took the other. She couldn't believe how graceful he moved given his height.

She looked at him and waited for him to begin. He was right, she DID deserve an apology. And she was going to milk every second of it. The only time she'd ever been alone with Desmond, he metaphorically ripped her heart out. He needed to make up for that. The only time they'd ever been alone together was for a split second in the maze and just the other day at the house, which obviously went horrible. She wasn't used to being one on one with him, much less seeing him on her own couch. Lightning bolts burst throughout her stomach and she began to overthink her every movement, not wanting to make a fool of herself.

A vein protruded from his forehead as he clenched his jaw, he looked down and shook his head as if he had trouble forming words, arguing with himself. Eve continued to look at him, taking note of the thick brown eyelashes lining his eyes.

She'd be lying if she said she didn't find him extremely attractive. He was attractive in a different kind of way. Not in a fashion model way, but more of an art sculpture way. She could see his features being sketched on a pale white workpad, the bridge of his downturned nose being worked onto the page with charcoal..

He looked up at her and her heart stopped.

"I apologize for my words and actions the other day."

"It-"

He held a hand up to stop her.

"No, it's not okay. Please don't humor me, Eve." His tone was firm, not aggressive. It seemed he expected her to say those exact words.

She bit her lip in worry, then quickly released it, not wanting to accidentally draw blood. Causing chaos was the last thing she wanted to do at the moment. Eve let him continue.

He softly shook his head to himself, seemingly disappointed with what he'd almost just said. Eve couldn't believe this man in front of her turned into Vessel, the confident and mysterious frontman, as Desmond struggled to connect with her verbally. She didn't know how old he was, but knew he was older than Aron at least. The way he spoke was so eloquent at times.. she knew he had to be from another time period. You'd think for being around such a long time, you'd never really stumble over your words anymore. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at him.

"I was very harsh and, while I was starved, that's no excuse. I should have never spoken to you in such a manner, and I deeply apologize. I said things I didn't mean."

Her brows furrowed right as his did, they mirrored each other without realizing it.

"Why?"

"Well, I was being truthful when I said you're safer when you aren't near us. That's common sense. You don't need me to tell you that, obviously."

"Hm."

She pressed her lips together with tension. She still felt distance from him and could tell he wasn't opening up all the way. She didn't want him to open up to her... she needed him to. It was more than a goal.

"Is Aron putting you up to this?"

"No. Aron doesn't tell me what to do." He snipped at her, then reeled himself in.

"You're talking, but you're not really saying much, Desmond." She pressed.

A soft chuckle left his lips, he was both surprised and amused she was catching onto it.

He really thinks he can manipulate me, huh? Eve thought.

"I guess I'd rather get into the thick of things when we have ample time together," he responded.

"And we don't now?"

"Well, I really just wanted to pop on by quickly and say my piece. I didn't expect you to want me around for long."

Eve truly didn't know how she felt about that. Did she want him to stay? Alone? In her apartment?

"Especially with an animal here, I don't want to make him uncomfortable in his own home."

The thoughtfulness warmed Eve's heart. Even if he was just saying this stuff to manipulate her, well.. it was working.

"Alright. We meet.. tomorrow? There's a patch of woods on the coast of the lake. There are trails we can walk."

Why? Eve scolded herself. Why, why WHY? Why would you agree to this?

"Lovely."

"The lake will make it really cold. Dress for it." She warned.

He looked offended.

"We're not the same temperature." He rolled his eyes and stood up from the couch.

"Oh... that's right."

He began walking to the front door.

"Have you heard anything from Aron? He's been kinda distant since last night," she hated how pathetic she sounded, but worry had begun to settle in.

He shrugged, not giving her much of an answer at all.

And just like that, he was gone. Eve stood by herself, wrapping her arms around her body. Her mind couldn't help but wonder if that actually just happened, or if it was a hallucination. The only thing that confirmed reality was his sweet, musky scent still lingering in the hallway.

Chapter Text

Vespertine- Holy Fawn

Eve pressed the brake and shut her car off. She'd just parked her car in the lot next to the woods and was waiting on Desmond. Her stomach was a flurry.

She'd seen Sleep Token live, yes, but she hadn't ever listened to them before that moment. Over the past month or so she'd been listening to them daily, it was almost impossible to stop. Every time she thought she had a new favorite song, she found yet another favorite that she'd put on repeat for the next few days.

Up until this point, their newest release was This Place will Become Your Tomb. They'd played a few songs off of this, Sundowning, and the Two EP at the show they played at Rick's. Eve didn't know any of those songs at the time, but she almost wished she could go back and relive the experience knowing the music now.

Eve had been studying the lyrics, and she had to admit that Desmond was an amazing lyricist. The fact that he was currently working on new material intrigued her, she wondered what he'd take inspiration from. Especially in this god awful, small Midwest town. Maybe it was just because she grew up here, but it didn't really strike her as inspiring.

All through the night she'd been on social media, looking at photos and videos of the group performing on stage. They'd toured in Europe, Australia, and the US so far. The fanbase wasn't huge, but still large and extremely loyal. These fans seemed just short of cult-like. "Worship" comments flooded each post, and there were many posts of fans showing off handmade DIY merch. They of course tagged the band so it showed up in the tagged photos on Instagram.

It hadn't really struck Eve until now just how BIG this band was. In a silly way it made her feel special, she felt honored to be in the "know" who and to know who they were under the masks. Much less know their darkest secret and be intimate with one of them. It didn't really seem real. It was hard to connect their onstage personas to the lovely group she'd become so close to.

Eve had always been a fan of metal music and was quite the fangirl as a teen. Her bedroom walls were always filled with posters of men in heavy black makeup and tight, ripped clothing. Spikes, leather, and black lipstick were key points of any outfit she'd created, and she felt a soul connection to the music. The amount of times her and Freya got all dressed up and went to concerts, hoping to get a member's attention was comical. They'd just been silly young girls. There were many nights she lay in bed looking at the figures on her wall, jealous of these rockstars' girlfriends and wondering if she'd ever be lucky enough to snag someone who lived that lifestyle.

She laughed to herself.

How ironic. Her and Aron were very, very close. He qualified to check off the "rockstar" box, but not so much the "famous" box. As a teenager, she wouldn't have been able to understand why a rockstar wouldn't want to have his identity known. Now that she was older and had experienced the likes of creepy men, she completely understood. Even the term "rockstar" was weird. She viewed these men as musicians. She giggled knowing that teenaged Eve would be shitting herself if she knew the life she was currently living right now. And teenaged Freya.

A vibration in her pocket brought her back to the present moment. Just an odd alarm she forgot to cancel. A tall figure walked out onto the main entrance path. A large wooden sign with the park name displayed a map ridden with trails, symbols and a map key. Eve paid no attention to it. She hadn't been on these trails in years, but she wasn't worried about getting lost. Her footsteps took her to Desmond, who greeted her politely.

Today he wore a dark brown jacket over dark jeans again. Opposite of Vessel, Desmond didn't wear much jewelry. He didn't have any piercings or tattoos. Not that she could see, anyway. It struck Eve as odd, because the band's image and stage personas were so dark and alternative, but he looked as if he could be just any guy on the street. The thought pulled her in a bit. Knowing that Vessel lived inside this seemingly plain man was a thought that made Eve blush lightly. She almost wanted to find him.

He nodded at her and put his hands in his pockets while walking next to her. They began on a trail, the woods around them started to thicken and it got quieter as they walked. Noise from the nearby roads vanished, replaced with light chirping from birds and waves crashing against rocks nearby. The smell of freshwater and pine trees filled Eve's nose and she took a deep breath, inhaling the elements around her. Despite being next to one of her natural predators, she was at ease. The forest was her happy place and she felt connected to the soil and wildlife surrounding them.

Desmond took note of this. Eve's heartbeat was steady. It wasn't fast, meaning she wasn't super nervous. Knowing she was feeling more comfortable around him gave a sliver of relief. Fear made the blood smell so much more appetizing to their kind, and even though he'd drank three entire blood bags before arriving, he knew his thirst could be limitless at times. Especially with her. He'd never met a human he had to practice this much restraint with.

They made small talk at first. Desmond prodded her on her upbringing and favorite things to do. Asked her how she and Freya met and what it was like growing up together. It almost seemed like Desmond was asking questions in order to occupy her brain so she couldn't ask any herself.

He asked about her family, being very interested to hear about them. His imagination ran when he tried to picture the familial extensions of Eve. It felt funny to get to know someone you'd been in contact with for quite some time now, these were basic questions you'd ask earlier on. It almost felt like they'd taken steps backwards.

Soft wind blew her scent in his direction and he struggled to remain focused. She smelled of plum, vanilla and apple today. It was a different perfume than her usual, this took Desmond off guard. It was a captivating scent. Not too light and fruity, it was more of a darker smell. Usually there were remnants of Aron on her scent, but since she hadn't seen him in awhile, there were none. This was all her. He wondered if she put a new perfume on just for him. Quickly dismissing the intrusive thought, he brought himself back by listening to their feet crunch over autumn leaves and twigs.

Some time later, a clearing ahead of them exposed the lake. It opened up to a small dirt area with a wooden fence at the edge. This was obviously to prevent people from falling off, as the clearing overlooked a drop in elevation. A small wooden bench sat off to the side of the clearing with a donor's name carved into it. Eve and Desmond didn't sit at the bench together but stood next to one another with hands in their pockets.

Eve fought the urge to be upset. It had been looming in the back of her mind all morning. Today was the first day in over a month that Eve hadn't woken up to a good morning text from Aron. She texted him upon waking up, just to meet radio silence for hours. Something was completely.. off.. with him, and she couldn't help but blame herself. And while it upset her, she also couldn't help but be distracted by Desmond.

How could she focus on Aron when Desmond was giving her attention? Desmond was someone who had basically ignored her the entire time they'd known each other, and the fact that he was now opening up to her completely reeled her into his web.

Throughout the conversation, Eve tried several times to repeat the same one back to Desmond, especially concerning family and upbringing. He pivoted each one and somehow brought the attention back onto Eve. She noticed it was something he was insanely good at. He knew how to direct a conversation. It made her think of the day before, when he was stumbling over his words. That was obviously a rare occurrence and she wondered why that was.

Her gaze fell out over the lake. The sky was a deep gray today. It was overcast, not a single blue patch in the sky, and a white fog clung to the earth. A light mist appeared near the lake's surface and Eve found this weather so beautiful. She'd dressed for it too, in a black furry coat, thick black leggings, boots and a hand-sewn yarn hat.

Eve watched the waves rise and crash. Fish jumped out of the water in one particular spot, plopping right back under the surface. She noticed Desmond had closed some of the distance between them. He stood next to her and looked down at her instead of the lake.

Her heart thumped. Her attraction to him had really settled in over time, making him so much more intriguing. She felt guilty for this. Desmond and Aron were friends, well.. more than friends. Brothers. His smooth voice broke the silence, in opposition of crashing waves as background noise.

"It's bittersweet having you around."

She was confused.

"I know you've always disliked me. 'Bittersweet' doesn't make sense."

A soft laugh escaped his lips.

"I don't dislike you, Evelina. I actually find you very.. beautiful."

The world froze. Puzzled, she turned to look at him with pinched brows. His use of her full name took her by surprise.

He was joking.. right?

Her palms began to sweat and her heart fluttered. The thought of him hearing her heartbeat quicken made her want to hide. Maintaining eye contact with him while he spoke was so difficult for her.

"I stayed distant with you in the beginning because I knew Aron was interested. But it seems you're not going anywhere and.. I refuse to torture myself any longer."

She looked down at her hands, trying to make sense of what he was saying. He was.. attracted to her? Desmond was? Vessel was?

"And.." he began, "I know the attraction is mutual."

He smirked slightly, giving off such a thick air of dominance it almost choked Eve. She quickly opened her mouth to protest.

"You can deny it, Eve. I'm not debating with you. I can even hear it in your pulse."

God fucking dammit, she thought.

"I-I'm with Aron." She managed to blurt out.

"Are you?" He challenged with a heavy brow. "You're not official."

"No, but-"

"Then you aren't." He shrugged as if that were the final answer.

The cat got her tongue and was holding it stubbornly. She could barely speak.

Everything in her was telling her to leave the situation. She felt she owed loyalty to Aron, even though Desmond was right, they weren't official. On top of that, Aron had been pretty much ghosting her for over a day now. Logically, she knew this wasn't the best idea. But god, did she have a yearning for Desmond. She couldn't help but be overpowered by his aura that yanked her in. And for weeks now she'd wrestled with herself trying to deny it, but she was ready to just admit it to herself.

He stood over a foot taller than her. A large, bony hand reached out to her and pushed a strand of hair out of her face. She looked up at him with panicked eyes. Her heart raced with equal parts excitement and pressure. He looked down at her and held her jaw with his thumb, gently angling her face up towards him.

Desmond's deep blue eyes studied her face, his irises sprinkled with flecks of emerald. Her gray orbs reflected the look of desire in his, and he couldn't take it anymore. He spoke with a tone that was so soft, Eve had never heard it come from him before. Almost a whisper.

"And if it were me, Evelina.." he gently ran his thumb along her bottom lip. "It wouldn't have taken me that long to claim you as mine."

Her brain became fuzzy. A heavy mix of desire and sadness filled her simultaneously. Surrendering all inhibitions, her small hand wrapped around the back of his neck and pulled him down to her. He gasped softly at her initiative, not expecting it. Their lips met and her heart raced. She'd entered a state of bliss. His soft lips applied just the right amount of pressure in his kiss, making her crave it. It seemed as if the world around them was plunged into a quiet darkness, the only two figures were her and him.

Desmond's other hand reached up to cradle her face, each kiss deepening slowly. His naturally sharp canine teeth grazed softly against her bottom lip at times, making her shudder. She risked it, letting her tongue glide against his lip and he accepted, opening his mouth just a bit further for her. Their tongues danced gently and a soft moan escaped Eve. Desmond closed the distance between their bodies. Eve had never been in such close proximity to him before and this excited her, her heart doubling even though it was already beating so fast. Her breath became heavy as she was overcome with greed.

His kisses were different from what she was used to. Aron had kissed her fervently, dripping with lust and desire. He was a talker and praised her frequently in between kisses or moaning into her neck. Desmond differed from this. He took his time, savoring each movement almost as if it were a dance. The kisses were slower and longer. His passion was prevalent in each one, glowing as it increased. He was quieter, soft gasps leaving him in between, but no moans.

Eve's hands reached up as far as she could manage, tangling them in his hair. He pulled away, resting his head on her shoulder and whispering "fuck". She'd completely forgotten they were in public. Red creeped up to her cheeks, trying to process that yes, she in fact did just take initiative.. and yes, it was better than she could have thought. Just KISSING him. Embarrassment flooded her and her gaze fell to the ground. She'd obviously taken it too far and traumatized the poor man. Eve wouldn't dare look up at him right now, definitely out of embarrassment but partially out of fear as to what she'd see.

"I'm sorry" she began to stammer, straightening her hat and shaking her head. Her eyebrows scrunched together and she scolded herself for being so impulsive.

Desmond's large hand quickly pulled her chin upwards to look at him. His eyes were wild, swirling with emotion with a tortured look on his face. His lips were just one shade darker now, her lip stain had rubbed off on him apparently. Gaze demanding eye contact, she held it with him.

"Do not be sorry."

Chapter Text

Starry Eyes- Cigarettes After Sex

Eve's hands were in a flurry, making drinks behind the bar for the lunch rush. She'd picked up a day shift since she'd been bored out of her mind lately. Either bored or depressed. Neither state was too comfortable for her.

Another week had passed, and Aron was pretty much MIA at this point. He'd occasionally send a text or respond to something Eve had texted him prior, but he dodged all of her questions. The last time she'd seen him, he'd gone into protective mode once he found out Desmond upset her. So why was he being so distant? He'd reassured her that night and was his ever-loving self. None of it made sense to her. It was like a switch had been flipped and she truly did not know who this Aron was. She missed him deeply, just wanting to be in his sturdy, inked arms or in his bed with him... where everything felt right.

She asked Camren and Liam if they'd seen him around, or how he was doing, but they both always had a similar answer... just a shrug and a "not much". They'd never go into detail on their recent encounters with him, clearly keeping something from her. Camren always avoided eye contact with her when she asked, quickly dodging it and trying to change the subject as fast as he could.

Eve wasn't stupid. She knew this was the end of her and Aron. But dammit, he could at least man up and tell her himself. He knew where she lived. Hell, even a text would suffice at this point. Then again... how do you break up with someone who you were never officially dating anyways? She just hoped he was okay. Honestly, she couldn't bring herself to officially accept it. She wanted to talk to him about so many things.

First, apologize for being so distant those few days when she went off grid, and tell him she didn't mean to make him worry so much. She also toyed with telling him about what happened with Desmond. The idea of them not being an official couple kept popping up, truly, she didn't owe him loyalty.. but knew if it were reversed, she'd be heartbroken. Guilt and butterflies filled her in equal amounts.

Her and Desmond hadn't spoken since that day and it made her head spin. But god, had she been thinking about him. It was obvious to her that if Desmond weren't around, the sting from Aron would hurt so much worse. There was no denying her feelings for him.

The hours ticked by, finally reaching the end of her shift. The sun had already set, daylight savings plunging the world into darkness even earlier now. As she flung her bag over her shoulder while walking out of the building, her phone buzzed in her back pocket. Her fingers prompted the screen to light up, and she read Aron's name. Her heart leaped.

A: [sent attachment]

Intrigued, she opened the message. As she sat in her car, she realized just what was happening.

It was a link to a song. Aron sometimes communicated through songs to her. Sometimes he'd send her cutesy love songs, other times he'd send goofy songs to put a smile on her face. But this was different.

"Run Free" by Asking Alexandria.

The song assaulted her Jeep's speakers. She knew what it was going to be already. The chorus hit her like a brick wall, confirming her worst fear.

"Open your heart, open your mind to a new world, to a new world
Spread out your wings and learn to fly to a new world, to a new world"

It was his goodbye.

She sat in her car with the engine running, alone in the parking lot. Tears welled in her eyes, sadness choking her. The confirmation started to set in. What was once a looming thought, a possibility in her mind, had now become a actual thing.

She quickly typed.

E: No.

Her phone rejected the message, her screen reading:

Could not be delivered.

Are you fucking joking? She thought. He blocked me?!

"No. No no no," She began to mumble, pushing on the gas and quickly tearing out of the parking lot.

She couldn't lose him. Not like this, at least. There were so many questions, so many things they had to talk about yet. So many kisses to be shared. So many things they had yet to do together. She wasn't done... they weren't done.

Her Jeep sped down the winding back roads, almost losing control around the deep curves. Her visibility through teary eyes was scarce, but she didn't care. She just needed to get to their place as fast as possible. They needed to talk face to face.

The gravel driveway crunched under her tires as her Jeep pulled up close to the house. Flinging her door open, she ran to the front door, not even bothering to knock. Freya stood up from the couch quickly, Eve's sudden entrance had obviously jolted her. Her and Camren had been cuddled on the couch.

Eve's eyes were glassy. Red and puffy, it was obvious she'd been crying for a while. Freya didn't even ask any questions... she knew why Eve was here. They all did. Eve hadn't been to the house in over a week, which honestly felt like forever.

"Where is he?" Eve croaked out.

Freya just walked over to her and held her hands out. Camren sat up and looked at Eve, his eyes filled with emotion and empathy. Freya pulled her into her arms, her petite frame providing warmth that surrounded Eve's heart and gave it a squeeze.

"He's not here, baby.." she spoke gently, rubbing Eve's back to comfort her as she crumbled.

Eve expected this answer, but it still made her heart sink to her knees.

"W-where.."

"Don't worry about him, Eve. It's not worth your time." She continued to rub Eve's back and her free hand moved up to stroke Eve's hair gently.

Eve sobbed into Freya's shoulder, tears spilling over.

"Shh. It's okay." She continued to help her best friend.

Why would he just leave without saying anything? Where did he go?

Eve pulled away from Freya, muttering quickly. "I have to go to the bathroom."

She made her way up the steps and turned to the left. She lied to Freya. Eve walked to Aron's bedroom door and knocked softly. She refused to believe he wasn't here. He'd open the door and pull her into a hug, he'd tell her it was a big prank. They'd laugh together over how ridiculous it was and Eve would fake being cranky with him for scaring her.

Silence.

She knocked again, clinging to any hope she could that he would open the door. Even if he greeted her with a scowl, it would be better than nothing at all.

There was absolutely no noise on the other side of the door. Aron always had some sort of noise in his room. Usually music playing, or him practicing guitar, sometimes it was the TV.

Taking a deep breath, she wrapped her small hand around the brass doorknob. She slowly opened the door and was met with pitch black. Flicking the lights on, she was greeted with normalcy. Any traces of Aron had completely vanished, leaving it just as bare as it must have been before he unpacked.

Before the boys moved in, this house was used as an Airbnb, so the owners had the rooms decorated in various themes. All the decorations were put back into place, nautical painting on the wall and different bedding placed on the bed.

There were no posters, no scattered guitars, no folded black clothes on the dresser. No Sleep Token paraphernalia. The only trace of Aron left behind was the faint trace of his scent. Eve inhaled deeply, wishing she could bottle it. It was only a matter of time before this smell would leave the room and she'd never smell it ever again. The thought made her feel sick.

Eve sat on the bed and put her head in her hands. He was just... gone. Did he go home? She wondered how he'd separated from the group when they were here for work.

A figure stepped into the doorframe, and Eve's eyes quivered up the shilouette. She expected to be scolded by Freya, but it wasn't her slender frame. Desmond stood in between the panels, almost as tall as the frame itself. They looked at each other for a few moments, not saying anything, and then he moved. His long legs brought him to Eve's side in the blink of an eye as he sat down next to her on the bed.

"I don't.. understand..." Eve said sadly.

"Look at me," Desmond replied, "This is the most foolish thing I've seen him do in a hundred years. There's no understanding it."

Her eyes filled with tears again and he pulled her into his bony chest, letting her cry into it. Such an affectionate action was rare for Desmond, but he almost felt as if he couldn't stop himself. He held her, wanting to absorb her sadness so she didn't have to keep it all to herself.

"He's going to regret it," Desmond's deep voice said as he gently rubbed her back. It wasn't a thought or a question, it was a statement.

"I'm sorry.. this is weird.." Eve pulled back and wiped her eyes, taking a deep breath.

"I disagree." He said, looking at her. She looked so pitiful, black smudges on her cheeks from mascara she'd worn earlier in the day. Her eyes were ragged and bloodshot at this point. Her heartbeat had slowed down, just a slow pulse in her chest. It rang in Desmond's ears like a bird.

"I think you need a change of scenery, hm?"

Eve knew he was right.

They made their way out of IV's room and her heart sank as Desmond closed the door behind him. That was probably the last time she'd ever see that room. The hole in her chest wept black tar as she tried to distract herself from the lump in her throat.

Desmond looked at her. "If you'd like to relax and calm down in my room, you're welcome to. Otherwise you can head back downstairs to Freya.." he motioned down the staircase, "It's your choice."

He left it open to her. She knew this was on purpose, he didn't want to make her feel pressured. Especially after what occurred between them last week. Her curiosity peaked, she'd never seen Desmond's room and wondered what it looked like.

She looked at her hands, ashamed of her open sadness about Aron. Especially in front of Desmond. Her eyes looked up at him. His expression was neutral, as usual, but his eyes held a hint of concern.

"I'll come with you."

It seemed as if a weight had been taken off of Desmond's shoulders. He visibly relaxed them and smiled softly. Seeing his face crack a smile was such an odd sight, it almost took Eve off guard. But at the same time, she couldn't help but feel warmth pool in her stomach.

He turned, leading the way to a door at the far end of the hallway.

Of course he'd pick the room furthest from people, Eve thought.

He was such a recluse, this didn't surprise her.

The door opened and Eve followed him inside. Desmond's room was an entirely different world, it was decorated so uniquely. The decor was definitely inspired by another time period, Eve could have sworn they just stepped onto a movie set.

There sat a black piano in the corner of the bedroom. This took up the majority of the space. The wood was glossy, a dark satin finish complemented the white keys. Eve wondered how they even got it in here.

In the corner across from it was a large bookcase. It almost looked built into the wall itself. It was floor to ceiling and filled tightly with books, their spines showcasing different titles. A stray plant lay nearby, no doubt something Camren pushed onto Desmond. It was struggling, not much life had been poured into the soil.

The room smelled of Dragon's Blood incense- it was a scent Eve would recognize anywhere. Candles littered every surface, though none currently lit. Several vintage oil lamps were placed throughout the room, all burning at the same time. They lit the space up and created a beautiful warm glow that crawled up the walls.

There was no TV, no posters on the walls, no scattered instruments.. it really dawned on her that Desmond and Aron truly were from two different centuries. Aron was mentally closer to men her own age, whilst Desmond seemed like a character from a history book almost.

A bed was pushed up against the wall, with black bedding on it, and she wanted to sit on it. It looked comfy, the comforter fluffy and plush. Desmond had made his bed.

Next to the bookcase was a desk that adorned many different objects. Feathers, bones, crystals, and small candles surrounded an open notepad with scribbles on it. Eve was instantly intrigued by this. She practiced witchcraft herself and was drawn to this altar heavily, almost feeling beckoned toward it. She wondered if this was simply for the elements, possibly ritual work, or if there was a deity attached to it. She remembered the Vessel/Sleep Token lore. Could it possibly be for.. Sleep?

Resisting the pull, she continued studying the room. A large, ornate mirror hung on the wall next to the door. It was ginormous. Again, Eve wondered how it had even gotten in the room. A beautiful wooden frame surrounded it, with intricate details carved into it.

Her eyes found her own reflection and she held back a gasp. She looked fucking horrible. She almost didn't recognize herself. Desmond stood next to her and he glanced at her looking in the mirror. His eyes met hers in the glass and she blushed unwillingly.

Seeing her form next to Desmond's, it dawned on her just how big their height difference was. While she was short, with wide hips and intense curves, Desmond was over a foot taller than her.. and lanky. His limbs seemed to stretch on forever, his hips were slender and his shoulders were broad.

She scanned his reflection, looking down at his hands and fought a shiver. His hands were so sexy. They were wide and bony, his long fingers were pale and his hands were veiny. Aron's hands were big also, but not nearly this large or skeletal. His dark brown hair was messy today as it wasn't styled like it usually were. It was still fairly short, but long enough to look disheveled when not given attention.

She found his eyes looking back at her again, causing a jolt to pierce her gut. She realized he'd watched her eyes scan over all of his features.

"Welcome," He said, dragging her out of her daydream. "I see you've found the mirror already." He playfully teased. A soft chuckle left his mouth.

Heat crept to her cheeks and she tried to play it off casually.

"I just.. thought you weren't supposed to have a reflection?" She gestured.

"Only in novels, dear," The pet name caused Eve to blush again and she fought the urge to kick herself.. or hide her face. His tone wasn't seductive, but the English diction made them sexy.

"Would you like to sit? You can stand if you'd prefer. Up to you." He left it open for her again. Consent was obviously very important to him.

She quickly sat on the bed next to Desmond and hoped it didn't look too eager. Her eyes burned from all the tears shed that night, and the dim lighting was almost soothing to her vision. Desmond moved his gaze to her.

"I hope you don't feel.. awkward.. around me, Eve. I've been wanting to discuss last week, but only if you feel up to it. I understand you're going through a lot right now as is."

The mention of their kissing made her heart pick up in pace. She nodded hesitantly, giving permission, and his eyes bore into her.

"I'm unsure if you feel it was a mistake, but-"

"No." She cut him off quickly. "I don't". It was a confident denial, not a drop of doubt in it.

He leaned back, nodding and closing his eyes. He was trying to think of what his next words would be, clearly he anticipated her to say it was a mistake. His hand slowly reached out to brush the outside of her thigh and the soft lighting made his eyes glow as he looked at her. He was so.. cautious.. with her. Almost as if she'd shatter into a million pieces if his hands came into contact with her body. It was the complete opposite energy that IV had towards her. Aron WANTED to shatter her, then pick up the pieces and glue them back together. Desmond wanted to sit and admire her.

A rush of desperation filled her. She didn't know what overcame her, but she found deep solace in his presence. A random boost of confidence made her place her hand on his knee and she looked at him. It was obvious he was still trying to find a suitable response to her, but wrestled with his own mind silently.

"And.. I wouldn't be opposed to doing it again.." she chose her words wisely, knowing Desmond was a tough one to crack.

His eyes flew open and locked with hers. Eve saw that they were consumed with yearning. It was the same look a child would have if you promised them a puppy, but only for good behavior. His lips parted slightly in surprise.

"Eve, I.." He seemed exasperated.

Her heart raced in her chest, the realization that he was about to reject her settling in. How embarrassing. Desmond struggled to read his own internal feelings. There was something about her that made him feel so.. protective. Like he needed to take care of her, to heal her. He knew he couldn't let his feelings get in the way of his responsibilities, but.. he knew she was worth it.

His eyes were still focused on her. They flickered down to her plump lips before coming back up to meet her gray irises.

"Yes.. or no."

Consent check, Eve thought.

"Yes, Desmond."

His breath hitched in his throat as he heard her say his name for the first time. His hand abruptly fell under her jaw and pulled his face to hers.

It's happening again.. She thought. It's happening.. I'm spiraling again.

His lips crashed onto hers and he knew if he had a heart, it would have exploded. Their mouths exchanged passionate kisses, her lips like soft velvet on his. Eve's hands went right to his hair this time, pulling him closer to her. She just wanted him as close as he could possibly be. Now that they'd both had a taste, they wanted more.

It was his tongue this time that ran along her lip, beckoning her to open for him. He was losing all self control. His hands roamed her body, exploring over her clothes for the first time. Her breathing was heavy, she pulled away and let her head fall back as Desmond kissed her throat. He could smell the hot blood just millimeters below his lips, fighting the temptation to just take a bite out of her. Her pulse thudded right under his mouth, sending soft vibrations through his lips. The sweet scent of her hair filled his brain and his mind was a blur. He could just.. feed. Right here, right now. He could hide it, he could keep her body hidd-

A faint moan escaped Eve's lips, sending more vibrations under Desmond's lips. Both of their needs for each other doubled, knowing they could offer the other release.

How did Aron DO this? How did he control himself with her?

As if Eve could tell he needed distraction, she grabbed his shirt collar and sat backward, pulling him on top of her. His hands continued to touch her as he kissed on her lips, her cheek, her neck. She unzipped the hoodie she was wearing to expose a black tank underneath, her pale large breasts sitting perky from her bra. Her skin glowed in the warm lighting, looking creamy and soft.

She spread her legs, still in jeans, just enough for his hips to find space in between. Eve felt her adrenaline pumping. For months, she'd denied her attraction to Desmond to herself, and she finally submitted to it. His lips and tongue moved over her skin, making her back arch and soft moans leave her lips. Aron's touch was possessive and aggressive.. Desmond's was admiring and attentive.

She felt his arousal dig into her thigh, which made her kiss him even harder. She bit his lip hungrily as her hands gently made fists in his hair. Small gasps had left his lips, but finally a moan slipped through. It was soft and desperate, right in Eve's ear, making her go mad. Her mind spun.

"I've wanted this for so long, Ev-"

Sudden footsteps ran up the steps, then trodded down the hallway towards Desmond's door.

"Eve?" Freya's light voice asked out loud. "Are you okay?" She knocked on the bathroom door softly.

Eve's eyes widened. How was she going to explain this to Freya? She was just crying over Aron and now she was leaving Desmond's bedroom? Freya didn't even know about their kiss last week. Of course Camren knew she wasn't in the bathroom, having heard her footsteps wandering through the house. But he would never say it, not wanting to share anyone else's business. He knew she wasn't doing harm. Or was she..? Eve was just surprised Camren hadn't told Freya, since they were both extremely close at this point.

Desmond sat up quickly, readjusting himself and falling back into his well-known state of composure. He cleared his throat and stood up, walking to the door to catch Freya. He opened it and peeked out from behind it, greeting her and speaking smoothly.

"Freya, Eve is in here. She was having a hard time and I heard her.. I came to help."

Eve scoffed and laughed under her breath at the same time. Well, it wasn't an outright lie, at least.

She could tell Freya's eyes widened by the tone of her voice. Eve knew Freya was going to interrogate her later. Intensely.

"Oh.. okay. She's alright though?"

"Yes, don't fret".

Freya whirled on her heel and bounded down the stairs again, no doubt running to fill Camren in, who'd just heard it himself through the floorboards.

Desmond clicked the door shut and turned to Eve. His presence seemed intimidating now and he had a light look of amusement on his face. He came to sit back down on the bed and looked at Eve, his hands in his lap. She sat up, cross legged, to face him.

"Eve, I think you're devastatingly beautiful. You are.. art. Almost as if you were created just for me, you tick off everything that I love, that I admire, that.. turns me on. And if I can be honest with you.." he trailed off. "Watching you be with someone else, and keeping distance from you, was the hardest thing I've done in over 300 years."

She stared at him, heart flipping and doing jumping jacks. She had no idea how old he was until this moment. He never shared it.

"I can't have you like this, especially for the first.. I hope you understand. Not for lack of desire.." His eyes scanned her again, full of need.

He couldn't do this knowing she was upset over Aron. It stung a little bit, even though she knew it was a fair reason. She nodded, taking his hand in hers lightly. There was a deep connection between Eve and Desmond, and both felt it intensely. Eve's mind swirled, the thought of Aron not even breaching the surface.

Chapter Text

MakeDamnSure- Taking Back Sunday

"You're coming over tonight and that's final!!" Freya yelled through the FaceTime call, her face angry and tiny on the phone screen.

"Yes, I know MOM," Eve rolled her eyes and responded. "I would never miss your birthday. Don't worry."

"Good, because all the girls will be here at 6 and I bought a lot of booze. So don't come on an empty stomach or I'll laugh at you while you're puking."

"You are so sadistic, Freya. Ugh, guess that's the Scorpio in you." Eve laughed.

Freya's end of the call was filled with laughter as well. Both girls were in really good moods today. Freya was obviously relieved to see some life back in Eve, and Eve had been feeling lighter also. Her interactions with Desmond had obviously snapped her out of her sadness, giving her something else to think about. A distraction, if you will.

"I'll be over in an hour or so, just let me shower and get my shit together. I'll help you decorate when I get there."

"Okay babes. Love you."

Click.

Eve shuffled throughout her house, flimsily making a half-assed overnight bag. The girls spent so much time at each other's houses that they really didn't need to pack bags anymore. They both occupied small little shelves at each other's places filled with certain toiletries, body washes and perfumes that the other may need while over. It was an emotional intimacy the two were no stranger to, they had been attached at the hip for over half their lives.

"Get my shit together" was really just an excuse for Eve to think about Desmond. Her entire brain became consumed with him. She'd never met such an intriguing person. He was clearly of another time, and that made him so foreign to her. He reminded her of a fictional character straight out of the romantic novels she loved to secretly read. To Eve, Aron was an adrenaline rush, he was exciting and sexy while still having a softness to him. Desmond was similar, but offered a bit more peace and stability, which Eve found equally as sexy.

After giving Percy an abundance of food for the night and next morning, she headed to Freya's. Upon walking through her front door she was assaulted with loud music and found Freya dancing in the kitchen while cleaning her sink. Her hips moved back and forth, and she about jumped out of her skin when Eve greeted her. Screaming, she turned around quickly, eyes big as plates.

"Bitch!"

Eve laughed.

"Hello to you, too."

The girls carried on with cleaning Freya's house and decorating. Freya was about to turn 23, while Eve was still 21. There wasn't a huge gap between the two. Just one year.

The music was turned down eventually while the girls worked in near silence. Eve worked her fingers around a "Happy Birthday!" banner above Freya's couch, wrestling with tape that kept sticking to her skin.

"So.. I know we wanted normalcy today.." Freya began. Eve sighed internally. Here was the interrogation she'd braced for.

"And I KNOW we swore to not talk about boys toda-"

"Just spit it out," Eve rolled her eyes.

"What the FUCK were you doing in Desmond's room last night? You wanna tell me about that?" Freya prodded.

"Not really," she answered.

She wasn't looking at Freya, but she could tell Freya was staring at her.

"Well, you're going to?"

Eve stepped down from the couch after winning the battle with the banner. She sighed heavily.

"Okay," she surrendered, throwing her arms up. "We were doing exactly what you think we were doing."

Freya looked at her in disbelief. "You're fucking joking."

"No, I'm not," Eve giggled a bit due to nerves and disbelief herself. She could feel her cheeks turn pink as Freya looked at her like she had three heads.

"Well" She quickly went to correct herself, "We didn't fuck, if that what you're thinking."

Freya crossed her arms and lifted an eyebrow. "Like I believe that."

"No, I mean. Almost. But.."

Freya looked at her with a dramatic "and?" expression on her face, eyes wide and lips in a hard line. Her brows flew up.

"I'm just going to be honest with you.. he doesn't want to do anything until I'm over.. him.." She immediately fell glum. She couldn't say Aron's name out loud. It made him real. It made everything real.

Freya's brows quickly furrowed. Eve could tell she instantly felt guilty for bringing the boy topic up.

"But, it's fine. I'm moving on."

Freya gave her friend a hopeful look and nodded slowly. Eve knew it must be so hard for her to be in the middle, having such strong ties to both people involved.

"And I'm really sorry for caving with him. I should have thought about how it would affect you first- you know, being in the middle of things if they went bad and-"

"Don't apologize," Freya replied with a sad smile, "I actually set you guys up. I'd been telling him about you for weeks before you even met. I knew you two would click and it made me happy to see you together."

Eve was filled with immense warmth, but it was quickly taken away from her just as fast when she remembered he'd left. Her face fell and Freya obviously wanted to change the direction of their talk.

"So.. with Desmond, like.. how did it start? How did you get him to crack?"

Eve explained everything to her. From the beginning. From the spat at their house, to him coming over and apologizing, to their walk, the kiss, etc. She filled Freya in on everything, who sat dumbfounded. Freya's hazel eyes flashed many different expressions as she listened, but they always held a hint of shock.

After hearing everything, she sat silent for a moment. As if she were processing everything somewhere far away in her mind.

"Wow. I'm really sorry I haven't been here for you more to hear any of this- to talk about any of this with you. I guess I've just been.. off in my own little world, too" she said quietly.

"Uh, yeah. I noticed. Between you and Liam, and you and Camren? I know you so well."

Freya blushed violently and shook her head, trying to brush the conversation out of existence.

Eve laughed at her friend's uncomfort. It wasn't like her to shut down so quickly like this.

"What's up? What the hell is going on? Camren has mentioned a few things, but not much."

Freya's cheeks were a hot red at this point. She looked mortified. "Oh my god, what did he tell you?"

"Well, I want to hear your version of things first."

Freya launched into a thorough and detailed explanation of her situation. It was complicated, with both Liam and Camren being so hooked on her, she seemed caught in the middle. Both girls had wound up in very similar situations, and it made Eve feel better knowing she wasn't completely alone in this.

The girls neglected their decorating for over an hour, consumed with the heart to heart conversation. They both knew the other would never hold real judgment toward them. It was refreshing for both girls to vent, especially since anyone else would think they were batshit insane. Any therapist would march them right into a crisis center.

Eve eventually crumbled mid conversation and expressed deep sadness over Aron's abandonment. She had no closure and was beyond confused. Freya provided vague answers she knew would give Eve just the right amount of closure to move on. Eve gave Freya just the right amount of validation in her feelings that would allow her to finally make a move on Camren.

Eve also decided that she was absolutely DONE being sad over IV. She was no longer going to allow him to have such power over her, and she needed to let him go. She didn't want to, but it was obvious that in order for her to heal, it needed to happen. And Freya reassured her that she'd be with her every step of the way. At this point, both girls were tired of the sadness they both felt. Tonight, the focus was going to be on having a good time and letting loose.

After a decent chunk of time had passed, they both looked at the time and panicked. The party was about to start and there was a list of things that still had to be done.

Hours passed. All the guests arrived and the party was in full swing. The music had been cranked back up and at least 8 girls filled the living room. Many of these girls were friends the pair had made throughout the years, some were work friends, others from school. Even though they weren't as close with the others as they were each other, they loved each guest wholeheartedly.

Callie, Krissy, Michelle, Stacia, Lanie, Ravyn and Aria were scattered around the room, in various stages of inebriation. Everyone wore party hats and the room erupted in laughter every five minutes or so.

Callie was a mutual friend of both girls. She was a loud gamer girl who had a cheeky sense of humor that was VERY similar to Liam's. Eve thought it would be so interesting to see the two interact, who would out-goof the other? Callie had deep plum hair and bright green eyes. Being a huge Star Wars nerd, she sported a Star Wars T-shirt tonight and kept trying to convince Freya to watch the series. Eve watched as Freya tried to drunkenly understand the plot that was being relayed to her, with a raised eyebrow, nodding slowly. It made Eve laugh.

Krissy was a pistol. With wild brown curls and chunky glasses, she was beautiful as well. If Eve were asked to describe Krissy, the only way she could was a "trailer park grandma". Krissy knew there would be alcohol provided tonight, yet still chose to bring an enormous box of wine to share. She brought the party wherever she went. This woman had no filter and was rough around the edges. Usually, a cigarette dangled between her fingers. Tonight, she was taking breaks out on the patio out of respect for Freya. She was the one to trigger repetitive laughter from the group, her voice spewing comedic one-liners that had the girls in stitches.

Michelle was the quiet sweetheart of the group who always had just the right thing to say. She was insanely smart, logic pouring into each of her sentences. Her blue eyes were bright, bringing life to any room she was in. Michelle was quite the book hermit, always bringing her stories into conversations and recommending novels to people. Her and Callie bonded heavily over this, they would always talk about characters and plot twists.

Stacia was a smokeshow. All of the women were absolutely beautiful, but Stacia was someone who had men falling over her left and right. It was almost as if she had magic in her fingertips that made men act like stupid schoolboys, babbling when trying to sweeten her up. She always fell for it, too. Stacia was a hopeless romantic who wore her heart right on her sleeve. She was tall, with long blonde hair and a beachy aesthetic. She was very Barbie-like and had a laugh that made you turn your head.

Lanie sat next to Stacia. The two were best friends themselves, always coming and going together. Where you'd find one, you'd find the other. Lanie was the exact opposite of Stacia. She was super curvy, with glowy tan skin and long brown hair. Her hazel eyes lit up every time she giggled and she'd punch Stacia in the arm jokingly. Both Krissy and Lanie were pretty drunk at this point, hooting and hollering at each other's jokes.

Ravyn was one of the shy ones. She was silly in her own way and a huge softy. Ravyn was the shortest of the group, even shorter than Eve. Being really skilled with makeup, she sported a heavy purple smokey eye tonight. Her and Eve talked excitedly about makeup- their favorite palette, their favorite color schemes, products, etc. Ravyn was a sweetheart who opened up once you got to know her, and Eve was determined to do so.

Aria sat on the floor with her legs crossed. She was observing the group around her through glossy eyes. Aria was quite the lightweight (admittedly) and always just had such a good time. No matter where Aria was, you could expect her to make the most out of it. She was loud, goofy, and had a sunny aura to her. Her neon orange hair was piled up into a claw clip and she talked with Michelle and Callie about a dark romance book, all oozing over the male lead.

For the past hour, Aria had been the designated aux woman. It was almost time for someone else to grab aux, and shots were being poured on the kitchen counter by Eve. Being a bartender, the girls were putting her to work every thirty minutes, asking to try a new "fun" recipe. Eve loved this and had a fun time creating new shots for the group.

This time, she was making blue moon shots. Rumchata, Blue Curaçao and Amaretto splashed around the shaker as she shook it, ice jumping around inside the tin. She poured the cold blue liquid into shot glasses and made her way into the living room where everyone cheered upon her arrival. They downed the shots, and Eve couldn't help to think that this group was rivaling the boys tonight with their drinking.

"That tasted like fruity pebbles!" Stacia said excitedly, wiping blue from her chin. Ravyn nodded in agreement. Finally, the next aux person was picked. Callie plugged her phone in and hit shuffle, a Rob Zombie song filling the room. The conversation quickly took a turn, the topic falling on music. Callie pulled her phone out again and turned on a song that jolted both Freya and Eve, grabbing their attention immediately.

"Sugar" by Sleep Token. The two girls locked eyes with anxious looks on their faces. Callie eagerly started talking about the band with the girls. Some had heard of the group, others hadn't, but all were interested to hear more about them... especially once Callie pulled up pictures of them on stage. Everyone in the room was shocked and began talking excitedly, asking questions and trying to understand the "lore".

"Oh my god, they're so hot?!" Aria yelled.

"I'd bang him like a screen door in a hurricane, baby. Mmmm!" Krissy said, making the girls laugh again.

Freya walked over to Eve's side and they both chuckled lightly.

What a scarily weird coincidence, Eve thought.

It was unspoken between the two girls that they weren't going to mention anything. Not a single thing.

Callie looked up at Eve. "They just played here at Rick's. I wanted to go so bad but I couldn't get off that night. Did you work that show, Eve?"

Fuck.

"Yeah, I did, actually. Didn't really pay too much attention to the show itself though," she lied.

We definitely did not go party with them afterwards, Eve thought to herself. She glanced at Freya, who was very obviously thinking the same thing. She stifled a giggle.

"Damn. They don't tour here often. They're British," she replied, earning a couple "oooh"s from the crowd. She explained that all of their identities were anonymous and no one knew who they actually were, just that they were based out of the UK.

Callie was explaining the difference between the members in terms of height, instrument, etc. when Eve decided to distract everyone... fast.

"More shots?" She said loudly as she walked into the kitchen. Eve's fingers slipped around a Patron bottle and she took a quick swig from it as she put both hands on the counter. She leaned her weight against them and fought the burning in her throat, trying to make sense of the past two minutes in her drunken mind. Clearly, none of the girls knew. And that was good.. it needed to stay that way.

Freya followed her into the kitchen and looked at her with wide eyes. Amusement and confusion filled her expression and the girls just shook their heads at the odds.

"Give me that," Freya took the Patron bottle out of Eve's grasp, quickly taking a quick swig herself.

"Just gonna pretend that didn't just happen. Weird." Freya said, humor in her voice.

The shot glasses were filled again and Eve brought them back into the room. A couple girls groaned at the thought of straight tequila, but all of them threw it back regardless.

A few minutes passed and the group decided they were going to bust out Cards Against Humanity. Eve knew this game was about to be the death of everyone in this room, especially since they were all drunk.

The first go around the room was rough, with some players learning the rules for the first time. By the second sweep around it was running smoothly and time began to pass very quickly.

At 11:30, there was a knock on the door accompanied by some muffled talking. Freya jogged over to it, expecting it to be a noise complaint. As if on queue, the door opened and Freya watched as Liam's gangly frame burst through it.

Oh no.

Camren's shorter stature followed behind, holding a cake in his hands. Eve realized he'd baked this just for Freya's birthday. The act was so sweet, it made her heart swell for her friends.

"Happy birthday, luv!!" Liam quickly wrapped his arms around Freya in a bear hug, her arms still up against her chest. She laughed when he wouldn't let her go, shaking her goofily. He'd definitely been drinking... a lot.

He suddenly stopped and set her down on her feet again. Liam scanned the room and waved nervously.

"Oh.. hey." He said shyly. The goofy blonde giant had quite literally just gotten shy. Eve cackled at this and his eyes looked over at her.

"Eve! Doll!" He ran over to hug her also.

Eve then introduced Liam to the girls in the room, many of whom eyed Liam like they'd never seen a man before in their life. He chuckled, smoothing his shoulder length blonde hair with his large hands and looking at the ground. It was so odd to see him act shy.

"Huh, weird! We were JUST talking about British men!" Stacia said drunkenly.

Liam anxiously laughed, unsure of how to respond. Camren and Freya had already made their way into the kitchen, leaving Liam to fight this room of girls off by himself. Eve laughed and grabbed his arm. "Let's go on the patio".

They made their way outside and Liam burst into a loud tangent on the dark balcony.

"I reckon I had no idear, Eve! No wun tells me ANYfing around here! I'm so sorreh."

"Liam, Liam it's okay!" Eve snickered at him. "You guys can go if you want, it's okay. You don't have to stay. It's supposed to be a girls night anyways. No smelly boys allowed."

"Awh, okayeh. I mean, we knew there was a pahty, but not one like this."

"What? All girls? A birthday party for Freya being all girls?"

"Eve.." he kicked the ground, looking at his feet. He was embarrassed again. "I've been drinking, pleese ignore meh."

"Anyway, how'd you know about the party?" She inquired, very unphased by the drunken giant.

"Oh. Uh.." he trailed off, unsure of how to finish. "A-Aron mentioned it. Freya told him, and eh.. he didn't wont to stop by because-"

Her insides froze. It felt like she'd been punched in the chest. The knowledge that he was purposely avoiding her killed her inside.. what did she do to deserve this?

"Oh."

"Please don't be upset, Eve! Really. Aron is just a schtupid boy, honestleh. You don't deserve to be up in a frenzy over HIM." His accent was so much thicker being that he was drunk.

"Yeah.. yeah, I know. Thanks, Liam."

She smiled at him, and he returned it with a wide, silly grin. Eve hugged him and they stood for a moment, looking out over the balcony into the night.

Camren slid the patio door open and came out to join them. He side hugged Eve, not having greeted her at the door.

"Hey. Uh.. sorry for just dropping by. I know her birthday is at midnight and wanted to come 'round to surprise her with a cake I made."

"No need for apologies, Camren, you didn't ruin anything. The party is still going." This statement was quickly backed up with roaring laughter from indoors, no doubt from the game.

He smiled at her, blonde hair catching the light from the neighbors' motion sensor bulb randomly going off. He had such a sweet smile, Eve couldn't help but be happy by looking at it. She always felt a degree of peace wash over her whenever he was around. His eyes crinkled at the corners and his blue eyes looked at her warmly.

"'Tanks for lookin' out, Eve." His expression suddenly changed as he remembered something.

"Hey! What was going on last night with you and Desmon-"

"I LOVE you Cam, but I really don't want to talk about that."

"Oh, right. Reckon I heard moaning."

"Moaning?!" Liam barked.

Eve fought the urge to facepalm right in front of them. She crossed her arms and put her fingers to her temples, scrunching her eyes shut.

"Oh my god. Please. Can we have ANY other conversation right now?"

Camren giggled softly to himself. Liam drunkenly gawked at her.

Liam tried to push the issue but Camren shut him down. The three knew the clock was about to strike midnight. They made their way inside, grabbing party horns and prepping for the few minutes to pass. Freya sat surrounded by all of her friends, absorbing the tremendous love in the room.

The clock struck midnight and everyone blew their horns, lifting their drinks and yelling "Happy birthday, Freya!"

Pink faced and dizzy, Freya hid her face in her hands and laughed as Eve kissed her on the cheek.

Liam and Camren said their goodbyes, leaving right after. They promised Freya a party of their own and glided out of the house. The girls drunkenly devoured the cake, everyone complimenting the taste. Freya's heart soared with pride as she bragged about her "friend's" cooking and baking skills.

Shortly after, Eve lay in Freya's bed. The idea of drunk texting Aron popped in her mind and she wrestled with it for a moment. It was obviously against her better judgment. She also knew it wouldn't even send, since he'd blocked her.

The night before, Desmond had given her his number. It almost felt.. odd.. having his number. She rarely ever saw him use his phone. Laying there, she stared at the ceiling and fought the urge to text him also. THAT one would definitely go through. She curled up on her side, ruminating on a wonderful night. Gratitude for being alive and surrounded by such love washed over her, pulling her into Sleep's arms.

Chapter Text

Desire- Meg Myers

Eve and Freya formed a game plan. They were scheming.. but all in good fun. And it helped them both break out of their shell a bit. Eve was helping Freya formulate a plan to come clean to Camren and confess her feelings for him.

Eve knew this was going to be reciprocated by him. It was so painfully obvious to not only Eve, but everyone else in the group. Yet, Freya had it in her mind that she'd be rejected and doomed to be Camren's friend forever. Not possible, if you asked Eve. The way his eyes lit up at even the MENTION of Freya's name proved it wrong. She'd grown to love Camren like a brother at this point, and it only felt right for him to finally be with Freya. They were already making each other so happy, but just couldn't see it themselves.

Reversed, Freya offered to help Eve get things going with Desmond. They both knew with his stoic nature he'd take his sweet time, and Eve was already impatient. The hole that Aron left in her chest has to be filled. Both lust and adoration had taken her over, churning her insides with anticipation.

Freya would keep Liam and Camren away from the house for the majority of the night. Aron was still MIA, but hadn't been seen at the house for quite awhile. The odds of him stopping by were slim. Before Desmond would arrive home from recording, Eve would slip into the house and wait for him to find her.. in his bed.

She was tired of waiting. She was tired of excuses and hold ups. It would be impossible to endure Desmond going at the same pace Aron did. Hopefully, when seeing how eager she was for him, he'd let himself give in. However.. Eve knew there was a lot at stake by doing this. It could go wrong in many different ways. Aron could potentially stop at the house on a whim, Desmond could freak out and reject her, or... or. She had to stop her anxious train of thought before she'd scare herself out of it.

Eve walked through the mall, alone, with a fire in her step. She headed toward the nearest store that carried plus size lingerie. Usually she was never this bold, but something compelled her to do this. As if some unseen force was controlling her body as she made her way into the boutique.

Eve stared at the display mannequins and frowned. She hadn't thought this far. What was Desmond's favorite color? He seemed to wear neutral tones a lot, but.. black lingerie was too boring for Eve's tastes. At least for this occasion. Pink? No.. that didn't really fit Desmond's vibe, either.

Her eyes wandered over to a wide hipped mannequin wearing a dark red bodysuit. It was strappy with an underwire cup. Lace covered the breast area and a harness wove its way up the chest and collarbones. Red mesh covered the abdomen and pelvic area, turning into a thong on the backside. And to top it off, the harness on the chest connected to garter straps that wrapped around each thigh. She'd pair this with black stockings.

It screamed softness with an edge to it. Sexy but beautiful at the same time. Red seemed to be more of a Desmond color, and Vessel's mask flashed in her mind. White, black and red.. that was Vessel. It made sense why she associated Desmond with red. Her stomach lurched at the thought of Vessel, the excitement and lust bubbling inside her.

She quickly found her size and nearly ran into the dressing room. The second she adjusted the straps and placed everything correctly, she looked in the mirror and gasped.

She no longer saw Eve, the scared and anxious woman she thought herself to be. But instead, she saw a confident and powerful woman. She couldn't help but look at her own body in adoration, feeling her confidence rise each millisecond.

Her eyes slowly traveled down her breasts, to her curvy hips, to her large thighs.. A wide smile stretched across her lips and she felt butterflies in her stomach. Yeah.. this is what she was going to wear. This is what would finally bring them together. She had a pair of heels that would go perfectly with this outfit and she smirked as she changed back into her day clothes.

She texted Freya.

E: The delicate items are bought. I'm going home to shower and do my makeup, then I'll be going over.

F: Okay, remember that recording ends at 8. He should be there at around 8:30. I'll keep the other two occupied.

E: Thank you ❤️

F: Have fun, be safe and tell me all about it later 😈

Eve giggled at her phone.

She made her way home and jumped in the shower, shaving every surface of her body. The warm suds lathered in her hair soothed her nerves for just a moment. The steamy bathroom almost became a place of meditation as she conducted serious self-pampering. Her toenails had been painted black, and the pointy acrylics on her hands matched them. She exfoliated her skin in the shower, washed her face and let her worries run down the drain. This felt right... tonight felt right. And Desmond had no idea what was coming.

Eve walked into her bedroom and sat at her vanity. Her hands moved as she began the transformation. Her fingers wrapped around several makeup brushes as she applied a face of makeup. Nothing too heavy, just enough to compliment her features.

She picked a pinky nude gloss to compliment the natural eyeshadow she wore. Her cheeks were dusted with blush and her cheekbones were softly highlighted. She didn't want to do any dark makeup tonight. Eve wanted Desmond to see her for who she was. Her lashes were curled and fake ones applied, Eve making sure to glue them down properly.

After reinforcing the natural curls in her long, satin black hair, she applied a small amount of oil to her skin. She didn't want to overwhelm Desmond with the scent so she picked something without fragrance. Just something to soften her flesh for his touch.

Her favorite perfume was applied to her wrists and behind her ears. After that, she climbed into the lingerie. She'd wear this under normal clothes. That way she could still look normal in the Uber and just strip quickly once entering the home. Nerves sent ripples through her stomach.

She ordered the Uber and grabbed her purse, which was filled with "just in case" items alongside her keys and wallet. These "just in case" items were nail glue, a tube of lipstick, baby wipes, a mini body mist, spray deodorant, mints, an extra condom, and a small tube of lube.

Bringing a condom was silly, vampires didn't use condoms. She laughed to herself at the thought. She climbed into the Uber and was whisked away onto the winding roads, her heart beginning to pound as it crawled up the gravel driveway. The driver seemed perplexed as to why she was getting dropped off at a dark house in the middle of nowhere, but she tipped him extra to not ask any questions.

It was dark now, and the entire house was black as well. Clearly, no one had been home for a while. She fished the extra key from the mailbox and slipped inside. The last time she'd been in the house when it was this dark was her first date with Aron...

No, she wasn't going to go there tonight.

She was on a mission. The house greeted her with its familiar scent of herb smoke, cologne and incense. Eve locked the front door again and made her way up the steps, heels clicking all the way up the wooden staircase. She walked to Desmond's door and put her hand on the doorknob, pausing for a moment before entering.

Do I really want to do this? She thought to herself.

The answer was quick.

Yes, I absolutely do.

She turned the knob and walked in, setting her purse down next to the bed and igniting the oil lamps around the space. The room brightened with a soft glow, shadows flickering up the walls again. The flames in the lamps danced and cast just the right amount of light in the room. It looked like something off of Pinterest. Desmond truly had a hand at interior decorating.

Eve lay down in Desmond's bed, the smooth sheets wrapping around her skin. His bed smelled just like him, the scent making her eyes close in satisfaction as she inhaled. He smelled so, so good. She wondered why his bed smelled so much like him if he technically didn't have to sleep.. but maybe he did sleep, just to pass time, even. A mental note was made in her mind to ask him later. For now, she'd just enjoy it. Her long dark hair collected around her head on the pillowcase and she pulled the comforter up to her chin.

She thought there'd be more nerves while laying in his bed. But for some reason, it just felt right. It was honestly really comfortable. Her mind began to race and she thought of everything that led up to this point. There was no mistaking or denying her feelings for both Aron AND Desmond, but Desmond had almost completely distracted her from the pain of Aron. There were a lot of feelings for Desmond that had just been pushed under the rug and kept away, she'd been in denial for so long and it felt amazing to finally let them ou-

The front door opened downstairs, jerking Eve from her thoughts. She held her breath subconsciously, not realizing she was doing it. There was slight rustling on the floor below her and her heart thumped. The rustling stopped suddenly, followed by a very intentional pause.

She heard quick footsteps fly up the steps and could tell Desmond was confused. He'd obviously heard a heartbeat in his room, no doubt hers was racing at this point. She finally let out a quiet breath and the door opened. Desmond's large hand wrapped around the door as it opened, behind him a pitch black hallway.

His expression was of intense confusion, but it seemed to soften when his eyes landed on hers. His brown eyebrows were pulled together and his head cocked to the side, as if he couldn't comprehend what was in front of him. She smiled at him, making sure her eyes were soft and inviting. He closed the wooden door behind him even though they were alone in the house.

Stepping forward, he gently asked, "What.. are you doing here?"

The question hung in the tension-filled air. It was quite obvious this was not innocent, but Eve suddenly wanted to play it safe. She challenged herself, though.. pushing against her anxiety. Awaiting her answer, he slowly came and sat on the edge of the bed next to her, his face looking down at her. Desmond's eyes were perplexed and his brows were still tense with confusion as he waited for her to speak.

"Well," She couldn't believe how her voice rang clearly in the air, like a bell, "Everyone else is busy, and staying home alone sounded sad. Thought maybe you could use some company.. that we could be alone.. together." She couldn't believe she heard her own voice say the words out loud.

The puzzled look on his face dissolved. It was then quickly replaced with longing that she could tell he was trying to hide. They gazed into each other's eyes for what seemed like an eternity, the golden glow of the room surrounding them. His deep blue eyes pulled her in and she thought she might drown in them.

"A lonely heart is indeed a vulnerable heart," he spoke gently.

Desmond waited for her next move. She simply nodded, staying neutral to the situation even though she was half-naked under the covers.

He moved his hand closer to her side in an attempt to comfort her. "Eve, I'll make sure you're never lonely again."

She wasn't sure if he meant it in a sexual or emotional sense, catching undertones of both in his voice. Her heart jumped into double time and she knew this was the moment. She slowly unraveled the sheets away from her body and glanced up at Desmond's face as she spoke.

"Yes, Desmond... I believe that."

His eyes scanned her body and a mix of surprise and arousal flashed across his stoney features. A soft gasp left his mouth as his lips parted slightly, his gaze burrowing onto Eve's body. It seemed as if the lyricist for the band, the poet, the soul of words was completely out of them as scanned her form in awe. Finally, he looked back into her eyes.

"You are.. mesmerizing. For eternity, I'll remember how you look in this moment."

She smiled at him and he raised his hand slightly, hovering it over her stocking-clad leg. He looked at her with a "May I?" expression and she nodded again. He took a deep breath and reached out to touch her, his fingers brushing against the nylon fabric of her stocking. His index finger dragged a line down her leg as he studied every centimeter of her body in awe.

"Such a gift.. so delicately wrapped. Let me properly appreciate it.." he breathed into her skin as he lifted her shin to his lips, his hands cradling her leg gently.

Eve internally gushed at his accent. He kissed up her leg to her ankle, gently removing her heel and kissing the top of her foot tenderly. He meant it literally- he was attending to every inch of her, including her tiny feet. It aroused her beyond belief to watch him moan in pleasure as he gave them attention, her stockings rubbing against his skin softly.

"Mmm.." she said as he kissed up her leg slowly, still holding it gently. Her legs were decently chubby, yet they looked so small in his hands. Eve's skin was so soft it was intoxicating. Desmond was truly losing himself at this moment, almost no self control remained. Eve found the slowness of his kissing and rubbing to be extremely intimate. She'd only ever been taken quickly. No man had ever doted on her at this pace before.

"You're so beautiful, Evelina," He whispered in between kisses. Her hands found his thigh, fingers delicately landing on his pants.

"Please stand. Allow me to admire it all.." He suggested gently.

She stood in front of him and he made a twirl motion with his fingers, prompting her to do a 360. She felt his gaze studying her inch by inch, taking in the entire ensemble from the top of her harness down to the heels on her feet. His oceany eyes were deep pools of desire and Desmond closed them, breathing in to contain his composure. Eve felt the trace his eyes left, she could feel his hunger for her. He leaned back on the bed slightly, eyes still on her, and that's when Eve spotted the bulge on his lap.

"I offer myself to you, Desmond," her voice sliced the thick, intimate energy in the air. She could see him wrestling with himself again, but the second the words left her lips, desire completely filled his eyes. She knew how big he was on consent, and if her appearing in his bed in lingerie wasn't enough consent, these words solidified it for him. His deep voice answered her.

"The sweetest offering.. let me worship every inch of you."

She walked closer to his form that sat on the bed and his hands were on her again. His fingertips brushed against her skin, the lace, the straps, igniting a fire in both of them they never knew existed. He breathed heavily against her skin as he kissed her soft stomach. The scent of her skin, the perfume, the oil, her blood, it all mixed in his nostrils and he throbbed with need for her.

He couldn't believe it was happening, and Desmond was determined to make the most of each millisecond. His hands moved to the back of her thighs and he gently tapped, indicating that he wanted her on his lap. She obliged, giving in to her own need.

"I want you to belong to me," he breathed in her ear as she straddled his lap. Her lips met his and they moved together in sync, the passion quickly building in each kiss.

"I want it too," she responded in between kisses as her head fell back and her hands found his hair, her nails brushing against his scalp.

One hand of his was on her hip, guiding it to him, causing hot friction on both cores. His other hand cradled her jawline before making its way into her hair by the nape of her neck. He watched her body moving on him in awe, wishing his eyes could record it so he could replay it forever.

"Say it, Evelina. Please.. I need to hear you sa-"

"I belong to you, Desmond." She said, moving her face an inch away from his, eyes boring into each other. Her breath was sweet and fruity, tempting him to taste every part of her.

His arousal became impossible to ignore, the large bulge in his lap rubbing against Eve made her even wetter. His hands brought her wetness back and forth across his lap, rocking her hips on him and making her stomach tie in knots. He kissed the crook of her neck and his hands grabbed her ass fervently. Her skin filled his palms and he gasped in her ear.

In the blink of an eye her back was flat on the bed, head against the pillow. He was on top of her, kisses trailing down her neck onto her chest. Her hands pulled at his clothes, his baggy sweater hanging off of his lanky frame. Eve had fantasized about this since the night she met him, and it was finally happening. She wanted his nude body against hers. Immediately.

"Slow.. let's take our time, Eve.. I want to savor you." His deep voice was thick with determination.

Her legs hooked around his waist, desperation becoming too much. The fabrics between them were a barrier that needed to be torn, needed to be removed. His fingers ran over the lace cups of the lingerie and Eve felt her nipples harden underneath him. He pulled the lace down and moaned softly as her pale breasts spilled out of the red fabric. Desmond took one of her nipples into his mouth, sucking gently and touching the other with his fingers. Eve felt electricity shoot through her to her core, arching her back into his touch. The deep red tone of the lace perfectly matched the passion in Desmond's eyes as he relished every sound that fell out of Eve.

He sat up on his knees, finally reaching to his shoulders and pulling his sweater over his head, tossing it to the floor. His body glowed under the warm light as his toned upper half burned into Eve's eyes.

She remembered seeing him shirtless the first night they met, at the hotel as everyone got ready to "sleep". But she never had the opportunity to truly see his body. He always kept it hidden under baggy sweaters and hoodies. His collarbones were defined and his pectorals were hairless and toned, bringing attention to his sternum and finally, his abs. They were chiseled with just enough body fat to even it out. His hip bones peeked out from above the line of his jeans and Eve sucked in a gasp as she took his image in. It was odd to think back to seeing him as Vessel and seeing these same abs, just covered in black paint. Now his skin was bare and he was vulnerable, exposed to her.

She craved him and he gazed down at her, ever gentle yet lustful. He was on her again, kissing down her stomach as her hands grabbed for his shoulders. She spread her legs and he hummed to himself as he kissed lower. His eyes looked up at Eve, taking the look on her face into his mind. He wished to keep it there indefinitely. His lips brushed against the pale skin on her thighs as he kissed and licked up towards the center of her hips. Desmond was doing this not only for her enjoyment, but also his. He enjoyed touching her and creating little explosions in her mind. To taste her was fueling his impulses even more, making him throb uncontrollably.

Desmond's mind was swirling as his fingers pulled the panties aside from her wet heat. He had urges to paint her, to sculpt her body out of clay. Even her most intimate parts were beautiful. His lips met her folds and she shuddered. He closed his eyes, enjoying the notes of pleasure she made and savoring the taste of her juices on his tongue. It rivaled blood, the sweet taste encapsulated his senses and he moaned into her, tongue swirling on her most sensitive spots. He could lose himself in this. She shuddered under his mouth and he glanced up at her. Her face was scrunched, brows raised and hands deep in his hair. Her breathing was heavy and her knees shook around him.

"Let me have it.. let me have your orgasm, my love.." he whispered up to her. It pushed her over the edge, sending her spiraling into the heavenly abyss. The glowing orb in her center pulsed as she rode out the waves of pleasure. Desmond watched her body shake with stars in his eyes. He'd never, ever seen such a beautiful sight in his eternal life.

His hands fell to his jeans, strictly reminding himself to slow down. As much as he wanted to rush to be inside her, he wanted to drag it out so they could enjoy it longer. His fingers steadily undid the button and he pulled the jeans down his legs, onto the floor. All that remained was his rock hard erection pressing against his boxers. It almost hurt, his need for Eve was so intense it took him off guard.

Eve lie on the bed, still coming down from her high. She looked up at him with half-lidded eyes, her irises consumed with the same hunger in his. The flames in the oil lamps danced in their glass casings, sending flickering shadows around them. She pulled the bodysuit off of her and lay bare in his bed. His breath caught in his throat as he studied her naked form. Her creamy white skin was covered in colorful tattoos, her large thighs stirred something in him and her curves.. they were captivating. He needed to be inside...

Desmond crawled on top of Eve and positioned himself above her again, his arms holding him up on either side of her head. She couldn't help but admire his marble skin as her tiny hands ran down his chest. His lips grazed hers lightly and he whispered to her.

"You're everything I've ever wanted, Evelina.." he kissed her neck softly, her scent overwhelming him. She moaned softly, she was tired of waiting for him and needed release. He kissed her softly on the lips and murmured, "And I'm going to make you feel every inch of that."

He reached down and freed himself from his boxers. Eve glanced down and her eyes instinctively widened. He was much larger than anyone she'd ever been with, including Aron. He was lengthy and uncircumcised. However, a piercing held his skin back, exposing his tip that was glistening with need already. It caught her by surprise. Desmond was the last person she'd expect to have a piercing in that area and she was nervous to see how it would feel inside of her:

His lips crashed onto hers and he slowly pushed inside of Eve, filling her completely to the hilt. She cried out at the sudden sensation as he gasped in her ear. She'd never been filled so completely and she whined, but Desmond was right there to soothe her. He moved gradually, thrusting in and out of her with a rhythm that was both gentle and powerful. Desmond's lips continued to dance with Eve's, tongues gliding and massaging each other.

Wet sounds filled the air as he thrust into her, the raw intimacy making both moan and gasp in euphoria. His skin smacked against hers as he picked up the pace, his tip prodding her sweet spot directly. He reached down and touched her clit, rubbing with just the right amount of pressure. Eve's legs shook as her whole body shuddered, the bliss bubbling up inside her.

He drove deeper and deeper into her soaked, welcoming core, feeling her tighten around him. Desmond was torn between keeping his eyes open and watching as the raven-haired woman writhed underneath him, or closing his eyes and melting into this feeling. He groaned loudly as she squeezed around him tightly, his cock slipping in and out of the hot, wet pressure.

Lost in the sensation of being inside, he reached out to grab both breasts, easily filling both hands until they overflowed. His breaths became ragged as he felt himself getting closer to the edge, but he refused to be rushed. Instead, he slowed down, drawing out the intense pleasure for both of them as he thrust deeply and slowly inside her. Neither one of them wanted to crumble, not yet.

He leaned down and nipped at her ear, breathing heavily and moaning softly. Eve became even tighter around him and he could tell she was close.

"De-Desmond.." she stuttered.

He picked up the pace again when he saw her crumpled expression. Her nails dug into his back as she shook and sprayed him with juices. A small wetness splashed against his pelvis as her eyes rolled back into her skull. She let out a loud cry and shook again as she released all over him.

The sight and feel of it yanked him to the edge, it turned him on relentlessly to see her in such an amorous state. He felt himself tighten, tension building in all of his muscles as he worked into her. She panted below him, breathless and completely spent of energy. Eve's eyes looked up at him filled with lust and awe as she watched him fuck her. He marked her as his own vessel for passion and pleasure. His rhythm slowed again and he deepened each stroke, feeling the inside of her warmth hug his member tightly. He looked down into her eyes, and she bit her lip, nodding slowly with half-lidded eyes.

"Yes, Desmond.. Yes.. Finish inside.. Make me yours.."

That was all it took. He moaned loudly as he filled her, pouring into her. His eyes closed and his head fell back, delighting in all of the smells and sounds that filled the room. Eve was captivated by the sight of him shuddering and panting, he was usually so cold and cut off. The eroticism of it all was such a mental turn on for her.

Desmond pumped into her a few more times and then slowly pulled out as he breathed heavily. Eve didn't want to ruin the moment, but she had to empty herself of his fluid. He kissed her lips and she stirred out of bed, walking to the bathroom down the dark hallway. She cleaned herself up and looked in the mirror afterwards. God, was she a mess.

Her hair was a chaotic nest, her makeup had become smudged and she looked so tired. Her cheeks were flushed bright pink as she looked at her own reflection. She quickly grabbed a spare brush that the girls kept in one of the drawers under the sink and ran it through her hair, then grabbed one of the makeup wipes and cleaned that up as well. Eve wondered what Desmond was currently thinking as he sat in the room alone by himself. Did he regret what just happened? Her heart sank at that thought, she surely hoped he didn't.

She made it quick and padded back down the hall to Desmond's room. He laid on the bed on his side, smiling at her as she entered. Desmond couldn't help but eye her head to toe, she was truly the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. She slipped next to him, under the covers and they looked at each other quietly.

The air was still filled with their combined energies, it still felt intimate and amorous. His hand reached out to brush hair away from her face as he smiled at her. She took his wrist, pulling his hand down to her heartbeat which was still racing. He found humor in her action as he felt the loud thumping bump under his fingertips. Desmond reached for her hand, pulling it to his chest. She knew there should be a fast pulse given their recent actions, but instead, she felt nothing.

Her hand hovered over complete silence. She'd never touched a chest that didn't have a heartbeat and the realization took her off guard. Of course he didn't have a pulse.. but she never felt the absence. It almost made her sad.

The two were wrapped up in each other's eyes, Desmond's twinkling softly down at her. He kissed the top of her soft, silky head.

"I've waited forever for you." His words warmed her heart and she looked back up at him, emotional intimacy prevalent between their eyes.

"You mean so much to me, Desmond," she confessed.

They kissed again, the air thick with their unspoken love.

"As you do to me."

She fell asleep quickly in Desmond's bare arms, safely guarded by him. Eve drifted off into a blissful slumber, while Desmond spent the entire night gazing at her with adoration, trying to figure out what he did to deserve her presence. He couldn't believe what just happened, his mind scrambled to process that it was real. He'd waited for so long, since the moment he laid eyes on her. All obstacles were out of the way. And finally.. she was his.

For the first time in 412 years, he felt himself melt. He was hers.

Chapter Text

Separate- PVRIS

The next morning, Eve woke cradled in Desmond's arms. The sun peeked through the edges of the blinds and cast onto their bodies in bed. Desmond's hair was messy and his eyes were closed. Eve knew he wasn't sleeping.. but he was resting. His naked body was pressed against hers, reminding her of what took place the night prior. His skin felt so nice on hers, the skin on skin contact flooding her brain with dopamine.

She stirred quietly and his eyes blinked open at her. The oceanic pools gazed at her with sincerity and warmth, something she'd never seen from him before the night prior. Eve smiled and he reflected, the edges of his lips pulling up at the corners.

"Good morning, Angel," he greeted as he pulled her into a kiss. His already-deep voice was thick with sleep.. even though he didn’t.

Angel.

"Good morning," She replied sweetly, kissing him back. The level of affinity the two established recently really pulled them into one unit. Eve knew she would no longer operate as just herself, but connected to him.

They kissed again, Eve eagerly returning his soft kisses fervently. He hummed mid-kiss and pulled away, chuckling softly.

"Did you sleep well?"

He obviously knew the answer already, having watched her the entire night. He studied her body under his fingertips, and her face, cradled in his chest. He'd discovered light freckles under her eyes, mapping out constellations that rivaled those of the Milky Way. Her natural lip color was a pale blush, like that of peonies. He ran his fingertip over her plump bottom lip light as a feather, feeling the ripples of tissue and nerves underneath. Her heartbeat was slow and steady the entire night, along with her breath. There were no odd noises, no scrunched faces or racing pulse that indicated a nightmare.

She nodded.

"Mhm."

He smiled at her, warmth oozing from his aura.

"Good. I'm glad."

A loud noise erupted in the hallway outside the door. It was someone clearing their throat obnoxiously in an attempt to get their attention. In nothing short of a yell, Freya piped up.

"Get your asses up! There's breakfast downstairs."

Eve laughed softly under the covers. Desmond rolled his eyes. She was curious how he'd act around the group now that he'd shown her a softer side. Would he still be cold, angsty and distant? Or would he liven up a bit? He'd had his moments before, but they were extremely far and few in between.

Desmond smiled at her and laughed.

"Well, you heard her. Time to eat." She groaned, throwing her head back in protest. The last thing she wanted to do was separate from him. She wanted to stay in this warm cocoon with him forever. Under these sheets. In his arms.

"Unless we're too.... busy... this morning," he teased, looking down at her cruelly. He ran his finger up her side. It was the first time he'd flirted with her so erotically. A dull ache filled her and Eve's face scrunched up as she looked up at him with doe eyes and whined.

"Please."

"As much as I'd love to see you beg, I'd also love to see your basic human needs be met." His eyes twinkled with amusement.

"I have.. other needs that I should attend to first."

"Patience, darling." She pouted at him, her bottom lip sticking out as her brows dropped. But to no avail.

"Up." He commanded, his voice taking on a stern tone. Eve loved being bossed around, this doing nothing to curb her mood.

She groaned under her breath and turned around to leave the sheets. Upon standing up she was hit with a sudden shyness. Her hands reached out to grab a blanket to wrap around herself. Desmond watched her in disbelief and laughed as he realized what she was doing.

"You can't be serious, Eve."

"What?" She looked at him sheepishly.

"You're being coy? Really?"

She blushed heavily, sweltering heat rushing to her cheeks.

"I-"

He became a blur. Desmond then stood in front of her, looking down at her as he walked her backward into the giant mirror hanging on the wall. Her heart thumped loudly as his hand gently grabbed her jaw and he spoke down to her, her face studying his nude abdomen. Her back met the cold glass. When he spoke, his voice was dark.

"I was inside you so deep last night, deeper than anyone else has ever been. I know that, because I could feel parts of you that were never explored before. I was fucking you so.. good, and NOW you want to be shy?" His words turned her bright red as she felt herself grow wet between her legs. He was doing this on purpose.

"Hmm.. cute."

His index finger reached out to caress her cheek tauntingly. The gentle giant was gone. In his place was a dom almost twice her size. It was sexy, her back arched against the glass and she pleaded up at him with desperation in her eyes.

She wanted to be fucked again by him so badly, she could practically feel her wetness dripping down her thighs. Visions of him spinning her around, pinning her against it and fucking her in front of this mirror assaulted her mind. As if he could read it, he laughed to himself as his lips brushed against her forehead. His voice was barely above a whisper.

"Oh, I'll fuck you in front of the mirror, Evelina."

Her heart raced and she almost cried out.

"But not today. Get dressed."

She scowled as he walked to an armoire sat against the wall next to the piano. It looked extremely old, as most of Desmond's furniture did. Desmond rolled open a drawer and grabbed a black T-Shirt and gray joggers. He handed them to her politely.

She didn't expect them to fit and mentally panicked for a moment. Her hips and thighs were so wide, while he was tall and lanky.. there was simply no way. However, they slipped right up around her lower half with ease. Turning around, she saw Desmond had gotten dressed just as quickly. A baggy gray sweater complimented the dark jeans he chose for today.

She walked to the bathroom and pulled her pink toothbrush out of the "girl's drawer". After brushing, flossing, and a quick swirl of mouthwash, she grabbed a makeup wipe and cleaned her face of smudges and black debris.

Bare faced, she left the bathroom and walked back to Desmond's. She was nervous and didn't want to go downstairs alone. Eve knew the group was going to interrogate the shit out of them and she didn't want to be alone for it.

It was kind of a big deal. The group had been together for over 200 years, aside from Aron. Throughout that time, the boys had obviously dabbled around, keeping eternal boredom at bay. Some indulged a bit more than others. However.. Desmond never did. He never had a partner, never messed around with random women, never had anyone stay overnight with him. The boys never saw him with anyone else. And there'd been a reason for this, unbeknownst to Eve and Freya.

Liam and Camren spent the entire morning aware of an extra heartbeat upstairs in Desmond's room. They could only assume it was Eve, because Freya was refusing to answer any questions. While they were happy she was getting over Aron's absence, they knew this might cause issues within the group. Aron and Desmond were two forces to be reckoned with, both extremely powerful vampires that were moody and hot-headed at times. The idea of those two feuding made Liam and Camren anxious. They'd already heard enough fighting the night Aron came home and confronted Desmond about being hostile toward Eve.

Desmond cupped her chin in his hand and pointed it up to him.

"You're nervous? Why?"

She shrugged shyly.

"Don't be. I'm not ashamed.. are you?"

"No." She quickly answered with a head shake.

His lips kissed the top of her head in response and he then motioned down the stairs.

"Very well. After you."

They descended the staircase, wood creaking under both of them.

The aroma of bacon, eggs and toast gnawed at Eve's stomach. Her belly let out a grumble and Desmond chuckled next to her. He gave her a look that said "told you so". She flushed, looking down at her feet before a noise snapped her head back up.

As they walked to the dining room, Freya was scooting her chair to the table loudly. Liam and Camren sat on either side of her. Bowls and dishes filled the center of the table, containing colorful fruit, eggs, bacon, toast, jellies, etc. A pitcher of orange juice sat next to Freya, no doubt Camren freshly squeezed it just a few hours ago.

All three were talking amongst one another as Desmond and Eve approached. Immediately, the talking stopped and an awkward silence hung in the air. Desmond placed his hands around one of the wooden chairs and pulled it out for Eve. She flushed again, feeling everyone's eyes on her as she sat down. He took his own seat on the chair next to her and Eve could barely force herself to look up at everyone else. She could feel Freya's eyes on her and just knew she was smirking.

Finally, she looked up, but only to look at the food on the table as she began filling her plate. The others followed suit, still awkwardly silent. Her eyes glanced at Desmond, who was staring at Liam as if daring him to crack a joke.

Liam chewed loudly and said between crunches of bacon. "So, eh, 'ave you looked outside this mornin?"

It was definitely not the first thing Eve expected to hear. She raised an eyebrow, Desmond poked at his eggs with a fork.

"Um... no?"

His face lit up, excited to break the news to her. Camren groaned loudly as Liam started speaking. His thick brown mustache danced as he announced excitedly,

"It snowed! The first snowfall of the year!"

Eve glanced at Camren, who'd begun rubbing his temples with closed eyes. He pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Ugh.. please stop talking about it, Liam. It's completely ruined my plans for today."

Freya giggled under her breath.

"Wot are you on about?" Liam retorted.

"I had plans today. Food plans. Agh, fuck it."

Camren finally looked up to meet Eve's eyes with an exasperated look.

"So.. I know we don't celebrate Thanksgiving across the pond, but I know you girls do, and I wanted to take a stab at a Thanksgiving meal. Especially since I've never had a reason to before.." He looked glum as Liam beamed, eyes gaping out the window at the white glare.

"And this dumb snow," he gestured crudely, "is making everything look too DAMN Christmas-y!" He rolled his eyes immediately afterward.

Freya giggled again, her laughter ringing in the air like a bell.

"It's okay, I mean.. we aren't eating a Thanksgiving meal outside, are we?" Eve responded.

He looked the slightest bit relieved.

"No."

"Okay, so, I say it's a great idea! Although.." she trailed off. Camren looked at her with anxiety in his eyes. "You seriously don't have to cook such a large meal for just us. You guys can technically eat it, but that's a lot of effort for 3 people who won't get very full off it."

Camren almost looked offended.

"Well, it's going to be on the table at 8 pm whether you indulge or not." He said firmly.

Eve had never seen him so stressed before. Her dark brows raised in shock.

Finally, Liam glanced at Desmond and went at it, a smirk on his face.

"So, sleep well last night, Desmond?"

Desmond returned the energy without a second thought. He spoke with splendor.

"Actually... not at all. I was busy fucking Eve's brains out."

Eve and Freya choked on their drinks at the same time. Camren's eyes doubled in size and Liam broke into a huge, goofy grin. It was clearly the last thing any of them were expecting to hear from Desmond. He was always so uptight, so calloused and cold. It was out of character for him to be so vulgar.

Freya's cell phone suddenly buzzed and trilled. She stood up to take the call.

"Oh thank god." Eve sighed in relief, standing up to follow Freya. It wasn't like her to eavesdrop on Freya's phone calls, but she needed to be out of that room ASAP.

Freya began to walk out into the front patio and gave Eve a panicked look when she realized she was following. Eve quickly understood. It was Aron. She decided she'd trudge through the awkwardness of today's breakfast instead of dwell over it. She was completely over having her heart broken, and instead of sadness, she now felt piping, white hot anger toward Aron.

Returning to the table, it was a completely different atmosphere. Desmond had loosened up quite a bit, he and Liam were bantering back and forth. Camren was checking his phone and Eve sank back into her seat. The conversation around her became background noise as she tuned everyone out. The white elephant in the room had been addressed and she hoped they wouldn't focus on it anymore. Things felt.. right, with Desmond. She didn't want any awkwardness or weirdness.

Freya returned to her seat and Eve still sat in her own little world. She thought about how far the group had come since their initial meeting, but especially her and Desmond.. she felt she knew him so well, but didn't know his human life story yet. She needed to know. She needed him to open up to her. He knew loads about her life, but she knew only surface level about his.

Eve was quickly pulled out of her thoughts as a grape lightly hit her on the nose. She jumped. It bounced onto her lap and Liam snickered. Camren giggled next to him as Eve looked up at Liam in shock.

"Did you just..?"

"You bet I did."

Eve's eyes scanned to everyone else around the table, even Desmond had a modest smile on his lips. Eve's fingers plucked a strawberry from the fruit bowl and launched it right at Liam, hitting him on the forehead with a loud smack.

"Oh! You mug!"

He burst into laughter when Freya joined Eve and pelted him square in the neck with a blueberry. It splattered against his cold flesh. Camren looked at the girls in utter shock as they let loose. Liam's large hands grabbed a pancake and launched it at Freya like a frisbee, turning the room into a war zone.

Laughter filled the room as Liam, Freya, Desmond, and Eve all threw food at each other and ducked under furniture to dodge pieces. Camren had even joined in and a piece of toast whizzed past Eve's head. Desmond almost danced in front of Eve to guard her as a mound of bacon flew toward her. It was hard to tell who was throwing what, or who they were aiming at anymore. A deep laugh rumbled in Desmond's chest as he picked the bacon pieces up and pelted Liam with them, who'd tripped over a chair and lay on the ground laughing as he was surrounded and assaulted.

"Okay! Okay! I surrender! Fahck!"

Camren stood next to Freya, who accumulated a huge smear of strawberry jam on her cheek. He reached over and wiped the jam off, then put his finger in his mouth. Freya looked at him and laughed as Camren turned red. He shrugged.

"It's good jam."

While they were distracted, Liam found his footing again and began rapidly firing them all with food. Toast, eggs, pancakes, French toast sticks and sausages soared through the air as he moved his hands at a superhuman rate. Freya and Eve shrieked as a can of whipped cream appeared in Camren's hands. The sound of it crackled as he filled his palms with it and smeared it on Freya, who was struggling to keep it together between laughs.

Desmond grabbed Eve's waist from behind. He pulled her out of the kitchen swiftly and they blurred up the steps. She found herself in the bathroom in the blink of an eye, the door was closed and she was pinned against it.

Desmond kissed her neck and smoothly wrapped his hands around her hips as she closed her eyes. She could still hear shrieking, laughter and the whipped cream can downstairs as the group continued to battle it out. She'd have to find out who won later. Eve didn't realize it, but she had jam on her neck, which Desmond was kissing near. He slowly licked it off of her neck and she ran her hands through his hair.

In a split second, he reached into the shower and turned the water on. Before she could tell he was gone, he was back as if he'd never stepped away. He lifted his shirt off of her and threw it to the ground, following with his. He slid his joggers off of her legs, removing his jeans swiftly afterwards.

Eve was completely nude at this point while Desmond wore tight black briefs. He kissed her neck and chest, his hands roaming her body. Her head fell to the left and her eyes opened. She met the sight of them in the large mirror above the sink. Desmond had her pinned, loving on her, while the kisses stirred a fire in her. The steam began to build up in the bathroom. Eve hooked a leg around his waist and rocked up against him.

He chuckled.

"Let me bathe you, beautiful."

She paused. It was an act of intimacy she'd never experienced before. Knots formed in her stomach as she thought of them both under the shower head. He rolled down his briefs and took her hand, gently pulling her into the shower with him.

The hot water ran over her skin and she flinched at first before melting into it. Desmond was in front of her, out of the stream's reach. She hadn't realized it until this point, but she had small clusters of food pieces stuck all in her hair. Desmond towered over her in the shower and dipped the top of her head into the stream, and her hands launched to his forearms as her neck stiffened.

"Relax, baby.. Trust me. Let me do this for you."

Hearing Desmond say such soft words made Eve putty in his hands. He ran her long hair under the water and grabbed her favorite shampoo. He squeezed it into his large palms and worked it into her roots, fingers massaging her scalp. Her eyelids fluttered even though her eyes were closed, the scent of vanilla sugar filled the steamy air.

An intense feeling of peace filled her internally and she moaned softly as his fingers rinsed the suds out. Desmond put conditioner in his hands and ran it through her hair, rubbing the strands in between his palms. He was really doting on her, enjoying every second of this intimacy.

Desmond found her so beautiful. He'd spent all night studying her face, and yet, he still wanted to admire it more. Being the creature he was, he was physically perfect. It was all part of the "predator" aura. Vampires were simply irresistible, it was rare for them to have any sort of physical flaw or imbalance. Smooth skin, perfect bodies, bright eyes and soft hair. Everything that would pull their prey to them naturally. It was a different kind of beauty.

Desmond almost felt as if he'd been frozen inside a mannequin body. It was the same vessel he'd occupied during his human life, just.. tweaked. As if he were cloned. He's gotten tired of his appearance throughout the centuries, almost growing to detest it. He felt bland and superficial, like something created in a lab, perhaps. Or maybe even a Ken doll. He'd never wrinkle, he'd never gray.. hell, he couldn't even get injured the same anymore. As a vampire, he found beauty in flaws, aging, imperfections and unique physical characteristics. Evidence that a life was being lived in the body.

That's why Eve was so striking to him. Of course, she had beautiful gray eyes that sucked him in, along with other physical traits. But it was her humanity that held him so captive. The crookedness of her smile, the uneven number of freckles on her cheeks, the beauty mark by her lips, the clusters of lashes that tangled in the outer corner of her eyes. She had birthmarks on her, along with scars and skin imperfections underneath her tattoos.

Her facial features weren't completely symmetrical, and her teeth, while straight, weren't pearly white. Her spine was a bit crooked, not that you'd notice unless you studied her bones through her skin. And even though she had "imperfections" on paper, any mortal man would still be drawn to her essence. Her eyes conveyed such strong emotion, Desmond could directly sense what she was feeling in one simple glance.

Her lashes were thick, full and dark black, striking against her pale eyes. Her face was heart shaped, her chin coming to a point underneath her pale, full lips and her body.. her body was beautiful. Creamy, pale soft skin that smelled of oils and perfume. She wasn't conventionally thin, and Desmond loved that about her. Even her natural pheromones appealed to Desmond.

Just because vampires were drawn to the human scent by nature didn't mean they enjoyed their pheromones equally. Some weren't appealing at all, they smelled almost bitter, while others smelled light and sweet. Some were sour smelling and completely put him off. And while he'd been experiencing this for over 300 years, he truly never smelled pheromones that drew him in like Eve's.

She was unique and hard to describe. A soft blend of cashmere and warm florals, almost. It was spellbinding to him, he felt drawn like a moth to a flame. He often reflected back to the night in the hotel, when she walked in and he felt his breath capture in his throat. He smelled her, her blood and pheromones sang to him like a private symphony. Her pheromones were almost easy to resist compared to her blood. Her blood was the ultimate forbidden fruit to him, Desmond wanted so desperately to drain her body dry whilst protecting her life force as much as possible. It was an internal battle. He kicked himself for not having the guts to approach her before Aron did.. but none of that mattered now. He silently thanked Aron for leaving.

His large hands rubbed body wash over her skin, softly cleansing oils and residue from her. She lilted in pleasure as he delicately ran his hands across her. Eyes still closed, she stood under the faucet, letting him caress her. It was in that moment that Desmond truly realized how trusting she was of him. How vulnerable she was allowing herself to be around him. Here SHE was, nude, emotionally open to him in the shower, letting him literally bathe her body. How she offered herself to him the night prior still rang in his mind. And here HE was, her natural predator, centuries years older than her, who could kill her and rip her body apart in 10 seconds.

He could drain her of every drop of blood, take her soul effortlessly. Yet, here she was, open and trusting. And she knew what he was capable of, she'd seen but a small glimpse with her own eyes. And she still allowed herself to be alone with him. To offer herself to him.. to belong to him. She'd said the words herself.

His chest swelled at this realization, almost becoming emotional. His hands went to her face, cradling either side of her jaw. Her eyes stayed shut as his lips met hers. He kissed her with a tone of appreciation, a "thank you". Sweetly, long, softly. She returned the kisses and he dipped under the stream, washing his own body.

Eve looked up at Desmond and took in his Greek God-like form. She ran a finger down his abdomen as she throbbed between her legs for him. Her attraction to him was wild, there was no reigning it in. She kissed his neck as he rinsed his short hair, his arms bent as he massaged the soap in.

Eve bent down to her knees and kissed his pelvis, the skin right above his cock. Desmond quickly looked down, meeting Eve's eager eyes. He smirked and continued to rinse his hair. His head fell back as she wrapped a hand around his length. While soft, he was the size that her exes were when they were fully erect. Eve was secretly nervous that it wouldn't fit in her mouth. She hadn't given him oral yet, though it was something she'd had a deep desire to do. She felt him harden underneath her fingers as she pumped him and kissed his thighs and pelvis.

It was a sensual scene, the hot water ran down his body as she kissed. Steam filled the room around them. Finally, she put her mouth on him, kissing his cock. He sucked in through his teeth, hissing above her. She felt his eyes on her and took him into her mouth at once. One large hand of his went to the wall behind her, the other went to her hair.

Her eyes welled with tears immediately as she adjusted to his length and width in her mouth. It almost hurt the corners of her mouth to be fulfilled so much. She looked up at him and he gazed down at her with lust.

"Pretty baby.. look at you."

She moved up and down on him, trying her hardest to take it all. She could feel his piercing tickling the back of her throat and it made her ache for him. Her hands grabbed his thighs as he gently started to rock his hips, his hand still in her hair.

She gagged loudly and it unlocked a feral side to him. He looked down at her, voice thick with lust.

"Look at me. Let me see those eyes."

She listened, looking up at him, blinking with desire. He left her mouth and looked down at her with a small smile.

"Stick out your tongue."

She did, and he took the tip and rubbed it back and forth across her tongue. Drool left her mouth and he hissed through his teeth again. The Prince Albert piercing clearly made him extra sensitive, doubling his pleasure.

"God, you are so.. pretty.."

He suddenly pushed into her mouth, filling her mouth and throat entirely in one slow movement. Her heart jumped as she felt all the air leave her lungs. She simply couldn't breathe. He pulled out of her entirely as she gasped.

"Keep looking at me."

He grabbed underneath her chin and repeated once more. All the way in, looking down into her eyes, holding it inside, and then pulling completely out. He was clearly getting off on the look in her eyes, especially when she was completely out of breath. She gagged repeatedly, submitting to him and taking him whole. Tears filled her eyes and began to fall at this point, gushing down her cheeks as she fit all of him in her throat.

He was dominant, but this didn't feel sadistic. Aron was sadistic and enjoyed watching her struggle, enjoyed watching her be in pain. Desmond was a beautiful balance of both. Pain and pleasure.. she never knew what she'd get. He repeated this several times, Eve's nails dug into his thighs as she squirmed breathlessly.

"Good girl.."

He let her catch her breath for a moment. She was nearly light headed, panting as she looked down at the shower floor. Then Desmond's hands were under her arms, pulling her up and spinning her around to face the shower head. He moved her hair, wrapping it around the other side of her neck as he trailed kisses down her neck to her shoulder. He hummed in between kisses, putting his lips right next to her ear.

"You started it, and now I'm going to finish it," his deep voice purred.

He grabbed the shower head off the hook and put her foot up on the edge of the shower. She felt his cock by her ass and shivered in anticipation. He pushed her shoulders down gently and angled her hips upward. His fingers found her folds and spread them apart, exposing her pearl. From behind, he pulled her face to the side, then locked his lips on hers. He slipped a tongue in quickly, making Eve moan.

Desmond fucked like it was an art form. It was a performance, a dance.

When Eve was just getting used to his kisses, he pushed his thick cock inside her wetness. She gasped loudly and instinctively pulled away from the kiss. He, however, grabbed her face and pulled her back into it. Desmond began fucking Eve passionately, grabbing her arms and pinning them behind her with one large hand. She moaned deeply into the kiss and he chuckled.

When she least expected it, he brought the shower head down to her core. It was on the "hose" setting, where the stream looked like a faucet with semi-high intensity. The second it hit her, her knees became weak. She'd only masturbated with the shower head once in her life, when she was younger. It had been one of the best orgasms of her life... until now.

She shook under him. He continued to kiss her with her arms pinned back. Desmond's cock pumped in and out of her, hitting her G-Spot relentlessly. Each thrust pushed her closer to the edge as the hot stream poured over her clit. Small grunts left his lips and echoed against the tiles as she tightened around him.

Finally, he let her pull away from the kiss and her whimpers were pitiful. She was close to collapsing, her knees shaking like doe legs underneath her. He went even deeper, if that were possible, fucking her even faster. The water created tight friction that felt like electricity. She closed her eyes and felt the intensity of the wave build.

The stimulation from both the water and his tip were too much, she knew she was about to lose it. Desmond's hand quickly wrapped around her mouth before she made any noise, she screamed pleasure into his flesh as she exploded.

He moaned at the sight of her satisfaction. She tightened even more around him, causing his thrusts to slow.

Her brain still fogged in euphoria, she heard his accent from behind.

"On your knees. N-Now."

She turned around and dropped to her knees. Eve opened her mouth and Desmond wasted no time releasing into her mouth. The hot liquid poured into her as she watched pure heaven light up his features. He groaned and panted, his chest heaving as she locked eyes with him and swallowed it all. He shook, overcome with elation. He pulled her up for a deep kiss, one laced with more passion than she'd ever felt from him.

"Fuck, Evelina, I.."

He stopped himself.

"I-I'm impressed." He saved it.

Eve wanted him to say something else. Her heart leapt quickly when he trailed off, and sank when he said something different.

"Impressed?" Her eyes narrowed.

"Yeah, you're a great lover." He rubbed the back of his head nervously. Why was he so shy all of a sudden? He just came in her fucking mouth.

"Thanks.. I guess."

Eve left the shower, wrapping a towel around her body and going into Desmond's room. Her wet hair dripped and a shiver rippled through her body. She'd remembered the leggings she wore over to the house yesterday, they'd be near her purse. She found the pair, pulling them on herself after drying off. Desmond's deep voice sounded behind her, making her jump out of her skin.

"You can wear a shirt of mine if you'd like."

"Okay."

He handed her a baggy black T-Shirt, easily two sizes too large for her. A large white owl was on the front, geometric designs were around it and the word "Deftones" sat at the top of the picture.

"I love Deftones." Eve smiled.

"Me too."

Desmond pulled her into a casual hug, his bare skin was still warm from the steam. His limbs wrapped around her and the towel was at risk of falling off his hips. She inhaled the scent of his Timber body wash. He smelled like a mixture of fresh air and wood.

"Eve, can I take you somewhere tonight?"

"Sure."

He pulled away from her and kissed her again. It seemed the two of them couldn't get enough of each other's lips.

"Okay, I'm not telling you where. But you'll have fun."

"Is this.. a date?"

"Yes, of course it's a date." He chuckled.

Her legs were still shaky from their shower together. The two returned to the living room downstairs, only to find an odd sight. The room was dark, the large TV was lit up with a video game lobby. Camren was nowhere to be found, however, two figures were on the couch. Freya sat straddled on Liam's lap, her blue hair concealing both their faces. It was obvious that the two were making out, Liam's large hands were wrapped around Freya's bottom, making her look extra dainty. Her hands were in his hair as they swayed with passion.

Eve's eyes widened and she felt the need to look away, hoping they could maybe sneak past and avoid the confrontation. Desmond, however, had other plans.

Desmond cleared his throat and looked at Liam with a "Really?" expression.

Freya looked absolutely mortified, immediately leaping off of him as she saw the two standing there. Liam sat with a "huh?" expression until he locked eyes with Desmond.

"Oy, hey mate." Liam greeted, as if Liam was passing Desmond in the hallway.

"Wot's up wiv yew two?" He asked, nodding a "hello" nod to Eve.

"We're going out for a bit. Where's Camren?"

"At the grocery store. Ugh." He shuddered in disgust at the thought of a grocery store. "He asked if we wanted to come with.. absolutely nawt. I'd rather stay and play." He motioned to the TV. Freya sat silent on the couch, now chewing her thumbnail anxiously.

"Yeah.. seems like you've really made progress with your match." Desmond jabbed.

Liam chortled and Desmond held his hand out for Eve to take.

"We'll be back. Enjoy your uh.. game."

Eve laughed softly, taking Desmond's hand and looking at Freya. Freya shot her a smile which Eve returned, the two doing an unspoken check-in with one another. All was good.

The two walked out the front door, Desmond locking it behind him. Liam was right, it had snowed overnight. The entire surrounding field was a white blur, the sky gray and overcast. It made her happy to see.. Eve loved snow. Desmond directed her to a car in the garage. She'd never seen his car before. It was a silver Mercedes-AMG, gleaming under the garage light. Her jaw dropped and he laughed out loud at her reaction.

"Are you serious? How did your management company grant you all luxury cars?"

He looked amused.

"You seem to underestimate the power of supernatural hypnosis, Eve."

"I see."

She climbed into the cozy interior and he offered her the aux. She plugged it in and Sleep Token began to play. It was what she'd been listening to the last time she had Spotify opened. Her face burned bright red and Desmond laughed deeply as she rushed to pause it.

He looked at her, ocean eyes swirling with humor. Desmond found this adorable, and the fact that she got flustered even cuter.

"Been doing your research... Sugar?"

He teased her with the nickname, knowing that Sugar was one of their most sexual songs. Of course he did.. he wrote it.

"I have, actually." She looked back at him, not backing down and crumbling under his spell.

He laughed as he threw the car into reverse and pulled out of the gravel driveway. He drove down the windy roads until they reached the city. Not the small town that Eve was from, but the larger city about an hour out.

"Seems like you've ALSO been doing some research" she joked, knowing damn well there was nothing exciting in her hometown.

Desmond smiled and grabbed her hand, lifting it to his lips to kiss it.

They eventually pulled up to a downtown area that was super crowded and chaotic. Cars swerved out in front of him and he softly cussed insults under his breath, his hand tightening on the steering wheel. Wreaths hung on the lamp posts that dotted the street and Christmas lights were strewn between them.

Eve was in full passenger princess mode, her legs crossed underneath the dash. One hand rested in between her thighs, the other in Desmond's hand. A metal mix had been playing the entire way here, Desmond requesting a few songs occasionally. They discussed music theory and he shared things about music evolution that he'd witnessed himself, which she found beyond interesting.

They parked and Eve shrieked in excitement.

"Oh my god, you're taking me ice skating?!"

He smiled warmly at her.

"I figured it was the only correct way to celebrate the snowfall."

She couldn't contain her excitement. For years, she ice skated as a young girl. Almost competitively. Skating always put her in such a positive spot mentally. Unbeknownst to Desmond, he brought Eve to her happy place.

The park was crowded with many families. The snowfall must have given them all the same idea. Eve and Desmond made their way through the entrance and grabbed skates. Once out on the ice, Eve felt herself completely relax. Her and Desmond skated side by side. He grabbed her hand, his engulfing hers. The size difference was almost comical, but Desmond found it extremely cute. Her entire hand fit right in his, making her feel safe.

Eve couldn't help but tell him her experience with skating and he urged her to do a trick.

"No!" She laughed. He gave her puppy dog eyes.

"Fine, but I'm telling you.. it's been at least 13 years since I've done this."

"That's two minutes for me." He retorted.

She looped around the rink a few times to warm up and passed by Desmond. She glided to an empty area of the rink for enough room. She began to spin with her leg out. Gradually, her leg lifted behind her head and she grabbed the bottom of the skate with her hands. Eve pulled off a beautiful Biellman spin in the middle of this public ice rink. Desmond was too stunned to speak, just consumed by the sight of Eve in this spin. A ballerina on ice. A work of art.

He looked at her in awe, captivated and impressed. His jaw had dropped. People around them began to point and clap, whipping out their phones to take videos of her. She broke out of the spin and glided back over to Desmond, who smiled from ear to ear.

"That was beautiful! I've never seen that in person!"

She blushed and smacked his arm playfully.

"Stoooop. You're just being nice. I'm rusty!"

"Eve, I wouldn't lie to you just to make you feel better. I'm serious!"

She laughed.

"Thank you. It actually felt really nice to do it."

They skated for the next hour or so, slowly gliding around the rink, talking about everything. She opened up about her childhood quite a bit, sharing both the good and the bad. Desmond wanted to learn everything he could about her. He wanted to heal the pain from her past.

"And what about you..? You haven't told me anything about your past."

He knew exactly what she was referring to. Sheepishly, he averted the topic again.

"Honestly, Eve.. it was a very long time ago. It's traumatic and painful. I hate to be vague, but I need to be in the right headspace and setting to discuss it. I hope you understand."

She felt guilty for asking and accepted his answer. She knew in time, he'd tell her. The subject was changed and they moved on quickly.

Eventually they made their way back to the car and began the drive home. Desmond bought Eve a hot chocolate on the way out and she kept it wrapped in her cold hands. Eve's phone lit up with a text from Freya.

F: Did the rounds. Percy is completely fine. Gave him more food and water. Think he's been preferring the solitude lately lol.

E: Thank you so much. I'll do the rounds tomorrow. 🩷

They pulled up to the house some time later. Night had fallen, plunging the world around them into shadows.

7:45, the clock on the dash read. Camren insisted the food would be ready by 8 pm.

They entered the house to find it super lively. Music played as figures moved around from room to room. The smell of Thanksgiving hit Eve and her stomach growled loudly. Desmond's eyes flickered to her and he laughed softly. He found the grumbles entertaining, it wasn't a noise he was used to hearing.

Camren was simply a blur in the kitchen, hands moving quickly as he fixed many different dishes at once. He cussed at the old stove, swearing he could "heat things up faster himself in 1884". Liam walked in front of Eve and Desmond, who stood in the front foyer. His eyebrows raised.

"'Dunno why he does this to himself. He says he enjoys it but it doesn't sound like it. He won't accept anyone's help either, so don't even try," He laughed.

Eve visited the kitchen reluctantly. Camren expected to see Liam returning, he shot her a glare and immediately softened when he saw it was her.

"Hey, Eve. How was your date?"

"It was.. good, how'd you kn-"

"You really think we've been a group for hundreds of years and don't share things with each other? There really are no secrets, love." He smiled at her.

"Do you want he-"

"Absolutely not. I have it under control." He said

"Ah. Well, it was very nice. I had a good time. We're getting really, really close."

All of the food dishes were almost completely finished. Most were finished, just sitting under heat lamps he'd purchased and set on the counter. Camren had this down to a system, it was almost like he'd converted this old kitchen into restaurant quality.

He set down the large pan of greens and looked at her warmly.

"I'm delighted to hear that, Eve. You deserve it. You both do.. truly. He's been waiting so long. Desmond lights up around you. It's a new side of him I've never seen before."

Her heart swelled and she smiled. She began to pick dishes out of the cabinets to make the table.

"THIS I am going to help with." It wasn't a question, it was a statement.

Camren put his hands up in a surrendering motion and laughed.

A few minutes passed and the table was set. The food was piping hot and ready to be devoured. Since there wasn't enough room at the table, Camren cleared counter space and lined the dishes up in the kitchen. It was a never ending line of bowls and platters. As always, he'd completely outdone himself.

The group was called to join and they each filled plates before joining the table. Camren insisted on being the last one to fill a plate and joined the table. A flustered look appeared on his face when he realized they'd all been waiting for him to begin eating. He waved his hand at the table.

"No! Don't wait for me. Dig in."

And they did. Well, mainly the girls. The boys ate also, but not nearly with as much gusto and appreciation as the girls. Their stomachs had been empty for hours and this was nothing short of a feast. The food Camren made was always delicious, the girls were beyond spoiled to basically have an in-house chef. He'd been around for many lifetimes, learning culinary secrets throughout the years that even top chefs of the time didn't know.

They praised Camren in between chews, saying how amazing everything was and he blushed. After all, it was his first attempt at many of these dishes. Desmond even cleared three quarters of his plate, when usually he'd poke around and finish maybe a quarter. Camren kept insisting to leave room for dessert as he made several pies.

He blurred to the kitchen, cutting pieces and bringing them out for everyone. Eve dove into her pumpkin pie the best she could, almost feeling sick with fullness at this point.

Liam wouldn't dare start a food fight in this setting. Breakfast, sure, but not now. Not with how much of his own soul Camren poured into all of this. Liam cleared his plate and let out a loud belch while patting his stomach. Eve found it funny. He couldn't even get full. It was clearly a performance, but she thought it was nice how he wanted to make Camren feel accomplished.

Desmond looked at him in disgust.

"You are so barbaric sometimes, Liam."

"Wot? Best compliment to the chef, I'd say, yeah Cam?"

Camren laughed and shook his head.

"Thanks bruv."

"Yeah, don't mention it." Liam stood up and stretched, making his way into the kitchen to dispose of his plate. Desmond took care of Freya and Eve's, taking it with his and Eve sat at the table with her head in her hands.

"I am so..."

"Full." Freya finished for her. Freya groaned and Camren laughed, eyes twinkling.

"Well I'm glad you both enjoyed dinner. If it were just us old fucks I wouldn't have treated them as nicely."

"Hey!" A muffled Liam responded from two rooms away. They could hear Desmond laugh loudly at him from here.

"No, we appreciate it. It was beautiful, thank you Cam. Always spoiling us." Freya placed her hand on top of his, which was sitting atop the table. He blushed darker and Eve added.

"Yeah really, we're going to help you cle-"

He shook his head stubbornly.

"Nope. You girls can do whatever it is you'd like to do, aside from help clean up. I can get it done in two minutes. Stay out of the kitchen... that's my room. No girls allowed." He sneered jokingly.

Both girls laughed.

"Okay, okay. Whatever you say."

Eve noticed lingering eye contact between Freya and Camren. Once Desmond and Liam passed through the room, Eve got up and stretched as well.

"Yeah.. I'm sore from skating and now I'm disgustingly full. I think I'm going to bed early tonight."

Desmond appeared behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and whispering in her ear.

"Is that all you're sore from?"

Jesus, she thought. In a crowded room?!

Desmond truly WAS losing his filters. He was becoming more animated, more involved with conversations and seemed happier overall.

"Cam.. thank you again."

He nodded to her kindly.

Freya walked to the living room and plopped on the couch, no doubt about to pass out herself. The TV displayed a match that Liam had paused for dinner. He looked at Eve, who unknowingly had a concerned look on her face.

"I've got her." He smiled.

Eve ascended the steps once again, rounding the corner to head into Desmond's room. He was behind her. Once inside, she sat on his bed while he lit the oil lamps.

She groaned again.

"I'm stuffed."

Desmond grinned.

"I'm glad all of your needs have been met today. Feels like I'm taking good care of you. Like.. I've watered my plant today, or, I've made sure my Sims didn't start on fire."

She looked at him incredulously.

"I'm joking!"

They laughed hard, Eve clutching her stomach and falling back on his bed. He crawled next to her, their bodies perfectly lining up together as they had the night before.

The room glowed, both Desmond and Eve felt perfectly at peace with one another. Desmond felt like home to her. He lay next to her, brushing hair out of her face.

"I still have one need I need fulfilled."

His brow raised.

"You had that earlier."

"No, not that. I need you.. to sing me to sleep. As Desmond. Not Vessel."

Desmond smiled at her, kissing her forehead. His blue eyes studied her face with adoration.

"Absolutely."

Under the sheets, she stripped the clothes off her body and he followed suit. The sexual tension was lingering, of course, but Eve felt so whole with him being there.. she didn't need sex. She put her head in his chest as he wrapped his arms around her once more. He began to hum gentle notes to her, his chest vibrating atop her skin. His fingers played with her hair as she absorbed his velvety tone. She recognized it. Shelter.

He hummed a slower, deeper rendition to her. As if he were speaking directly to her.

"Darling, I'm noticing your flaws..
They're exactly what I want.
Even if you won't believe me,
Know it.

And as you become part of my waking rituals, I can tell,
You gather up all of my demons,
You become starving,
Darling, I'm noticing my flaws..
And I'm matching them with yours."

Sleep washed over her. Her tiny hands were pressed against Desmond's chest. His absence of a heartbeat didn't bother her.. he didn't need one. She was his heart. And he was her home.

Chapter Text

Make Me Bad- KoRn

Eve sat on the porch swing outside, hot chocolate steaming in her hands. The outdoor porch wrapped around the house and Eve often bundled up on the porch swing. This light dusting of initial snow wasn't going to stop her.

A thick blanket was wrapped around her, thickly knit mittens on her hands and a hat on her head. She wore her fuzzy winter coat and had her legs curled up next to her on the swing. The soft wind rocked it back and forth as she sat and reflected. Oddly, it was one of her favorite things to do. A perfect way to unwind and distance herself from the whirlwind of emotions happening between everyone inside. She realized that simply doing nothing was actually one of her favorite things to do, ironically. It was relaxing.

The countryside was beautiful. A small pond lie on the plot next to their house, and the winter season made it even more beautiful. Frost decorated the icy surface and the ice was translucent, gorgeous patterns reflected off the filmy top in a rainbow sheen. It reminded Eve of a kaleidoscope. Sun occasionally peeked through the heavy clouds above and made the pond's surface glimmer.

A thick tree line sat right behind the pond. Pines dotted the skyline, covered in snow. Looking out at them, Eve realized it was time to put a Yule/Christmas tree up. She made a mental note to do that very soon and lit up at the idea of decorating the house for the holidays with her new family.

She took a sip of her hot chocolate and savored the sweet taste. She felt so at peace, felt as if no one could take her serenity away from her out here. It was just her, the wind, occasional flurries, the beautiful landscape, and her hot drink. It was hard to not notice how far away the next house down the road was.. it was at least a half mile. It didn't seem too far in theory, but coming from the city, Eve felt it was far. Yet she loved it. It felt freer out here. Like she could breathe.

Sometimes she brought a book out here. Other times, she just curled up under her weighted blanket and napped. Today, she just sat in thought.

The others were all inside, of course Aron was still off doing his own thing. The morning had consisted of excitement, their management label had reached out to them overnight and asked if they'd like to do a pop-up show that evening. Apparently, a local band dropped off a bill and their label thought it would be a perfect opportunity for Sleep Token to fill in since they were in the area. And it was a perfect opportunity. It was a Whitechapel show with a few openers sprinkled on. Their label knew the Whitechapel fanbase would enjoy the heavier parts of Sleep Token.

The logistics were smoothed out, they'd reached out to Aron as well and he agreed to play it. Eve didn't necessarily feel nervous about seeing him again, but she did contemplate on attending entirely. Something just felt.. off. She couldn't explain it and had no idea what it was, but she felt as if something big was going to happen that night. Good or bad.. she couldn't tell.

Camren had already whipped up a breakfast, he'd prepared French toast and fruit today. Eve and Freya ate quickly, as usual, he'd always made sure they ate three meals a day. Eve had never been so properly fed in her entire life. For the past year or so, her breakfasts were usually gas station coffee and a candy bar or quick donut, as much as she'd hate to admit. She never put much thought into the food that went into her body. Camren spoiled the girls with an ever-changing rotation of breakfast foods. She was shocked he came up with so many different combinations, that there was that amount of variety in the breakfast category. Eve laughed to herself. Leave it to Camren to find a way.

Mid-thought, the front door flew open. Freya and Liam exited, Freya flashing Eve a bright smile.

"Running errands. You need anything, babes?"

"No, I'm okay. Be safe."

They got into Liam's car and pulled out of the driveway, leaving the porch quiet once more. Eve had just settled back into her zone when the front door opened again. This time, Camren walked out. He gave Eve a soft wave and pulled a cigarette out of his pocket before nodding toward the open spot on the swing.

"May I?"

"Yeah Cam, absolutely." She tucked her feet in to make more room for him next to her.

He put the cigarette between his lips and lit it gently. He sat quietly for a few moments, looking out onto the pond before Eve could sense his energy shift.

"You okay..?"

He nodded his head, clearly lying. His face was tight with a mixed expression of anxiety, grief and nervousness. He puffed on his cigarette and looked away. Eve swung her feet to the ground, so she could sit closer to him. She angled her body to face him and he looked down at his hands.

"Can I talk to you about something?"

"Yeah, of course. Anything."

He took another drag and paused before speaking.

"I'm really.. conflicted right now. I feel so.. All over the place. Scattered. And like I don't have control."

"How so?"

She'd never seen him so upset. Camren's presence was always a warm hug, he was always such a breath of fresh air to have around. He was the softy of the group, constantly smiling and making others feel good. It wasn't like him at all to be in such a pit.

The blonde looked down at his hands, his expression on the verge of tears. He glanced up at Eve with sadness on his face.

"I'm just going to say it."

Eve wanted to help him as much as she could. He was really going through it.

"I love Freya."

A large grin broke out on Eve's face. She'd known all along, but hearing him say it was so nice. Eve put her hand on his shoulder and rubbed it soothingly in support.

"I know."

He laughed softly, clearly from nerves. It was obviously the first time he'd said it outloud. Him confessing his feelings for Freya to Eve was such a huge step for him.. and Eve could tell.

"Why do you seem upset? Is that.. a problem?"

Grief filled his eyes again and he looked to the frozen pond once more.

"I don't know.. I don't know what she wants. I don't know how she feels. I can't read her." He closed his eyes and shook his head, taking another pull from his cigarette.

"Well Camren, I'm really, really glad you came to me about it. I know her so well.. probably better than she knows herself at this point, honestly."

Camren's expression softened just a tad at these words.

Eve looked him dead in the eye.

"And I can absolutely promise you that she feels the same way about you."

His bright eyes lit up in hope.

"Yeah, Eve, but.. Liam. I don't know what's going on between them. I know they've been messing around, but they're not together, and.." he trailed off.

"So," Eve began, "I've seen it too. We all have. And she and I have had talks with each other about things over the past couple months. Camren, if something was going to come of Liam and Freya, it would have happened long ago already."

He exhaled out of his nose sharply, frustrated with his own thoughts.

"Trust me, Cam. I know her. I know these things. And YOU know Liam. It seems like he likes to play, but.. does he ever really take anything seriously?"

Realization flashed across Camren's features.

"No.. You're right. Nothing aside from the music."

"And between you and I, I know he doesn't connect with her in a way that you do. For those two it's light, and flirty, nothing serious.. that's why they both enjoy it. But at the end of the day they both know it's nothing momentous. It's not the end goal."

He continued to look out at the pond, deep in thought as she spoke.. piecing things together.

"I know you're probably reading into things a lot and over complicating things for yourself. But.. I want you to know where she's been coming from. Right at the beginning of Summer, she and her ex split up. It was about 4 months before we all met in October. She had a really hard time. He flipped her world upside down, made her doubt herself, tried to drive a wedge between her and I.."

His fist tightened into a ball.

"They were together for maybe a year. So a decent chunk of time, but nothing close to wedding bells. He was bad for her. Showed her what love isn't. And you take such good care of her as just a friend, it's caught her off guard. Made her feel things she's never felt. I can tell, not to mention what she's told me."

His brow raised at the last sentence.

"What has she told you?"

Eve laughed softly.

"THOSE are secrets. I can't share that with you. However, that's why I'm so confident in telling you the feelings are mutual."

He sat processing for a moment, then furrowed his and nodded to himself. He finished his cigarette and crushed it to dust beneath his fingers, the glowing cherry fell onto the cold porch. He smudged it with his shoe, thinking hard.

"Yeah, I think you might be right. I'm so sorry for being like this and putting all my stress on you, I normally have such better control over my emotions and-"

"Cam, hey, it's fine. I completely understand. You don't think I've been experiencing the same thing..?"

He huffed in acknowledgement.

"I'm glad you came to me with this."

He looked at her again and smiled, then quickly hugged her tight.

"Oh!" She said in shock.

"Thank you, Eve, really. You're the sister I never had, and I-I mean that."

She hugged him tighter, smiling, and pulled away.

"And you're the closest thing to a dead brother I could ask for." She shrugged and Camren burst into laughter.

"You got me there."

Camren paused.

"Are you excited about the show tonight? They kind of just sprung it on us but I'm pumped. Especially opening for Whitechapel.. so cool," His face lit up, flashing a smile that rivaled the snow on the ground.

"Yeah, I am too! The last time I saw you play was before we met. It's really exciting, actually. Especially now that I know all of the songs."

He laughed softly again, then hit his knees with his hands. Standing up, he put them in his pockets.

"Well, I'm going to start packing my stuff, since I have the most. Have to drop by the studio to grab some gear, too. Load in is at 6, I'd like to be there by 5:30 if possible."

Eve nodded with a smile, taking another sip of her hot chocolate. And just like that, he was off.

—————————

Eve and Freya sat in the venue, watching as it gradually filled up. They were behind the merch table. The girls had just finished organizing pieces of merch via size and design.

The guys didn't want to spend time behind the merch table, as it would be quite obvious who they were. They of course wanted to remain as incognito as possible outside of the masks. The only time they interacted with the girls was if the girls left the merch area and walked to an entirely different area of the venue. Or outside.

Eve found it funny, the whole irony of it all. Not only were they trying to remain anonymous from fans, but they were vampires walking around in broad daylight.. figuratively speaking. Chameleons of both types.

Liam, the casual lush that he was, had made good friends with the bartender.. who was being very generous with drinks. The bartender was a fan and had figured out Liam was a member of Sleep Token based on his slight interactions with the girls. The British accent in his loud voice did not help his case at all. Regardless, the bartender had been waiting on him hand and foot all night.

Aron arrived at the venue about an hour or so prior. He clung to Liam and Camren, shooting Desmond a "what's up?" nod and that's all. Desmond hung back as well, creating clear distance between the two. Eve noticed that both Desmond and Aron were shooting frequent glances over to her, monitoring her.

The second she'd locked eyes with Aron for the first time, she froze. She hadn't seen him in a little under a month. His absence truly felt like a year, even though she was clearly distracted. The moment their eyes met, he looked stone-faced and her insides filled with ice. She almost wouldn't have recognized him if he hadn't been shadowing Camren and Liam. He had deep, dark purple circles under his eyes and looked beyond tired. His normal swagger was completely off and he seemed more angry than cocky and carefree. Eve, however, was full of fury. She had zero interest in speaking with him.

Eve felt differences in the types of glances they were shooting her way. Aron's felt possessive, nosy and urgent. His eyes barely left her. Desmond's was calculated, authoritative and concerned for her well being. But he held back, giving her distance and respecting her space. Desmond knew tonight might be difficult for her. But he was proud of Eve for pushing that aside to be there for them.

Soon after arriving, the guys were greeted by a tall woman with bright purple hair. It was pulled up into a claw clip and she wore heavy black makeup. It wasn't applied well and it reminded Eve of Halloween store makeup. She wore a tight black dress and large platform boots, making her tower over most people there. She was almost as tall as Desmond. She was loud and crass, but not in a good way. It rubbed Eve and Freya the wrong way, even moreso once they interacted with her themselves.

They learned through Camren that her name was "Phoenix", and she was the artist relations person for the venue. Phoenix had been bouncing from band to band, providing the fakest smile Eve had ever seen. Whitechapel was sitting cozy in their bus, completely out of sight from anyone else for the entire evening. But Phoenix seemed to enjoy acting as a ping pong ball between all of the openers.

Desmond absolutely detested her from the moment they met. He was polite only to be professional, but audibly gagged to Liam the second she walked away. Liam was interested in anything with a skirt at this show, flashing eyes to Phoenix who seemed to be semi-interested as well. Once she saw how drunk he was, though, she backed off. And once Aron arrived, well, the games had officially begun.

Camren was Phoenix's hyperfixation. Since he'd introduced himself, she'd been finding any and every excuse to come stand next to him. It gradually built from her making small talk to her being very direct with her desires with Camren. And all Freya could do was sit and watch from behind the merch table. Eve noticed that upon Aron's arrival, he'd been speaking with Phoenix quite a bit, turning on the vampire-smolder Eve knew oh so well. Anger twisted inside her stomach like vicious serpents, writhing and pulling. Her hands were balled at her fists and Freya was in the exact same state.

When Desmond's eyes would meet Eve's across the room, he would smile and wave. Aron, however, would shoot glances over his shoulder and smirk smugly.

Camren was becoming increasingly desperate to rid Phoenix's presence. It was pretty obvious. He was too nice to reject her and kept trying to let her down softly, but even then his kindness was mistaken for interest.

Freya's eyes narrowed as she watched Phoenix trail behind Camren as he scurried to the hallway by the green rooms. Her jaw tightened, her face twisting into a scowl.

"Eve, are you seeing this shit?"

Phoenix had JUST finished speaking with Aron before this. He'd ran a hand through his hair, smoothly showing off his tattooed arms and biceps for both Phoenix AND her. Eve was in a sour mood witnessing all of this. He was clearly flaunting these interactions for Eve, making sure they were always right in her line of sight. She sighed in annoyance and looked at Freya.

"Yeah, I am."

"I'm going for a smoke."

"Sounds good, get me the fuck out of here."

The girls quickly closed down the stand, putting down a sign and asking the merch seller next to them to keep a watchful eye for a few minutes.

Freya huffed ahead of Eve, long legs giving her the upper hand. They approached the hallway that Camren had just disappeared down, turning the corner and bumping right into Phoenix. She had a look of annoyance on her face, which the girls immediately matched.

"Hi," Phoenix said coldly, "it's nice to meet Sleep Token's groupies."

"Groupies?" Eve laughed callously.

"That's sweet." Freya bit.

"I'm not sure which of you girls think you have a little claim on Camren, but, by the end of the night he'll be mine."

She winked then walked off. Freya looked like she was about to explode.

She continued to stride away towards the employee/band exit door. They knew not to push it with Phoenix. She was horrible, yes, but she was also a venue employee. The venue that directly worked with Sleep Token's label to book them. Having a fight break out at a show they were pretty much gifted wouldn't be the best look for their band. It would also immediately bring attention to all of the members and their identities would be found out very quickly. And the absolute last thing the girls wanted to do was embarrass the group. They knew damn well that the guys were all equally uncomfortable with Phoenix's presence, aside from Aron using her as a pawn.

They walked out into the gated, concrete parking lot and Freya immediately groaned loudly in disgust.

"Are you serious? What is her problem?! She clearly likes making people uncomfortable? And she thinks Cam is going to want anything to do with her?!"

"'Artist Relations'.. yeah she's relatable alright. To a fucking tampon."

Freya's bright blue vape went to her lips and she puffed, scrunching her face in irritation. Her hazel eyes were a shade darker with contempt.

"I don't know if I can last the entire night like this, Eve. I think I'm going to have to be drunk to get through it."

"Honestly, I'm with you there."

"What a rotten person! Honestly, how can she even have a job here?! SO unprofessional. And Cam is MI-"

Liam and a member of one of the opening bands walked outside, Liam's long limbs shuffling outside with a drunken wobble. He was laughing, clearly enjoying a strong buzz. In his hand was a bright green bottle. Heineken.

His face fell when he locked eyes with Freya's glare, his mouth falling into a tight line. Liam's blue eyes were wide, as if he thought he were in trouble.

"Hey Frey."

"Hi Liam."

"Oscar, these are our girls." He waved his hand out to gesture at them. "Freya.. and Eve. Ladies, this is the guitarist of Absolution."

"Hi, Freya responded shortly, wound tight with frustration. Eve waved. The term "our girls" struck her odd, what did he mean by that?

Freya's hand reached out and snatched Liam's Heineken that was nearly full.

"Give me that."

"You okay, luv?" His eyes lit up with excitement at seeing the girl drink loosely.

"She's fine," Eve responded.

Freya downed the entire beer, returning the empty bottle to Liam who was aghast.

"Yeah, I'd say so," Liam flirted cheekily, grinning at Freya. She scowled at him and began to pull Eve inside, pocketing her vape.

"I'm over this shit," she muttered angrily. Every annoyance seemed to build up more and more tension in Freya. Eve was terrified it was going to bubble over by the end of the night.

They went back to the merch table, Freya getting up soon after to get them shots from the bar. Phoenix continued to float around, borderline harassing Camren and playfully flirting with Aron. All the guys had been drinking that night, frequenting the bar, but Liam and Aron were the most frequent. Camren was obviously drinking to deal with Phoenix better and Desmond was fairly hidden the entire night, getting lost in the audience.

A few minutes later, the shots returned back to the merch table. Customers came and went. The fans were all very supportive about respecting the band's privacy and didn't ask any questions about the members.

After another band played, Eve caught a glimpse of Freya's face. She was looking at something, her hands balled into fists at her sides and face crimson with anger. Rage filled her hazel eyes and if it were possible, Eve knew steam would have been shooting out of her ears. She glanced in the direction Freya was looking in.

Aron, Camren and Phoenix were all at the bar. Camren was sipping a large beer in his hand with a nervous look on his face and a panic in his eyes. Aron was clearly trying to get Phoenix to focus on himself, not only to piss Eve off, but to help Camren out.

But it wasn't really working. Phoenix was in Camren's personal bubble, obviously trying to whisper sexy things to him. Aron had his hand on Phoenix's arm, trying to distract her from Camren. Camren was so uncomfortable it was almost painful to watch, he looked as if he were nearly pinned against the bar.

And Freya launched.

"Freya!" Eve yelled.

It was no use.

Freya quickly strided over to the bar, leaving Eve in the dust behind her. Eve stopped and watched from afar, not wanting to join Aron's presence at the bar. She hoped with every bit of her that Freya wasn't going to hit Phoenix. Freya was a fighter, but only when it was deserved. And for Phoenix, it was absolutely deserved.

Freya slinked her arms around Camren's neck and he turned over his shoulder to look at her. He turned his back toward Phoenix once his eyes met Freya's. Freya was putting it on thick, running her hands down his chest smoothly. She couldn't hear what Freya said, but Phoenix's face quickly turned to disgust. Aron immediately burst into a smile, finding whatever happened extra amusing. Camren's face darkened as he looked at Freya, clearly lost in her eyes as she pulled him in for a bold kiss.

Eve knew just how many feelings the two had for one another. She also knew they'd been touchy a few times, but she'd never seen it herself. A loud laugh left Eve's mouth as she watched Freya not only kiss him, but passionately kiss him. The two tangled as if no one else were around them. Camren tried to place his beer back on the bar, blindly moving his hand to drop the glass on the counter. He moved his hands to Freya's lower back and melted into her.

Phoenix had stormed off at this point. Aron held his hands up in a shocked "what the fuck?" expression while laughing hard. He laughed for many reasons. Because finally, Camren and Freya weren't hiding physical affection anymore, but also at Phoenix's reaction.

Freya pulled away and she giggled. Camren was flushed scarlet, he leaned toward her as if the physical separation was too much to bear. Utter shock covered his features. Freya said a single sentence to him before turning on her heel and practically dancing back to Eve.

Eve and Aron both gave Camren and Freya identical looks. They were both equal parts and flabbergasted and impressed. No one would have expected that out of Freya. Camren left the bar and went to find Desmond in the audience, shooting Freya another glance while Aron sat by himself and sipped liquor.

"Was the liquid courage to blame or was that all you?" Eve asked Freya, who stood next to her proudly.

"Oh, that was all me. I couldn't take another second of watching that trashy sludge harass him. Plus... I've been wanting to do that for a really long time." She blushed heavily and Eve squealed in excitement. She clapped her hands and bounced eagerly.

"Oh my god, I hope it's going to happen! I hope you finally have the talk!"

"I think we'd HAVE to at this point." Both girls laughed.

Eve's laughter quickly turned into a groan when she looked back over to Aron and saw purple hair next to him.

"Ugh, god! She's like a roach!"

Freya rolled her eyes and shook her head in frustration.

"I mean, I can't blame her honestly, we both know how their charm works and ugh, god, he looks so good tonight.." Eve trailed off as she felt herself get weak over him again. He really did look good that night. Obviously she hadn't seen him in a month, so that didn't help. But the black shirt he wore clung to his body in just the right way. His tattooed arms, hands and neck were exposed, colorful designs glowing vivid against his skin. The dark circles under his eyes almost seemed to attract Eve even more. He had an angry demeanor to him the entire night, and honestly, it was a turn on.

"Do what you've gotta do, Eve."

Aron glanced over to Eve and smirked right as he slid his fingers down Phoenix's arm, brushing her skin gently. He looked into Phoenix's eyes with a charming smile that made Eve's heart ache. He used to look at her like that.

She stood up and made her way over to Desmond, who was on the outskirts of the crowd within view of the bar. She could feel Aron's eyes bore into her the entire walk, following every step. She approached Desmond and wrapped her hands around his waist. He looked down at her quickly, ocean eyes swirling with excitement and devotion. It was their first close interaction the entire night, making her heart leap to her throat.

She reached a hand up to the crook of his neck and pulled him down to her. He gasped at the intensity, her lips pressing against his. Her hands went to his jeans and she pulled his hips closer to hers. She pulled away and kissed his neck before shooting a glance at Aron. Desmond's eyes followed hers, also landing on Aron. Desmond's lips pulled into an amused smile. Aron saw red as anger consumed him. He sneered at Eve and Desmond, walking off to the back hallways of the building before disappearing.

Desmond whispered down to her.

"Feeling bold, baby?"

She nodded and kissed him again.

"It's only right. After what he did."

"I agree. Like I told you.. he's going to regret it. If he doesn't already. Seems his actions are catching up to him and he doesn't favor it."

Her arms linked around his waist as she put her head against his chest, hugging the tall figure as the room continued with loud music. A few songs later, he pulled away and pecked her forehead.

"We play next. Gotta go get ready."

"Oh!" Eve responded. The time had flown by. That meant they must have been here for at least three hours, but it only felt like one. Desmond got close to her once more, putting his lips right by her ear.

"And whatever you do, Eve.. don't think of me fucking you in Vessel attire."

He pulled away again with a dark laugh, then pecked her on the lips quickly.

"Enjoy."

Instantly, his tall form was gone. Cam, who'd been on the other side of him, had also vanished. Aron had walked away before in a fit, and Liam was a ghost. A frustrated look fell on her face.

Reluctantly, Eve sauntered back to the merch table, only to find Freya with her heels up on a box, staring down at her phone. Merch had obviously died down quite a bit, but they both anticipated a spike before Sleep Token went on.

They were right. A small rush buzzed at the stand again and 15 minutes later, the lights died down. The crowd whooped and cheered.

Blue lighting and fog machines flooded the stage, creating an eerie atmosphere. Eve thought back to the first show she'd seen, this stage was way larger and allowed for more stage production. Not to mention, there were so many more fans in this room than the last. At least 200. Of course everyone was here for Whitechapel, but there were quite a few Sleep Token t-shirts wandering about.

The synth intro to "Alkaline" began, same as the first show. Vessel slowly walked out onto the stage alone with a blue spotlight beaming on him. The crowd roared louder than Eve anticipated, making her heart flutter with pride. To see Desmond as Vessel was different this time. She knew who was under the mask and paint. Stil, seeing him in such a different light was intriguing. Almost as if he was some shapeshifter who she'd seen the true form of.

He began singing and the faces in the crowd changed. Those who were confused now stood intrigued and in awe of Desmond's voice. He moved above them in tight, black jeans, an open robe, and his mask. So little clothing, yet sheathed in mystery. His bare skin was painted of course, not a single inch of pale flesh visible.

The music picked up and the rest of the guys came onstage. They all were wearing the same black outfits and masks Eve saw last show. Cam ran out first, aggressively throwing his arms up at the crowd, indicting them to make more noise. He was the shortest of them all, but his presence was just as large. He demanded screams from the crowd before turning and running to get behind his drum set. Liam's gangly self danced onto the stage along with Aron. Both Liam and Aron followed Camren's movements, taunting the crowd for more interaction. They screamed, Eve could see girls in the front row yell and reach their arms out for them.

The beat kicked in and they all began playing, Liam spun on his feet like a ballerina and waved his arms at the crowd. Liam was heavy on crowd interaction, yet he didn't say a word. Aron swayed from side to side, his head rolling back and forth seductively. He shifted his weight between his feet in time with the harmonies, encapsulating a sexy swagger on beat. Both Liam and Aron's large hands worked the fretboards as they spun and danced around Desmond. Desmond also moved as he sang, but he spoke with his arms more than his hips.

The songs ebbed and flowed together. The crowd's presence was remarkable and really impressed both Freya and Eve. They shot surprised looks at one another throughout the set. Eve could tell Freya's eyes were glued to Camren, watching as he hit cymbals repeatedly with his sticks. Eve was torn between watching both Desmond and Aron. Desmond was dark, mysterious, and.. beautiful in such a dismal way. Aron rivaled it, but he had his usual air of arrogance to him as well. Eve absolutely hated that it drew her in.

Finally, it was time for "Sugar". The intro played and the crowd screamed once more, anticipating the band's antics for this song. Since they weren't headlining this show, their setlist was way shorter. They saved Sugar for last to end on a high note.

Vessel sang in a breathy tone at first. He ran a finger down his abdomen in a teasing manner during the first verse of the song. The chorus erupted and the crowd sang right along with him. Liam walked over to a speaker and laid down on it, becoming a long beam of black clothing. Desmond swayed over to him before straddling him and grabbing onto his top with a balled fist. Pink and green stage lights flashed while concert photographers at the barricade went crazy. They took closeups of both Desmond and Liam grinding each other while the song kept on. Aron teased the group of girls in front of him by sucking on his finger through his mask. Camren was behind his set still, arms outstretched as he sang the words out loud.

Eve's mouth dropped the first time she saw this, but this time her mouth pulled into a wide grin. The boys knew exactly what they were doing and she couldn't wait to laugh about it with them later. The thought of them doing this to each other unmasked was also funny to her. Eve's eyes landed on Aron, who ran both of his hands down his chest before pointing directly at her.

A gasp caught in her throat and Freya's head snapped right her way. There was no way he was pointing to her, he hadn't even talked to her all night. Desmond's hands were outstretched towards the crowd before he too ran them down his chest, stopping just above his thighs. The teasing was relentless from every member on stage. Eve could see the appeal they had to women in general. And the most ironic part was that they weren't even using their vampire beauty or charm to hypnotize people into loving it. They just did.

Eve suddenly felt panicky as she watched both Desmond and Aron put on little performances for her. It reminded her of the situation she was in with both, it smacked her right in the face. Her breathing became shallow and everything around her was just too much. Too loud, too surrounded, too hot.

"I'm going to the bathroom," she blurted to Freya as the crowd roared.

The band motioned their goodbyes on stage, bowing and holding their hands out to the audience. Sticks and guitar picks were thrown into the audience as Eve booked it. There was no way she was going to have a massive panic attack in the bathroom with all of the stalls. She ran behind the audience, hugging the back wall before making her way to the backstage quarters. She had a staff wristband on, so security moved out of her way. Eve walked down the winding hallways before entering the employee bathroom, tucked backstage.

She turned on the faucet and let the cold water run. Eve learned over the sink and counted her breaths.

In.. 1.. 2.. 3.. 4..
Out.. 1.. 2.. 3.. 4..
In.. 1.. 2..

She closed her eyes and listened to the running water. Her hands splashed cold water on the back of her neck and on her cheeks, jolting her warm skin. She cranked the knob, turning the water off to hear the crowd screaming still. Within a couple moments, it died down. Eve knew it was in the transition period again. In about 10 minutes, Whitechapel would be taking the stage. The headlining act that everyone here came for.

Eve took a few more deep breaths, then pulled her phone out to text Freya. She felt horrible, knowing the merch booth was probably about to be assaulted by new fans. Her head was spinning still.

E: Panic attack. I'll be out in a few, I'm so sorry.

She leaned up against the wall, put her phone back in her pocket and took more breaths. The cold water cooled her skin quite a bit and her heart found its natural rhythm again. Even though she was a bit disoriented, she knew she had to go and work merch. There was a job to do and she wouldn't leave Freya to do it all alone.

Eve unlocked the door, wrapping her hand around the handle to open it. Right as she opened the door, a familiar figure flew into it, slamming it open and she was pushed back inside. The door whipped shut.. and in front of her stood Aron.

The silence was heavy. The tension was so thick, you could cut it with a knife. He glared at her, deep purple bags under his eyes. They looked sullen, it put Eve on edge. Finally, he spoke.

"Did you enjoy having both of your boyfriends perform for you tonight, Eve? Was that fun for you?" He taunted.

He stepped toward her as she stepped backwards.

"I'm not playing your games anymore, Aron."

"Ohh, games?" His eyes lit up with mischief, "These are games to you. Got it."

Rage filled Eve.

"What the fuck do you think I'm supposed to call it? You fucking LEFT me, Aron!"

A hardened look flashed across his features.

"Well, it didn't take you long to move on."

"And that's all you care about? How long it took me to move on? What the fuck did you THINK I was going to do?! Lay around and wait for you? Chase you? Beg you to come back?! Fuck no."

"You'd better watch your fucking mouth, Evelina." He spit her full name mockingly. He'd never called her that before. It was clearly a dig at Desmond.

"There are a lot of things we need to talk about."

"Aron, I have no interest in speaking with you. I'll be nice for Freya's sake, but, I-I can't be close to you anym-"

Eve's voice broke and she crumbled unwillingly. She kicked herself for being emotional, but she was so angry, and the thought of Freya being involved hurt her. Eve had been heartbroken for the past month now and she was tired of lying to herself. She was so full of anger, it clouded all of her questions for him. Tears left her eyes and fell down her cheeks and she quickly moved to walk past Aron.

"Where do you think you're going? You think I'm just going to let you leave?"

He blocked her, ice blue eyes boring down into her.

"Let me the fuck OUT!" She pounded on his chest with her fists, trying to move around him to no avail. Her blood boiled.

"Eve, there are so many things you just don't know. And I feel like I can't tell you. But it would change everything. And how you feel about him."

"I don't care! Let me out! You'll say fucking anything! Just shut up and go fuck Phoenix."

He grabbed her shoulder and yanked her in front of him. His large hand rested just above her shoulder blade as his eyes stared into hers, borderline hypnotizing her.

"I don't want Phoenix. That was a ruse, and you know it. You're going to listen to what I have to say."

"No."

He looked surprised, cocking an eyebrow. His head tilted to the side slightly.

"No?"

"I said no. I don't belong to you anymore."

Aron felt a pang in his chest. Anger rearing its head again, he snarled and got even closer.

"You think you don't belong to me anymore? Maybe I'll have to fucking remind you then. You think you're the only one that gets possessive, that's real cute, Eve."

"I belong to Desmo-"

He kissed her angrily, lips moving against hers with a hunger. She fought against herself, fought against melting into him. The truth was, she missed him so much. It ate her alive. And here he was again, right in front of her. He'd been a ghost for the past few weeks, and now here he was.

She pulled away, pushing his chest away from her. It was no use. He pulled her back, kissing her with a ferocity that lit a fire under her skin.

"Aron, st-"

"No."

"Desmond is going t-"

"I don't fucking care what Desmond says. You were mine first."

She struggled against him and he chuckled darkly into her neck. Her nostrils were filled with his scent, the wetness between her thighs increasing to her dismay. Her fear had increased, making her pulse race and the scent of her blood fill the tiny room. He hummed, fighting the temptation to drain her dry right here.

"Ugh, yes.. fight back, Eve. It's turning me on even more."

He pushed her into the wall and pinned her against it. His hand collided with the tile, cracking it. Tile crumbled onto the floor as his hands moved down her chest.

"Aron, please.." Eve said sadly. She knew she couldn't resist him. She couldn't say no. And he knew it, too.

He took her and pushed her up against the sink, then pulled her hips up to his.

"You know your safe word, don't you, baby?"

"Y-Yes," she said weakly. Months ago, Eve chose "pickles" because it made her laugh.

His thick hands went to her pants and ripped them down over her ass. She squirmed and he grabbed the back of her neck, holding her in place.

"Stay fucking still."

He tore her purple lace thong down her ass and groaned in delight when he saw her bare entrance in front of him.

Within a split second, he was inside of her. She gasped and closed her eyes, scrunching her face. She forgot just how girthy he was. Desmond had him beat by length, but Aron was thick and veiny. He stretched her out and massaged her walls as he moved in and out of her.

"You're a brave little cunt, playing with creatures that can kill you so easily."

He looked up to the mirror to see her eyes closed. Aron reached up to grab her black hair from behind. His hand laced in her hair as he balled it into a fist.

"Open your fucking eyes. I want you to watch while I take this pussy back."

Her eyes opened and she stared at her reflection. The eyes looking back at her were full of desperation. She was feeling used. There was no denying that he filled her to the brim, it felt good, but she was thinking of Desmond. Her nails dug into the porcelain sink as he grunted behind her in satisfaction.

"You're MINE, do you hear me? I'm going to claim you whenever and wherever the fuck I want."

She panted and whined underneath him, thinking of Desmond, hoping this wouldn't ruin their relationship. She felt a pit in her stomach form. She wondered where he was.. if he was looking for her.

Aron looked in their reflection and spit right where her face was. Her hands grabbed behind her, went to grab his hips but he smacked them away.

"Turn around."

She stood up weakly, turning around to rest on the sink. He scooped her up and put her on the sink, ripping her pants down her legs.

He entered her again and shuddered in pleasure as he hit deeper. His ice cold eyes looked down at hers. She missed him and his touch, but all of the sadness she'd been feeling bubbled over and she began to cry. This turned him on even more, he grabbed her throat and fucked her wildly as if he were a beast.

"I'm going to cum in you, and you're going to walk around for the rest of my night with my cum inside, do you understand?"

She nodded.

"You're going to go back to your fucking boyfriend with my seed dripping down your legs."

He moaned into her neck before kissing her. His silky lips pressed against hers roughly, with passion and dominance. She moaned into his mouth as she felt herself get close but he denied her.

"No," his hand slapped her across the face and then gripped her jaw.

"I'm not letting you cum. Your boyfriend can do that for you, can't he?"

He laughed in her face, biting at her neck softly in between kisses. His free hand gripped her breasts as he pumped inside her. Finally, his rhythm picked up and he growled as he looked down at her.

"Tell me you want it. Tell me you want me to fill you."

"Please, Aron, give me it, please fill me.."

He growled into her mouth as he filled her. His cock twitched inside and she panted from being so used. He stood there for a moment, eyes closed, lingering atop her. He inhaled deeply, smelling her familiar scent. Although now, there was a twinge of Desmond in it. She didn't smell how she did when he left. The realization felt like a stab to the chest and he took a step back. How he could feel such possessiveness over a human was.. appalling.

He opened his eyes and looked at her. His face expression had softened quite a bit.. this was the Aron she knew. Her cloudy eyes welled with tears again as she pulled her pants up and looked at him.

"I only ever wanted to hear you say you loved me."

She wiped tears off of her cheeks as she exited the bathroom. The crowd roared as Whitechapel took the stage, but she felt so empty inside. So confused, so lost, so broken. Torn in different directions.

Aron felt all of it too. He was left alone in the bathroom by himself, staring at his reflection.. thinking about the girl he lost and the monster he'd truly become.

Chapter Text

True Love- Cane Hill

Eve brushed her hands on her pants, wiping the tears off as she made her way toward Freya. She put her game face on, expecting to hop back into sales before she noticed Freya and Liam. They were both stacking boxes and closing the table down. There was no weaving line like she expected.. they'd already been taken care of. Eve felt guilty.

Freya took one look at her and stopped moving. Her brows came together in concern. Liam kept moving behind her, drunkenly filling boxes per her orders.

"Are you okay? What happened?"

"Yeah, I'm okay. Just got panicky.. took my emergency meds and had to sit it out for a while.. I'm really sorry." Eve felt terrible for lying, but she couldn't even mentally process what just happened, much less explain it to Freya. She also knew Freya would be livid and immediately try to hunt Aron down.

"Don't worry about it, Liam took over for a bit." She surveyed Eve with suspicion in her eyes. They knew each other too god damn well.

"Have you seen Aron?"

Eve's heart sank. She was going to blow it.

"I-I think he's backstage somewhere. I don't know."

Freya's eyes narrowed.

"Hmmm."

Eve grabbed a box and began to walk toward the back of the venue. Liam helped carry one out beside her, loudly announcing "excuse meh!" repeatedly to clear a path. They loaded boxes for a few minutes, Eve caught glimpses of Desmond and Camren loading gear out. Of course Camren had an insane amount to tear down and load out compared to the other guys. Desmond helped him by sharing the workload, making the process go by quicker.

They didn't want to linger in the building. The chances of fans looking for them were high at this point. The last thing they needed were fans trying to take pictures of them unmasked or trying to approach them.

They'd all scrubbed the paint off their hands and eyes in the venue sinks. They threw on hoodies to hide the rest of the black smudges. Their stage outfits had been quickly changed out of, each now in day clothes.

Camren and Desmond were both working as fast as humanly possible to load everything up. Liam returned to the bar to rekindle with his new bartender friend and have one last round. Eve was bringing out boxes, while Freya was closing down the stand itself inside.

Camren went inside for a moment, leaving Desmond and Eve alone. The cold air chilled Eve and she shivered as Desmond walked over to her.

"Mmm, hi love." He pulled her into an embrace, wrapping his large arms around her. He kissed her head and smelled.. Aron. He stopped dead in his tracks. This meant nothing good.

His tall frame pulled back from her and stared down with a serious look. He scanned her features and saw the puffiness of her eyes, smelled the saltiness of dried tears on her skin. Desmond clenched his jaw and his eyes hardened. Her pulse quickened under his stare.

"What did he do?"

She looked up at him, beads welling in her gray eyes again. His cold expression frightened her. Eve couldn't tell him here, she'd tell him on the drive home. She hoped he'd understand. The thought of having that conversation terrified her, but she knew it had to be done. She shook her head gently.

"Can I tell you later? I can't tell you here."

"Did he hurt you?" His fists were balled at his sides. The hardened look on his face intensified hearing the weakness and defeat in her voice.

Not physically, she thought.

"Please.. please, Desmond, I just want to go home."

Desmond knew Aron had left already. He'd found it odd that Aron packed only his gear before leaving. Desmond figured it had something to do with the awkwardness between him and Eve, but apparently it was something more. Hearing Eve refer to their house as "home" reduced his rage slightly, he caressed her jaw with his thumb and nodded.

Desmond's lips kissed Eve's forehead and he pulled her into a quick hug once more. Protectiveness consumed him. He would kill Aron if it meant he saved Eve. If it meant it brought her peace. Knowing that he'd be capable of this unnerved him. It was a thought he'd never had about any of the guys, he always viewed him as brothers. But there was a sort of.. primal defense that coursed through him when it came to Eve. He would kill for her. He would be willing to let himself die if it meant sparing her. And yet... he still hadn't told her he loved her.

But soon. The timing had to be right.

Camren disrupted his mental tangent by walking out and whooping in relief.

"We're done! Just have two more merch boxes to load up and we can head home before the massive crowd leaves."

Phoenix's bright purple hair appeared right behind Camren as she walked outside on his heels. Desmond glared at her. Camren saw his expression and slowly turned around to see who he was glaring at.

The moment he saw Phoenix, he stiffened in discomfort. He knew she wasn't here to play games being it was the end of the night. He contemplated hypnotizing her, to finally just overcome her brain and rewire her actions to not involve him at all. But he wouldn't. He would never overstep a human's free will unless it was a life or death situation.

She smiled at him and Eve felt her lips curl in disgust. Phoenix was putting her best effort into trying to be seductive, while she actually just looked intoxicated. But she definitely wasn't. Camren was appalled by her unprofessionalism, none of the guys had ever experienced such gall from a venue worker before.

"Camren, you did amazing tonight, you sounded fantastic," she said in a raspy voice.

"Thank you," he nodded, keeping it short.

"So, I know your little toy got defensive earlier, but you should really think about coming home with me tonight... hell, I'd even take the bathroom here." She shrugged and Eve's stomach lurched.

"She's not my toy, she's my girlfriend. And while I'm thankful for the show opportunity you gave us, I have to say I can't fulfill your other desires."

Her eyes lit up at his elegant speech.

"Oh, Cam, I highly doubt that. Just one night. One night, I promise, she doesn't even have to know. But I know you'd end up coming back for more."

She smirked, black clown lipstick pulling into a crooked smile.

Eve seethed with anger. Desmond kept her locked in his arms, feeling her pulse quicken with each sentence Phoenix spoke.

"Easy, Eve.." he spoke down to her softly, "he can handle this."

"This isn't professional. Phoenix, I think it's best if we bid you farewell and head on home. You still have a job to do with the other acts."

She began to respond to him with a baby voice, switching from her awful attempt at seduction to a childish tone. It sounded like she was practically begging. Phoenix kept trying to reach out for him, to step closer to him while he kept leaning away from her.

Freya swung the door open with all her might and emerged with a large box in her hands. It didn't look sturdy and she was struggling. However, the second her eyes locked on Phoenix's vivid hair, she saw red again. A cat waiting to pounce.

"Ah, shit," Desmond cursed under his breath.

Freya froze and watched Phoenix continue to harass Camren for a split second. She then snapped, dropping the box out of her hands dramatically and storming over. She came up behind Phoenix as Camren's eyes widened.

"Alright, bitch. I've been keeping my distance all night for the sake of the boys. But the show is nearly over and you need to fucking GO."

Phoenix smiled smugly and spun around to face Freya.

"Is that any way to talk to an employee? Especially one that granted your 'boyfriend' an opportunity tonight? You should be thanking me." Her tone made Eve sick, but she knew Freya could take care of herself.

"Thanking you?" She laughed dramatically, "Thanking you for borderline sexually harassing him? They would have gotten this opportunity regardless if you gave it to them or not."

Phoenix didn't like this at all.

"You're pretty cocky for a groupie," She sneered at Freya.

"That's ironic, coming from the venue's band bunny herself," Freya spat.

Phoenix's hand raced out and slapped Freya across the face. She whipped her head back and stared at her in sheer anger.. In a millisecond, Freya wound back and punched Phoenix right in the center of her face. Her nose crunched loudly under Freya's fist and a loud cry escaped her mouth.

Her hands shot out and grabbed Freya's hoodie as she fell to the ground. Freya had the upper hand, straddling her as Phoenix screamed insults at her. Phoenix obviously couldn't fight. Freya continued to hit her as Camren stared with heart eyes. Eve laughed out loud at Phoenix's downfall- literally.

"That's for making him.. uncomfortable.. stupid.. bitch.. you're lucky I felt nice tonight.." She said in between slaps and hits.

"Yeeeaah! World Star! Haha!" Eve chimed in from Desmond's arms.

Desmond swiftly left Eve's side, flying over to Freya and pulling her off of Phoenix. Phoenix slowly got up and held a hand to her face, blood gushing from her nose. Her makeup was smeared all over her face and her hair was a rats nest, claw clip long gone.

She continued to yell at Freya as Desmond restrained her. Freya was quiet, on a mission to escape Desmond's grasp and continue her beating, while Desmond didn't even flinch. He held her behind his arm as if were holding a fairy, tiny and fragile. She put up her biggest fight to push him away and free herself.

Desmond looked bored, shooting a look to Camren and then nodding in Phoenix's direction. Clearly, something needed to be done.

"Dammit, Desmond, let me go!" Freya cursed at him. His expression hadn't changed at all, as if Freya never spoke in the first place.

"Cam, I'm too old for this shit. Take care of that. Please."

Camren laughed under his breath as he ghosted over to Phoenix and grabbed both of her shoulders. His bright blue eyes fixated on hers and he stared at her with deep intent. A blank look washed over her features as Eve watched her fall into a trance.

"You will forget about all of this. Your nose was broken by a crowd killer inside. You don't recognize us, you'll go back into the building and leave us alone." He murmured to her.

She blinked slowly and nodded. He let her shoulders go before walking away, and she immediately went into the building without another word. He made his way over to Freya and she continued to seethe.

"Cam, I'm sorry, I'm just s-so angry."

He laughed lightly.

"Want me to take that away?" He half-joked, "Let's go home." He wrapped his tattooed arm around her shoulder and kissed her cheek as they walked to his car. Freya turned pink. Desmond walked over to the last big box of merch on the ground and tossed it in his open trunk with ease.

"Heavens, that was exciting," he said sarcastically.

Eve laughed, completely taken aback by Freya's outburst.

"Let's head out, love. I'm sure you're tired."

She nodded. With Freya no longer a distraction, the pit in her stomach returned when she thought of the events prior. She would tell him. She had to.

Eve climbed into the passenger seat of Desmond's car before he drove off into the windy night.

_______________

She told him. Her nerves were bundled while the words spilled from her lips. She felt as if she were confessing her life's sins to him. But he was as gracious as ever with patience and understanding.

Angry, yes.

But that was something he'd address later, and not with Eve. Desmond had no reason to be angry with Eve as far as he was concerned. He knew that as a human, she was already at a disadvantage when it came to their charm. Add her feelings for the two into the mix and.. he understood. But it didn't make it hurt any less.

He actually had to pull over and compose himself, the anger almost becoming too much. It was a level of anger he hadn't felt in decades. His hands gripped the steering wheel, white knuckling it all the way home. But his main concern was Eve and how she was handling it. She sobbed almost the entire drive, apologizing profusely to Desmond, who reassured her and rubbed her thigh soothingly.

"Love, you must understand.. vampires are often polygamous by nature. It's more common to find polygamy among us than monogamy. I consider myself to be monogamous but, most of us can drift between the two. I'm just upset that you were hurt."

Desmond knew it would be sorted out. Aron would reap what he sowed. Desmond would see to it. In fact, he'd already begun plotting. Eve had no idea, but Desmond was going to return that exact same feeling to Aron.. tenfold.

______________

The six of them sat around the dining room table. It was the first time Aron had been in the house since he left. They all wore party hats at Camren's request, Eve sporting a purple one while Aron's was bright pink. It was the weekend after Freya's birthday. The weekend before was her "girls only" birthday party. Liam and Camren promised her a party also and were delivering it to her on a silver platter.

The house had been decorated with bright balloons and streamers. Loud music played from the speakers and Liam kept pulling Freya up repeatedly to dance together. This time, Britney Spears' voice filled the room and Liam shook his hips in a circular motion, mocking Britney's famous moves. Freya erupted into giggles, holding an imaginary snake on her shoulders and shimmying her shoulders. Freya was definitely tipsy by now, letting loose and enjoying her party.

Camren was in the kitchen, of course, finishing another cake for Freya. Eve hollered repeatedly for him to come enjoy the fun. He obliged once in a while, popping out to take a swig of Stella Artois before sneaking out of the room again. Aron sipped his own Stella as he watched the football game on TV. It was on mute due to the loud music, but he wanted a distraction from watching Eve and Desmond sit together. He wondered if Desmond knew. And boy... did he.

Desmond played it off casual, acting as if he didn't know anything at all. He and Eve didn't indulge in too much PDA as per usual. There were a lot of flickering eyes between the trio. Desmond sat back in his chair with a soft smirk the entire night, making small talk with Liam, Eve and Freya. Aron chimed in occasionally, never responding to Desmond's statements directly, but just enough to make his presence known. The elephant in the room may have well been standing on the dining room table. The group was just adapting to the awkwardness.

The plan for tonight was that they'd have a small party here, then head out to a concert together. The group had never attended a concert with the girls before. The only ones they'd all been present at were their own performances. This show would be even more special because it was in honor of Freya's birthday.

In This Moment was playing in a city nearby, just a week after her birthday, and Freya loved their music. It was a perfect opportunity. Camren organized the whole thing, putting extreme effort into the smallest details. He really wanted to make it a special night for her, which is why no one dared to bring any drama to the party.

"Aron."

Desmond's deep baritone filled the air. Both Aron and Eve's heads whipped around to look at him. His expression was neutral, glancing at Eve and then to Aron with a soft smile.

Aron looked at him with suspicious eyes. Desmond shrugged loosely.

"Why don't we just move on, right? Why make it weird?"

Aron's eyes flickered around the room at everyone else, who stared at the two. Camren even walked in, standing behind the couches and pretending to take a swig of Stella. Eve knew he was simply in here to witness whatever was about to go down.

Aron glanced back at Desmond and nodded slowly, reluctantly. Desmond's hand reached into his pocket and revealed a long, thin object. Eve quickly realized it was a joint. Even though she knew the boys partook, she'd never witnessed it herself. Being that she didn't smoke, it was never an urgent topic to prod at her mind, and the boys never surrounded her with it out of respect. They were all extremely clean in their smoking habits, the scent was always kept at bay.

Aron raised an eyebrow as Desmond stood up and walked over to him. He placed a heavy hand on his shoulder.

"Brothers, right? We're brothers, Aron."

Skepticism filled Aron's eyes for a quick moment before he turned to look up at Desmond.

Desmond made a "take it" gesture with the joint in his hand, offering it to Aron.

"All for you, mate. To unwind a bit."

Aron took the joint out of Desmond's hand, glancing at Eve before standing up and walking out to the porch with it between his full lips.

Eve stared wide-eyed as Desmond grinned. He clapped the shorter man on the back as he walked past.

"Enjoy."

Aron disappeared and Desmond walked to the kitchen. The sink ran and he returned to the room shortly after, sinking down next to Eve and kissing her on the cheek.

"Why so stressed, love?"

"Where did that come from?"

Liam, Freya, Camren and Eve all looked at him with apprehensive expressions. He glanced around and shrugged once more.

"What? How are we supposed to get any serious work done in the next two months if there's tension? Seriously, guys, do you really want that?" He looked at Camren and Liam as he said this.

"No," both men said in unison.

"So. That's that," Desmond rolled his eyes, sinking into his default callous attitude again.

Camren eventually disappeared into the kitchen and returned with a bright purple cake, placing it on the dining room table. "Happy Birthday Freya" was written in black frosting and 23 candles surrounded the words.

After Aron returned, red-eyed, the room sang happy birthday as Freya gushed with joy. Her cheeks were bright pink as she smiled widely and blew out the candles. Eve reached over and gave her a peck on the cheek, hugging her friend tightly. Another year of aging together.

Freya and Eve both nearly inhaled their slices of cake. It was soft, crumbling under their forks. Eve had never tasted such good cake, the chocolate flavor exploded on her taste buds as it melted in her mouth. The boys ate theirs entirely in support of both Freya and Camren, since he baked it from scratch. Right after, Camren wrapped his arm around Freya and brushed his hand down her arm gently.

"You girls ready for the show, then? We don't want to run behind." He gently reminded.

Freya quickly threw her arms up in a panic, realizing just how close they were cutting the time. She flew up the steps and straight to the bathroom. Eve followed on her heels, knowing she had yet to finish her makeup. Small, colorful compacts and palettes still lay scattered across the counter along with a flat iron.

"Fuck! I totally blanked and thought we'd have more time!" Freya breathed with exasperation.

"All I have yet to do is my hair and I'm pretty much done," Eve replied, stepping out of Freya's way as her hands grabbed compact after compact. Freya finished her makeup quickly, gliding a pink gloss across her lips and fluffing her hair.

"Ready. I'm sure we're taking separate cars so I'll see you there babes."

She sped into the hallway and down the steps, disappearing quickly. Eve hadn't thought about the ride situation until then, but realized Freya was right. Her, Aron, and Desmond would be driving together. Her stomach twisted at the thought of the awkwardness she was about to endure.

After straightening her hair quickly, she returned to the living room and found Aron passed out on the couch. Immediately, she was caught off guard. Something wasn't right. She'd only ever seen Aron asleep once and knew that they all could go years without sleeping. Why would he make himself so vulnerable when it was just him, Desmond, and Eve in the house? There was no way he'd let himself rest like this, especially out in the open.

His legs stretched out across the couch and his head was propped on a small pillow. He wore a dark black hoodie with matching black jeans, his usual outfit of choice. His dark tattoos peeked out from the front pocket of his hoodie and Eve's eyes lingered on them. She looked at his face and studied his sleeping expression. He looked so peaceful, it was ironic given the situation they all found themselves in.

Desmond's hands wrapped around Eve's waist from behind and she jumped. She still wasn't used to how quiet he was. He kissed the top of her head and turned her around. The house was so quiet now that Camren, Freya, and Liam had left together.

Eve's eyes traveled up to Desmond's and he looked down at her with an amused look on his face.

"Do you trust me, Angel?"

Her heart fluttered again. It was almost pathetic how his pet names affected her still.

"Yes."

"I know what he did to you, and.. love, I think he needs to pay for that."

Her eyes scanned his face as his words sunk into her brain. In seconds, her heart dropped to her stomach in fear.

"No, Desmond, we can't hurt him, you can't-"

"Sshh, shh shh. No. Not hurt, love. Something else." He said with a sly smile. He placed his hand on her cheek and ran a thumb along her bottom lip. Her eyes looked up at him under thick lashes, her brow furrowing.

"I don't get it. What do you mean?"

His large, pale hands began to run down her body.

"What I mean, Evelina, is that I want to get lost in your body.. in front of him. He thought he needed to claim you.. I simply want to remind him who you really belong to."

She giggled and he looked at her with a neutral expression.

"Oh... you're serious?"

Eve gasped, her breath hitched in her throat.

Was he really asking this?

"I just don't want to hurt him, I know that's pathetic given what's happened, but I just can't-"

"No harm will come to him physically. To his ego, maybe, but he's brought that upon himself."

Desmond laughed under his breath at the thought as his roughly hands gripped Eve's ass. She bucked forward and he kissed her. Eve felt herself soften and she pulled away. Desmond looked at her with curious eyes.

"Okay." She nodded. "I'm in."

A devious smile crept across Desmond's face as his eyes darkened. He kissed her deeply, nibbling on her bottom lip gently before pulling away.

He got to work fast. Desmond became a blur, rushing downstairs into the.. basement? Eve had never been, but assumed it was like any old basement. She followed him down the stairs. The sight of it surprised her. It wasn't dirty, or dingy, it had actually been finished. Carpet spread across the floor and wood paneling adorned the walls.

There was furniture, along with a pool table at the bottom of the steps. A large TV sat in the far corner with couches. Eve was surprised the guys had never moved any of their parties down here before. Eve watched as Desmond brought a metal chair to the middle of the room, leave again, and quickly return with rope. It was bright blue in color and looked small in Desmond's hands.

Eve raised an eyebrow at him and crossed her arms.

"Rope? You really don't think he's just going to break out of that?"

Desmond laughed out loud at this and brought it closer to Eve, showing the rope to her.

"This rope is made of Dyneema fiber. It's strong enough to pull ships, fifteen times stronger than steel. I'd be very surprised if Aron could wiggle his way out of this... I'm not even sure that I could."

Dumbfounded, she stared at the rope in his hands. She wanted to be tied up by him.

"I want you to tie me up." The words left her as she examined the rope hanging loosely around his fingers.

"Mm, you ARE tempting. Unfortunately we have limited time before he wakes up, so we must stay focused."

She pouted with her bottom lip.

"Stay here," Desmond ordered.

In a few moments, Desmond returned to the basement with Aron slung over his shoulder. Aron wasn't a small guy by any means, but in this moment she noticed the size difference between the two men. That's only because Desmond was just.. big. Long limbs and a tall stature. Eve had no idea why Aron was knocked out in the first place, but especially why he wasn't waking during the movement. Worry trickled through her. Desmond flicked the lights, plunging a good portion of the basement into darkness. The only light illuminating the group was from the other room, softly trickling in.

"Desmond..?" Eve said hesitantly as Desmond sat Aron in the chair and began trying him to it.

"Is he... asleep?"

"Technically yes," he answered, hands still at work. "I may or may not have drugged him."

"Desmond!" Eve's eyes widened as her mouth dropped in shock. His big blue eyes looked up at her in amusement.

"What?" He laughed. "He's not hurt. He just took a nap."

"What drug is it?" She pressed.

"It's a plant called Oleander, or Nerium. Extremely poisonous to humans. You don't even have to ingest it to die, simply being near it and inhaling the fumes it produces is enough to put you in a coma. For us, though, it's not fatal. It just renders us unconscious for some time. I've even met vampires who use it to go to sleep after centuries of being awake. You wouldn't think you'd forget how to fall asleep but.. a lot do. Ha!"

Eve's brows pinched together as she took in the information. It surprised her how much Desmond seemed to be enjoying himself with this.

"And it was in the joint, I'm assuming?"

"Oh yeah, that was a real joint. It just had a little extra.. seasoning in there." He chuckled to himself as he pulled a rope around Aron's chest, tying him upright to the chair. He then looped the rope several times through itself, lacing it across his abdomen and pulling it down around his hips, ensuring his immobility.

Eve stared at Desmond in disbelief.

"I'm in shock that you'd even do something like that."

"Really, Eve? I'm over twice this bloke's age, I have a way of getting what I want," Desmond's silky voice said as he tightened the rope that bound Aron's hands together behind his back. Aron was silent, completely paralyzed and still unconscious.

He made his way over to Eve in a blur, tilting her face up to his. Excitement bloomed in both sets of eyes as he studied her face, lust burning deep at his core. The idea of bringing this situation to life ignited a flame in him that he didn't want to extinguish.

"And right now.. what I want is you."

Aron started to move slightly, he groaned under his breath.

"Mm. Perfect timing," Desmond whispered, brushing his lips softly against Eve's.

"My head.. what the.. fuck.." Aron mumbled as his head still lay slumped over.

His eyes shot open upon realization. Aron's head flew up and he stared in front of him. The dark clung to their figures as Aron looked through groggy eyesight.

"I'm not a hunter, Aron," Desmond spoke to him, leaning back against the pool table lightly.

Hunter? Eve thought. A fucking vampire hunter? Those existed?

"Desmond.." Aron slurred. "What..?" His vision blurred all around him, Desmond's body was hazy, coming in and out of focus. Next to him was a pale woman in a black dress with long, dark hair... Eve.

"Eve..?"

His hands instinctively went out to grab her when his wrists pulled against the rope. The twine fibers dug into his skin and he yelled out.

"What the fuck is this?! Why am I..?" His eyes struck Eve's, maintaining intense contact. Anger consumed his irises as everything clicked together in his mind. His irises turned coal black and a distorted voice left his lips.

"Desmond, I'll fucking kill you."

Desmond stood next to Eve, in front of Aron. He crossed his arms and put a finger to his chin, mocking a deep thought.

"Yeah, and how are you going to do that, Aron?"

Aron was overtaken with rage, muttering incoherent pieces of sentences as he bucked and writhed against the ropes, trying to snap them apart. Finally, he groaned loudly in frustration.

"Ugh.. Dyneema. You prick."

He glanced up at Eve with black eyes, face twisted in a painful expression. He decided he'd play on her pity.

"Why are you doing this to me?"

"You know why," She spat back instantly. Eve wasn't prepared for her quick wit, but her frustrations rolled off her tongue.

"Aron.. you know exactly why you're bound to this chair right now. It's your turn to be made an example of. Since apparently you can't keep your dirty fucking hands off of her," Desmond drawled from Eve's side.

Aron quietly fumed. His jaw clenched viciously as his eyes flicked between the two of them.

"Seeing as to how you made our precious Eve here feel the other night, I think it's well deserved, don't you?" He paused as Aron stiffened in his seat, still struggling against the restraints, regardless of the knowledge that he wasn't escaping.

"You think I don't know about that little hatefuck of yours, but boy, I do. 'I'm going to send you back to your boyfriend with my cum dripping down your legs', huh?"

"Right, I did. And she fucking liked it. Don't let her fool you." Aron taunted. Eve scowled.

"Oh, that's not what this is about, Aron. I recall it being mentioned to me that you denied her an orgasm? Told her that "her boyfriend could do that" for her..? Is that true?"

Aron's face turned dark red with anger when he realized exactly where this was going.

"You're fucking sick. No."

"Well, I definitely can do that for her. And I'm about to.. right in front of you."

"Let me OUT of this shit. Eve, you're one sick bitch for going along with this, you know that, right? A fucking whore."

Eve smiled at him as Desmond walked behind her. His large hands ran down her sides, tracing over each curve. Her head fell back and she sighed softly as Aron verbally protested. Desmond slowly caressed every inch of her over her black dress, taking his time, savoring her body but also driving Aron wild.

Eve's heart raced, pulse throbbing right under her skin. Desmond pulled her hair away from her neck and kissed gently while he shot daggers at Aron.

"I'm not watching this. Fuck you both. No, I'm not doing this." He shook his head and dropped his gaze to the floor.

Desmond's hands immediately reached out and grabbed Eve's ass and breast simultaneously. The sudden force made Eve cry out and moan loudly, her knees buckling. Aron's pale eyes instinctively shot back up to her at the noise.

"Oh.. I think you will. This will be the last time you ever see her naked. Make it count, Aron."

A deep rumble sounded in his chest. His sharp gaze oozed fury as he glared at both Eve and Desmond in front of him. He was bound tight, barely able to even move his body. The sight of Eve coming undone in front of him was going to be too much. He was never submissive. But even though this was meant to be humiliating for him, a small part of him was excited. He'd never reveal this to anyone, though. And he'd fight to keep it hidden.

Desmond's hand wrapped around Eve's throat tenderly and he kissed her cheek. His hands then dropped to her hips, slowly guiding them in a swaying motion. She took initiative, even though there was no music, she rolled her wide hips back and forth on top of Desmond's jeans. The friction caused her wetness to increase and she moaned softly. The delicate silk of her dress felt so nice against her tender skin, just gliding and slipping under Desmond's long fingers.

"Don't you just love her hips, Aron? Her perfectly flared hips and that gorgeous cleavage. What a vixen, yeah?"

Aron's gaze kept bouncing between the floor and Eve. She knew it was taking everything in him to resist looking at her.

"Fucking look at me," her sultry voice commanded. He breathed heavily and looked up at her, taking in the sight of her curves moving.

Desmond laughed softly behind her.

"Mmm, 'atta girl."

Desmond kissed Eve's neck and softly moved his hands to her front, rubbing right in between her legs, over her panties. She sucked her breath in between her teeth. The wetness pooling in her thong already began to tell on her. Desmond hummed in pleasure as he toyed with her, teasing her dampness over the cloth.

"Oh, Aron, she's already soaked... She must love humiliating you."

"Stop.." Aron softly croaked.

Eve reached up under her dress to slide her panties off. The bright pink lace brushed against her pale legs on the way down, striking in contrast with her skin.

Aron tensed in his seat once more. Her satin voice filled the air as she locked eyes with him.

"Do you remember the first time you fucked me, Aron? How you gagged me with my own panties so I'd be quiet?"

"No," he hissed. He knew exactly what was coming next.

"I do. And I remember just how much it made me feel like a whore.. you even commented on that."

Eve's heels stepped out of her panties and she grabbed them, bringing them up to swing around her fingertip as she walked toward Aron. He winced as she got closer, moving his face away from her. She leaned in above him and her sweet perfume overtook his senses. Her long, raven hair dangled over him, the desire to reach out and touch her impossible to resist.

"I think I'm tired of hearing you talk. You need to just watch."

He opened his mouth in protest, but she shoved her panties inside. The pink fabric spilled from his full lips and he groaned loudly. He was irate.

"If you spit those out, you will regret it. I suggest you think it through," Desmond's deep voice boomed.

Eve slinked back over to Desmond, facing him. Her back was to Aron and she took full advantage of this, swaying her hips as she walked slowly. The second she stopped in front of Desmond, his hands found the hem of her dress. He pulled it up over her body, her pale skin shimmering in the dim lighting. Aron shook his head as his eyes traced over her. Her round ass looked so soft. Now, she was only wearing a matching pink bra and black heels on her feet.

Aron closed his eyes momentarily, feeling himself harden against his own wishes. No, he would not let his body tell on himself like this. His cock stiffened in his jeans and he softly groaned in frustration. Frustration at himself, out of desire for Eve, out of bitterness toward Desmond. He fully knew he deserved this. Truly, he brought all of this upon himself and he was aware. He should have never left, he should have never left her alone, of course someone else was going to sweep her away. And now all he could do was sit and watch her get taken by someone else. By Desmond, nonetheless.

Desmond leaned back slightly against the edge of the pool table and pulled Eve close to him, pressing their bodies together. Eve's lips kissed Desmond's neck repeatedly as he stared daggers at Aron over her shoulder, gripping her bare ass in plain view of Aron's eyes. She moaned and her hands found their way under Desmond's shirt, lightly grazing his abs. She pulled his shirt up, over his head, and began to kiss down his chest.

Desmond smirked devilishly at her taking initiative, knowing she wanted Aron to suffer just as much as he did. The way she was enjoying herself turned him on beyond belief. His cock was fully hard at this point, the pressure increasing as she worked her way down his abdomen. She took her sweet time, teasing Desmond and torturing Aron simultaneously.

Eve angled herself slightly so Aron could get a clear view of her side profile as she undid Desmond's brown belt. She wasted no time, pulling his jeans down his legs and putting her hands around his rock-hard length when it sprung free. Aron noticed the piercing at the tip of Desmond's cock and winced.

Aron squirmed in the chair, muffled curses left his mouth through the pink lace of her thong. He didn't necessarily want to see this, but at the same time it was increasing such a desire in him he couldn't deny. Eve took Desmond into her mouth completely, her lips wrapped around the base of his cock and she gagged loudly. She bobbed repeatedly as Desmond's head fell back. Aron's eyes kept finding their way back to the two, but especially Eve.

Desmond's hand tangled in Eve's hair as she continued sucking. He looked over at Aron and laughed darkly.

"Yeah, this is what you want, huh? You want her hot little throat on you? Too bad."

A growl left Aron as he watched her work, remembering just how her mouth felt around him. How she wasn't afraid to make a mess on it. How she'd gag herself on it so she could use her own drool as lube.. Aron wasn't helping his own case, his hardening cock responding to all of his dirty thoughts.

Desmond pulled out of her mouth and helped her to her feet. His hands unclasped her bra from behind and twisted her around, pushing her and pinning her down onto the pool table. She gasped loudly. His hand stayed on her head, firmly holding her in place.

Eve's ass was in the air, all for Aron to see. He moaned under his own breath, the need to be inside her was too much. Her soft skin was so beautiful, the tattoos on the back of her thighs were vibrant against her flesh. He yearned for her.. and Desmond knew it.

"Stay right there," he ordered Eve.

Desmond's hands glided over her cheeks, warming them with his touch. She shivered and his right hand went into the air. He returned it to her flesh with a hard "smack!". Eve jumped, moaning loudly as he applied more pressure to the back of her head.

Aron's chest heaved as he tried to contain himself. She looked so perfect, so obedient and fragile. The pressure on his lap was intense, almost becoming painful. He needed release and would do anything to release inside of her. His eyes filled with anguish. Desmond picked up on it, knowing he was torturing Aron just so.

Desmond's large hands went to Eve's cheeks and he softly pulled them apart, exposing both of her holes. Eve jumped again, feeling the air hit her innnermost parts.

"You see, Aron, I don't think you appreciated Eve the way she deserves. Isn't she the most beautiful thing you've ever seen? Even down to her little holes that just.. beg, to be filled?" He taunted.

Desmond ran a finger over her slit while Eve shuddered once more.

"It's okay to squirm, baby," His voice was dark with dominance to a degree she'd never heard before.

"Speaking of 'filled', I'd love for you to see how responsive she is to me. See how she likes.. this."

He inserted one long finger into her, making her arch her back and moan for more. Desmond's eyes lit up in amusement.

"Hear that, Aron? I think our girl wants more. Think you can handle two fingers, beloved?"

He inserted another, immediately turning his fingertips downward to hit her g-spot. She shuddered under his hands and closed her eyes, taking in every sensation. The felt of the pool table scratched against her cheek as she lay so exposed. He continued to pump his fingers in and out of her, the wet sounds in the room becoming louder and louder with her moans.

"Ahh, see how she responds to such.. stimuli? Beautiful. Did she react this way for you? No? Aw.. what a damn shame..."

The hand behind her head left and found her lower half as his fingers worked. He spit on the pink button above her entrance and a chill crept up her back.

"How about this, Aron? Did she offer her ass to you? Or is that a hole specifically for me and me only?" He laughed cruelly and began to massage her hole with his thumb before inserting it.

The sensation of both holes being filled with his fingers was becoming too much to bear. She arched her back, her hips shuddered as she pushed herself back onto his fingers.

"Look at what a good girl she is, Aron, I'm so sorry you never got to experience her like this. Look at her squirm. I'd bet she's about to cum all over my fingers, wouldn't you say?"

He upped the pace and intensity, wrapping his fingers even more to hit her spots. Both g-spots were being stimulated inside of her, she felt herself tremble as the wave began to build inside her. Moans echoed around the room, fueling Aron's bitter desire even more. It was tormenting him and Desmond sadistically enjoyed every moment.

"Desmond, please! F-fuck!"

"Mm, yes, tell me how good it feels to be fucked by just my fingers, love."

"You feel so good- I'm going to-!"

She buckled under him, writhing and squirming as Aron watched. He panted as she came all over Desmond's fingers. He was mesmerized by her body. Aron instinctively pushed the panties out of his mouth and spoke.

"Please untie me.." he spoke softly. The anger in his voice was gone, now replaced with desperation.

"What did I tell you about spitting those out?" Desmond snapped as he strided over to Aron. Aron's features darkened as he spat back.

"You're not the fucking boss of m-"

Desmond yanked Aron's head back by his hair. His fingers were coated with Eve's juices and he shoved them down Aron's throat mid-protest. Aron choked and gagged as Desmond looked down at him with fury.

"You wanted to taste her, didn't you? Wanted to taste what I do to her? What you wish you could?"

Aron's eyes welled as he choked, and finally Desmond pulled his fingers out. Immediately, he shoved the panties back in, Aron's chest heaved as he tried to regain his breath with the gag in his mouth. The taste of her on his tongue did absolutely nothing to quench the hardened rock on his lap.

Eve watched this unravel with shock. She'd never seen Desmond so vicious, never seen Aron so.. submissive. Desmond ghosted back over to her and turned her around so she was in front of him, facing Aron.

"Now for the main event..." he said in a devious tone.

His hands ran over every curve and contour of Eve's body as he bent her forward and pulled her hands behind her back. He held them at her wrists as she moaned, wanting to be filled by him.

Aron's eyes were storming with emotion, Eve could almost feel the lightning bolts he was shooting at her. She locked eyes with him as Desmond entered her from behind and she gasped, feeling him fill her completely. Her gray eyes widened and Aron felt his stomach flip with desire.

"Mmm.." Desmond rejoiced out loud as he slid into her warm walls. Aron moaned loudly through the gag, all inhibitions being thrown to the side at this point. Aron felt like his entire body was a live wire, wound tight and ready to explode. He was past the point of squirming, his limbs felt tingly and he had all he could do to throw his head back to prevent himself from cumming. He'd never cum without being touched before.

His head fell back, he closed his eyes and listened to the sounds that filled the room. Desmond panting and grunting, Eve moaning, wet slaps and Eve's heartbeat pounding. Her moans were such music to his ears.

"Aron," Eve's voice broke out in between her moans. His head snapped back down at the realization she was beckoning him. Their eyes met once more and he noticed the two had come closer to him. She was still getting fucked, her breasts bouncing and her face scrunched, but a small hand reached out for him.

He moaned loudly, feeling vibrations throughout his entire body. This point of contact would connect all three of them, and yet he found it so hot. She reached out and yanked the panties from Aron's mouth. Before he could stop himself, the words were leaving his mouth.

"Eve.. please, please untie me baby, you know you want to untie me.. you want me to touch you.. please.." he begged.

Eve had never seen him like this. Fuck, Aron had never seen himself like this. It was all new for Desmond, too. He'd clearly done his part and tortured Aron, now he was committed to enjoying all of this entirely.

Eve's eyes studied Aron while Desmond worked behind her. Aron's brows furrowed in desperation, his eyes were pleading. He'd bit his lip so much it was flushed red and his hair was tousled from Desmond's grip earlier.

Her gaze traveled down his body, glossing over his chest that heaved with breaths, down to his legs that were spread. His dark jeans were tight, hugging his legs under the rope in just the right places. The fabric on his lap was constricted, showing a thick bulge. Eve noticed there was a wet spot on top of his bulge. She bit her lip, being filled by Desmond was such an intense sensation she could barely focus on anything else. But knowing that she was exposed to one lover while being used by the other was driving her insane.

"Evelina, your pussy feels so.. good.." Desmond said from behind. Aron watched as Eve's lust-blown eyes rolled into the back of her head as she shuddered erotically beneath him. Desmond moaned loudly and continued to use her body. Aron ached with jealousy, wanting to feel her walls tighten around him instead.

He felt himself tense as he watched Eve come undone. She looked in his eyes as she shuddered and Aron couldn't handle it anymore. Electricity built inside him, sparks flew in his mind and he released into his jeans while her eyes stayed locked on his. They'd both climaxed mutually without even touching one another. Eve watched as the wetness on his lap increased, a dark spot forming on top of his bulge.

"Bloody fucking hell, Eve.." escaped Aron's lips as his head fell back once more. He tried to steady his breath as he came down from his high.

Desmond wrapped an arm around Eve's shoulders, roughly pulling her upright and close to his mouth.

"You like how it feels? Being owned by me, Evelina?" His dark voice whispered into her ear.

"Y-yes.." she panted.

Desmond throbbed inside Eve, a climax looming right ahead. He lost himself in her scent, feeling her pulse pound under her neck, right next to his ear. He knew Aron was watching, wanting to be him, wanting to be inside her, to claim her..

He gasped and dug his nails into Eve's flesh as he filled her, his seed spilling deep inside. She moaned once more and kissed Desmond, fully consumed in what just happened. Aron began to feel embarrassed now that his adrenaline had worn off... had he really done that? Had he really let them see that he was turned on by that? Allowed himself to be dominated by Eve and Desmond, of all fucking people?

The answer was yes.. yes he had.

Chapter Text

Angels- The xx

Desmond's sleek grey Mercedes drove down the highway, passing cars left and right. It seemed like an unspoken goal of Desmond's to make the car match his natural speed. The backseat was empty, only Eve and Desmond occupied the front half of the car while Bon Iver crooned from the car speakers. It didn't match the pace of the car, but Desmond seemed consumed with the song, lost in another world, perhaps.

The moments after their entanglement were.. awkward. No one really knew what to say. Tension still hung in the air between everyone, yet a huge step had been made in an opposite direction. It almost made the entire situation more confusing for all.

Desmond untied Aron silently, and with a quickness, Aron blurred up the basement steps. The front door slammed behind him immediately, causing the house to rattle. Eve had forgotten, but Aron drove his own car to the birthday party, meaning he was driving alone to the show that evening. A wave of relief washed over her when she realized the three wouldn't be alone in the car for the next hour.

After he left, Aron sat behind the wheel, making his way to James's house for a change of clothes. He sobbed to himself as he felt a million different emotions. Happiness, for being able to reconnect with Eve; embarrassment, from what just occurred and a twinge of curiosity. But above all, anger bubbled in his chest. He was most comfortable sitting in anger, it was the one emotion he could externalize with ease. He was always too embarrassed to show sadness, had too much pride to show vulnerability. He'd only ever done that with Eve. And even though he reconnected with her, she wasn't his.

Aron left both Eve and Desmond alone in the basement, and Eve had no idea what to say. For once, neither did Desmond. He didn't expect to enjoy seeing Aron so helpless and desperate like that. It opened up a whole new can of worms for all three of them.

Eve was pressed about the time as the two flew down the highway. She kept glancing at both her phone and the clock on the dash. They were already about an hour and a half past the first opener, and they still had an hour's drive. Desmond predicted they'd make it just in time for In This Moment. Freya kept blowing up Eve's phone with a flurry of texts and calls, poking Eve's anxiety. Finally, she answered her.

E: On our way. Sorry, something came up. About an hour out.

Bzz.

F: WHAT?!?! Omg you're going to miss all of the openers?!

Eve groaned softly and put her head in between her hands. Desmond glanced at her.

"Hm? Freya's frustrated?"

"Yes.." Eve replied.

"Don't worry, I'll smooth it all over when we get there. Unless I just tell her the real reason why we're late."

Eve's stomach flipped at his sarcasm.

"Ugh, oh god no."

He laughed under his breath.

Eve was so content with Desmond, but she needed Aron, too. She hated that she couldn't pick, not that they were asking her to.. but she knew eventually that day would come. Deep down, it was obvious she loved them both. But her brain couldn't comprehend that. Her mind was a whirlwind, various forms of "is that even possible?" clouding her subconscious.

Eventually, they pulled up to the venue. Parking was an absolute nightmare, Desmond muttering curses as the car swiveled around the block looking for an open spot. Finally, they made their way into the building and up the brick stairs. There was no live music being played, just the sound of the crowd talking loudly and music playing on a PA. Eve signed with relief, arriving in between bands would be seamless.

Freya left the crowd to find Desmond and Eve at the doors. Once they found each other, she lead them to where the rest of the group was standing. They were actually pretty close to the stage, off to the right. Camren and Liam both greeted them with smiles.

Freya leaned in and put her mouth close to Eve's ear.

"I'm so glad you guys are here, Liam has been driving us absolutely nuts."

Camren laughed out loud, picking up on her voice. Eve forgot, once again, that they had phenomenal hearing. Liam had his back turned, talking to someone else, gesturing wildly with his arms. The moment he turned back around, Eve realized he was drunk. Freya's words made more sense now.

Her eyes zoned in on the person Liam was just talking to, and it just so happened to be Aron. He'd arrived before they did, unbeknownst to her. She honestly expected him to go home and ditch the group's plans for the evening. His blue eyes met hers and solidified with tension. They hardened into rocks.. two orbs of Aquamarine. He looked away and turned to glance down at his phone, clearly avoiding contact with her.

Desmond's arms wrapped around Eve's waist as the group fell into casual chatter. Aron hung by Freya for a moment. They were discussing something intensely, Aron eventually decided to walk off and beeline it for the bar with Liam trailing behind him. Eve watched over the tops of people's heads in the crowd behind her. She watched Aron and Liam go to the bar and place an order. The bartender looked flustered for a moment, but Eve could tell the boys began to sweet talk her. Eve wondered what their order was, why they had to pull strings. She remembered how it felt the first night she met Aron, how he walked up to the bar so smoothly, simply dripping with charisma. She felt bad for the poor girl, knowing she had two of these irresistible creatures prodding her.

The bartender quickly swiped Aron's card and returned with several shot glasses. She placed four in front of each man and made her way to the cooler behind her. She spun around with a frost-covered bottle of Jägermeister and filled all 8 shot glasses quickly. Her eyes glanced both ways before the boys started emptying one after another. In a second, all 8 shot glasses were empty. Aron handed a crisp 50 dollar bill to the bartender as a generous tip before him and Liam walked off. Eve hoped tonight wouldn't end in trouble.

Desmond was casually chatting with Camren and Freya, surprising both of them by how good of a mood he was in. Desmond seemed lively tonight, full of energy and spirit.

The lights dimmed and the room filled with roars from the crowd. Pink lasers lit up the stage and smoke began to billow out from the corners. All of the members slowly made their way out before Maria entered stage. She wore a tight, long red dress and a mask that covered the top half of her face. The dancers on either side of her wore the same masks, moving their bodies next to her.

Maria oozed sexuality as she whipped her hair and rocked her hips. The intro to Adrenalize pounded in Eve's ears before the beat dropped and the crowd around her went insane. Eve smiled widely, she loved everything about live music; getting caught up in the energy of the crowd, watching the theatrics on stage, feeling the kick drum in her chest, it all was exhilarating.

Sick Like Me.
Roots.
Blood.
Big Bad Wolf.
The In-Between.
Black Wedding.
Sex Metal Barbie.

The songs continued as the stacked setlist played on. Eve had lost track of all of her stressors. Her mind was consumed with the music, becoming one with it, her brain having room for nothing else but the energies that surrounded her. Maria and her dancers went through several costume changes, alternating looks to match the song titles. The lights suddenly died down as the music ceased.

The crowd screamed and clapped as Maria, the musicians, and the blood girls exited the stage. Eve knew this wouldn't be the end, though. It couldn't be.

And she was right. The opening bass notes to Whore filled the packed room and the audience roared. This was the band's most popular song.. and also one of the sexiest.

Desmond was behind Eve the entire show, but suddenly she felt his hands wrap around her hips, gently pulling her back a step. She felt his long cock, hard on her ass and looked back at him. He smirked down at her, thick lashes bordering eyes with an edge. She moved her hips back and forth, knowing the fabric rubbing against him was driving him crazy. Desmond was clearly an ass man. He gripped her ass from time to time as the song went on, finally leaning down and whispering into her ear.

"The second we get into the car, I'm fucking you brainless."

Her wetness ebbed between her thighs and the song ended, bringing the show to a close. Maria and the crew bowed on stage before exiting and the house lights turned on, filling the room with bright light.

Camren whispered something to Freya and glanced at Desmond before they nodded to each other.

"Follow me," Camren said to the group.

"What?" Freya asked, as he gently pulled her by the hand.

"Your surprise isn't over yet."

Freya, confused, looked at Eve who was equally as confused. Eve shrugged in response. The girls were lead off into a hallway that wound to the back of the building. Curiosity peaking, mixed with the liquor, Freya couldn't keep her confusion to herself.

"Caaaam I'm so confused?! We can't just leave Aron and Liam!"

He laughed at her naivety and stopped at a door toward the end of the hallway. He turned around, Desmond and him exchanging glances again. Eve also looked at Desmond, her brows pinched in puzzlement. Camren looked at the two girls and spoke kindly.

"Right through the door."

Muffled voices escaped through the thick wooden slab. Camren stepped back, letting the two girls in front. Freya opened the door handle to be greeted by a semi dark room. Dim lighting filled the space, along with black leather furniture and vanities. Mirrors occupied the walls surrounded with lightbulbs. It was obviously a green room. In the middle stood Maria Brink, still in her stage outfit, which included 8 inch heels.

She towered over the two girls, her long blonde hair cascading down her body in curls and a black cloak wrapped around her shoulders. She smiled widely as the group shuffled in, Freya and Eve immediately giving Desmond and Camren a "what the fuck?!" look. They returned their disbelief with smiles and went over to greet Maria.

"Camren! And Desmond! Oh, what a wonderful visit." Her smokey voice greeted the two men as she hugged them. She then turned to smile at the girls.

Camren spoke quickly, sensing the shock that they were both in.

"This is my.. girlfriend, Freya," he looked at her, eyes twinkling with adoration. "I surprised her with this show for her birthday. She's been a fan for years and I couldn't help but reach out and ask if you were available for a quick meet and greet."

"Oh, absolutely! How beautiful. Nice to meet you, Freya. Happy birthday! I love your hair, it's such a vibrant blue."

Freya stood clearly starstruck, yet she worked through her anxiety. "Hi, thank you so much!"

Desmond's silky, deep voice spoke to Maria next.

"And this is Evelina. Freya and her are best friends."

Eve laughed nervously and waved at the tall goddess who doubled her height.

"Hi, you can call me Eve if you'd like. You did so well tonight. Such a good show."

"Thank you sweetheart. Thank you all for coming."

The group began to chatter, Maria catching up with the boys about music, especially. Turns out, they were label mates, and Sleep Token had opened for In This Moment many times when they toured the U.K.

Maria was such a lovely person. It seemed she was really listening when either Eve or Freya spoke. Like she actually was interested in what they had to say instead of just gritting her teeth and getting through another fan meet and greet.

"Where are the other boys? Seems we're missing the old married couple?" She joked.

Eve and Freya both found this really funny. They laughed as Camren and Desmond both explained.

"Eh.. well. It seems Liam has had a bit of influence over Aron tonight. They've both been lushes at the bar and I figured we'd spare you."

Maria laughed.

"I'm glad they're enjoying themselves. That poor bartender. Give them my best, please!"

They wrapped up their meeting since Maria had to board her bus shortly. The group took photos together and Maria hugged each girl tight before they made their way out.

"Goodbye, friends! Have a wonderful evening!"

They left the room, exiting using the same hallway they entered from.

"What.. the.. HELL?! You never told me you were friends with Maria Brink!" Freya said to Camren.

"What, you think we don't have friends, too?" Desmond teased from behind.

"We've made a few friends in the industry so far. We don't know everyone, of course, but we have
our friends that have been there from the start, bands that have supported us. Maria has always been nothing but kind." Camren smiled as Freya's jaw dropped and she shook her head tipsily.

"I'm just still in shock!"

The group ended up at the bar, where both Liam and Aron were sat. Liam flirted with the bartender who was clearly under his spell. The tip bucket behind her overflowed with 50's and 100's. Eve laughed to herself and shook her head when she saw, knowing damn well those were all from the boys.

The moment Aron saw Eve, he walked up and slipped his hands around her waist.

"Eve, fuck, you are soooo beautiful," he drunkenly slurred into her neck. She'd never seen him so obliterated, even at their house parties. His Welsh accent thickened intensely with drunkenness, charming her. She had yet to hear it so distinct.

"You know what? I'm not even mad at you, luv. How could I be mad at YOU? Let me cwtch you," His warm voice purred, reaching out to caress her face gently and place a kiss on her lips. "Cwtch" was completely unfamiliar to her, but his warm hands weren't.

Eve let him embrace her, returning his kiss, but felt conflicted since the entire group was standing so close by. She tasted black licorice on his lips, no doubt due to the Jäegermeister he'd been drowning in the entire night. Desmond quickly appeared behind them, putting a hand on Aron's shoulder and pulling him away gently.

"Go, Aron, you're sloshed."

"No. You..." he pointed his finger in Desmond's chest, "Don't talk to me, you fucking bellend. You think you can take the piss out of me like that?"

"What are you two girls on about?" Liam asked.

"Nothing, he's lost the plot and needs to sleep this off." Desmond said coldly.

Aron laughed in anger at this, his eyes igniting with flames. Eve looked at him and they locked eyes.

"Please.." She said.

He always seemed to soften for her. Something about her always made him crack. He turned on his heel, grabbing his green Heineken bottle from the bar and walking out quickly.

Liam looked at Eve and Desmond with intense confusion, just short of scratching his head.

"The hell crawled up his arse.. he was bloody fine til you two came 'round.." he mumbled to himself.

"Don't worry about it. He's just in his feelings again, you know him," Desmond retorted.

The group eventually made their way outside to find Aron leaning on Camren's car. It had been mutually agreed upon that Aron was in no spot to drive and would worry about his own car later. However, he would ride with Liam, Camren and Freya back home.

They left, both vehicles speeding off in the direction of their home. Desmond reached out for Eve's hand and she took it, Bon Iver filling the car again. The reflection of the surrounding snow on the ground made the night sky a dark gray and the stars sparkled and danced, dotting the night sky.

___________

Eve didn't realize she'd even fallen asleep in the car until the next morning. She woke in Desmond's room, but it was empty. His warm sheets were wrapped around her and she'd been changed into a baggy T shirt three sizes too big for her and her panties. Of course, the clothes she wore to the show wouldn't have been nice to sleep in at all.

Eve rubbed her eyes, quickly realizing she didn't take her makeup off either. Yet, she didn't feel her false lashes. She bounced up and walked quickly to the bathroom, hoping to not catch anyone in the hallway. The smell of eggs assaulted her stomach the moment she opened the door and she heard chatter from downstairs. She glanced in the bathroom mirror and met her bare face, her heart swelling as she realized Desmond must have also used makeup wipes on her.

She returned to his room and noticed a pair of joggers he'd set out for her on his bedside table. The curtains were still pulled shut, making his room tomb-like. She walked to the window to pull them apart, but something on his piano caught her eye. A journal.

Eve knew it would be wrong to look, and fought every instinct in her not to. How could she invade his privacy like that? Desmond was an old soul, clearly this is where all of his thoughts would be collected. Everyone in her life would use their phone for this, but for Desmond, this was obviously his safe place. And he trusted her enough to leave it out while he knew she was alone in his room.

She couldn't help it. The leather-bound journal lie face up, open to a page as if he'd just gotten up. A peek couldn't hurt, she decided. Her eyes glanced on the page to find beautiful handwriting that reminded her of calligraphy. Small lines were jotted down, there were no paragraphs. Just quick thoughts, or maybe poetry? And all were in... Latin? French?

"Le cercle vicieux ètait terminé au moment où tu m'as souri"

She recognized it, her brain trying to decipher since the last time she studied French was in high school. Eventually she was able to connect the dots.

"The vicious cycle was over the moment you smiled at me"

Her heart thudded and a smile crept onto her lips once more. She looked at the next line.

"Avoir elle est avoir les etoiles"

"To have her is to have the stars"

Her chest tightened with emotion as she stood over the journal, feeling nothing but endless love for Desmond. She didn't know what she expected to find in the journal, but knew it wasn't this. A tear fell from the corner of her eye and she briskly walked away, wracked with guilt for snooping.

Like clockwork, the bedroom door opened and Desmond clicked it shut behind him. His deep brown hair was still messy from resting with Eve.

"Good morning love, breakfast is ready downstai-."

"It can wait," She said, striding over to him. She wrapped her hands around her neck and jumped, wrapping her legs around his waist. Caught off guard by the affection, he stumbled back before quickly regaining his balance. Her lips crashed onto his, engulfing both in a fiery passion that consumed both quickly. He didn't question it, but melted into her kiss just as quickly as she melted into his.

She kissed him all over, her face finding the crook of his neck eventually. He walked them to the bed, setting her down and yanking his clothes off. His shirt first, then he went to unbutton his jeans as Eve's hands took his shirt off her body. She rolled her panties down her legs and lay completely nude, opening her legs for him as an invitation. In a millisecond, he was back in between them, moaning gently in her mouth as their tongues danced viciously. One hand grabbed her breast as he pushed inside of her, the sudden pressure making her grab the sheets underneath her and gasp once more.

"Shh, my love. They'll hear you," he laughed gently into her lips. He was meaning everyone downstairs with advanced hearing, of course. She always forgot about this.

"I-I.. don't.. c-care."

He began to rock his hips, grinding into her. His lips stayed on hers and her nails dug into his back, wanting him even deeper, if it were possible. He plunged deep, entirely inside her and the two were completely caught in each other. Fire ran beneath Eve's skin as Desmond pulled away and kissed her neck, her heartbeat pulsing beneath his lips again. He nibbled her earlobe as his hand wound into her hair. Her warm walls swallowed him whole and her hands ran over his abdomen, making him shudder with pleasure.

The light seeping in through the blinds hit her face and made Desmond halt for a moment, studying her porcelain skin as he had so many nights before. His thumb caressed her cheekbone and he kissed her softly, gazing down into her cloudy eyes.

"Evelina.." he said her name gently, wrapped in adoration.

She looked up at him as he caressed her and the two locked eyes, she felt as if she could drown in them. Reverence bubbled over in his gaze, the callous edge that occupied those deep blue eyes no more than a memory in this exact moment. They'd melted into pools of vulnerability, of warmth and tenderness.

"I love you."

The words finally left his mouth. Eve's breath hitched in her throat before her emotions resurfaced in her chest. A small trace of fear tinged his eyes as he looked down and awaited her reply. He didn't know what he'd do if she rejected him.

She scanned his beautiful face and felt herself overcome with warmth. She placed her hand atop Desmond's, still caressing her face. She smiled up at him.

"I love you, Desmond."

Hearing her say it was almost too much. His brain short circuited, he felt as if he were invincible. If he had a pulse, he knew it would be racing, that his veins would be chock full of adrenaline. His lips found hers again, claiming her in a passionate kiss. He moved his hips again, slamming into her as he was before. Her back arched on the bed and she moaned underneath him. Intimacy hung in the air as they moved in sync, he put everything he could into making her feel so, so good. His length prodded deeper into her wet heat with each passing moment until it was too much to bear.

She fell apart quickly, digging her nails into his stone-like skin, gasping for air. The sight of her face as she came was enough to make him follow suit, coating her insides with white.

"Fuck, I can't say it enough, Evelina, I love you so much," he breathed into her neck and she clung to him, wanting to be closer than ever. She panted as she came down from her high, her fast heartbeat thudding in Desmond's ears. The smell of him filled her nostrils and she so desperately wished she could bottle it forever.

"I love you too. Forever."

"Forever" burned into his mind. Caught in the careless arms of both lust and love, he rolled her onto her stomach and went for round two.

Chapter Text

Dial Tone- Catch Your Breath

Eve woke to bumps in the house a few hours later. The oil lamp on Desmond's bedside table flickered and shadows danced on the walls around her. The curtains were pulled shut again and the room was empty, Eve being completely alone. Her stomach gnawed at her, prompting her to roll up to sit and put Desmond's clothes back on.

She knew she should be packing overnight bags at this point. But, not packing a bag meant she always had a reason to go home. On the few days she spent at home throughout each week, she did her house chores and cuddled Percy. Sometimes she'd grab lunch with her mom or sister. They always asked if she was seeing anyone, to which she always lied and said no.

She didn't mislead them for any other reason other than simplicity. How the hell would she begin to explain things? Eve wasn't able to tell them the entire truth, anyways. This just made it easier. And hell, she had no idea if Desmond or Aron would even be willing to meet a family member of hers. The entire thing was so messy and she had all she could do to keep her own head on straight. So, keeping them at a comfortable distance it was.

Eve heard several more thumps as she pulled clothes onto her body. More specifically, she heard thumping of footsteps up and down the stairs along with muffled talking. The voices were goofing off and laughing together, two men...

She stood up and walked closer to the door. The voices belonged to none other than Liam and.. Aron. Her eyes narrowed before her hand wrapped around the brass doorknob. She pulled the door open. Light aggressively greeted her irises as she adjusted to the hallway. The door to the room Aron used to stay in was open and the voices made their way into it. Liam suddenly popped out, turning down the steps in a small gallop, and then came out.. Aron.

He looked at her with amused eyes. A shit-eating smirk crept across his face and he nodded at her in greeting before winking and following Liam down the stairs.

The fuck was THAT about?

She found Desmond and Camren downstairs on the couch playing video games. Instantly, she could tell that Desmond was trying to distract himself from something. Even though they were playing, the vibe in the room was definitely not as light and fun as it normally would be.

Eve's stomach growled loudly and she made her way to the kitchen, where she found Freya halfway in the fridge. Bent at the waist, she rifled through the drawers and moved large containers of juices aside to peek behind them. She sighed in frustration and closed the door, turning around and jumping when she saw Eve standing there.

"Oh my god, you're always so quiet! Like a damn ninja!"

"Sorry," Eve laughed and began to play with her own hair. Her silky black hair slipped around an index finger.

"I'm starving, are you hungry?" Freya looked at her with hopeful eyes, which made Eve laugh once more. She looked so desperate.

"Yeah, I am actually."

Freya crept closer to Eve and lowered her voice to just above a whisper.

"I love Camren to pieces, I really do, but.. he only gets healthy stuff on grocery trips. I'm craving something unhealthy. Like maybe... Taco Bell?"

Eve's eyes lit up in response.

They both laughed at this, having both experienced unhealthy cravings and being met with superfoods in the fridge.

"Maybe I can sneak a doordash orde-"

"We can hear you," Desmond drawled from the living room.

Both girls cracked up hard at this, picturing the men's faces as they listened to their scheming. It wasn't that funny, but both girls were soon doubled over and hitting each other softly, wheezing for breath as they giggled. They soon started to laugh at each other's cackles. They'd both caught the giggles and couldn't shake them.

Eve was curled in a ball on the floor, her face tucked in her hands as she tried to think of something serious to make the giggles go away. The thought of a delivery person driving out to the country and unknowingly bringing Taco Bell to a house full of vampires had her in absolute stitches. She pictured Desmond answering the door and being confused, or Camren getting flustered.

Liam had silently made his way down to the kitchen after hearing both girls from upstairs. He stood in the doorway and looked at them with confusion, one brow raised and hands up in question.

"What the bloody 'ell is so funny?"

The girls stopped to look at him, having no idea he'd even entered the room, and simultaneously roared at the sight of him.

The clown of the band obviously did not like being left out of the joke. He shook his head and threw his arms up, walking back out in defeat.

"Weird," he muttered.

"I can get Taco Bell for you if you want," Camren entered the room and grabbed his keys from the hook.

"No, no it's fine, Cam," Freya said, now that she'd stood up and regained her composure.

"I'm going, text me your orders."

He left before either girl could protest further. Freya shrugged and the two girls thought about their specific cravings. Camren and Desmond both seemed on edge tonight.

Camren returned shortly after, large brown bag in hand. The girls devoured their food, barely speaking as they inhaled everything in front of them. Camren stared at them as they didn't even leave the kitchen, just jumped right in.

After eating, the girls went back into the living room. Liam had found his way back down there, and Camren trailed behind both girls. Desmond raised an eyebrow as Freya picked up the controller Camren was using earlier.

"Scared, Pott'ah?" She challenged mockingly. Desmond scrunched his face and put his hand on his chest, mock insulted, and picked his controller back up. The two began a match, getting fiercely competitive before Freya won, jumping up to dance and rub it in Desmond's face. The two had a very similar friendship as Camren and Eve did. It made Eve smile.

"Pure luck," he spat as he rolled his eyes.

"I don't think so," said Aron as he hopped down the last step on the staircase, "She's actually quite good."

"Don't recall asking you." Desmond said curtly.

"Aw, don't be a sore loser now, Desmond," Aron taunted.

"The only one who seems to have lost is you."

"Yeah, that's how you see it?"

Everyone in the group stiffened as the tension in the room increased. Eve watched as Aron stood with a smirk on his face that held an undertone of contempt. Desmond shot him daggers. If looks could kill, both of them would have disintegrated on the spot.

Camren took one controller and hit "start match" on the screen, doing anything possible to avoid this situation. Suddenly it clicked with Eve. THAT is why Camren was so eager to take a drive earlier, why Desmond had been so tense the entire night. Liam picked up the other controller in an attempt to join Camren in mentally leaving the room.

"What's going on?" Eve broke the thick silence, glancing between the two men.

"Aron here has decided to grace us all with his presence by moving back in," Desmond spat.

Her eyes widened as she met Aron's smile.

"Yeah, I have. Is there a problem with 'at?"

Desmond chose not to respond. The room became painfully quiet again, the only noises came from the game on the tv and the buttons on the controllers. Desmond's hand was clenched into a fist, so tight that his veins were clearly visible from across the room.

Aron's face melted from a grin into a scowl. Anger flashed in his eyes as he looked between Eve and Desmond.

"So we're all just going to act like this is normal, huh?" He asked, voice sharp as shattered glass.

"I'm not getting in the middle of it." Liam spoke, not lifting his gaze from the TV. Camren was silent.

"You did this to yourself," Desmond said brusquely.

At this, Aron snapped.

"No, YOU did this. You don't remember, Desmond? 'Sleep will hold you accountable if you value a human above her?' Does that not ring a fucking bell?"

Desmond's jaw clenched and confusion filled Eve.

What?

She eyed Desmond.. who wouldn't look at her. It was Desmond's turn to avoid accountability.

"Yeah, funny how you didn't mention that to any of the other guys. But you don't know that I know that."

Freya's head looked like it was on a swivel, she looked back and forth between Eve, Desmond, and Aron as she started to make sense of everything.

"I mean, fuck," Aron laughed, voice dripping with poison. "We all know that Desmond only wants her because she looks like Eden."

Everyone in the room stopped what they were doing and looked dead at Aron. Camren and Liam glared at him, both men were so appalled that he'd even say this out loud. They both of course noticed the resemblance over time, but no one ever dared to say it.

"Who is Eden?" Eve asked Desmond, venom in her voice.

Camren and Liam both immediately stood up, realizing the drastic measure of what was about to happen. How someone could easily get hurt if they weren't on guard.

Aron laughed loudly, clearly amused.

"Ohhh, she doesn't know?! You never told her? Who would have thought?" He said, tone cruel as ever.

"And I was the bad guy, how fucking rich. When all I did was listen to you and stayed awa-"

In a millisecond, Desmond launched at Aron, both immediately tangling in conflict. The force of their bodies hitting the wall put a crack in it, drywall falling onto them as they fought. Eve screamed at the sight.

"OUT!!" Liam screamed, trying to grab onto a shirt, anything to pull them both out of the house to avoid any more damage. The sky was black outside, Liam knew the risk of a neighbor seeing anything was slim to none.

Desmond pulled Aron outside and the two delivered harsh blows to each other's legs, arms, chests, heads. They rolled on the ground, snarling and pinning each other down in the snow. Drops of black blood speckled the white ground. What once were the two men she loved were now cold monsters, fighting with primal rage.

Eve screamed for them to stop as tears fell down her cheeks. Liam and Camren each pulled one girl into the house against their will, shutting the door and blocking them from it. Liam towered over her. He was a couple inches taller than Desmond even, simply dwarfing Eve.

Eve screamed as she heard the yells from outside. Her fists pounded against Liam's chest as she begged for him to let her outside.

"Eve, they'll kill you, I can't!"

"I don't care! They're going to kill each other, Liam, PLEASE!" She sobbed and hit his chest as he blocked her way.

"If you get in the middle of that, you'll die instantly. No, you're not going outside." His always playful demeanor was gone, now replaced with a cold firmness.

"You fucker!" She cried as the worst mental images plagued her mind's eye.

She couldn't bear to think that might have been the last time she'd see either lover alive. Her throat was hoarse as she sobbed, eventually crumbling and falling into Liam's chest. His arms wrapped around her, rubbing her back as he talked to her.

"Don't listen to them outside, listen to my voice. Hey, luv, it'll all be okay. They're just being boys."

She started to sob again, hearing the ripping of clothing, screaming, and growling from the other side of the door. She was having a full fledged panic attack and could barely control her breathing.

"Breathe in and out, luv," he rubbed her back again and pulled away, looking down at her.

She'd never looked at Liam this closely. His thick brown mustache danced as he tried to console her but it was falling on deaf ears. Finally, he grabbed her shoulders and looked down into her eyes. They were bright blue, lighter than Desmond's, but darker than Aron's.

Her mind instantly became a void of nothingness. It was as if her brain had simply been unplugged from a power source. She looked up at him, he spoke words to her, but her mind wouldn't comprehend them. Her hearing had almost completely vanished and in place was a soft humming in her ears. The tension in her body had been erased, and she suddenly felt exhausted. She could tell her body was shutting down, there was no use trying to fight it.

The last thing she felt were her legs crumpling underneath her. And then it all went black.

______________

She woke up wrapped under a blanket on the couch. Her first instinct was to look for Freya, but blue hair didn't greet her. Instead, Camren sat near her feet.

"Hey," he said softly, "How ya feeling, girl?"

"My throat hurts."

"Yeah, I bet," he smiled gently. "You want water?"

She nodded and he quickly returned with a water bottle.

"Where's Aron? Desmond?"

Camren looked down at his hands for a moment.

"They're both fine. They're upstairs. We.. didn't really know who you wanted around when you woke up. But we knew you waking alone wasn't the best idea. Freya is asleep, so.. I volunteered."

"Well, thanks," She said.

"This is messy, and I get it, but.. this is my family. YOU are my family. This is stressing us out, too."

"I know Camren, I didn't want to be in the middle of this either. It's not like I asked for this." She said a bit too defensively.

"I know. I'm not blaming you. I just want everything to go back to how it was when we all met.. no conflict."

"Me too."

He smiled warmly at her.

"I just want you to know, Eve... I know them both very well. I've been with Desmond for over 300 years and I've been with Aron his entire eternal life thus far. And I mean it when I say that.. they both love you."

Eve bit her lip, fighting back tears.

"Aron has too much pride to be vulnerable with anyone. And yet I see he's shown you that side. That alone tells me he loves you. But when he left... That was a whole different side of him I've never seen before. We were all really worried about him, I just didn't want to bring it up around you because I knew how hurt you were. And Desmond.." he trailed off in thought.

"Desmond came alive when he met you. I don't mean to sound cliché, but the only thing I've ever seen make him happy was music and his relationship with Sleep. He's a good guy. Both of them are. And at the end of the day I know deep down they both have good intentions. You deserve either one of them just as much as they deserve you."

Tears welled in her eyes and she nodded, wiping them away before they could fall.

"Thank you, Cam."

"It'll all sort itself. There's too much love between all of us for it not to."

She nodded in agreement before sitting up and throwing the thick blanket off. She hugged Camren before standing up and downing the rest of her water. Eve then made her way up the stairs. The pressure of choosing a door, either Desmond's or Aron's was too much. She almost felt as if it were a gamble.

But the hurt that shook her core made her decision easy for her. She couldn't believe Desmond had been lying to her. Desmond was the reason Aron left in the first place. And for him to drive her into his arms by manipulating both her and Aron like that was.. wrong. SO wrong. It made her head spin. She'd been lied to this entire time.

Did she even know Desmond?

The pit in her stomach ached as she turned at the top of the steps. She knocked on the door and Aron opened it. It was the soft Aron she knew, the one she hadn't seen since he left her bedroom that day. His face was discolored in spots, black bruises bloomed on his face and neck. A deep cut spread across the corner of his lip all the way to his cheekbone. Desmond truly did a number on him, and the sight of him so wounded pulled at her heart strings. He locked eyes with her and immediately pulled her into a hug, pushing the door shut behind Eve.

He let her cry for a moment before pulling back and locking eyes with her. His right hand went to her cheek, brushing hair away from her face and wiping a tear from her flesh.

"I missed you so much, I never wanted to leave you. I promise, it fucking KILLED me to leave you, I wanted to die. It was the first time in my life, either of them, that I wished to die."

She looked at him and read his maimed face. To her surprise, tears began to pool in Aron's eyes as he refused to break eye contact with her. His eyes were soft and gentle. She knew he wasn't lying.. he was being genuine.

The tears fell out of his eyes and ran down his cheeks, spilling over the profound gash on his face. He grabbed her hands and brought them to his lips, kissing both tenderly. This was the first time she'd ever seen him cry. He'd always been so bulletproof, so hardened. To watch him break in front of her tore her to pieces.

"My biggest regret is not telling you sooner. I could have avoided all of this. I kick myself for it every fucking day. But I refuse to keep these words to myself any longer."

He looked at her with anguish in his eyes.

"I love you, Eve. I'm IN love with you. I fell the moment I first saw you."

He closed the space in between them, putting both hands in her hair gently. She tilted her head down and he placed a long kiss on her forehead as he wept.

"I know you won't believe me, and I don't blame you." He whispered, almost as if saying it to himself.

She closed her eyes and felt his familiar touch, felt their energies mix once again. The smell of him brought so many memories back to her that filled her with a warmth in her chest. Right back to the beginning.

"I do. I love you, Aron."

The words broke him. He cried out softly in relief and hugged her tight, rocking both of their bodies. She knew he'd never been this vulnerable before. He had completely opened up, showed her the deepest parts of him and let her in. His desperation showed how much he truly loved her, how much he thought he lost her.

"I haven't dreamt in a hundred years, but Eve, you feel like a dream. You make me feel human again, you bring light back into this fucking void."

He kissed her urgently. The love overflowed from his black heart, spilling out of him as his hand found her lower back and pulled her closer. Her arms wrapped around his back, sitting atop his shoulders as she returned his passion equally.

She sank into his arms as they stood sheathed in each other's eyes, clinging to every ounce of intimacy. The flame between the two had smoldered, but a spark ignited the dry fibers of both hearts. Twisting into one, they found solace in one another all over again as the minutes slowly ticked by.

_____________

The dynamic in the house had quickly shifted overnight. Eve was no longer attached to Desmond's hip, now wanting to be in separate rooms at all times. Desmond was wallowing in his own self hatred, drowning himself in regret.

Aron was fully moved back in, his room was set back up exactly as it were before as if no time had ever passed, as if he'd never left. For the next few days, Eve and Aron barely left Aron's room. The only time she left was if she had to work or run home, and on the home visits, Aron accompanied her.

It was like Aron was rubbing it in Desmond's face, how Desmond had stolen his girl but Aron won her back. Or maybe it was just Desmond's guilty conscience. Eve was so mentally dizzy from being flung between the both, she'd become a human tennis ball, twisted up in the net.

She had a mental break and retreated from everyone else in the house. Her brain had been working overdrive for months and finally, she just cracked. There was little energy to do the same rinse and repeat anymore.

Christmas was in two weeks and Eve felt as far away from the holiday spirit as possible. She'd done zero Christmas shopping, dreaded hearing the Christmas music around her, and huddled away from the snow outside. The only time she felt okay was if she was with Aron, and even then she couldn't help but shake the anxieties of their current situation. She was so tired of this. It had been a good two months of the back and forth and she was over it. There would be no choosing, she simply couldn't do it.

______________

Eve stood next to the microwave, looking into the dim lighting as it whirred. The glass plate carouseled in circles as Eve watched in a zombie-like trance, void of emotion. On the way home from work she stopped at a 24 hour Walgreens and picked up some food. She wasn't hungry but was about to force herself to eat. It was late, dawn clutched the Earth and stars twinkled in the country sky around the house.

She didn't hear the footsteps enter the kitchen as she leaned on the counter, back to the doorway. The shadowy figure entered the room but gave her space. He studied her silently while choosing his words.

"Evelina."

She screamed and whipped around, startled. Her heart felt like it had exploded, her pulse beat quickly and she made out who it was. Desmond.

As quickly as she turned around, she repeated the same motion and did a 360. The microwave chimed and she took the small tv dinner out, hissing as it burned her fingertips. Steam lifted from the mac and cheese as she stirred it and she completely ignored Desmond's presence behind her.

"Can we talk?"

She continued to ignore him, putting her dish on a hot pad and grabbing it. She swiveled around and walked right past him out of the kitchen, headed for the living rooms the TV glowed with an episode she was just watching. It sat on pause as she approached the couch and sat down.

Desmond wanted to respect her boundaries. He didn't want to push, but the 24 hours he spent completely away from her solidified her role in his life. Without her, he was nothing. He'd spent the day listening to her laugh echo through the walls upstairs, floating down the hallway from Aron's bedroom. He had to listen to him speak softly to her, had to listen to the mattress creak under their weight, it was too much.

If he couldn't make it up to her, he would leave forever. For a moment, he fantasized about abandoning everything he'd built with this group and taking off if she picked Aron. He'd go rouge, disappear from the streets of London, never step foot in America again. He'd find somewhere else to live out his days, that is, if Sleep didn't kill him as punishment.

He knew if he couldn't have Eve, that's exactly what he'd secretly want. There would be zero desire to live. But Sleep knew him well, and would know this. She would never grant that wish, why would she if he turned his back on his immortal purpose and betrayed her? He'd wander the Earth forever, losing count of the days, centuries he'd stay alive, thinking about the days he held Eve in his arms.

No, he decided.

He'd fight for it. For her.

He turned on his heel and made his way into the living room. Eve had pressed play, resuming what she was doing before he got there as if he were a ghost. As if he were see through. He was determined to have her listen.

"Eve, Can we talk?" He tried once more.

Again, nothing. She scooped pasta into her mouth, completely immersed in her true crime documentary. It was getting out of hand at this point, and frankly, Desmond found it frustrating.

"Okay, well if you're not going to talk to me then maybe you can just listen."

She snapped her head toward him, her face was tight with tension and a fierce glare hit him.

"Why, so you can fucking lie to me some more?"

He bit his tongue, sitting back. He wasn't expecting such an intense amount of anger from her, though he knew it was warranted. He did lie to her. To everyone.

He sat for a moment, picking his next words very carefully, but all he could come up with was..

"No."

"I'm not interested," she spat.

"And if you don't leave me alone, I'm going to go up to bed. His bed. Where I belong." Her delivery was full of disdain, as if she'd rather swallow knives than even speak to him. The words cut him as if he swallowed those same knives.

"I'm so sorry.." he whispered.

She flung into a rant.

"I'm really, really tired of hearing everyone apologize to me. What did I do to deserve any of this? You think you can just come into my life and fuck everything up? How ironic that our first REAL conversation was here on this same couch, and you made me fucking cry. Didn't give a damn, either. Borderline verbally assaulted me and you weren't sorry THEN."

He nodded, knowing all of it was true. Except, he was sorry for hurting her at the time. He just didn't show it. It's the reason he showed up unannounced at her doorstep days later. That wasn't just part of the plan... he really meant his apology. But she'd hear none of it, especially right now.

"You feel like you don't know me," he stated glumly.

Eve looked at him in frustration, not saying a damn word. Her expression said it all.

"And.. you're right. You don't."

She scoffed and threw her arms up in frustration.

"Thank you. Thank you for being so fucking vague, Desmond. You know, for someone who's been alive for soooo long, you'd think you could articulate at least SOME sliver of truth," She spat.

Eve stood up and walked to the kitchen to throw her container away.

On her next pass through, she had no intention of sitting back on the couch, but instead, heading right up the steps.

He blurred to the steps, blocking her. Quickly, he picked her up and set her back down on the couch.

She seethed with anger as she looked up at him. He could feel his heart breaking, feel himself losing her as each second passed. He was pushing her too far.

"Please.. I'm desperate, just listen..."

With lasers for eyes, she shifted to gaze to the ground. She wouldn't look at him anymore. Her brain racked with anger and her hands shook. She wanted to leave, to go upstairs, but what use would it be? What would she do, fight past Desmond? She rolled her eyes at the thought, knowing she was stuck right there.

"I owe you enough respect to tell you the truth, Evelina, even though it may hurt you. I never wanted to hurt you, it's why I kept it from you, but I know it ended up doing the opposite."

Eve thought of Aron. She knew damn well he could hear all of this through the floorboards. Why was he allowing it to happen? Why was he granting Desmond this opportunity?

The silence was so loud as his eyes glazed over Eve, who still was staring at the floor in anger and thought. One leg was over the other knee and she chewed on her thumbnail.

"May I share my past life with you?"

The tension built as Eve sat there, pondering if she even wanted to know. He said it would hurt. Why would she do that to herself? She knew she'd learn things that would probably change her entire perception of him. And as livid as she was with him, that was the last thing she wanted. She didn't want to cut him out of her life.

What Aron said a few weeks ago ran through her mind.

"Eve, there are so many things you just don't know. And I feel like I can't tell you. But it would change everything. And how you feel about him."

How stupid of her that she didn't listen then.

Aron tried to tell me, she thought.

Her eyes left the floor and locked onto Desmond's, the glow of the TV light illuminated her in the dark room. With bated breath, she held his gaze before answering.

"Yes."

Chapter Text

Graves- Blacklit Canopy

Desmond and Eve maintained eye contact for a moment. His body buzzed with nerves, scared that this would be the final push. He truly didn't know how she was going to react to the information he was about to tell her.

He gently sat down next to her, long limbs gracefully obeying his mental commands. The paused TV made the room glow a dim shade of white. It illuminated her face, which Desmond noticed still held an unhappy expression. He decided to just rip the bandaid off.

"I'm unsure if this will make you resent me. Or change your feelings toward me, as if I already haven't changed that myself. Regardless, I owe it to you. If you need a break...." he paused, "please tell me".

She blinked at him. His hand reached out to rest on her knee, but she pulled it away stubbornly. Yet, she was willing to listen.. and Desmond was grateful for that. He nodded and pressed his lips together before speaking.

"I'm 412 years old."

Her eyes widened before her brows crinkled once more. The number didn't feel real. It seemed like a sketch, like he was reading from a script. There was no way. But she knew it was true. He was no longer going to alter the truth for her.

"I was born in 1609 in a small village on the outskirts of London, England."

Her mind reeled as she thought of her social studies classes throughout the years. 1609... what was happening in America at that time? Her mind processed until it hit her. Colonial America.

The fucking pilgrims, she thought. Oh my god.

He studied her expression. It was obvious she was taking it all in already.

"My mother, Hazel, was a servant for a very wealthy family. The Charbonneau family. They immigrated to London after years of maintaining old money in France. This family had been rich since the 1500's. They built a mansion in this village and employed only a handful of servants.

They were extremely selective, and my mother ended up on the roster. She worked for them almost her entire life, eventually becoming very close with all of them. They'd taken her in almost as one of their own. She lived on the property and rarely went out to do anything else. She took pride in her work and cared deeply for this family. My mother didn't come from the best upbringing, so the Charbonneaus were the closest thing she'd ever known to family. And in turn, they treated her extremely well. Except for one specific night."

Eve continued to listen, trying to mentally picture the time period he was describing. Her heart lurched at the realization she was finally cracking Desmond. She was finally hearing everything. The mystery would be no longer. It made her heart race.

His mother's name was Hazel? How beautiful.

"One night, the Charbonneaus threw a birthday party for one of their sons. It was grand, the ballroom was filled with all sorts of wealthy characters. My mother naturally worked herself to bloody knuckles, so she was waiting on everyone hand and foot. The alcohol was flowing and the crowd was quite rowdy. By the end of the night, my mother had been taken advantage of.. raped in a broom closet. And she fell pregnant shortly thereafter."

Eve gasped as her stomach twisted. Her hand flew to her mouth. She didn't expect.. that.

"Oh my god," she breathed.

"I don't know who my father is, and.. neither did she. It was some random, drunk, rich maggot. Anyways, once she began to show, things became complicated. She wasn't married, since she dedicated her life to serving this family. Being pregnant out of wedlock was enough of a crime to get you killed back then. Not nearly like how anything is today. Since she'd been taken advantage of, the family showed mercy on her. They kept her employed and carried on with their lives."

Desmond tried once more to put his hand on her knee. This time she allowed it.

"I was born into servitude. The price for her staying in the mansion was that I would carry on as her next of kin. I would take over her job once she was no longer able to. I studied under her once I hit my pre-teens. I wasn't allowed to join the Charbonneau children in their schooling, eating dinner, or anything of the sort. Even though all of us were very close in age. They knew I existed and vice versa. I was kept separate.. my mother and I were very close because of this. We would play checkers, chess, mancala, read books together, all sorts of things in our spare time. She was my best friend. And to think, she was never supposed to have me in the first place."

He paused for a moment while tears pricked his eyes.

"If outsiders asked, I was an estranged family member. The son of Mrs. Charbonneau's cousin. Oh, what a 'tragic accident' they endured, and I was the 'only survivor'. Not my mother's son, or course, even though we resembled each other quite a bit. I was always thankful I resembled her and not.. him. They could never know that I was her child."

She wondered just how he resembled his mother, what traits he inherited from her. Was it his eyes? His lips? Smile? His.. hair color and slight curl?

"And then I grew even older. I was hitting my late teens and began to work under my mother as another servant for the family. I did everything, from physically serving them food, to tidying the mansion and tending to their young children whenever I could. In my spare time, I would play music. I loved to play the piano and I was granted access to the main grand piano in the main parlor. It was gorgeous, made of Rosewood with Ivory keys. They'd brought it with them straight from Reims. I taught myself how to play piano, cello, and violin. I couldn't get enough, every instrument provided a challenge that I just couldn't resist."

Eve listened on as the mention of music lit Desmond up.

"The Charbonneaus noticed this and they enjoyed my skill. I was not only their servant, but they asked me to play music for them as well. During dinner, during parties, sometimes even to sleep if they had trouble. And this is when Eden and I became close."

Eve grit her teeth at the mention of her name. Up until this point she'd completely forgotten about her. She didn't expect to be so jealous, but it rattled her internally. Flames coursed through her. She began to bounce her leg and bite her nail.

"Eden and I were the same age. We'd always been kept apart up until this point. We knew of each other's existence, of course, but intermingling between blood and house staff outside of orders was strictly prohibited. And even at this point, I had to be careful. This family wouldn't just fire me.. they'd have me killed. I saw too much to just be fired and pushed onto the streets. Servitude... my mother.. the Charbonneaus.. it was all I knew. I couldn't disappoint my mother like that, either. She meant the world to me and her view of me was very important to me. I wanted to make her proud."

A clock ticked somewhere in the living room. Eve nervously played at a hoodie string of hers while she listened.

"Eden and I eventually became physically involved with one another. It was a secret, completely behind everyone's back. She would stay up late and sneak out, we'd take walks around the grounds together at night sometimes, sneak off to the gardening shed.." he trailed off. He wouldn't go any further, since he knew Eve got the idea.

"But it wasn't just a physical relationship. I was convinced I loved her, and vice versa. Remember... I'd never been touched by a woman before, never experienced sweet nothings, never felt intimate love up until this point. And it was risky... so risky. My life was literally on the line for this. Eden kept saying she wanted to run away and be together forever. She wanted to abandon the wealth and high expectations for her, wanted to run off together and live somewhere else. And be 'normal', not wealthy."

Eve had no idea all of this was stored inside the man who sat before her. Inside Vessel. She scanned his face, he seemed lost in his mind as he spoke. Reliving everything.

"We put a plan into action. I knew my life was on the line anyways, so I had an idea. Throughout hundreds of dinner parties that I was on standby for, I overheard many things over the years. Hours upon hours of gossip, especially. I'd heard of a shaman, or a 'witch doctor' who frequented one of the dodgy pubs in town. Since this was a village, everybody knew everybody. The townsfolk thought this individual was bat shit. Just a loony. I, however, believed in his power. His name was Teek."

"I went to Teek with my problem and he helped me right away. He explained to me my options, how I could achieve immortality, and told me all about this deity. A deity that I could come into contact with, whom I could potentially work out a deal with. This deity was Sleep."

"I was turned over to an elder vampire. He was old, very old, and very experienced in helping those who were transitioning. I was brought to his home and he asked me to stay in the basement during my time there. I obliged, obviously, knowing he was going to help me through the process. He knew best. I was instructed by Teek to contact Sleep through deep meditation. I drank Mugwort tea and began to meditate the best I could... quickly, I was sucked into a different realm. I can barely describe it."

"It was a void of consciousness, though I know I wasn't asleep. I was able to communicate with this deity clearly and understand her words just as well. Sleep already had the godly knowledge of my situation. She knew how desperate I was for love, how I was willing to risk my own life for it. So she had a proposition for me."

Desmond blinked slowly as he continued.

"I would give Sleep my soul in exchange for immortality. Not only would I offer my soul, but I'd be required to give her offerings of music for the rest of eternity. This was easy, as I knew Eden would become my muse. In return, she would grant me eternal life.. opening up an opportunity for eternal love with the one I thought was my soulmate. The catch was that in order to stay alive forever, I'd have to become a child of the night. I would have to physically transform into a vampire in exchange for immortality."

"I jumped at the opportunity. I thought that once I showed Eden I couldn't die, she would be even more in love with me. If you can't die like a human, you don't have to worry about an angry mob chasing you out, or following and killing you."

"I disappeared for a week. I didn't return to the estate at first, which obviously worried not only Eden but the entire family. I was transforming in the elder vampire's basement. The change was brutal, disgusting. I was told it would be very difficult to be around humans for quite some time and to leave my loved ones alone for at least a decade. But there was no way in hell I could do that."

"So I returned to the Charbonneau Estate. I told the family I'd been beaten over a disagreement in the pub. And things went back to normal.. well, the closest to "normal" as they could. I was struggling the entire time, fighting my own urges. It was torturous. I was tempted to kill my own mother on a daily basis, and it still haunts m-"

His voice cracked. Eve tried to imagine how that would feel. She couldn't.

"Eden was very distant from me. And short with her words. I confronted her one night and told her what I'd done for us. How excited I was for the both of us, how I'd be able to live forever, and in turn make her live forever. How we were able to run away and start a life of our own. But she cut me off."

"This Eden was someone I didn't know. She was horrified at what I'd become and treated me like a monster. Like I was the bubonic plague standing right in front of her. She told me she wanted absolutely nothing to do with me.. forever. Told me how disgusted she was and how she never loved me in the first place, how she just used me for physical intimacy.

She said she was bored and I occupied her time. She ends it by laughing in my face and saying how she's been married off to a rich heir, someone whose father was friends with her father. How he'd be able to give her everything I couldn't. How she was madly in love with him and HAD been in love with him. She essentially spit in my face and told me I was good for nothing, that everything I believed in was a lie. And how in a week she was moving into his mansion, how excited she was to leave me."

Eve held her breath as she watched his fists tighten. He paused for quite some time. Eve found her words.

"What.. happened?"

"I killed her. Ripped her throat out in a rage. After that, I went to her lover's and killed him, too."

Her eyes widened and she stared at him, dumbfounded. She knew he'd killed before, obviously. But this...? The woman he thought he loved?

He looked at her, blue eyes icing over. His stare froze her in place. The words that followed chilled her even more.

"And I don't regret it."

Eve didn't know what to say, couldn't form words with her own mouth.

"However, I've learned from it. At first I did regret it. I thought I was destined to be with her. It was my first real heartbreak. I became a recluse for quite some time, kicking myself for what I'd done. Naturally, I fled the area, never to be seen again. I wasn't able to say goodbye to my mum. That was the hardest part. It still... tears me apart to this day. She probably spent the rest of her life wondering why I left, probably blaming herself, probably worried sick about me until her end days.."

A tear slipped down his cheek and he turned away before wiping it.

Eve put her hand on his arm and softly guided him back to her.

"I'm so sorry, Desmond.."

"Don't be. Don't pity me. I made my own choices," he said hoarsely, through silent tears.

"After I did that, I assumed Sleep would take my life since I'd killed my muse, the one I changed for. But.. she didn't. Sleep wasn't thrilled, of course, but she said she saw something in me. A fire. A will to embrace an eternal life. So she granted me a second chance."

Eve cocked her head slightly, trying to follow along the best she could. This story was already a rollercoaster and she had no idea how it made her feel, given she felt every emotion under the sun thus far.

"Since I no longer had a muse, Sleep wanted me to involve other musicians in the offerings. I was to create a 'clan' of sorts, one that would assist with the music. She handpicked each one of them, and I was to do the dirty work. It was difficult, not everyone is open to becoming a monster.. some are content with staying human. In order to smoothen the transition process, she stepped in. After the transition happened for each of them, she visited each one and they created their own 'deal' of sorts. She offered them things in exchange for their musical offerings, then. Well.. OUR offerings, I should say."

"For me, it's eternal love. That was our initial pact, Sleep and I. I created music for her, she kept me alive so I could love. And for centuries, I spent my time reflecting on the past and trying to figure out why she kept me alive even though my muse was dead.. simply for.. music? Was I actually kept alive simply so the others could live out their end of their own separate deals? Had I been forgotten about? The noise in my head never stopped, nothing ever made sense to me.. until you showed up."

He looked at her, eyes shifting to her face as he wrapped his hand around hers.

"I don't know if you vividly remember the night we met, but.. I could smell your blood from outside the venue. I had no idea who you even were yet. It was difficult playing the show with something so.. satiating in the same room as I. I was looking forward to unwinding after the show with the boys in the hotel when you and Freya stepped in. And I almost lost it on the spot. You have marked blood, Evelina, your blood quite literally sings to me."

He held both of her hands now in one of his. He took a long pause and spoke hesitantly.

"As it does Aron. It's why I didn't blame him when he saw his opportunity and took it. I was honestly worried that he wouldn't be able to control himself. I could barely handle it and he's so much younger.. I thought he'd for sure crack. I was so jealous. Insanely jealous. I almost couldn't even function. It was hard to mentally wrap my mind around it, but even more to be in the same area as you both. It was like a form of self harm for myself. And you thought I hated you."

He laughed softly to himself.

"No, Evelina, I loved you. And I still do."

She sat there, completely unsure of what to say. A whirlwind of emotions ripped through her as she sat speechless.

"I apologize for doing what I did. Lying to Aron, lying to you.. but.. I had to get close to you. I had to make you mine."

"But Eden," she interjected. She wasn't going to just forget about that. He nodded.

"I spent those first few weeks after we met really reflecting on everything. And I realize what it means now... It was never supposed to be Eden, it was supposed to be you. That's why I was changed, I was destined to stay alive so I could meet you and love you... forever. Sleep planned this."

Her brows furrowed as she processed.

"Sleep knew if I created a clan, that I would eventually change someone in Freya's ancestral bloodline.. since she handpicked Aron. She knew you would come right along with her. Before any of you were alive, or even a thought. Sleep has esoteric knowledge, she knows all of this. Everything happens for a reason."

Her mind swirled as it all began to make sense. It was destined. Her and Desmond, Desmond and Aron, Aron and her.

It all immediately became too much. Anxiety bubbled up through her chest and her heart raced. His gaze became gentle as he heard her pulse quicken.

"What's on your mind, love?"

She stood up.

"It's... it's just too much. I'm sorry. I need time."

She anxiously raised her hands slightly and stepped away, padding up the oak steps. She felt bad for leaving Desmond there by himself, but it really was too much. As she processed the story he told her, her anxiety began to crush her, threatening to wrap its hands around her throat.

Her hand pushed open the heavy wood door that lead into Aron's room. He sat on the bed by himself, a black Gretsch 8-string lay on his lap. His fingers glided over the strings, making them lilt softly. By the time she looked back up at him, his eyes were already fixed on her.

"Hey, doll," he sat the guitar beside him and patted the bed next to him.

"Come here."

She sat down and he looked at her with soft, blue eyes once more. A tear fell from her thick lashes and he wiped it away with his thumb. He grabbed her jaw gently.

"Now you know. You know everything," he paused, "you deserved to hear it."

Eve nodded slowly, still unsure of what to make of everything.

"It's okay to take your time. I will always be here for you."

She nodded again and he leaned in to kiss her forehead. The scent of Vetiver and sandalwood flooded her nostrils. He always smelled so damn good.

"Sleep, love. You need rest."

"Sleep with me?" She asked, turning on the puppy dog eyes to gaze up at him.

He smiled warmly.

"Oh course, Eve."

They laid down and wrapped themselves in each other. Once more, he let himself fall into the deep abyss with Eve.

Chapter Text

Rx Queen- Deftones

Eve fell into a deep sleep. Consciousness completely slipped her mind and she was doused in darkness. She didn't dream often. When she did, it was always completely randomized or a nightmare. She often woke up and couldn't remember her dream at all or pushed the nightmare out of her mind.

But tonight was different.

Eve stood on a platform surrounded by darkness. The lighting around her was dim, yet it illuminated dark purple clouds billowing around her. She heard a soft humming from up above her and shifted her eyes. A face emerged from purple clouds and looked down at her.

It was feminine, her silky skin a rich shade of cocoa. Her eyes, bright white, glowed vividly as she looked down at Eve. Dark hair swirled around her face gracefully, resembling a cameo around her.

Her beauty took Eve's breath away, earning a gulp from her as she looked up. A glowing light pulsed behind the figure's shoulders.

The woman was silent, and though she lacked pupils, her eyes were kind. She was observing Eve. Yet, Eve felt as if there was an underlying sternness to this woman. Whoever she was, she was important, and this appearance was nothing short of godly. It clicked in her mind.

"Sleep."

The woman's full lips curled up at the edges, both terrifying and aching beautiful at the same time. Her heart raced as she realized she was in the presence of such a powerful spirit. Was this just a dream her mind had conjured up..? Especially with so much talk of Sleep recently..? Or was this a real visit?

A voice that wasn't hers entered her mind. A feathery and alluring tone filled her mind, though the mouth hadn't moved.

"Enchanté, Evelina."

She knew this one. French for "Nice to meet you". But how did Sleep know she understood French? Desmond must not have been exaggerating when he said she had esoteric knowledge.

Eve opened her mouth to greet the figure above her, but it vanished. It fizzled into nothingness, the edges of the figure curling as the smoke evaporated.

She was left in the pitch black nothingness that surrounded her. In the blink of an eye, light flooded the area and to her left stood Desmond, black eyes shining and a wicked grin on his face. He towered over her and it made her insides flinch.

She then noticed the figure facing her to her right. Aron. Coal black eyes looked at her. A taut expression coiled his features, as if he were in pain by looking at her. She glanced left to right, then right to left, and wondered what they were.

Ghosts?

They both began to walk towards her quickly and she screamed. Her scream was cut off when she regained consciousness in Aron's arms.

"You okay?" His warm voice wrapped around her.

She nodded softly, still groggy.

"Yeah, just.. bad dream."

His brows pulled together. It frustrated him to think there were things he couldn't help her with- couldn't fix for her. He leaned on his hand while looking at her, his bare, tattooed abdomen inches from her stomach.

"Wanna talk about it?"

"Mm, no," she shook her head now. "I'm fine."

He smiled at her, blue eyes twinkling. A hint of playfulness lived in them.

"I have a plan for today. We're going to do something fun. Get dressed, but dress warm. Really warm. We'll be outside. Meet me downstairs?"

She raised a brow suspiciously.

"O..kay?"

She dressed in thick layers, throwing a beanie on her head. Something told her that this would be quite the adventure. Aron had a spontaneous side to him. Eve didn't see it often, but loved when she could. Aron had no limits with his spontaneity. Were they about to drive to Canada? Catch a flight somewhere? Who knew, with him.

Aron waited downstairs with a smile on his lips. Excitement consumed his chest. He would make today good for her. He understood just how much she'd been processing, how much she felt she needed to choose, how much her life had changed recently. And, if he could do anything to help ease that transition for her.. he would.

She came down the steps and met his smile.

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see."

She was hit with deja vu from Desmond, rolling her eyes.

"Aaah a surprise, huh?"

"Duh," he laughed.

They drove not too far of a distance. About 20 minutes later they pulled over near a large hill. This hill was notorious in town for being the go-to sledding hill during Winter. Yet, for some reason it was empty today, even though snow covered the ground. There were no children screaming and laughing, no adults cheering from the top of the hill.

"Are we goin-"

"Sledding? Hell yeah! You need some fun in your life lately."

Aron's face erupted into a wide grin from ear to ear. He popped the trunk and brought two sleds out that needed to be blown up yet. She laughed, thinking about a vampire blowing up a sled. He did it surprisingly fast, she'd never seen a sled inflate so quickly relying on just lung power. He was in such a good mood today and it made her happy. It felt effortless. She was thankful she wore boots today.

She plopped down on her purple sled and Aron followed soon after. The tubes moved on the snow underneath their weight, Eve was careful not to move and accidentally fly down the hill too early. They hovered on the snow as he looked at her and pointed, then turned his finger into his own chest.

"You and me. Race."

"Seriously?! How would that be fair?!"

He laughed.

"Just the sleds, babe. Nothing else. No extra speed, I swear!"

"On 1, or 'go'?"

"One."

She giggled and they counted down.

"3.. 2..."

She scooted her sled to the edge and watched Aron do the same, extra carefully.

"One!" She yelled.

She pushed forward and the sled immediately gained speed. Flying faster than Aron, everything around her became a blur. She heard him protesting behind her and began to laugh in between her own screams. Her hands gripped the handles as her sled hit a small bump, causing it to spin.

It spun viciously as she reached the bottom of the hill. She looked up to the gray sky and watched as snowflakes began to fall. Aron's sled brought him just behind hers and he grumbled. She looked at him victoriously, sticking her tongue out.

"How does it feel to be a loser?"

He huffed and playfully kicked her sled, harder than he meant to, causing her to roll off into the fluffy snow around her. They both belly-laughed and Eve laid there in defeat.

And then he was on top of her.

His pale skin matched the snow around them, eyes reflecting the light sky. He gleamed as she returned his gaze. No warmth radiated from his undead body, but she felt a fire build under her skin and cheeks.

He looked past her eyes, Eve felt his gaze fix on her soul. His lips parted as he spoke with a voice full of wonder.

"I can't believe how much I love you."

His hand reached up to gently caress her warm cheek, his touch electric as he leaned in closer. His sweet breath brushed her lips before they met his. Eve kissed him back, feeling herself melt under his touch like she always had before. The wind blew as snowflakes fell on them, yet the temperature didn't bother her either.

Are we really about to do this in public?

The thought excited Eve, yet it was something she'd never done. Aron pulled away and chuckled as if she said the idea out loud.

"I- I love you too," she responded. He smiled at her and sat back on his heels, admiring her. As she looked at him smiling at her, she felt as if she could see who he really was. Deep down, this creature in front of her was so pure. She remembered he was changed so early in his life, he didn't even have a chance to really live it before the war. He was nothing short of a boy before being enlisted, and then traumatized and forced to mature for several years before his death.

His heart was still so innocent and untainted, even if he was almost a century old. He never had the chance to emotionally mature, much less fall in love and do that alongside a partner.

In his heart, he was still in his early twenties, experiencing life through young, fresh eyes when she was at his side. He felt a level of comfort and stability he'd never felt before. The weight of being an undead, horrifying demon didn't bear on him when she was around, he could finally just... let go.

Her jet black hair collected tiny white snowflakes. He sat there, admiring her as she giggled and stuck her tongue out to collect them. Her heart thudded deep in her chest. Aron had never felt so genuinely alive until this moment.

At the top of the hill, a car pulled up behind Aron's and rolled to a stop. Eve couldn't hear it, but it caught Aron's ear. He turned and immediately groaned when he saw it.

"What?" Eve asked. She followed his gaze and squinted, not able to make out the figures standing on top of the hill. Four black figures stood looking down at them, two very tall and two shorter. A tall figure and a shorter one waved excitedly to her and Aron while the other tall one pulled sleds out of the trunk.

"I shouldn't have told Camren.. ugh," Aron said under his breath.

Eve registered who the figures were as she heard Freya's light laugh roll down the hill. It echoed as Liam did some stupid little dance and grabbed a sled from presumably Desmond's hands.

"I told Camren where I wanted to take you today, I'm sure that's how the Brady Bunch found out. I knew they'd end up comin' 'round," He rolled his eyes as Eve laughed.

"No, it's totally fine. But they're going to have to wait a few minutes until we get back up there."

"Girl, please," Aron held out his hand.

"Grab your sled and get on my back."

Eve laughed out loud at this.

"Okay Edward."

Aron snickered.

"You better hold on tight, spider monkey," he mocked before they flew up the snow covered hill.

She blinked her eyes and upon opening, they were already up the 200 foot hill. Freya's slender frame was right next to Eve, she was adorned in thick black clothing from head to toe. Her vivid blue hair swirled as the wind picked up and her hazel eyes glowed honey with exhilaration. She reached out to hug Eve and they began chit chatting while the others got their sleds together.

Desmond was still under the trunk hood, rummaging around even though the sleds were all set at this point. Eve wondered if he was anxious and simply killing time, trying to think of what to say to Eve. And she would be right in that assumption.

She walked over to the trunk and he immediately lifted his head to look at her. Crouched, he was at her height, but as he stretched back up to his normal stature, he loomed over her.

He cleared his throat anxiously and struggled to look into her eyes. The last interaction they'd had was.. kind of awkward. Eve just dipping out of the living room after he spilled all of his life's secrets to her, after baring his soul, to speak. Of course he didn't hold it against her.. however, he didn't know how she'd be feeling today. And the fear that she'd want nothing to do with him was almost too much for him to even seriously consider.

His eyes scanned the ground in between flickers up to hers. He nervously ran his hand between his shoulder and neck, rubbing the muscle soothingly. She broke the silence with a light hearted..

"Hey."

"Hey."

The wind whistled in between them and it picked up her scent underneath her scarf, carrying it to Desmond. He worked so hard to resist the urge to feed on her but.. sometimes it was the biggest hurdle not to. He could get lost in the thought of it if he let himself, always followed by being consumed with guilt.

Eve truly didn't know what to say. She'd taken his past life and the beginning of his current one into consideration. And did it terrify her? Of course. Desmond was created in a setting of both tragedy and warmth, of violence and serenity coexisting with one another.

She couldn't think about him killing his first love for too long.. couldn't imagine the sound of it, how he must have feasted on her blood in a rage, how her bones must have sounded as they snapped underneath him.. it was incomprehensible. And how he stated that after all these years, he still didn't regret it. He'd gotten justice from the woman who provided him his first ever heartbreak, and lost his relationship with his own mother in the process. An ironic tale of both gain and loss.

Desmond wasn't someone you could shove into a category- there was no black or white. She was learning that Desmond was a million shades of gray, yet there was nothing dull about him.

She'd considered it all. And yet, it still didn't change a thing. She still got butterflies when he was within five feet of her, her stomach still fluttered when he looked down into her eyes. She still felt a wave of warmth wash over her thinking about being in his arms, even though he emitted no body heat. And so for Desmond to stand there with his head hung was so ridiculous it almost amused Eve. It amused her to watch him take himself so seriously all the time.

It was a paradox- her relationship with the two men. She needed Desmond, the brooder, to lighten up and give himself a break.. to stop the eternal self-loathing. To stop overthinking. And from Aron, she needed seriousness.. a commitment.. romance. For him to be willing to work through his own issues enough to where he could love her properly.. not with half his heart guarded.

"Desmond," she said.

His royal blues shot up to hers.

"Please.... STOP taking yourself so seriously.." she said quietly.

He studied the expression in her eyes, finding sheer risk reflecting back at him. It was very clear she studied the danger he and the others posed, and accepted it. She was sending him a signal through her eyes.. to let go. And he was willing to do it.. for her.

"I have no room for regret anymore."

She smiled and hugged him, rubbing her hand along his back. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her forehead, inhaling her sweet scent. His deep voice surrounded her.

"I fucking love you, Eve."

She smiled into his chest.

They both instinctively pulled away as Aron made his way over to them, footsteps crunching on the snow.

Aron and Freya appeared next to the trunk and Desmond played it cool, shutting the trunk door and wrapping his arm around Eve's waist. Aron's eyes burned into Desmond's hand as Freya began talking to Eve.

Minutes later, they were all lined up on the top of the hill, ready for their first ride down. On the count of "2", Liam threw his tube off the hill to be ahead of everyone else. He flew down the snowy slope as the others pushed off and followed with laughter.

They spent hours there, even passing dusk.

The streetlights in the distance were turned on at this point, yet the group continued their fun. It was especially fun for the girls, as they never had a long walk back up the hill.

Liam found some extra joy in providing a kick to the tubes, giving an extra "push" for the sled to gain speed. The guys found this funny and it was repeated over and over. The girls laughed because it was so drastic- one moment the tube was still at the top of the hill, and in the next millisecond it was a blur.

Liam ended up getting carried away and accidentally kicked Freya's tube, sending her absolutely flying into the abyss. Her scream rang out and quieted quickly as she shot down the hill- making Aron, Desmond, Eve and Liam roar with uncontrollable laughter. Camren scoffed and shook his head, quickly following her down to make sure she hadn't gotten whiplash.

Their group outing was interrupted by Eve's stomach grumbling.

"Takeaway?" Aron asked Eve.

"Um, what?" she responded with intense confusion. She glanced at Camren who laughed.

"Takeaway, like takeout. Asking if you want to pick up some food."

"Ohhhh." Both girls looked at each other in realization.

He glanced at Freya, whose cheeks were pink from the cold, "Are you hungry too, love?"

"Definitely."

Camren and Freya took off in the car the group arrived in earlier, leaving Liam and Desmond to ride with Aron and Eve. Desmond and Aron seemed equally as unhappy about this, leaving Liam to be the beaming boy of the group. Liam was chatty as usual as both Desmond and Liam crammed their long, gangly limbs in the back seat.

Eve was texting Freya, asking if they'd picked a fast food joint to stop at since they'd left already. After a few minutes of silence, the boys began to text Camren, who also met them with silence.

Taking matters into their own hands, Aron drove into a more crowded side of town, where fast food signs dotted the side of the road.

Liam didn't hold back on the volume, reading them out loud as they passed.

"Burger King... Panda Express... Arby's.. Sonic... Taco Bell... Dairy Queen... What's the obsession with fast food royalty here?"

Eve giggled to herself. She realized no one in the group would be familiar with any of these restaurants for several reasons.

"A&W.. Subway... Five Guy-"

He snickered.

"Eve, you want five guys?"

She stifled her own laugh in the front seat as Aron and Desmond both rolled their eyes.

"If you want five guys, all you have to do is ask-"

Both Desmond and Aron snapped on him.

"Fuckin' twat."

"Piss right off."

Silence filled the car as Liam sat with lips shut. Eve subtly looked at Aron, then Desmond in the rear view mirror. Both had their jaws clenched and stern looks on their faces. Desmond looked out his window in the backseat while Aron glared at the road in front of him. In a weak attempt to divert the tension in the air, Eve chose a random restaurant.

"Uh.. Subway. I'll just run in."

The car was still silent as Aron pulled into the parking lot and shoved the car into park. Eve left, whipping the door shut behind her. The cold, florescent lights of the Subway dragged her into another reality, almost feeling like she was on autopilot. The cashier was a teenage girl with long, curly blonde hair. Eve sometimes wished she could go back to that age... the simplicity. School, work, and homework... rinse and repeat. She knew as time progressed, your life became more hectic, stressful and chaotic. And she'd always wondered what it would look like for her in 30-40 years.

She was snapped out of her daydream as the line in front of her cut away. She ordered a basic Turkey sub and shot Freya yet another text message before grabbing the bag, paying and leaving. She was annoyed that Freya left her to be alone with these three specifically. Of course Freya didn't know just how awkward and tense things could become, but it didn't help. And for her AND Camren to ghost the group? She hoped everything was okay.

When she got back in the car, Aron had cranked the heat up for her. She slid onto the leather interior before grabbing the aux cord and plugging her phone in. Aron raised an eyebrow at her before laughing under his own breath. He pulled out of the parking lot as Eve hit "play" on a throwback rock playlist. None of the men spoke to each other on the way home. Liam, for once, seemed like he was giving up on being the comic relief. He no longer was bubbly and hyper, but now quiet and stuck his attention into the phone that glowed in his big palms. Texting.

They arrived home to find Camren's blackened car in the driveway. A light dusting of snow covered it, loudly stating that Camren and Freya had gone straight home after sledding.

"Those assholes.. they lied about meeting us out. Why would they ditch us?"

"My sweet.. don't be naïve. Why do you think they came right home?" Desmond responded with a cheeky chuckle.

Eve blushed, in disbelief she thought of the worst right away. Any remnant of anxiety about her "missing" best friend left her body as she sat at the dining room table and began eating her dinner. It felt strange to be eating a meal that wasn't prepared here in the kitchen, and not by Camren nonetheless.

Liam walked through the dark rooms on the first floor and went right up to his bedroom. It was unlike him to be so sulky. Desmond and Aron both sat on the couches in the pitch black living room, neither turning on any lights or making conversation.

Almost like gargoyles, Eve thought.

Aron quietly slipped from the dark room and came behind Eve as she sat at the table. His hands grabbed the back of her shoulders and he began to rub and massage her muscles. She'd taken her jacket and hoodie off, leaving nothing on her top half but a simple tank top. She groaned softly as the tension left under his hands, evaporating into thin air as he pulled the stress from her trapezius muscles. His soft hands glided over her just right and she closed her eyes, melting into his grip. She didn't feel herself start to drift off until Aron's voice shocked her, his lips close to her ear.

"To bed?"

"Yes please.." she mumbled sleepily.

"Would you like me to carry you? You're exhausted."

"N-no, I'm okay. I'll walk, thank you."

He left the room, blurring up the steps. As she walked through the living room, she'd forgotten that Desmond was still there.

He ghosted next to her and grabbed her waist gently.

"Goodnight, Evelina."

His pale skin almost glowed in the darkness as his lips found hers. He gave her a delicate kiss and lingered there.

"Goodnight."

"Sweet dreams."

"You t-... uhm, thank you."

She heard Desmond's soft laugh behind her as she crept up to Aron's room. She plopped down on the bed and crawled right in, since he'd already opened the covers for her. He noticed her smell as she put her head on his bare chest. It was a equal mixture of her own scent, her perfume, his scent, and... Desmond's.

And for some reason, he felt himself becoming acquainted with it.

_____________

Eve rolled onto her side and woke to a snoring Aron. She jolted awake. This was the first time she ever heard Aron snore- she didn't even think it was possible. Sleep, yes. Snore? Not so much.

Sunlight intruded through the blinds in the window in the corner of the room. It made patterns on the white wall that had been riddled with band posters once again.

Aron let himself fall into sleep beside Eve, as he'd grown accustomed to recently. He didn't have to sleep, but the warmth he felt radiating from her made him just so comfortable.

She flipped onto her other side and faced him. He was fully asleep, his rich brown hair poked in all different directions and his lips were parted slightly. He had one tattooed arm lifted above his head in an invisible stretch and the other lying across his stomach. Aron looked like a rag doll and it made Eve giggle. He'd become so vulnerable with her lately and she adored it. They'd really become closer than ever, even closer than they'd been before the exploding nuclear bomb that was Desmond.

She scanned him.

His face, down his chest, to the boxers at his waist and.. her eyes landed on the large bulge in between his hips. His snores quieted, now small grunts left his lips instead.

She flipped onto her knees and straddled him. She ran her hands over his abdomen and kissed his stomach. Her lips traveled lower and lower, approaching the flimsy waistband of his dark green boxers.

Her hands continued to roam across his marble skin before shimmying his boxers down. His length sprung free before falling to a rest, the tip resting on his happy trail.

Her hot mouth licked and kissed everywhere but his cock- she wanted to invigorate his senses to wake him up.

No more than a minute later, he began to stir. Once she noticed he was conscious, she wrapped her lips around his cock, letting her drool slip down it. He sucked in through his teeth and instinctively arched his back, bucking his hips. The action made him go even further in her mouth and she moaned, her throat vibrating around him.

Aron audibly gasped at this and shuddered in pleasure as he glanced down at Eve. His large hands found her shoulders before he pulled her hair up and out of the way.

"God damn, love.." he hoarsely whispered, voice thick with sleep.

"Go on.. show me what I know that pretty mouth can do for m-" He gasped, hands tightening in her hair as she took him completely in her throat.

She looked up at him with irises of excitement and desire. An intensity consumed them, like a tiger eyeing her prey. His head fell back and his chest heaved with heavy pants. Aron could feel the adrenaline rise in his body as his stomach tightened. He was so close to shooting down her throat as he grabbed the sheets around him.

"Hm.. shame isn't it?"

Eve paused with a hand on his cock and glanced up at him mischievously.

"What you mean?" Confusion muddled his brain as he tried to fight off his own orgasm.

"Would be.. such.. a shame if the boys downstairs heard you whimpering like a little bitch, hm..?"

Aron's jaw dropped as her lips pulled into a devilish grin.

"I wasn't whimpering," he protested.

"Not yet," she answered smoothly. "But you're about to."

He couldn't deny the impact her words had on him. He'd everything he could to muffle his own moan in response, the thought of letting her take control was something he almost couldn't handle.

He bit his lip in response as his brows pulled together, the desperation in him increasing.

"Get on top of me."

"Ah ah ah," Eve scolded. She was sitting on her heels completely naked, looking down at him with a playful fire.

"P....please," he said, his voice a whisper.

"Sorry, couldn't hear you," Eve said defiantly.

"Please," he said louder.

"Mm, I don't think you want it too much. That's too bad.." she said as she lifted herself off the bed and walked over to the dresser.

"Please!" Aron begged, desperation right beneath the surface.

"Please, Eve, please sit on my cock.. please.."

She turned around slowly with that grin still on her face. Eve was enjoying every moment of teasing him. His cock was rock hard and she knew it, she knew how insane she was driving him. It made her wetter the more desperate he sounded. She wanted to take her time toying with him, making him squirm.

"A big, bad boy like you? Begging? Mmm.. that has to be my favorite sound in the whole world." She twirled her hair between her fingers before getting back on the bed and creeping above him. She grabbed his boxers from next to his nude body and stuffed them in his mouth.

He viciously protested and began to spit them out before Eve clamped her hand over his mouth.

"No. You're going to keep them in until I fucking say so. If you touch my body, I'm going to get off of you."

He looked up at her with wide eyes before closing them. Her mouth went to his nipples, softly sucking and pulling on each as he bucked his hips and groaned through the gag.

She laughed bitterly. There was no point in tying him up. She didn't have access to the same ropes Desmond used before. And, honestly, making him submit to her without ropes was even more of a turn on. Eve straddled his hips, flinging a leg over his to sit comfortably on her new throne.

His hand kept instinctively moving to touch her, but he'd always catch himself at the last second, pulling them away and whimpering under his breath.

She slid down his cock, slowly taking him inch by inch. She made a soft note of pleasure when she reached the hilt, taking him in completely. Her hips rocked back and forth on him and her hands went to her hair. He felt her hot walls massage him, pulling him closer and closer to an orgasm with each rock of her hips.

She reached down to pluck the boxers from his mouth and smirked again, planting a kiss on his soft lips. His cheeks were flushed and the look of anguish in his eyes tripled.

She turned around to get into reverse cowgirl and he couldn't help but hold back his noises under his breath.

"Your perfect ass.. fuck.." he moaned softly as she bounced on him. Her eyes were dark with satisfaction as she glanced back at him, knowing he was closer than ever. But she wouldn't allow him to enjoy it for too long.

"Eat me," she said as she crawled up to straddle his face with both knees. His lips worked against her slick entrance, losing himself in the taste of her sweet, wet cunt. She rocked on his face as she put one of her hands in his hair, softly pulling on it. Sounds of ecstasy left her as she threw her head back and rode his tongue.

She reached behind her and worked her hand up and down his veiny shaft. Aron was in heaven, consumed by all of the tastes and sensations of Eve.

Both of Aron's arms reached up to play with Eve's nipples and electricity erupted through her. All of the nerve endings in her body exploded as she grabbed his hands and finished all over his mouth. He closed his eyes and listened to her orgasm, tasting it on his tongue.

She rode it out and moved off of his face. Straddling his hips again, she spat on her hand and stroked his cock. Her face was an inch above his as she leaned down to him.

"I want you to get on top of me and fuck me.. I feel like you've earned it. You've been so good.."

Her lips kissed his forehead and he laid there in complete bewilderment. His mind spun as he tried to decide if he heard her correctly. She'd never been so dominant before- Even during her stint with Desmond.

"Eve?"

"You heard me."

A surge of momentum ran through him. He flipped them, hovering over her. A hand of his slid between the small of her back and the bed as he aligned his cock with her entrance and pushed inside. Her nails dug into his arms as he stuffed her completely.

He thrusted up into her and fucked her hard. Her legs and arms wrapped around him, keeping his face close to hers the entire time. They both panted, drunk off each other's presence. Her sweet scent filled his head as she breathed his name in his face.

They kissed deeply as he came, white coating her insides. He moaned as the world around him blurred, able to only focus on the sensations he was feeling.

Eve continued to kiss him for a few minutes, still clearly turned on. She sucked his bottom lip and pulled him closer to her, running her hands down his back.

"Mmm.. Aron?"

"Yes?" He asked in between kisses.

"I never told you it was okay to cum inside me. Matter of fact, I never told you it was okay to cum at all."

The words queued a flutter behind his navel- butterflies that quickly turned into concrete. Dread filled him.

"I-I'm so sorry, Eve, I should have asked you. I just thought.. It's always been okay. Did I overstep a boundary of yours? I feel horrible, I-"

She cut him off.

"Don't feel horrible. Clean it up."

He looked down at her apprehensively.

"Clean it..?"

"You. Heard. Me," She repeated slowly, borderline mocking his intelligence.

"With your mouth. Clean up your mess you made inside me."

The bold demand didn't match the soft woman underneath him. It shook him to the core but also.. turned him on belief. He'd only gotten a taste of being bossed around by her the night Desmond pulled his stunt and.. he was realizing just how much he loved it. How much he loved to obey her every command.

"Yes, of course," he whispered in shock.

He kissed his way down her stomach as she laid her tiny hands on his shoulders. Arching her back, she could feel his orgasm dripping out of her, down her thighs.

Eve bit her lip as his hands opened her legs. He looked down at her rosy cunt, puffy due to the fresh fuck. All the blood in her body had run to her lips and clit, making it glow pink. It was just asking to be eaten by him. He stifled his own moan as he saw his cum leak out of her, thick white drips down her labia. He was immediately hard again, his cock resting against his own pelvis.

"My fuckin' god.. Eve.."

Her gray eyes flickered up to him, shooting him the sexiest gaze. Hazy with his own needs of serving her, he placed his mouth on her lips. Eve trembled, the pleasure instantly darting up her spine. She bit her lip again in a weak attempt to smother her gasps.

Aron closed his eyes as he surrendered to her. His tongue swirled around her clit before he made his way lower, lapping up his own seed out of her. The tanginess on his own tongue drove him wild- he'd never tasted himself before. He moaned as she did, placing one hand on her hip bone. The other snaked underneath his chin, entering her. It pulled the rest of his cum out of her, filling his mouth with a mixture of both his and her juices. He curled his fingers inside as she writhed, her nipples becoming hard pebbles on her chest. Picking up speed, he felt the soft membrane of the perfect spot- the spot that would make her scream.

He continued between her legs, cherishing every sound and quiver. Her heartbeat filled his ears as it doubled in pace, growing louder and harder. He lured more from her before she lost control. He opened his mouth, slightly sticking his tongue out as her essence sprinkled on him. The entire action brought him to orgasm, too, as his own seed shot out of him onto the sheets.

She had doe legs, thighs shaking and trembling around his ears. Her chest heaved and the pulse rang in his mind, harder than ever. He licked her thighs, making sure to get every last drop he missed.

"Good.. boy.." She praised breathlessly.

His heart soared at these words, clinging to them.

"I love you so much," she said, looking down at him. The edge in her eyes had dissolved. She brought him up for a kiss before swinging her legs off the bed and standing up. The silhouette of her nude form still drove him absolutely insane. Her wide hips.. thin waist.. thick thighs and calves..

She threw a dark shirt at him, pulling him back to the moment.

"Get dressed," she said, "We have a project for today."

Chapter Text

You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch- Thurl Ravenscroft

The two climbed down the stairs and found the group on the couches watching TV. Freya was laying on Camren, blue hair wild around her as she napped. Her chest gently rose and fell, Eve thought she looked peaceful.

Liam was sitting next to Desmond on the other couch. As usual, a video game lit up the screen. Desmond was ahead of Liam, absolutely crushing him with a score that was double Liam's.

"Well good morning sunshines!"

"What time is it?" Aron asked Liam.

"2 in the afternoon. Must have been sleepy," Desmond answered.

"What a subtle dig," Eve thought.

"Hah.." Aron laughed under his breath.

"So apparently we have a project we're working on today?" Aron's brows lifted as he turned to Eve.

"Yes," she nodded proudly, turning to look at Camren, "Cam, could you wake her?"

Camren rubbed Freya's arm and gently shook her.
"Freya."

Freya woke and realized she had five pairs of eyes looking at her. She scrunched her face in a "what the fuck" expression.

"What?" She asked hesitantly, clearly scared of the answer. Eve knew what she was thinking. Freya was scared that she was sleeptalking in front of the group. Eve cut right in.

"Our plan for today."

"Oh!" Her face lit up. "Yes, Eve and I have some stuff planned for us all today. We're going to make the house a bit more.. festive. Christmas is coming up fast."

"We're going to go shopping for decor and hang out tonight... together, Eve added, not missing the side eyes that Aron and Desmond shot each other on that last word.

Camren beamed.

"Does that mean I get to-"

"Yes Cam, we already added the grocery store in the agenda for you," Freya laughed as Camren squeezed her in response.

"Can I be on light duty?" Liam asked.

"Why? Feeling lazy today?" Desmond sneered.

"No, you slag, I meant hanging lights up outside. On the roof and stuff."

Aron grinned.

"I want in on that!" He added.

"How nice you've planned that," Desmond said to Eve and Freya. "Don't think I've celebrated a winter holiday in decades." He smiled at Eve.

_________

They all walked into the thrift store. Freya and Eve had already grabbed carts, both girls holding checklists in their hands. They were on a mission today.

Aron and Desmond hung on either side of Eve. The presence of either one annoyed the other, yet they wouldn't part from Eve's side. The unspoken tension and awkwardness loomed above the three as they walked. Each time Eve would ask a question, both men would respond at the same time, then stop mid-sentence and glare at each other. Eve rolled her eyes and walked ahead with the cart, leaving the two to side eye each other behind her.

"Whatever," she mumbled under her breath.

Freya, Camren and Liam weren't too far behind. Liam was going crazy, throwing all sorts of different colored lights into the cart. Lights shaped like snowflakes, bells, and icicles filled the cart as Freya kept sighing and throwing them back out.

"We don't need those," she scolded. "We already have snowflake lights," she said irritably.

Camren was strolling alongside Freya, completely at ease with her presence. He looked forward to stopping by the grocery store and ran over the potential menu for tonight in his mind.

Aron, Desmond and Eve were in charge of the decor that would be placed throughout the house, while the group behind them was on lights and outdoor decor duty.

The trio stopped when they walked past a mini train and house set, ogling over the perfect condition it was in.

"These are collector's items!" Desmond said excitedly, shocking Eve with his enthusiasm. The entire shelf was cleared as they carefully put everything into their cart. The tiny toy sets looked extra breakable in Desmond's large hands. Eve bossed Aron into going to grab another cart. One would be for fragile decor, the other would be for less delicate things.

Aron found a bunch of felt wall hangings. Some resembled Santa and his elves, along with presents, reindeer, and ornaments. His face lit up as he added them to the non-delicate cart.

The group all stopped when they passed the stockings- Freya's group included. An entire half aisle of stockings hung in this thrift store. Every color and fabric you could imagine. Some had letters, some were themed with characters, some had funky designs on them.

Liam picked a neon green and blue stocking that had the mystery machine from Scooby-Doo on it. Instead of a traditional Christmas sleigh, the mystery had presents spilling out of it.

Eve looked at him with a raised brow.

"'Wot? I think it's cute, okay? I love Scooby-Doo."

Aron rolled his eyes at Liam as he picked his stocking next. It was solid black with a white felt collar on the top, as plain and simple as you could get... literally just black and white. He looked quite pleased with himself as he tossed it into the cart.

Freya found a pretty stocking that was a light blue with blue snowflakes all over it. The snowflakes were embroidered with small sequins, causing light to reflect off of them. It looked handmade, but clearly by someone who KNEW what they were doing. She pictures a cute little granny sewing it together and admiring her own work.

Camren picked up a black stocking that was covered in gold stars of all different sizes. He nodded in approval as he studied the hand-stitching on it. In a way, it was very "Camren", giving off a dark yet elegant vibe.

A lavender stocking caught Eve's eye. She grabbed it off the hook, and proudly held it up to Freya, who smiled and nodded in approval. Long white fur adorned the collar and purple glitter covered the bottom half.

They eventually made their way to the checkout. The cashier didn't seem too thrilled with having to ring up three carts' worth of decorations. Lights, wall decor, tinsel, ornaments, toy sets, table decor, stockings, and more were sorted into bags and out the door.

They stopped at the grocery store next. It was decided that tonight would be decorating, and they'd make sugar cookies. Gift swapping and the large meal would come this weekend. But right now, Camren was hyper focused. He had a mental list going, checking off things as he accidentally kept walking ahead of the group.

"Freya, you're not allergic to nuts, are you?"

Liam and Aron snickered.

"No, I would have warned you ahead 'a time, mate," Liam taunted.

Camren scoffed and turned sour.

"You're disgusting."

Freya shook her head lightly in response to Camren, ignoring the tornado that was Liam.

"Okay, I just needed to know so I didn't make bad cookies. And you, Eve?" He called.

"Nope. Just allergic to Liam."

"Hey!" He fussed.

As they walked through the store, Aron and Eve fell to the back of their group, behind everyone. She didn't have a cart in this store, so she walked at her own pace, with Aron matching it.

Desmond was in front of them with Liam, behind Camren and Freya. Liam kept pulling things off of shelves and adding them to the cart, with Desmond adding a thing or two occasionally. Mainly snacks. Things they noticed the girls liked, too.

As they continued through the aisles, she started to feel Aron's eyes flicker to her on and off. She'd look back at him, sometimes meeting his eyes. He wrapped his arm around her waist as they walked and rubbed her hipbone with his thumb. It was a spot that only Aron knew drove Eve wild. She swung her head around to look at him with questioning eyes, but he had an underlying lust in his. His hand snaked behind her and grabbed her ass, squeezing it firmly.

"We have a track record for bathrooms," he uttered in her ear. "Wanna add to it?"

She laughed, walking even slower to distance them from the group further. Her adrenaline spiked and her heartbeat fluttered. She looked at him and nodded. He couldn't keep his hands off of her lately. The idea of a quickie in public excited her. Their own dirty little secret.

They broke away and walked to the restrooms. Eve pushed open the door to the family bathroom, a single stall room with a lock on the door.

He grabbed her hips and pushed her against the wall gently, kissing her deeply. His soft lips moved against hers before he slipped his tongue into her mouth softly. His tongue massaged hers as her breathing became heavy. Her hands wandered to his belt, unbuckling it and pulling his pants down. There was a fervent urgency consuming both of them, they wanted to strip the other as fast as they could.

He shimmied her leggings down and off before grabbing her ass and lifting her up against the wall. She wrapped her legs around him and he pulled her panties to the side. Her wet entrance throbbed for him. He slid inside, making her walls stretch around him. He was so girthy, each time he entered her, she had to take a second to adjust. The idea that the world on the opposite side of the door was completely normal turned her on even more.

He thrust into her as she was held up against the wall. The angling made her whimper softly, his cock hit her sweet spot perfectly with her legs up like this. She knew she wasn't going to last long. His head tilted to the side as he kissed her, lips parted and gliding together.

His pace quickened and Eve pulled back, trying to stop herself from moaning loudly. It felt so, so good. His breath quickened as he shuddered, enjoying every moment inside of her. They locked eyes and he could tell she was trying to suppress a moan. His eyes lit up with a fire as he wrapped his hand around her mouth, muffling all her noises for her.

"Yeah.. tell me how good it feels.." he purred.

He nodded with a dark smile as he watched her struggle to contain it all. With each passing moment, the intensity of his thrusts increased, driving Eve closer and closer to the edge of ecstasy. Small fragments of moans escaped through his hand, the sounds making him feral.

"Be a good girl and make a mess all over my dick, Eve."

Her eyes rolled back in satisfaction as her body shook uncontrollably. Her long nails dug into the back of his neck as she pulsed around his length, moaning loudly into his hand. Tremors replaced her nerves, veins turning to lightning bolts. He watched her, eyes full of lust. Her skin reddened as the blood rushed to her face, heartbeat drumming loudly under her skin.

He looked down at his cock going in and out of her, watching a thick, creamy whiteness coat it now. Her walls were slicker as they slipped around him. He took one look in her eyes, seeing her drunk with pleasure, and caved. His lips crashed onto hers as he groaned loudly, exploding inside of her.

They continued to kiss as they stayed in this same position. She panted as she tried to steady her breathing from her high. Aron pulled away from her lips and looked at her adoringly. He brushed her hair out of her face.

"I love you... so much."

She smiled and kissed him back.

"I love you more."

"No. Never."

They continued with the "nuh uh"s and "yah huhs" as Eve quickly cleaned him out of her. He fixed his hair and made sure his belt was situated as she fixed herself up, too.

Eve blushed heavily while Aaron laughed as they left the bathroom, catching an old woman's eyes on the way out. She glared and shook her head, making them laugh even harder as they went to find their group.

They found the group in the ice cream section. As they walked up, Desmond was throwing a box of fudge pops into the cart.

"Oh, hey." Camren said, noticing the lingering blush on Eve's cheeks.

"Hey, um.. sorry. We wanted to go check out the flower area together." Aron lied through his teeth, in which everyone saw through immediately.

"Yeah, that's why Eve's lipstick is down your neck," Freya laughed.

Aron's hand flew to his neck and rubbed it. Sure enough, dark streaks of mauve were on his fingertips. He laughed it off as Eve cringed with embarrassment.

"Alright. Yeah, whatever, you caught us."

Liam smirked as Desmond clenched his jaw, looking away. Camren and Freya didn't pay much mind, knowing they couldn't say much since they ditched the group after sledding.

"We have everything we need, Camren, let's leave."

"Yeah, I suppose. Oh, wait!" He said suddenly, directing the cart to the baking aisle.

The group groaned before Camren looked behind his back.

"Oh my god, okay, I'll hurry."

________________

The group split the decorating up into several sections.

Aron and Liam fought to put the string lights up all around the house. They instantly climbed to the roof with no ladder and began goofing off, pushing each other as close to the gutter as possible.

It nearly gave Eve a heart attack watching them as she looked up from the ground, Desmond at her side.

Her and Desmond planned to decorate the backside of the house with outdoor lights before going inside. Since it was the back, there weren't many lights to be put up.

Camren and Freya were inside, of course. Camren ws already in the kitchen, working his magic with Freya at his side.

At this point, Eve and Desmond were on light duty. They'd been working for at least a half hour. She was on his shoulders, stretching to reach the gutters. The first few minutes were spent trying to get a smooth routine down. They were eventually successful in finding a flow, Eve would hold the string to the house and Desmond would pass adhesive up to her.

"Let's take a break from hanging these, maybe put the ground lights in?" He suggested, "Your arms must be sore."

"I'm okay," she insisted as he let her down from his shoulders. She turned around to kiss him.

"But sure, we can work on the ground lights."

They looked at the endless boxes in the snow, no doubt the product of Liam's impulse shopping. Desmond picked up some bulbs that would sink into the ground and flash winter designs on the side of the house.

He began to unwrap one, Eve taking the garbage from his hands and shoving it into the garbage bag she brought outside with them. The sun was setting now, colorful streaks shooting across the winter sky.

The next few minutes passed as he installed the light into the ground, taking his sweet time to ensure he did it correctly. He was on all fours, tinkering with the light and making sure it wouldn't disassemble during the next snowfall. Eve unwrapped the next one for him as he finished up. He stood up and turned to her, grabbing the plastic bulb with his large hands.

She giggled.

"On your knees," Eve said sexily, testing the waters.

His face hardened, his expression becoming taut.

He threw the bulb to the side before grabbing Eve's throat with his hand. In the blink of an eye, she was pinned against the side of the house, staring up at his cold eyes.

"That shit may fly with Aron, but it won't with me. The dominance." He said as he glared down at her. She struggled to breathe, only earning slight breaths under his grip. Aside from this, she still felt the need to defy him.

"We'll see," she croaked softly.

"'We'll see?'" he repeated darkly. "No. I will never submit to you. Do you understand?"

His other hand reached down and softly touched her, feeling the heat emitting from her center. He rubbed teasingly, yet denied her any form of real satisfaction.

She began to squirm at this point. His grip tightened, pushing her further. Even though she was breathless, she was pulsing between her legs. What the fuck was wrong with her?

"I said, 'Do you understand?'" He growled into her ear as she tried to pull at his arm, lightly digging her nails into his skin.

She nodded with her last bit of energy. She could tell her face was turning lavender. Black spots began to cloud the outside of her vision, a twisted sort of vignette.

He released his grip on her neck as she crumpled to the ground. In a millisecond, he picked her up in his arms bridal style and set her on the back porch steps. He leaned down to kiss her deeply.

"I'm not the one around here to test," he warned in between kisses.

"You'll get hurt."

Eve blinked as she swallowed, her neck on fire. There was no doubt in Eve's mind that bruises would bloom where his hands just were. Eve sat and watched Desmond complete the rest of the lights. He let her sit it out without question, partially feeling bad for how rough he'd gotten with her.

The unmistakable scent of sugar cookies wafted out of the kitchen window. It had been cracked to let some heat out of the kitchen due to the amount of appliances Camren and Freya had running- specifically that "bloody oven".

Desmond boots crunched on the snow as he walked over to Eve.

"You okay, sweetheart?"

She nodded as he rubbed her neck gently.

"Let's go inside and work on something else. I'll leave the rest of these lights to the goons on the roof."

She nodded as Desmond called Liam and Aron over. Liam was eager to take on more lights, happily grabbing them from Desmond. Aron's eyes twinkled when he looked at Eve.

She and Desmond went inside and began clearing off surfaces. They cleaned off tables, shelves, etc., making them free to display decor. They hung up colored lights in the house, too.

Eve lit a Pine scented candle, and soon the home smelled like Christmas. The only thing missing was a tree, which would be assembled next. It sat in Freya's trunk. She'd purchased it the day before, along with a gazillion ornaments.

Hours later, the entire group was inside. The men were drunk and lovey, openly embracing their girls and being extra nice to each other. Desmond and Aron, for one, weren't openly upset at the other touching Eve.. but simply waited their turn. It made Eve's head spin.

The girls were tipsy. They kept it easy on the drinking, wanting to make sure all of the decorations were set up properly before completely unwinding. A Christmas mix was playing, floating through the house as everyone dove into the holiday spirit.

Surprisingly, Camren took a break from the kitchen for a couple hours. He had a meal cooking, but made it a priority to come out and socialize as the Christmas tree was being put up and decorated.

He managed to find the only mistletoe that was purchased at the bottom of a bin. Mischievously, Camren put it right above the bottom of the stairs. This was easily one of the most frequently traveled places in the entire home- the place most people bumped into one another. In the first hour of it being up, two people had already fallen victim to it.

Aron drunkenly struggled to assemble the tree, trying to match colors and branch sizes. Liam and Desmond tried to help before Aron sprung up onto his feet and groaned loudly.

"Ugh! Fuck all this!"

He walked out the front door and the rest of the men laughed, knowing exactly what he was about to do. The girls were clueless as they wrapped their arms around themselves and stepped onto the porch to watch him. They couldn't see anything, looking out into the vast darkness, they searched for Aron. The tree line was just past the pond on the side of their home, and the men were looking in that direction. The girls followed their eyes. They heard a tree in the distance rustling, then snapping, and the men cracked into laughter around the girls.

"Can't believe he's doing this."

"A numpty, he is."

"A whole nimwit!"

Within moments, Aron's silhouette reappeared, black against the night behind him. Aron had an entire tree thrown over his shoulder as he walked to the house. He grinned excitedly as he came into clear view. The girls' mouths dropped and they laughed in disbelief. He lifted it up and shook it viciously to drop all the snow off it. Eve and Freya watched him in shock, knowing damn well he just plucked that from the ground.

Within minutes, they stood the tree up in the living room. It was huge, larger than any Christmas tree either girl had before. Camren and Freya took their time stringing the lights onto it, then the rest put tinsel and ornaments on. Freya unpacked the star from the store's packaging and before she knew it, she was crouched on Camren's shoulders. She squealed and he walked them over to the tree. Watching the two interact made both Desmond and Aaron feel warm inside, and they both instinctively reached for Eve. Aron grabbed her hand, wrapping his fingers in hers. Desmond snaked his hand around her waist, and both were holding her without even realizing it.

The star was set on top. Freya dropped down and plugged it in. The finished product made the group gasp. Everyone smiled ear to ear as they took in the sight. The room felt peaceful and warm, full of love and comfort amongst the group. For the first time in months, there was no tension between anyone, they were all too loose from the liquor to be upset about anything.

Camren kissed Freya and they hugged. Both men on either side of Eve looked down at her. Their eyes set on the other man's point of contact with her, and she froze. She didn't want to be stuck in the middle of awkwardness right now. Eve quickly stepped away from both Aron and Desmond, going to the kitchen to pour herself another drink. She didn't want to be confused tonight, didn't want to face the whiplash. She'd never witnessed Aron and Desmond willingly share her attention. Yet, neither man let her go when they realized the other was holding her. There was no drama, no glares, no animosity, yet Eve was expecting it.

Her mind reeled with confusion as she took a drink of her hot buttered rum, feeling it coat the inside of her stomach. Soft Christmas music floated out of the living room and she wondered just what Aron and Desmond were doing.

Chapter Text

Whole- Basement

Rick’s was slammed the next day. A blizzard hit the town out of absolutely nowhere, meaning most businesses shut down. This prompted all of the blue collar workers from the factories up the road to stumble into Rick’s, ready to warm their bellies with cheap beer and liquor. Lately, Eve had been bouncing between first, second, and third shift, making her sleep deprived and completely worn out.

Her patience was wearing thin, as was her social meter. Eve counted down the hours until her relief showed up and she could clock out. The storm roared outside as the inches of snow continued to pile up against the glass door of the bar, yet no one inside cared. The men were giddy and toasted, not paying attention to anything else aside from their drinks and friends. The pool tables and dart boards were occupied at all times. Hell, even the gambling machines were filled up. In any other state, this blizzard would have shut down the entire town for days- but here, the locals cracked jokes about making popsicles outside and doing donuts in parking lots.

Finally, her relief arrived, eyes bulging at the sight of the business. She spent a good ten minutes brushing off the mounds of snow that accumulated on her Jeep before getting inside and cranking the heat. She was so beyond thankful that her Jeep was four wheel drive and even had an off-roading option if things got intense on the road. She made sure her tires were replaced right before fall, so as long as she didn’t fly down the roads.. she knew she’d be safe.

The snow plows did their best, but it was hard to keep snow off the roads while it was coming down so heavily. Throughout her shift, Desmond, Aron, and Freya all texted her asking her to drive home safely. Aron even offered to call her while she was driving after work to prevent her from getting anxious.

She’d woken up early and spent quite a bit of time at her house that morning, hanging out with Percy and spending time on her own couch. It felt so odd lounging at home now. Her home didn’t really feel like “home” anymore, aside from Percy. It used to be her safe space, her haven. Her and Freya used to spend hours upon hours in her living room.. watching movies, listening to music and gossiping. Now, it all took place at the boys’ house. Eve didn’t even put up her mini Christmas tree this year, and still hadn’t taken down her Halloween lights above her TV. She’d spend the night here at least twice a week to hang out with Percy, sometimes Aron would join, but never Desmond. It was nice to get a break from the crowded house here and there.

Her Jeep slid across the road as she trekked to their house. Sleep Token’s discography was on shuffle, playing softly through her speakers. Desmond’s voice soothed her anxiety as she pushed through the snow. She could barely see out her windshield.

She reached the house and quickly ran to the front door, pulling it open and stomping the snow off her boots. Camren was in the middle of making dinner, the smell of burgers filled the air. Liam, Desmond, Aron and Freya were all in the living room playing Mario Kart. Jigglypuff was absolutely crushing all of the other characters as it flew past Yoshi, knocking him out of first place. Liam yelled in frustration as Freya laughed viciously. Her and Desmond laughed loudly as the screen erupted in confetti, meaning she passed the finish line.

“That’s right, we won again!” She said with a beaming smile and a seated happy dance.

Desmond gave her a high five and matched her smile. Aron rolled his eyes.

“Yeah, yeah whatever,” Liam grumbled, standing up to stretch and flip them the bird. Desmond smirked as Freya stuck her tongue out at Liam.

They all looked at Eve as she entered the room. She was met with waves and greetings from everyone. As she made her way to sit next to Freya, several pairs of eyes followed her.

“I’m glad you made it here safe, babe, I was worried about you. The roads are so bad right now,” Freya said.

“Yeah.. they’re not the best, but it’s nothing I haven’t driven in before,” Eve laughed lightly.

“Dinner!” Camren yelled from the kitchen. The girls quickly made their way to him and filled plates, throwing toppings on their burgers and grabbing French fries before going to the dining room. The men weren’t too phased by the idea of dinner time, for obvious reasons. None of them moved from their spots on the couch.

“Cam.. you don’t always have to cook for us, you know,” Freya began as he passed her. He shooed her away in response.

The group in the living room decided on a movie once Camren sat down with them. The opening scenes of The Exorcist filled the screen as the girls inhaled their food in the next room over. Freya asked Eve how her shift was, and she filled her right in. Freya didn’t have work that day, of course Starbucks closed due to the blizzard. The bars in town were really the only things that stayed open during times like this.

They re-joined as the movie began to pick up in pace, Freya curling up with Camren. As Eve walked closer to the couches she realized the only spot available was between… Desmond and Aron. She sighed internally, but sat down regardless. Something inside her wanted to straddle both of them, to kiss both men. The urge to feel both of their skin on hers was almost unbearable, and it was an equal amount. She was attracted to Desmond just as much as she was to Aron, and vice versa. Her anxiety increased, yet she still put on her game face.. knowing all four vampires in the room could hear her heart beating.

The Christmas tree glowed from the corner as the movie lit up with ghastly scenes of possession. Desmond staked his claim on Eve by winding his fingers through hers. Aron saw this and put his hand on her other thigh. She almost felt trapped, claustrophobic by the realization that this would inevitably end badly.

Liam mocked Regan’s possessed voice, quoting the unsavory lines from the film.

“Your mother sucks cocks in hell, Karras, you filthy slime!” Regan and Liam said simultaneously. His impression was so good, Eve thought momentarily that Regan’s own voice had echoed around the room.

Camren laughed out loud at him, fully cracking up as they both knew the dialogue word for word- it was one of their favorite movies. Aron’s grip on her thigh tightened as he began to rub her thigh muscle. One of his love languages was clearly giving physical touch, always putting his hands on her in some way, shape or form. Desmond glanced over and Eve watched him clench his jaw out of the corner of her eye. He began to rub his thumb on the back of her hand.

Even though both of the men she loved, that she would give her heart for, were touching her.. she didn’t feel close to either one in that moment. She felt suffocated, a heavy blanket choked her and her heartbeat thudded in her ears. She almost felt claustrophobic. Her brain told her “no”, all of the alarm bells in her mind were screaming. She became more conscious of her own breath as the movie reached its climax, Regan’s head spun and the priest was being tossed around the room on the screen.

It was difficult to keep it together, every brush of Desmond’s thumb was pushing her further and further to insanity. Every stroke of Aron’s hand made her want to sink into the fabric of the couch.

The movie ended finally and Camren scooped Freya up. She giggled as they made their way to the kitchen to fetch some leftover sugar cookies. Eve’s heart was beating out of her chest and anxiety restricted her airway. She felt like she was about to throw up.

Liam got up and walked out to the porch to smoke, leaving the trio alone in the living room as the credits rolled.

Aron wasn’t sure what took over. He reached over to Eve and gave her a kiss on the cheek. Desmond, wanting to keep up with the competition, did the same. Eve froze in place, realizing both men were using her as a pawn in their own race. And what was the finish line? Earning her. Yet unknowingly in the process.. they were both losing her.

Both men realized she was frozen stiff, not responding to either of their touches.

“Get your hands off of her,” Aron broke the silence. Eve was drowning, unable to speak.

“You do the same.”

“Absolutely not.”

Sheer, white hot anger filled Eve. The gates had opened, boiling rage bubbling over. Something in her finally snapped.

“Both of you, stop fucking touching me,” she said through gritted teeth. Each word was its own syllable.

They both looked at her, in shock at the tone of her voice. Both men gave her distance. Eve almost couldn’t contain the anger that was coursing through her veins. She was uncontrollable, all of the feelings she’d been harboring for months between the two finally rose to the surface. She trembled with fury as the two began to spit the worst things they could say to Eve, tearing the other down. Each ear contained a different voice, making her mind swirl.

“Eve, Aron would have killed you if it weren’t for me. Remember?”

“Desmond lied to you for months. Kept you away from m-“

“Stop!” She screamed.

The two men looked at her, horrified. Liam entered the room again, standing on guard. He sensed the tension in the room from outside.

Eve looked at both men with a deep disgust. Desmond, with his rich brown hair and eyes that lived through centuries. Aron, with his colorfully designed skin and velvety lips. Both looked up at her helplessly. Desperately. They knew they’d gone too far.

It all clicked in her mind. There was no way she would ever get out of this situation. She could never pick between the two of them- and her worst fear was unfolding right before her eyes… It was time to choose. She’d hurt one and live with regret for the rest of her life either way. Eve couldn’t do it.

Her anger manifested tears that she tried to blink back. Maybe if she’d blink hard enough, this entire situation would disappear. Maybe she’d wake up in her bed the morning they all met. Maybe this was all just a dream..

Both men instinctively reached out a hand to console her but stopped when they saw it mirrored. She turned on her heel, immediately going up the steps to enter Aron’s room. Her hands reached for any and all of her clothing that was put about the space. She stuffed her bag with everything of hers she could find before leaving Aron’s room and going to Desmond’s. She wiped tears away from her eyes as she did the same in his room. She heard bickering from downstairs that just kept getting louder as the two took no pauses between their insults. She heard Liam try to intervene unsuccessfully.

Thoughts raced through her mind, pulling her even deeper into this mental pit. How fucked up was it that she had to retrieve her clothing from two separate mens’ bedrooms. How irresponsible of her to lead both on and get wrapped up in this? She made her way into the bathroom and grabbed a few toiletries she needed from the “girl’s” drawer, shoving them into her bag.

“I need to leave…” she whispered to herself in a weak attempt to soothe her racing heart. Completely trying to dodge her own emotions that swallowed her up like a hot air balloon.

The moment the words left her lips, both men ghosted up the stairs and met her outside the bathroom door as she pushed past them. They both began to beg, literally beg for Eve to not leave.

“Please, Eve..”

“Stop..”

Freya picked up on the situation quickly.

“Eve, you can’t leave, the roads are too dangerous! You’ll get in a wreck!”

Eve burned her a glare before shoving past the two men blocking her.

Aron and Desmond were both torn. Should they compel her into staying? Should they physically hold her from leaving? If her safety was at risk.. What should they do to stop her from leaving?

Both men were fighting tears themselves, knowing they totally fucked up. The look in her eyes clearly stated that she was finally done.

“I can’t do it. I can’t do this anymore,” she mumbled in between tears. “It’s not fair to you, or to him, or to me. Or Freya. Anyone else that has to watch it. I can-“

She pushed past the crowded steps and out into the white vastness. The wind screamed around her as huge flakes fell everywhere. Eve couldn’t hear anyone’s voices clearly anymore, the gusts were muting everything. Freya ran next to her, her voice getting lower with urgency as she tried to get Eve to listen.

“Eve, stay with me in Cam’s room tonight, he’ll give us space. You don’t even have to leave the house. Please, I understand. Please, Eve I can’t let you drive in this, you won’t even be able to see.”

“I don’t feel like fucking talking to anyone,” Eve bit.

Freya understood what her best friend meant.. nothing she could say would stop her. She wanted to have Camren compel her to stay. It was fucked up, but she was desperate.

Eve tried to avoid slipping on the slick ground while quickly walking to her Jeep. She didn’t bother cleaning the snow off before swinging the door open, angrily throwing her bags inside and getting in the front seat.

Aron and Desmond both approached as she flicked her headlights on, but she didn’t care. Her insides had turned to ice and she was in self-protection mode. Her mind was going to paint both men as villains in order to cope with the situation.

She shoved the shifter into reverse and pressed hard on the gas, quickly dragging the Jeep down the driveway. She needed to leave. Her mind kept repeating it.

You need to go.
This isn’t the place for you anymore.
These men will end up hurting you.
Or you’ll end up hurting them.
You’re selfish for staying around.
They don’t love you anyways.
Freya’s not thinking straight either.
You should have never met them.
Leave now before someone gets hurt.

On instinct, Eve’s eyes shot to the top of the drive one last time. Aron, Desmond, Freya, Liam and Camren stood outside as the snow fell rapidly around them. Camren’s arms were around Freya as she cried into his chest. Liam looked glum- really the first time Eve saw the blonde look truly sad. Aron and Desmond both trumped Liam in sadness, looking as if life had been drained out of them. Sheer agony read across their features, a hopeless look in their eyes. Her heart sank as she took in the scene, realizing this is exactly what she was leaving behind. The people she loved. This is the life she was walking away from. Did she want to do that..?

No. But she had to. For everyone’s sake.

The wheels on her jeep whirled viciously through the snow as she reversed out of the driveway. Freya was right- the roads were horrible. She was sure to crash.. but at this point, she didn’t care.

Her visibility was extremely low between the white blur through the windshield and her own tears. Her chest heaved with sobs as her hands trembled. Flames shot up her throat, the sobs ringing hollow where her voice should’ve been.

Her Jeep slid around the narrow country road as she gained speed. Silence filled her car, for once she didn’t rush to turn music on. Tonight.. the silence was louder than the music usually was. She wiped tears from her cheeks and eventually slowed her car down. If she flipped her car, she’d die in a blizzard. By the time anyone would find her body, she’d be frozen stiff and blue. The thought made her shudder as she continuously pressed the brake pedal. The slower she went meant the longer the drive; thus being more time to think. More opportunity to resist turning around. As much as she wanted to run away, to flee into solitude, into safety.. she also wanted to run into their arms. Their arms were safet- No. If she was going to get anywhere, she had to stop thinking like that.

Eventually the tears stopped coming. Her nose was raw and tingly, cheeks itchy from her tears. She sat in silence as her car plummeted through the snowy town roads nearing her house. Eve was so thankful her Jeep was all wheel drive. She pulled into her parking spot and shoved the shifter into park. Both of her hands found the top of the steering wheel and she rested her head on her biceps. Closing her eyes, she was drowning in thought and emotion. So much so, that she really didn’t know what she was even feeling or thinking anymore.

What the fuck was she going to do now?

Eve slowly made her way into her apartment and all the way to her front door. Her feet felt like they were made of lead, dragging all of her prior daydreams of the future behind her on strings.

Percy chirped a greeting at her the moment she opened the door, wrapping himself around her ankles and nudging her aggressively. She picked him up and cooed at him as he nudged her cheek and licked the salty remnants of her tears from her skin.

Eve didn’t even bother changing into pajamas or stripping her clothing off, she just walked right into her room and crawled into her bed. Percy assaulted her with cuddles, laying right on her chest and purring in her face. If she could have, she would have started crying again. The sadness swallowed her, but her body couldn’t muster up any more tears. Her mind was a pensieve of many things- memories of her and both Aron and Desmond, but also just of “what if’s”. She realized she would have to rebuild her life from this point on. The life that she knew, that she’d grown to love, was now over. The family they all became to be.. gone. Dismantled. Except it wasn’t on their end, it was just because of her.

Her phone danced with a jingle and matching vibrations on the nightstand; no doubt someone from the house calling her. She knew better than to answer it and ignored it. Guilt rippled through her, she felt horrible for hurting Freya and the rest, but it was the only way Freya would finally let her leave. Percy’s purrs vibrated her chest, healing her heart as she quickly drifted off to sleep mid-thought.

______________

It seemed she’d only gotten five minutes of sleep. An aggressive knock woke Eve, filling her stomach with dread. Why didn’t they listen to her when she told them to stay away? She couldn’t distance herself any further than literally going to her own house.

She untangled her legs from the sheets and groaned as she walked to the front door, rubbing her right eye in exhaustion.

Freya looked at her with troubled brown eyes. A mixture of sadness, confusion and frustration aligned with her features. Her brows were pinched, blue hair messy and unkempt. She was still wearing the same clothes from last night, except there was an extra sweater thrown over her small frame today.

“Come in,” Eve said.

She still felt guilty about her parting words to Freya just twelve some hours before.

Freya walked in and sat on the couch, sitting cross legged with a pillow on her lap. Percy jumped up next to her. Eve sat down across from her and looked down at her hands, not knowing what to say. She figured she’d be honest at least. Freya stayed silent.

“I’m sorry for being bitchy toward you last night.”

“You were,” Freya responded, “But it’s okay. I understand.”

“You don’t, though.”

Freya’s shoulders fell as she rubbed her temples with one hand. Her brows pinched again and she let out a heavy sigh.

“But I do.”

“We’re in the same situation, Frey, but we’re also in very different situations.”

“Yeah.”

“I don’t want to fight with you… I don’t want there to be tension between us. I just don’t know how to resolve the situation without hurting someone.”

“It’s a hard situation to navigate. I can honestly tell you though.. you’ve already hurt them.”

“Freya, are you serious? You’ve been by my side the entire time everything has happened- you’ve seen how both of them have lied to me and manipulated me an-“

“I’m not saying you don’t have a right to be upset, Eve. You do. And I don’t blame you for blowing up last night. You were feeling a lot of emotions. Just don’t… fucking… leave during a goddamned blizzard again and then not even let me know you made it home safe. Never again.”

Eve relaxed a bit.

“Okay.”

“Promise.”

“I promise.”

“I came over for a few reasons. One, to make sure you weren’t in a ditch. And second, to get some space for myself.. I didn’t want to go home and be alone but I just need to be.. somewhere else for a bit.”

“Why?”

“What do you mean, ‘why?’”

Eve sat quietly.

“The entire house was in shambles when you left last night. Aron and Desmond were beside themselves. Liam was trying to console both of them. Camren tried to help too, after I managed to fall asleep. There’s been a whole lot of emotion in the house since then.”

“I’m sorry….” Eve felt tears well up in her own eyes.

“At least they weren’t fighting.”

Eve couldn’t contain the shock on her face.

“They weren’t fighting?”

“No. They were too upset to fight. Even this morning. And they haven’t been avoiding each other either.. I don’t know what’s happening but they’ve actually been at each other’s side the entire day. Quiet, but.. I-I don’t know.”

Eve put a hand in her own hair and rubbed her scalp soothingly. It didn’t make sense. Aron and Desmond… together the whole morning? What were they doing?

There was a long pause from both of the girls. They sat in silence, accepting it. They were both so exhausted.

“Freya… I’m not going back.”

She looked at Eve with furrowed brows. Her eyes squinted and there was an intensity in the air as if Eve had just revealed some deep, dark secret.

“What?”

“I’m.. not coming back. I’m staying here at home from now on. I’m done being a part of the.. group, whatever it is. I’m done with both of them. I really meant it last night.”

Anger flickered in Freya’s eyes before she sat up straight.

“Why?”

“You know why. Because I had a reality check. They’re not good for us.”

“I can’t believe you’re saying this.”

“Freya, they’re vampires. Their ability to woo any human over is part of the package for them. They’re using us for-“

“For what, exactly? For attention? They don’t want attention, Eve, that’s why they stay anonymous. For sex? Any of them could have any girl they want and they know it. They don’t need us for money, or for fame, or for.. quite literally anything. I’ve wondered for months why they even like us so much.” She spoke with emotion, the pace of her words picking up as she threw her hands up in frustration at the end.

“They’ve brainwashed us.”

“Be so fucking serious right now, Eve. You did not just call me brainwashed.”

“Freya, I really think we need to go our own ways from them. Do you see a future with them at all? I mean come on, they’re going to live forever and we’re going to die before them. Unless of course…” she trailed off and shivered at the thought. “I’m not trying to insult you, Freya. I care about you so much and I just don’t see this situation resolving itself without someone getting hurt.”

“Someone already has!”

“I know, and I feel horrible. I.. I just don’t know what to d-do, these aren’t normal men and I..”

Eve lost it again. She cracked, and the tears began to pool out of her eyes. She covered her face with both hands as she sobbed. Not only were the group of men upset with her, but now her best friend was, too. As if the past four months haven’t been the most confusing time period in her entire life thus far.

“Think about all of the emotions we’ve felt so far while being involved with them. How many have been happy and how much time have we spent in either a love triangle, or you trying to reel Aron in when he went AWOL, or.. I mean, really, how much happiness has there been compared to sadness?”

Freya looked at her with a stone cold look on her face.

“It really hurts that you’re choosing to see the negativity over all of the positivity. I know you’re doing it as a coping mechanism, but.. come on. We sacrifice things for those we love, and sometimes that means loving someone through their struggles and pain. We love them enough to keep their secret. Eve.. we love them. And they love us.”

Eve blinked tears back. She knew the wall she was putting up between her and them was a coping mechanism. Her brain didn’t know how to protect herself from pain any other way.

“Freya.. I can’t have them both. And I can’t pick. And they’re asking me to. I can’t do it.”

“Have they asked you to?”

“Not outright, but damn near.”

“There’s a reason you didn’t leave right when things started getting complicated, Eve. You love them. You love them both, and you see that they love you too. That’s what’s kept you pulled in… Don't forget about that. Don’t just brush that away.”

Eve sat quietly as she took it all in. Freya was right.

“I’m going to stay with Camren because I love him. And if that makes me brainwashed, then so be it.” The tone in her words stung Eve beyond belief and she could tell Freya was upset.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. I’m not mad at you. Just know that you have to make a choice. Fight for the love you want, the love no man has ever given you.. or run away from it. Either way, the choice is yours and you’ll have to live with it.”

She got up and walked to the front door. Eve stayed put, those words cementing her to the couch.

Chapter Text

Turning Page- Sleeping At Last

Why the hell did Freya always have to be right?

Eve stared at her living room ceiling. A movie blared from the TV on the wall. It was habit to check her phone periodically; for the past few months, her phone would always have a notification from either Aron or Desmond upon each glance. That was quickly no longer a reality since she’d blocked them both. It hurt to do. Her heart sank in her stomach as she stared at either contact for about ten minutes. Her fingers flipped between the two, studying the contact photos.

Aron’s contact photo was a selfie he’d taken of both him and her. Aron wore a beaming smile as Eve sat on his lap and kissed his cheek. He had his arms wrapped around her. Eve looked back on the exact moment the photo was taken- she had no recollection of it at the time, but she remembered the pure bliss she felt in her chest while kissing Aron. In the moments following, he kissed her on the lips and locked his arms around her before tickling her sides, making her shriek with joy and squirm to get out of his grasp. She failed, inevitably, and Eve could still hear Aron’s laughter ringing in her ears as she studied the screen.

Desmond’s contact photo was a black and white still of him playing the piano in his room. Sunlight peeked in through his curtains and his head was bent down, feeling the vibrations through the keys. His dark brown hair was tousled perfectly as his long fingers glided over the ivory. Eve remembered this moment as well.. It was taken when she woke up one morning. She woke to the soft sound of piano notes filling the room, before getting up and sneaking a photo of Desmond in action. He had no idea she took it. And for some reason, she held it even closer to her heart because of that. The photo captured him in his raw beauty, no posing, no tweaking the “feel” of the frame. Just.. him.

But she had to do it in order to heal… in order to move on. She cried as she hit the “block” button on both. Desmond didn’t have social media, so that was their only point of contact. Aron, however, also had an Instagram, which Eve had to block as well. She looked at his posts one more time before pulling the trigger. Pictures of the night life, shows they’d played, selfies with stage techs, pictures of the streets in the UK, selfies with Freya, and.. her. Selfies of them together. A photo of her browsing the flowers in the garden section on a recent shopping trip. She felt her stomach lurch and nausea crept up her throat as she hit “block”. Camren and Liam followed immediately after. If she was going to cut a couple out of her life, she had to cut them all out.

Fast forward to now.

Her fingers tapped on the backside of the TV remote, closing her eyes and listening to the orchestra play dramatic music in the horror movie on screen. She extended her arm out and clicked the power button.

Eve felt defeated. She was literally going to have to build from the ground up. To completely start over.

What was my life like before I met any of them? She asked herself.

Honestly.. fucking boring.

It was just work and sleep, aside from the times she was lucky to hang out with Freya. Rinse and repeat. She occasionally saw her family and sometimes wandered around the shopping malls by herself. The truth was.. she was a pretty lonely person. She never tried to put herself out there and make friends, her social anxiety usually crippled her into a corner. That’s why meeting the men was so interesting to her. She was absolutely terrified to do it, but the second they met, she just knew it was going to be.. different. They gave her a different feeling than usual. And boy.. “different” sure summed up their relationship with her.

If she was going to find a new daily routine, she needed to just start doing things to keep her mind busy. She sprung up and grabbed her car keys before slipping out of the door and into her jeep.

The drive took her nowhere yet everywhere. She wandered around town, then dipped out onto country roads, just completely wrapped in her thoughts. Her mind drifted away and before she knew it, she realized the jeep was going in the direction of their house. Immediately whipping a U-Turn , she sped back in the direction the tires came from.

She wandered around a couple stores, going in and browsing. The stores were all barely stocked with Christmas right around the corner. The thought made her sad, she remembered how the group was supposed to have a Christmas together. There would be no gift swapping for them this year, no more mistletoe kisses, no more feeling cozy in the house.

Before she thought herself into a deep sadness, she scolded herself. It was on instinct to think of them first, just something her brain was hardwired to do at this point. Each time they popped into her mind, she tried to redirect her thoughts. And it worked.. partially.

One by one, the stores around town began to close. The parking lots began to empty as the closing announcement echoed above her head. Back in her car, she tried to call her mom, but she was met with a voicemail. It made sense, her mother took her meds around dinner time and was usually fast asleep by now. She continued to drive, just wandering… wandering… no direction.. no purpose. It was peaceful, but.. boring. Lackluster.

Eve decided she’d had enough. She turned down the next street and made her way back home. At this point the sun was long gone, and she realized she could get away with taking a few melatonin before slipping off to bed. Go to bed early just to get the day over with. The realization that she’d do this same thing day after day, repeating the same dull cycle for the rest of however long hit her. This wasn’t the life she wanted. It bored her beyond belief. Freya was really her only close friend and with her being sucked into the groups’ presence, there was nothing else for her to do. No company. She rolled her eyes as she made her way back into her home.

After feeding Percy his dinner and popping a few melatonin, she quickly drifted off to sleep on the couch. She hadn’t even realized she’d fallen asleep until a knocking woke her a few hours later.

A groan left her chest before tossing to her side under the warm blanket. It aggravated her. As much as she wanted to socialize, she also wanted solitude. The unending paradox in her own wishes made her dizzy. She was cursed to overthinking and then overthinking those thoughts. Yet, Eve remained stubborn, not bowing down to her mysterious guest. Percy sang greetings to the door as Eve quietly shushed him from under the blanket.

“We’re not home,” she whispered to him. Whoever was showing up at her door late at night could simply wait until tomorrow.

The knocking stopped, prompting Eve to fall right back into her deep slumber. The melatonin did its job at putting her back into dreamland.

She was abruptly woken to a loud BANG!

Her eyes struggled to focus on what was happening as her dark hallway was suddenly filled with two tall figures, quickly getting closer to her each millisecond. Her brain scrambled to make sense of it. The front door was shut again, even though it had been chain locked to begin with. Eve’s heart began to pound in her chest and she felt a hand cover her mouth as she let out a-

“Don’t scream,” Desmond’s silky voice commanded in her ear. Her eyes were still adjusting to the darkness in her home as she made out the second figure. Aron.

He stood in front of her with a soft smile on his face before reaching down and flicking on her living room lamp. Warm, dim lighting filled the space, chasing only some of the shadows away. Percy was long gone, having taken off at the sudden noise of the chain and latch being broken.

Desmond removed his hand and gently brushed it against her shoulder. Her mind couldn’t process what was happening.

And then it clicked.

“Are you serious?!” She yelled, her voice echoing around the room. She didn’t care what time it was.

Desmond’s hand quickly found her mouth again.

“Don’t. Please.”

She squirmed and shot daggers up at him before reaching for his hand with both of hers. Putting her all into it, she tried to pry it off.. to no avail. Her effort was no match for his strength. Aron came closer and a gust of his cologne enveloped her. He spoke gently, filling her ears with that accent she knew and loved so much.

“Eve, love, please don’t yell. Don’t be angry.”

She felt cornered. She had absolutely nowhere to run, nowhere to go. It was obvious she was stuck right in that exact spot, there would be no moving. Anger flared in her chest as Desmond removed his hand again.

“Evelina, listen to us.”

Her stubbornness reared her head as she angled her face away. They sat down on the opposite couch from her, the dim lighting in the room flattered both, casting a golden gleam onto them.

“Will you just listen?” Desmond bit. He was angry. She hated when he was angry at her. Her interest piqued.

She hesitantly looked over at them.

“Did you seriously just break into my house? Are you both insane? And, what the hell are you both doing here in the first place? You never travel as a duo.”

Aron found some humor in this, a corner of his lips pulling up. Desmond let out a sigh.

“You wouldn’t listen any other way.”

“Yeah. No shit.”

“Be nice,” Aron said, meeting Eve’s squinted eyes with his soft ones.

“Both of you can fuck right off,” she spat.

“I’m ignoring that,” Desmond said.

“Pfft,” she scoffed, “Figures. Just like you both ignored my wishes of solitude.”

“You want to know why we came over here?” Aron spoke with his hands folded.

She sat in silence, stubbornly biting her tongue. Her anger was beginning to subside as the sight of both beautiful men seeped into her irises. She was angry that they literally broke in, yes, but she couldn’t deny that the sight of them on her couch made her happy. This was the first time they were ever in her apartment together, and it was only Desmond’s second time here at all. It made her heart pick up in pace.

“We came here to let you talk. There are clearly things you’ve been battling with mentally, and we want to give you an opportunity to be unfiltered, for once. Our feelings completely aside.”

“And also..” Desmond began, “We’re not letting you run away anymore.”

Eve’s brows pulled together in frustration as she looked down at her hands, knowing damn well that’s exactly what she was doing. The fact that her internal monologue was so obvious to them annoyed her.

“So what do you want me to say?” She challenged. Her eyes avoided theirs like the plague now, looking everywhere else but at their faces in fear of crying. All of her anger transitioned into sadness as tears pricked behind her eyes.

“We want you to tell us how you’re feeling. What you’re thinking. How we can help you.”

“I told you both that things were over. I don’t know how much clearer I could make that for you,” the bitterness dripped from her words.

“You don’t want it to be over, Evelina. So it doesn’t have to be.”

“Yes it does!” She threw her hands up in frustration, her emotions overcoming her.

“You want to know what I’m thinking? That it’s awkward as hell to be sitting here talking to both of you about this. Knowing that I’ve slept with you both and it’s just common knowledge for both of you. I don’t just fuck random people, it means so much more to me than that. And the fact that I‘ve shared that with you both, and this weird fucking love triangle mess..”

“I think it’s weird that I LOVE both of you. I can’t have both of you. That’s just not how these things work for me. I’m not running away, I’m protecting all of our feelings. Protecting you from getting hurt.”

“Respectfully, that’s not for you to do.”

The words came out of her mouth like vomit, spilling right out. Making a mess she didn’t know if she could handle cleaning up. Her honest feelings had been something that were shoved under the rug for the past few months, and now the duo were sitting here looking at her, listening to her.. it almost didn’t feel right.

“I can’t look both of you in the eye and tell myself I’m a good partner to you when I know there’s someone else. And that someone else is your fucking brother, ugh god it’s disgusting.”

They sat there and looked at her, studying her expression. Both wanted to reach out to her, to help her, to take away the sadness she was feeling. To protect her. Eve’s selflessness was something they both held to a high regard, it was an honorable trait- to hold someone else’s feelings above your own. They admired her, even if she couldn’t do it herself.

“Eve.. you are a wonderful partner,” Aron replied gently. Desmond nodded softly next to him.

“Why do you run from the love you deserve?” Desmond asked her. She didn’t want to address this issue, not able to face it head on. Not even in therapy.

“That’s the thing. I don’t deserve it. I feel like you’re lying to me when you say how great I am. This entire situation has been nothing but red flags, nothing but toxic.”

Aron laughed gently and Desmond loosened up at this.

“I can admit that neither of us are perfect.” Aron rolled his eyes and shrugged lightly.

“Speak for yourself,” he said with a cheeky smirk.

All three sat in silence for a moment. They wanted to let her speak, but she couldn’t find the words.

Desmond put an ankle over the other knee, sitting back. Aron rested his forearms on his knees and relaxed. They observed her as she internally begged herself to give in. To just stop fighting it.

Finally, Aron spoke.

“Eve..”

She looked him in the eyes, not nearly prepared for the wall of emotion that would hit her next.

“I love you. More than I’ve ever loved anything. More than music, more than myself,” he paused, “I love you with every heartbeat I’ve ever taken.”

Tears dropped down her cheeks as she felt the sincerity beam from his eyes. It enveloped her in warmth. She nodded, making Desmond smile. Her eyes shifted to him and he spoke gently.

“And I love you. I’m willing to drown in this with you. I wish nothing more than to spend eternity in your presence.”

More tears fell as she shook her head. Her voice cracked upon speaking.

“I- I don’t have forever like you both do.”

Desmond and Aron looked at her with kind eyes, neither seeming bothered by this fact at all. As if it didn’t matter.

“However long we have together.”

She continued to spiral, her brain racked at the reasons why she shouldn’t be with either one. Her head shook and she sat quietly, sniffling as the tears continued to pour.

“I’m going to fight for you, Evelina. But if fighting to have you all to myself ends with me losing you, I’ll do anything else,” Desmond said. Aron nodded at this in agreement, indicating that he, too, felt the same. There was heavy emphasis on the next sentence as it left Aron’s lips.

“We.. would do.. anything.. for you, Eve.”

She studied them with a cocked head as she processed the words.. before understanding what they truly meant. There was no way they meant..?

“I don’t.. I don’t understand.”

“Yes, you do.”

Goosebumps trailed across her skin. Her mind swirled with questions that popped up and dissolved in the same millisecond. She looked down at her hands and then back up into the two sets of blues in front of her. Their tone was stubbornly defiant, yet gentle in the same breath.

“Neither one of us are leaving.. we can’t lose you.”

Her eyes closed and she shook her head.

“I’ve never done this before and- this feels wrong to even imply to you both, I mean.. Desmond, you’re not even polyamorous. You told me yourself that day in the car.”

“I can and will change for love. Aron will too.”

Aron spoke next.

“I’ve never felt a connection like this with anyone ever, especially not with a human. In the past I’ve been polyamorous because no one’s struck me like you. I can’t exist without you.. I know a gift when I see it.”

“But wouldn’t it be awkward..?” She stammered.

“Why would it be awkward? The whole reason we’ve been fighting is for your hand. If we were each allowed a hand, there would simply be no reason to fight.” Desmond answered.

“I’ve never done this before..” she said.

“Honestly, love, we’ve been doing it. Think about it.. the back and forth for the past few months. How recently, you’ve been dating us both at the same time. The big difference would be no more fighting and animosity between us two.”

She softened a bit at this, the words slightly melting her anxiety. He was completely right.

“I just.. this is a lot. And especially since you’re brothers, I..” she trailed off, looking at her hands again.

“Eve, I feel I must remind you that we’re not blood related. And regardless.. we would not be dating each other.”

Aron snorted with laughter at this, and even Desmond chuckled. They looked at each other with humor in their eyes.

“We just want to be with you.. together.” Aron said, whilst maintaining eye contact.

Eve’s heart thumped loudly in her chest as she took in the sight before her, knowing this would be the biggest decision of her entire life. How could she walk away from this? She loved either man so desperately, with all of her being. To know that loving her was such a priority for both of them made her insides writhe with nerves. Both of their eyes were filled with timid excitement, shining bright. As if on queue, Desmond’s voice breached the air again after a slight pause. His blue eyes lie under thick, dark brows as his gaze filled her with electricity.

“Will you.. be ours..?”

Chapter Text

Coming Down- Amira Elfeky

She gasped, but no air left her lungs.

“Will you.. be ours..?”

The words echoed in her mind, rang like a bell in a cavernous chamber.

Ours.

Repeated.

And, what a funny question. It was one she’d never been asked before in her entire life, that was for sure. It was also one she never expected her brain to have to formulate an answer to. Her brain weighed all of the effects of both “yes” and “no”. They looked at her with eyes of equal parts anticipation and nervousness.

Yet, it was the easiest answer she could muster. While her mind flew into creating a pros and cons list, her heart knew the answer right away. It slipped from her mouth.

“Yes.”

Desmond and Aron’s faces cracked into smiles from ear to ear. The sight was so beautiful it almost frightened her, the pulse in her veins quickening. They grinned as if they’d won the lottery, the two monsters completely untraceable in the dim glow of the lamp.

“You won’t regret this,” Aron said with a warm glint in his eyes.

“No,” Desmond nodded. She knew they both wanted to embrace her, but fought the awkwardness of doing it at the same time. So they held back, watching her with eyes of devotion and warmth.

“Well, I hate for us to leave you so soon, but you need to get some rest. You’re mentally exhausted,” Desmond said.

Her brows scrunched as opened her mouth in protest. She didn’t want them to leave. Not at all. Aron cut her off with his brows raised.

“Ah ah.”

She frowned at him.

“Trying to argue with us is a moot point, love.”

She pouted, pushing her lower lip forward to really sell it. It was no longer just one man to win over when she wanted her way, now it was two. A new plan of action popped into her mind. She’d try a new approach.

Eve softened her eyes and looked up at both men as they stood from the couch. Her eyes wandered over Aron’s hands in the dim yellow light, veins bulging from beneath the skin’s surface.

Okay.. I’ll play sweet.

“Alright.. I’ll go to bed, fine. Can you take me?”

She batted her eyelashes and hoped it wasn’t too obvious what she was doing. Desmond nodded gently, always willing to fulfill her needs.

“Of course.”

He picked her up by the waist, flinging her over his shoulder. She gasped loudly and exclaimed out loud as he walked down the hallway to her room. Her arms dangled down his back and she locked eyes with Aron who followed them both with a smirk. Aron could clearly read her mischief a bit better than Desmond could. Her heart leapt to her throat as they entered her room and she realized what this meant- all three of them near her bed.

Desmond set her down softly at the edge of the bed and gave her a sweet parting kiss on the forehead. She was seated, while him and Aron were both standing. Bad thoughts corrupted her. It was useless to ignore her desires. She wanted both of them.. now. She was seated so close to both belts… at a lower level than them.. she could just reach out and…

She looked up at Desmond with puppy dog eyes, not verbalizing anything, but he picked up on her thoughts anyways. A kiss on the forehead, sure. But a kiss on the lips.. even better.

Aron walked over beside her and grabbed her hand, making this the first contact they’d had all night. Aron’s fingers intertwined with hers as Desmond placed both of his hands on Eve’s shoulders and leaned down to give her a soft kiss. As Desmond’s lips melted against Eve’s, Aron brought her hand to his face and brushed his lips against her flesh. It was softer than a whisper, but enough to send a spark to Eve’s core, igniting her cravings even more. She kissed Desmond back hard, running her tongue against his lower lip in a very clear demand. Her free hand reached around behind his ear, lacing her fingers in his hair.

Aron couldn’t help but feel himself strain at the excitement. Desmond kept his eyes closed as he felt the vibration of Eve’s delicate breath on his lips. It was the hardest temptation to resist. He chuckled and pulled away from Eve, who looked physically pained by the separation. Her eyes darted between Aron and Desmond in desperation for the both of them.

“Well aren’t you eager,” he said quietly.

“Yes.. I am..” she admitted breathlessly. Aron maintained eye contact with her and had to resist letting his hands fall to his belt.

“Love, things are going to be different for us now.”

Aron paused to listen. It was true. He was ready to go, wanting more than anything to rip her clothes off and devour her, but they’d have to wait if they really wanted things to run smoothly between the three.

“But..”

“Don’t you worry. Your needs won’t be deprived. However.. our approach will have to change. It can never fall unbalanced. Being as it’s new for all of us.. we have to take things slow.”

Eve didn’t want to hear Desmond’s elegant gibberish but she knew he was right. She cussed under her breath and diverted her gaze to the wall next to her.

“And with that,” Desmond leaned down to give her a peck on the cheek, “goodnight.”

“Goodnight,” she responded.

Aron walked over and did the same, giving her a small squeeze with the kiss. He lingered a moment, not wanting to leave so soon either. He eventually broke away and followed Desmond’s footsteps down the hallway, blowing Eve another kiss on the way out. She smiled.

As she lay in bed, all sorts of emotions washed over her. As per usual, her mind ran right into overdrive, trying to dissect everything. The intense need for both men still hadn’t left her body. She laid there and stared at the black ceiling for a few moments before grabbing her phone and quickly texting Aron.

E: Ugh 😣

A: I know. What a prude. 🤦🏻

She giggled and clutched her phone against her chest. Before she realized it, she was unconscious and dreaming deep.

___________

The next morning, she woke to an empty house. Percy was curled next to her in a warm ball, purring away, his orange fur rising and falling in rhythm. White fluorescent light shot into the room and assaulted her groggy eyes.

She rolled to the edge of her bed and sat there for a moment, waiting for all of the sleep to leave her system. She rubbed her eyes and went over the events of last night, still in disbelief. Still cautious and questioning just how this was all going to work exactly. Desmond was correct, their approach about… everything would have to change. Not just sex.

Percy yelled at her from the hallway, pleading for her to come fill his bowl with breakfast as if he’d been starved for weeks. Eve laughed as she obligedl, giving him a few pats on the head as well. As she stood up, a flash of red caught her eye.

It was placed on her kitchen table. A medium sized box with a bright red silky bow lay before her. Her brows knitted together in confusion as she unraveled the bow and opened it. A card lay atop red confetti, the words “Our Dearest” written in the most beautiful calligraphy on the envelope. She carefully opened it, not wanting to rip the precious handwriting. It was the same handwriting from Desmond’s journal. Her name looked so beautiful in the script, she almost wanted to frame it.

An invitation was enclosed in the envelope. Eve studied it after pulling it out. It was addressed by the large art museum in the nearest bustling city, Sutterfield. Her eyes glossed over the details, making note of a few lines especially.

“Please join us for an evening of celebrating our donors.”

“Wear authentic 1920’s attire, dress to impress!”

“Guest artist speaker Alisa Novikov at 6 pm, seated dinner to follow.”

“Black tie dress code.”

“Auction at 8 pm.”

“Select donors will be awarded!”

“Live music, open bar and dancing to close the evening.”

This.. had to be a mistake? She wasn’t a member, nonetheless a donor at that museum. The last time we visited was years ago, with her art class in high school. She couldn’t forget the sprawling white hallways and black marble flooring, the corridors winding together like a liminal maze.

Yet, the date of the event was exactly one week away and her name was on the invite. She placed the card stock on the countertop and curiously peeked in the box again. A handwritten note from Desmond had been tucked underneath the invitation.

“Evelina,

Please accompany both Aron and I to this event. We would be simply honored to have you on our arm as our guest. Wear something era-appropriate. I’ve arranged a salon appointment for you to get your hair done the day of. And also.. wear this. This will act as a physical representation of our story over time, as it blooms.. the three of us. A limo will arrive at your house at 4 pm sharp. Freya can answer any questions you may have. We look forward to sharing this special evening with you.

All our love,

Desmond and Aron”

What???

A smile broke out across her cheeks. Her heart swelled, picturing his voice reading that letter. She moved some confetti out of the way and found a red mesh sachet. Her fingers picked it up and felt a hard object inside. She pulled the thread undone and removed the metal from its confines.

A solid chrome bracelet lie in her palm. It was beaded with a vintage touch to it. The beads looked glasslike, reflecting bits of sun that leaked into her kitchen. They were threaded around the band and only one charm hung from it. A rose.

“A physical representation of our story over time, as it blooms.. the three of us.”

Damn.

She hated to admit it, but fuck.. they had game. She laughed out loud.

Well, after centuries on this earth.. they’d better.

The grin didn’t leave her face as she dialed Freya. Feeling like a giggly schoolgirl, she blushed with hot cheeks when Freya answered with a laugh.

“I knew you’d be calling soon.”

“Girl, what?! How could I not? And you have inside knowledge about said operation?”

Freya laughed again.

“Yeah. I do. But before that, the number one thing on the list is finding an outfit in time.”

“Oh shit.. yeah, I guess you’re right. I didn’t even really think about that yet.”

“Get over the butterflies and come over to my place. This requires a shopping trip… We’ve got work to do.”

Eve had to physically restrain herself from squealing with joy as she hung up the phone and made her way to her keys.

__________

They wandered the mall, searching high and low for the right dress in the pricey boutiques. Unfortunately, none of these shops really catered to the plus size crowd. Not to mention, none of the dresses really screamed “1920’s”.

Eve huffed in defeat as she took a bite of the corn dog she bought in the food court.

“This is so annoying, I don’t understand why stores won’t expand their size ranges. Like.. a lot of people are over a size 18. This is so frustrating, Frey, and honestly.. kind of.. triggering. Also, like, it’s supposed to be a vintage style dress?! Everything in these boutiques is in that dumb boho style!”

Freya chuckled at the insult to boho. She picked at her cheese fries.

“Relax, babe, we’re going to find something. If we have to buy material and have a seamstress make something, we’ll do that. That’s what I’m here for.. to help you.”

“Why?”

“Let’s just say I want to see both my cousin and my best friend work out. And be happy together. I know this relationship means a lot to both of you,” She paused before shrugging. “Aaaand I guess Desmond’s alright, too.”

Eve rolled her eyes as the two laughed.

“Not to mention, I’m glad a solution has been figured out for the three of you that didn't involve them ripping the other to shreds.”

“Honestly, yeah, you’ve got a point there,” she agreed as she played with one of the rings on her finger. “Me too.”

They got up and threw their empty food wrappers in the nearest garbage can. Freya’s eyes widened as she froze and gasped.

“Wait!!”

“What?!”

“I know the exact place. We’re leaving this stupid mall. Come on.”

___________

Freya’s car pulled up to the local costume shop. Stuffed up above a local deli, the costume shop was an old place that made Eve wonder how it was even still in business. Sure, they’d obviously sell the odd Easter Bunny and Santa costume each year, as well as being busy around Halloween, but who the hell kept this place in business? The last time she’d been here was when she was 6, shopping for her Halloween costume.

Eve didn’t know what to expect as she climbed the narrow, carpeted stairs up to the second floor. A bell rang as they opened the door and stepped inside. Rows upon rows of costumes hung on racks, reaching all the way to the back of the store. It seemed to go on forever and was divided up by large letters atop the racks. It was organized so neatly, it reminded her of a library. Instead of shelves of books, they’d implemented the Dewey Decimal System for clothing.

“Oh my god,” Eve said under her breath, taking it all in.

A wall of masks was displayed behind the cash register. Superheros, presidents, horror characters, animal masks and more were organized by letter also. A small man with poofy white hair and a big belly stood up from behind the register to greet the girls. He dusted off a roll of receipt paper before putting it into the printer and clicking it shut. He turned to the girls with a wide smile.

“Hey ladies! Name’s Ernie. What brings ya in today?”

Freya took the lead, knowing this was unfamiliar territory for Eve.

“We’re looking for 1920’s inspired outfits. No flappers. It has to say.. Elegance.” She put emphasis on that last word with her hands.

He clapped his own hands together before beelining it around the counter and leading them into the labyrinth of clothing.

“The 20’s! Beautiful time period. Is this for a play, or perhaps a themed dinner party?”

They passed a large clown section. Colorful jumpsuits, shoes and hats poked out of the hangers. Eve trailed behind the two as they continued talking.

“No, actually, it’s for the big gala at the art museum in Sutterfield next weekend. My friend was invited, and there’s no way in hell I’m allowing her to go in a cheap flapper costume from Amazon.”

Ernie let out a large laugh that came deep from his belly.

“You young ones crack me up. Lord knows I’m grateful yous come in here and keep me on my toes each day lookin’ for all sorts of stuff.”

They rounded the corner and finally hit the 1920’s section. The large rack was divided up by sizes. Flapper fringe and pinstriped suits spilled from it. A large display of pearl necklaces, vintage hats and photo props sat nearby.

“There are elegant, vintage pieces hidden throughout here. Just gotta look and find em. Or.. let them find you.” He winked at both girls with a grin before heading back in the direction they just came from. “Dressing rooms are on the back wall. If ya need me, just gimme a holler!” He raised a fist in the air as he walked away, leaving both girls alone to stare at the endless rack of clothing.

“Fuck, alright, let’s do it.”

They managed to pull quite a few pieces out that fit the vibe they were looking for. Eve cycled through them and began to feel defeated as all of them proved to be too tight in at least one area. The anxiety in her chest increased as the clothing pile got smaller and smaller. They finally reached the bottom and Eve gasped upon seeing this dress. It was one Freya picked out and Eve hadn’t seen it until this moment.

It was an off shoulder, velvet dress in a deep shade of crimson red. It was short sleeved with a high neckline that grazed across the collarbones. Modest, yet beautiful. The dress flayed out at the bottom with volume around the hips. The fabric cut off at mid-length and had black tulle underneath the top velvet layer to add volume. The silhouette reminded Eve of 1950’s swing dresses. She quickly grabbed it and returned to the dressing room with low expectations. She wanted so badly for it to fit, and braced for the disappointment of the back zipper getting jammed halfway up like all the other dresses.

But that moment never came. The zipper glided into place and Eve left the dressing room to see herself in the full length mirror outside. Freya gasped as Eve looked at her reflection with a smile. The dress hugged her body perfectly, flattering every inch and curve of her body. The blood red fabric accented the paleness in her skin and the deep ebony of her hair, glowing against her flesh.

“You have to get that. If you leave that here, so help me God!” Freya exclaimed from behind her.

“Oh no.. this is coming with me,” Eve said with a grin. She went from feeling insecure and anxious to incredibly sexy and elegant just from trying it on.

After Eve changed back into her normal clothes, the girls began to put the clothes back onto the hangers before Ernie came back and shooed them away.

“We close soon, let me take care of it,” he said.

“You close in two hours!” Eve laughed.

Ernie chuckled with a twinkle in his eye as he made his way toward the front to ring the girls up.

Freya bought a few odds and ends she’d collected on the way to the register and Eve paid for her dress. The two girls thanked Ernie before getting back into Freya’s car. Eve felt like she was on cloud nine. All of the stress and anxiety that filled her about the gala suddenly seemed to lift off her shoulders. All that remained were the slightest of nerves due to it being a party of people she’d never met before, as well as it being the trio’s first date together.

Still, she beamed at Freya as she clicked her seatbelt on.

“Thank you for coming with me today, I really appreciate it.”

“Of course babe, I know how difficult clothes shopping can be, especially when it’s for something specific.”

Eve paused.

“I wish you could come to the gala too.”

“Yeah? It sounds fun. But honestly, you deserve a night with the boys alone. Something special that isn’t the usual take out and movie marathon. Change things up a bit.”

“I know, I know.”

“And besides, I have a date that night too.”

“Oh?” Eve looked at her with raised eyebrows.

“Yeah! Cam said he’s taking me somewhere but won’t tell me where.”

“Don’t you just love it when they do that?” Eve said sarcastically.

They laughed, with Freya rolling down the window and lighting a cigarette. The two girls chatted excitedly about the upcoming weekend as the car sped off into the night.

Chapter Text

That Old Black Magic- Frank Sinatra 

Eve and Freya spent the rest of the night together, creating as much quality time as possible. It’d been awhile since they had an opportunity to relax without some form of tension floating around the group.

The following week dragged by, with Eve’s anticipation doubling by the end of each day. She could barely stay mentally alert at work and detested small talk with the locals. It bored her to no end. The regulars talked about the same stuff, even if they didn’t know one another. Their blue collar jobs, “rotten” wives, the kids at home, favorite beer and their dogs. The random flirty line would always be sprinkled in between subjects. It amused her to think any of these men ever had a chance in the first place, but especially now. Her thoughts kept wandering to the mysterious allure of the gala as the locals chattered away around her.

Aron and Desmond were being strict with Eve, putting in a “no visits” policy until the gala. Aron told Eve that Desmond felt it would make the evening “more special” if they hadn’t seen each other in the week leading up to it.

A: He’s a sentimental boy. I suppose he thinks if we miss each other, the time spent together will be.. better?
A: Look, I don’t fuckin know, Eve.
A: He’s weird.
A: But… I DO miss you. 🥺

Eve lay sprawled on her bed. It was Friday morning and she’d just woken up. Her dreams spanning the past few days were.. Strange. Off the wall. They seemed all over the place. Both Aron and Desmond made appearances, but they always appeared.. Ghostly and transparent. They appeared expressionless and just hung at her side, never saying anything. It scared her to think about.. what did it mean?

E: I know.. I miss you too. 😫

She put her phone back on her chest and stared at the ceiling fan whir above her. Her apartment was surrounded in brick, meaning that even in winter, it retained heat insanely well and would often be warm. She almost always had the fan going, even when there was snow on the ground.

She did miss Aron. It was difficult not to.

A: I miss you of course.. and your thighs.. and your waist.. and your mouth..

She’d be lying if she said she hadn’t repeatedly thought of their missed opportunity in her bedroom literally all week. God damn, why did Desmond have to be so hesitant on everything? So.. traditional, even though this situation was the complete opposite. Yet, he remained a complete gentleman. But she knew Aron was bursting at the seams for her too, just itching to get his hands on her again.

She positioned the camera at a flattering angle of her naked body wrapped in the sheets. Her body was concealed by the fabric, with just enough peeking out to reveal that she was nude. All of the important parts were covered. She angled to selfie to include just her lips, cutting off right at her nose. The camera was panned down to capture her silhouette in the sheets. Just a tease.

E: Oh..? This mouth?

She sent the photo along with her text.

A: Yeah.. that pretty little one. That mouth can take just what it needs.

He double texted right away.

A: Move the sheets.

Eve huffed out loud. No. If they were going to forbid her from seeing them.. she would do the same. Even though she knew it was killing Aron just as much, the two were teetering across that line as if it were a dance.

E: No.

The fan blew a breeze down at her as she felt her cheeks grow hot. She expected quite the response.. Aron did not like that word.

Her phone buzzed again. She opened it to a POV photo from Aron.

He sat in their basement, on a chair facing the pool table. That same pool table she was bent over just a few weeks ago. He wore gray boxer briefs that clung tight to the skin underneath. A large outline of his cock was pressed against the fabric, constricting it as it bulged from underneath the surface. His left hand was placed beside it gently, the large veins on his hand ever so visible. The skin on his thighs were riddled with his colorful, traditional styled tattoos. Eve groaned as she took in all the details of the photo. Why was he in the basement?

A: No?

E: No. I’m pretty sure my naked body was lumped into that “no visiting” rule.. remember?

She knew damn well that Aron was fuming as he typed a response.

A: What a shame. I’ve just been sitting here, replaying things in my mind. How your bare ass looked as it was bent over this table.

She felt herself throb with desire as she read the messages he kept sending.

A: And the look in your eyes as you stared at me while Desmond was inside you from behind 😏

She groaned again and lightly punched the pillow next to her. It was so close to becoming reality. So… close. She could almost taste it.

A: This past week of not seeing you has been so hard.. but so am I.

Jesus fucking Christ. These men were going to kill her.

A: I’m so hard for you it’s almost painful.
A: But I’m good at being patient xx

E: You’re really sadistic, you know? Trying to get me to break your own rule?

A: Actually, it’s not MY rule. I’m just required to enforce it. 🤷🏻♀️

E: Well you’re doing a horrific job.

A: 😈

—————-

Eve spent Saturday morning with a pit in her stomach. The nerves finally started to cluster behind her navel as she thought of the night ahead. She barely had an appetite, poking at her oatmeal as if it were dog food.

Soon enough, she was swept up in a cleaning frenzy, scouring her house as she tried to keep the anxiety at bay. Sleep Token was cranked on her living room speakers, her hips swayed as she vacuumed and dusted. Regardless of seeing them live several times now, she still hadn’t faced the reality that she was dating not only one, but now two members of her favorite band. It didn’t feel possible. Her, of all people. Finally, she decided to throw caution to the wind, swallowing an emergency pill for her anxiety. She’d been keeping the panic attack at bay for a few hours now, but gave up, feeling the ache spread to her muscles from being tensed the entire morning.

She sat on the couch, turning the music off and putting on her favorite TV show as background noise. The medication swiftly kicked in, wiping her unconscious on the couch.

__________

She jolted awake in an absolute panic. Gasping, she searched the couch around her for her phone to check the time. Her phone screen lit up with bright, bold numbers.

11:37 AM

A heavy sigh of relief escaped her chest. Her hair appointment was at 2, and Desmond said the limo would be here at exactly 4. If she started now, she’d have a head start on showering and putting her makeup on. God knows she wanted it to be perfect for tonight, not a lash out of place.

Percy chirped at her as she hopped under the hot water. The orange fur ball loved to sit in between the liner and shower curtain to watch the bubbles. Eve took an “everything” shower of course, making sure not to miss an inch of her body, scrubbing it all clean. Naturally, she found it hard to not view showers as a cleansing ritual- quite literally. She hummed a mantra in her mind, visualizing the water wash away any negativity, any anxiety or worries. After this shower, she’d be new. She shampooed twice to really clean her hair before doing a deep conditioning treatment to ensure it was soft as silk. Shaving her entire body was an absolute must for tonight. She used a fresh body scrub she bought the day before and washed her face, too. Then it was time for body wash before rinsing her hair conditioner out, the orchid scented bubbles rushing down the drain.

She felt completely different after the shower. Her heart still skipped beats here and there, but no longer due to anxiety, but with excitement. Aron’s bright smile flashed in her mind’s eye and she couldn’t help but smile back. The image of the two sat on her couch the other night filled her stomach with butterflies. God, did she miss them. She wondered what they were both doing right now. The temptation to be annoyed with Desmond for forbidding her to see them for the past week was strong, however she knew that the second she locked eyes with him, all annoyance would vanish.

Only a few more hours, she told herself.

Brushes, palettes, and other tools scattered across her vanity as she completed yet another ritual- this time, for beauty. As she applied each product, she visualized coating herself in confidence. It would be all too easy to sit in nervousness about an event in which she had no idea what to expect. She knew she wouldn’t know anyone there aside from Desmond and Aron. But she’d be damned if they were going to introduce an anxious girl to people. No. They’d introduce a confident smokeshow on their arms. It was in her, for sure.. She just had to find her and call her out to play.

Eve opted for a classic, soft shade on the eyelids, and complimented her naturally feline-shaped eyes with the flick of a black wing. Just enough flair to be paired with delicate rosy blush on the cheeks. She chose a pair of wispy, flared false lashes to lay on her eyes. The soft contour in the hollows of her face gave her an angled, uplifted appearance. Her face looked chiseled, yet soft at the same time, a perfect dichotomy of femininity.

All of this was crowned with a deep, blood red lip that matched her dress exactly. The satin formula glided over her lips and caused her mouth to pull into a seductive smile as she
looked at herself in the mirror. She felt as if she could conquer the world, much less these two men and a date night.

Her phone erupted with chimes, pulling her attention to the alarm she set before her shower. It was time to leave for the salon. She’d rather be early than late, especially because she couldn’t remember the last time she stepped foot in a salon. If ever? She spritzed her face with setting spray, visualizing power and seductiveness seeping into her pores. Finishing the mask.

Within minutes, she grabbed her purse and was out the door.

She arrived at the salon, pulling into the parking lot and killing the engine. Quickly, she made her way under the large neon pink script that hung above the door, displaying the name “Glamour Gloss Hair Studio”. The scent of burning candles hit her the moment the door closed behind her. Soft indie music floated throughout the sterile environment. A large, colorful mural caught her eye immediately. It was a woman with sunglasses on, music notes dancing around her. Her hair was made of a million shades, each strand a different color. The rainbow bled into a beautiful ombre of fuschia, turquoise, yellow, neon green… Eve’s eyes got lost in the richness of the hues. She jumped slightly when a tall woman walked behind the front desk to greet her.

“Hi! How can I help you?”

“I have an appointment at 2.”

“And what’s the name?” She flashed a toothy smile at Eve, making her feel welcome already.

“It’s under Morrow.”

“Hi Miss Morrow! We’re in for a styling today with Shiloh?”

“Y-Yeah!” She stammered under her breath, not knowing exactly what Desmond or Aron had booked. It felt so weird having someone else handle this for her, usually she took care of all of her appointments herself. She felt blind walking into this.

“Have you ever been here before, Evelina? Or is this your first time?”

Evelina. Well, there it was. Desmond booked this. Aron would have used Eve.

“It’s my first time. And just Eve is fine,” Eve responded sheepishly with a smile.

“Oh, awesome! Okay. Well, we’re glad to have you, Eve. Let's head on back, Shiloh should be ready for you any minute now.”

She followed the lanky brunette to the salon floor, where a throng of stylists worked on either side of the walkway. They chatted away with their customers over the sound of hair dryers and loud music.

They finally reached an empty chair with a stylist standing next to it. They were androgynous, with a petite frame swallowed by baggy clothing. Loose pants complimented the large platform boots on their feet, and a baggy tee shirt was tucked into their waistband underneath a baggy purple flannel. They had a grungy style and Eve liked Shiloh mmediately. A hand reached out for Eve.

“Hey! I’m Shiloh! Make yourself comfy, please!”

The two bantered back and forth for the next few minutes as Shiloh questioned what style Eve wanted. Eve’s mind was blank, she truly hadn’t thought this far. Shiloh asked her what event the hairstyle was for.

“1920’s themed?! How fun. There are lots of things we could do, but I really think you could pull off some sexy, old Hollywood curls.” They said coolly.

Over the next hour, Shiloh and her shared small tidbits about each other as they styled Eve’s hair. Shiloh added a spray onto Eve’s hair that made it glossy, Eve could see a difference from just looking in the mirror. They talked about the event some more, with Shiloh’s curiosity being completely peaked.

“So it’s an art gala at Sutterfield.. That’s super cool. I’m jealous, honestly. The last large event they held there was a couple years back and there were a few celebrities that went.”

Eve’s eyebrows shot up.

“What? Celebrities?”

“Yeah! I don’t remember their names, but I think they were actors. I just remember the city being swarmed with paparazzi, trying to catch a glimpse of them out and about. It made traffic terrible.”

The knot returned to Eve’s stomach. What the hell was she getting herself into? This wasn't her scene, not by a long shot. She worried that she wouldn’t know how to act around these types of people. That she’d accidentally embarrass her dates by tripping on her dress or getting food stuck in her teeth. Her pulse doubled as Shiloh shared more details about this elaborate party from years ago. Shiloh seemed surprised to hear that it was Eve’s first gala.

“You seem so.. Put together. Like you belong in a crowd like that. Are you nervous?”

“Yeah.. I’m really nervous.” Eve admitted as Shiloh took rollers out of her hair.

“Girl, you have nothing to worry about. Look at you. I don’t even think the paparazzi will bat an eye at those celebrities with you there! Especially with your great hair.” They winked obnoxiously, making both girls laugh.

“Thanks Shiloh.”

They worked their magic on Eve's hair, transforming it into a curly, glossy style that made Eve look like an vintage starlet. Her sleek black hair was formed into perfect, voluminous curls that spiraled down her back.

“Total Hedy Lamar vibes. I’m SO proud of this,” Shiloh said with a grin as they admired their work. Shiloh finished her off with a large cloud of hairspray before they made their way to the front desk. Eve set her purse on the counter and reached for her wallet before Shiloh’s voice filled the air.

“And since this was paid upon booking, you’re good to go! It was a pleasure meeting you, I hope you have a great time tonight! And I have to thank you so much for the extra gratuity you added, it’s going to help with my rent before Christmas.”

Eve blinked as her mind processed. Desmond paid for this.

“You’re so welcome! And it was great to meet you, too! Is there any way I could have a receipt, by chance?”

“Yeah, absolutely!” They circled the front desk and handed her a receipt fresh off the printer. It was warm in Eve’s hands as she waved goodbye and left into the cold winter air. It had begun to snow, the flurries twirled in the air as they fell to the ground around her.

After getting back in her Jeep, she checked the receipt out of curiosity. The total on the bottom line read “$200” in bold letters. The styling service itself cost $100, followed by a line underneath for gratuity.. another $100. There was a comment pinned to the gratuity line. “Happy Holidays”.

Holy shit? Desmond tipped her 100%?

She smiled down at the paper. Desmond didn’t have to do any of that. He didn’t have to not only invite her out tonight, but book her a whole salon appointment and then cover it and tip generously on top of it? She was so proud to know a person as sweet as him. What a gentleman.

Quickly, she made her way back to her house to get dressed. The sky around her descended into deep shades of orange as the night drew closer. The clock on her dash said 3:15 PM as she drove. All she had yet to do was get dressed and add the finishing touches.

Percy demanded dinner upon her entering the front door, which she quickly obliged to. She filled his bowl and took the dress out of her closet. It was in a garment bag to protect it from cat hair and anything else that would cling to the rich, velvet fabric. Eve put on a strapless push up bra, not only for mega support, but also to show off the girls in a semi modest way. The dress was off-shoulder, so she knew adding a bit of subtle flair to the chest wouldn’t be a bad idea at all. She then applied lotion to her skin before stepping into black lace panties. Her hands rifled through her panty drawer to find the flesh colored pantyhose she’d stuffed in here years ago. Eve prayed that they’d still fit and cursed herself for not trying them on sooner. By some miracle, they rolled up her legs perfectly. She sighed with relief before unzipping the garment bag and pulling the dress out.

It really was such a beautiful dress. It almost looked like an art piece in itself. The fabric was a vibrant, yet deep shade of ruby. It was soft in her hands, reminding Eve of a plush blanket. The velvet was sturdy, yet not super thick. Eve loved this. It was thick enough to cover any imperfections and flatter her form, yet thin enough to breathe in a warm room. She slipped into it and zipped up the back. It hugged her perfectly, really showcasing her curvy silhouette. It was sexy, yet elegant and classy. Modest with an undertone of sultriness.

She checked the time once more.

3:45 PM

“Shit”, she muttered. Her phone vibrated on her bed.

A: Knowing you look so beautiful right now and I can’t see you yet kills me. I can’t wait 😉

She was so grateful to finally hear from one of them.

E: Likewise 💜

After rifling through her closet, she found a pair of classic black pumps.. These would definitely work. She stepped into them and felt herself rise in height by a few inches. This outfit made her feel so confident, so powerful. Eve went to her jewelry box to retrieve the bracelet Desmond and Aron gave her with the invite. She slipped it on her wrist and smiled as she glanced at the dangling rose charm. For earrings, she wore simple plugs. Eve didn’t want to overdo it with jewelry tonight, being that her dress already spoke for itself. Only a few more things were missing, perfume being one of them. She grabbed her favorite scent from her vanity and applied it to all of her pulse points before misting it on her body, too. A cloud of Orchid, Plum and Oud blanketed her.

After packing a small purse, she walked to her closet to get the coat she bought specifically for tonight. It was long and black, accented by brown fur on the trim. The coat gave off an air of opulence, with the fur resembling mink. She wrapped the coat around her body, grabbed her purse, and gave Percy a kiss goodbye.

Showtime.

4:00 PM

The night outside her door was ebony, with light stars poking through the sky. A glossy, black mini-limo SUV was parked at the curb, with a driver in dress clothes standing next to the rear door. He nodded at her with a smile as she approached.

“Good evening, Miss Morrow.”

He opened the door and gestured inside. The limo smelled fresh, like a new car, with lights illuminating the inside. The interior was plush, shiny leather in which Eve almost slipped on. The door next to her clicked shut as the driver wrapped around the vehicle and got into the front. He rolled the tinted separator down and spoke to Eve.

“If you need any assistance, please press the button to your right.”

“Okay, thank you!”

As the car picked up speed, the lights dimmed in the back cabin. Eve looked around. She’d never been in this type of vehicle before. It was a cross between a huge car and an SUV. There were small TV screens underneath the tinted, separating glass. The leather around her was black, with accents of shiny brown wood grain. A modest pull out table extended from the side of the limo, no doubt for laptops or other platform friendly activities. This could easily sit about six people. Soft, ambient music played on the overhead speakers as the car whisked off into the night. All of the windows were heavily tinted, obviously to protect the identity of those inside. She recognized this vehicle as something from paparazzi shots, but never just driving around town. The roof of the interior was black, with small lights twinkling down at her. They looked like the stars outside. It was only then did she realize how expensive this vehicle must be.

As she glanced around, she noticed a small section with wine glasses hanging upside down. A built-in area for ice was next to it, with a half-bottle of champagne sitting atop crisp cubes. The pink label read “Krug Brut Rosé”. Eve’s eyes widened. As a bartender, she knew her alcohol prices. This bottle was easily worth $150. A note was tied to the neck of the champagne bottle.

“Cheers.”

She wondered if this was from Desmond and Aron, or the limo company itself. Either way, she wasted no time in filling a glass, popping a few small ice cubes in it and taking a couple quick gulps for her nerves. The champagne was smooth and sweet, coating her insides with a freezing sensation that made her shiver, regardless of the heated seats and warmth pouring from the vents. Notes of cream and berries glazed her tongue. Shee savored the richness of it. Finally, it registered. This was a hidden “if you know, you know” moment. They were testing if she’d catch onto this. The champagne was a rosé. Clearly, they were running with the rose theme. And this limo company wouldn't put a $150 bottle here at random.

It seemed that the drive took five minutes, though she knew the museum was at least an hour away. Finally, the vehicle rolled to a stop at the entrance of the grounds. The driver quickly looped around the back end and opened her door for her. Eve stepped out and took in the sight of the museum entrance in front of her.

Cobblestone bricks lead up to the museum entrance, with trees dotted along either side of the first set of steps. Small, ornate wooden benches sat under several trees, with bird fountains complimenting the walkway. The trees were a work of art themselves. In a nod to the upcoming Christmas holiday, the bare branches were draped with bright string lights. The entire entrance of this building was grand and lit up the night sky above her. Scattered, small groups of people walked up the entranceway leading to the building. Even though the trees were bare, they obscured most of the museum up until you reached the grand front doors.

Eve grabbed her coat, wrapping it around herself and flung her purse over her shoulder.

“Thank you,” she smiled at the driver, who nodded and closed the door behind her.

“Have a wonderful time, Miss Morrow.”

The vehicle behind her sped off, and she suddenly realized just how alone she would be, walking into this building. She had no idea where she’d find Aron or Desmond, or who she’d even talk to in order to check in, since she was only a guest and not actually on the invite list itself.

Eve took a deep breath and decided to fake it ‘til she made it, remembering Shiloh’s words to her earlier.

“You seem so.. Put together. Like you belong in a crowd like that.”

She held her head high as she made her way up the steps and walked up the entrance. After the line of trees vanished, partial courtyards opened up on either side of her as she neared the front doors. Her heels clicked underneath her on the bricks as she moved, and the sound of brass instruments floated from the building.

It was similar, yet different than what she remembered. In her teen years, the museum almost looked.. Gloomy. She’d visited on a foggy, rainy fall day, with crunchy leaves whipping all around her and a gray sky above. It made the white and glass building look dull and lifeless. And even though a soft wind was present tonight, the building looked more alive than ever.

A loud wolf whistle came from the area to her right, catching her attention quickly. The lights around her were so bright, and the area the sound came from was so dark, she had to squint to see clearly. Two shadowy figures hung off to the side of the building. In the low lighting, she immediately recognized the silhouettes.

Aron and Desmond smiled at her as her heels clicked toward them, their faces filled with awe. She was thankful for the large coat around her, not wanting them to see her body covered in goosebumps. A pit formed in her stomach due to how painfully attractive both of them looked. Her eyes glossed over either man as she took in every possible detail.

Desmond's classic 1920's Battany tuxedo was tailored to perfection, accentuating his tall frame with a black silk coat that hugged his body, and featured tails that came down to the back of his knees. The white vest and dress complemented his pale skin, while the black pleated front trousers completed the look. On his head, he wore a 1920's era top hat with a strip of black velvet ribbon, adding a touch of winter elegance. Unbeknownst to him, he matched the fabric of Eve's velvet dress, creating a perfect coincidence. He accessorized with a white silk pocket square and a bow tie on his neck, and wore a simple ring on his right hand. From head to toe, he captured the essence of Bela Lugosi's Dracula, exuding dark elegance and sophistication. It made Eve’s stomach twist.

Next to him, Aron wore a tweed suit that was expertly subtle, with shades of black, dark heather gray, and white that blended together seamlessly. The suit was paired with a crisp white, long sleeved dress shirt that clung to his upper half, with a black waistcoat that added a touch of sophistication to the overall look. A black tie poked out from under the waistcoat, with a silver chain hanging from one button to a pocket on the vest, adding whimsy. A pocket watch added to the outfit, a nod to a bygone era that he pulled off with ease. He had such attention to detail that it was almost intimidating, as if he were a character from a novel who had stepped off the page and into real life. The bright tattoos on his neck crept out from underneath his collar, the only thing that could break away from the vintage accuracy of his attire, and yet they only added to his charm.. a reminder that he was indeed a man of the present, not just a figment of Eve’s imagination. His hair was slicked back, bringing more attention to his bright, icy eyes than ever before. A fat cigar hung from his lips as a wild flame shot up from a butane lighter in his fist. Both hands were covered in black leather gloves as he held the cigar in his fingertips.

Desmond and Aron were both in overcoats. Not that they needed to keep warm in the chilly air, but to blend in with the rest of society. Desmond’s was a classic black morning coat, whilst Aron wore dark tweed.

Aron glanced down at his cigar as he puffed and gave it a bit of life. Vanilla laced cigar smoke drifted into Eve’s nostrils as the scent of both men’s cologne hit her simultaneously. Aron clicked the lighter shut and put it back in his coat pocket.

“There she is.”

Eve had everything she could do to keep her nervous babbling inside. The sight of them both in their best outfits was enough to make her insides twirl. How the hell was she going to remain composed the entire night?

The blood rushed to her face as Desmond reached down to give her a peck on the cheek. It made the butterflies double in size. Desmond could feel the hot blood under his lips upon contact. Afterwards, he looked down at her with passion in his eyes.

“You look.. ravishing, Evelina.”

“T-thank you,” she managed to blurt. She scolded herself quickly, not wanting them to pick up on her nervousness. She was going to keep it together tonight. It was going to be a fun, happy night, with no threat of anxiety leaking through.

“So do both of you.”

Aron puffed next to her and wrapped his arm around her waist, feeling the lush fur of her coat glide against his palm.

“Thank you for coming, love.”

She smiled at him, still taking in the sight of both breathtaking creatures before her.

“Well, I should probably give you some context before we make our entrance, hmm?” Desmond chuckled softly.

“I’m not sure what you asked Freya, or what she told you. But this event tonight is kind of a big deal for the museum. Most of their funding comes from donations, and there are a list of people that continuously donate to keep the museum properly funded. I happen to be one of them. So tonight, they’re throwing a large gala to thank those who have donated throughout the year. Have you ever been to a gala?”

He looked at her with bright blue eyes, reaching over to pluck the cigar from Aron’s hands. Desmond took a puff and blew the smoke away from the trio before returning it to him.

“No. I haven’t. And honestly.. I don’t really know what to expect.”

He smiled softly.

“Well, everything inside is free. There will be dinner, drinks, music, dancing, some awards will be handed out, and there will be a guest speaker. Don’t overthink it, though, love. We want you to enjoy tonight as much as you possibly can. No worries. If you want to mingle, go ahead, but if you’d like to stay by us the entire time, you’re more than welcome to..” He paused.

“We wouldn’t complain,” he flirted cheekily. Aron silently laughed as he took another puff.

Eve matched his subtle tone.

“I think I can do that.”

Aron crumpled his fist around the cigar, making ashes fall in between his fingers. The bright cherry fell to the brick below before fading to black as it cooled. It definitely wasn’t a human gesture, though they were right in public. Any of the party goers near them could have looked over and noticed.

Desmond shot Aron an annoyed look.

“Sorry.”

“Well, shall we?” Desmond grabbed her manicured hand, slipping his fingers between hers. Aron walked next to her on the opposite side, not grabbing her hand to avoid side glances from the guests.

They reached the front doors and joined the line of invitees. Once it was their turn, a tuxedo-clad man at the door glanced at the three before looking down at a glowing screen in his hand.

“Names?”

“Mr. Charbonneau.”

Next to Eve, Aron spoke next.

“Mr. Bowen.”

Eve thought it was funny to hear them address themselves so formally. The man looked at her with thick eyebrows.

“Mrs…..?”

“Miss.” She corrected him quickly. “Miss Morrow.” Aron smiled smugly next to her, finding humor in the fact he’d mistaken her for one of their wives. Surprisingly… It was a turn on for him. The idea of her as his wife…he could fantasize.

The doors in front of them pushed open, revealing a loud, colorful, chaotic world on the opposite side. The vaulted glass ceilings were draped in whimsical gold tinsel. Winter stars poked through the cracks in between the strands. The guests had formed a tight crowd in the front entrance, all talking excitedly with one another and making introductions via their small groups. Loud jazz music floated through the front room, no doubt coming from another area. Desmond, with Eve still on his arm, began to make his way through the crowd.

“Coat check?!” A man to the right yelled at the top of his lungs, trying to compete with the noise of the guests. Aron and Desmond both quickly walked his way. The man took down Desmond’s name and grouped their jackets together. As Eve dropped her coat off her shoulders, both sets of eyes were glued to her. Her cheeks grew hot as her stomach plummeted, as if she'd looked down and saw two great whites circling underneath her. She didn’t dare make eye contact, and before they knew it, they were back out into the bustling foyer.

Everyone was dressed to the absolute nines. These were the most expensive looking people Eve had ever seen, much less in person. From the fabrics they wore down to their perfect hairstyles. They all belonged to the pages of a fashion magazine, or on a runway in New York.
As Desmond guided the group, the music grew louder. They eventually turned off into a large room filled with people. It neared the size of a gymnasium, yet had the complete opposite aesthetic. These people all had drinks in their hands and danced slightly, bobbing to the beat of the brass band on the opposite side of the room. None of them had enough alcohol in their system to truly get wild yet. Eve turned her head to look at the band.

They all wore suits, with brass instruments gleaming under the yellow and white lights above them. The stage was decorated with large champagne bottles and balloon “bubbles” on either side. Obviously fake, but enough to allude to the heavy drinking that was about to occur in the room that evening. There was a dance floor in which people slowly started to trickle onto. The other half of the room was filled with round tables with white tablecloths and fancy dinnerware. Centerpieces with large, plumed feathers sat in the middle. It genuinely looked as if the trio had stepped into one of Gatsby’s grand soirees.

The music gradually came to a halt, and a man’s voice filled the room.

“Alright, folks! Come on in and have a seat. The evening has just begun and we’re excited to get started. Sit anywhere you’d like!”

Eve followed Desmond to a table and sat down next to him. Aron fell into the chair next to her. How appropriate.. Sitting right in between them. Others filled the table and Eve looked around at all the smiling faces. They didn’t know their tablemates, but she assumed they’d get familiar at some point.

“What’s going on?” she whispered to the brunette on her left.

“Welcome speech. And a guest speaker.”

She silently “oh”d and nodded.

Play it cool, Eve.

Underneath the table, Aron slipped his hand into hers. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye as the lights dimmed and the man on stage began speaking. He welcomed everyone and started going over the special exhibits throughout the year, recollecting the museum’s numbers of success and thanking all of the donors.

“In 2022, we here at Sutterfield have had our most successful year thus far in the history of the museums’ existence. More people have entered those front doors than they ever have in over 100 years. And this could not have been done without our extraordinary and generous donors seated before me. From all of us here at Sutterfield, thank you for helping preserve the art community, passing it on to a new generation and allowing artists to express their creativity here.

You have no idea just how many young minds have been inspired this year after visiting the exhibits here. On top of general traffic to walk through the halls, we’ve hosted the highest number of field trips this year, welcoming the children to the creation rooms that were funded by you all. Your contributions have directly affected art in our youth programs especially, from preschoolers to graduates. This gala is the absolute least we can do to give back to all of you. Please, give yourselves a big round of applause.”

The audience roared and clapped.

He segwayed into giving out awards to several donors. These donors were clearly organized by donation amounts. The people that accepted them reminded Eve of rich folk from The Capitol in The Hunger Games, with bright and bold fashion choices. An award was given as a token of appreciation for funding the museum’s garden extension. Another was given for funding an art student’s scholarship in the museum’s name. As he announced each name, the audience swiftly flew into grand applause. It was obvious everyone in this room took great pride in the museum, almost viewing it as their own personal project possibly.

The speaker soon handed the microphone over to a tall, thin, blonde woman. She wore a baby pink bodycon dress, with her light hair piled perfectly on top of her head, and Eve couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy. She was one of the most beautiful women she’d ever seen, her cheekbones alone were enough to make Eve question her own. He introduced her as Alisa Novikov, a graphic artist who specialized in Abstract Expressionism.

As Alisa spoke, Aron’s eyes never left Eve, grazing over her figure as he began to rub his thumb on the back of her hand. How he wanted to take her to an empty storage closet and rip her soft dress off.. To mess her hair up..

Alisa spoke with a thick Russian accent. She described how different her new life here in America was compared to her home in Russia, and how she found art “in everything” here. Alisa explained the meaning of some of her most famous paintings and thanked the museum again for allowing her to debut some of her work at this event. The room erupted into a loud applause and she left the stage.

That first man returned to announce the beginning of dinner. He instructed everyone to look at the cards underneath the schedules on their plates to find the menu. Waiters would be on their way soon to take each table’s order.

Smooth jazz played over the speakers around the room once the man disappeared back out into the crowd. Aron squeezed her hand gently. Eve gave him a smile. It didn’t hit her just how ravenous she was until dinner was mentioned, and before she knew it, the scent of food swirled around the room. Her stomach gnawed at itself. Waiters appeared with large baskets of bread and plates of fancy butters and cheeses, dispersing them to each table. The three made small talk as Eve’s eyes bounced down the menu.

Plated Dinners-
• Filet Mignon, 6oz steak, pomegranate red wine au jus
• Chicken Scallopini, sautéed chicken, lemon, parsley, shallots, white wine sauce
• Cod Livornese (Italian style), fresh oregano, slow roasted tomatoes, olives, capers, olive oil, lemon juice
• Sun Dried Tomato Penne Pasta garlic, artichoke hearts, sun dried tomatoes, savory white wine cream sauce

Starches:
• Potatoes Au Gratin, thinly sliced in shallot cream sauce
• Cous Cous OR Basmati Rice (GF) fresh lemon, currants, scallions and pine nuts
• Herb Roasted Potatoes, olive oil, sea salt and house herb blend - GF

Vegetable Sides:
• Grilled or Roasted Asparagus champagne vinaigrette - GF
• Sautéed String Beans, shallots and almonds - GF
• Roasted Carrots, lemon, rosemary, garlic and olive oil - GF

The guests at their table began to talk amongst themselves once their menus had been placed back down. Eve was indecisive as ever, but finally decided on Chicken Scallopini with Herb Roasted Potatoes and Roasted Carrots. Her shyness threatened to choke her out, but the waiters circled again, offering to fill a glass with champagne or wine. She thanked the universe for its perfect timing, knowing the alcohol would loosen her up just enough to be social with strangers.

“It’s complementary,” they said, as they filled each glass with a hefty portion. The Moscato Eve picked was going down all too well.

“You’d bettah get on wiv that, you’ve got quite a bit’a catchin up to do wiv us,” Aron joked. Desmond laughed from her left. The two men carried on the conversation with the others at the table, making sure to take the pressure off Eve. They knew she wasn’t the most outgoing when it came to strangers, unless she was at work. And boy, could they turn the charisma on. They had no problem charming their table neighbors.

Desmond and Aron both opted for red wine. It chilled Eve to look over at them as they lifted the red liquid to their lips. She couldn’t see anything else but blood. Her own blood ran cold as a thought flew through her brain-

What if that’s going to be my blood someday?

Desmond placed a hand on her knee as he heard her pulse quicken. He didn’t know what exactly was causing her anxiety, but he knew exactly how to subdue it.

Eve learned that a man named Thom sat across from them. He was pompous and short with everyone, clearly only here to show his face. When he would respond, it was filled with hostility and subtle digs. Both Aron and Desmond both had fun returning his energy to him in a way that overpowered him. To the untrained ear, it sounded like a normal conversation. But Eve could tell that both men were giving Thom repeated warnings in their tone. Eventually, Thom got up and left the table, drowning in his own bitterness.

“Looks like we finally chased the bloody pillock away.” Aron laughed out loud as they watched Thom saunter away, throwing dirty looks over his shoulder. Desmond glared with a silent rage, a continuous warning behind his eyes.

“Cheers, mate.” Aron pulled Desmond away from his anger, extending his wine glass toward him. Desmond exhaled and clinked his full glass with Aron’s. They both chugged their glass and finished with an “aaaahhh”.

The waiters were back, this time with steaming hot plates. The men beside her acted as any normal human would, slowly eating even though it was nearly a chore for them. Eve, however, savored each bite. She almost moaned out loud at the first taste, she’d never been to a fine dining restaurant, so this truly was her first “elegant” food experience. The wine glasses on the table were consistently getting refilled, even if they weren’t completely empty yet. They became bottomless, the staff made their rounds making sure there wasn’t a single bare glass.

After cleaning the empty dinner plates, the servers left dessert menus behind.

“Oh my god,” Eve groaned, putting her fingers on her temples and leaning on the table with her elbows.

“I don’t think I have room.”

“They’re small desserts, dear. I can take care of it for you if you don’t want to feel embarrassed by not ordering.”

She stayed silent for a moment.

“No, it’s okay,” she laughed at herself, her tipsiness had yet to dawn on her. The dessert menu was tiny and displayed three options.

Plated Desserts:
• Crème brûlée cup. A rich egg and vanilla bean custard baked in mini cups and torched to caramelize the tops with sugar.
• Chocolate-covered strawberries. Dipped in dark chocolate and drizzled with imported white chocolate.
• Large plate of sliced fruit brought out to table. Grapes, strawberries, mixed melon, bananas, etc.

Fuck it, why the hell not? she thought.

She ordered the chocolate covered strawberries, whilst Aron ordered fruit and Desmond the Creme brulee. Desmond was right, there were only three strawberries on this plate, drizzled in rich chocolate.

The wine was going down even easier at this point, especially now paired with a dessert.

Dinner only lasted a short time more, with conversations floating about the room. Once the chatter had gotten louder, the same man from earlier hopped up on the stage. After reminding everyone about the optional art auction later that evening, he announced the band’s name and invited everyone out to the dance floor. Now the party was really about to start.

This time, Aron walked hand in hand with her while Desmond followed behind. Of course, Aron lead all three to the dance floor, where everyone had already begun moving to the loud brass instruments that squealed in tandem. Eve had no idea how to dance to begin with, but to.. This? She was entirely lost. And moving around quickly after eating all of that food seemed almost impossible.

Professional dancers in flapper costumes bounced between the stage and out throughout the crowd of people, creating a carefree and fun atmosphere. They smiled as they bounced on their feet easily. The music was so loud, Eve could barely hear her own thoughts. Aron turned to her, giving her a peck on the cheek before launching into The Charleston. His limbs moved with ease, even thought the steps themselves were not simple. Yet, he made it look effortless. Eve burst into laughter at the sight of it, she’d never witnessed him dance like this before. Desmond laughed as well, seeing that he was hitting every exact step.

“Not bad! It’s been awhile, hasn’t it?” Desmond yelled to Aron.

Icy blue eyes locked onto hers.
“You can laugh, darling, but back in my day you’d be smitten with this.”

“Ewwww!” She laughed. “‘Back in your day?!’”

A waiter passed by with a tray full of champagne, offering it to anyone who wanted one. The bubbles tried to escape via the surface before Eve, Aron, and Desmond all clinked glasses and chugged theirs together.

Aron grabbed the hand of a flapper who passed him and they both laughed as they danced together, mirroring each other’s steps. He spun her, and he accidentally spun her harder than he meant to. The flapper laughed as she flew into a tall man who spilt his drink upon impact. Eve laughed harder. The dancers looked like cartoon characters, with flailing arms and exaggerated steps. Desmond wrapped his hands around Eve’s waist from behind, making her jump. His voice ghosted over her ear.

“Let loose, sugar.”

Sugar.

She was already struggling to not jump both of their bones. The pet names were going to seriously test her strength. She turned around to face him and laughed drunkenly, shaking her head up at him.

“I have no idea what I’m doing.”

Desmond smiled wide at her, infatuated by her honesty.

“Here. Follow my lead.”

He moved slowly, enough for her to mirror his steps as well.

“It’s muscle memory, love. The more you do it, the easier it becomes!” He yelled over the volume.

They danced as Eve threw caution to the wind and moved her body in time with the loud music. It was the most fun she ever had dancing. They moved closer to each other, then further apart, and repeated this back and forth for a while.

Finally, Desmond gripped her closer when they closed the space again. He looked down at her with sheer, warm adoration in his eyes.

“God, I’m so in love with you.”

His lips crashed onto hers in the middle of the dance floor. They were surrounded by moving bodies, yet the loud music faded away and it was suddenly just the two of them. His lips moved against hers and the world around them vanished. His hands crept down her back before he placed one under her chin and pulled away. He gazed down at her again and the music returned, flooding Eve’s eardrums.

The trio danced for the next two hours, with endless martinis walking past them. The band and professional dancers kept the crowd involved and time flew by. At this point, Eve was pretty intoxicated. She lost count of how many glasses she had since they arrived. But Eve knew she needed a break. Her feet were throbbing from the heels on her feet and she was so thirsty. Aron made a beeline for the bar to grab her water as she sat down on a stray chair at one of the tables.

Desmond sat next to her and rubbed her legs and knees.

“Your legs are sore, sweetheart?”

She nodded. Aron returned with the water which she chugged down in seconds. Ice water had never tasted so good. The men watched her in shock and Aron took the empty glass from her again.

“Um.. I’ll go.. grab another one?”

He disappeared, leaving Eve and Desmond by themselves again.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m okay… I just needed a break from dancing, that's all.”

“You sure seem like you’re enjoying yourself.”

She smiled with a nod.

“I am.”

“Good. That’s all I hoped for tonight.”

Aron returned again, this time offering Eve a hand to help her stand up. She stood and the three walked to the quieter area of the building. They turned down one of the winding hallways that branched off and led to the exhibits. Most of the museum lights were dim, and surprisingly, no guests were in these exhibits.

They walked past a display of tribal masks carved out of wood, then one of appliances made from loose wires and cables. They reached the paintings before Eve had to sit down on one of the cozy stools again.

Aron stood next to her, holding her hand with one of his and her water in his other. Desmond sat beside her, hand on her knee, making sure she felt relaxed. The atmosphere in the room would have felt spooky to anyone else, but the shadows made all of them feel at ease. Finally, they could be themselves.. Out of the public eye. Ironically, they didn’t have to hide in this empty room.

Eve looked up at Desmond, then shifted her gaze to Aron. They both studied her with concern. Aron mentally prepared to help her, in case she suddenly started throwing up.

She was still for a moment, the only sound that could be heard was the heat vent kicking in above them and the jazz echoing down the hall. It was far away at this point. She grabbed Desmond’s hand, still holding onto Aron’s with the other. Eve knew her words would be slurred at this point, and she hoped her drunkenness wouldn’t make them seem any less genuine. She was flooded with emotion for these two men. Her blue eyes glanced at them both with sincerity.

“I.. love you both so much. I truly can’t picture my life without either of you. I’m so thankful for you both. I’m thankful I agreed to trying this out. I mean it.. It’s not just because I’m drunk.”

Relieved, they both sighed and smiled wide at her, feeling emotions rise in their own chests. To hear her say these words solidified themselves in her life. Throughout the night, both had been curious of how she was feeling about their.. Arrangement.. Hoping she wouldn’t get overwhelmed and want to cut it off before it truly began.

“I love you too, darling,” Desmond answered.

“As do I,” Aron echoed, rubbing her arm.

“And we feel everything you just said.. But towards you.” Aron added.

“Undoubtedly. Thank you for giving us a chance.” Desmond said.

Aron put a finger under her chin and kissed her gently, being extra cautious with her drunken state. Desmond brushed her hair behind her shoulder and kissed her lips next. Butterflies, no.. prehistoric moths filled her chest cavity.

“I think it’s time to head home, don't you, love? There’s a long drive.”

“Yeah, I suppose.”

She blinked, and was suddenly swept up in Aron’s arms. He’d picked her up bridal style, following Desmond to the front of the building. Eve nuzzled into his chest, the alcohol made her vision swirl. Even with her eyes closed, her head was spinning, and when she opened her eyes, everything was blurry and lagged. All she could do was focus on not getting motion sickness. She’d be mortified if she got sick around either one of them, but especially in Aron’s arms. She might as well just leave the country and never look back.

The men returned to the coat check, grabbing Eve’s coat as well. Desmond draped it over her as she fell in and out of consciousness in Aron’s arms. They walked out into the brisk evening air, which was freezing. It didn’t affect either man, but they made sure that Eve’s coat kept covering her. The moon above was full, casting a bright glow onto the cobblestone as they walked to the limo. A stretch limo awaited them this time.

“Honey. Hey.” Aron whispered to her softly. Eve used all of her energy to stand on her own feet and get into the heated limo. Desmond had made sure to grab her purse from the coat check, he placed it beside them on the leather seat.

“Driver, return to the pickup address, please.” Desmond called to the front cabin politely.

Again, she was seated between the two. It took her approximately three seconds before she began to fade out again. Aron threw her giant coat over her as a blanket and Desmond rubbed her face with his thumb gently. Her drunkenness paired with the darkness of the limo was a potent enough combination to knock her out completely.
______________

Eve didn’t witness Aron scoop her up again, nor did she see Desmond hand their driver a crisp $100 as a thank you. She didn’t even wake up when the cold, frosty air hit her skin. She was out the entire time they made their way into her home. Nothing but blackness behind her eyelids.

Desmond pulled her keys from her purse and they made their way inside. Percy hissed at Desmond when they walked in, but he didn’t run away this time, which was new. He fed Percy, extending a kind gesture toward the kitty, who seemed to receive it quite well. Aron wasted no time in getting Eve to bed.

He slipped her charm bracelet off in fear of it breaking, before taking her heels off for her and moving her to the center of her bed. He sat next to her and watched her chest rise and fall. He wondered if he should take her makeup off, or if that would be a step too far.

Desmond made his way into her room and sat on the other side of her. The only light that filled the room was an orange glow from a lamp in the corner of her room. She obviously preferred warmer lighting to sleep. Still clueless to the world around her, she lay in silence between the two men. Aron figured he should probably try to wake her and give her a chance to wind down, take her makeup off and change into pajamas. He knew she might be upset if she woke up still in her clothing and makeup from the night before.

He nudged her, and she slowly began to stir next to him. Blinking softly a few times, she came to and looked around the room. It registered in her mind very quickly that all three of them were on her bed. Her mind had one thing on it, and one thing only. She’d been waiting all night.

“Hey sweetheart.. Do you want me to grab you makeup wipes or something? Are they in here, or in the bathroom?”

“I’ll get them.”

Lust flowed through her veins as she stood up and made her way to the bathroom.

The reflection looking back at her looked exhausted, and the room was still spinning slightly. But she truly didn’t care. All she wanted.. Was waiting for her right on her bed. She wiped her face clean and wrapped her hair in a messy, low bun, with curly tendrils poking out that framed her face. She walked back into her bedroom, almost losing her balance on the way.

Her vision spun as she stood at the foot of the bed, still in her dress. Desmond looked at her with concern, wanting to make sure she was okay. Aron did, too. The sight of both men sitting on her bed was something she’d dreamt about. She almost couldn’t help when her hands reached behind her to undo her dress. Both men’s eyes lingered on her as her dress fell to the floor, exposing the matching black bra and lace panty combo underneath.

She turned around and bent at the waist while rolling her pantyhose off of her, knowing she was giving both of them quite the show.

Desmond and Aron fought with everything in them to resist. Of course they’d both been intimate with her, but never.. together. And here she was, tempting both of them.. Knowing exactly what she was doing to each one..

“Fuck. Eve..” Aron groaned under his breath. Desmond tightened his fist.
She stood back up and turned back around, seductively crawling back onto the bed.

It was all she could do to keep her vision straight, but she didn’t miss the intense lust that burned in both mens’ eyes. Aron smiled wickedly as she sauntered toward him, the devilish ardor burning in him. He was enjoying every millisecond. Desmond bit his lip as her curvaceous form moved closer.

She went for Desmond first, crawling on top of him as his hands gripped her pale hips. She kissed his neck, making his eyes close as his head fell back. It would have been too easy to give in. Both men smelled a mixture of perfume, blood, and.. alcohol come from her skin. It was impossible to ignore, and something Desmond had strong feelings about.

He gently put pressure on her shoulders, lifting her off of him.

“What? What are you doing?” Eve slurred. Aron watched apprehensively.

“Evelina. Ugh.” He groaned. “God.”

She stared at him in confusion, her vision rippling at the edges. It was hard to keep her eyes focused. He struggled with frustration as he succumbed to his decision.

“We can’t do this. Not tonight, not when you’ve been drinking.”

“But I give you consent.” She argued drunkenly.

“No. You can’t consent when you’re drunk, Eve, that’s not how that works.”
Her face twisted into annoyance.

“Seriously? What do I have to do to get you both to fuck me?” She whined. “Every time, it just never happens.”

“I apologize, truly..”

She rolled her eyes and got off of him. The room around her continued to spin violently.

“I’m so tired of it,” she slurred to the ceiling fan.

“I understand entirely.. And if you don’t think it’s been difficult for us..” he trailed off.

Aron rubbed her arm as she lay in between them.

“When we’re able.. Make no mistake, love, you are going to be.. ravaged,” Desmond reached down to kiss her cheek. “But your body couldn’t even handle it right now.”

“You need rest. Get your strength up.” Aron joked lightly as he continued to rub her arm.

“Close your eyes, love. It’ll be morning before you know it. We aren’t going anywhere.” Desmond coaxed.

And he was right. It took about three seconds for Eve to pass out. Aron and Desmond lie on either side of her yet. They spoke gently to one another throughout the night, with a small, loving caress of Eve’s hair or arm snuck in.
____________

Chapter Text

Gibson Girl- Ethel Cain

The glass was cool to the touch as Eve’s hands pressed against it. She was trying to find a door, but she was surrounded by mirrors. No matter where Eve turned, she was met with her own reflection staring back at her. The fear rose in her own eyes as she frantically ran through the narrow hallways in this maze of mirrors. Her cries echoed back to her, filling her with dread.

The cries stopped and whispers filled the air. But it was a voice she recognized… no, two.. Aron and Desmond.

Their voices began to grow louder, scraping against her ears. Freya’s light voice started to float somewhere between them. The blend of voices made Eve fall to the ground and clutch over her ears in pain. She was ready to rip her own hair out when she felt a hand grab her arm.

And then she was conscious. Her eyes popped open.

Aron had grabbed her arm to wake her. He looked down at her with concern, as once again, he watched her jolt awake from a nightmare. His pale eyes watched her face under pinched brows.

“Good morning..” he caressed her arm gently.

“Morning,” she answered. Her feet and legs were beyond sore. The aching that spread through the bottom half of her body was akin to one giant Charley horse.

“You alright, baby?”

“Yes.”

“You know, you always deny being upset by your nightmares.. but time and time again I watch you cry in your sleep.. it really bothers me that I can’t help you.”

A large hand settled on Eve’s hip from behind. She jumped out of her skin before remembering that Desmond had slept on the opposite side of Aron.

He chuckled softly.

“My apologies, sugar.. I didn’t mean to startle you. But truly, are you alright? I agree with Aron. You should talk to us about your dreams if they’re bothersome.”

“No,” she shook her head, stubborn as ever. Aron rolled his eyes as irritation danced across his face.

“I don’t even understand them. They’re annoying, yeah, but.. just nightmares. I’m okay, you both need to stop worrying about this. I’m not helpless.”

“Hmm.” Desmond’s voice buzzed behind her. There was a specific aspect to Desmond’s voice that just filled Eve with comfort. She couldn’t quite nail it on the head, but it always soothed her without fail.

She pushed her blanket aside and managed to crawl out from between them. The cold air hit her skin, making a shiver roll up her spine. It was then she realized she’d slept nearly naked, with only her bra and panties on her body. Heat rose to her cheeks as she trembled from the cold, rubbing her arms as she quickly reached her bedroom door, which had been shut overnight. She’d no doubts that either Desmond or Aron closed it to keep the temptation of Percy from the room.

In the hallway, Eve shifted her weight to the balls of her feet and lifted her arms into the air, stretching her entire body. She groaned loudly as her joints cracked and the ache from the night before flooded her muscles even more. She threw her head back and sighed loudly before stepping to the bathroom.

It felt weird closing the door behind her, as if she were a guest in her own home. She never really had people over aside from Freya or the rare occasion her mother would stop by. There was never any need to close the bathroom door as she used it. Yet, she shut it, even with the knowledge that both men in the room next to her could hear everything if they really wanted to. She turned the sink on as she peed to drown out the sound, though it was pointless. The fact that she was still shy around both of them together, yet very comfortable with either individual struck her as odd. It felt as if the two of them combined were an entirely new presence, though at this point she knew both of them very well. There was still a foreign.. newness.. to everything.

Eve forgot about the robe hanging on the back of her bathroom door. She usually wore this as she got ready after her showers, with her hair piled up in a towel on her head.. but today she was going to wear it until she could slip into clothes. It felt odd to bare herself to both men at the same time, though it was something she so desperately wanted.

Her fingers tugged on the belt, tightening it around her as she left the bathroom and greeted Percy. He sang to her in his usual cheerful tone as he circled his food bowl and nudged her legs. As she filled his dish, she wondered if the men were planning on coming out… or staying in the bedroom.

The question was quickly answered upon her return. The duo sat in the same position they were when she left. And.. They were still in the same clothes as last night. Eve laughed as she stood in the doorway and surveyed the scene, glancing from Desmond to Aron.

“Well.. you two look overdressed. Those are some fancy pajamas on both of you.”

Aron and Desmond both cracked smiles, with Aron shrugging.

“You found a robe.”

“Mhm..” she answered.

Desmond locked eyes with Eve and motioned with his head for her to join them again. To re-occupy the warm spot she’d just left minutes ago.

She did.. reluctantly. Their eyes never left her form as she crawled up between them again. She sat upright and laughed as she took in their outfits once more.

“I’m sorry, I can’t take you guys serious with those outfits still on.”

“You seemed to quite enjoy them last night,” Aron quipped.

Her eyes widened. She honestly couldn’t remember anything after the party. The last thing she recalled from the night before was sitting with the men in the museum, talking to both… spilling her guts out..

Ugh. She mentally punched herself. She probably sounded so dumb, probably rambled drunkenly to them. Said mushy things to them that she couldn’t remember now-

Aron’s bright laughter pulled Eve from her mental labyrinth.

“No, we didn’t do anything like that, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

He laughed again, loosening her up each time. She smiled hesitantly.

“God, you should have seen the look on your face?”

Desmond cut in, grabbing Eve’s hand gently and stroking the back of it with his thumb.

“Eve. You know I would never touch you with even a drop of alcohol in your veins.”

She rolled her eyes. He was always so formal.

“Yeah.. Yeah, I know.”

“I’m serious. You may laugh, but I would never hamper with that. Your dignity.”

The wording sparked a soft smile across her face. He spoke that sentence with love.

“Thank you.”

“You know me.” His eyes were serious, not a trace of humor in them. He didn’t falter in holding her gaze.

“I do.”

She smiled and placed her free hand on his.

“I do know you. And I love you.”

Desmond reached over to peck her cheek before giving her hand a squeeze. From the other side of her, Aron spoke next.

“You did beg for it, though.”

She froze. Her eyes glanced at the floor before looking back at him. Her cheeks felt as if they’d been slapped, they were agonizingly hot with embarrassment.

God dammit, Eve.

She decided to try and save face as much as she could. Though she was the only one that wasn’t mentally present at the time, and she had no recollection of it, her pride simply wouldn’t allow her to admit that truth.

“I.. No, I didn’t,” she denied vehemently.

Aron laughed out loud.

“Oh.. yes, you did. You said quite a few things that were very.. eye opening.”

He chose each word carefully, feeling Desmond’s eyes on him.

Eve glanced up at him with wide eyes again, but really terrified this time. Horrified, actually, as her mind raced through the possible things her drunk self might have said. Sober Eve wanted to fuck both of them. But drunk Eve? She was frothing and shaking, simply hellbent on making it happen. Eve didn’t know what to say, so she let him elaborate.

“Eye opening as in..?”

“Well, it just showed us how bad you truly want both of us… at once.”

Her gut braided itself as she looked over to Desmond and found him smirking. His eyes skimmed her face, from her eyes down to her lips.

“Um..” She stammered. The heat returned to her cheeks again, this time a blazing fire under her flesh.

“Seeing you blush like that makes my mouth just.. water..” Desmond said, his gaze fixated on her face. She saw the desperation in his eyes, the agony of resisting temptation. He was always an expert at it. But this time, he was losing. She watched the defiance drain from his deep blue stare. He swallowed hard, his jaw clenching. He was surrendering to his darkest desires, and watching him unwind turned her on beyond belief.

Her heart thumped as she felt a twinge between her thighs. She was terrified to do this. It was something new to her, of course, and sex with one vampire took a lot of getting used to, especially on a physical level… but two? Two bodies that could easily snap her bones, crush her into sand? Drain her body dry of every drop of-

She realized she was holding her breath. Eve exhaled as she watched the predator next to her paw open his cage. The lust in his eyes bloomed and she knew he was about to let himself play.

Aron’s voice filled her ear next as he caressed her shoulder, his finger trailing down her arm softly.

“I bet that’s making you ache, isn’t it?”

“Hmm?” He hummed, as his hands ran over her. She closed her eyes and let her head fall back slightly, onto Aron’s shoulder. Desmond drew closer, his face just inches from her pale neck.

Her heart thudded loudly, drumming under Desmond’s lips once again. She couldn’t take it anymore, the despair in her own voice shocked even herself.

“J-just fuck me already!”

Aron inhaled loudly from behind her, smelling the potent mixture of her fear, blood, and lust through her pores. She watched as Desmond’s eyes darkened right in front of her. His lips twisted into a sinful grin and she felt Aron harden behind her almost instantaneously.

“‘Just fuck you already’? Have you forgotten your manners?” Desmond taunted.

She couldn’t help it. A whimper escaped her, she had everything in her just to keep her legs shut. Her eyes closed and she steadied her breathing.

“Please..” her pink lips parted in a whisper.

Aron groaned quietly, the vibration from his chest sending shockwaves through her back.

“I don’t think you understand what you’re asking for, sweetheart,” said Desmond.

“Your heart is pulsing.. I need to feel it from inside of you,” Aron purred.

Her lips tried to smother the soft moan that threatened to escape. The fact that both of them were just as on board with this as she was made her heart drop to her knees. This was it. It was happening.

Upon blinking, the two were at the edge of her bed, standing and staring down at her. Her arms flew out to support herself as she adjusted to the empty, cold space she was now surrounded with. Desmond and Aron both had amorous smirks on their faces, Aron’s hands rested on his belt while Desmond rubbed his together slowly.

They’re still in their fucking clothes, she thought with frustration.

Just before she could verbalize her annoyance, Desmond reached one hand up and beckoned to her with a crooked finger.

“Come,” his voice a commanding rumble that filled her with so much longing she thought she’d burst just from hearing him speak.

She scrambled to the edge of the bed, just short of flying, and sat before them.

His hand reached up to gently caress her cheek, his touch electric as he leaned in closer.

"Are you ready for this, Eve?" he asked softly, his sea eyes boring into her with intensity that made it impossible for Eve to look away. Excitement swirled under the surface of the blue.

“If things become too much for you, or you need a moment, do not hesitate to use the safe word.” He shot a glance over to Aron, who looked on with desire, before locking eyes with her again.

“Aron shared yours with me.. It’s now our safe word. Use it any time. I fucking mean it. And if your mouth is occupied, tap us or the bed three times. Neither one of us will be offended. You can withdraw consent at any time. Understood?”

His eyes burrowed into hers. She felt as if she were signing her life away, putting her signature on a document in her own blood.

She blinked a few times while nodding.

“Y-yes.”

He smiled and stepped away from her again.

“Lovely. Now you can start earning it.”

“What..?” She glanced at both men in confusion.

“You really didn’t think it was going to be that easy, did you, sweetheart?” Aron piped up.

“No, not with how you teased us last night. That wasn’t fair to us at all.. and now you need to make up for that.”

She closed her eyes as the memory of her stripping, climbing up on the bed and crawling on top of them hit her.

Oh my god. Why?

She knew there was nothing else to say, she just had to do what they wanted. There was only one thing still standing in the way of the best outcome, and she was about to find out.

“Lay on the bed.”

She reluctantly scooted up to the pillows and rested her head on them, looking up at the tall figures at the foot of her.

“Spread your legs.. and touch yourself.” Desmond ordered. She gulped silently, looking up at him.

“What?”

“You heard me. You’re going to earn our cocks. You’ve been a cock tease for far too long.” The combination of his dulcet voice and accent made Eve incapable of defiance.

“Go on, doll.. lay back and relax.” Aron coaxed with a smile.

She followed their directions, pulling open the robe and sticking her hand in her panties before Aron scolded her.

“No. They come off.”

“Everything comes off,” Desmond warned.

She rolled her panties down and unclasped her bra, letting her breasts fall free. The lace pieces were then dropped on the floor beside her bed.

“Jesus Christ.. you’re so fucking beautiful,” Aron breathed.

Eve laid back and spread her pale legs, slipping her hand between her thighs and spreading her slick folds open. She’d already been absolutely soaked.

Truly, the idea of pleasuring herself in front of both of them was awkward, but she quickly adjusted, and suddenly the idea was sexy. In that moment in time, Eve felt so exposed.

She rubbed the pink pearl in her heat, flicking her eyes back and forth between Aron and Desmond. They looked back at her with an intense hunger- and not just for her blood.

“Tell me, my sweet, when you’re touching that pretty pussy at night, whose face do you see? His.. or mine?” Desmond asked in his velvet voice.

They both smirked as Eve choked on her answer, biting her lip. The answer was easy.. both.

“B-both,” she replied, as she grabbed her left breast to squeeze while she rubbed.

“Mm, of course,” Desmond responded, as if it was the obvious answer.

“And just how many nights have you slipped those fingers into that wet cunt, thinking about this exact moment?” Aron teased. This was torture for her- and they knew it. They enjoyed dangling her orgasm right in front of her face. Just out of reach, but oh so close. They were onto her fantasies about having both at once. If she wasn’t so fucking turned on, she would have been embarrassed.

She struggled to answer, caught up in her own pleasure as she locked eyes with Desmond.

“Don’t be shy, my love, slip a finger inside while you’re at it.”

She did, inserting her middle finger completely, slowly pushing it in and out.

“Another one.”

A second finger filled her and she squirmed under her own grasp. Her knees shook as she looked up at both men in desperation for release.

“Keep going,” Desmond spat. “You are not allowed to cum. If you do anyways, this stops immediately and you won’t be cumming for the rest of the week.”

Her eyes widened at the threat. She knew Desmond meant it. He continued to watch her as his hands moved to his jacket. His fingers began to remove the fabric, and Aron followed suit, slowly pulling his jacket off as well. They relished the satisfaction of unclasping each button slowly, working their way down, knowing it was driving Eve wild. She could have swore she saw Desmond move his hips gently from side to side, almost incorporating a swagger into his strip. Was it her imagination?

No.

Finally, she saw through the cracks. She was finally able to see bits and pieces of Vessel shine through Desmond’s exterior. The first time she’d seen the sultry and mysterious figure use Desmond as a channel. Even without the paint, the mask.. he lived just under the surface.

“Please!” She begged. Her hands stopped moving and she fought to not fly to the edge of the bed again.

Desmond and Aron both glared at her, making feel very small. Cornered. The message was crystal clear. She scooted up again and resumed. Aron spoke as he lifted his shirt up and over his head. Desmond undid his tie and dropped it to the floor before moving out of his shirt as well.

“Tight little circles, Eve. Gooood girl. Show us how you entertain yourself when neither one of us are around. Show us how.. good.. you can make yourself feel when you’re without a cock.”

She fully embraced her hand, rocking onto her own fingers as her hips thrust forward. Both men had their hands at their hips, undoing their belts. The metal buckles clinked loudly as the leather swooshed free from the belt loops. The wave of pleasure neared her as she closed her eyes. She wanted the belts on her skin, around her throat..

Her mind was feral, absolutely ravenous for any sexual stimulation at all.

“Do you like that? Yeah.. tell us how much you love fucking yourself.” Aron continued.

“I-I f-fucki- love i-“

Her body trembled violently, but she remembered Desmond’s words. At the last minute, she jumped away from the wave of pleasure, saving herself the orgasm. She knew Desmond wasn’t all bark and no bite. He meant his threats.

Eve verbally cried out loud in defeat, watching the men drop their pants to the ground and stand in their undergarments. They seemed so tall, looming over her with the eyes of hunters settled in on their prey.

“Stop.” Desmond said.

He snapped his fingers and pointed to the edge of the bed again. As if she were a dog being called to her owner’s feet.

They both looked down at her as she moved toward them. Desmond reached down and kissed her deeply. His tongue glided across her bottom lip, demanding entrance right away. He wanted her to know that her mouth belonged to him. She opened, more than willingly, and their tongues tangled for dominance. Throughout the kiss, she felt Aron’s hands roam over her arms and torso, cupping her breasts and nipping at her neck. She moaned into Desmond’s mouth before he pulled away. His fingers grabbed a strand of her hair, which he twirled around the long digit as he studied her face.

“So beautifully responsive to our touch,” Desmond spoke down to her as Aron continued to kiss her neck and moan under his breath, savoring the taste of her skin. Her pheromones filled their noses, making them even harder.

He chuckled softly. Eve felt her wetness already dripping down her thighs, as if her cunt was salivating for them, drooling down her legs. She couldn’t bear it anymore. She could feel her own heart hammering in her chest with anticipation.
Desmond got close to her face again, his breath sweet against her lips.

“Since the last time we were all together, I made him watch you swallow me.. it’s his turn to fuck your throat. Be a good girl and deliver, love..”

In a millisecond, she’d been pulled to the right edge of the bed. She watched as Desmond put his hands on her knees and spread them with intention. Eve glanced up to see Aron towering directly over her. He shimmied his boxers down his thighs, off his legs and got on the edge of the bed next to her. He stood on his knees so Eve was eye level with his hips.

Aron’s cock was already seeping wetness, too. He looked down at her with lust as she spit on her hand and wrapped it around his cock. Her slick palm stroked him as he bit his lip to suppress a moan. Eve was determined to rip them from his chest, to make him groan loudly. She felt Desmond’s eyes on her as she took Aron into her mouth, stuffing his entire cock down her throat on the first try.

It took Aron off guard. He trembled and his moan filled the room, wrapping his fingers in her hair.

There it was.

She loved how vocal Aron was. There was never any room to ponder his approval, he would always make it known, whether it was a gasp, a moan, or praise itself. Desmond was a bit trickier. He was vocal at times, but not always. Most of his approval was shown in body language- trembles and twitches. His chest rising and falling rapidly. His head tipping back or the intensity in his eyes. There was a specific look he gave Eve during sex. His eyes were always enough to make her heart flutter, but this look was primal.

She continued to suck Aron’s length as he muttered praises under his breath, little “fuck”, “god damn”, and “yes”s. Desmond’s eyes still lingered, and his hands rubbed Eve’s inner thighs softly. Without warning, Desmond kissed Eve’s wet heat, placing his lips on hers and swirling his tongue. She arched her back and moaned, making her throat vibrate around Aron. It caused a chain reaction, Aron made his own note of frailty and Desmond chuckled darkly. To watch the pleasure shoot through Eve and into Aron.. now that was something.

She glanced down at Desmond, who continued to lick and suck her. His large hands firmly grasped the tops of her thighs and he rubbed the inner flesh with his thumbs. He knew how to build tension in the body with his touch, layer it on top of a sexual action to make the result even more explosive.

As Eve’s eyes met Desmond’s, she sucked in a breath without even realizing it. His blue irises contained a severity that made her heart stop. He was gunning for her orgasm, needing it for his own satisfaction. He wanted to feel her shudder under his hands, under his tongue. And even better yet, with a cock in her mouth to gag her as she screamed in satisfaction.

Aron smirked as he watched Desmond eye fuck her. He’d played around in the past, this wasn’t his first threesome, but it felt like it was. The others were all centered around his pleasure with two random women, never once did he share another woman with a man. Much less.. Desmond. The thought made him harden to a rock in Eve’s palm. If possible, he knew he’d be absolutely throbbing. The amount of adrenaline that shot through him already completely trumped any threesome in the past. They were merely playthings at this point. Comical. Not valid enough to even consider real. But this was. He was so turned on he could barely even think straight.

Eve’s eyes rolled back as Desmond inserted a long finger inside her. He pumped inside her a few times, then put another in, curling them to hit the underside of her navel.

“Ohhhh my g-“ she choked.

And suddenly she was empty.

Her eyes shot to Desmond, who met her with amusement.

“Mouth back on his cock. Now.”

She took Aron in again. Both of her hands were on his shaft as she moved her mouth, her hands pumping up and down while they twisted. She spit all over him, it dripped from her lips as his cock filled her mouth. He groaned, throwing his head back and grabbing her head, lacing his fingers in her hair as he began to fuck her throat. Tears welled in her eyes as she moaned and gagged loudly around his length.

Desmond’s mouth and fingers went back to what they were doing, bringing her closer and closer to the crest of nirvana. Both men listened to her fast heartbeat fill the room, bouncing off the walls, giving them a gauge to how close she was getting.

“God, you taste better than blood itself. Fuck,” Desmond spoke up to her. “You’re hypnotizing.”

He lapped around her clit with just the right amount of pressure. His fingers worked inside of her yet, while Aron continued to thrust into her mouth. The feeling of being used by both of her lovers at once was unbeatable. A familiar saltiness coated her taste buds here and there, letting her know that Aron was enjoying this quite a bit.

“Mm, look at them fucking tits, I love them so much.”

He reached down to her chest and began to play with her nipples, sending shockwaves directly to her clit that was in Desmond’s mouth. Her hips bucked as she whimpered. She couldn’t take much more of this.

He flicked her nipples before rubbing softly, and alternating pressures as she bobbed on him below.
Desmond’s brooding voice filled the air again. This time, with humor.

“Look at her squirm, Aron. You’re making her nearly ride my tongue.”

They both got off on seeing her struggle, watching her fight against reducing into nothing.

Her knees shook as it progressed. Both men knew exactly what it was doing, yet they were more than happy to sadistically toy with her.

“There’s our pretty little slut, so desperate to cum,” Aron sneered down at her.

Her eyes welled with tears again as she deepthroated him. She ran her tongue up and down his shaft, feeling the thick vein on the underside of his cock. Her mouth slurped as she worked her hardest to fuck him to completion.

“Grab onto me, I want to feel you dig your nails into me every time he flicks his tongue across your clit.”
Desmond spat at her entrance and focused the tip of his tongue on her most sensitive bead, flicking at random intervals as he moved his fingers inside her. His fingers were absolutely soaked, her juices flowed down his fingers freely. She wasn’t even squirting, just a weak, fragile little mess.

She moaned louder and louder, practically crying with Aron in her mouth yet.

“Your mouth feels so fucking good when you moan around me, Eve,” Aron said breathlessly. He threw his head back and closed his eyes, feeling her struggle to breathe as she choked.

The lack of air made her head spin as her heart pounded. The knot behind her navel tightened as Desmond hooked his fingers behind it and sucked on her clit. Her nails dug into Aron’s cold flesh as she shivered, her free hand flying to Desmond’s hair as she bucked her hips, riding his tongue even more. An orgasm ripped through her body, she trembled and tried to push Desmond’s head back. She moaned around Aron’s cock, her own saliva dropped down the side of her face as he fucked into her throat while she climaxed. Her breaths turned into whimpers as she brought herself back down to Earth. Both Desmond and Aron were on fire, ready to shoot their loads into her. But they’d be patient. Yet, the sight of her squirming and writhing underneath them was to be remembered.

Desmond began to kiss down her thighs, then removed his fingers from her entirely. She whined loudly in protest.

“You look beautiful with his cock in your mouth,” Desmond said, rubbing her skin and watching her. He walked over and put his hand at the base of her skull before pushing it down entirely, forcing Eve to take every inch of Aron. Her lips wrapped around the base of him and Aron hissed loudly. Desmond looked at Aron with deep satisfaction, his own arousal becoming painful as it increased. With the same intensity as pushing her down, he pulled her head back, freeing her mouth of Aron’s size. She gasped for air loudly, shaking as she fought off the stars she’d begun to see.

“You did so good, angel. So, so good. That felt amazing. Fuck,” Aron said in between pants. His chest rose and fell viciously as his body twitched at her absence.

Desmond grabbed her and pulled her to her feet, so she was in between both their bodies. Skin to skin, she felt as though her flesh was on fire.

“Kiss me. Taste yourself on my tongue, see exactly why I’ve been trailing you since we met.”

Aron’s hands roamed her body from behind, gripping her ass, rubbing her arms, reaching around her and squeezing her breasts.. his wet cock pressed up against her ass from behind.

Eve kissed Desmond once more. Sweet tanginess passed from Desmond’s tongue to hers as she whimpered and moaned in his mouth. She was so desperately in need of them it was a physical burden at this point. To make her taste her own cum on his tongue without fucking her.. that would be beyond sadistic. She’d been waiting for so long, months, and they were so close yet again..

“Please, fuck me. Please.. please.. hard.. please..”

Eve didn’t care about her pride anymore, as she was reduced to begging and pleading. She could barely form a coherent sentence.

“Mm.. is that what you need, dove? To be fucked hard?” Desmond crooned down to her seductively, his smooth voice making her even wetter.. if that were possible.

She nodded desperately and whimpered.

“You need it, don’t you?” Aron hummed into her neck from behind. He moved her long hair behind her back. “Go on.. tell us.”

“Y-yes! P-p-lease! I need it s-s-o bad, I’ve b-been w-waiti-ng for months! Plea-se!” She cried, just short of stomping her foot in frustration. Her patience was completely gone.

Desmond stared down at her, an equal fire raging in his eyes as in hers. The passion reflected back to her took her off guard, made her insides feel like jelly. He leaned in and pressed his forehead against hers, giving her one last deep kiss before whispering in her ear.

“Close your eyes, Eve.. and see how much we adore you.”

Quickly, she found herself on top of Aron in bed. She straddled him as he nipped at her neck and breasts. All consideration for subtlety was gone as his kisses and gentle bites left behind welts. Desmond spit in his hand and stroked his cock, she could hear his hand slipping around his flesh from behind her. She arched her back as Aron looked into her eyes, watching for her reaction.

“You know what to do if it’s too much,” he reminded.

And with that, Desmond thrusted into Eve, filling her up completely as she cried out. The sensation was overwhelming as always- hot, thick, and demanding, as he wasted no time, pounding into her with a ferocity that left no doubt as to who was currently in control….. them.

Aron watched her eyes light up and gloss over. Her body shivered as her face scrunched. Desmond growled loudly in satisfaction, his thrusts so powerful that Aron had to push her shoulders back with force to keep her from moving forward. The pressure of his cock inside her made her brain explode with serotonin. She moaned loudly, no longer giving a fuck if her neighbors heard anymore. With each thrust, Desmond unleashed more emotion into her, things that had been built up for centuries.

Eve could no longer form words. Musical yelps, whimpers and cries left her plump lips as Aron tore into her neck with kisses and sucked on her breasts.
Desmond pulled out, leaving Eve with the emptiest feeling ever. It only lasted a second until she was quickly filled again, by Aron this time. He bit his lip underneath her as he fucked up into her. She rolled her hips, breathing heavily as she tried to adjust to his girth.

“Feels so fucking.. good,” Aron spat through his teeth as he pushed into her. “So.. tight,” he grunted.

“Bend over him completely, love. Arch your back.” Desmond spoke into her ear. She followed his direction.

As she bent over and arched, Desmond ran his hand down her spine, to her bare ass, and smacked it. Eve yelped loudly before coming back down, arching her back once more. Desmond rubbed her ass cheek with his hand, warming her skin up, and struck her again. A clear handmark bloomed on her ass, filling Desmond with a sick, sadistic joy.

He spat on his fingers and began to run his fingers along the hole that wasn’t occupied by Aron. Eve shivered as his fingers ran across it. Aron reached up to kiss Eve, cradling her face in his wide, colorful hands.

“You’re such a good fucking girl. You’re our girl. You’re our good girl.”

His breath grazed her skin as he moved to her neck again, kissing and sucking. His hands wrapped around her to her lower back, then he placed a hand on either ass cheek. He knew what Desmond was doing. Aron spread his hands apart, making it even easier for Desmond to prod Eve.

Desmond moved closer and spat on her hole before slipping a finger inside, making her immediately clench.

“Sshh, shh sh. You’re okay. Relax your body. The pain will turn into pleasure if you relax.” He whispered into her ear.

She knew her safe word, and the tap rule. And yet, she still didn’t feel the need to use either. She trusted them completely. This had happened once over the pool table, but that was the only time, and she had a feeling Desmond was going to push her further today.

And she was right.

Another finger entered her, as Desmond now fucked her ass with both his middle and ring finger. He put them completely in and curved them slightly. She gasped loudly as Desmond hummed in approval behind her. He worked gently, building up tension as both holes were filled. Eve scrunched her face, trying to ward off the orgasm that was coming. She knew they wouldn’t allow her to cum again just yet. They were going to push her… and push her.. and keep her on the edge, just until the last possible moment, where they’d push her off and let her free fall.

Desmond pulled his fingers out of her and blurred quickly to the bathroom, where he washed his hands, not wanting to cause an infection in Eve’s body. In his absence, Aron guided her to the edge of the bed. He stood behind and fucked her rabidly, like he was angry with the world, while Eve’s eyes greeted Desmond as he returned.

Desmond walked towards her and she opened her mouth, wanting his cock inside. He took in the sight of it- watching Aron rail her from behind as her puppy dog eyes watched him with her mouth open, just waiting for him. He slipped in and sighed, petting her hair to encourage her to take more.

“Such a pretty girl with my cock in your mouth,” He praised gently. The momentum from Aron’s thrusts behind her sent her forward onto Desmond’s length, each time pushing her further and further down.

“Tell him how good he feels,” He ordered Eve.

“It feels so.. f-fucking go-od!”

“Hmm.. that wasn’t very believable, was it?” Desmond gently slapped her cheek twice.

She turned around to lock eyes with Aron while stroking Desmond in front of her.

“Aron, your cock feels s-so good ins-side me!”

“Much better, baby. You follow direction so well.”

Aron decided to claim her other ass cheek, rubbing it with gentle circles before raising his hand in the air and slapping it against her skin loudly. She jolted forward, gagging on Desmond in response.

“God damn, I feel every hit in her throat.”

Desmond laced his fingers in her hair and closed his eyes. Aron reached back once more and swatted her again.

Smack!

She jolted, gagged, and took a second to gasp for air before resuming. Desmond grit his teeth as each hit pushed her further, sending his cock straight to the back of her throat.

Smack!

Smack!

Smack!

The primal desire in both men increased as they watched the energy drain from Eve. With each slap, she proved just how much she was willing to endure. Though, definitely not to be confused with disappointment, because Eve was having the time of her fucking life.

She’d never felt so on display, so dirty and used before. The mix of praise and degradation from both men was disorienting, but she was perfectly fine with it. She continued to gag on Desmond before he stepped back and stroked himself whilst talking to Aron.

“On the bed. Lay flat and put her on top, facing me.”

Aron did just that. He lay with her on top, riding his cock backwards in reverse. Like she was sitting on his lap. He propped Eve’s back up with his hands. As she slid up and down, Desmond made his way over to them and continued stroking himself. She reached for his face to kiss him as she rode Aron. Another orgasm was building, the looming threat becoming almost impossible to ignore.

Desmond looked down at her and took her face in one hand, studying it.

“Look at that flustered face.. those glazed over eyes. I could cum just from watching you.” He kissed her once more.

“Deep breaths, Eve. We take it slow.”

Aron slowed as he felt Desmond nearer. He stopped entirely as Desmond rubbed his bare cock against her clit, making her roll her eyes back and look up at him with pleading puppy dog eyes. The piercing on the head of Desmond’s cock glinted in the sunlight that trickled into the room. She tightened, gripping Aron’s cock inside her, earning a groan from underneath her.

“Please..” she said, barely a whisper.

Desmond slowly pushed inside, his cock rubbing against Aron’s length and Eve’s walls simultaneously. She let out a long, shuddering breath as they all adjusted to the tight fit. Desmond began to move, slowly at first, getting used to the feel of both of them inside her.

Sheer adrenaline flooded Eve’s veins as goosebumps trickled across her skin. Aron began to pump into her slowly, matching Desmond’s speed. She cried out, having never felt this sensation in her entire life. The feeling of being pulled apart and filled at the same time.

Her cries, moans and gasps echoed throughout the small room as she lost herself in the sensation of being stuffed by not one, but two powerful beings at once. These creatures weren’t men, but something else entirely. Godly.

It was all new for Aron and Desmond, too. They’d never shared a hole before, and fuck did it feel amazing. Not only was she tighter than ever, but the sensation of both cocks rubbing together was nearly enough to make them both lose it. From every direction, they were being stroked and squeezed.

Desmond’s jaw dropped slightly as he trembled. Aron himself hissed and shivered as he felt every inch.
They started to move faster. Desmond cradled Eve’s face once more. She looked up at him, her mind a blur as she rode both cocks.

“How does it feel? To be stuffed by two cocks at once?”

She nodded, unable to form a sentence. Her clouded mind could only form fractions of words as her nearing orgasm completely took over her thoughts.

“S-so… G-“

Desmond watched from above as Eve’s face reddened and her breathing stopped. Her heart rate doubled, with her heart pounding even harder than before. Eve was nonverbal, clutching at Desmond’s body, trying to grab onto him as she came. There was no fighting it anymore. Her walls tightened around them both and the two moaned loudly as she gripped them like a vice. Her eyes rolled back into her skull as she shook, her whole body convulsing as she came. A literal scream clawed its way from her throat as she rode out her orgasm, her swollen walls pulsing around them.

Eve was no longer mentally present. She’d floated into sub space, away from the realities of the world. Her thoughts were no longer hers. In a fucked-out haze, she looked up at Desmond to see him looking down at her cunt in awe.

Thick, white cum dripped from her folds as they continued to fuck her. She’d never cum like this before. Eve had squirted several times in the past, but she never had the thick essence literally ooze from her body. Her cream coated their cocks, creating even more lubrication.

It was the sexiest thing Desmond had ever seen. He bit his lip to hold his own whimper back, feeling the thick cum slip against his flesh.

Desmond reached down to pull her face to his. The sex flush was still ever apparent on Eve’s pale chest, casting her skin in red. Her mouth was swollen and she had tears leaking from the corners of her eyes. That’s how bad she’d wanted this. She actually cried in desperation.

Desmond wrapped a large hand around her throat and pounded hard, picking up the pace. He felt his own orgasm building, coming closer each millisecond. He locked eyes with Eve, pulling her lips to his. As they kissed, Desmond groaned loudly, feeling his cock twitch and explode inside of her. Aron moaned, too, feeling Desmond’s cum coat him as well. Desmond moaned into Eve’s mouth as she kissed him back.

He pulled away and kissed her neck, leading a trail of kisses to behind her ear.

“You’re so, so beautiful, Evelina. God, I love you,” he whispered.

Aron’s arms wrapped around her body and grabbed her breasts, squeezing and playing. He watched Eve’s ass as she continued to rock her hips. Desmond pulled out and watched as his cum trickled down, all over Aron’s cock as it pumped in and out of Eve.

“Fucking Christ,” he muttered to himself. It was so sexy.

Eve took it into her own hands to switch positions She flipped onto her hands and knees and straddled Aron again, this time facing him. She kissed him repeatedly as he fucked up into her, with both Desmond and Eve’s cum serving as lube.

“Yeah.. fuck his cum back into me, Aron.. fill me with two loads of cum.. please.. I can’t get enough.. I’m begging you,” she whined to him seductively. Eve knew Aron always got off when she begged him to.

Aron bit his own lip as he couldn’t take it anymore. His hand launched to her throat, squeezing the sides while also cutting off her air gradually. Her face turned pink, and he quickly filled her with another load. He lay there panting and shuddering as Desmond ran his hand up Eve’s back and kissed her shoulder.

“Centuries could pass, and I’d never tire of that,” he inhaled as he kissed Eve’s skin once more. The smell of her blood was ever apparent as she tried to come back down to earth. Her heartbeat slowed and she gazed down at Aron, who still lay frozen underneath her. Apparently, it had mentally taken a lot out of him, too.

She got off of Aron’s body and flipped over to lie on her back. Eve could feel the three orgasms dripping out of her yet. She spread her legs and Desmond made sure to look.

“Mmmmm…. Fuck,” he cursed. Such vulgarity coming from him was so sexy.

Aron moved to look over at Eve and bit his lip again. The urge to go down on her was overwhelming, but he wouldn’t push it this time. He didn’t know how Desmond would react to him eating his cum out of her.

“God dammit, Eve. What the fuck are you doing to us?”

She smirked devilishly, giving them their energy right back.

“I don’t know.. but I fucking love it.”

Desmond and Aron nodded in response, then simultaneously ended up on either side of her again.

“Are you sore?”

“I feel like I got ran over by a Mack truck.”

Aron snorted.

“To put it lightly,” he retorted.

Desmond cracked at this, letting out a hearty belly laugh. He turned Eve’s face to him with his finger to kiss her again.

“Do you need anything?”

“Mm-mm. I’m completely fine right here. I haven’t come down yet.”

Aron hummed into her skin as he kissed her body again. Eve lilted softly in response, lacing her fingers through his chestnut hair as he made his way lower. Desmond laughed darkly before kissing her lips and whispering to her.

“Who says we have to..?”

Chapter Text

Heroin- Badflower

Eve woke to the orange lamp in her room glowing with Percy balled up next to her, snoring away. The sun had gone down, the curtains were shut and night had fallen on the opposite side of the glass.

Her door was closed and empty sheets surrounded her. Aron and Desmond were gone. She hadn’t even felt herself fall asleep.. again. It hit her that this was becoming a pattern. In the years prior, she’d always had issues sleeping. And now, she seemed to be dropping dead at random. Especially when they were near. Like she felt such a certainty of peace that her nervous system just shut down to get rest.

Her heart sunk in her chest at their absence until she heard clanking and soft music floating down the hall. Eve rolled out of bed and wrapped her satin robe around herself, heading to the door. She hoped that the noises were from the two men she loved so much instead of a burglar.

Upon opening it, the scent of food hit her. She made her way down the hall toward the soft jazz playing on her kitchen speaker.

Aron and Desmond both stood in the kitchen, surrounded by mixing bowls, jars, and utensils. They looked up at her as she walked around the corner and entered the room. Two big, pearly smiles greeted her. Desmond walked over and gave her a kiss on the cheek, his soft lips brushing against her skin.

“Good morning, gorgeous.”

“What time is it?” She asked. He glanced at the clock on the stovetop.

“5:34 PM.”

Her eyes turned into saucers. She’d wasted half the day.

“What?! I didn’t even feel myself fall asleep! I would have stayed awake if you guys would ha-“

She was cut off by Desmond shaking his head.

“Mm, no. You needed that rest more than you realize.”

Behind him, Aron caught her eye. He wore her cooking apron, which was black and covered in cherries. He’d clearly forgotten he’d been wearing it, because he scratched his head in embarrassment when Eve pointed it out.

“Yeah.. sorreh. I like to get into character when I cook.”

Desmond scoffed playfully and Eve looked at Aron in disbelief. This version of him was so.. domesticated. The last and only time she saw him so tamed was on their first ever date, where he cooked for her and brought her inside before slow dancing with her. She paused for a moment, reminiscing with a smile, thinking about how long ago that felt. How much had happened sinc-

“By the way, babe, I had to use the rest of your flour. Hope you don’t mind. I’ll replace it, ‘fcourse.”

“What are you cooking…?” She scanned the flour coated counter. The smell wafting through her home was delicious, but she couldn’t quite place it.

“Pizza! Fingers crossed you’re a fan of meat lover-“

His words slid to a pause as he and Desmond side eyed each other in realization. A soft chuckle rumbled in his chest as he bit his lip to conceal it. They both tried their hardest to hold it in, but failed, and burst into laughter before high fiving each other.

“Oh.. that’s reeeaallyyy funny, you guys!” Eve said sarcastically. She rolled her eyes as Aron made his way over and pecked her lips quickly.

“Sorry, sweetheart. But really. I hope you aren’t super picky about your pizza. This is more for you than it is for us, obviously. I figured a meat lover’s would fill you the mos….”

His face twisted into humor once again as he walked right into another joke. The non-existent laughter hung in the air like a thick fog.

“Aron!” She snapped a dish towel at him.

He laughed outloud with his hands raised in the air, surrendering. “What?! I’m sorry, I’m really not meaning to set them up!”

“Okay, well what’s on the pizza..? I didn’t have much here for groceries. I don’t eat here often,” she stated, suddenly guilt-ridden at how often Camren cooked for both her and Freya.

“You had the basics. Flour, Olive Oil, Salt… uhh… we had to fetch everything else. Well, Desmond did.”

She was embarrassed at her lack of food in the home. And also, that they had to quite literally make a shopping trip just for basic pizza supplies. She blushed and looked at the ground.

“Um..” she wasn’t quite sure where to go with that information. “What do I owe you?”

Desmond and Aron both looked offended.

“Respectfully, love, shut the fuck up.”

Aron’s brashness caught her off guard. It triggered something in her, heat ran through her veins. The inner brat that lived inside Eve’s soul threatened to claw her way out at those words. She stalked over to him, grabbed his groin over his boxers, and pinned him against the kitchen wall.

“Yeah? How about you make me?”

His eyes glimmered with mischief. He looked at her with an amused smile, as if she even stood a chance. She felt Desmond’s eyes on her back.

“Yeah?” Aron laughed in her face. “You sure you want to have a go at that?”

She stared at his full lips, hand still clutched over his groin.

“Why don’t you take care of your current injuries first, before we inflict more, yeah?”

She scrunched her brows and cocked her head to the side. Stepping back, she glanced at Desmond, who met her with soft eyes.

“My.. injuries?” She said quietly. Aron walked past her and opened the fridge.

“Look at your body,” he answered simply as he reached for the parmesan cheese.

Desmond blurred to her side and grabbed her hand. Her eyes scanned down her arms, which she noticed were littered with deep purple and blue bruises.. fingerprints.

She glanced down her legs and was met with the same sight. Panicked, she looked up at Desmond before sprinting to her bathroom mirror.

“Fuckin nimrod,” Desmond said to Aron. “Could have broken it to her a bit more gently.”

Eve dropped the robe from her body in the mirror and gasped. She was covered in marks from head to toe. Hickies, welts, and bruises graffitied her neck from their grip.

Her chest was bruised all over, but especially her breasts. It didn’t end there, as her back was covered in hickies, no doubt from being kissed roughly and nipped at.

And her eyes settled on her ass, which had bloomed dark purple, red, and blue. Each cheek contained a large, clear handprint. Eve gasped at the sight. The reflection of her body didn’t even look like hers, aside from her tattoos. She looked like a trauma victim, or maybe someone who’d just gotten in a car accident.

“What the fuck..?” Her voice quivered in panic as Desmond entered the open bathroom door. Her eyes bounced between her bruised flesh and him. She flinched as he came closer and instinctively put her arms out to defend herself. The panic attack that hit her was showing no mercy as she felt all of the air leave her lungs.

“Evelina..” Desmond cooed. He hugged her gently from behind, sending white hot pain down her spine. Her mind spun, feeling light headed. Within moments, black spots flooded her vision and her legs crumpled beneath her. Desmond grabbed the back of her head and put all of her weight on his body to ease her fall.

“Hey.. hey.. darling.. it’s okay.” Her vision faded in and out as she fought to stay conscious. A vignette of clouds formed in the corners of her sight.

“Aron! She’s fainted!”

With her next sleepy blink, Aron was crouched in front of her. She watched him with half-lidded, cloudy vision.

“Sweetheart, you’re safe. They’re bruises and hickies, that’s all they are. I promise. Nothing’s broken. We’re not going to hurt you.”

She looked up at him groggily.

“Did you feed on me when I fell asleep? Or compelled me and… beat the fuck out of me, and then erased my memories? What the hell did you guys do?!”

“Evelina.. please.. listen.. no.. we would never..”

“Focus on your breathing. It’s a panic attack. In and out. Count with me, Eve,” Aron coaxed.

Breathe in.. 1.. 2.. 3.. 4..
Out.. 1.. 2.. 3.. 4..

After she got her breathing down, she glanced between the two men who sat next to her on the floor. She was cradled in Desmond’s arms, sitting in his lap, as Aron faced her. Her entire body was processing so much pain, she almost couldn’t feel it anymore.

“Like I said.. they’re bruises from sex. We both were.. lost in it, and didn’t think about how hard we were gripping your skin. And how much pressure we were using.. I’m so sorry.”

Desmond spoke next.

“I feel horrible. We’re going to cover them up. And next time, we will exercise severe caution.”

Eve pondered it for a moment. It didn’t really make sense.

“It wasn’t painful, though. I don’t understand.. wouldn’t I have felt all of these bruises happening..? This has never happened before with either one of you when it was just us..?”

Desmond smiled sadly.

“You didn’t feel it because your adrenaline blocked the pain receptors in your brain. You were experiencing such high euphoria that no other sensation would register in your mind. Almost like you were numbed to anything negative or painful.”

“And…” Aron added, “the reason it’s never happened with us individually is that one on one, we remember to control our force. But earlier we just… lost control.. because it felt so good..”

“I see.” Eve responded shortly. “And what do you guys suggest I do in the meantime, hmm? Wear a fuckin’ hazmat suit everywhere I go?” Her eyes burned into the two.

“That wouldn’t be a bad idea,” Aron answered honestly. Desmond glared at him, and he quickly corrected himself.

“Uh, no. We’ll get you makeup, and you could wear a scarf for a week, maybe? Just until they lighten? I mean, it’s the dead of winter in the ‘Midwest’ as you say, it wouldn’t look out of place?” He put his finger quotations down and glanced at her hopefully.

“Like I’m 16 again, with my first ever hickie? You guys, I have to go to work! I can’t wear a scarf in the bar.”

“We’ll figure it out,” answered Desmond, “Trust me, love, it’ll be sorted. I feel.. so horrible.. I’m sorry.”

She looked down at her body with watery eyes, feeling defeated.

“I look like a cheetah..” she mumbled to herself as she ran her hands across her legs.

Aron purred at her loudly, pawing his hand to her dramatically. She shot daggers at him. Even though she knew he was just trying to ease the pain for her, it was annoying the hell out of her.

“Okay, sorry. I’ll stop. Your pizza’s done, by the way.”

As if on queue, her stomach grumbled loudly. Desmond kissed her cheek from behind before getting up and tapping her hand.

“You need to eat, Eve. You’re starving, I can tell.”

It was true. Waves of nausea rippled through her as she stood up and slipped back into her robe.

A knock on the door startled her. All three looked at each other with suspicion. Aron turned towards the door and smelled the air lightly.

“Human,” Aron observed outloud.

“That means nothing sometimes,” Desmond responded, striding past them to peer in the peephole.

Eve got up to follow him, but Aron held her hand and tugged her back gently.

“What? I need to answer it?” She was clearly annoyed.

A hesitant answer slipped from Aron.

“It’s different now. You need to be more careful.”

“What are you talking about? You think the boogeyman is at my door?”

Aron looked exasperated, not wanting to reveal too much information. He looked at her with pained eyes, an unspoken plea for her to just listen to him. Desmond returned to the bathroom and spoke to Eve directly.

“Do you know a middle aged man, short blonde hair, patchy beard, glasses..?”

“Oh, yeah, that’s my neighbor most likely.”

“His blood smells… horrible..” Aron muttered from beside her.

“If you feel comfortable, answer it,” Desmond said, “But we’ll be near. Just in case.”

“What is with you two?” She said as she stepped past him. She unlocked her dead bolt and peered around the door.

Dale, her older neighbor, looked back at her. He seemed embarrassed to be standing at her door.

“Hey Dale. How are you?” She said with a soft smile.

“Hey, Eve, I’m great. I.. um.. I don’t want to make this awkward. But I just wanted to check in on you.” He avoided her eyes like the plague, scanning her door mat, the stone walls in the hallway, the beams on the ceiling…

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I noticed you’ve been dating again recently, and earlier I heard something that sounded like.. you were being.. b-beaten, um.. I heard hitting and crying-“ he cut himself off, his face scarlet.

Eve sucked in a breath as she heard snickering float from her kitchen.

“Oh!” Eve answered.

“I just wanted to make sure you were okay, you know? Just a concerned neighbor. My daughter is your age and she works in a women’s shelter. If you need her number, t-there’s always help out there.” He stammered nervously.

Bless his heart.

She smiled warmly at him.

“Hey, Dale, I really appreciate it. But I’m okay. Everything is fine. I was watching a horror movie earlier.” She dismissed it by shooing the air with her hand. As she moved, her neck became exposed, displaying the clear bruises and cuts. Her heart dropped to the floor as her hand shot to the fabric, pulling her robe back over her skin.

It was too late. His eyes had already noticed it. She could tell by the panic that flickered in his eyes before sadness pooled in.

“Oh, okay. I hope I’m not intruding. I apologize.”

“No, I understand! I do have pizza in the oven though, so I’ve gotta get going. You have a good night, Dale!”

“You too, Eve. I’m right upstairs if you need me. Just remember.”

“Thanks!” She said as she closed the door and whipped the deadbolt shut.

Fuck.

The snickering from the kitchen had now turned into laughter. She whipped into the room with terror on her face, and both men’s faces fell into seriousness.

“He saw.”

Their brows shot up before Desmond gave her a hardened look.

“What’s his apartment number?”

Her brows nipped together.

“Why?”

“What unit does he live in? It must be closeby.”

“Desmond, you can’t-“

He held up a hand to cut her off.

“Evelina. I’ve had to do many things to protect our secret over the years. Things much, much worse than this. I’m just going to knock on his door and compel him to forget what he heard, forget coming down here and what he saw on you. That’s all.”

It was odd to hear them discuss compelling a human in such a blasé manner. Any time it had been brought up before, they made it seem like it was a last resort unless it was a dire circumstance. She looked at Desmond with narrow eyes as Aron shrugged.

“Seems the only plausible option, mate. Otherwise we’re going to have another pair of eyes on us.”

Desmond gave Eve a look as if to say “well?”

She sighed and looked down at her hands, studying her nails.

“Okay. Just don’t hurt him. He means well.”

“Of course not. He won’t even know I visited,” Desmond reassured. It didn’t seem that Eve had a say in this. Desmond had already made the decision and was going to do it regardless of how she felt. That was clear. He stalked to the front door without a second thought.

She sighed heavily and glanced at Aron with sad eyes. He smiled warmly in an obvious attempt to cheer her up.

“Do you know that your pizza has been ready for the past ten minutes?”

The idea of food did currently entice her. She drooled at the thought. Eve hadn’t eaten in 24 hours.

Aron grabbed the pizza from the oven with his bare hands, earning a panicked shriek from Eve in response. He laughed and rolled his eyes. She always forgot that their bodies didn’t respond to things in a human way.. that threats for her weren't threats to them. Eve clutched her hand over her heart and looked at him with wide eyes.

“Jesus Christ, Aron!”

He smirked at her with a wink.

“Just Aron is fine.”

He pulled 5 pieces onto a plate for her before dusting it in parmesan cheese. Aron handed it to her with a smile as she looked at him in disbelief. There was no way she was going to eat all of that. He’d obviously overestimated her hunger.

“Here you go, love. Seriously, eat while it’s hot. You want to watch a movie? I can put on one of your favorites.”

“Sure.”

She followed him to her couch as he grabbed the remote and put a movie on. A montage of African Safari animals graced the screen while the opening scene to Mean Girls played.

Eve’s eyes whipped towards Aron as a big smile shot across her cheeks. She never mentioned that this was one of her top movies.

“How’d you know this was a favorite of mine?”

“Well, you’ve never told me, but you quote it all the time.”

Eve beamed at him. The quote “to be known is to be loved” resurfaced in her mind. Her heart ballooned in her rib cage as she studied him in appreciation.

“You’re earning brownie points with me very quickly,” a giggle floated from her lips as she reached over to kiss him. Aron kissed her back before pulling away and putting a hand on his chest dramatically.

“Me?” He said playfully, with fake surprise in his voice. “Try for brownie points??”

She laughed.

“Shut up. Whatever you’re doing.. it’s working. I’m not nearly as mad at you anymore.”

He grinned like the Cheshire Cat.

She plopped down next to him on the couch and hissed loudly. Her hands quickly flew to her ass as she shot back up and yelped in pain. He grabbed her plate quickly to avoid it flying to the floor.

The bruises on her body had already begun to slip from her mind. Aron looked up at her with concern.

“Oh, baby, I’m sorry. Hold on.. wait a second.”

He quickly got up to grab a few stray blankets from the back of the loveseat. Aron threw them on the couch cushion to add extra padding.

“Slow and steady wins the race,” he said as he grabbed her arms and helped her sit down gradually. Her eyes looked up at him with gratitude, big and gray.

“I love you.”

He smiled at her before kissing her forehead gently. His velvet lips pressed against her skin with intention.

“I love you too. Now eat your pizza,” he laughed as he passed her plate back to her. The steaming hot food smelled so good. Aron laid back into the couch with his legs spread slightly. Eve threw her legs over his before he ever so carefully placed his hand on her leg. He rubbed smooth, delicate circles into her flesh, bringing her blood to the surface.

The pizza was delicious, she couldn’t lie. Aron was just as good of a cook as Camren was. Such a simple dish as pizza had spices and herbs exploding flavors on her taste buds. She moaned softly in approval as she chewed, making Aron glance at her with a chuckle.

“Yeah?” His face lit up in amusement.

“Yes,” she garbled, with steaming hot cheese in her mouth. “So good!”

“I might need you to cook for me more often,” she joked. He’d rested his head on the back of the sofa, looking at her under pillowy lashes. She glanced over just in time to lock eyes with him.

“I told you several times before, just say the word. I want to make sure you’re taken care of, sweetheart.”

Eve wasn’t expecting such a rich answer. She wrapped her hand in his and gave it a loving squeeze.

In perfect timing, the two heard Eve’s front door open gently and click shut. Desmond glided back into the room before sitting down on the couch next to Aron.

“Well?” Aron asked.

Desmond looked so calm that his expression rivaled boredom.

“It’s taken care of,” he said. His eyes settled on Eve, with the corners of his mouth pulling up in a genuine smile. He took notice of the plate in her hands.

“I’m glad to see you stopped being stubborn and finally listened to Aron.”

She rolled her eyes with a smile of her own.

“I’m serious, Eve. You’re not to neglect yourself anymore.”

“Okay, okay! I get it!”

“Good.”

The trio turned their eyes to the screen. Eve couldn’t believe that she finished all five slices, but she cleared her plate with ease. With a full belly, she swung her legs off of Aron as she geared to stand up to take her plate to the kitchen.

“Ah,” Desmond said, before stealing the plate from her grasp and blurring out of the room.

She groaned loudly in frustration.

“I’m not helpless, you guys! I can do things by myself! I don’t need you to wait on me!”

Desmond reappeared with a brazen face.

“In the condition your body is in right now, yes I’m going to assist you. Stay on the couch, getting up and down is only going to aggravate your bruises,” he said firmly. It wasn’t a suggestion, but a command. Desmond was easily making himself known as a dominant force all around, even out of the bedroom. Of course, his commands were only to the benefit of Eve. But still.. she wasn’t so used to being told what to do.

She exhaled with annoyance before leaning back and taking the blanket from behind her and Aron. Her small grip whisked it from the back of the couch and she wrapped it around herself.

“Sweetheart..” Aron coaxed. She ignored him but flashed him a side eye as he spoke.

“You’re not helpless, love, we know. But.. we hurt you. Let us do the opposite now, let us take care of you for a moment. You don’t want to put any extra strain on yourself.”

“Fine,” she huffed, before fixing her attention back on the TV. There were worse reasons she could be upset with the two, so she let it slide and focused on the feeling of Aron’s thumb gently caressing her legs.

___________

In lieu of their upcoming Christmas gathering, Freya texted Eve to remind her to get her shopping done in time. And she had. Over the past few weeks, she’d been brainstorming nice gifts for each person. Eve was punctual with things like this, making sure to order everything with extra time for shipping, to ensure it arrived on time. The only person she was really struggling to find a gift for was… Liam. He was both the easiest and the hardest.

When Eve’s phone screen lit up with the text from Freya, the two men groaned loudly. Clearly, in typical human male fashion, they’d forgotten about the task. Eve looked at them in surprise. Their planned gathering wasn’t even three days away. But Eve found humor in it. Even though they were both supernatural, now and then they’d expose some human male traits… And forgetfulness seemed to be one of them. The trio decided to cut their movie short and instead, head to the nearest shopping area so the two could shop before closing time.

But first, a pit stop to their place was absolutely needed. The only clothes they had with them were their formal clothes for the night prior. Desmond insisted on going home to change into something “more modern and casual”. Aron, being the free spirit he was, had no qualms about hanging around in his boxers all night.. especially since he knew Eve’s eyes would be wandering in doing so.

Eve stared at herself in the bathroom mirror. The men had changed back into their formal attire for the drive home, yet Eve was bundled from head to toe in winter gear. She didn’t have any color correcting concealer on hand, meaning she’d have to be completely covered to hide the bruises. The last time she could recall being so bundled was when she’d go sledding as a child, complete with snow pants and heavy boots.

Though, no snow pants this time. But she did wear boots, jeans, gloves, and many layers under her thick jacket. The hood from her hoodie underneath covered the beanie on her head, while a thick scarf swallowed her entire neck. The only skin that was remotely visible was on her face. Even her hands were covered.

She felt ridiculous, like a snowman caricature. Aron passed by the open bathroom door and giggled under his breath, before Desmond slinked into his overcoat and came to fetch Eve.

“We’ll get you your makeup as soon as possible. This outfit is to be worn momentarily. I promise.”

She sighed, though it wouldn’t be audible through her thick scarf. The three walked out the front door and made their way to Eve’s jeep, still parked in the drive.

“Come on, Tiger King,” Desmond threw over his shoulder.

It was enough to make Aron burst into laughter, short of doubling over as he began to heave in silence. Desmond’s eyes glinted with amusement as he turned around to look at Eve. She shook her head in defeat as she followed Desmond with her tail tucked between her legs.

“Holy shit, Desmond,” Aron said from the backseat. “That was a good one.”

“Hee hee, haw haw,” Eve mocked Aron and Desmond’s laughter as she sat in her passenger seat and stuck her tongue out at Aron.

“You better put that back in or I’ll put it to work,” Aron teased.

“Hmm, yeah, whatever. Maybe when I finally make it out of the ICU.”

It was Desmond’s turn to laugh. He shielded his face from Eve by looking out his window, but his abdomen told on him. He laughed full belly laughs as they turned onto the street.

A short drive later, they pulled into the driveway that hugged their temporary home.
The last time Eve was here was the night she tried to break things off with Aron and Desmond. It was a sad memory, and all she could do was be happy they broke down her door and insisted on being in her life.

Liam’s tall, gangly frame appeared on the porch. He wasted no time in stepping toward Eve to bear hug her.

“Welcome back, short stuff!”

Her response was both muffled by her scarf and his huge frame. His arms wrapped around her and swallowed her almost entirely, even with a thick jacket and layers. The gentle giant placed her back down on the ground and nearly scratched his head at her outfit.

“Are you…sick?” Liam’s blue eyes squinted in confusion. He was obviously trying to understand the thought behind her excessive layers without offending her.

Aron walked up and wrapped his arm around her waist, guiding her inside.

“No, just really sensitive to the cold lately!”

“Huh. Okay,” he accepted her answer without another thought, following the group into the home.

Camren and Freya were upstairs in Camren’s room, which Freya had pretty much moved into at this point. Unlike Eve, Freya didn’t have any pets at home, so she continuously returned here after her work shifts instead of her apartment.

As she passed through the living room, it was impossible to ignore the Christmas Tree. Tall and glorious, it lit up with bright lights, glowing in an ethereal sort of way. Eve noticed the amount of presents spilling from underneath it. It looked as if they’d initially been stacked on top of each other strategically, but now toppled into disarray at the lack of space.

Liam sat back on the couch with his bass and began plucking the strings again. Eve followed both Desmond and Aron up the staircase without another thought. She took a right and entered Desmond’s room at his heels. The familiar scent of mahogany and sweet incense filled her nose as she stepped in behind him. His room always smelled like this.. he always smelled like this. Eve closed the door behind them and slipped off her gloves, making Desmond look back at her questioningly.

She couldn’t help it.. with their new found honeymoon phase as a throuple, it was so hard for her to keep her mind on non-sexual things. All she wanted to do was touch them all day, feel at least one of them inside her- whether it was her throat, or in between her hips..

The strong scent of his bedroom made her give in to her weakness. Desmond quickly bent down to his dresser and pulled out several pieces of clothing. Pants and shirts fell onto the perfectly made bed behind him. On the drive over, he and Aron made plans to fill a bag with spare clothes to keep at Eve’s.. just in case. But he really did want to change out of his gala attire. It was becoming an obstacle at this point, and he didn’t feel right wearing the suit unless he was wearing it properly.

He started to remove his dress clothes, the exact thing he did when they kickstarted their threesome. His large hands went from button to button, popping them open gently before he took his white dress shirt off entirely. Even though he wasn’t doing it to intentionally turn Eve on.. it was.

The curvy woman watched him with hungry eyes. She simply couldn’t resist.. being only human, after all. Her feet brought her to Desmond and before she knew it, her tiny hands were undoing his belt for him.

“Let me take care of it,” She breathed into his chest at eye-level. “Please..”

He chuckled quietly before removing her hood, then her beanie, then his hands unzipped her jacket..

Her hands loosened his belt and his dress pants fell from his hips to his thighs. Eve quickly reached under his briefs to stroke him. The moment her skin met his bare cock, he shuddered and hissed through his teeth softly.

“You need to be careful, love, everyone in this house could end up hearing us,” he whispered just loud enough for her to hear.

She looked up at him with fire and spat in her hand, stroking him as her palm slipped back and forth.

“Fuck, you’re naughty.”

She dropped to her knees upon hearing those words. His accent already itched her brain, but paired with dirty talk..? Yanking his briefs down completely, Eve kissed the side of his cock, wrapping her hand around the tip and licking a stripe down the side. Desmond put his hand in Eve’s hair gently as he twitched slightly.

He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply before looking down at her once more.

“As long as you keep quiet.”

She nodded up at him and put her mouth on the tip of his cock. The cool barbell in his flesh pressed against her lips. Pushing drool out of her mouth, it dripped down his shaft before her lips opened and she took him in completely.

“Fucki-“

He cut himself off before he could finish. He gawked down at Eve and she saw dominance flicker in the blue. He bit his lip as she continued to silently take him in her throat, inch by inch.

On the other side of the door, the hallway filled with voices, Freya obviously just realizing that Aron was home. Her voice floated down the hall with Camren and Aron’s.

Eve half expected Aron to fling Desmond’s door open.. though he wouldn’t dare. The muffled conversation between the three continued before Aron’s voice got closer to the door. He banged on it with two sharp knocks.

“‘Ey mate! Care if I open?”

Desmond shot a panicked look down to Eve, who had him in her mouth entirely, as much as she could take without deepthroating. Her pretty eyes looked up at him, like a deer caught in headlights. Yet, to make his life a bit more difficult, she pushed his cock into her throat the moment he yelled back to Aron.

“Eve i-“

His hips bucked underneath her. Desmond stared down at her before inhaling sharply.

“Eve is what?”

“Eve is changing. Just a moment.”

“Alright. Let me know.”

He grinned wickedly down at her as he shook his head. Now it was time for his payback. Desmond grabbed the scarf that had half-fallen from her body and wrapped it taut between his two hands. He placed it behind Eve’s head and pulled, pushing her onto him entirely. He hit the back of her throat and she gagged quietly. She struggled momentarily, trying to breathe in through her nose for air. It was a struggle to remain quiet as the air left her lungs. Thick strands of saliva dripped from her lips, onto the floor below them as tears fell from her eyes. He let her off his cock in one swift motion, immediately putting his hand over her mouth to muffle her gasps.

“And that.. is payback. Brat.”

Desmond hooked his arms underneath hers and lifted her to the wall next to the door. He pushed her up against it gently and ripped her jeans down to her thighs, with her panties following suit. His deep blue eyes bore into hers. Desmond wrapped a large hand around her mouth and slowly pushed into her. The angle was perfect here.. with each thrust, he prodded her sweet spot ever so perfectly.

Her face scrunched up underneath his hand. It took every bit of control in her to stop herself from crying out. His length filled her completely, leaving no room in her cunt. Eve felt her eyes roll back as he moved into her. The bruises on her entire body made every movement sting and burn, yet the sensation of being filled entirely overpowered it.

Desmond’s lips went to the crook of her neck as he kissed softly. He knew damn well that Aron could hear the thumps against the wall through the door, could hear her heartbeat racing. Aron picked up on it immediately and had to distract himself against the hard on pressing against his thigh. He wanted so desperately to be in the room with them, and yet, he had to put on a normal face for the conversation in the hallway. It was torture.

Eventually, Camren coaxed Freya downstairs with the offer of Ben & Jerry’s. Aron spoke through the door. He couldn’t hide his desperation in his voice.

“Please.. let me in.”

“No,” Desmond nearly snarled, taking Eve by surprise.

“Desmond..”

He ignored Aron, pushing into Eve with passion that made her skin burst into flames. They both knew Aron had his forehead pressed against the door, listening to every little sound. Desmond kissed her hard and lightly scraped his teeth against her lip, just enough pressure to tease, but not enough to break skin.

Eve stared up at him with big, gray eyes and he rolled his hips against hers, making love to her passionately against the wall. With each thrust, he felt himself get closer to his own orgasm. He watched in Eve’s eyes as she neared her own, he could practically see it build up in her irises. She whined softly underneath him, finding it impossible to stay quiet anymore. He caressed her face and looked for his own mental clarity in her eyes as he fucked into her.

“Sshhh. Oh, I know. You’re taking it so well, mon étoile.”

He gave her one last look and watched her crumble underneath him. His large hands cradled her jaw and her mouth opened to let out a loud moan. Desmond hooked a large thumb in her lips and shut her jaw gently to silence her. She sucked his thumb as he continued to rock into her, feeling her heat pulse around him. Her walls gripped him relentlessly, throbbing around him. The combination of her flesh around his cock and her hot mouth around his thumb brought him to the edge. Desmond let himself cum inside her, filling her as he breathed a soft moan against her ear.

He pulled back and watched Eve come down, locking eyes with her. He smiled at her, studying her naturally thick lashes and the blush that had crept up to her cheeks. Her lips were dark pink and puffy from his taunting. Tiny, soft palms pulled his face to hers again and kissed him hard before he buried his face in the crook of her neck.

“I can’t get enough..” he said into her skin, smelling her hot blood beneath the surface.

He knew if fucking her felt that good… god.. how good her blood would taste. The temptation was overwhelming. Guilt filled him like cement as he shook his head in an attempt to scold himself, to put him off it. Swiftly, he pulled away from her body and turned around to resume packing. He kicked off his slacks and pulled on jeans. A baggy, gray hoodie was thrown over his lanky frame and he began stuffing clothes into a duffel.

“Yeah, mate. Come in, then.”

Aron stepped into the room as Eve was tenderly pulling her pants up, trying to not agitate the wounds on her skin any more than they already were. The door behind him was left open, exposing an empty hallway.

The tattooed man walked to Eve and cupped her chin in his hand. Though they’d been in the states for months, his accent was as Welsh as the day he arrived.

“If this house wasn’t full.. we’d be wrecking you all over again. For the entire night.”

Her brows pulled together in desperation. That’s all she wanted. Suddenly, she was a teenager again, ruled by her hormones and only thinking about fucking. Nothing else mattered. She felt like an addict, she’d sacrifice things she loved just to spend time in between them.

Desmond zipped his duffel bag shut and looked up. He and Aron nodded to each other in greeting. As Eve wrapped her scarf around her neck again, she could feel a bead of sweat drip down her back. She put her gloves back on and knew they’d have to leave immediately if she didn’t want to die of heatstroke in the house.

“I’m really hot.. I’m cooking alive in this,” she said.

Desmond nodded, understanding entirely and the two men motioned for her to leave the room. They followed her downstairs, each with a duffel bag in hand. Freya practically jumped over the couch as the trio moved quickly, attempting to sneak out without her noticing.

“Hey- wait! You’re not even going to say hi?!”

They turned around to face her. Her brows immediately pinched and she cocked her head to the side, taking Eve’s outfit choice in.

“Why do you three look so… suspicious? Eve-“

And she was talking to Eve directly now, eyes raking over her before zoning into hers. Eve felt like a deer in headlights. She knew if anyone was going to make her take the jacket off to prove a point, it would be Freya. With terror, she hoped her anxiety wasn’t too obvious on her face.

“Why are you wearing a thick jacket inside? And….. gloves. A scarf? Are you okay?” Her eyes scanned Eve the most, glossing over every detail about her. It was clear she was holding the three under a microscope, trying to figure out what seemed off.

“Yeah, I’m fine!” Eve lied through her teeth with a fake smile, but Freya didn’t buy it for a second.

She scowled at Eve. If Eve wasn’t already sweating her ass off, she’d be drenched under the scrutiny of Freya’s stare.

“Really! You’re fine? It’s not an Arctic tundra out there, you know. We’ve had a super mild winter this year. And it’s definitely not cold in here, either. That’s a little unnecessary.”

Desmond, Aron, and Eve all stood in silence, blinking at her in response. Their silence seemed like an attempt to make Freya look out of line, to gaslight her into walking away. Eve was taken aback by how quickly the men beside her were able to switch into manipulation mode.

But it wasn’t working on Freya.

“Really?! You’re not going to answer me?!” Freya was growing extra agitated at this point, throwing her arms into the air in annoyance. “If we were under different circumstances, I’d assume you were hiding a baby bump. My god, what is going on?!”

Aron chuckled nervously and put his hand behind his head, rubbing his hair.

“Honestly, Frey.. everything is fine. I don’t know what you want us to say..?

Camren stood beside her now, surveying the group with his own suspicions, doing a double take on Eve. For a split moment, he and Desmond held eye contact, the two sharing an unspoken message. The blonde bit his tongue in an effort to calm Freya down as he rubbed her arm. He understood.

“Hey, Frey, your ice cream’s melting. Let’s get back to our movie.”

She squinted heavily at the three in the doorway. Freya made an “I’m watching you” gesture at her eyes before stalking off to the couch.

_____________

“I think Camren would do great with an air fryer,” Aron said, slapping the top of the box a few times before grinning at Eve. “Always wanted to try one of these myself.”

“So is it for Camren, or is it secretly for you?”

He snickered under his breath, grabbing the large box and tossing it in the cart.

“If the divorce finalizes it’ll be his, but in the meantime, I’m getting my practice in.”

“Divorce?! I didn’t hear news of the sweet new couple?”

“Well, you can’t tell me he doesn’t look cute all housewived up?”

“Oh my god,” Eve replied, putting her fingers to her forehead and shaking her head. She laughed at the sheer ridiculousness.

“We’ll throw some oven mitts in for good measure,” Aron said, plopping a pair decorated with snowflakes into the cart.

“You guys don’t even need those!” Eve continued to laugh at him.

“It’s the thought that counts, dear.”

They strolled through the next few aisles and nothing really struck Eve as gift-worthy. She was still on the hunt for Liam’s gift- he was the only one out of the entire group she needed to buy for yet.

They rounded the corner and were hit dead-on with a display of funky socks. Eve gasped as she physically felt the light bulb above her head flick on.

The socks were on sale, a large sign above them reading “5/$50”. Eve knew Liam would adore any of these, all of them were right up his alley. It’s what made the decision so difficult. Her and Aron had a good laugh picking out the five pairs. Eventually, they settled on a pair with dill pickles on them that read “dill with it”, a pair with noodles all over that read “send noods”, one with Handsome Squidward’s face all over them, one that looked like a pizza with various toppings, and finally.. a pair of black and white checkered socks. They giggled together as they gathered the pairs in their hands, laughing at just how ridiculous the prints on each were and picturing Liam’s reaction to each one.

And back to work they went. Aron led them into the video gaming section of the store as he loudly hummed along to the Christmas music joyfully. It blared through the store’s overhead speakers.

“Have a holly jolly Christmas…”

Eve groaned softly.

“Ugh, how can you not get tired of this?” Eve was beyond tired of hearing Christmas music for the twenty-odd years she’d been alive, she couldn’t imagine how tired of it they were after over a hundred.

“Well, I will say that after all these years, Christmas music is one of those things that hasn’t changed much.”

“Hm.”

“Sure, new versions of songs. But the original carols are nice, don’t you think?” He looked at her with his bright eyes, anticipating her answer.

“Yeah. They’re nice.” She met his smile, reminding herself to not be so negative all the time. They walked down the gaming aisle and Eve couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed. As far as the gaming world went, she was clueless. Everyone else in their group was heavily into video games, aside from Desmond. He enjoyed playing them, of course, but would never nerd out about it. Eve and Desmond had often left the group to go off on their own when the conversation shifted to games, leaving Liam, Aron, Camren, and Freya to buzz about the topic passionately. Neither Eve nor Desmond would have been able to keep up with the conversation, so they’d opt out.

Aron put his fingers to his chin and stared at the controllers.

“Hmmmm…”

A tall figure in the corner of her eye caught her attention- and rightfully so. Desmond walked down the aisle toward them with his hands full.

“No cart? Or even.. a basket?”

“No need,” he shrugged with a sly smile. He walked to the edge of their cart and placed all of the items inside, taking up all of the extra free space. It annoyed Aron, who’d very obviously been filling the cart himself.

“Desmond!”

“Sorry lad. Told you I’d be quick.”

“No, you filled my entire cart!”

“I can fill more than just your cart, if you ask nicely.”

Eve’s mouth dropped open. She gasped before her eyes darted to Aron, who was squinting at Desmond.

“Yeah, sure,” he bit sarcastically.

It was an image that plagued Eve. Something she never knew she needed.. to watch Desmond dominate Aron like that. Something that had never even been brought up in conversation, or even hinted at until now.

Eve swallowed the lump in her throat and watched as Aron bent down to look at the controllers more closely.

“Reckon she’d like RGB buttons. She never treats herself,” he said as he grabbed the most expensive controller on the shelf.

“For Freya?” Desmond asked. “Yeah, that goes well with my gift for her, too. I’m getting her this collectible.” He held up a box with a Michael Myers figure in it. Aron nodded with a grin.

“Yes! You know how she is with her Dead by Daylight.”

“All too well.”

The next few hours passed easily, with the trio making their way from store to store. They consulted with one another about potential gifts, approving or disapproving with brutal honesty. The only person the two men weren’t shopping for was right alongside them. Eve pointed to expensive items in the store and jokingly batted her eyes at the two.

“You haven’t bought for meeee yet,” she droned playfully, exhibiting Vanna White motions around items she liked.

Aron bit his lip and scanned down her body with his hands in his pockets. His eyes matched her mischievous energy.

“Look at me like that again and I’ll buy you anything you want.”

She stuck out her bottom lip in an obvious pout.

“After we visit the fitting rooms,” Desmond cut in.

“Oh my god,” Aron laughed as Eve’s cheeks coated with pink, “Since when did you become such a fucking horn dog, Desmond?”

“Since Eve let me,” he stalked over and lightly grazed her ass before quickly moving down the rest of the aisle. Eve turned to Aron with frustrated, desperate eyes.

“It’s just as hard for us, Angel. Wanting to jump your bones every second. Too bad you’re all banged up for a while.”

She whined to herself, pushing her hands down at her sides and looking in the air with a groan. With her eyes on the ceiling, Aron swept in beside her.

“It’s a good thing that mouth still works.”

Her gaze snapped back down at him, meeting his eyes. They oozed that sexy, cocky confidence that she hated to love. He smiled at her and laughed under his breath before pressing his soft lips to her cheek.

“Aron, Eve, come on. Store’s closing soon.”

“Yeah, yeah grandpa,” Aron rolled his eyes with a push of the cart.

______________

It was late in the night. The moon hung high, bright, and full in the dark winter sky.

Upon returning home, they were greeted with quiet blackness. Camren and Freya had retired to his room for the evening. Since getting together, Camren was finally allowing himself to get some sleep. Though it wasn’t needed for them physically, it seemed to help them mentally, keeping them as bright and alert as possible.

Liam was up in his room too. The sudden formation of the couples left him in a solitary state. Though, he didn’t seem to mind at all. He considered it a win-win. Everyone around him was the happiest he’d ever seen them, and he still had Freya and Eve in his life. It struck him as odd, becoming so attached to humans, but he knew that if the group lost touch with the girls.. it wouldn’t be good news.

He knew just how self-destructive and chaotic things would become, the girls a consistent blessing amongst the soulless group. They gave them a sense of normalcy outside of their own kind, something every member hadn’t felt since their own flesh and blood were alive. The girls reminded the men of everything they had to walk away from once they turned- warm love from a body with a beating heart.

The trio left the last store with a cart full of shopping bags before pulling into the driveway. The two men looped as many handles around their arms as possible- not due to strength, but how many would physically fit on their arms. Even though each trip to the car would have taken a millisecond, they took turns in counting as if it were a competition. To no one’s surprise, the taller man with longer arms won. Aron and him bickered playfully as Eve made her way into the house.

They eventually ended up on the large couch, watching a movie, of course. It was one of Eve’s comfort activities. This time, a romantic comedy graced the screen. Since Freya was going to be asleep on an entirely different level, Eve took a hot shower and slipped into small sleep shorts that barely covered her ass, going braless under a tank top.

She thought it was cute that the boys were now getting sleep since the girls had entered their lives. Allowing a vampire to become so comfortable and vulnerable with you that they allow themselves to sleep for the first time in decades wasn't on her bingo card.. but here they were.

Eve was draped on the couch on top of a thick blanket for more cushion. Her legs were over Aron’s lap and her head on a small pillow in Desmond’s. After Eve’s shower, Aron had slipped into the girl’s bathroom drawer to steal some lotion for Eve, which he was now massaging into her bruised legs gently. She moaned softly in gratitude as his hands moved up her thighs, rubbing the cream into her flesh, the raven tattoo on his hand creeping closer and closer to her hips with each round. The lotion perfumed the air with gingerbread, being one of her favorite seasonal scents.

The couple on screen finally broke through their nerves and kissed for the first time, erupting into a sensual sex scene. They kissed fervently, the male actor pushing the female into her bedroom door to pull her clothing off. It was impossible to not get the least bit turned on due to the combination of Aron’s hands on her, her head in Desmond’s lap, and the movie. Desmond had begun to gently rub her collarbone with his thumb, his wide hand no more than a ghostly hover above her skin in fear of causing pain.

She wanted to take advantage of both their hands on her. But before she could try, she knew it was absolutely crucial for her to empty her bladder. Now that she was aware of just how full both of them felt inside her, she knew it was mandatory to do before each.. group activity.

Eve sat up and moved her legs off Aron, gasping loudly in pain. Desmond placed his hand on her back lightly to ease her up. She whimpered in annoyance as painful volts shot through her body upon each bruise site.

“I’m sorry, honey. I wish I could take it all away,” Desmond said softly, clearly upset with himself. He looked at her with eyes that were weighed down. It truly was an accident for both of them, and Eve knew that. It was why she wasn’t upset with them.. just upset at the pain itself. And it’s not like she didn’t enjoy it in the process.

“It’s okay,” she replied. It didn’t affect the sadness and guilt in Desmond’s eyes, not one bit.

She stood up, not missing their gazes on her ass in the microscopic shorts she was wearing. Her legs carried her up the stairs to the bathroom, flicking on the light and doing her thing. After washing her hands with the lemon soap on the sink, she turned and was just about to open the door when she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror again.

The bruises, cuts, and welts hadn’t lightened up at all. In fact, quite the opposite was happening. The bruises that were once blue had darkened to black, and the red welts had shifted deep purple. The cuts themselves from their teeth couldn’t be missed, gleaming bright red against the jewel-toned watercolor her skin had become.

It was tempting to brush her hands across it. Even though she knew pain would explode under her skin upon pressing, her stupid human brain wouldn’t allow her to leave without gauging it. She lightly pressed on her neck, where most of the black had spread, and her legs nearly buckled underneath her. Inhaling sharply, she leaned on the sink before coming to a conclusion: not even makeup would cover this right now. Airbrushing wouldn’t conceal it, nor would color correcting. It would be about a week before they lightened to the point of being concealable. Eve stared at her skin in the mirror and reminded herself that this was just a mere side effect of dating one vampire, much less two. Just a small speed bump she’d have to accept. And it was easy to accept, so long as she had them in her life. It was a small price to pay, as far as she was concerned.

She turned to the door, pulling the knob and walked smack into.. Freya.

“Ah!”

Freya was half asleep yet. The speed that Eve exited the bathroom with knocked Freya backwards, and she rubbed the sleep from her eyes as she adjusted to the bright light of the bathroom trickling into the dark hall. Eve could have absolutely ran down the stairs to avoid Freya’s eyes, but it would have raised an immediate flag. She paused and hoped that Freya wouldn’t notice the state of her skin in the dim lighting.

“Hey, how’d you sleep?” Eve tried to play it off coolly, to distract Freya with something else entirely. To hopefully slip right past her.

“Really well, why are you u-“

Freya’s gaze was pointed at Eve’s feet as she rubbed her eyes. Eve could feel her eyes work up her body, up her maimed legs to her chest, then settle on her neck before locking eyes with Eve. Freya went completely silent as her face tightened. Eve knew exactly what Freya was assuming.. the worst. If Eve had seen these wounds on another person, she herself instantly think car crash, a severe beating, or even rape.

Eve couldn’t tell the difference between Freya’s pupils and her hazel eyes as they went black with anger. Her mouth was a thin, firm line and the words began to bubble from Eve’s mouth. She gently placed a hand on Freya’s arm to center her in the moment instead of flying into anger.

“I’m okay. It looks a lot worse than it is. Hey! Seriously, it was an acciden-“

“Freya!”

She’d bolted down the stairs, her long curls becoming a blue blur as her feet pounded down the steps. Eve followed her, the two plunging into the darkness of the first floor. Desmond knew exactly what the pounding down the steps was. He and Aron stood facing the stairway in anticipation of Freya. An inhuman growl escaped her as she picked up an unlit candle and threw it right at Desmond.

It soared through the air, plummeting right toward Desmond’s head. Eve screamed, but Desmond’s reflexes were lightning as he ducked out of the way. The candle shattered against the wall behind him, sending glass shards flying in a million different directions.

Aron let out a loud cackle at Freya’s assault on Desmond before even thinking of his own fate. She lunged at him in the blink of an eye. Sheer terror flashed across his features as the petite woman wrapped her hands around his neck to strangle him. I’m her rage, Freya forgot that it wouldn’t cut his air off. She grabbed a hold of his shirt, her tiny hand twisting in the black fabric before sending her free fist against his head again and again with wild eyes.

“WHAT DID YOU DO?! I FUCKING KNEW IT!”

“Liam! Wake Camren!” Desmond yelled to the giant upstairs.

“I SWEAR TO GOD ARON! I’LL FUCKING KILL YOU!”

He acted as if a sibling was merely trying to poke him in the face, grabbing onto her flailing forearms and pulling away from her in annoyance. She continued to beat him and scream as Desmond moved to stand next to Eve, who’d launched for Freya in an attempt to pull her off. Desmond’s movement caught the corner of Freya’s eye.

“STAY AWAY FROM HER! YOU FUCKING HURT HER!”

She scrambled for another object from the table to throw at him. Was she terrified of Desmond and Aron? Absolutely. Would she fight them if it meant protecting her sister? Absolutely. Freya turned back to Aron with tears streaming from her eyes.

“You promised me you wouldn’t hurt her! I trusted y-you!” Her voice already becoming sore from her screams, she continued to punch and kick Aron, the equivalent of a toddler kicking a full grown adult. Aron tried his best to lock eyes with her and calm her down, to try to get her attention so he could calm her down.

She was inconsolable, screaming curses at both Aron and Desmond. Eve yelled at her to stop, but it was no use. Freya couldn’t even hear her through her blazing rage.

Camren blurred down the steps and wasted no time in grabbing Freya by her outer biceps, pulling them to her sides and away from Aron.

“Frey. Stop. Stop. Stop! Freya. What’s going on? What happened?”

She continued to cry and yell at Aron, who tried to maintain his composure. Eve could see tears welling in his eyes as he nodded, agreeing with Freya about how horrible he was, how he should stay away from them and how he betrayed her trust.

Eve had tears of her own, silently falling down her cheeks as Desmond pulled her into his chest.

“Come here. Don’t watch. I’m so.. so sorry, Evelina.” His voice rumbled through his chest, surrounding her as she hugged him tight. His lanky body wrapped around hers as she filled with guilt, even though none of it was her fault. She blamed herself. Then she heard Camren, muffled from Desmond’s arms.

“FREYA!” he roared. It made Eve jump out of her skin. She’d never heard him so loud.

Eve peeked out from under Desmond’s arm to watch the scene unfold. Tears dropped from Aron’s eyes. He looked completely defeated. Eve wanted nothing more than to run over and hug him. Desmond felt her shift her weight to the opposite foot and kept her firmly in place, not wanting to make the situation any worse.

Camren spun Freya around and held his hand on her shoulders. She’d finally snapped out of her rage and all of her emotion shifted into grief.

“Eve is.. r-really hurt. I d-don’t know what happened but they did something to h-her and she’s covering for them-“ she choked out between sobs. Confusion trickled across Camren’s face as he pulled her into his chest to let her cry it out.

Quickly, his eyes shot over to Eve. In turn, her face turned dark red when she realized all eyes in the room were on her.. and her body. Everyone knew. There was no hiding it anymore. She felt so exposed.

Camren understood immediately, making eye contact with both Aron and Desmond.

“Can she function?” He asked Desmond.

“Well, obviously,” Desmond bit back defensively, still shielding Eve in his chest.

“Yeah. She’s banged up but nothing’s broken or sprained… you know.” Aron said quietly.

“And you swear it’s from..?”

“Ye-“ Aron began, when a loud guffaw from Liam cut through the tension in the room.

“Come on, look at the handprints on her! Like a bloody crime scene, haha! I’m actually impressed, you blokes did a number on her.”

She buried her face even deeper into Desmond’s chest upon hearing this. The men just decided to ignore Liam.

“Of course.”

“We would never..” the two interrupted each other. That was all Camren needed. He pulled Freya out of the embrace and put his hands on her shoulders, staring deep into her eyes.

“Listen to me. This has been a big misunderstanding, Fr-“

The anger in her rose again from the ashes, her face turning dark red with wrath.

“No! I don’t believe anything they’re saying right now, she's clearly been beaten or fed on, do you not see her neck, Cam?!”

All of the patience dissolved from the blonde as his jaw clenched. The sweet, gentle Camren was dissolving into a hardened version of himself. He inhaled deeply, closing his eyes before exhaling and looking at her again.

“Freya. I have known them for a very long time. We’ve all been entirely truthful with one another about when and who we’ve chosen to feed o-“

“Camre-“

“Stop talking over me!” He snapped, glaring at her. It was enough to freak Eve out, even from across the room, much less under his gaze. Eve’s eyes widened as she watched Camren’s frustration leave his body via words, his eyes piercing Freya’s. Her face fell.

“Sometimes you don’t know when to stop being so god damned stubborn and to just listen!”

She stared up at him in complete shock.

“You’ve not only accused your cousin of maiming her, but you’ve accused your best friend of lying, AND you’ve accused Desmond of hurting her and lying about it as well. And you’re assuming I don’t know people I have spent entire centuries with. Come on!”

“Now, I don’t think right now you realize how much hurt you’ve caused in the past five minutes, but you need to slow down at think before you react, Freya.”

“It does not matter if you’re in the room with these people or not. They have not and will not lie about something like that. I seriously can’t believe you’d even insinuate something like that. How dare you.”

“And truly, the last thing I ever want to burst through my bedroom door is Liam. Under any circumstance, but especially because you think you can kill Desmond and Aron over some god damned sex bruises!”

Freya blinked up at Camren. She swallowed thickly before her eyes swept around the silent room. Everyone stared at her, and it was then she realized the mess she made. How stupid she felt. Desmond stared at her with hollow eyes, Aron looked like a shell of himself, and Eve was just entirely overwhelmed. It was then that she saw the clear handprints on Eve, the hickies.. She was finally able to see small details in the bruising now that she’d focused.

“I..”

She blinked a few more times, glancing at the ground, before stepping outside to the front porch. The open door blew a gust of freezing air inside. Freya was barefoot, with no jacket, yet she still stepped out to smoke. The door shut behind her, plunging the room into tense silence once more.

“Mate, I told you, she’s a bloody handful,” Liam said. Camren's head snapped in his direction, burning a hot glare into Liam’s bright eyes.

“Do you ever shut the fuck up?” Venom dripped from his mouth.

Liam surrendered with his arms in the air.

“My apologies.”

He made his exit, blurring up the stairs and returning to his room once again. Camren sighed heavily, instantly regretting his harshness with Freya. He glanced at Aron, giving him a sympathetic nod. Aron returned it in an unspoken “thank you” for sticking up for him, wiping another tear away from his cheek.

Desmond leaned down to kiss Eve’s forehead as Camren made his way over to them. He met Eve’s eyes with softness.

“I.. apologize for being so harsh on her. I just, uh.. It really bothers me to see my mates hurt. I guess her and I were both feeling the same thing.. Feeling protective over our loved ones,” he said glumly.

Eve shook her head in reassurance.

“No, it’s okay… it was needed.”

Cam closed his eyes and nodded.

“Feel better, Eve.”

In the blink of an eye, he was gone. The gust of cold air that returned to the room indicated he’d gone out the front door to Freya.

Eve and Desmond walked over to Aron. By the state of him, he’d been mentally beating himself up, taking every word she said to heart. With glassy eyes, he looked at Eve and placed a hand on her shoulder.

“You don’t know how much I love you,” he said, tone melancholic. Eve pulled him into a hug, wrapping her arms around him tightly. Pain shot through her body as Desmond hugged Eve from behind, forming a group hug.

“I can’t tell you how sorry I am that we hurt you. I wish you could hurt me back so we’d be equal,” Aron said weakly.

“Stop. Aron. It’s okay.”

Eve ran her hands through the brunette’s hair and rubbed his back soothingly. A few moments later, he pulled back and looked between her and Desmond.

“Let’s head upstairs. I think space is needed.”

Desmond nodded in firm agreement and held a hand out to Eve, making sure she didn’t step over any shards of glass on her way up. The three made their way into Aron’s room. He let out a chuckle as they entered.

“We’re going to need a bigger bed.”

___________

Chapter Text

Sweet Creature- Harry Styles

Freya was a ghost in the home after the blowup. She’d disappeared to her place in the early hours of the morning after Eve slipped upstairs with Aron and Desmond.

Eve was clueless to it all, passing out in Aron’s room, wrapped between Aron and Desmond’s arms in a warm embrace. But in the morning, she hadn’t woken in the same spot. Her eyes were met with the sight of Desmond’s bedroom instead. The light aggressively shone in through his white curtains, filling the space with a constant, nagging brightness that made Eve squint and throw her arm over her face. You would think a vampire would sleep tucked in a dark room, surrounded by flaming candles and rich fabrics. Maybe some cobwebs and bats fluttering about. But Desmond’s room was the brightest in the house. It was like the sun and Desmond had a mutual, unspoken agreement for it to shine the brightest in his room only.

It didn’t help that he preferred neutral tones, meaning his entire bedroom was decorated in shades of white, brown, gold, and.. more white. It made the sun bounce off everything even more viciously.

And a sinking began to gnaw at Eve’s heart, as her brain began to remember what had transpired just some odd hours before. It all seemed like a bad dream.. but she knew it wasn’t. It actually happened. And though she knew it wasn’t warranted.. Eve felt guilty. Of course. Why didn’t she just explain the wounds to Freya instead of hiding them to begin with? Why did she even take that chance in the first place? And where was Freya now? But.. she couldn’t deny it. Eve was pissed.

Eve was equal parts angry and sad over the entire situation. Watching just how fast miscommunication resulted in red hot chaos in their home, how Freya flung those words like daggers in Aron’s face, how she threatened Desmond and spoke over Camren as if he wasn’t even cognizant of the men he was speaking for.. it was brutal. Eve had never witnessed Freya blow up on a family member to that degree. She’d always been immensely family oriented, so it was completely out of her character. It made the gears in Eve’s mind shift and clink together slowly. It hurt her, even though they weren’t the two that ended up brawling, it felt so unnatural for there to be any tension at all between the girls. They were always glued at the hip, and if they couldn’t be together physically, they were emotionally. They’d often joke about how they mimicked a clingy couple, the second they were away from one another, they were texting each other with “I miss you”’s and broken heart emojis. The world just didn’t feel right at that moment, knowing there was unresolved tension. Knowing Freya was probably so distraught. Eve wanted to make it right immediately, but she also couldn’t ignore her own emotions that currently stirred beneath the surface.

She wasn’t sure how she would react towards Freya the next time they spoke.. whenever that would be. Eve had a feeling she’d snap on her best friend- unloading her newfound resentment for how she blew up on both men Eve loved dearly. But above all.. Freya never gave Eve a chance to explain, assuming that she would just lie to cover for the men.

Pfft. She should know me better than that.

As she peeked open again, Eve groaned loudly. The light nearly seared her pale eyes. Her nude body was wrapped in Desmond’s sheets. They smelled just like him.. even though he wasn’t present. It made her wonder where he was. Where Aron was.

As if he could hear her thoughts, the door cracked open and Desmond popped his head in. His hand looked ginormous wrapped around the edge of the wooden slab. He smiled at her warmly, filling the room with even more sunshine. But Eve squinted at him, clearly pained from the actual sun. He greeted her with a tender, soft voice.

“Good morning, Evelina.”

“Good morning,” she croaked.

“You okay? ‘Heard you griping.”

Silence.

“.. It’s just so bright.”

His eyes twinkled with amusement.

“Yes, sweetheart. The sun isn’t shy in here. You should know this by now. The dungeon is down the hall in Aron’s room.”

She threw her arm over her pained eyes and groaned again. Desmond audibly chuckled.

“Evelina. One might think you were the vampire based on your relationship with the sun.”

His eyes scanned over her beautiful, creamy skin.. still riddled with bruises. He frowned slightly.

“Hm. Yeah.” She retorted.

“It’s your sign to wake, sweetheart. No need to have a fat morning today, you had one yesterday.”

“A what..?” She couldn’t help the exasperation that oozed from her. What the hell did that mean?

“A fat morning, love. Sleeping in. Sorry. I forget you’re not used to some terms. I blame the French upbringing.” He said with a guilty laugh, slight embarrassment bubbling through his tone.

“Fancy.”

Unphased, she rolled onto her side towards the wall. It was clear she’d woken up on the wrong side of the bed- literally. Her weight had been shifted to a particularly bruised part of her outer thigh and she winced silently as the pain shot up her side.

He ghosted to her, lingering at the side of the bed. She could feel his gaze on her as if it were another blanket tossed over her body.

Feeling his presence, she peeked up at him over her shoulder.

“What time is it?”

“Around 9 AM.”

“Oh hell no! I’m going back to sleep!” She pulled the sheet over herself again and nestled her head onto the cold pillow, facing the wall. She shut her eyes. Blackness.

Desmond stood silent for a moment before Eve felt his hands touch her over the sheets. They ran along her body, warmly gliding down to her thighs, and he spoke again.

“I could give you a reason to stay awake.”

She blushed from underneath the blanket as Desmond hummed with amusement.

“Of course.. your pulse jumped at that. Always does,” he murmured above her.

Her raven hair flayed onto the white bedding, cascading over the pillow around her. Long, straight, and silky, Desmond found her hair to be so alluring. Like an extension of her own essence. Liquid black satin.

She rolled to face him. The sheets clung to her curves, flattering the wide-hipped woman in his bed. Eve blinked up at him with glossy, lust-filled eyes as her hand reached for the button on his jeans. Before she could touch him, his fingers wrapped around her wrist.

“Come with me.”

He ripped the sheet from the bed, sheathing her body in it and scooping her up bridal style. She felt her feet lift from the ground, and before her brain could even process what happened, they were in the bathroom together. Desmond reached for the knob in the shower, turning it on and facing Eve again. She took comfort in these moments.. with his eyes on hers so intentionally, she felt nothing but peace- even though sadness had just plagued her.

Desmond tilted her chin up to him and he cradled her forehead in his palms. His lips brushed against her forehead before his ocean eyes pulled her in once more.

“Let me bathe you again.”

She definitely wasn’t in the mood to shower. For the past few days, Eve had been noticing a slight depression episode creeping in.. slowly but surely. She was familiar with this. Having to fight depression spells off for her entire human life thus far, she knew the ins and outs of them. And even though she recognized it and tried her hardest to fight it off, the blowup with Freya last night seemed to give it extra power, pushing back against Eve trifold.

Eve hadn’t showered in a few days now, and Desmond was obviously doing this to take care of her. An act of service.. One of his love languages. She didn’t necessarily stink, but Desmond and Aron were both aware of her shower habits. Going more than two days without showering was odd for her.

His lips pressed against hers softly in an attempt to distract her from the cloud of depression that had been slowly forming above her. He figured if he could keep her brain occupied.. she’d be okay. Eve kissed him back, the sweet taste of her flesh massaging against his lips.

“Hmm..?” Desmond asked her, gently kissing down her neck. “What do you say, love?”

“Okay.”

They exchanged kiss after kiss, the tension building between both sets of hips. Hot steam slowly filled the room around them and clung to the bathroom mirror. The sheet around Eve fell from her body and crumpled to the floor around her feet. She’d forgotten it had even been around her in the first place.. but being naked in Desmond’s presence felt so much better. More natural. Any ounce of sadness that resided in Eve’s chest melted and was replaced with white hot lust, burning at her core.

He took her face in his hands mid-kiss before walking her backwards to the sink, her ass pressing up against it. His cock was already stiff, nearly begging to be released, pressing against her thigh through his pants. She felt her own arousal in between her thighs. It was so easy for Desmond to turn her on. Almost magic.. the way it was instantaneous. Half the time, he didn’t even have to say anything. Just the sensation of his large hands caressing her skin, the sound of his breath ghosting over her ear, the shade of blue his eyes turned when he was half-lidded, it was all more than enough.

“I want to fill you first.”

Desmond kissed her fervently with his hands on her hips, his thumbs rubbing her hip bones gently. He was extra cautious, avoiding any heavily bruised areas. He pulled back for a single moment before pulling his shirt off with superhuman speed. She laughed into his mouth as they kissed again, him dropping the fabric on the floor next to them.

Eve ran her fingers down his bare abdomen and shuddered, feeling her fingertips graze over the lumps of muscles that lie under his skin. He palmed her breasts softly and undid his belt before dropping his pants around his ankles, stepping out of them and sliding them to the side.

She glanced down at him and took note of the dark gray briefs he was wearing. His cock was coiled up beneath the fabric, straining it tightly. Like he could burst through the seams at any moment. And she felt the same. Like her own soul could burst through her physical body out of sheer desire for the man.. Creature.. before her.

His hands wrapped around her lower back as he lifted her up on the bathroom counter, doing it as swiftly and gently as he could. At this point, Eve was used to the sting whenever she sat down, and seeing this god-like man take control of her was everything she needed at that moment. With his large hands, he parted her legs and rubbed up against her heat. They kissed again and again, Eve getting lust drunk on the taste of his tongue in between her soft whimpers. She explored the inside of his mouth with hers, feeling it make her blood grow hotter and hotter until she absolutely needed him inside her body. Not only was her face flushed, but she could almost hear her own heartbeat in her ears. Flaming desire coursed through her veins. He was right in front of her, yet too far away, too..

“Desmond, pl-“

And just like that, he was inside of her. It was obvious he’d been at the same point of desperation as he wasted no time in ripping his briefs off and rocking into her. He kissed just below her ear as he slid in, then over and over, his soft panting filling her brain.

She wrapped her arms around him and dug her nails into the skin of his back. Desmond groaned softly into her ear before weaving his fingers at the root of her hair and grabbing hold. He gripped the strands at the base of her skull and pulled her head back gently to face up at him.

His eyes admired her features as they twisted in silent pleasure. Her eyes squinted shut, fluttery lashes thick and twitching. Eve’s full lips parted as her mouth fell open in a hushed moan and he felt himself throb inside of her. She tried so, so hard to be quiet as he thrust into her. Desmond took his free hand and brought it down to her clit, rubbing over it smoothly, earning more moans from her- this time a bit louder. He purred down at her delicately.

“Sweetheart, the water is covering for us.. but not by much.”

His baritone brought her out of dreamland and she opened her eyes, locking hers with his as he gazed down at her lovingly. She nodded eagerly and he bit his lip to stifle his own moan.

“Your cock fills me so perfectly..” she exhaled softly, her words nothing more than a stifled sigh.

His thumb traced circles on her clit and she felt the climax quickly building inside of her. Her walls gripped him tighter and tighter the closer she got, and he closed his eyes to relish the feeling. He slid in and out, her body gripping him as if she was scared that he wouldn’t thrust back in. Greedy. His cock prodded at her front wall, and with every thrust he could feel himself getting closer, too.

He pulled his hand from her hair and planted it on the steam-coated mirror as he pushed into her passionately.

“I’m such an utter fool for you..” he whispered, his eyes tracing over her naked body beneath him. He studied the lines of ink and color on her skin, admiring the art that coated her flesh. She was art. And he was determined to never let her forget it.

Eve shuddered, going silent as her cheeks turned rosier. Desmond knew what was coming. He pressed on her clit once more, circling the bud as her muscles tensed up. He leaned down and his lips against hers in an attempt to muffle the loud moan that was brewing inside her.

Desmond’s tongue opened her lips and their tongues wrestled each other. She squirmed and shuddered, leaving a loud whimper in his mouth as her eyes rolled back. Her legs became a vice around his waist, pulling him even closer, not allowing him to pull back out of her. He was entirely sheathed inside her warmth as her fleshy walls pulsed around him, stroking him from the inside. Her heart drummed sixteenths in his ears, loud and hard. Desmond gasped loudly at the overlapping sensations and quickly emptied inside of her, feeling himself throb as he came.

Eve panted underneath him before looking up at him with cloudy, amorous eyes.

“I love you.”

He swallowed hard and pressed a firm kiss to her lips.

“I love you more.”

A cross look took over his features as his brows knitted together. It was the first time she’d ever said that to him.

“No.”

Eve contrasted his harsh disagreement with a giggle, smiling from ear to ear. She bit her lip as she nodded her head.

“Yes.”

Desmond glanced down at her, taking in the sight of his partner once more. He felt his chest fill with so much love he thought he could burst. How did he deserve something as magnificent as her?

He pulled her body upright and close to him, brushing hair from her damp face.

“I love you most,” he drawled down to her, kissing her deeply so she couldn’t protest further. She lilted softly in his mouth as he ran his large hands down her body again, feeling every crevice and curve.

“Very well then, come on. Before the water runs cold.”

It was easy to forget their surroundings whenever she was near him, much less enveloped in his lust. She nodded silently and got in the shower, wincing at the heat that emanated from the shower head. Desmond quickly adjusted the handle, pulling it further to the center of the temperature panel.

“Je suis désolée, mon étoile.”

“Fuck..” Eve sighed under her breath. It had been years since she studied French. And even then, she never became fluent, just enough to earn a passing grade on the tests. She’d heard herself speak fragments of French in class, along with her peers and her teacher, but it was completely different than how Desmond spoke it. Desmond spoke fluently, with ease, the words slipping through his lips like silk. There was an air of opulence to the French he spoke, the language was a relic from centuries past. If Desmond’s every day voice was cursive, his French was calligraphy and caressed Eve’s mind in all the right ways.

He turned, looking down at her with a raised brow.

“You can’t talk to me like that and not expect me to turn into putty, Desmond.”

He gently tipped her head back toward the stream of water and she closed her eyes. It was nearly impossible for her to feel anything but calm in his presence, especially when he held her under the gaze of those sapphire eyes.

He chuckled softly in response as the hot water drenched her, his hands running through the strands to saturate everything completely.

“Who says I don’t expect that?” He drew playfully.

She laughed in response as Desmond filled his palms with her shampoo and began to lather it in her hair, his thumbs caressing her hairline and physically washing all the impurities from the strands. Her newest shampoo was Winter Berry scented, bringing the scents of cranberry, pomegranate, and pear into the steamy shower.

“What does that mean, anyways? That name you keep calling me. In French. It’s been forever since I studied it, I don’t really remember much, honestly, and you’re so fluid, I..”

Desmond placed a quick kiss on her lips while her eyes were still closed before bringing the shower head closer to her hair and rinsing the suds from her. In a moment’s time, he’d already begun to apply her conditioner, massaging it into the wet strands. He responded with light amusement in his voice.

“Sweetheart, I don’t hold it against you. Of course. It’s okay. I’ve had ample time to learn more than one language. And we have time together now, to where I can help you if you’d like. You’re meaning ‘Mon étoile’, yeah?”

“Yes.”

He smiled softly and grabbed her body wash, squirting it into his hands and rubbing it on her flesh. She exhaled gently under his touch as he took his time cleaning her. His fingers felt so good dragging across her skin, leaving a trail of bubbles in their wake.

“My star.”

“Oh.” She looked up at him with eyes full of emotion, her brows raised slightly and pulled together as if she were near tears. She bit her lip gently as she felt her throat close in on her. Eve didn’t know why the nickname made her so emotional.. but then she remembered. The day she’d snooped in his journal. The passage she found, written by Desmond.

“Avoir elle est avoir les etoiles”

“To have her is to have the stars”

He nodded at her slowly, patiently, and rinsed her body free of soap. They locked eyes once more before Eve smiled up at him.

“Guess that means I could call you ‘Stargazer’, huh?”

Desmond’s lips split into a wide grin. He let out a chuckle as his hands fell to Eve’s bare waist. His laugh was so beautiful, she’d break her own heart into pieces just to hear it for the rest of her life.

“Touché.”

They rotated so Desmond could use the shower head. He effortlessly threw shampoo in and rinsed his chocolate brown hair free of bubbles. Onto his body next, doing the same motions as Eve watched.

They stepped out of the shower and grabbed clean towels from the small cabinet in the wall. As they dried their bodies free of water, Eve glanced up at Desmond once more in curiosity.

“So.. if that’s your nickname for me, has Aron been the one using all the rose imagery?”

Desmond half smirked, pulling fresh clothes on.

“Eh.. yes and no. It was something that came up in one of our first conversations together regarding our polygamy with you, and of course we see you sharing many traits with roses- delicate, soft, perfumed, beautiful..” he trailed off as he wrapped a damp lock of her hair around his finger.

“We both loved the nickname for you. Yet, I’m finding mon étoile to be a bit more.. personal for me. I’m already sharing you with him, I don’t want to share my term of endearment for you as well.”

Eve put her hands up in a mock surrender.

“Hey, I don’t blame you. As long as I’m being doted on 24/7 by my loyal admirers, I’ll take what I can get.”

“Ohhh, you have jokes today,” Desmond teased as grabbed the sheet from the tiles below and wrapped it around her once more.

“Come on, we’ve got a surprise for you.”

He scooped her into his arms again and they quickly blurred to Aron’s bedroom door. Desmond set her down and instructed Eve to cover her eyes before rapping on the door twice.

Eve heard it pop open, and she was blindly guided into the room by a pair of large hands behind her. The room was noticeably warmer than the hallway. Soft pop music was playing from the right hand side and she smelled scented candles burning.. or incense, maybe? It was hard to place the exact scent- possibly a blend, but it was sweet, musky and perfumey. She heard the door behind her close and Aron’s voice came from her side.

“Open.”

She opened her eyes to see an entirely new room. Where Aron’s narrow bed once lay, now displayed a wide, King sized bed. It took up almost the entire bedroom, somehow making it feel cozier. The bedding had been changed to now solid black, with black silk pillowcases atop and a folded plush blanket at the foot of it. There’d even been a cute, ghost shaped decor pillow placed between the pillows. A large fairy net hung on the wall behind the bed, with string lights delicately placed underneath it. It looked like something directly from a Pinterest board, and Eve took in the sight with shock.

A large mirror hung directly above the bed. Eve immediately thought about how many hooks it must have taken to properly anchor it in place. And she questioned why there would be a mirror above the bed in the first place.. before quickly realizing and blushing violently, cheeks ablaze.

The curtains had been changed, too. They were still dark, but had been replaced by a more velour looking fabric. Thicker. A bit.. richer, than the basic curtains that had hung over the windows before. These blocked out almost all natural lighting, the aggressive sun that shone in Desmond’s room just minutes prior was almost entirely disguised here. The only sign of daylight was around the perimeter of the curtain. And even then, it was easy to not notice unless you were really looking. This made Eve entirely too excited. This was exactly the type of coziness she preferred.

The pop music was coming from a large flat screen TV that was up against the wall opposite of the bed. It was huge, almost resembling a movie theater screen in the now compact room. Colored light reflected from the back of the TV, no doubt coming from LED strips placed behind it. A plush, black fur rug had been put on the floor, making the room feel even more homey. There were surfaces spread throughout the room- a small bookshelf, a bedside table, a stereo, and all had candles flickering on them. It made the room warm and comfortable. Eve’s eyes glanced back up to the ceiling, where stars on clear strings dangled. The room definitely had a common theme throughout the decor- sleeping.. and dreaming.

“Welcome to your new room. Our room. Your home away from home… with us,” Aron said with a smile, grabbing her hand and lacing his fingers in hers.

“Consider it one of our Christmas gifts to you,” Desmond spoke from behind her as he wrapped his arms around her waist, softly inhaling the scent of her shampoo.

She didn’t expect it, but Eve was hit with a brick wall of emotion. She couldn’t speak. Her throat and chest tightened and her breathing became shaky. Both men heard it and understood. The three of them stood in silence for a moment before Eve was finally able to choke out..

“Thank you. I.. love.. it..”

She sniffled as the tears slowly rolled down her cheeks. Eve tried to blink them away and wiped her cheeks with her free hand. Desmond rubbed her arm soothingly, gently.. Patiently. Instead of bouncing between two rooms now, they could all just spend time together. And there was still Desmond’s bedroom when she needed a moment to herself or with just one of them. The farmhouse had already begun to feel like home to both girls over the past few months, but this was another level of comfort. It solidified their dynamic as a throuple, creating a concrete place for the three. Their own space.

And suddenly it struck her. How the hell did they manage to do this in a matter of hours? Less than twelve hours ago, she was falling asleep in this room, in Aron’s old bed. She turned to him with a questioning look on her face.

He laughed when he saw her facial expression.

“Don't ask. It was a fun little project though.”

“Yeah, you can say that again,” Desmond laughed from behind Eve as he rubbed her waist gently. “The delivery men were a bit.. Confused when we requested overnight drop off to the driveway instead of having them come install it in the home.”

Aron and Desmond both laughed out loud as they recalled the morning.

“Yeah, they called us to confirm that we wanted the mattress set in the snow. We had to tell them three times to just leave it, that we would handle the rest,” Aron mused. Eve laughed along as she pictured the flustered delivery crew. It must have been the strangest request they’d ever received. She knew damn well that once they drove away, that the boys went outside and tossed the mattress over their shoulders as if it were a small backpack.

Eve still took in all the sights and smells of the room as she realized that they’d been flipping the room for the past few hours. She didn’t know how long they’d been planning this, but it was beyond sweet no matter how long. It meant the world to her, it truly didn’t matter if it was a spontaneous decision, or if they’d been plotting for weeks now.

“Oh! And that’s not all,” Aron added, grabbing Eve’s hand and pulling her to the corner of the room, where an armoire stood. He opened it, exposing a collection of black clothing. Some hung, some folded, but all were organized. She recognized some of the patterns on the folded pants. All of these pieces were.. hers? They’d made a space for her clothing, so she felt more at home. Instead of living out of packed overnight bags when she stayed here.

She smiled and looked through the tops and hoodies that had been hung on hangers. There were a few of her older hoodies that they’d must have stolen from her closet at home. But then there were a few new ones. One new Sleep Token hoodie, a Type O Negative hoodie, and a couple others.

“Figured you’d like some new clothes to really break that armoire in. We snuck some from your closet in there as well,” Aron said with a grin. She felt Desmond’s hands from behind her, grabbing hold of the sheet that had been around her this entire time.

“Let’s get you out of this, love. Into something more comfortable..” his velvet voice insisted as he slowly guided the fabric off her skin.

Eve allowed him to lift it off of her and she stood nude in front of the two men. She was still bruised, but the shock of it all had worn from her. The bruises were a mere afterthought now, but there was no way anyone could ignore their existence.

She grabbed a pair of pajamas that had been folded on the shelf and put them on her body, a matching set of pants and a tank. Upon turning around, Eve was greeted with two gentle, admiring gazes.

“I’m glad you chose something cozy. Because we aren’t leaving this room- or bed- today,” Aron stated with a sly grin.

The song playing on the TV had ended, with gold shimmers and sparkles filling the screen. The beat to “Electric Love” by Borns graced the air. Aron’s face lit up and he made his way over to Eve. He grabbed both of her hands in his and swayed his hips.

“She’s sweet like candy in my veins” Aron playfully lip sang while he looked at Eve. He turned the smize on, putting Eve right under his spell. There was no need for him to hypnotize her.. His eyes did the trick all on their own.

“Baby, I’m dying for another taste..” She laughed loudly as the song picked up. Aron danced with his head, moving it side to side in a groove while he looked at her. His eyes were bright, the small beauty mark on his cheekbone bouncing as he smiled and sang.

He held her body close to his, hip to hip as they picked up speed. Her body was pressed to his before he moved them again, his hips rocking from side to side with a swagger as he bobbed to the music. And throughout all of this, Eve saw glances of IV.. the charismatic and charming guitarist who danced on stage just for the fans. She really struggled to put the stage personas to the men she knew and loved, they seemed so separate in her mind. Different people. And gradually, they were allowing her to see bits and pieces of their alter egos in front of her, with her own two eyes.

“All I need is to be struck by your electric loooove”

Aron sang to her loudly and goofily as the chorus hit. Eve erupted into giggles and squealed while she twirled and he swung her around. She didn’t even know what she was doing, but Aron was leading her so well, her body just fell right into the movements. Swing dancing. Desmond smiled as he watched them, reminiscing of their gala date. The room around them blurred as they moved, Eve’s laughter ringing loudly.

On their next spin, Aron locked eyes with Desmond behind Eve. Since they were no longer fighting over Eve’s affections, it was like they were back to their old selves again. They interacted just as they had before, and their sibling-like bond was completely restored. As if nothing had ever pulled them apart in the first place. The only time Eve had witnessed their original relationship was that first night in the hotel room. She’d figured it was because they were partying, and intoxicated… but no. They were really just as lively and goofy with one another on a daily basis. To Eve, it was almost like the two men were back to their old selves, becoming new versions of the “brothers” they’d beensince the beginning. Aron grinned ear to ear as he yelled over the music.

“‘Ave at her, mate!”

With his hand still clasped in Eve’s, he lifted his arm up, twirling her once more and sending her flying into Desmond’s reach.

All three laughed as she bumped into Desmond’s chest, feeling as if she’d just hit a brick wall. A bumper car caught in a collision. His hands steadied her in the blink of an eye, guiding her body towards him again.

Desmond didn’t dance as goofily or as quickly, but he did pull her hips to his just as Aron. He swayed his from side to side, with Eve following as he gently ground his hips up against hers. Desmond held his hand on the small of her back, with his other hand propped up, supporting hers in typical ballroom fashion.

She couldn’t ignore how close their bodies were again, how little amount of space existed between the two. He’d just been inside her and yet it was a thought that raced through her mind again as Aron watched them. Desmond’s hand simply dwarfed hers, swallowing it to where it was almost invisible. Her entire life, Eve had felt “too big”. Too fat, too wide, never like any of the other girls. She never thought in her lifetime that she’d be able to have a man lift her bridal style or give her a piggyback ride. She knew with whatever future partner she ended up with, she’d be equal to his weight.. or heavier. Eve would always be the.. big.. girl.

But with these two, that concept was completely ridiculous. Though Aron was a tad shorter than Desmond, his hands weren’t as large and he wasn’t as “giant-like”, he was still larger than Eve. Strong, with bulging muscles on his stocky build. Either of them could easily pick her up and throw her around- and they did. Eve never felt insecure around Desmond- though if it were with anyone else, she knew she’d be insecure dating a man that was so tall and lean, while she was the opposite.

Yet, with Desmond and Aron.. it didn’t matter. They had such god-like strength that Eve felt weightless. Though she had an hourglass figure, she was still large breasted. She ripped out the thighs in all of her pants over time from her large thighs rubbing together. She was short, and always felt like the equivalent to a sack of potatoes. Not tiny, fluid and fragile like all of the other pretty girls. Eve was pretty, there was no doubt about that, but Eve always felt like there was a “but” involved. Her weight. Eve was pretty…. But. Eve was “fat”. It’s how she truly viewed herself her entire life.

She’d either been praised for her curves, lusted after by men because she jiggled in all the right places.. viewed as a sex object.. or degraded due to being “larger” than the swimsuit models on TV and her female peers. The girls had always been hesitant to befriend her because of this. But not Freya. Never Freya, even though she was petite and dainty. Freya was the first female friend of Eve’s that simply didn’t care about the differences in their body types. It just wasn’t even something worth mentioning because it didn’t matter to her. Freya wasn’t embarrassed to be seen with Eve..

And in the recent years of Eve’s life, she knew most of the girls growing up had been jealous, actually, because of Eve’s hourglass silhouette getting male attention. Never for the right reasons, of course, but those girls couldn’t see the difference. It gave her body dysmorphia her entire life, and it was just until recently did she see how ridiculous it was to spend her entire life hating herself because she wasn’t willing to starve herself like the rest of the girls. And the thing she wrestled with for years, her own curves, were something the two men in the room salivated over and literally worshipped.

Desmond’s hand glided from her lower back to her hips, feeling over the fabric of her pants. He slipped a hand below, diving under the surface as they swayed, him feeling her bones moving beneath her skin. His hand slithered to her backside, gently moving over the globe of her ass as she looked up at him with surprise in her eyes.

Aron was behind her in a second, putting his hands on her shoulders and rubbing gently. She closed her eyes as she fell into their touch. Aron kissed the back of her neck and shoulders before speaking in a low voice, filling her ear.

“Such a Bonnie lass.. haven’t checked out the new bed yet, hmm?”

She hummed in response.

“I have not.”

And they moved again.

Eve was gently pushed down onto the bed, falling onto the memory foam mattress below. She sank into it and felt the plush fabric of the comforter on her skin, silky and soft. She was sat upright and looked up at the two standing above her.

It was reminiscent of their last, and first ever threesome. Though this time, she was seated at the side of the bed and they were right in front of her. She wasn’t seated at the pillows with them across the room. And even though they were closer than last time, they were still too far away.

Both of their eyes were locked onto Eve, admiring her with both love and lust. Aron stared at her through dark, thick lashes.

“You know..” he purred. Aron’s eyes took on a tantalizing shade of ice as he spoke to her. She wanted to reach out and touch either one of them, but they stayed just out of her reach.. presumably on purpose.

“We’ve been.. talking.”

Talking? The two of them? About..?

“About…?” Her heart dropped to her stomach in anxiety. She feared the worst, of course.

“All of the ways we’ve been wanting to take you.”

She gulped without even realizing it. Her heart floated back into her chest and began to thump even harder. The fire that flowed through her veins an hour ago with Desmond threatened to return. Desmond smiled a wolfish grin, hearing her loud pulse and Eve felt her stomach flutter. Her breathing picked up as the taller man opened his mouth to speak.

“We’ve noticed that we differ quite a bit on our methods of pleasing you. Personally, I like to take my time.. like to make you feel every inch of me that I can.. slowly.. intimately..”

He ran his hands down his body softly, savoring the feeling of his own flesh before focusing his hands on his groin. He palmed himself softy and closed his eyes before speaking again.

“Whereas Aron just takes it from you, however he wants. His speed.. his roughness.. his.. desperation.”

A hushed growl rumbled in Aron’s chest as he too, began to play with himself over his dark jeans.

“Exactly,” Aron exhaled, “and that’s precisely what we want to switch up.”

“You’ve.. lost me,” Eve answered, trying so hard to focus on the conversation at hand though she’d already been so turned on.

Aron reached into the bedside table before pulling out a blindfold and swinging it around his finger.

He sauntered closer to her and bent down to kiss her lips. With his face just an inch from hers, he spoke delicately, his breath a sweet caress over her flesh.

“We’re going to switch up our usual method, Eve. I’m going to make love to you..”

Her breath hitched in her throat as that last sentence hung in the air.

“And Desmond is going to rip it from you.”

Eve stifled a moan as she felt herself throb between her legs, already pulsing for them. She glanced up at Desmond one last time before the blindfold was wrapped around her head. His eyes were intense with the exact same look he had before their last threesome. Aron tied the fabric with a knot before kissing her once more.

“Focus on the sensations, love.. don’t think too hard. Just let yourself and your body enjoy it. Respond however your body sees fit. And remember our safe word, ‘fcourse.”

She whined under her breath, biting her lips yet again as she pressed her thighs together to temporarily relieve at least some of the tension there.

“Reckon we should warm our girl up, first, hmm?” Aron spoke over his shoulder at Desmond.

“She’s already soaked. I can smell her arousal.”

Eve suddenly felt insecure about that, blushing wildly. He could smell her..? Though she knew humans were technically mammals, she’d never thought about how many things they could smell on a human until now. She didn’t know how her body language relayed her insecurity, but Desmond called her out on it.

“Oh, don’t be embarrassed, love. It smells so fucking sweet.” Lust dripped from his voice. His cursing made her own desire triple. He was so well-spoken and didn’t curse often. When he did, it stoked the flame in between her legs like no other.

“Just like her blood. God, Desmond, how do you resist feeding whenever she’s this turned on?”

Except Desmond didn’t answer. Instead, she felt his fingertips float across her collarbones, pulling down the straps on her camisole. Her breasts were now exposed and she felt four hands on her body instead of two.

She couldn’t tell who was who anymore. Eve felt a pair of hands play with her nipples, grasping and ghosting their fingers over them. Just a whisper, but enough to send sparks flying through her chest. Another pair of hands had spread her knees apart and began to rub thick fingers over the fabric, putting pressure on her hot, wet core.

“You like when we both touch you like this..?” Desmond uttered under his breath.

Eve nodded. She could feel the fabric between her legs dampen as the fingers continued to tease her. A mouth had found one of her nipples, circling it with their tongue softly. And suddenly.. a mouth on her other. She gasped at the sensation, arching her back, knowing both men had their mouths on her chest. The mental image it spurred made her nearly cum on the spot.

She twitched and jolted, putting her hands behind her to steady herself on the bed. Her head fell back, black curls cascading down her back. Someone began to blow on her nipples gently, a steady stream of air grazing her skin. Her nipple hardened as whoever it was continued with the temperature play, suddenly putting his hot tongue on her again. She focused on her breath.. in.. and out.. wanting to center herself in this moment.

A loud moan escaped her. She couldn’t help it. They were both so good at this. They knew exactly what they were doing. Lips on both sides of her body began to trail kisses lower as they pulled the camisole off of her entirely, getting it over her head and tossing it to the side. The lips traveled lower and lower, down her stomach as her chest heaved and she thought her heart would explode through her ribcage.

Hands found the waistband of her sleep pants. Fingers hooked underneath it and began to pull them down, hinting at Eve for her to lift her ass up so they could wiggle the fabric down her legs. She followed direction, and was rewarded right away.

Her legs were spread again, this time exposing her bare slit to the two men. Eve shuddered, knowing she was on full display. She didn’t hear a single sound come from either man- not a moan, a sigh, or a hum… which wasn’t like either of them. Her nerves began to sing before she felt the lips again.. two sets of them.

Either man had chosen a knee in which they began to kiss, suck and lick their way closer to her center. One on her left thigh.. and one on her right. It took everything in her to resist pulling the blindfold off, to watch them both in between her legs. Eve didn’t have to guess- she knew the second the blindfold came off, she’d be in for a punishment.. they’d either stop entirely, or refuse to let her cum. And by god, did she need to cum.

She had no idea which man was on which side, and the mystery of it all drove her absolutely fucking wild. Her mind wandered on if they’d meet in the middle, yet quickly dismissed it. It wasn’t a possibility. Yes, they’d play with her body together, but she couldn’t see them both eating her out at the same time.. sharing the same visceral area with their tongues. The chances of their tongues overlapping would be impossible for them to ignore, and even though it would bring her insane amounts of pleasure, she just deemed it impossible. Maybe in her dreams.

But.. the mouths continued to make their way closer, Eve’s body twitching and instinctively closing her knees. Hands at either knee pushed it back, keeping her spread open. She bit her own lip as she trembled in anticipation, the only sounds in the room being her harsh breath, the now soft music coming from the tv, and the smacks of kisses on her inner thighs. The closer they got to her center, the more they teased, the more they traced patterns on her flesh with the tips of their tongues.

She shook, rivaling a leaf, and bucked her hips forward. Her body needed release. And to be teased like this was just so fucking cruel.

Each millisecond felt like an hour. The moments ticked by on a tectonic plate, the cavernous walls inside of her simply aching to be touched. She moaned again, her face twisting with despair.

Finally, fingers spread her folds and a hot, wet kiss was placed on her bud. The impossible proved to be forlorn as she felt yet another tongue enter her, this one below the other. The second tongue dove into her entrance, making Eve gasp loudly. She gripped the comforter behind her, clawing the fabric, trying with everything to not grab ahold of the hair on top of their heads.

Eve wanted to rip the blindfold off now more than ever. She needed to see them practically making out in between her legs, needed to see them sharing her juices, to see their tongues run over her folds together.

“Oh m-“ she choked out. She leaned back onto her elbows, still spread wide open for them. Eve heard soft moans escape from in between her thighs as Desmond and Aron licked and sucked her most sensitive areas. One large hand spread her folds for the other as he repeatedly swirled his tongue on her.

“Your pussy honey tastes even better when shared,” Aron whispered up to her as the two continued to please her.

Belts were undone and zippers pulled. Not being able to see any of it drove her fucking wild. One of the men spat in his hand before slicking his palm around his length. Eve so desperately wanted to know which one did it before she heard the other man do the same.

Her body throbbed under their tongues as they began to let out little whimpers and sighs. She could tell when they swapped areas, one’s tongue was a bit more relaxed and slower than the other, who’d been a pro at flicking his.

“She’s close..” Desmond breathed. “Aren’t you, sweet girl?”

“Y.. yes.. I a.. am..” Eve quivered, her voice a pathetic little squeak.

The visibility restriction drove her to madness, she wanted, no, needed to rip the fabric from her face so she could watch this unfold in front of her.

“You want to cum? That’s what you want..?” Aron coaxed up at her. She felt him pull away before spitting on her clit and circling it again. A pair of hands draped around her hips as the tongue below continued to fuck her hole slowly.

Aron flicked his tongue against her clit and she melted into him, her hands above her head on the bed. Without warning, the second mouth moved up to her clit as well, sharing the space with the other man. A long digit entered the hole beneath, prodding her inside walls eagerly. He curved his finger, his fingertip poking her sweet spot. These men knew her and her body so well..

“Yes.. oh my g..god.. please let me.. I can’t hold it in much longe..”

Desmond’s posh baritone filled her ears, calmly granting her permission. It was as if Eve was a robot who’d been programmed so tightly that she was ran by buttons, and Desmond had just pressed the most exciting one.

“Go on.. you know what to do. You deserve it, love.. make a mess on our faces.”

She shuddered violently as her body clammed up, the feeling of both men’s tongues tangling on her clit made the waves of pleasure roll through her. Fireworks exploded behind the blindfold as she shook, crying out, both hands reaching down to tangle in their hair. She gripped their heads, bucking her hips violently and feeling the juices run down her ass and thighs. The men below her moaned in pleasure together as they licked all around, cleaning the droplets off of her skin as if they’d been dying of thirst.

Her chest heaved as she tried to catch her breath, tried to come back down to earth. But it was pointless. Still in a blissful haze, she felt a man push her legs up on either side of his hips and hook his arms underneath her upper thighs.

“I don’t know if you’re ready for the whiplash, sweetheart..” Aron purred.

Chapter Text

Slutgarden- Marilyn Manson

"I don't know if you're ready for the whiplash, sweetheart.." Aron purred, his own voice quivering from the high he'd been chasing.

She heard pants drop to the floor as Aron pushed into her, heard the slick movements of Desmond's palm on his own length. Aron exhaled roughly, Eve feeling his breath on her chest. Though it was a cock she knew well, his girth was always a shock to her system. A choked scream lurched from her throat as he slid into her.

Eve's hand shot out and clawed into Desmond's leg as she grit her teeth while adjusting. If she cared enough to be embarrassed by her reaction, she might be. But she was so cock hungry for them.. it didn't even cross her mind.

"Slow down, Aron.. take your time. There's no rush. Just look at her."

"Fuck, you're right. So.. goddamned.. beautiful, she just feels so.. good, I can't help it," Aron whined, reaching down to plant a kiss on Eve's lips as he stroked slowly.

She bit her lip as his length massaged her insides. Even if she tried to wiggle an eye open, all she saw was darkness from the blindfold and it was really starting to get to her. Knowing both of them were hovering over her, Desmond guiding Aron while watching them fuck.. it was almost too much. She needed to see it.

"Please let m-me take this off.." she managed to plead.

"Mm, but that would be against the entire purpose of this, hm?" Desmond mused.

Aron slowly rolled his hips into hers, fucking her deeply, and bent down to kiss her neck. He kissed her softly, passionately, as his lips wandered over her skin. His chest heaved from above her- throaty pants fell from his mouth and he kept making noises under his breath, little "mm"'s and "aaah"'s leaving him.

"Worship her, Aron, let her know how mesmerizing you find her.. show her." She could hear the strain in Desmond's voice.

Aron continued to stroke and groan under his own breath, the slowness of it all was killing him, but it felt so fucking good at the same time. He'd been programmed to always be rough and dominant, it was a different feeling for him to be such a soft pleasure dom. To take his time and work slower.. more intentionally.

"Lick her.. suck her.. study her body and the way it responds to you.. make our girl feel good."

Being guided and ordered around by Desmond made him even harder inside of Eve. He'd never admit it, but there was something about being under Desmond's will that just made Aron's mind spin. Like he was a puppet, and Desmond was controlling him, pulling at his strings and living through him vicariously.

The way Aron was fucking her was even more intimate than when he'd do it roughly. The slowness of his pace allowed him to really study her, as Desmond instructed. A sex flush had already begun to creep on her chest and her cheeks were aflame. Her hands grasped his biceps, her touch a firm grip. He crooned down to her.

"You're such a good girl, aren't you, Eve? Like when I take my time with you, baby?"

She clenched around him upon hearing how soft he'd become. He was almost always a hardened dom, to see him melt for her was so unusual, a glimpse of an entirely different Aron. A new piece to the puzzle.. a new chapter to explore..

"I love it.." she responded, a breathy whine escaping her lips.

"That pretty pussy wants my cum, doesn't it..?"

"Slow.." Desmond warned, his own breath wavering as he stroked himself. He took his own time, sliding his palm across the wet skin of his cock. Eve wanted to watch so bad. It was killing her. She wondered what they looked like through Desmond's eyes, what he was thinking..

Aron placed his forehead on hers and stroked before moving down to suck on her chest. The sensations of her nipples being toyed with on top of his thick length inside of her made her tighten even more.

"Mmm, fuck," he hissed.

"You both are so desperate for each other.. so weak for one another.. it's beautiful," Desmond breathed, taking in the entire scene from above.

Aron's abdomen clutched in on itself as he felt himself slipping into an orgasm. He really was making love to Eve, admiring every inch of her body as he fucked it- her breasts bouncing, her stomach moving with each thrust, her lips swollen from his kisses..

With glossy, lust-filled eyes, he glanced over his shoulder at Desmond for approval. He wanted to make sure Desmond thought he was doing it right. Aron's icy eyes found Desmond's deep blues as their gazes locked.

In that moment.. something changed in Desmond. His own breath caught in his throat and he stalled. For some reason, the room suddenly felt smaller. Desmond felt as if he'd been put under a spotlight and his cheeks began to burn. He held Aron's gaze, feeling his own stomach flip before nodding in approval at the way Aron was making love to Eve. He barely choked out a..

"Yes."

His throat felt dry. Aron's eyes sparkled before turning back to Eve's body. A question rose in Desmond's brain as he watched Aron push into her.. Did he see Aron differently than his other chosen family? Why did he agree to share the woman he loves so much.. with him?

He'd never once considered that he'd have a sexual awakening in this situation, always entirely content with his heterosexuality. Never once had he been even mildly attracted to another man, even when him and the others play groped each other on stage. That's always what made it so funny. They'd all laugh and joke about it later- how ridiculous the concept of it being real would be. But something in the air here.. between the two men just now.. was different.

Desmond's eyes didn't leave Aron, but lingered over his form as he thrust into Eve. The pair became one functioning unit as they panted and moaned together, sweat glistening on both bodies. He admired Aron's bulging arm muscles, the way his biceps flexed naturally as he buried his cock inside Eve. His eyes traveled to Aron's waist, down to his hips, studying the tattoos that littered his back and legs.

He'd be lying to himself if he denied finding Aron visually appealing. Aron was attractive. For his eternal life thus far, he'd been able to charm the pants off of anyone without even exterting much effort. People fell for his charisma, his perfectly symmetrical face, his alternative style, all the time.

Yes, Aron was conventionally attractive.. but Desmond wasn't gay. Yet, he couldn't ignore how his cock stiffened and twitched as he watched him fuck her, took notice of how his jaw dropped and full lips parted as he struggled to not empty inside of Eve. His eyes rolled back into his head as he tried his hardest to not finish inside of her right away.

Aron was in such intense bliss that it triggered a new desire in Desmond.. to give him that same bliss. To watch Aron whimper and crumble beneath him.. to cause Aron to make that same face. The thought popped into his mind, lingering at the back of it.. before Desmond pushed it away.

And for some reason.. that temptation, that thought, piqued aggression in him. He grit his teeth as he continued to watch Aron indulge, Eve winding tighter and tighter by the moment. She was a Jack-in-the-Box ready to pop. His aggression turned to frustrated anger as his jaw clenched, needing release. Needing a way out of his confusion. Back to the one thing he knew how to do.. and that was fucking the pale, soft woman below them.

He strided over to Aron.

"Give her to me," he growled. Aron's eyes widened as his hands flew from Eve's body.

A soft gasp left Eve before Aron pulled out of her. And just like that, Desmond saw excitement flicker in Aron's eyes as he realized he could fall back into his rough, aggressive dominance. It was game time for Aron, he was going to take pleasure in watching Desmond screw her brainless. To watch her mind glitch and shut down, all right in front of them both.

"Ohh.. now you're really in trouble, sweetheart," Aron laughed darkly as Desmond lined up with her entrance. The giant maintained his cold silence as he took in her form, eyes gliding down her curves. He was going to ruin her, to break her into pieces he knew he'd have to put back together.

"Desmond..?" Eve started, before Desmond cut her off.

"Scream and cry all you want. No one's home. No one will hear you for miles. Go ahead."

He pushed into her entirely in one thrust, and without giving her any time to adjust to his length, he began to fuck her with vigor. Aron watched this with lust buzzing in his veins, his own dead heart fluttering with excitement. They both watched her jaw drop and take him in silence, small yips and yelps not even able to leave her body. She had no air to spare in her lungs, her entire focus on just taking his cock as she squirmed under his grasp.

Desmond bit his lip as he stared down at her, watching her struggle to compose herself. Though now, she was able to make noise had she caught her own breath.

"Yeah, let it out," Aron taunted grimly.

He fought to keep his hands off of her, he wanted so badly to reach out and dig his nails into her bruised skin, to make her sting. He bucked up against his fist as he watched Desmond take complete control over her.

The taller brunette closed his eyes and gnashed his teeth together as the smells and sounds of their fuck filled the room. It seemed he could never escape her heartbeat during sex, or the smell of her life essence pumping through her veins. Her pulse bounced around the walls, filling his ears and mind with the reminder of just how fucking fragile their lover was.

Eve's mind rattled like an old dresser drawer, stuck on any and every sound her ears could locate. She heard exasperated soft groans coming from Aron aside Desmond, who'd been breathing roughly from above. The blindness was bothering her beyond words, she was nearly about to rip the blindfold off of her no matter what consequences it would bring.

"What a shameful whore, a real slutty cunt, ain't she, Desmond..?"

Desmond was losing himself in her, each thrust sent him further into heaven as her hot, fleshy walls gripped him. She kept getting tighter as the moments passed, and he knew she was nearing the crest of another orgasm.

Even though Eve couldn't see their eyes on her, boy, could she feel them. Their gaze burned hot as lasers over her skin, her entire body felt like a live wire. She'd accepted the blindness at this point, coming to terms with the fact that she wouldn't have sight for her next climax.

But much to both Aron and Eve's surprise, Desmond's hand launched to the blindfold, clutching it with his large, bony hand and ripping it off her head. He needed to look into her eyes. It was earlier than he and Aron planned, but it didn't make it any less sexy.

She gasped and looked up at the both of them with a pitiful, helpless look. The sight of them both staring down at her with callousness pooled into her vision. Her inner brows came to a peak, her face wrinkling in pleasure at the sight of them staring down at her wickedly. So weak.. so needy.. Her heart pounded rapidly as she felt fear wash over her. The fear made the irony scent of her blood fill their noses and mind even more, making them both salivate.

"God, I just need a fucking taste.. just once.." Aron whispered under his breath. But Desmond would be damned if either he or Aron slipped up right now. And he could tell Aron was practically broken over it. Her fear had doubled once Desmond took control, simply dangling the scent of their favorite meal right in front of them.

It was always such an internal struggle within themselves, they were hardwired to view humans as simply food, yet their souls formed bonds with them and these two men somehow.. fell in love. It was an incessant war, a constant tugging between the id and superego.

She wasn't just a meal, no matter how hard their brains would push for them to think that way. They had to fight against their own nature. The woman looking back up at them was their lover, their partner, their soft and sweet Eve. Not just another victim to drain dry and abandon. More internal scolding came from Desmond as he, too, felt the pull.

Desmond turned to glare at Aron, daggers shooting from his eyes. He let out a low growl as if to dare him to take a bite. Aron tried to blink away the black that began to fill the whites of his eyes. He shook his head and steadied his breath. Gulping, he came back to his senses as he felt guilt wash over him.

"Yes. Of course."

Eve was too terrified to say anything. On one hand, she was being absolutely stuffed to the brim. And Desmond wasn't being friendly this time- not by a long shot. His cock filled her entirely, reaching up so far inside of her, her body instinctively tried to inch away. Next to him, she watched her other partner almost lose his control when it came to taking her life, to attacking her like it was nothing.

Once he made sure Aron had been talked down, Desmond turned his attention to Eve again.

"You love it like this, don't you?" He asked in between thrusts, staring down into her cloudy gray eyes. She bit her lip in response, muffling a moan out of habit. She could see the malice in Desmond's hardened eyes.

"We want to fucking hear you. Are you stupid, Eve? We already told you that," Aron sneered.

Desmond felt her tighten around him drastically upon the insult being hurled at her. He laughed darkly.

"Ohh... she likes that."

"I bet she does. She's a no-good slut that's greedy when it comes to cock. All she cares about is getting fucked senseless. Am I wrong, Eve?"

Tighter.

"Look at you squirm, you pathetic toy," from Desmond's mouth this time.

Tighter.

"God, you grip this cock so well. It's like this is your life's purpose, huh? Instead of all the stupid goals you've made for yourself.. why don't you just stay here for eternity and let us bury our cocks in you, yeah?" Desmond really let himself loose on this as he felt the direct response from her walls. His hands gripped her breasts roughly as he pulled himself into her over and over.

Tiiighter.

Aron decided it was his turn again. Desmond caught onto his body language, pulling out and stepping to the side.

Eve's gaze flickered back and forth between the two before her eyes rolled back into her head upon Aron's entrance.

"Sweet thing.. you know we love this cunt of yours, don't you?"

He nuzzled into her neck, kissing down to her collarbone as he rolled his hips onto hers yet again.

"Everything I need is right between these thighs, love.." he panted into her ear, her back arching as she looked up at Desmond. Desmond continued to touch himself, locking eyes with her.

"You look so beautiful like this, Evelina.. red-cheeked and full of cock.."

The whiplash between the praise and degradation made her head spin. She felt like a tennis ball caught in between the two rackets, constantly hitting each side back and forth. It made her dizzy, yet it didn't stop the wetness from seeping out of her.

"Feels so.. good.." Aron continued, biting his own lip to distract himself from finishing. He felt chock full of pleasure by working into her slowly and lovingly. He held onto their pleasure as one, watching Eve's eyes light up every time they met his. Every measured stroke and shudder brought her further to the edge, and Aron could feel it coming.

"Feel her the way I do, Aron.." Desmond exhaled.

"I'm so.. kind.. to you, aren't I?" Aron said in between breaths.

"So giving. I treat you to this cock.. treat you to this cum. You get the satisfaction and pleasure of being our little toy. 'Ts so, s-so sweet, isn't it, sugar?" He drawled, Welsh voice ripping her self control away completely. There was no use fighting off the orgasm anymore. Yet..

"Please, can I-" Eve managed to cry out, a scarlet flush covering her body as she stiffened. Her legs shook like branches around Aron's waist as her jaw clenched. The two men watching could tell she was doing everything in her power to hold off on cumming without permission. And it filled them both with such satisfaction to know that in her mind, every move was at their will.

Aron leaned forward, placing his forehead to Eve's as he nodded.

"Go ahead, sweetheart.." Aron whispered onto her lips. "You don't need permission.. fall apart on me."

He couldn't look away from her as he continued to move against her, his body almost desperate in its need for her. He wanted to see every reaction, every expression, every gasp and moan that left her lips. She was his in that moment, lost in pleasure and under his control. He tightened his grip on her as he continued to move, his hips driving against hers in an increasing tempo.

The crushing tension behind her navel snapped like a spring wound tight. Her body pulsed below him as moans filled the air. Her heart thumped viciously as she climaxed, nails digging into the skin of Aron's back. He kissed her throat as her head fell back, his lips vibrating from the moans leaving her.

The scent of her.. the sounds.. the taste.. everything was too much. Aron's hips bucked as the fireworks erupted in his abdomen, too. He moaned Eve's name loudly as he felt her clamp down on him. White hot pleasure shot through him like an electric current. He kissed her tenderly, cradling her face with both hands as they panted together, his seed filling her.

"I love you. Fuck.. I love you, Eve. You're beautiful," he rasped before kissing her again.

"I love you s-so much," Eve's voice was shaky, weak and hoarse.

They kissed again and again, it seemed the two couldn't get enough of each other. They were wrapped in their own little high, feeding off of the energies that left their body during their mutual orgasm. For them, the world stopped spinning. Everything else around them dropped away as their lips moved together, synchronized, velvet on velvet..

Then Desmond spoke.

"Move."

Eve's heart fell to her gut as she realized they weren't done yet. And Desmond was coming back towards her with that absolute force. Her orgasm was so intense, the room around them had blurred, including Desmond's presence. She had been so locked into Aron for the time being, she nearly forgot Desmond was even in the room.

And how much of a mistake that had been. Desmond almost felt scorned.

In the blink of an eye, Aron was gone. And in his place was Desmond. The giant ripped her knees apart again before..

"You know I love you, too, right Evelina?"

"Y-yes."

He laughed down at her.

"Well, I have every intention of fucking you like I don't."

And another internal blow to her gut as his words wrapped around her brain. He lined himself up between her hips again, glancing down as he aimed his cock to her folds.

"Dripping." He spat the word like an insult. With disgust. It was meant to make Eve feel ashamed- and she did.

"Makes sense. For you."

He pushed into her again. Hungrily this time. Desmond just watched her come undone and he was absolutely determined to make it happen again. He fucked her with a brutal pace, erratic and reckless. Desmond's large hands moved to her chest.

"I think I give you enough pleasure on a daily basis, don't I? Think it's time to give you some pain."

He rolled her nipples in between his fingers, making her cry out and arch her back once more.

"Yes. Let us hear it. Scream and fucking cry for us."

Aron stood next to Desmond with stars in his eyes.. he'd never seen Desmond be so vicious. He watched as the taller man bullied the woman below them in between thrusts.

She bellowed and choked on her own words- fragments of sounds left her body. Her breath, shaky and weak, told the two everything they needed to know. Her blood roared in her ears as she throbbed around Desmond.

Desmond grabbed a hold of her face with one large hand and pulled her closer to him.

"You take my cock so goddamn well, Eve. Like a proper slut. We've broken you in with such good practice, hm?"

She bit her lip in response, nodding and whimpering.

"Look at my cock sliding in and out of you while I fuck you."

He forced her gaze down between her thighs as he kept going, kept pushing and pulling out of her. As he moved, Aron's cum wrapped around his cock, the white liquid smearing all over her lips and the base of his length. Aron hissed under his breath as he, too, saw his own orgasm seep all over them.

"I l-love i-"

"Did I tell you to speak?" Desmond's deep voice boomed. It nearly sent a chill down Aron's spine.

Eve quickly shook her head in response.

"Good girl."

Eve looked over to Aron, who met her with a carnal grin.

"Give her what she deserves, Desmond. Remind her who she really is," he gloated.

Desmond filled her so good, she felt stuffed to the brim. His tip prodded her sweet spot and she couldn't help but mewl and whimper out loud. Her eyes closed as she focused on the feeling of him inside of her.

His breath was sharp and fast as he thrust into her. The only time Aron had witnessed Desmond even close to this was when they'd feed together as a group- when Desmond was consumed in a blood frenzy. Eyes crazed, unable to pull himself from the stupor.

Eve stared up at Desmond as if to challenge him with a wry smirk of her own. Aron almost laughed out loud. It was so blatantly obvious that she was trying to be a brat, to defy the both of them.

At seeing this, Desmond's hand flew through the air and slapped Eve across the face. Her head flew to the side, hair splaying out over her cheek as Desmond snarled.

"Don't look at me like that."

Aron did laugh out loud at this. Desmond could feel her clenching around him harder than ever. Eve moved the hair out of her own face and the two locked eyes with her again.

And that's when they noticed... her busted lip. The irony scent of her blood filled the room. If it was difficult to resist the smell of it in her veins, it was even harder to resist it as it oozed from a wound. They both locked onto the red liquid coming from her skin before she reached a hand up to wipe it off. She used her index finger, before putting it in her own mouth and smiling up at them. Growls of lust left both men instantly.

"Shit," Aron muttered beside him. Both of them were doing everything they could, once again, to resist.

Watching her taste her own blood so proudly was enough to make Desmond's abdomen tighten. For a single moment, she was just like them. He closed his eyes, imagining how she'd look with their coal black eyes, wondering if maybe someday he'd be privileged enough to see it for himself. They opened again as he burned a glare down to Eve. Face twisting, he spat on her chest and she moaned loudly, still with her finger in her mouth.

She felt used, defiled, and degraded. Like she truly was good for nothing but this. And it made her so fucking wet.

Desmond upped his pace again and she closed her eyes once more, scrunching her face as she took every inch of him. Her breathing became shallow again as she moaned and lilted desperately.

"Listen to those moans.. those little pants.. it's like we're fucking the air right out of your lungs.. " Aron taunted.

His hand reached out and clamped around Eve's throat. The poor woman had to take a moment to process what was going on, her brain spinning so violently. Aron started to gently apply pressure, then let it loose once he saw her cheeks go pink. Back to pale. Then pink. Then pale. He watched the rose dust her cheeks repeatedly before he reached down to rub a thumb on her clit.

The sensation of both her clit being toyed with on top of the stings from her cheek and lip, paired with Desmond fucking her deeply was enough to spur on another orgasm. It creeped closer and closer as Desmond's voice filled her ears.

"You don't need to breathe, sweetheart. Unless we let you. We'll tell you when you can."

"Mmm.." Aron growled. "We want to take the breath right out of you... You can breathe when we say you can."

Desmond's face hardened as he himself began to twitch as he fucked her. She clamped down on him like never before and he softly gasped in shock before throwing his head back.

"I've never felt her so tight before."

Aron continued to play with squeezing her throat, while his other hand began to run over her flesh.

"You want to see those pretty little stars while you cum, don't you Eve?"

She nodded as she whimpered, her entire body trembling like a fawn. Aron and Desmond nodded to one another in agreement before Desmond put his all into it while Aron applied more pressure around her throat.

Eve's face turned pink and she shook viciously, cumming on Desmond. She coated his abdomen with her fluids as a choked scream tried to escape her mouth. Her eyes rolled back into her head, where she watched stars dance. Her hip bones jutted underneath their hands as she shook and convulsed. Groans of encouragement from both men rang in her ears as she jolted and throbbed.

"That's a good slut."

"Yes, Eve, cum for us!"

And of course, this was enough for Desmond's downfall as well. He came inside her deeply, thick white ropes coating her insides. He moaned loudly as he felt her heartbeat throb around him, the heat encasing him. He stalled for a moment with closed eyes, standing over her before leaning down to kiss her forehead and cheek. His large hands rubbed her cheek, her lip, her chest.. showing mercy on her. He tilted her chin up to look at him, his deep blue eyes pulling her in.

"How are you feeling, sugar?"

Just like that, the Desmond she knew and loved was right back in front of her. Aron shot her a warm smile from behind Desmond as his arms still cradled her.

A layer of sweat coated her body, and as the adrenaline began to wear off, the pain in her body became more obvious. A dull throbbing began to pulse all over her in spots. Yet, she looked back at Desmond with love.

"Good. I'm feeling good."

"Are you sure..? I didn't... hurt you too bad, did I?" He said as he brushed her hair out of her face, assessing her lip. It had now begun to swell, still red and leaking blood. Her hand moved to it, feeling the puffiness. She winced.

"I don't know."

And he was gone. Eve blinked, and it was Aron that stood before her, alone. He smiled at her again and helped her to her feet.

"Easy there. Can you walk just fine?" Aron asked as she made her way from the bedroom, down the hallway and into the bathroom.

"Yes. I'm fine," she responded. She did her business, ran a brush through her hair and cleaned herself up before returning to the bedroom. Her lip was absolutely throbbing at this point, impossible to ignore and it created a twinge of anxiety in her chest that fluttered like a large moth.

In the past, she was prone to lip irritations from certain chemicals, especially in makeup, and any lip injuries always swelled greatly. Must have been just how her nerves were placed in that area. Regardless, she didn't want to end up with a duck lip in front of her partners.

Upon returning, both Desmond and Aron were in the room waiting for her. Aron had changed the music on the tv to one of her favorite shows. Desmond smiled at her upon her entering, before she noticed something small and white in his skeletal hands.

An ice cube.

"Please sit, mon etoile."

He motioned for her to sit on the bed, which she gladly obliged, wincing again upon impact. He came closer and held the ice cube between his fingers before speaking to her.

"Your lip. May I?"

She nodded, heart growing warmer by the millisecond at the act of intimacy on Desmond's end. She twitched as the cold cube pressed against her lip before exhaling at the relief it brought. Like freezing cold Aloe Vera on hot sunburn. Aron sat next to her on the bed and rubbed the top of her hand with his.

Desmond pressed the cube to her skin, the only heat melting the cube coming from her body, not his. The wound was still bleeding, and as it mixed with the melted ice, it dripped below the wound, down to her chin. He felt himself tense up at the sight. Most of him wanted to wipe it away, wanted to help her. But another part of him wanted to taste it. Why couldn't he.. do both?

"Don't mean to worry you, Eve, but you're still, uh.." he didn't want to say the word out loud. She looked at him with eyes of content, she didn't seem frightened or anxious about it. It was unspoken, but.. she trusted them.

"Can I.. take care of it?" Desmond breathed. Of course he would ask permission. Eve noticed he seemed tensed up, shaky and slightly nervous.
She nodded again, feeling the cold seep into her skin, numbing it for just a moment. Desmond's eyes flashed a multitude of emotions before he swallowed hard and placed the cube in his mouth. He would exercise discipline with himself here. He had to.

It confused her. She didn't really understand what was happening. That was, until he moved closer. He brought his face just inches from hers, pausing momentarily as his eyes scanned her face. She almost asked him what he was doing until he put his mouth on her lip and began to suck lightly. Aron let out a sharp gasp once he realized the direction this was going in.

The bitter cold was back, except now surrounding her lip from the inside as well as the outer surface. Her heart dropped to her stomach when she realized what he was doing. Desmond continued to suck on her lip, the freezing cold wrapped around her flesh. Though she knew she should be terrified, the twinge between her thighs returned. He was.. tasting. Tasting her in such a uniquely intimate way.

Desmond's hands rested on her outer arms as he ever so hesitantly tasted the fresh blood from her lip. He closed his eyes and massaged her lip, lapping over the wound with his tongue lightly, as delicately as he could. His breath shuddered, he closed his eyes and savored the taste of her. The fear in her pulse made the smell fill the room, absolutely engulfing both men.

Against his own wishes, his body let out a low moan as he savored every bit of the irony taste. This was a test. And he needed to pass. Not only for his own sake, but for Eve's.

He pulled away, his head dropping as he closed his eyes and breathed heavily. Desmond lowered himself next to Eve on the bed. Both Aron and Eve stared at him in shock.

"I.. I'm so sorry, Eve.. I can't believe I.."

Aron left the room in a blur. Eve placed her hand on Desmond's thigh and rubbed gently. He looked up at her with glassy, ink tinged eyes that already brimmed with emotion.

"Um.. it's okay," she said hesitantly, before clearing her throat. "I just wasn't expecting that."

"I should have better resisted. I've never once.." He began, choking up. "I just thought with the ice, that I could.."

"Desmond," Eve said. The only time he'd ever exposed his tears to her was the night he told her about his human life.

"It's okay. I'm not upset with you. Please.."

"I just needed to make sure I could stop."

"I understand, it's okay. Really, Desmo-"
She was cut off by a drop of blood falling from her chin onto her lap. Her hand reached up to her lip as her brain processed.

Aron popped back into the room with his own ice cube in hand. He walked to Eve before meeting her eyes and nodding, his scleras pooling with dark gray as he began to shift.

"Let me numb it, yeah..? Stop touching it."

"O-okay."

She sat back and tilted her chin upward. In the same position Desmond had just been in, he reached down and popped the ice cube into his mouth before taking her lip between his.
Aron pulled away quickly and hissed under his breath before immediately bringing his face to hers again. He groaned softly under his breath in between sucks, licking as much blood off of her lip and chin as possible. His mouth massaged hers and she let out her own sigh of approval as the ice numbed her again. He reminded Eve of an animal, no longer a man before her, but a primitive being. A slave to his own urges and weakness... the blood in her veins.

"Aron-" Desmond's stern voice rang.

He pulled away, exasperated and breathing heavily.

"Yeah, yeah. Sorry. You're right. T-thanks mate."
He disappeared again and returned with a damp washcloth.

"Here, h-hold this on it," He stammered, voice weak and hoarse. He held the cloth out to her and deliberately looked in the opposite direction as Eve, not even wanting to see the tempting crimson. Was he trying to avoid her eyes, also?

The three sat in silence for a moment. None of them really knew what to say. A yawn escaped Eve's mouth as she stretched her arms above her. Icy eyes flickered over to her.

"Tired, love? I'm sure you're starving, too. You haven't eaten breakfast yet."

"Mm. I'm sleepy. And a bit hungry, too, I guess. But I'm okay right now."

"Come."

Aron guided her back onto the bed, throwing a plush blanket on top of the thick comforter for her. She laid down, hair splaying everywhere, and closed her eyes. Eve moaned gently as she exhaled, letting any and all anxiety leave her chest.

She felt Desmond's weight press down next to her on the bed, as Aron came to lay on her other side. Eve lie flat on her back in between the two and opened her eyes.

She was met with their nude reflections looking back at them in the mirror above. All three looked spent and in forms of disarray. Desmond's soft eyes glanced over her reflection before meeting hers in the mirror. He smiled.

"You are so utterly perfect. You know that, right?"

Aron ran a finger down her left arm, tracing patterns into her skin. He followed the outlining of her tattoos as he studied the texture of the raised ink lines in her flesh. The vivid color that riddled her paleness.

"Perfect?"

Desmond reached over and hooked his finger under her jaw, moving her face in his direction.

"Yes," he and Aron both responded. Aron's voice a faint smile as he caressed her arm, Desmond's a low bass. They both stated it as a fact with no room for debate.

She looked up at their reflections again and frowned slightly. Neither man neglected to notice the shift in her presence.

"What are you thinking?" Aron asked from beside her. All three were looking back up at the mirror, both their eyes hovering over Eve's face.

Don't say it, she thought to herself.

Don't ruin it.

Don't bring them down.

But it spilled from her like word vomit. Before she could stop herself, it slipped right out.

"Sometimes I feel.. inadequate."

Aron scoffed from beside her. She met Desmond's confused eyes in the mirror.

"'Inadequate?' In what sense, love?"

She paused, pondering her next words carefully. She didn't want to sound whiny, but she knew they would want her to address any troublesome thoughts she was having. Desmond would pry it out of her if she kept it to herself, anyways.

"I feel inadequate about my body."

Desmond was quick to respond.

"Elaborate, please.."

She sighed and continued to look up at herself. While this wasn't easy to spit out, she knew in order to heal.. she had to.

"Well, I.. I wish I was stronger.. for you two. I wish you both didn't have to remember to be so gentle with me. Like.. I wish I weren't fragile compared to you. I wish I could be at the same strength and bulletproof-ness as you two. So you wouldn't see me as weak."

She paused again while they both collected their thoughts. Desmond watched her brows crinkle as she spoke. She was thinking so deeply, Desmond could almost see the cogs turning inside her brain.

"And.. well, I don't know. I mean, just look at you both. I know it sounds stupid, and.. cringey, but I really can't believe that one of you, not to mention you both, could end up with.. me."

Desmond smiled patiently at her as he brushed a loose strand of raven from her face. He looked down at her with gentle eyes.

"What do you see, when you look at me?"

It took her off guard.

"At you?"

He nodded and blinked slowly, gazing at her with softness. Aron ran his hands up and down her arm, caressing her lightly as she looked at him. Studied him. His eyes pooled deep blue with serenity. It made Eve's breath falter, admiring just how crystal they really were.

"I.. I see a very strong soul. Loving, and kind, and.. loyal. Who's wise, smarter than anyone I've ever met. And talented. Creative. And.. beautiful."

He blinked slowly, a sweet smile still on his lips.

"Would it be such a stretch to think we believe the same is true of you?"

She swallowed thickly.

"I guess not."

"Eve..?" Aron spoke next. She turned to face him as he grabbed her hand and kissed it lovingly.

"What do you see in me, sweetheart?"

The lover boy in him took full effect as he glanced up at her under thick lashes. She was completely under both of their spells and she stuttered again. She said the first words that came to mind for Aron.

"Um.. You're.. charming. And very flirty-" he laughed, and so did she, a nervous giggle falling from her lips.

"And.. strong as well. Not afraid to stand up for the things you want, the things you love. Even if it makes others uncomfortable. You're funny, and you take every opportunity for everything it's worth."

His eyes softened as the edges crinkled with a smile. He closed them as he brought his lips to the top of her hand once more.

"Again.. right back at you, sugar." She blushed violently before he continued.

"I want you to know, Eve. When we were apart.." he paused. "I forced myself to sleep. I was used to sleeping beside you, and it was something I hadn't done in decades. During my.. frenzy.. it was the last thing my body wanted to do. But I forced myself to sleep. I would make myself dream just so I could see your face, just so I could.. feel close to you again.

Living in a world with your absence was the hardest thing I've ever done. I couldn't do it with a complete lack of you. I needed to see you somehow, even if it wasn't really you.. but just an image my mind's eye conjured up of you. Good dream, or nightmare. It didn't matter. I'd wake feeling grateful to have seen your face either way. To have heard your voice. Even if it wasn't.. you."

Her throat squeezed in on itself and burst into white hot flames as she held back tears. He looked into her eyes with intensity, passion brewing viciously beneath the ice.

"So think about that next time you feel 'inadequate'. Look at yourself again, Eve."

She turned her gaze to their bare reflections again, watching Desmond and Aron both caress her arms and belly gently. Their fingers floated across her skin, just a mere whisper atop her flesh. Desmond ran a hand down the top of her right thigh, his hand almost the width of her entire thigh, and Aron moved to playing with a piece of her hair.

"I understand."

"Hmm, do you?" Desmond asked her.

"We want to watch you fill yourself with pride as you see yourself through our eyes," Aron stated.
She studied her own reflection as Desmond's voice filled her ears again.

"Look at your arms, Eve. The arms that have held anyone you've ever loved, family or friend. Who hold Percy when you're giving him kisses. Look at your eyes, so big and gray.. who've seen the lake, the forest you love so much, the snow. Who are privileged to soak in the view of your beautiful body every single day.."

Their touch began to correspond with the body parts being named off, their hands applying pressure on each part of her as they spoke.

"And these legs.. that have carried you through your hardest journeys. Things you've never thought you'd overcome. But you did. And your feet, that have held you up on your hardest days. That allowed you to stand tall, to stand up for yourself. Your.. cute, small little feet," Aron mused.

She tried her hardest to not get turned on again. But how could she not, with them praising her, practically worshipping her body? Her cheeks turned scarlet at the attention they were showing her. She smiled coyly.

"Mmm, and that brilliant smile. That's grinned millions of times at the things that have brought you joy throughout your entire life. The smile that.. sucked both him and I in. Like moths to a flame," Desmond's voice was delicate as ever as he leaned in and kissed her lips softly. A single kiss.

"And this beautiful center that is the epitome of pleasure," Aron whispered into her ear as his hand floated below her abdomen. "The thing that connects you to the divine feminine herself. That swells like a river upon ice melting.."

"The cathedral where I pray," Desmond whispered, his breath ghosting into her nape. She shuddered and closed her eyes, biting her lip to fight a moan.

"Look at your body again. Not for the curves, imperfections or textures, but the moments itself that this body has given you, and continues to give you, love.."

She glanced up at the three, admiring her own body in the mirror. It was easy to see herself through a new lens now that they'd spoken such love into her mind. She understood. Eve admired her reflection above and smiled. She noticed both men were now looking up at their reflections as well, their eyes focused on Eve. Their gazes were filled with burning passion as they studied her form.

"Now what do you see?" Aron asked with a smile.

"I see everything you do," she responded, blushing wildly.

Desmond smiled and moaned into her skin. Kissing it, he ran his hand along her side once more.

"Your body is meant to take everything we want to give.."

She throbbed for them. The cluster of nerves behind her navel began to tighten as she felt her center dampen again. Their eyes burned into her.

"I-I'm coming around to the mirror after all.." Eve said, eliciting chuckles from the men on either side of her.

"Mmm. You can thank Aron for that."

He smirked at Eve devilishly before shrugging.

"You want to know the best thing about you, though, Eve?"

She raised an eyebrow at him.

"How you so easily accept the presence of the dead among the living."

She smiled at him, grabbing his face with one hand, feeling his sharp jawline under her fingertips.

"Of course. How could I not?"

He smiled at her, eyes twinkling.

"And I really meant it when I said we weren't leaving this bed today." He smirked.

"Mhm..." Desmond agreed, kissing her cheek.

"At least.. you aren't."

Desmond got up and disappeared from the room, leaving just Aron and Eve alone.

"Where's he..?"

"Don't worry about it, love. Just stay here with me. Relax. Movie? TV?"

"I'm okay with whatever," she answered.
She lay back in bed, closing her eyes and leaning against the fluffy pillow behind her. Aron put on a movie and Eve recognized it just by the sounds of the opening scene- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

She laughed, opening her eyes to look at Aron.
"Feeling magical, are you?"

"Hey, leave me alone. I know this is one of your favorites, too. Don't lie. Now come here."

He pulled her into his arms and guided her head onto his chest. Aron's arms tightened around her as his hands snaked down her back, rubbing her muscles and spine. She sighed into his chest as she watched the movie through sleepy lids.

She'd just drifted off to sleep when Aron shook her gently.

"Eve, hey."

She blinked and rubbed her eye before looking up to see Desmond holding a tray full of food. She sat upright as he brought it to her, setting it down in front of her. It was a makeshift charcuterie board of sorts. Sliced fruits spilled artistically out of a bowl, next to many different types of sliced cheese. A tiny dish of honey sat next to crackers, pieces of grains and a small dish of olives. Spreads of marmalade and jelly sat in the center of the board. Nuts of all types were scattered on the board, along with variations of cured meats. The tray didn't look like food, but like an art piece itself. She laughed in disbelief.

"Wow, Desmond, you didn't have to! This must have taken you forever!"

He brushed her comment away and smiled, sitting down next to her. He placed a large glass of what appeared to be juice next to him on bedside table.

"Let me know when you're thirsty, I'll pass this to you. You needed food. Vitamins and healthy fats, especially after this morning." He chuckled.

She spent the next half hour or so ingesting almost everything on the tray. As usual, Eve didn't realize just how hungry she was until she started eating. Aron and Desmond continued to switch off on rubbing her back, being careful to not put too much pressure in the bruised areas as she ate and watched the movie.

Aron reached over to her tray and dipped his thumb in the honey. He held it up to Eve's face, smirking devilishly, and she met his expression. She wrapped her lips around his thumb and he moaned as he felt her tongue swirl, cleaning everything off.

"Good.. good girl."

His pupils were blown wide with desire as he maintained eye contact with her. She heard an approving sigh from behind her, and before she knew it, the tray had been removed from her lap, and she felt hands pull her shoulders backward onto the bed.

Eve was leaning on Desmond's body, felt his arousal pressing into her back. Within moments, Aron was on top of her again, greedily, kissing and nipping at her flesh again in between Eve's soft moans.

The trio melted into a heap of sighs, groans, and pants once more, with no intention of slowing down anytime soon.

___________

They spent the next twelve hours floating in and out of sex and sleep. They rubbed Eve's body with lotion, massaged her muscles, played with her hair and whispered notes of love into her flesh. She'd never felt such a level of adoration in her entire life.

She slept on and off. When she did sleep, it was cradled in a set of strong arms, falling blissfully as hands glided down her body. And each time she passed out, she slept deep.

The end of the night rolled around as it neared 9 PM. The house was still vacant- Liam, Camren, and Freya nowhere to be found.

She woke to a perfumed scent. Rubbing her groggy eyes, she yawned and stretched her body in Desmond's grasp. Aron kept his grip on her lower half as she reached her arms up to stretch. The room was dark.

"Mmm. Rise and shine, beautiful," Desmond breathed as he tilted her chin up to his and kissed her lovingly.

Eve quickly identified the source of the smell. There was a shelf directly below the flat screen TV that had been filled with candles, which were all lit. The lights in the room had been turned off, creating a cozy atmosphere, the orange flames being the only light source. They flickered and danced up the walls and it made Eve want to cuddle into her blanket even more.

"Fresh candles?" She asked.

"Of course," Aron answered. "Smell nice, don't they?"

"Mhm.. you know me so well," she smiled into his touch as he cradled her jaw in his hand.

"My favorite subject."

They lay like this for a few minutes, Eve getting her bearings together before standing up to make her way to the restroom.

Upon returning to their room, she noticed the light was back on, and in the center of the room lay a ginormous pile of presents that had yet to be wrapped. Aron and Desmond had both changed into basketball shorts and joggers. Aron kneeled behind the huge pile with a smile.

"Care to help me wrap?" He grinned with a pair of scissors in his hand.

She laughed out loud, pulling on her pajamas from hours earlier.

"I suppose so!"

And she did. The three sat together on the floor as they wrapped their presents for their Christmas gathering together, being that it was just the next day. They had a good system going, Eve would hand Aron the appropriate roll of wrapping paper, he'd cut it to size and tape it all up before passing it to Desmond, who used his fancy handwriting to address the tags. Eve would finish each present by handpicking a bow from the assorted bag and slapping it on the gift, sometimes curling ribbon if she felt inclined.

At the end of it all, a pile of over 15 gifts sat in the room and it made Eve beam with happiness. Truly, she did love the Christmas season, loved celebrating Yule and giving gifts to others. The aesthetic of a nicely wrapped gift was always so nice to look at, and she was excited to hand these off to the rest of the group tomorrow before watching them all open.

As they wrapped the last present, her phone chirped from the bedside table- the first time it had made noise all day. Eve took note of that, and realized just what specific text tone that was.

Freya.

And the sadness came flooding back in, remembering just how horrible their last interaction had been. She missed her, but man, did her partners do a good job of keeping her mind occupied today. She realized she hadn't even thought of Freya today aside from when she first woke this morning. She'd been in such a good mood the entire day.

Eve made her way to the table to pick her phone up.

F: Are you at yours? Or at home?

It was difficult for Eve to not read the text in Freya's voice. It was funny how they referred to their own apartments as "their" places, yet referred to the boys' house as "home".

E: Home.

She felt two sets of eyes on her as she typed. The text bubble with three dancing dots appeared and disappeared. Over and over.

"What's going on, love?"

"Just Freya. Asking where I am. She should have my location, though.." Her brows crinkled before her phone chirped again.

F: I'm stopping over.

She sent a thumbs up emoji in response. Equal parts anxiety and excitement creeped into her chest at the thought of seeing her best friend again. Aron and Desmond could tell.

"You okay?"

"Just nervous is all."

"Why?"

"She's going to want to talk."

"That's a good thing, is it not?" Desmond asked.

"Yes."

"Well, let's get these presents downstairs, shall we?" Aron asked. He wanted to see Freya, too, though they needed to talk things out themselves.

They each grabbed a stack of gifts and made their way downstairs. Blackness greeted them since the area had been unoccupied the entire day. The Christmas tree hadn't even been lit.

Desmond plugged the tree in as well as the Christmas lights that were strung throughout the house. The living room burst into a colorful glow that made Aron beam.

They got their presents situated under the tree. It was a hard task to balance their gift load with the heavy amount of presents that had already been there. Aron cursed under his breath as one of the gifts Freya had placed under the tree toppled over and went rolling.

"Careful, Aron, I don't want round two from last night," Desmond said dryly.

"Yeah, no kidding."

In perfect timing, the front door opened and Freya came in looking cold as ever.

She shivered under her thick black jacket as she brought the low temperature in with her.

Desmond walked to Eve's side as Freya shut the door behind her, and suddenly the air was thick with tension. Freya smiled softly at Aron with guilt simmering in her eyes. She waved hesitantly.

"Hey, Frey."

She looked on the verge of tears already. Eve could tell her friend was beyond embarrassed, and sad, too. She knew Freya well, and knew that her collected reserve completely crumbled the second she walked in the house and was met by the three.

"Leave you ladies to it, 'suppose," Aron said before heading upstairs. Desmond squeezed Eve's hand before looking at her and nodding gently. He then followed Aron's footsteps, going up the stairs to give the girls privacy.

"Hey," Eve said, walking over to the couch. She grabbed a heavy blanket from the top cushion and draped it around herself. The bitter chill Freya brought in with her had seeped past Eve's pajamas and she felt a shiver crawl up her spine.

"Um.. hey."

Freya made her way into the living room. Her eyes landed on the tree, spotting the enormous pile of presents that burst from underneath it. Her eyes widened as she held back a snort of laughter.

"Jesus, tomorrow's going to be a long day."

"Hah, yeah."

Freya curled up on the other couch, facing opposite Eve. Her fingers drummed on her knee as she looked all over, studying the house like it were her first time here. Eve watched Freya as she fidgeted.

"H-have you been here all day?" She asked.

"Yeah. All day. Fell asleep here last night."

"Oh... nice."

Eve sat in silence. The two could hear a pin drop, as Freya had stopped talking also, not ready to discuss the elephant in the room. She could tell Freya was embarrassed, not missing the way her eyes jolted to the floor at the risk of eye contact with Eve.

"So, uh.." Freya began. Eve wanted to let her come out of her shell on her own.

"I'm.. really sorry for last night. I'm so embarrassed."

Eve didn't respond right away. It made Freya's heart thump loudly. She looked at her nervously, anticipating her response. It was obvious the tension between the two girls had bothered Freya just as much as it had been bothering Eve.

"I know."

"I should have listened to you. I guess I just jumped to conclusions and.."

"You did."

She sat in silence again, pondering her next words.

"I'm really so embarrassed. I..I'm sorry."

Eve didn't respond, but continued to watch her friend as she began to pick at the rip in her jeans. Her foot bounced with nerves.

"It's fine."

"It's really not, and I know I have to clean the mess I've made. I said.. horrible.. things to Aron, and ugh, poor Desmon-"

"They deserve bigger apologies than I do."

Freya nodded glumly and chewed her bottom lip. She looked up at Eve with glassy eyes.

"Yeah," she said, almost a whisper.

"I understand why you were concerned. I guess I had time to let it sink in. You just saw the bruises and everything all at once.. so I understand. But do you really think I'd lie to you like that..? Do you only trust me to a certain level?"

The guilt continued to consume Freya's features as she shook her head.

"No! Seriously. I-I was acting really stupid, and I guess I just panicked, honestly. You weren't confirming my worst fears. I made up my mind on what happened and I needed to have it confirmed. But you weren't.

Of course I'm glad it wasn't my worst fear. I guess my adrenaline spiked, I wanted to protect you, I... I felt helpless, how could I even physically protect you from them? I just came out swinging."

She hung her head again.

"I understand, Frey. I'm not mad at you anymore. I know why you acted that way. This is a.. new.. situation for both of us. And it's not like we can turn to anyone else in our lives for advice on if we're exaggerating something or not. I get it."

Freya kept her eyes glued to the floor, continuing to chew on her bottom lip.

"Thank you."

"But you seriously do need to apologize to Aron and Desmond."

"I know. I planned on doing that before tomorrow. But you were the first one on my list.. I couldn't stand to have you mad at me. I didn't sleep at all last night."

It wasn't until now that Eve noticed the deep rings of purple that clung to Freya's lower lash line. And knowing that tension with her was the reason Freya hadn't slept in almost 48 hours was enough to make her feel horrible.

Eve stood up and walked over to her friend before pulling her into a warm hug. The tiny woman shivered in Eve's arms as she hugged her back, wrapping her arms around Eve's back.

"I love you," Eve said as she rubbed soothing patterns down Freya's spine. The pieces in Eve's heart that had been temporarily broken found their way home again, gluing together upon impact.

"I love you."

Chapter Text

Look After You- The Fray

All Eve could focus on was how warm she was.

Freya sat beside her at the dining room table, pink cheeked and giggly. Camren had slipped into the kitchen for a quick moment to check the quality of the food he’d been making as Aron tsk’d from beside his chair.

“Come on sweet’aht, don’t miss your turn!”

Liam had concocted some sort of mystery “sherbert” punch, that surprisingly did taste more like sherbert than gasoline. Yet, Eve could tell it was spiked by the way it burned down her throat and how fast her anxiety seemed to dissolve away.

She clinked glasses with Freya as the two sipped fresh glasses of their punch and watched the laughter unfold around them. The smell of food wafted from the kitchen and Eve wondered if she’d even be hungry again by the time dinner was ready.

The group had woken up to a huge, thought-out Christmas spread that Camren had clearly taken his time crafting. The girls wolfed it down, their bellies grumbling from the deep sleep they’d had the night before. The stress in the house again had made everyone a bit on edge until this morning, when Freya had completed her rounds of apologies amongst the group. It was like nothing had ever happened. Everyone was happy to be in good graces again and was willing to quickly accept the apology and move on- especially Aron.

After breakfast, they all decided to bust out the board games. They were snowed in for the evening. Aron had tried to shovel before breakfast, but to his dismay, he was met with relentless snowflakes piling in areas he’d just cleaned off. Cursing, he threw his arms up and went back inside, declaring a snow day to the others, suddenly excited about having a “shut in” together.

Christmas music poured from the surround sound in the living room. Loud enough to trickle into the dining room and kitchen, even. Liam danced in his ugly sweater as he poured himself another glass of eggnog before sitting back down and rolling the dice on the Monopoly board. They were well into the game now. Of course, it had  become a heated match, Camren and Liam had both bought the most properties, leaving Eve, Aron, Freya and Desmond fighting for their lives.. but especially Aron.

“You fuckin’ sod!” Aron bellowed as Liam giggled, landing on his own property. Aron glanced down at his dwindling bank as Liam made a “hm!” motion with his thoughts, wiggling his eyebrows and taking another sip of eggnog.

Camren returned to the table with a basket of hot biscuits in hand. He offered some to Freya and Eve who shook their heads, yet he pressed the issue. His eyes locked onto Freya’s before shifting to Eve’s.

“You’ve been drinking since you woke. Take one.”

Eve obliged, taking a hot roll and ripping a piece off before popping it into her mouth. Camren rolled his eyes as Liam silently gloated over owning half the board.

Desmond’s skeletal hand picked up the dice next and dropped them onto the board.

“Cmon, mate, please. He can’t win again,” Aron was quite the sore loser and he knew it, but god damn did he want to see Liam’s cocky smile drop to nothing. Desmond sighed softly as he landed on one of Marvin Gardens, Freya’s only property thus far.. with two houses on it.

Freya didn’t even realize he’d landed on her spot, being so wrapped up in Camren’s essence next to hers. The two were still fully in their honeymoon phase, basking in the other’s presence any chance they got. Eve quickly snatched the dice from the board before Freya’s head snapped to the board.

“Hey WAIT!”

The group snickered as Eve’s hand paused. They’d decided to play the slimy way- where if a player wasn’t paying attention and their spot was landed on, whoever landed didn’t have to pay rent if the next roll was had.

She growled under her breath as she checked her property card.

Her tiny hand extended out toward Desmond, looking at him with a playful fire. She flicked her fingers into her palm in a “pay up” motion.

“Two hundred and eighty dollars, please.”

“Fucksake. That’s Boardwalk pricing,” he drawled in annoyance before slapping the brightly colored bills in her palm.

Eve rolled and landed on “Go To Jail”. With her mouth in a tight line, she placed her piece in the jail. Aron looked up at her intensely and laughed.

“Mm. Bad girl. Hot.”

She scoffed in response.

Camren was putting up a fight against Liam thus far in the game and it was driving Liam mad. At this point, the rest of the group was on Camren’s side, wanting him to win and crush Liam’s monopolistic paradise. Liam vs. Everyone.

He rolled and everyone sat with baited breath as Camren’s piece approached a strip of Liam’s properties. Liam’s eyes were glued to his piece as it stopped right on a railroad.

The room erupted into cheers at Camren’s luck. Liam turned his nose up and took another sip of eggnog in response.

This game went on for hours, biding the time between breakfast and dinner. They sat together and laughed, everyone soaking up as much of the others’ company as possible as a cheerful glow lit up everyone’s faces. It was the first Christmas holiday for all of them that wasn’t riddled with any underlying feelings of anxiety, sadness, or grief.

Together. They were.. together. A new family.

____________________

Desmond slipped dark gray slacks on his legs, pulling them up and buttoning them. He was in his room after deciding he wanted to head upstairs and change into more “appropriate” clothing for their meal and present swapping. Granted, it wasn’t formal by any means, but it was a holiday, after all. And he intended to dress for it. Everyone had been in their pajamas the entire morning, opting for coziness, and Desmond was eager to get into a fresh set of clothes for the evening.

Christmas music floated up the steps as he hummed along to himself. He grabbed a black cashmere turtleneck from his armoire and pulled it over his head, tucking it into his pants and running a black belt through the loops. His mind hadn’t stopped reeling since the day before. Not due to Freya’s apologies to everyone, no. It was… Aron. Aron plagued Desmond’s thoughts, spurring on an entire set of questions that burned into Desmond’s mind. Questions he… didn’t know if he could answer just yet. Or did he? Did he know the answers, but was just running from them? Living in denial? Why was it that every time Aron laughed that afternoon, Desmond felt a flutter of excitement in his stomach?

No. Not this again.

He shook his head, clearing the thoughts away entirely as he made his way to his jewelry chest. He lifted the wooden lid and picked a few rings from the velvet interior before placing them on his fingers. Simultaneously, he heard a knock at his door. But.. no heartbeat along with it.

“Come in,” he said.

His door cracked open and Aron entered, smiling a half crooked smile at him. Though he didn’t have a heart anymore, Desmond felt the ghost of it beating through his own chest. He stiffened as he stood up a bit straighter and cocked an eyebrow at the shorter man. Could this be something about Eve?

“Alright, mate?”

“Good. ‘N yourself..?”

Desmond couldn’t understand why there was an air of awkwardness here. He felt as though Aron’s eyes were melting through him, seeing him for who he truly was. The singular oil lamp that had been lit didn't do much to eliminate the darkness all around them, making it hard to tell where exactly Aron was looking.. But Desmond knew his gaze was on him. He felt it.

Aron nodded again, crinkling his eyes as he smiled.

“Is this about Eve?” Desmond blurted.

“Ah, no. She’s perfectly fine. Her and Frey are still watching the movie with Liam downstairs. Think they’ll sober up a tad once they’ve food in their systems.”

“Ah. Yeah. Yeah, I suppose you’re right.”

As if on cue, loud, drunken laughter rang up the steps, making both Aron and Desmond slip into light laughter.

“I wanted to give you something.”

Aron spoke gently, making Desmond's heart drop to his knees. What was with him?

He looked at Aron in confusion.

“We’re exchanging gifts after dinner, aren’t we?” Desmond asked under a raised brow.

“Yes, well. I wanted to give you this on the side. Something small, but.. aside from the holiday.”

If Desmond had been confused, now he was entirely lost.

Aside from the holiday?

Aron reached into his pocket and pulled his hand back out. It was clasped around a small object. He held his hand out, waiting for Desmond to put his open palm below him. And though the two had been close for almost an entire century.. This was a first.

He opened his palm underneath Aron’s hand and felt a light object drop into his. He held it up to his face to study it. It looked comically small in Desmond’s grip. Quickly realizing what it was, he smiled softly. A keychain with a photo on it. It was a selfie that the trio had taken together quite recently. In the photo, all three had huge smiles on their faces, Desmond included. Both Aron and Desmond each had an arm wrapped around Eve’s shoulders and she looked happier than ever. Her beautiful face was lit up, the memory making Desmond smile widely.

“I wanted to give you this to settle everything. Between us. I know things have been..uh, rocky, and all over the place but, mate..." He could really feel Aron's eyes on him now, burning into his chest. He lifted his eyes to meet Aron's in the darkness and was met with a faint glint. His voice spoke again.

"I just want you to know that I am entirely okay with this. No hard feelings. I.. want this.”

Confusion, warmth, and.. happiness swirled in Desmond's skull. He hadn’t been expecting such a kind gesture. But truly, he did feel Grinch-like, specifically because he could literally feel his phantom heart growing in size as he glanced at Aron. His throat squeezed in on itself and he did everything to fight the wave of emotion that threatened to dismantle his demeanor. He was quite thankful for the dark that surrounded them.

“I.. don’t know what to say. This is very.. kind.. of you, Aron. I really appreciate this.” He nodded gently as he closed his fingers around the keychain, encasing it in his palm entirely.

Aron took a few strides closer to Desmond and wrapped his arms around him in a bear hug. Desmond held his breath as he felt Aron’s body so close to his. He could smell his cologne and traces of Eve on his scent. Desmond exhaled, letting the tension fall from his muscles as he slowly wrapped his arms around Aron also.

It was a genuine hug, full of warmth and friendship. But.. was that all? Desmond’s mind would have continued to churn with thoughts until Aron pressed his body to his tightly and rested his head on Desmond’s shoulder. Never before had he been in such close proximity to him, never before had he felt Aron’s bones and muscles through his clothing. 

And with that, the world went silent. His mind was blank. And in that entire house, it was just Desmond and Aron. Aron pulled back from him, all too soon, leaving Desmond with an immediate absence that rivaled Eve’s soft presence. Aron’s eyes twinkled in the dim room and they held eye contact for just a moment.

Desmond’ throat was tight, he felt as if he were choking on words. Words he wanted to say, but didn’t know the order in which they needed to be said. His mind was not capable of forming sentences at this point. And what would that mean, for Eve? No, it wasn’t even worth bringing up. He was lost in the warm gaze of Aron, who smiled up at him under thick, soft lashes.

“Dinner!” Camren’s voice filled the lower level of the house.

And within milliseconds, Aron was gone.

___________

Chapter Text

De Selby (Part 1)- Hozier

Eve was tipsy- there was no doubt about it.

Like… really tipsy. And while she knew it was okay to let loose tonight, of all nights, she didn’t want to hit the point of no return. She wished to soak in every moment of the group’s first Christmas together, to remember it fully. So she took a break from the alcohol, sipping a glass of sparkling grape juice before Freya burped loudly next to her. Eve did a double take at the small woman, shocked that such a powerful burp could rip from such a petite chest.

“Oh! My bad!” the drunk girl giggled and flushed, causing Eve to snort with laughter at her embarrassment. Of course, Liam cracked up as well.

“Atta girl!”

They’d spent the past chunk of time watching a Pantomime with Liam. He turned it on the TV and begged them to watch it with him, using his heartbreaking Monopoly loss as ammunition to convince them.

They’d no idea what a “Panto” even was until Liam explained it to them. A play; a retelling of classic stories and fairytales with comedy sprinkled in.

The one Liam put on was a filmed retelling of The Wizard of Oz. Eve and Freya actually did enjoy it, especially after Liam told them that watching Pantomimes as a family was a common British custom for Christmas. It warmed Eve’s heart to see him weave the girls into their lives as family- it was clear the men wanted to immerse them in their lives and customs just as much as the girls wanted to involve them in their own.

But now, they all sat at the table once more. Eve was convinced her butt would someday become glued to the chair with how often she was here eating- being forced to eat proper and balanced meals via Camren. It was all in love, and Eve was exceptionally grateful for it- the girls both knew that taking care of their differing hunger needs was Camren’s top love language.

Having a different food source.. it was all too easy for vampires to forget the human bounds of hunger. And Camren had obviously made caring for them part of his daily rituals, even if they tried to refuse out of politeness. He paid extra attention to nutrition and made sure that health was at the forefront of each meal. And you’d think that meant they lacked flavor, but quite the opposite. Eve was always thoroughly impressed, she’d poke fun at him that he was a “kitchen magician”, and he’d blush, shrugging bashfully.

The blonde smiled and hummed as he brought dishes of food into the dining room, plopping them on the table. He made sure to avoid the ornate taper candles that had been placed so deliberately across the surface. The flames flickered in the dimmed lighting of the room.

“They’re white hot, straight from the oven- don’t touch the dish itself, love.” He gently reminded Freya, eager as ever to begin building a plate. The alcohol in her system made her stomach feel empty once more.

Eve hadn’t noticed until now that Desmond and Aron were both missing. First Desmond slipped away, presumably upstairs in his room or in the study, and Aron was just simply MIA. Camren seemed to notice Eve’s long stare at the wall on his next trip into the dining room.

“Dinner!” He called loudly, making sure his voice aimed up the stairs.

Within moments, Aron reappeared. He smiled widely as he entered the room, approaching the open spot at the table next to Eve. He sat down and looked at her, eyes sparkling, using his finger under her chin to pull her face to his for a kiss.

“My love,” he greeted.

“Aww, how sweet is that,” Liam pestered playfully, a goofy grin taking shape under his thick mustache.

“Stop or I’ll smooch you next, mate,” Aron poked back, “The holiday ‘s gotten me in a mood.”

Everyone at the table cracked, Liam rolling his eyes humorously and taking another swig of his punch.

By the time the rest of the dishes emerged onto the table, Eve’s stomach was gnawing with a spontaneous hunger. The smell of the food filled the room, pulling her into anticipation. She could feel the steam kick the temperature of the room up a few degrees, as everything was piping hot- scorching steam rolling from each surface.

Desmond ghosted his way down the stairs and walked into the room wearing different clothing than before. He was dressed so classic, yet elegantly, he always looked like he’d stepped right off of a historical romance movie set. Vintage, yet with a modern twist, combining centuries of fashion mixed in with his own touch. He was so beautiful.. He almost didn’t seem real to Eve.

He pulled her sights in so much that she’d forgotten about the table that was now filled with food. As she ripped her attention from the men next to her, she was shocked at the display in front of her. Her brain tried to pinpoint what certain things were.. And she just.. Couldn’t?

Her eyes lifted to Camren’s instinctively and he chuckled.

“I’ll get to explaining. But while everything cools, we have to do our crackers first!”

“Our wha..?” Freya started, before Liam boomed with excitement.

“Yes! The crack-uhs!”

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Desmond roll his at Liam’s child-like enthusiasm. The goofy giant was always so loud, so boisterous. Eve giggled under her breath as Camren turned out of the room again and returned with a large box. He began passing a “cracker” to each person at the table.

“Christmas crackers are a tradition on our side of the pond. They’re a sort of ‘favor’, if you will,” Aron explained to Eve.

“Two people pull them open, they make a loud noise and whoever pulls the larger side wins it. There are usually little prizes and sweets in them, but it all depends on what kind of cracker you get,” Desmond added with a “thanks” as he took his from Camren.

They were long, connected tubes. In her mind, Eve could only compare the shape to empty toilet paper rolls, wrapped in brightly colored holiday paper with silver bows around each gap. She’d never seen anything like it before.. and neither had Freya. This was an entirely new concept to them. The men could see the confusion on the girls’ faces and chuckled.

“Here, watch us,” Desmond said. He gave Aron the other side of his and on the count of three, they each yanked their side, causing a loud “pop!” to ring in the air as if a balloon had popped. Both girls jumped slightly. The men around the table shook with heartbreakingly beautiful laughter as Desmond held his up to the girls to indicate he’d gotten the larger end piece. His fingers unwrapped it, revealing a few tiny pieces of paper and a spinning top toy.

“The traditional ones usually come with a joke and tissue paper crown that you wear while eating Christmas dinner, aside from a small “gift”, or toy. Seems I’ve got a top,” he explained further, taking the top and spinning it on the table before unwrapping the paper crown. He slid his chair out from the table and walked over to Eve’s, placing the flimsy paper crown on her from above. It was way too big for her head, but he set it on her anyways, earning a laugh from Freya.

“You girls go. We’ve done more Christmas Crackers over the years than we could count,” Liam urged.

“Okay.. Um..” Freya mumbled as she tried to focus on the rules, handing one side over to Eve.

“Ready? One, two..” Camren counted.

“Three!” The girls said together as they ripped the cracker apart. Another loud “pop!” filled the air and Freya held the larger half. She unwrapped the larger half before small candies, wrapped chocolates and mini lollipops fell out onto the table. “Oooh!” she exclaimed.

Aron turned to Eve and offered his.

They counted to three again, followed by the loud “pop!”, and Eve exclaimed as she held up the larger end. Aron smiled at her, glad to see her enjoying herself as her fingers tore the container open.

“A..?” She questioned out loud as she held up mini nail clippers. The entire table, especially Freya, erupted into laughter at the ridiculous gift- but also at Eve’s genuine dumbfounded and confused reaction.

“The gifts are traditionally little table games for kids- to keep them occupied during Christmas dinner, but we can just give all of ours to Liam instead, to keep him occupied,” Aron retorted.

Liam laughed sarcastically back at him as the girls giggled.

“Ha. Haaaaaaa.”

“What’s in them that causes the popping noise?” Freya asked.

“Gunpowder,” Desmond answered with a shrug. “Crackers were invented back home in the 1800’s, been around forever. You can order them or make them any way you’d like, expensive or not. But in their origin, they’re supposed to be inexpensive and humorous. Just cheap fun. A reminder to not take yourself and the holiday too seriously.”

“Ironic, innit?” Aron replied to him, nodding at the fact that Desmond was all-too serious, always.

Did he just blush?

Liam popped his with Desmond, winning the larger side. Camren won the larger of his but gave it to Freya anyways, even though she’d lost that round. Within minutes, the entire table sat with these silly crowns on their heads that flopped around and fell into their faces, never staying in the same position for more than a moment. Liam looked particularly ridiculous, taking his off and putting it upside down on his head.

“It’s bound to fly off anyways, eh?” he said, eyes twinkling.

Once the food had cooled to a safer temperature, Camren gestured to the table, knowing the girls definitely didn’t recognize a few things.

“I figured since we had a traditional American Thanksgiving, we could have a traditional English Christmas,” he smiled at them.

“We already had turkey for a holiday this year and didn’ want to repeat dishes if I could help it, so.. Christmas prime rib, creamy mash, traditional yorkshire pudding, duck fat potatoes, braised red cabbage, parsnip and carrot puree, oxtail stew, glazed mixed veggies, mac and cheese, pigs in blankets, aaaand a mixed english garden salad down over there,” he gestured to the other end that Desmond sat at.

The girls sat silent for a moment, taking it all in before Liam spoke.

“Aaf, bruv, I’m gonna get that yorkshire puddin’ pregnant.”

Eve nearly spit out her drink in laughter. The entire table lost it, including Desmond, who’d clearly been thinking something similar. Though they didn’t need to eat human food, it didn’t hurt them, and they could still taste all the same. If anything, their sense of taste was even better than humans’. Aron’s eyes glazed over in want, Eve could see him nearly drooling.

And then it hit her. How long had it been since the guys all shared a meal like this, without the girls? Or had traditional, homemade British holiday food?

She didn’t have to wonder for long.

“Cam.. wow. It’s beautiful. You really went all out, didn’t you?” Desmond asked.

He smiled warmly at everyone, eyes lit up. Eve could tell he was practically drunk on happiness by being surrounded by this group they all considered their new unspoken family.

“I did. Because tonight is special.”

Desmond, Aron, and Liam all nodded in agreement.

“It is.”

Liam swallowed hard before looking across the table at both Eve and Freya, eyes shifting from one to the other as he spoke. Eve could see the emotion brimming in his eyes, a type of emotion she’d never seen from him before.

“I know I goof a lot, but.. gals, I just want to say that this really does mean the world to us..

‘Fink I can speak for us’awl when I say we never thought we’d get a ‘normal’ holiday wiv a family ever aga-” Liam’s voice cracked mid-word. The blonde quickly looked down at the floor, avoiding the eyes of everyone else in the room. Desmond reached over to tap his back in support.

Under the table, Aron grabbed Eve’s hand. He laced his fingers in hers before bringing their hands up to his lips and kissing her flesh.

Camren reached over next to him and gave Freya a kiss. Any emotional hesitation in the room had vanished as they all showed their affections openly. Liam’s hand sat on the table next to his plate as he wiped a stray tear from his eye with his other hand. Freya extended her hand across the table to squeeze Liam’s gently.

There was zero weirdness between any of them, in any of their relationship circles. Liam and Freya had moved on past whatever “fling” they’d had upon their initial meet. They really were just friends, and both were more than okay with that. Camren and Liam had no animosity or jealousy rippling between their relationship anymore. And Freya and Camren were so perfect together it almost seemed comical that they had even been apart in the first place.

Eve quickly thought about her own love triangle as she watched Liam smile at Freya and squeeze her hand back, in a silent “thank you”.

Everything was more than okay on their front. There was no tension, no drama. No more strain between Aron and Freya, either. And Eve couldn’t tell if it was her tipsiness, or herself, but she felt her own throat begin to close on her with emotion. She felt both her partners’ eyes on her, studying her, making sure she was okay in her quietness. Soft Christmas music played from the living room as the dining room stood silent for a moment. Not awkward, but.. Sincere. A heartfelt aura hung in the air as they all took it in.

With perfect timing, Camren broke the silence.

“Well, before it gets too cool.. Dig in, everyone!”

The table’s surface became a flurry of hands as they all grabbed, replaced, and swapped dishes. Eve had always been quite a picky eater her entire life, but she was open to trying this new stuff out of love for Camren. Freya groaned in delight as she took her first few bites.

“Camren,” Desmond called.

“This Yorkshire is better than the chef’s was in the mansion.”

Camren beamed and said his thanks to his friend, while Eve sat wondering how the hell Desmond would remember a taste from over 300 years ago.

They probably looked ridiculous, all of them sitting there eating in those flimsy paper crowns, the majority of the table in Christmas pajamas, but Eve didn’t care. Being in this moment, in this house, with these people was so healing for her. Never once had she felt this much peace and love on a holiday, and not that her mother didn’t try, but her family was nowhere near as peaceful as this. Different, you could say. For the obvious reasons, but also the hidden ones. They’d all been perfectly woven together through the dimensions of time to be sitting together, right here, right now. And for that, her heart glowed with happiness. She was beyond thankful for Sleep, for pulling the strings of destiny to bring this group together.

Silently, she closed her eyes and called out to the ether in her mind.

Thank you, Sleep.

The flames and dimmed lights around them flickered gently in response.

Chapter Text

White Christmas (1947 Version)- Bing Crosby

The wind whipped outside, snow falling in tandem with the strong gusts of air screaming outside the windows. Appropriate for a Midwest Christmas, the casual amount of snow that had been falling for the past few nights now kicked up into a baby blizzard. It was freezing outside, but past the doors and walls of their home, it couldn't have been warmer inside.

“I'm so fuuuulll!” Freya grumbled as she held her stomach. “How are you up and walking around?” She asked Eve, who'd begun bringing presents out from underneath the tree and organizing them. Though muted, the original Grinch cartoon film played behind her form, putting the cherry on top of the Christmas vibe in the room. Carols played from a bluetooth speaker in the room, and it was lit up with the cozy ambience of multicolored lights the boys put around the perimeter of the ceiling.

“I really don't know. I should have known you were going to say there was dessert, too.” Eve replied as she side-eyed Camren and laughed. He grinned and shrugged lightheartedly, the rocks of his cocktail in hand clinking.

“Yeah, you should've.”

“You were so sly about keeping them hidden until the last second, too..” Freya groaned. From across the room, Aron rubbed his own stomach dramatically, clearly making fun of her.

“You lot ‘ave gotta learn how to keep up with the pros.”

“Yeah. Amateur hour,” Liam added with a booming, sarcastic, long belch. It was so loud that it made Eve jump slightly.

“Ohhh my god, you guys are so gross,” She laughed in disgust, her hands still sorting things into piles by name.

“Shut up, Grandpa,” Freya shot a stank face across the room at Aron.

“ShutupGrandpa,” he mocked. Eve snorted out loud at this. She didn't have to look at him to know his face was twisted up with sarcasm as he mirrored Freya. Boxes of shimmery gold, red plaid, and snowflakes puzzled her as she tried to sort them without reading the names first.

A pair of large hands snaked around her hips from behind, making her jump out of her skin. She glanced behind her quickly as Desmond laughed. He was almost as tall as the damn tree itself.

His lip turned upward in amusement. “Sorry, mon étoile. Would you like assistance?”

“Yes,” She handed a stack of presents over her shoulder. “Please take these over to Liam.”

“‘fcourse.”

“There are plenty more!” She called after him. The moment Liam spotted Desmond, he clapped loudly.

“Ah, look at ya, Des! Gettin’ back into servitude again, yeah?” He cracked as Desmond came toward him with the pile in hand.

“Surely, I will not hesitate to throw these at you,” Desmond drawled, mouth in an unamused line.

“Oh come on, you look good doin’ it.” Liam's brows were thick brown caterpillars as he waggled them.

“I served the wealthy, Liam. Not the town drunkard.” Camren snorted from aside.

“Awh, Des-”

“Don't call me that.” He said, dropping the presents on Liam's lap with a huff and returning to the tree as Aron snickered.

“Be easy on him, eh?” Aron tried not to laugh harder as he looked at Liam under the large pile. He failed to do so, giggling heartily as he took his phone out to take a photo of the buried bloke.

On the other couch, Camren was sat next to Freya, her legs curled up underneath her as she leaned against his side. Colorful artwork of an arm wrapped around her shoulder, he cradled the small girl as he sipped a White Russian. She smiled sleepily.

“You'd better wake up, dove. The night’s just getting started.” He shook her gently, playfully.

“I knowww. I swear, your intention was to put me in a coma, though.” The bluette blinked softly.

“No.. that's later,” he flirted, with a kiss atop her head.

Aron laughed, taking a candid photo of them two now, cuddled up on the couch. Camren was so happy the entire day that he hadn’t been keeping tabs on his drinking. And truly, not that he needed to. But he'd now reached the point of rosy cheeks, jokes, giggles and extra loviness. It was nice to see him let loose for once.

In fact, they all had.

Eve slowed down earlier and decided she didn't want to drink any more tonight, after all. So she opted for the sparkling grape juice she'd been nursing next to Aron & Desmond on the opposite couch.

If this were any other day, Camren would've scurried to the kitchen to start cleaning up ages ago. But tonight was for rule breaking, and he only visited the kitchen to refill his glass with more alcohol. The cleaning could wait until morning, he concluded.

Liam decided he was going to continue to try and catch people underneath the mistletoe he stole from above the front door. The giant would hide around corners and try to catch foot traffic passing by, successfully catching a few victims already. Camren and Freya had gotten caught a couple times, as well as Aron and Eve.

The couples happily obliged, grabbing their sweetie and smooching. Camren had gotten so out of hand that he almost took Freya upstairs, the only thing stopping him being Desmond.. who grabbed the nearby plant water bottle and began spritzing the drunken blonde like a disobedient cat.

“Presents first.”

“Yes… presents indeed,” Camren replied with a giggle.

Aron watched Eve as she neared the end of her present duty. With a smirk on his lips, he called.

“Hey, Eve? I think you missed a pile way in the corner. Underneath the tree on the floor, I see it. Lying flat, love.”

“What?”

She bent at the waist to fetch the nonexistent package and rolled her eyes as she heard Aron snicker, feeling his eyes on her ass. She straightened back up immediately, shooting a glance at him from over her shoulder. With heartbreaking beauty, Aron beamed.

“Can you blame me?” He smiled a cocky grin. Next to him, Desmond grinned, guilty as ever for enjoying the view also.

Moments later, they all found themselves next to their respective gift piles. Each person had bought a gift for everyone in the house, and they sat next to all the gifts with their names on them, a collection of their presents from everyone in the room. At least 6 presents sat next to each person, filling most of the space. There was a dedicated path for walking, but not much else. It filled Eve’s heart with warmth to see such a gift-filled room. She felt the Christmas cheer fill her bones as she looked around and let it sink in.

It was then she remembered a few things that would make the gift opening even easier. She took a moment to slip into the kitchen to grab a scissors to help unwrap gifts with, along with some massive garbage bags for the paper and bows. Simultaneously, Frey flew up the steps to the bathroom for a quick “human” moment before their swap.

Eve hurried back into the room just as Freya whipped down the steps, of course, smacking right into each other. The scissors and garbage bags flew from Eve's hand, falling onto the floor as poor Freya knocked into the wall behind her. Both girls instinctively clung to the body they knocked into to prevent falling, catching each other in an embrace against the wall.

“Oh my god, I'm so sorry!”

“Shit, Eve I'm sorry!”

Liam stood with a beaming smile on his face. The girls shared a confused look before realizing he'd been standing around the corner, dangling the mistletoe above them for this very moment. And both being natural klutzes, they were far too into their own individual paths to realize they'd fallen into Liam's trap.

“Ugh, damn it Liam!” Eve rolled her eyes as her hands loosened on Freya's arms. And just like several times before, the remaining men in the room watched the two girls in their close embrace, Liam's eyes almost bulging out of his skull.

“I don't need to be under a mistletoe to kiss you, Eve,” Frey purred sarcastically. All inhibitions were thrown to the wind per her tipsiness as she grabbed Eve's face and brought her lips to hers.

It was exactly like kissing a sister.

The two burst into a fit of giggles as they pulled away from each other. Freya turned pink from laughter before pulling Eve's face back to hers and smooching her all over her face as Eve laughed and tried to shield herself.

“Okay, okay!” Eve laughed and squealed.

“I don't know about you, but I reaaalllyyy want to open presents,” Freya said to Liam, who'd been ogling the two girls.

“Yes, let's.” Desmond piped up from the couch next to Aron. He grabbed a throw pillow from the side of him and placed it over his lap, earning a “tsk” under Aron's breath.

“Sicko.”

Desmond smacked the side of Aron's thigh as the two girls walked back into the room. Desmond, always the gentleman. He took a sip of the scotch in his glass and looked at Eve with warm eyes as she re-entered and sank between the two of them.

Joy danced across her face as she looked around the present-filled room again.

“Alright. Everyone cozy and ready?” She said with a clap.

Since each person wrapped their own set of gifts, there was quite the variation between presentations. Gift wrapping was clearly a skill that didn't always come naturally, something that required technique and craftsmanship. And each gift giver displayed that to some degree… some more than others.

A set of gold, glittery presents on each pile were wrapped extravagantly, with extra curled ribbon, shimmery wrapping paper, and large, beautiful bows. Eve checked the tag on these.. Camren. He dazzled with pride. You'd think he was shooting for an award. If the elves in Santa's Workshop truly existed, Camren would have been a fine competitor in the ranks. Like the platings that he'd spent so much time over the years doting on, his presents were wrapped to the same degree.

The next tag she checked was on the present with the iridescent, dark blue paper. You could tell whoever wrapped these did try, but they relied on the tape a bit too much. Layers of tape surrounded the creases of the paper, almost as if the wrapper was afraid of an exposed edge. They were decent at gift wrapping, but kept it to the basics. No frills or large bows on these, but adorned with cute tags that were covered in tape. From Aron.

And then a set of half-arsed presents lie in the piles, painfully obvious who the gift giver was. It was the type of wrap job that would earn a chuckle from the recipient. No tags on these, and no bows, but wrapped in a plaid Buffalo check paper. Names had been handwritten in sharpie on each box. Eve laughed, not even having to wonder who wrapped these... Liam.

Eve wrapped her gifts in white and silver snowflake paper. She loved wrapping gifts- everything about it and adorned hers with cutesy bows, tags and the like. Wrapping was one of her favorite holiday activities, and you could easily tell. She nearly rivaled Camren for “prettiest” gift.

Black paper with striking gold stars sat next to her presents. The paper itself was extremely art deco, picked by someone with taste. Modest bows adorned the boxes, and small tags dangled from the bows. Desmond. He taped an extra mini stocking on each present, each filled with candy. Elegant, but not all out like Camren had.

And lastly… Freya. Hers were wrapped in a candy cane- sequence paper, the red and white stripes encasing each gift. Large bows on hers, and like Liam, she’d hand written names on each present. No tags, but cute regardless.

Eve couldn't help but notice the handwriting on each tag. Since they all wrapped their own gifts, they'd been addressed by them also, each tag earning a beautiful transcription of a name. The various styles of handwriting from each of them were so beautiful, Eve and Freya both had a hard time not ogling and wanting to keep the tag in mint condition, not wanting to rip up such beautiful writing of their names.

“Open mine first!” Aron exclaimed, sitting forward to watch everyone around him. His elbows rested on his knees as he smiled widely and cast a look around the room. He was rose cheeked from the green beer bottle in his hand.

“Okay,” Eve answered, reaching for the blue present on her pile and laughing under her breath as she examined the amount of tape on it. The others followed suit, all picking the blue package up and setting it on their laps.

Freya dove into hers, fighting with the package to undo the tape. She laughed as Camren reached to help her.

“Aron, I think there's more tape on here than paper itself.”

Camren ripped open the paper and gave it back to her so she could finish opening. There sat a white box, revealing even more tape on it. She laughed again, Camren taking a small knife from his pocket, flicking it open and popping open the box for her. She pulled back the ledges to reveal a new controller in her favorite color. Freya gasped and grabbed the controller excitedly, looking at it in her hands before noticing the stack of games underneath it.

She squealed with excitement.

“I've been wanting these for so long! How did you know?!”

“You're not that mysterious, Frey. You know, I do talk to you,” he playfully shot back. He grinned at her reaction.

“Thank you!”

Freya rose to her feet and walked over to Liam before sticking the bow she removed from her gift on Liam’s head. The entire room cackled as the giant blushed and put his fingers underneath his chin in a cutesy pose.

“Alright Cam, go ‘head,” Aron motioned to the blonde next to her. He grabbed the very large box next to him and began to rip the paper and box open with ease. Camren laughed out loud, vicious chortles racking the smaller man.

“An air fryer, yeah? You've heard me arguing with this oven here for too long, I take it?” He cracked up, nearly missing the oven mitts underneath it.

“And mitts! Well thank you, Aron. I'm chuffed to use this.”

“Yeah yeah, ‘fcourse.”

Camren quickly reached over to Liam, shoving his bow onto his sweater. Laughs echoed around the room once more, solidifying thus as a new pattern. Unwrap. Reveal. Stick bow on Liam.

Eve couldn't take it anymore, and began to open the cube shaped present in her lap. It wasn't large, but it was heavy. Inside were two separate boxes, a very small one atop the other. Eve had a feeling that some form of jewelry would be in this smaller one. She opened it and studied the piece of metal on the velvet display.

A charm... A snowflake. She knew immediately that it was for her, their, bracelet.

“Awwww.”

“For our first Christmas together.” He leaned over, rubbing her back and kissing her cheek.

She kissed him on the lips and returned to the other box in her lap. The small box put up a fight before she was able to pop it open and reveal the contents.

It was very heavy. It looked to be a resin sphere of some sort, almost resembling a crystal ball. And inside was… A flower that she recognized immediately. A purple dahlia, exactly like the ones from the bouquet he gave her on their first date months ago. But how could it be..? She didn't have to wonder for long.

“On our first date, I stole one of the roses from your bouquet. I knew I was going to do something with it for you someday. This way.. it'll never die. It's preserved forever.”

Eve glanced between the flower and Aron, tears welling in her eyes. The gift was so special, so thoughtful it completely warmed her chest cavity.

“Oh my god.. thank you. That is… so, beautiful. I love it.”

He nodded and pulled her in for another kiss. When free, she also rose to her feet and placed a bow on Liam’s sweater.

“Can I go?” Liam asked as his leg bounced. He reminded Eve of a child on Christmas morning, simply bursting with anticipation and excitement. She giggled.

“Yes, go!”

Liam dove into the blue paper, ripping it with ease. He revealed a box under the paper, taped shut as well, of course, and he popped the box open with a crushing motion that made both girls jump out of their skin slightly. It wasn’t a natural movement by any means. Freya took a large sip of her drink to ease her sudden anxiety and Eve laughed under her breath. Aron and Desmond found her thighs with a hand on each, soothing her by rubbing softly.

“Wha?” He noticed the vibe in the room had altered slightly and looked up. “Oh, sorry, heh.”

“You’re fine, Liam, just open,” Cam relented.

Any and all anxiety left the girls as Liam lifted a bag of sand out of the box with sheer confusion on his face. It was silent for a moment before the room roared with laughter- at the bag itself, the randomness of it all, at Liam’s facial expression. It was a rare occurrence to catch Liam off guard, he was always the one throwing the group for a loop. It was extra funny to see him be the butt of the joke for once.

“Aron, mate, I'm confused,” he was so obviously trying to sound grateful through his confusion. It made Desmond clutch his stomach in silent laughter, his entire body shaking.

“It’s a puzzle. A million..” he said through breaths, “pieces.”

Liam continued to scratch his head.

“Keep going, Liam. There’s more.”

Liam tore a layer of tissue out of the box and beamed as he studied the hidden contents.

“Ah!”

He lifted a silky, embroidered bass strap from the box before reaching in again and pulling out containers of strings. He swept the box with one more movement and pulled out a bass pedal.

“Arrronnnn. This is bonkers. Thank you!”

“‘Bout time you restrung that damn thing,” Aron laughed in response. “Okay, Desmond, your turn.”

Desmond nodded and gracefully tore open the corner of the blue present on his lap. His eyes widened as he looked down. A black leather bound, hardcover journal sat in his lap, with a large gold sigil on the cover. The sigil. The sides of the pages were embossed in gold as well. He opened the journal only to discover his name etched on the interior cover in calligraphy- Desmond Charbonneau. A thin box lay underneath the journal. Desmond popped it open and smiled at the feather fountain pen, wax sealer, and ink.

“Aron.. this is such a thoughtful gift. Beautiful. Thank you, Aron, so much.”

As she sat between them, Eve saw the extra layer of warmth in Desmond’s smile as he looked at Aron, saw the blush creep up to his cheeks as Aron smiled back at him. He held Aron's eyes for just a moment longer than usual. It was subtle, but just enough that Eve noticed. Was it the alcohol coursing through their veins that spurred on the extra warmth, or?

“Of course, Desmond. You’re welcome.”

“Open from me next!” Freya said.

Everyone grabbed the candy cane printed gifts of off their piles, Aron deciding to open first.

In his hands, he held a large frame. A photo inside the frame displayed James, Freya, and Aron posing for the camera, large cheesy smiles on their faces. She could tell this photo was taken awhile ago, presumably shortly after his arrival.

“Oh, Frey, this was the first night we hung out as a trio. At James's..”

“Yes. Where you whooped my ass in FIFA 21 and rubbed it in the entire night ‘til I crushed you in Black Ops later.”

A deep chuckle left Aron’s chest.

“Yes. Such a good night. Thank you, Fr-”

As he moved the frame, a letter dropped out from behind, falling onto his lap. He opened it and read it silently to himself, a tender smile growing on his face. Eve could see that it was handwritten by Freya, and while she didn't pry and read over his shoulder, she knew it was sentimental and meant for his eyes only.

He finished reading the letter and smiled at Freya before getting up and walking over to her.

“C'mere, Cyw.”

He grabbed her and hugged her tightly. Not a bro hug.. but a real hug. Freya sank into the embrace as Aron showed the all-too-rare soft side of himself publicly. It was nice to see them show affection so openly after the roller coaster of emotions the two had gone through together within the past couple months. The pair truly did fight like siblings, bickering left and right over anything they could half the time. But when all was said and done, there was an unspoken bond between the two that rivaled any. He sniffled before speaking into her hair.

“I love you, Frey.”

“I love you too,” Freya said, rubbing his back gently before he broke away. He came back to the couch that Eve and Desmond sat on when Freya called.

“Eve, you go next.”

“Okay!”

She grabbed the large candy cane present from her pile and plopped it on her lap before ripping into the paper. A scrapbook. Eve knew just how sentimental Freya could be, and prepped herself for the wave of emotion that would hit her as she looked through the pages.

And sure enough, the first page proudly displayed the first photo ever taken of the two girls. Two young tweens in bright formal dresses smiled up at her, the background filled with their classmates at a school dance. Eve laughed loudly at their eyebrows.

“Them eyebrows!” She giggled.

She flipped the pages, each one bringing them closer and closer to their current reality. From the 6th grade, to formals, study sessions, after school clubs, their final middle school field trip, the photos reflected their every day lives together at (and after) school. Attached at the hip, fighting their parents if they ever said “no” to a sleepover.

The pictures eventually cycled into high school. Homecoming, with their first (real) boyfriends as dates, Cheerleading practice, at the skate park, selfies in their first cars after they both had finally got their licenses. Senior prom.. to graduation. The two girls stood in their green gowns, arms wrapped around one another with roses and diplomas in their hands. She remembered that moment clear as day, feeling not only proud of herself, but also so proud of her best friend standing next to her.

The photos then trickled into the past couple years for the girls, from 18 to their early twenties. Nights of mischief, underage drinking, parties they probably shouldn't have been at, and goofy selfies from day to day. Eve laughed outloud at a particular photo of the two, taken at their local diner. Both were violently hungover and looked like zombies, Freya still having smeared lipstick on her chin from the night before.

A couple flips later, and the photos progressed to that current year. Selfies of them curled up on the couch on Valentine's Day together, both single- Freya in the middle of a “break” from her horrible ex at the time. They'd decided to “date each other” that evening, throwing on comfy socks, pj's, and watching romantic comedies together. They almsot ate their weight in pizza, popcorn and snacks that night, talking about their celebrity crushes and throwing bitter insults at how “stupid” the holiday itself was.

Finally.. Autumn. The next page was filled with photos of them and the rest of the group. The first night they ever met in the hotel, at the pumpkin farm, thanksgiving, a selfie of the two girls working merch together.. and then a photo of the group at Freya's last birthday party. The In This Moment show. Seeing the two girls grow right before her eyes all the way to where they were now was almost too much.

She remembered all of the sleepless nights spent together- either due to studying or homework, teen partying or consoling each other through breakups, deaths, and other hardships life had thrown their way. All the way to now.. the happiest either girl had ever been. In the home that they made with these wonderful creatures from across the pond that graced their lives so unexpectedly.

Eve's throat squeezed in on herself when she realized the rest of the book was blank, ready to be filled with more photos. She smiled up at Freya who'd already been watching her with a soft smile of her own.

“I love you, Frey. T-thank you.”

Freya blew a kiss from across the room. “I love you more, pookie.”

Eve rolled her eyes and laughed, wiping a tear away from the corner of her eye.

“Ughh. Fuck you for making me cry!” Freya shot finger guns at her before turning her head next to her and looking at Camren. He looked back at her with glazed, loving eyes.

“Your turn.”

“Myyy turn?” He tipsily grabbed the present from her in which he sat on top of his pile and put it in his lap. “Okay.”

It was a very small box, looking tiny in even his hands. He unwrapped it, stifling a breath as the paper tore off the packaging. He closed his eyes and inhaled for a moment before pulling the top of the box away.

“Frey..” she smiled at him, watching him study the small object in the box. Without even seeing it, Aron mumbled from next to Eve. “Oh..”

Camren held up a necklace and Eve quickly realized that the pendant was specifically meant to hold things. She heavily assumed off of everyone’s reactions that the pendant concealed a liquid… blood. Her blood.

“So that when we’re apart, you always have my scent.”

Liam scoffed loudly as Camren put it around his neck and fastened the clasp.

“Yeah right! You’re just trying to keep this man bricked up at all times with your blood ‘round his neck!”

Camren, pink faced, laughed loudly in response. Freya glared at Liam. “No I’m not.”

Aron giggled from next to Eve.

“What a gift,” Desmond said. Freya looked at Desmond. “No, really. It’s significantly intimate.”

Desmond glanced at Camren, nonverbally warning him to maintain his control with her scent under his nose at all times. They could not afford any of them to lose control in any context, but especially with them. Camren nodded.

“I love it, darling. Thank you. You’re so.. Generous.” The blonde leaned over to kiss Freya. He deepened the kiss, pulling away only after Freya turned as red as the blood itself.

Flustered, she tried to compose herself quickly, swallowing thickly. She looked over to Desmond.

“You can open, Desmond.”

“Alright,” he smiled and began to open his gift. He laughed under his breath as he revealed another book, though this book differed wildly in appearance to the journal he just received. It was clearly old, but still in decent shape. Desmond grinned from ear to ear, astonished at what he held in his hands.

“Freya! How did you find such a thing?!”

He carefully flipped through the pages and shook his head, laughing in disbelief before holding it up for the others to see.

“A true first edition of Wuthering Heights. This book right here was printed in 1847. This is almost two hundred years old. It’s a true antique..” he stated proudly. He flipped open to the summary and saw the markings in the summary to prove its printing date.

“This is a collectible, there are only about 300 of these in the entire world. And after all these years, I’m sure only 50 exist anymore. I can’t believe you found this. How? Where?” He was entirely mind blown, holding the book in his hands as if it were literal gold.

“Can’t tell you, Desmond. But I will say.. it was a very hard search.”

He grinned again and shook his head.

“I love this so much. Thank you.”

Aron got up to get more drinks from the kitchen and called to see if anyone needed refills. Nearly everyone did, and he soon came back into the room with 6 fresh drinks. They “cheers”-ed each other as Aron sat back down and took a swig of his Old Fashioned.

“Liam?”

“Yes! I’m ready!”

Liam picked up his present and it was as small as Camren’s, though it looked absolutely miniscule in his huge hands. He ripped the paper off and popped off the lid. He held it up and looked at Freya.

“You shouldn't've.”

He studied the keychain dangling in the air- it was an upright bass. He grabbed it and looked on the side to see an inscription.. HD.

“Henry Davis,” he spoke out loud. His tone suggested something from ages ago, and his eyes twinkled as he reminisced mentally.

“Thank you Frey. How sweet of you.”

“You sure like giving sentimental gifts, huh?” Eve joked from across the room. Freya laughed and shrugged.

“You know me.”

“Okay, open mine next!” Liam said excitedly. Everyone grabbed their gifts with the red buffalo check paper.

“Eve, you go.”

“Ooh, okay.” She opened hers to find a stack of books fall onto her lap. She looked down at the titles and burst into laughter as Desmond groaned next to her.

“Nonce,” he mumbled.

In her lap lie a collection of vampire romance novels. Twilight, Dark Prince, Dracula, Night Pleasures, The Vampire Diaries, and Taken By The Vampire King all splayed out on her thighs.

Aron giggled, picking up Dark Prince, which had a shirtless vampire posed on the cover. “Mm-mmm,” he sarcastically joked.

“Liam…why?” She laughed.

“Well, you’re the star of one now. Seems fitting, yeah?”

Aron and Eve chuckled together, looking at the books as Desmond rolled his eyes at Liam, clearly unimpressed.

“You never fail to astonish me, you know that, Liam?”

“You’re welcome.”

He turned to Freya and clapped. “Your turn!”

“Okay,” she giggled softly, the constant alcohol consumption finally catching up with her. Everyone in the room watched as she unwrapped a set of Socker Boppers. Aron howled with laughter, being as he’d always been the one at the receiving end of her hits. Camren and Desmond both cracked up as well, Freya’s face not helping the humor in the scenario.

“To save us all from your tiny, furious fists!”

“Hooooly shit Liam, that’s a good one,” Aron laughed hard, clutching his stomach. “Personally, I thank you, good sir.”

Liam bowed sarcastically, making one of the many bows on his upper half bounce to the floor.

“Ah, you cunt!” He cursed, leaning forward and grabbing it from the floor.

Freya giggled and shook her head.

“Thanks so much, Liam,”

“Anytime, doll.” He winked at her, making Camren crack up again.

“Desmond, your tuuurn.”

“Oh, I simply can’t wait,” he said as he
took the small package in his hands and ripped the paper off. Afterward, a tiny box lay in his hands, exposed to his eyes. Liam grinned at Desmond as he watched for his reaction.

“It’s really catching up with ya, mate,” Liam said with a shit-eating expression.

Desmond, stone faced, replied with his usual bitter sarcasm.

“Wow, yes. Very grateful for you to think of me as such.”

Desmond flipped the box around to show the rest of the group just what they were bantering about. It was a small box of expensive skincare. Eve read the print on the box and stifled a laugh. Anti-aging.

Desmond opened it and squeezed a small amount on his finger before applying it gently around his eyes just to humor Liam.

“Ah, yes. Can feel it working already. You’ve truly saved the day, Liam.”

Liam and Aron giggled under their breaths. Aron knew Liam’s gifts were rooted in his usual antics and couldn’t resist any longer, pulling his gift onto his lap and ripping the paper off.

He couldn’t have been more correct. A sexy Santa costume lay on his lap, the model curvy and the amount of fabric on her being comical. Aron and Camren both burst into laughter.

“For Eve.” Liam covered with a shrug, then pointed to himself as he maintained eye contact with Aron, sarcastically buzzing. “Later,” he added with a wink.

Aron creased at this, laughing uncontrollably at the blonde.

“My god Liam, just when I think you-” his chest heaved with drunken laughs, “couldn’t get any more ridiculous!”

Eve rolled her eyes and met their laughter.

“There’s no way I'm even fitting into that.”

Desmond reached over for her thigh, putting his hand atop it again and rubbing her flesh over her leggings. Whether she was actually putting herself down or not, he subconsciously was going to fill her with reassurance.

“Cam?” Liam called.

“My turn?”

“Mhm,” he nodded.

“Alright.”

Moments later, he opened the black container on his lap to find a set of drum triggers.

Liam piped up quickly.

“Reckon you could play a bit faster that way, isi?”

Cam took a sip of his drink. Pink cheeked, he responded with humor.

“Yeah, I agree. Thanks man.”

Freya walked over to Liam and shoved a bow on the top of his head.

“Think of it as a dunce cap.”

The room laughed again. In milliseconds, Aron was on his feet and picking up all of the bows from the floor before ghosting over to Liam and plastering them all over his top.

“Aye!!” the blonde yelled as Freya joined in, spreading the bows around his sweater, shoulders and head.

Aron and Frey giggled to themselves as the rest watched and shook their heads at their antics. The two stepped back to reveal a highly decorated Liam, who blinked back up at them in silence.

The room was quiet again before Liam burst back into his usual self again, full of energy and humor.

“You know, I do think this made me feel a bit more jolly.” The giant guffawed, taking a swig of his drink and smiling at everyone.

“Okay, back to normalcy.. for once…” Camren said from across the room. “I’d like for you all to open mine now, please. Desmond?”

Desmond was quick to agree, pulling at the huge bow on his present before lobbing it at Liam. With perfect aim, it smacked the blonde in the cheek. Aron and Camren both snickered, and the corner of Desmond’s mouth pulled up into a crooked smile.

His hands unwrapped a set of candles in varying sizes.

“Sandalwood!”

“I made sure to get your favorite scent- know how peculiar you are about such things,” Camren said with a proud smile.

“Yes, absolutely.”

Desmond lifted the tan candles to his face and inhaled deeply. He lowered them again and nodded at Camren.

“Quite lovely, they are. Thank you Camren.”

Camren lifted his glass in response, non verbally “cheers”ing the other man as Liam made a spectacle of shaking his gift near his ear to try and guess. There was no noise at all.

“Aaahhh… sounds like a Bahamas vacation for one!”

He tore open the paper, placing the bow on himself this time, and cranked his arm at his side.

“Yes! These are sick headphones. Thanks much, Cam!”

Aron couldn’t handle the anticipation anymore, with his present from Camren being so huge. It leaned up against the edge of the couch, tall and fairly light. He grabbed it quickly, the Raven tattoo on his hand flying as he pulled the paper off and opened the side of the box. He pulled out a hard case… a guitar case.

“Cam.. no way,” Aron gushed, opening the case as everyone in the room watched with an equal mix of excitement and intrigue.

He flicked the latches open and exposed a sleek, black acoustic guitar on a bed of green velvet. His mouth dropped open as be ran his fingers down the side of the satin paint. He picked it up, looking every inch over before turning it around and finding their sigil largely painted on the back in white.

“That’s beautiful,” Desmond said from the other side of Eve.

Aron’s eyes glimmered with excitement as he inspected it, looking at the fretboard now, his guitar nerd brain on full display.

It was as if Camren could hear Aron’s thoughts from across the room.

“It is Mahogany,” Camren answered, spurring on an even larger smile from Aron.

“Thank you, Cam. This is fucking fantastic.”

Aron fought the urge to begin tuning it right then and there, but slipped it back into its case so Eve could open her gift without any distractions.

“You go, love,” he nudged her gently.

“It’s fragile, be careful.”

She grabbed the present from her lap and began tearing the paper from the package underneath, exposing a large box.

She opened it with the nearby scissors to reveal two large mason jars. Eve gasped.

“Moon water!”

Camren nodded and grinned at her reaction. She dug her hands into the box to fish out the rest of the contents.

She pulled out a large, transparent bag full of smaller bags.. that had herbs in them. Each tiny bag was labeled with the corresponding herb inside.

“Those are all local- I made sure of it.”

Her eyes skimmed the herbs. Lavender, Chamomile, Rosemary, Basil, Nettle, Mugwort. Some dried flower petals had been bagged up as well. Roses, Sunflowers, Dandelions, Hydrangeas, Marigolds and Honeysuckle petals all graced her eyes.

“Camren.. this is great.” He knew she would use all of these in her spellwork. Sourced locally, on top of it?

He smiled at her warmly and she checked the box again to make sure she didn’t miss anything. Underneath a layer of paper tissue, she found a journal. The front was covered in filigree and beautiful, intricate line workings. There was a band around it- to either secure one’s place or to keep it shut entirely. She opened it, and found beautifully soft pages at her fingertips. They felt like butter, and she could sense what a great grimoire this would become.

“This is so, so beautiful. I love it.”

“You’re so welcome.”

She admired the flowers once more, showing them to Desmond, who’d taken heavy interest in them as Freya shifted in her seat to take her present from Camren.

Eve put her gift back together and moved it aside so she could focus on Freya. All eyes were on the two, Camren and Freya, as all of them were looking forward to seeing what Camren got his partner. If everyone else’s gifts were this thought out and sweet, Freya’s was going to be really special.

It was a small box in her hands. She shook it gently, mimicking Liam earlier, and raised a brow when no sound was heard. At all. Her fingers worked nimbly to remove the paper and pop open the long, rectangular box.

She looked at Camren before opening the box in it’s entirety, her eyes shifting to him with an excited, close-lipped smile. He couldn’t have had a happier expression on his face, simply glowing back at her.

Freya opened the small box in front of her and immediately gasped. Eve couldn’t see exactly what Freya was seeing and the anticipation nearly killed her.

“Are you-... Are you serious? You aren’t joking? What?!” She exclaimed, spinning the box around and showing the others.

“Not joking. Definitely serious,” Camren said through his drunken, lovestruck grin. He leaned in to give her a kiss while the others looked at the box in Freya’s hands.

Inside was a photo of a puppy, looking very similar to a bulldog but with small spots all over its grey body. Ears floppy and all, it looked as if it were smiling at the camera with bright blue eyes. Tiny as ever.

Inside the display box, underneath the photo laid a blue velvet collar with a blank tag on it.. ready to be engraved with a name. Eve’s jaw dropped and she looked at Camren, dumbfounded.

“I'm really getting a- a puppy?!” Freya cried through happy tears, Camren wiping them away and nodding at her.

“Yes, love. She’s not ready to be picked up for a couple weeks yet. Gives you some time to prepare and.. think of a name?”

She threw her arms around him and hugged him.

“Oh my god, baby, I can’t believe you!” Freya exclaimed, holding Camren in a bear hug. His laugh was muffled before Freya pulled away and looked at his eyes once more.

“What breed is she?”

“Blue Merle French Bulldog. Blue is your favorite color after all, and I know you’ve been missing your childhood pup a lot lately…”

She smiled at him through the tears welling in her eyes.

“Ooooo. Getting a pet together, eh? That’s a pretty big step, Cammy,” Aron cut in.

Camren violently blushed as Freya simultaneously rolled her eyes and laughed. Aron and Liam both saw the opportunity and jumped in together.

“Camren and Freya, sittin in a tre-”

“Who’s turn is it?” Asked Desmond.

“K-I-S-S-I-”

“Mine, I think?” Eve answered.

“Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, would you hold off for five seconds?” Desmond asked. Eve saw Liam and Aron look at each other immediately, knowing damn well the pair were counting down together mentally.

By some miracle, they didn’t continue their schoolyard anthem and instead, let Eve speak.

“You all can open from me now.” She spotted Liam and decided to keep him occupied. “Li, you can go first.”

He tore open the present and pulled out several pair of socks in all different funny patterns. One pair was covered in dill pickles and said “dill with it”, another had Handsome Squidward’s face on them, a pair that looked like a pizza with various toppings, one covered in noodles that read “send noods”, and finally… a pair of mid calf socks covered in checker print.

“Oh, man,” Liam gushed. “These are mint.”

“Gonna have the hottest tooties in the house now- both figuratively and literally,” Aron laughed.

Liam brushed an imaginary strand of hair behind his ear dramatically and smirked at Aron, fake flirting with him.

“Well, if you say so…” He paused for a moment before an invisible lightbulb ignited above his head.

“What are the kids saying nowadays? Oh! Hot take-”

“No. Take it back already. Please,” Desmond interjected, earning genuine laughs from Aron and Camren.

Eve turned to Desmond and looked up at him with big, bold gray eyes.

“Your turn.”

She batted her lashes at him playfully and in response, saw a fire light up. Eve giggled internally at how wound up she could make him in a matter of seconds, by doing even the simplest things.

Desmond blinked away from her eyes and reached down to grab the gift from her. It was medium sized and rectangular, clearly a frame of some sort. He pondered what could be underneath the wrapping paper as he carefully tore it open. His eyes grew slightly in size, holding the ornate gold frame in his hands and studying the image.

It was an oil painting.. Of Vessel. Vessel sat at a piano, shrouded in darkness, with only a single candle atop the piano itself. The soft glow illuminated Vessel’s mask as he played the keys below his fingers.

He swallowed thickly, ghosting his fingers along the texture of the dried paint on the canvas. He looked back at Eve with one arm, pulled her in for a kiss. His free arm wrapped around her and pulled her tight, crushing her body against his.

“It’s stunning, mon étoile. I adore it.”

Eve grinned at him when he pulled away.

“I didn’t paint it.. I found a local artist to commission it.”

“It doesn't matter, I can feel your love pouring from it regardless.”

His oceanic eyes scanned the painting again, and back to Eve.

“I love you.”

“I love you, too,” her cheeks flushed hot. He sat silent for the next few moments, just ruminating over the painting, taking in all of the small details that made up the image.

“Freya,” Eve broke the silence.

“Yes!” Her tiny fingers dove under the surface of the paper containing the gift on her lap and she tore it open before gasping.

“Eeeeve,” Freya said, sticking out her bottom lip in appreciation. Next to her, Camren’s demeanor lit up again.

They all looked at the blanket she held up into the air. On it was a collage of photos of both her and Camren together. Kissing, sitting together, smiling, pre and post becoming a couple.

“Awww,” she gushed. “It’s perfect.. And so soft!”

Freya nudged Camren, who looked to Eve for permission to open his gift before pulling at the paper. He revealed a large basket full of mason jars and packages in various sizes. He paused to read the labels.

“Hey! This is super cool!”

Eve had gifted him a variety of local food items- from jams to sauces, syrups, fudges, and cheeses.

He popped open the lid to a peach jam and scooped his fingertip into it before popping it into his mouth.

“Mmmmm..”

“A lot of those are from small businesses from the area. Locally sourced stuff, you know? I thought maybe you’d like to taste some of the stuff made from around here.”

“Yes, Eve, this is lovely! Thank you!”

Aron was next, and he wasted no time in grabbing a present that looked similar to the shape and size of Desmond’s. He gave Eve a quick, excited glance from next to her before unwrapping his gift and grinning. His cheeks blushed heavily as he looked back at the picture, then at her again, icy eyes shimmering.

“Aren’t you a sentimental thing?” He purred, giving her a peck on the cheek.

Just like before with Desmond, an oil painting sat in between Aron’s hands. Though this time, it was a painting of a Waxing Gibbous moon hanging in a black sky with little stars dancing around. A date had been painted underneath, and Aron immediately recognized it as the same day they had their first “proper” date. And the moon phase was quite obviously the same one that hung in the sky that exact night.

He laughed out loud as he pecked her cheek again. “Funny how both our minds went back to our first date, yeah?”

“I know. How lovey. Disgusting,” Eve let out a laugh with her sarcasm.

“Truly nasty,” Aron replied with a love drunk grin.

And finally.. it was time for Desmond to pass out gifts. At this point, a couple hours had passed since they started swapping. The liquor had been flowing all too well and the warmth and love in the air had quadrupled since opening gifts. Eve felt as if she could reach out and touch the thick layer of warmth in the air- and not just a means of temperature.

She placed a hand on either man’s thigh on both sides of her and felt their eyes hit her. Their gazes were heavy and she looked back up at Desmond before he spoke once more.

“Freya, you can start this round.”

“Ok!”

After unwrapping her gift, she held up a Michael Myers figurine in the air with a large grin.

“Finally! I can add him to my collection!”

Moments later, she dug into the box on her lap and pulled out even more video games.

“Aron and I coordinated to make sure no doubles came your way.”

“Thank you!! Oh my god, I have so many games now. I don’t think I’ve ever had this many in my life,” She gushed out loud.

Desmond turned his gaze to Eve and nodded gently.

“Go ‘head, love..”

Eve didn’t know what to expect aside from she knew her gift would be sentimental. In no world would Desmond give a gag gift to anyone aside from Liam or Aron, perhaps.

Her pale fingers unraveled the paper to expose a small box on her lap.

“It’s very fragile, be careful please.”

Gently, she opened the box and pulled out a… snowglobe. She shook it, and gentle white flakes fell down on the figures below. Her eyes immediately welled with tears when she recognized the scene inside.

An ice rink. Two figures on the ice, one very tall and lanky, and the other across the rink, mid spin. The spinning figure was shorter.. and had long, black hair…

“It plays music,” Desmond cut into her thoughts. She reached down and wound the metal peg on the bottom before letting it go. The room was filled with a delicate piano melody. Though, not recognizable. Eve had never heard this before. It wasn’t a Christmas Carol, or even a classic love song. She furrowed her brows as she concentrated on listening to it, trying to recognize the song to no avail.

“I composed that,” Desmond spoke.

“For you.”

“Beautiful,” Aron praised next to her.

Eve had no words. Between Freya, Aron, and Desmond’s sentimental gifts, her heart felt as if it were to detonate. Like she couldn't fit any more love in her heart.

“This is.. wow.. I don’t even know what to..”

Desmond rubbed the top of her thigh.

“It’s alright, m’love. You don’t need to say anything.”

She looked up at him with big, gray eyes, watery with appreciation. He leaned down to kiss her lips before pulling away and speaking.

“I’d like you lads to open yours at the same time.”

All three made various notes of acknowledgement. They grabbed the small boxes next to them and began opening. Eve and Freya both peeked over Aron and Camren’s shoulders to see.

They all pulled out a black velvet pouch before lifting a necklace out of it. They held it in their palms to study it, and it didn’t take long for Eve to recognize the shape.

A scythe, with incredible detailing and a roman numeral on the blade. Each blade corresponded to their stage number. All three men “oooh”d and ogled the pendant in their hands. Eve couldn’t help but wonder why Desmond chose that shape.

Desmond lifted a chain from underneath his shirt and revealed a matching pendant that he’d been wearing the entire time. It was the exact same as the rest of them, but with a “V” on the blade.

“I'm assuming we’re wearing these whenever we play, yeah?” Aron asked.

“Going to be difficult to not wear it more often,” Camren gushed.

“Desmond, this is sick,” Added Liam.

“Yes,” is all Desmond said in response, paired with a soft nod. “And you’re welcome.”

He softened at that, shooting a smile at each man.

As their chatter died down, Eve noticed there were two gifts in front of her and Freya yet. These were new to her, and weren’t ever under the tree. Very obviously wrapped by Camren, they’d been strategically placed at the bottom of both piles to remain hidden until now.

She raised her eyes to look at Freya just as Freya did the same, casting a bewildered look to Eve. They communicated like this so often, sometimes only needing looks to send messages.

Camren started.

“We wanted to give you girls a couple small little things from us four as a whole.”

“To show our appreciation,” Liam added.

Eve caught a strong whiff of the pine scented candle in the room as she looked down at the spare gifts and picked them up. The men looked to her, then Freya, nodding for them to open them at the same time.

Freya gushed at the wrapping.

“Cam, it’s almost too pretty to unwrap.”

With no hesitation, he responded. “Now you know how I feel about you.” He was met with her giggle, and an eye roll from Aron.

They opened the first small box, Eve’s hands popping up a lid on a small jewelry box.

She peered down at a necklace. Three small stones, perfect for everyday wear on a lightweight chain.

The two girls admired the necklaces. The middle stone was the largest, and was such a dark blue that it appeared black, with a nice weight to it. In the abyss, Eve could see blue flecks that resembled glitter. She couldn’t help but gasp aloud, gawking at it in her fingers.

“Is this… Blue Sandstone?”

From next to her, Aron smiled ear to ear.

“Yes,” he said proudly. “Yes it is.”

“On white gold,” Camren’s soft voice echoed.

“The stones on either side are Moonstone,” said Desmond. “Look for the shift.”

Freya and Eve both began to move the pendant gently from side to side, watching a light blue shift ripple through the stones flanking the middle. Freya gasped.

“Oh, that is so…”

“.. gorgeous..” Eve muttered under her breath. She felt all of the love in the room pull heat into the apples of her cheeks, making her blush violently. She glanced at Aron and Desmond, both gazing at her with such love in their eyes she thought she might disintegrate into the couch. Liam spoke next.

“The sandstone was picked by all of us together, and eh-... the moonstone is to protect you.”

“Protect us?”

“Yes,” Camren cut him off. “To protect you.”

“From what?”

A new shift in energy snaked its way into the room slowly, like a panther slinking beneath rainforest leaves. Uneasiness. From all of the men.

Desmond handled it smoothly. He figured he’d be blunt and upfront with the girls for a moment. That they deserved the sheer honesty.

“Vampire hunters.”

Eve could have swore she felt her heart stop. Instinctively, her body sucked in a breath and her eyes clung to Desmond. Her gaze fell to the rings they all wore, and it clicked. Their rings contained moonstone. Not only to protect them from sunlight, but also to protect them from.. hunters.

“Yes.” Aron said.

“It’s a discussion for later. But.. rest assured…” Camren coaxed the nerves from Freya. There was no way in hell he was letting the mention of hunters ruin their night tonight. Eve and Freya both knew of the existence of hunters, but there’d never been a conversation amongst the group pertaining to them crossing paths. Eve hoped it was a problem that didn’t exist in their immediate area, maybe the hunters would be thinking the men were still overseas, maybe they…

“Don’t fret,” Desmond looked at Eve, gently pulling her chin to face him again. “The discussion can wait, I promise. You’re safe. You both are.” He turned his eyes to Freya, who looked a bit paler than she had three minutes ago.

“Yes. Trust us,” Liam reassured.

Camren nudged Freya, indicating for her to turn around so he could put the necklace on for her. She obliged, turning, and soon, Eve was being asked to do the same from Aron and Desmond. She faced Aron directly as Desmond swept her hair from the nape of her neck and clasped the chain together. Aron’s eyes lit up, running his thumb across her bottom lip.

“Stunning..”

She gave him a shy, lopsided smile in response, feeling Desmond’s fingers at the top of her spine.

“Look at ‘at! Matches your hair perfectly!” Camren exclaimed from across the room. Freya giggled, her fingers toying with the pendant.

“Well, one last gift of the night..” Aron said. Four sets of eyes flickered excitedly between the two girls as they opened yet another tiny box.

A moment of thick silence hung in the air, buzzing with anticipation as the two lids were popped open. Eve stared down at the object in the box in confusion before her eyes shot up to Freya and the rest of the room.

“I.. huh?!”

All four men grinned at the two girls, the sight as heartbreakingly beautiful as ever.

“What do you..? No..”

In each small box lie a single key with a ribbon attached to it.

Camren’s face lit up with a charming grin as he faced both girls.

“Not to bring up a sad topic, but we know our time here, physically here, is coming to an end.”

“Our label put us up in this home until early January. And.. we’re getting closer to that, every day. We..” he glanced at each man, earning a nod from them all in response, “felt it entirely necessary to now put you in a home together. Your own space.. while we’re away.”

Eve could see Freya’s lower lip quivering from across the room and she felt her own throat grow hot, clenching in on itself. Their message was crystal clear, and they both understood, but many emotions rippled to the surface.

Gratefulness, for such a generous gift. Not even just financially, but to think of the two girls needing each other when they’re alone. Sadness, at the confirmation of the impending doom that had been lingering in both Eve and Freya’s heads since the group came together. Excitement, at the idea of the two girls moving in and creating a home for them all once.. if.. they returned. A home with remnants of each man interwoven into the design, belongings left behind, a confirmation that each girl had been and continued to be loved by them- that things didn’t just go back to “normal” after they left. And above all.. love.

Love seared through Eve’s chest as her fingers flew to the pendant at her collarbone, she tried to process Camren’s words and exactly what they meant as the girls felt four gazes on them.

“Of c-course,” Freya’s voice wobbled.

“No. No crying,” Camren looked at her. It wasn’t a request, but a gentle order.

“No tears tonight,” Aron said to Eve, sensing her own emotions. She wondered if her thoughts had physically translated to her body language.

“Yes. We’ll make it a home,” Freya paused, “for when you come back.”

Every man smiled at hearing her say those words, even Desmond.

He grabbed Eve’s right hand and squeezed it gently.

“Briefing the topic from earlier.. this will also keep you safe. A lot safer than in two separate apartments, alone constantly, completely unguarded.” He inhaled quietly, but it was just loud enough that Eve caught it.

The severity of this “hunter” situation hit Eve like a truck. It finally clicked with her. Not only were the men being hunted.. but were they also being hunted..?

Eve blinked and looked at the ground, deep in thought. She snapped out of it, looking back up and landing in Aron’s gaze.

“I'm excited to make a home with you,” he said warmly, grabbing her hand and kissing it. His icy eyes seared straight into hers, down her throat and into her chest cavity. Eve so desperately wished she could freeze time in this moment.

Moments later, Camren rose to his feet and tipsily walked to the center of the room, grabbing the large garbage bag full of wrapping paper. The group simultaneously began the clean up process. Liam, absolutely covered in bows, looked happier than ever to keep them on whilst working.

Aron and Desmond began to help Camren clearing the space of any other odds and ends that may have appeared. Freya and Eve both sat on the couches looking at their gifts. Eve took a sip of her grape juice, averting her eyes to Freya to begin speaking with her.

It happened so quickly.

Liam let out a victorious yell, followed by a loud laugh and clap combo from Aron. A groan left Desmond, and the girls looked over at the trio.

Liam stood next to Aron and Desmond with the mistletoe dangling at his fingertips. He made sarcastic little smooching sounds as he laughed at the two men below him.

“I don’t make the ruuuules,” he sang as he sat back down on the couch, leaving the two men standing alone and completely on display for the entire room.

Aron laughed and quickly noticed how stiff Desmond had become. He exhaled quietly and avoided Aron’s eyes like the plague, looking everywhere in the room but at Aron. His chest caved, and the ever proud and graceful Desmond was gone. Though he tried to put up a front, Eve could tell he was flustered.

“You’re red. Why are you red?” Liam prodded Desmond.

“I am not.”

But he was.

“Like, actually vermillion.”

Aron giggled, enjoying this all too much. As he got closer to Desmond, the taller man stared daggers at Liam with dark red cheeks. The look of sheer uncomfort in Desmond’s body language was so out of place for Desmond.

“Go to hell, Liam.”

Aron stalked closer to Desmond, who looked as if he was in physical pain by being in such close proximity to Aron’s face. He was just short of squirming and flinching away as Aron placed his hands on either side of his face and snickered drunkenly. Of course, the both men’s mouths overlapped the night they tag teamed on giving Eve oral, but that was different. Neither man was even focusing on how close the other was, they weren’t getting close to each other for their own enjoyment, and how could one possibly even focus when she was making all of those pretty little sounds..?

Eve watched from the couch with baited breath, she couldn’t deny the wave pushing and pulling in her stomach upon seeing both of her partners mouths so close together. When she was receiving oral from both, she was blindfolded, of course, and had to imagine the scene. Now she would be getting a snippet, right here in front of her. Her eyes burned into both of them.

Desmond looked massively abashed, with wide eyes, as Aron inched even closer to taut lips. Liam’s laugh rumbled loudly at the awkwardness and Desmond looked so red you’d assume his head would pop straight off. Yet, he was fighting it, trying to play it off..

Aron got inches from Desmond’s lips before quickly grabbing the top of Desmond’s head and re-routing his aim. Dramatically, he made a show of licking up the side of Desmond’s face, leaving a drool-soaked stripe on his flesh. His tongue ran from Desmond’s carved chin to above his temple, purposely soaking the man in slobber. Desmond grimaced even harder, if that were possible, and made a loud noise of disgust.

Aron ruffled Desmond’s hair and pushed him away while laughing as Desmond tried to collect his repulsion.
Laughter bounced around the room and Eve covered her mouth as she, too, giggled.

“I have never been so utterly revolted,” Desmond muttered under his breath, wiping Aron’s froth from his cheek. He crinkled his nose and gagged quietly. Eve laughed at him, he looked like he was wiping dog drool from his face.

Desmond turned on his heel before leaving the room, and the clean up continued. Liam reluctantly agreed to remove his bows and made a comment about feeling “lackluster” once they were off.

Afterwards, someone in the room brought up a cigarette break, and they all made their way to the front door. Eve grabbed a spare blanket off the back of the couch and pulled it around her, stepping into her slippers before leaving the home.

Freya and Eve cursed the moment their human flesh felt the bitter cold. It stung their cheeks, though Eve felt some heat preserved under her blanket. Everyone aside from Desmond was in a thick Christmas sweater and themed pajama pants.

Desmond, of course, was still in his dress clothes. He was still inside the house, though, and Eve just assumed he was possibly throwing on a coat.. for some reason.

The group outside stood on the porch and watched the snow fall. The wind had died down a bit, causing the fat flakes to fall straight to the ground. A few more inches of snow covered the ground than the last time Eve looked outside, which had been that morning.

Four of them puffed on cigarettes or vapes while Eve stood inhaling the icy air. It felt nice, honestly, since the house had gotten super warm inside due to the hot meal and all of the candles burning.

They talked, laughed and joked for a few minutes until the front door swung open and Desmond stepped outside, still in his semi-formal clothing. No jacket, though. Just the same sweater, slacks, and socks.

He stepped onto the porch with a glass of bourbon, complete with rocks. Eve watched him as his eyes glanced at her and smiled before lighting up a cigar. His lips puffed repeatedly, igniting the large flames on the end of the cigar and eventually let it rest betwixt his long fingers. The thick cigar made everyone’s vapes and cigarettes look comically small.

She’d be lying to herself if she didn’t find it sexy, but she didn’t really know why. After Desmond got a few puffs in, Aron motioned toward the cigar, silently asking for a hit.

“Is this a Cuban?”

“Of course.”

“What kind?”

Desmond puffed again before responding in a smoke-laced voice.

“Cohiba Behike.”

Aron nodded, clearly impressed.

“She's expensive, then. Good taste, mate.”

Desmond offered it to Aron before he took it in his hands and pulled.

“Mmmm.”

The smell of the cigar smoke hit Eve and though it was smoke, there was a vanilla undertone to it that smelled delectable.

Eve was lost in the sight of Aron and Desmond pulling on the cigar and talking with smoky voices. The chatter around her commenced and it was all a blur to her. That is, until Liam said something to Aron that made him stand a bit taller.

“Yeah? You want to say that again, blondie?”

Liam made some snide joke back to him, repeating whatever he said the first time, prompting Aron to take the cigarette out of his other hand and flick it at the blonde.

The two became a blur as they chased each other down the driveway like cats. Camren laughed under his breath and shook his head, while Desmond was more than happy to not share his cigar anymore.

Liam quickly rolled a snowball in his hands before throwing it at Aron, socking him straight in the face.

“You lanky bitch!”

The two laughed as they rolled in the snow and pelted each other with snowballs. Eventually, snowballs began to make their way towards the girls on the porch. They shrieked and hid under their blankets, running towards the house for shelter. Camren picked Freya up by the waist, spinning her around and bringing her down to the snowy lawn.

“Nooo!”

Eve heard Desmond laugh, a deep rumble in his chest before doing the same with Eve. He dropped her gently in the snowy driveway before turning around and slowly making his way up to the porch.

“Asshole!” Eve yelled.

He smiled and responded with a puff of smoke her way. Aron laughed a loud, victorious laugh before sending a snowball flying straight at Eve’s ass.

The air around them became a flurry of snow as they launched them at each other. Camren’s laugh was one of the loudest.

Aron caught sight of Desmond sneaking back up to the porch.

“And where in the bloody fuck do you think you’re going?!”

Desmond turned around and walked backwards as he spoke.

“You’re lucky I'm even out in the snow at all, Aron, this is a Cashmere sweater!”

Eve could hear Aron’s scoff from where she’d been standing.

“Oh, not the Cashmere sweater.”

Liam and Camren then got into it, rolling and wrestling in the snow while snowballs still sailed through the air.

Desmond had been distracted and didn’t even notice Aron disappear behind the cars in the driveway. He stalked silently before popping out from behind them, full-body tackling Desmond from the side.

Eve gasped. Desmond was clearly taken off guard, and Aron laughed as he pinned him in the snow below.

“Dammit, Aron, I told yo-”

Her eyes widened as she realized just what she was looking at.. Aron pinning Desmond down. The two scuffled, Desmond trying to get power back as Aron kept trying to push him back down into the snow.

Eventually, Desmond was able to fight Aron off. And after all of that, as Desmond got to his feet.. a snowball hit him square in the chest. He looked up with a glare to see Freya waving at him with a cocky smile. Aron creased at this, shooting Freya a thumbs up and a “hell yeah, girl!”. Desmond grumbled under his breath at her before brushing the snow off of his sweater and shuffling inside.

The snow on Eve’s body had turned into ice water, clinging to the fabric around her, and her bare skin. Gusts of cold wind started to pick up again, and she found her feet carrying her back inside.

________

Freya showered first, since hers didn't take nearly as long as Eve’s. She and Camren slid in and out of the hot shower before heading off to Camren’s room for the night. Eve waited a few extra moments to for the hot water to regenerate again before climbing the stairs and slipping into the hot steam.

She felt all of the tension in her muscles evaporate with the hot water, and soon, she was changed into a fresh set of pajamas and on her way down the steps again. Aron and Desmond, who’d also both changed, were waiting for her in the living room.

Desmond sat near the corner on one of the couches, with an electric keyboard on the living room table in front of him. He softly hummed to himself as his long fingers danced across the keys slowly. Aron smiled at her, holding his hand out for her. He lead her to the other couch, lying down first and making a “come here” motion.

“You tired, sweetheart?”

“Mmhmm..” she nodded with a yawn.

She crawled in between his legs and leaned back against him, using his upper chest as a pillow. He was sturdy, and muscular, providing a solid comfort to lie on.

His arms swallowed her in, and he then grabbed the large blanket from behind the couch. He unfolded it, snapping it into the air, letting it fall on top of her. She snuggled into his chest and placed both her hands atop his, which were clasped over her heart.

“I love you.”

“Oh, and I love you,” he purred, sneaking a kiss onto her cheek from behind.

“You comfy, love?”

She nodded, and he began to play with her hair, mindlessly twirling black strands around his fingers. As Desmond played and hummed a rendition of Greensleeves, Aron floated between rubbing her arms gently, petting her hair, and placing soft kisses on her shoulder and cheek. The skin on skin contact made Eve melt even further into his chest.

God, was she comfortable. And warm.

This was the safest she’d ever felt in her life. In his arms, in the room with both of them. Divinely protected by two men who would do anything to keep her safe.

Desmond’s eyes glowed with content as he glanced over at them. His fingers continued to glaze over the keys softly, and Eve could tell this wasn’t a song, but him playing freely.

“Evelina..”

“Yes..?”

“Are you awake enough for one last gift..?”

She perked up slightly at this, turning her full attention toward him. The corners of his eyes crinkled.

“Yes, I believe so.”

A soft laugh rumbled in Aron’s chest, moving her slightly.

“I started writing this the night we met in the hotel. The smallest snippet, but as the relationships between the two, and then three of us cascaded, I kept writing. I wrote through the ups and downs, and this piece is a reflection of the whirlwind we experienced.”

Her stomach lurched, nervous about what she was about to hear.. if it would be painful or not. But in typical Desmond style, it was like he could hear her thoughts in his own head.

“Don’t think, love.. just feel.”

Aron’s wide hands continued to rub and soothe her. Desmond started playing deliberate notes on the piano now, filling the room with intentional music, before his rich voice breached the air. She fought the urge to gasp, never hearing his voice this raw and up close before. And it was all for her.

“For so long, I have waited..
So long, that I almost became
Just a stoic statue, fit for nobody.
And I don't wanna get in your way.."

His eyes flickered between Eve and Aron’s. Eve felt a sharp tug in her sternum. Guilt. Her and Aron, how painful that must have been for him to watch.

His voice dipped lower.

“But I finally think I can say,
That the vicious cycle was over..
The moment you smiled at me.”

Eve blinked, feeling a new wave crash over her, a wave of emotion she couldn’t quite place her finger on.

“And just like the rain,
You cast the dust into nothing,
And wash out the salt from my hands.
So, touch me again,
I feel my shadow dissolving..
Will you cleanse me with pleasure?”

He switched from singing to shorter, spoken words. Still delicate and beautiful, nonetheless. His voice wrapped everything in a perfect package.

“It's that chemical cut that I can get down with,
Up like the moon, and out like the hounds.
A dangerous disposition somehow refracted in light, reflected in sound.
I'm coiled up like the venomous serpent, tangled in your trance and I'm certain
You have got your hooks in me.”

She couldn’t ignore the subtle biblical nod to her name, Eve, with the serpent. There was no guessing what he was referring to by “serpent”. And to bring such sexuality forth in a piano piece..?

“I know, I know, the way that it goes.
You get what you give, you reap what you sow.
And I can see you in my fate..
I know, I know, I am what I am,
The mouth of the wolf, the eyes of the lamb.
So darling, will you saturate?”

‘You reap what you sow’, she heard. His own admission of guilt, and shame. For the way he manipulated Aron and her.

“The mouth of the wolf, the eyes of the lamb,” Was it.. his perception of his own fatal attractiveness? Knowing that his physical features were almost a weapon itself, how anyone could be lured in by a single look? Or was it.. the two of them, polar opposites. Beauty and beast. Eve couldn’t fathom how fucking smart and talented Desmond was.

“And just like the rain,
You cast the dust into nothing,
And wash out the salt from my hands.
So, touch me again.
I feel my shadow dissolving.
Will you cleanse me with pleasure?

Nobody can say for certain,
If maybe it's all just a game.
When I open my eyes to the future,
I can hear you say my name..”

His ocean eyes looked up at Eve this time, swirling with voltage- a power that fueled him, his lyrics, his voice, the music.

“So rain down on me, oh, oh oh..
Rain down on me.
Rain down on me, yeah.
Rain down on me, oh, oh oh..
Rain down on me.
Rain down on me, yeah.
Rain down on me.”

His face crumpled softly as he played the last few lines, closing his eyes and shaking his head, completely lost in the soundwaves floating throughout the room. He continued to play an outro after speaking, and eventually, the notes floated into “Bella’s Lullaby”, by Carter Burwell. He knew it would make her laugh, or at least smile after feeling so emotional. With how often she poked at him, and jokingly called him “Edward Cullen”.

A frog had nestled its way into her throat and she couldn’t seem to shake it. She looked at him, blinking, before sitting up, throwing her legs off the couch and walking over to him. She sat on his lap and embraced him, putting her hands in his hair. His arms melted around her body and he squeezed her tightly.

“I love you so much.”

He pulled away from her, gazing up at her with the same swirling blues.

“You have my entire heart, précieuse.”

And with one gentle motion, he pulled her lips down to his.

Chapter Text

Drinking Song- Haley Heynderickx

“I’ll have a flat white, please.”

Freya stood at the counter of their local coffee shop, twirling a loose strand on her sleeve as she gave her order. The cashier nodded before looking next to her, at Liam.

“Yeah.. I’ll take an espresso frappe,” he said, eyes scanning the counter. He leaned forward and dropped his voice. “Is there any way you could uh.. Make that boozy?”

The cashier stopped typing his order in and raised his head up, looking at Liam with wide eyes. He was genuinely taken aback by Liam.

“Liam,” Freya scolded, elbowing him in his side.

“Wot? ‘Ts just a question..”

They moved out of the way for Aron to scan the menu behind the cashier. He hummed, deep in thought.

“Hey, mate. I’ll have a London fog, if you could.”

The cashier nodded and blushed as Aron stepped away, joining Liam and Freya at a table in the corner. Desmond didn’t have to ponder his drink of choice.

“I’d like a black eye, please.”

The barista making the drinks nearby overheard him and barked a loud laugh at his request. Desmond rolled his eyes.

“Or just a tea, if that’s too much.”

“No, we can do that for you. No problem, sir.”

“Thank you.”

Eve stood at his side, arms wrapped around his bicep. “A cinnamon mocha, please,” she said with a smile. The cashier nodded.

Finally, Camren held up the tail end of the line with a simple request. After hearing all of the group’s complex orders, he scratched the back of his head and made eye contact with the cashier before shrugging.

“Uh yeah, I’ll just have a latte.”

Camren glanced over at the table full of his friends and laughed softly, shaking his head. He held his card out on the reader, waiting for the chirp. When it approved, he smiled and nodded at the cashier before heading for the table. The young man behind the counter blushed again.

He sat down with the rest of them, taking the spare seat next to Freya, of course. Eve listened sleepily as the group flung into casual conversation with one another.

They were sat next to a large window, and Eve watched as the sky shifted through shades of white, yellow, then orange, and now a bejeweled amethyst sky looked back at her. A winter moon hung perfectly in the air, crescent and sharp. Eve found her hand at her collarbones, fingers mindlessly fidgeting with her pendant as she stared out of the large windows. Suddenly, she was pulled from her daydreaming by a phone ringing. Aron’s.

He pushed away from the table, giving his phone screen a once over and accepting the call quickly. Aron rushed out of the coffee shop into the night air to speak with James privately.

Camren’s face went blank as he eavesdropped on the conversation, knowing that if it was James calling, it concerned one of three things he cared about: Freya, blood, or.. hunters.

In seconds, a new look washed over his face- fear. An emotion that Eve had never really seen on Camren before. Tendons stood out on his neck, his shoulders rigid. He clenched his jaw and locked eyes with Aron, who returned to the table with a mirrored expression.

Desmond sensed it immediately. He tapped Eve’s hand lightly.

“We need to go.”

“What?”

“We need to leave. Now, please.”

“I don’t understan-”

“We will explain. Hurry.”

His hand dwarfed hers as she struggled to keep up with him and his long legs. Eve looked at Freya, who met her with the same confusion. The group vanished from the coffee shop, hurrying out into the dark night and getting into their cars quickly.

“Is it the hunters?!” Eve exclaimed, fear bubbling in her voice. She clicked her seatbelt and stared at Desmond as he moved behind the wheel.

“No.”

How could it not be? What else would elicit such a reaction from all of them?

The ride back to the house was almost instantaneous. Desmond had always been a speeder, but tonight the car raced home.

“Aron, Desmond, what is wrong?! Stop ignoring me!” She said as she whipped the car door shut and ran after them up the porch steps. Aron paused once entering the home, stopping and rubbing his temples for a moment before looking up at her. He tried to remain positive for her and attempted a weak smile.

“Sit on the couch, please.”

As she made her way over, the front door flung open and Freya, Liam and Camren entered. Freya was frantic, worried sick about what the next conversation would hold.

“I feel like I'm going to puke. You guys have to tell us what’s going on now.”

Nothing had ever really been a threat to Desmond, Camren, Liam and Aron. So to see them all so worked up over something was terrifying.. and the girls knew it was going to be very, very bad news. She had no doubts in her mind that it had something to do with these self proclaimed “hunters”.

Freya finally obeyed Camren after he gave her a solid glare, and came to sit down next to Eve on the couch. The four men sat across from them, and their positioning was reminiscent of the night the girls discovered they were vampires. Eve chewed her pinky nail anxiously.

“Aron! Man up and tell me what the fuck my dad sa-”

“Your father is out of blood bags.”

A solemn look washed over the men’s faces upon hearing him say the actual words aloud. Desmond closed his eyes and exhaled through his nose.

Eve hesitated. “Okay.. I know that’s bad.. but.. what exactly does that mean?”

“It means that we have little to nothing left for the week. We have about a day’s worth of blood for all of us here. After that, we’ll all start to go hungry.”

Silence. In her peripheral, Eve saw Freya’s brows raise in shock.

“.....Oh.”

“Thursdays are usually our restock days. But, being as it's Wednesday, and James just told us… there’s nothing we can do.”

The quiet hung in the air, a thick fog that threatened to choke Eve.

“The hospital is having a blood shortage and needs every bag they currently have for patients. James said it’s too risky to smuggle them out right now. His hours are doubled with all of the accidents over the holidays, so, even if we could hypnotise people into forgetting, they need every drop of inventory for people currently admitted. He said that blood donations are rare at this time of year due to the holidays, and I guess the lab is always shut down this week, aside from the ER lab.”

Desmond nodded slowly, looking up at the ceiling in thought.

“That makes sense,” Eve answered.

“And this is bad, because we can die of thirst,” Camren said.

Freya’s head swiveled from Aron to him.

“What? Can’t you live off of animal blood? You told us before that you could. You can just do that to get you through, right? Right?” She anxiously prodded, her eyes darting between the four of them. None of them returned her gaze, and instead fixed their gazes at their hands or at the floor, shaking their heads softly.

“If anything, that’ll make a starved vampire even hungrier.. but. I will if it comes down to it.”

Silence again. Dense, it began to roar in Eve’s ears. Desmond broke it this time.

“This is a very good opportunity to talk to you both in depth, regarding our kind.”

Eve and Freya hung onto his voice, waiting anxiously for him to resume speaking. They wanted to know more. Needed to know more.

“Humans, of course, have a million ways you can die. High voltage, car accidents, poison, violence, illness.. the list is never ending.

We are not exclusive to death. However, there are only a few ways we can properly die.”

Eve and Freya stared at him as he spoke.

“Sunlight, for one, poses a considerable threat unless you have an amulet. Ours are our rings, simply because it’s the most discreet way of carrying one, versus a necklace or something larger. The amulets must be consecrated by a certain deity, and the path to obtaining an amulet is riddled with complexities and challenges. They are rather rare, typically held by older vampires. Those in their youth often cling to the night until they figure out a means to get an amulet.. Unless they’re acquainted with an elder, ‘fcourse.

Two.. thirst. Our bodies require sanguine sustenance for... nourishment, if you will,” He shrugged, “That’s the easiest, most distilled way I can explain that. In the absence of blood, human blood, we are bereft of our strength, diminished of our usual power, and it will not be long before we’re on the brink of our own death. When vampires succumb to a certain degree of thirst, we cease to operate within our moral constraints, revealing our truest nature… Devils.”

He looked dead into Eve’s eyes now.

“We possess the capability to kill an entire room in moments, merely to satiate our need for blood. It is.. arduous to even keep your own personality at that point, all your brain is consumed by is the thirst, and the imperative to feed. It becomes primitive.”

A chill ran down Eve’s spine, catching Aron’s eye. Desmond continued.

“And third.. Lastly, the hunters. They wield a most specific poison. Should we be subjected to it, we die. Swiftly. With no need for stakes through the heart, dismemberment, incineration, nor holy water—simply the poison itself.”

Eve continued to chew on her pinkie before realizing that now would be a horrible time to uncover a hangnail. She stuffed her hands under her knees and bounced her leg.

“But it's not necessarily a one dimensional type of poison. In fact, it's hard to come by, just like the amulets. The poison needs to be created by an experienced witch, one who’s well-versed in necromancy and the arcane arts. It’s a lengthy process to make- a combination of ingredients that are difficult to acquire, and the poison must be crafted under a specific moon, with certain incantations, and then left to “cure” for a designated period of time.” He paused.

This poison is akin to gold for hunters. Though not impossible to attain, it is indeed as precious as gold to them.”

Freya shook her head as she listened, refusing to believe it. Her voice dropped to a whisper.

“I.. I can’t picture anything killing you.”

“I assure you, we are not invincible.”

“Though, the poison is reversible. There is a serum that can be concocted in the same fashion as the poison itself that counteracts the toxin, that can nullify it. But I will say, finding this is a shot in the dark. If getting your hands on the poison itself is difficult, the serum is nearly impossible to find.”

“H-how would it cancel out the poison? I’m confused..” Eve said, her brows pulled together.

“Let us describe the transformation process to you first- it’ll make quite a bit more sense if that’s established first.”

He sent a glance to the men that flanked him and became self conscious, suddenly wondering if he was speaking too much. Desmond looked between all of them, meeting each of their eyes.

“Would any of you like to describe this to them? I find it vital that they know, and I’d like to let someone else speak.”

Camren sat up a bit straighter and nodded.

“Yes.”

“Go ahead,” from Desmond. It was growth to watch him allow the others to explain something instead of taking the leader role as always, especially on such an important topic. He trusted Camren to inform the girls just as he would have. The pale blonde looked at Eve, then Freya.

“Feel free to stop me if you have questions. Please.”

He took a deep breath before speaking, and Eve prepared herself mentally for the info dump. This was something she’d always been curious about.

“Vampire births are.. complex. Some folklore is accurate, and some just.. isn’t. There are a few steps at play when it comes to transforming.”

He looked between the girls again, surveying their current moods and facial expressions. He continued.

“You have to be bitten first. Drank from. But, if a vampire bites you, that’s not the end all be all. It doesn’t start the transformation alone, and many humans have been fed on and stayed the same for the rest of their human lives. The transformation truly begins when the human then ingests the blood from our kind. That’s step two.

The moment our venomous blood enters the human body, the clock begins ticking, millions of cells transform per second. New bacterias are introduced, and the infection spreads. The body essentially freezes in time, preventing age progression.

It transforms into the ‘best’ version of itself. The physical appearance changes, as this is one of our most powerful weapons.. the attractiveness lures prey in. The skin evens out, any flaws vanish and we’re left nearly perfect. The teeth, hair, and nails all do the same. Everything.”

On instinct, Eve’s eyes glossed over every detail of their faces. They were all so beautiful you’d think they were carved from stone.

“Our senses triple in sensitivity- the eyesight becomes more powerful. Human vision is so unbearably cloudy and dull compared to ours.. like driving in a storm without wipers. The supernatural speed kicks in, our hearing develops even further. The body essentially upgrades itself into a premium version of the shell it had been before, turning it into a supernatural creature.

Hell, even our voices change sometimes. It’s all a part of the appeal. To attract. Our voices can richer, our laughter becomes more pleasant on the ears, more.. musical. We become more sensitive to the emotions of the humans around us, and the hypnosis abilities begin to appear. The true power dynamic begins to shift and we can physically feel ourselves rise up a few pegs on the universal totem pole. Occasionally, the transformation leaves only a fragment of the human traits we had before- at times, vampires become entirely unrecognizable.”

“I wonder what you were all like before,” Eve blurted out loud. Aron and Liam smiled, while Desmond remained stone faced, a sad expression painted on him.

“Well, I was still quite the catch,” Liam’s sarcasm seeped into the air.

“What else happens? You have blood, though, don’t you?” Freya leaned forward in her seat, running her hands through her hair and eventually tangling it in her hand as she spoke in thought.

“Yes. The blood morphs into a thick, black sludge. A syrupy texture. All of our internal organs remain in the body, but they freeze. It’s as if someone were to press the ‘pause’ button on everything inside your body. Though occasionally, the organs begin to wither away over time. The older a vampire is, the more likely his or her internal organs have disintegrated into sediment- like oil in water.

“Hmm,” Eve acknowledged, nodding slowly. She rubbed the tops of her knees with her hands in an attempt to self soothe.

“May I take over?” Aron asked Camren. The blonde nodded and gestured for him to take the lead.

“The process is very, very painful. You can feel your body dying, but morphing at the same time. It’s excruciating and indescribable. Many vampires, especially ones who have no idea what’s happening, try to end their lives as it's happening.. but nothing works. All they know is a sensation beyond pain until it lets up.”

Eve cringed. She closed her eyes and shook her head, trying to get the mental image of each man writhing in pain out of her mind.

“From there,” his warm voice brought her back, “There’s one thing left to do.”

Both girls looked at him, on tenterhooks.

“You must feed,” he blinked softly, his face holding a brief sadness.

“Once the transformation symptoms have stopped and you’re officially reborn, a newborn vampire has 24 hours to feed before their body expires. As you can imagine, this is almost always their first kill. It’s nearly unheard of for a newborn vampire to taste human blood for the first time and be able to stop themselves from draining their victim dry. It’s difficult even for the eldest vampires. Their bodies are empty and require one of the largest meals they’ll ever have.”

Eve looked at Freya to find her staring at the floor, taking every word in before Desmond spoke up again.

“To answer your earlier question, Eve.. The poison restores our mortality. If the transformation presses ‘pause’ on our aging, the toxin reverses this, pressing ‘play’ again and leading to our demise from one of two afflictions. Either our aged organs fail to acclimate to our biologically enhanced bodies. Or, our body and organs have aged to an extent that rapid deterioration ensues in seconds. Should the vampire’s organs have wholly disintegrated by then, the body falls into a state of shock and cannot process anything. The type of “failure” the body suffers from is contingent on how old the individual was. Elder vampires begin the aging process immediately after being poisoned, as their skin shrivels, their hair whitens or entirely falls away, and they weaken exponentially by the millisecond…”

Both Freya and Eve tried to hide the horror on their faces.

“All of that to say.. the serum cancels the poison out as if it were a shield. Completely prevents the poison from working and counteracts any damage that has been done.. up to a certain extent.”

“Okay, okay. So I just want to get it straight. Hypothetically speaking of course. If this were one of us,” Freya gestured to her and Eve, “We would have to be bitten, then ingest vampire blood, then feed within 24 hours?”

“Yes,” Aron nodded.

“And the serum would kill you by reversing your.. vampirism? Physically?”

He nodded again. “Correct,” answered Liam.

Eve sat in thought for a moment before deciding to throw caution to the wind and ask the burning question at the forefront of her mind.

“Have any of you seen another vampire die?”

They all nodded.

“Yes, and it’s not pretty.”

Eve nodded slowly.

“I think honestly, we don’t have much to worry about right now, with us here,” Liam interjected. “We’ve been watching the hunters since we first got here months ago. We’ve all been making sure we know everything they know about our current location and whatnot. Been spying on their communication channels.”

Liam laughed to himself.

“And honestly, they’re quite dumb.” He rolled his eyes.

“Mm, I don’t know if they’re that dim,” Desmond responded. “They’ve got half of their information correct, at least. Some hunters have no clue what they’re doing, but others are more experienced. You can tell.”

“Yeah,” Aron puffed out his chest, “Well we can take them regardless, ‘specially if you two are around.” His eyes landed on the girls in front of him.

Eve gulped, and Freya blinked rapidly as she continued to look at the floor.

“Where do the hunters come from..? Are they just all over the country, or did they follow you..?” Anxiety lifted her last few words up in pitch, prompting Desmond and Aron to look back over at her.

“Both are correct.”

“There is a global organization of hunters, a secret kept so well you’d think it was entirely hearsay. But it’s all connected, and there’s no hierarchy, they have to regulate information themselves.. so at times it can get a bit muddled and confusing for them.”

“Like one big game of telephone,” Liam said.

“Yes,” Aron laughed, “It’s exactly like a game of telephone, and the bloody ‘diots still haven’t figured out a better way of tracking aside from the dark web,” he scoffed.

“Again, Aron, I wouldn’t underestimate them wholly. Your outbursts since we landed haven’t exactly kept us off the radar, either,” Camren piped up, immediately causing Aron to put his head in his hands and lean forward, elbows on his knees.

“We don’t have to talk about that.”

“Yes, we do.” Camren glared at Aron, staring daggers into his form.

“No, honestly, it’s over and done with, can we just move on?”

“We cannot. Talking about it keeps us from avoiding responsibility for when the switch is off.”

“What outbursts? What switch?” Eve’s eyes flickered between the men, over to Freya, who crossed one leg over the other at the thigh. Freya was suddenly keen to avoid Eve’s eyes.

“Do you know about this?” Eve asked her, voice laced with an edge.

Freya bit her thumbnail before looking up at Eve and nodding hesitantly.

“I do.”

Heat flared in Eve’s chest. Her brows furrowed, lips forming a tight line. Freya began to stammer a quick response before Camren came to her defense.

“Eve, it was in your best interest at the time that you didn’t know.”

Something about Camren’s no-nonsense replies were almost reassuring. She rolled her eyes and caught a glimpse of Aron pulling his head back up.

“I'm sorry.”

“So what happened? What switch are you talking about?” Eve spat.

Liam sighed, ruffling a hand through his hair and looking at Eve.

“Our moral compass. Our kind like to refer to it as the ‘morality switch’. When we focus on the killing, it's very easy to get lost in our primal desires. To let the bloodlust take over and completely disregard any emotions of ours- like guilt, or sadness- until they go away entirely. Thus.. turning off the switch.”

“And turning it off is looked down upon by those of our kind who have any shred of moral decency left,” Desmond grit through his teeth. “But it’s beyond tempting, always looming in the back of our minds. It’s not something we can ever get rid of entirely. Being compassionate and in a tight knit circle helps to quiet the volume a bit, but it never truly goes away. That primal bloodlust, the temptation to abandon our moral compass for the thirst, will always be there. Like a permanent shadow.”

Eve and Freya nodded slowly. Camren spoke next.

“And when the switch is off, we’re relentless monsters. Dangerous, disgusting, vile creatures. Even flipping it momentarily is enough to cause absolute chaos. And that’s what Aron here did when he left the house, when he was taking Desmond’s advice about isolating himself.”

“No, that’s not entirely true,” Aron retorted. “I tried to leave the right way. I separated myself and went to James’ for the space I thought was needed. It ripped my heart out to leave here, to leave you,” his eyes turned to Eve.

“But I did, and I tried to go about it the honest way. I let myself feel all of the heartbreak, tried to process it, tried to grasp any chance of moving on if it even existed. And then it got worse. It struck me… the thirst,” he swallowed, ”It was the mixture of intense boredom and thirst that got me into trouble at first. I started prowling the nightlife, lying to myself by saying I was only going out to maybe chat up a bartender, throw some dice, you know.. get out of the house and socialize. But I knew deep down, I wanted a victim. I needed to feed, to put all of my grief into a kill. And… I unfortunately did. I lost control.”

“Yeah. Trust, we know,” Liam rolled his eyes, being one that had to clean up his messes and scold him repeatedly for his horrible behavior whilst his switch was turned off.

“I didn’t consciously turn off the switch until I knew you two had gotten together, that you had made your move,” Looking at Desmond, he sucked a large breath in before sighing.

“That was game over for me. I was furious, and even more hurt, and I.. I turned it off. Immediately.”

Eve looked at him with fearful eyes, the shock nearly pouring from them.

“What did you do, Aron?”

He hung his head, and his voice dropped just as much.

“I.. killed lots of people. I truly wasn’t even keeping count. And after a while, it was simply for sport. Not even to feed anymore.”

Tears welled in Eve’s eyes. Ablaze with anger and shock, they fell from her ducts and spilled over onto her cheeks. And then it hit her- the reports of the empty farmhouses in the area, where the owners had just simply gone missing. The uptick in “car accidents”. The gang attack at the local strip club last month. The missing persons posters that she noticed popping up over the past couple months. Honestly, she didn’t even think twice that it could be anyone she knew when she initially saw the posters. At the time, Eve chalked it up to the world spiraling into ugliness, or maybe an increase in drugs in the area. She shook her head. This would have been her Aron, not an Aron from decades ago. The Aron who’d fallen in love with her, made her his.. out on the street, killing innocent people..

“It wasn’t until we intervened that he stopped. Well, ‘intervened’ aside from just yelling at him,” Camren rolled his eyes.

“It was exhausting and terrifying. And I really don’t even like thinking about it,” Freya said firmly. Eve couldn’t imagine the horrors that Freya had witnessed.

Aron exhaled again, stressed with the accountability shoved down his throat.

“When a vampire turns their switch off, it obviously puts a huge target on their back. If the hunters are looking for someone nearby to track- which they always are- it will immediately alert them of your presence. You may as well be screaming ‘come get me!’ from the rooftops,” Camren said.

“We’re always trying to keep a low profile from humans as is. Hunters, nonetheless. Turning off your switch is almost an immediate death wish,” Liam added. It was odd to see Liam be so serious, but it was obvious that the anxiety about their impending thirst had already begun to sink into him.

“I've been beating myself up about this since it happened,” Aron said, biting his lip. Eve knew it was to cover up a quivering chin.

“Oh, no, you enjoyed it, Aron. All too much. I’d never seen you so giddy to drain the life out of every human around you,” Camren drilled at him with crossed arms.

“We’re going easy on you because you’re the youngest one out of us. You haven’t had nearly as long to learn how to control your thirst when you’re going through the wringer. But Aron, let me remind you. This is why we do. not. turn. it. off. The hunters got information on our whereabouts because of it. And that not only implicates us, but them,” Desmond gestured to the girls in front of them.

“I know,” Aron croaked, looking at the floor, and then his hands. “I'm sorry,” he said in the most defeated voice ever. “It will never happen again.”

“It can’t. We will die. If you want to cause mass destruction, you need to go off on your own. And Sleep will not let that happen,” Camren said.

“And we don’t want you to go off on your own, mate,” Liam said, before the others nodded in agreement. “Never.”

“Mhm,” Desmond added.

“So.. where does this leave us?” Eve asked hesitantly.

“The hunters are looking for us, and I believe they’re getting closer. In a few weeks, once we go back overseas, they’ll watch for a while and realize we’re gone. And they’ll lose interest. It’s us that they want. They’ll either follow our tracks or pass it off to the UK coalition,” Camren said.

“You’ll still need protection,” Aron said. “But they’re not after you. You’re only in their sights by association. Their entire premise for existing is to protect humans. You two will be fine.”

“As far as the blood shortage.. we’ll just need to hold out until the bank is replenished. I can’t imagine it would be too long. If it means we hole up here for a couple days, then so be it,” Camren spoke again.

Desmond nodded as silence filled the air. Tension buzzed around them, like an invisible, electric current.

“It’s not going to be easy. But we can and will do it.” He glanced around, meeting each man’s eyes. They all nodded in acceptance. That wasn’t a suggestion.. but an order.

“It’ll all be alright,” Liam said softly. “It has to be.”

________

Chapter Text

Red Velvet- Jutes & Ari Abdul

Day 1-

Eve lie on the couch in the living room, half-watching some random show that Liam had flipped on. It was an old black and white flick, the type that Eve’s grandparents used to watch, and she flipped her attention to the TV only in between notifications. A yawn escaped her lips as she stretched. There was really nothing else for them to do with the weather being so ridiculous outside. She hated how winter made everyone such a shut-in and limited their daily activities to being strictly indoor. Yet, storms aside, the impending doom of thirst was enough to keep over half the group subdued.

In an unspoken way, the girls were trying to give the guys space. They were unsure if it would speed up the aching thirst to come or not, and they didn't want their close physical presence to be bothersome in any way. Neither girl wanted to make the lads any more uncomfortable than they would eventually become. At this point, no big differences had been spotted from them, aside from also making an attempt to distance themselves. They were filled with an anxiety that would soon increase right along with the gnawing hunger.

Eve’s fingers hovered over the app icons on her home screen, cruising through the order her brain commanded her to, as if it were a subconscious habit.

Messenger.
Facebook.
Instagram.
Pinterest.
TikTok.
Repeat.

A notification dropped from the top of her screen and she immediately pressed it. It was her favorite horoscope app. The app opened to her
weekly slice of cosmic advice.

“Cancer (June 21 - July 22)

Tonight, the moon casts an eerie, dim glow upon your path, Cancer, and with it, a sense of quiet unease creeps in. Shadows stretch longer than they should, and whispers ride the wind, coming from places you’d rather not remember. Someone close may be watching, their presence lingering just beyond your awareness. Pay attention to the subtle shifts around you—things may not be as they seem. The door that creaks in the stillness may not simply be the house settling, and familiar faces may hold darker intentions than you realize. Be cautious of the choices you make this week; even the smallest decision could send ripples through the night that last longer than you expect. Trust your instincts, but be warned—the waters of your emotional depths are stirring. Tread carefully, for what you thought was buried might be far too eager to resurface. Keep your secrets close, Cancer—some things are better left undisturbed.”

Ew, what the fuck?

She grimaced and swiped out of the app quickly. With that, she decided to abandon the living room, stretching as she got up from the couch and padded up the steps to her lovers.

Turning into the first bedroom on the left, she walked into darkness, her eyes adjusting to Aron and Desmond laid on the bed. They lie on either side, parallel to one another, with an empty spot between them. Their attention was fixed on the screen opposite them, it being the main light source in the dim room aside from a small lamp in the corner. But even in this, Eve could see the dark circles under Aron's eyes already, the look of defeat strewn across his features. Desmond looked neutral, his eyes boring into TV. Neither man looked up at Eve as she entered the room.

“Hello, love.” A silk voice greeted.

She crawled in between them and turned her attention to the TV as well. Lightsabers soared across the screen. She looked at Aron again. He seemed restless overall, but especially nervous to look at her.

“Aron.”

His eyes lifted to hers, the ring of dark purple underneath impossible to ignore. She could tell he was already starting to feel the thirst, the first to begin feeling the crumbling descent.

“How are you feeling?”

He blinked a couple times before answering in a monotone voice.

“I'm just…” he ran a hand through his burnt caramel strands, “Really not looking forward to going ‘round the bend with this. It’s painful already.”

She frowned, wanting more than anything to help him. Both he and Desmond were already stiff with anxiety. She wondered.

“Does it make it more difficult for you if I'm in the room?”

Aron swallowed, Desmond shaking his head.

“No. Not really. It’s manageable right now. And I want every second with you that I can.. until I can’t. “

She smiled softly at them, trying to get Desmond’s eyes on her. Finally, he glanced at her.

“How are you doing, baby?” She asked. The velvet tone and pet name caught him off guard, and he blinked slowly.

“I'm alright,” he nodded, “Thank you, sugar.” Turning his attention to the screen again, it was obvious he wanted to distract himself from the hot food source in front of him. But it shouldn't have been any surprise to them that she'd eventually poke the bear.

Eve studied his facial structure, which could have been carved from stone. His hooked nose, high cheekbones and defined jaw. The full, plush lips that constantly pulled her in…

She scooted down a bit on the bed, flipping onto her stomach once she was level with Desmond’s waist. His eyes lingered on the TV, assuming she was just getting off the bed, and he jumped slightly when he felt her hand on his clothed thigh.

He peered down at her. She met him with a warm smile, a fire in her gaze as she lifted his shirt to his navel, slowly, and began to pepper soft kisses on the skin above his happy trail.

“Eve..” He swallowed thickly.

Remote in hand, Aron clicked off the TV faster than Eve could blink. She felt his eyes on her flesh, and it made her grow even hotter.

“Mm?”

Though he wanted it, so fucking badly, Desmond adjusted himself on the bed.

“What are you doing?”

She lilted in between pecks against his flesh, her chin breezing the button on his jeans.

“Just gauging your comfort, is all…”

He stiffened, pulling back.

“I don’t.. I don’t know if that’s a good idea right now.”

He blurred out of her reach, standing up and making his way toward the bedroom door.

But her voice stopped him in his tracks.

“Sit.”

Aron’s eyes widened, brows raised as a smile crept across his mouth.

Desmond knew he’d been wound tighter than a top for the past couple days. He felt the urge to grab Eve by the hips each time they were in the same room together. But was he going to let her boss him around like this? Exercise dominance over him?

He turned his head, shifting his ear toward her direction and glancing over his shoulder at the bed. Aron stared at his tall form, watching this unfold, waiting to see if he would bend for her.

Desmond let his glance flicker up to Eve. He stared straight into her eyes, as if he was waiting for her to say something else.. his body unnaturally still.

Though she was taking a leap and being bold, there was something about the way he looked at her that made her feel extremely self-conscious, almost as if he was trying to find her thoughts, to dig deep inside her. Unbeknownst to her, he'd just been so painfully desperate for her body.. In several ways.

“What?” he responded coldly.

Desmond would be in denial if he said he wasn’t the least bit intrigued. Yet, he didn’t want to be controlled by Eve. Not dominated. No. He was the one in control. For a moment, fear spiked in Eve's chest, worried she may have angered him. Yet she was determined to fake it until she made it.

“Come sit down and let me make you feel good..” Eve purred, patting the bed with a sly smile.

His eyes glossed over her clothed body as she lay on her stomach in front of him. Her ass, so perfectly round in the air, her thick thighs, her beautiful face… And when would the next opportunity for this arise? Though he was already feeling the thirst burn the back of his throat, the tightness in his cock was just as prevalent.. if not more.

She tapped the bed again. Slower and more insistent this time, her eyes burning him alive. He caught a glimpse of Aron lying next to her, a sinful smile on his lips, and it stoked the flame in him in ways he couldn't understand. It almost felt like Aron was prying on him too, not just Eve. With that, he folded.

Fine.

He ghosted back to the bed, lying underneath her again. Eve shot a satisfied smirk up at him, clearly pleased with herself.

“Good. Now you stay right here and let me make this better for you…”

Her voice tickled Aron’s brain in all the right areas, sending shots of electricity down his body, through his veins and straight to his lap. He enjoyed watching Desmond lose his reserve, to give in and let Eve turn him into putty. The leader of their group, the dominant who controlled every aspect of everything around him, letting go, for once..

“I know how uptight you both have been.. how stressed you are.. just so full of anxiety. Like you need a release.”

Desmond was quick to put a wide hand in Eve’s hair, twisting it just hard enough to promote a sting on her scalp.

“I'll grant you control.. once. Don’t get carried away.”

Aron lie next to them with his hand snaking down in between his hips. He palmed himself and assessed the yearning in Eve’s eyes, throat dry as he spoke.

“Des.. look how desperate she is to please us.”

A few seconds passed before a soft “fuck” escaped Aron’s lips as he palmed himself more, falling further into the same lust that burned at Eve’s core. Desmond looked down at Eve, running a thumb over her lips, staring down into her eyes, muddy sapphires meeting ice.

Her soft lips parted just enough to allow his thumb inside, swirling her tongue around the tip. Desmond closed his eyes, ignoring the dull burn at the back of his throat. How could he resist someone so alluring? He instinctively rocked his thumb along her tongue, feeling the soft, wet, hot tissue.

He ignored the thirst just as much as he ignored the sane voice in his mind, scolding himself for letting his guard down like this while hungry.

Desmond let his head fall back, pressing his hips up just enough for Eve to shimmy his pants down a few inches. She was quick to pull his half-mast cock out, her delicate hand wrapping around him as he bit his lip.

She spat on her palm before slicking it against his skin again, pulling a shaky breath from him. He focused on the inhales and exhales, his head still back against the pillow. He knew his thirst would triple if he watched her.

Aron bit his own lip as she sank her mouth onto Desmond. He continued to tease himself through the fabric of his jeans, already rock hard. He watched as she took him, every inch with ease, even when he hit the back of her throat.

“A goddamned pro, you are, baby..”

He unzipped his jeans and began to reach into them when he heard her cold voice.

“No. Not yet.”

At her denial, a familiar feeling flared in his chest. He didn’t enjoy being refused like this. But in the same vein, that annoyance mixed right with arousal all too well.

He scowled before zipping his jeans back up, sitting with a rock on his lap.

Desmond eventually sat up to look at her while she worked her mouth on him. As per usual, she used every centimeter of her mouth and lips to please. She spat again, coating his cock in wetness before taking all of him at once and looking up at him with siren eyes.

“Shit-” he hissed, hand in her hair again.

“Mmm.. does that feel good?” Her voice liquid velvet, a warm purr.

He answered with shuddering, choked breaths before attempting to nod.

“Tell me.”

“Y-Yes!”

Aron knew if he watched her any longer, he wouldn’t last long. So he shut his eyes, listening purely to the sounds of pleasure she pulled from Desmond, rubbing himself again.

Aron focused on the noises in the room- but specifically from the other man. At this point, Desmond had begun to shift. The hard dominance that usually filled him was slowly taking a back seat. Aron watched and listened as he reduced to a more submissive degree, losing himself in Eve’s mouth. The panting, choked breaths, and shuddering exhales were enough to make his own cock solidify. In his mind, he pictured what Desmond’s face looked like with each noise and felt himself get closer to the edge.

It was magic, the way Eve had both of them wrapped around her finger. All three knew she was capable of eventually making them bend and twist in any which way she desired.

Aron’s thoughts were interrupted by Desmond’s chest heaving pants, getting even more intense now. He opened his eyes again, landing on Eve working with a strategic speed and pressure on his length now.

“L-love, I-I’m-”

“Mmhmm…” she hummed in approval with his cock still in her mouth. She deepthroated him one last time as Desmond’s gaze quickly shot over to Aron. They made deliberate eye contact, and Aron could pinpoint the exact moment Desmond lost control, just from his eyes. They rolled back into his skull as a strangled yelp escaped him.

Eve moaned in delight as Desmond came, shooting his hot essence down her throat. Desmond saw white spots in his vision, his hands clutching the bed sheets around him. Shivering and twitching with frisson, not only focused on the feeling of her mouth on him, but the sight of Aron's eyes that made him snap.

He reached a hand down to run it through her hair, his chest rising and falling with deep breaths. His eyes locked on hers and she smiled at him before kissing around his pelvis again.

At this point, Aron was ready to burst through the seams of his clothing- a loaded barrel- and his breath caught in his lungs as her eyes lifted to his.

She smiled at him- a teasing, suggestive smile. His cock jumped at this, straining against his jeans even tighter. He was so hard it was almost painful.

Yet, Eve took her time in coming over to him. And he wouldn't dare let his hands fall to his jeans to unzip again, he knew he needed to take it at her pace.

A desperate sigh left his mouth, more of an anguished exhale than anything else. She snaked her way from in between Desmond's legs over to Aron's body, reaching up further and crawling up on top of him. Her body hovered over his, her knees pinning his hips into place on the soft mattress below. Eve's face was right over Aron's, her long hair dangling above him, her scent filling the air and making the hollow fire in his throat grow in severity.

While his body was operating off such urgent desire, he instinctively rose to meet hers, to close the gap between the two. He needed to feel her body connect with his. She was quick to place a tiny hand on the center of his chest and push him back down onto the memory foam. He fell with a groan.

“Oh, you..” She teased.

Please, Eve.

“You're just so eager, Aron..” Her voice was riddled with of humor.

“But you need to learn to take your time,” She purred down to him before leaning and kissing his neck. The perfumey scent of her blood filled his nostrils, making him bite his lip. His mind swirled with the idea of her blood. Her hands wandered across his broad chest, her neck so close, so exposed..

“Eve, b-baby..” he stammered.

“Mmm?” She asked in between kisses, her lips focused on the spot right below his ear.

“Pl-ease..”

“What was that?”

“I thought you said you were going to make this easier on us..” He was finally able to spit the words out.

She pulled back and looked down at him once more, a satisfied smile on her face again. Like a cat toying with her mouse. Eve couldn't help but notice that Aron's eyes had now become a deep brown and it sent a small shiver down her spine, to which she of course, ignored.

“I just needed to make sure you knew how to wait.. daddy."

It became strikingly clear that each word she spoke was filled with intent. The intention being- to drive him fucking nuts. His brows shot up at this new title.

“Daddy?”

She giggled to herself as she made her way down his body. It filled her with way too much pride to know she was able to make these two crumble the way they did. And even still, hearing him repeat that word with his accent draped around it was more than enough to make her core pulse with need.

She was all too aware of the feelings she was producing from Aron. He growled under his breath, restraining his own hands from grabbing her and pinning her below him. He bit his lip again to prevent the slew of filthy, lust filled words from leaving his lips.

Aron was so caught up in this that he forgot Desmond had been watching the entire thing. If he were honest, Desmond was pitying him. He knew just how difficult it would be to be in Aron's position. If Eve ever tried anything like that on him.. Especially when hungry? He was thoroughly impressed with Aron's showcase of self-discipline.

Eve lowered herself to Aron's hips and unzipped his pants. She took his cock out of his briefs and looked up at him, non-verbally waiting for something. Aron understood.

“P-please, Eve..” he whimpered, his voice cracking slightly as he said her name.

That was all she needed to hear before giving him sweet release. She wrapped her lips around him and smiled up at him lustfully as his hips instinctively bucked forward. She took him perfectly, as per usual, sinking down onto every inch this thick shaft. And she looked so fucking beautiful doing it.

“Let your stress go, Aron..” she whispered up to him, before massaging his length with her mouth again.

“Mmf, mmm, pl-”

Fragments of words left him as he tightened his fist and threw his head back, just as Desmond had. His jaw clenched, exposing veins in his thick, tattooed neck.

Desmond watched from next to him. Aron felt his eyes on his body, and couldn't help but shoot a gaze over to him. The two men locked eyes, and Aron felt an underlying.. titillation from Desmond. He found himself getting pulled even closer to the edge from this. Something about Desmond getting off on watching Eve fuck him with her mouth brought Aron even closer to bliss. Desmond broke their stare, his dark eyes raking down Aron's body and watching their girl work her magic.

“She's incredible, isn't she… feels like heaven, yeah?” Desmond spoke softly to Aron.

Aron met Desmond's line of sight again and nodded before looking back down at Eve. Unlike Desmond, he didn't have to verbally warn her. She could feel his nearing orgasm through the flexing of every muscle in his body, the trembles, and the choked sounds leaving his throat. His raven hand tattoo flew to her hair as he gripped her, pumping his seed into her throat and gasping loudly.

Desmond watched Aron as he came with the most erotic lens. His body, the sounds, everything about Aron had completely encapsulated Desmond in awe. The person he'd considered a “brother” for the past century was not a brother at all, but a counterpart. His view of Aron had developed and changed so quickly in such a short amount of time, he was making Desmond feel all sorts of things that confused him and caught him up in a frenzy emotionally. But.. he finally admitted it to himself. He wanted to make Aron cum, to make him fall apart like that. To be on the other end of that exchange and watch him wither into nothing, all at his hand.

But what would Eve think?

Eve swallowed every drop of Aron and stuck her tongue out, shooting a lustrous gaze up to him. Aron let out a sly laugh and pet her hair, just as Desmond had.

“My fuckin’ girl. My good, sweet girl.”

She closed her eyes and smiled at the praise, nudging into Aron's hand further. He caressed her cheek and brought a finger underneath her chin, pulling her face up to look at her and Desmond again.

“Hmm.. I don't know, Desmond. I think I'm still feeling quite anxious, are you?”

“Oh, on pins and needles, mate.”

Both men laughed under their breath, a beautiful, deep sound before locking eyes with Eve.

“Still seems we've got lots of tension yet, Evelina.”

Her lips curved upward into an alluring smile, with a zealous edge in her eye. They flickered between the two men.

“I'm all yours.”

—------------

Day 2- 

The tension in the home was harder to ignore as it increased. The girls were not excluded from the aggressiveness the men were showing one another. Each one had more of an attitude than usual, brusquely walking around the house. The blue in their eyes had trickled darker, resembling Freya's. Yet, instead of a honey hazel, they were grave dirt.

It was like living in a home of four teenaged attitudes, both on the edge of their seat to see what would come. With equal parts curiosity and anxiety, they wondered how the next couple of days would go. Their stubbornness forbade them from leaving the house, even though all of the men had brought it up on several occasions. And as if a new hour had struck, like clockwork, Liam cleared his throat once more and glanced at the two with nearly black irises. He stalled before speaking quietly, nearly mumbling- as if the larger his mouth opened, the higher the chance of an accidental feed.

“I really-” *cough* “I really think it's best you both g’home for the night..” He swallowed dryly.

Eve shook her head.

“We're here to support you,” she replied stupidly.

With the most dramatic eye roll, Liam grunted. He turned the corner and walked down the hall into the study, grumbling things about “support” and “foolishness” under his breath.

Day 3-

More and more disdain filled the air as each hour passed. Frequent side eye glances of annoyance, sighs, and eye rolls exchanged amongst the group. The night before, Freya and Eve opted to sleep together in Camren's room. The two bounced around the idea of blocking the door with a chair, or some other piece of furniture, but it killed them inside to almost barricade themselves away from their dearest. That was a horrible feeling.

By now, they knew it was in their best interest to leave… but they couldn't bring themselves to. What had been teenage attitudes yesterday had taken on a deeper, darker demeanor. Their faces now appeared slightly more gaunt, and they all were even paler, if that were even possible. Their newfound shade of bone exposed the fatigue under their eyes to the fullest extent- heavy and ashy under their bottom lashes.

They'd been bickering even more today, even Camren baring his teeth at the others. The girls started to feel the heat from their words toward them even more now, and their thirst became most prevalent. Whispers of offering their own blood floated between the two girls, worried they'd eventually snap and feed on a random stranger. But was it even worth bringing up, knowing they'd shoot the idea down right away? They couldn't decide.

Desmond had now retreated to his bedroom and forbade anyone to open his door. He couldn't bear to look at Eve in his current state anymore. Catching the first few whiffs of their own rotting flesh in his nostrils, he was filled with dusgyst. He prayed the girls would leave before they, too, began to smell it, and shut himself upstairs so he could rot alone in peace. And if it meant dying, he could die by himself.. bathed in quiet solitude.

Aron, Camren, and Liam sat on one couch in the living room, while Eve and Freya sat on the love seat. The separation and distance was more than intentional, and even though it was mutually understood why, it was still awkward. They all watched the screen silently as a rugby, or “football”, game played out in front of them. The boys thought that maybe watching a familiar sport, with some favorite teams, may help to distract. Yet… it wasn't. They'd already crossed the bridge of arguing over the title of the game, while the girls were tempted to insist upon it being called “Soccer”... they knew better today. Their throats all burned as if they had the nastiest throat infection, as if a fire poker had been swallowed. Their annoyance with the girls started to grow even more, knowing they both understood the risk of their presence, and agreed with the notion that they should leave, but they weren't doing it.

Eve drowned out the initial chatter as the screen cut to commercial, Aron getting up from his seat and walking to the kitchen for a glass of water. He needed some form of liquid in his throat to try and soothe it.

“Can you turn it down?” his hoarse voice called from the other room. “That shit is so loud. If it's loud for me, it has to be mental for those two.”

Liam glanced around his immediate space, eyes scanning for the remote.

“I don't know where it is.”

“Well, fucking find it.”

Eve watched nervously as Liam clenched his jaw and closed his own eyes, taking a deep breath to compose himself.

Aron walked back into the living room, picked up the remote from the opposite end table, and launched it at Liam. It landed full force on the back of Liam's head with a loud “SMACK!” before crumbling apart on the couch. The batteries dropped out of it before it slid across the hardwood floor. Eve nearly jumped out of her skin. She had no idea a remote breaking could be so loud.

Freya's eyes grew wide now. Eve gasped.

“Was right fuckin there, idiot,” He nearly snarled.

Liam took a very deep breath before turning over his shoulder to look at Aron, who approached with his own dark eyes, glass of water in hand.

“If I wasn't so exhausted, mate, I promise I..”

A dark laugh slipped from under Aron's breath.

“Yeah. Sure.”

Camren rolled his eyes, and they flickered over to Eve for a quick moment before settling on the screen again. It sent a rabid chill down her spine to see him so… hardened. He barely resembled himself anymore, facial features hollow and dull.

The TV jumped back into the game and all three men solidified back into their seated positions again. The constant anxiety had Eve exhausted, causing her to feel so tired she nearly felt drunk. Over tired. Not only was her body drained, eyes sore, muscles fatigued, but her mind was tired. Her brain felt like a TV that had been running for six days straight with no breaks or pauses. Just simply over heating.

She didn't want to sleep unless it was a designated time for her and Freya to sleep, not wanting to leave her best friend awake by herself in a house full of starving vampires. But, alas. Leaning her head on her hand, she felt herself begin to doze. She snapped forward and blinked a couple of times, but to no avail.

It wasn't long before she had drifted into a light sleep.

She awoke later, in the same room, but it was incredibly dark. Night had fallen now, yet no one had bothered to turn on any lights in the house. She blinked groggily as she tried to rid the sleep from her eyes, squinting and adjusting to the low lighting around her. The only clarity in the room came from the TV.

And she suddenly remembered their situation, sitting upright with an urgency and a newfound anxiety as she realized Freya was gone.

“She's in the shower,” Aron's voice grumbled.

Her eyes scanned the couch opposite of her, barely able to make out his form. His body nearly sunk into the couch, slumped into it like he was on his deathbed. Yet, his eyes were dark and focused right on her. Piercing and unnerving, they reminded her of a Great White Shark's.

Swimming with a Great White would be safer than sitting here right now.

Her stomach turned. Deep down, she knew the intrusive thought was correct. She smiled gently at him in hopes to soften him up, but he remained cold and intense. It simply wasn't Aron looking back at her anymore. Her heart sunk into her stomach. She hesitantly turned her eyes to the screen again, only now focusing on the show Aron put on for himself.

South Park.

She huffed air out of her nose as she laughed silently at the situation, desperate for any and all comic relief. She didn't know he liked South Park, but it reminded her of her older brother. When they both still lived at home, he would always have it on the living room TV before he moved to a completely different state after college. Thinking of her family gave her a sliver of comfort, knowing at any moment, Aron could ghost right over and drain her body dry.

And maybe no one would even hear it..

No, for certain they would. And Desmond would kill me afterwards, though I suppose I wouldn't mind that much-

Aron wrestled with himself as his gaze flickered back on and off of Eve. His thoughts were nowhere near the TV show he attempted to comfort himself with, completely distracted by the hot meal sitting just a few feet away…

Liam bound down the stairs and walked to the study with his bass in his hand. Eve always forgot how massive it was, but it looked so normal up against his body.

He said Freya was in the shower..

But she was so terrified to move. Too scared to get off the couch and walk past Aron, to even risk getting her scent in the air. She felt trapped, pinned to the couch like some sort of note on a bulletin board.

Her ears became too eager, searching for any noise throughout the house and immediately becoming envious of their hearing. They could pinpoint any noise in the house at any given time, and it would be so beautiful to do so at this moment.

In perfect timing, she heard the door to the bathroom upstairs open and shut before hearing Freya's footsteps pad down the hallways before losing them. She felt a sigh of relief leave her chest. Aron didn't miss a thing.

He blinked at her, finally breaking the near five minute long stare.

Freya's footsteps saved her again, coming nearer and nearer down the stairs. She emerged with damp hair, running a wide toothed comb through it as she went to the kitchen to grab a snack.

“Ay ay-ron?” She jokingly asked, hoping to lighten the mood. He made no attempt to answer her, but instead purposely ignored her.

Aron may as well have been holding Eve at gunpoint. Freya didn't realize until she stepped out into the living room with a container of Pringles in her hand.

“You want some, babe?” She wiggled the container in Eve's direction as they made eye contact.

Eve didn't know if Freya knew she needed an out, or was genuinely just asking her, but she took the opportunity fast. Before she could stop herself, her jello legs carried her over to Freya in the front hallway and grabbed the tin, looking at Freya with a nervous glance.

In some odd way, Freya understood exactly what Eve was trying to tell her. She nodded in response, thought for a moment, and then nodded toward the stairs. Eve met her with her own nod, nonverbally agreeing to head upstairs together.

They started to walk to the stairs and almost bumped into Liam, who came out of thin air. Quiet and swift, he appeared in front of them like an apparition.

“Sorry-” he blurted, more to himself than anything, and made his way further into the living room.

Though, a noise in the kitchen grabbed all of their attention at once. All four of them turned their eyes in the same direction following the odd sound.

Was that.. a growl?

Eve quickly looked at Freya to make sure she heard the same thing, scanning her eyes and finding the same panic staring back at her.

Within a millisecond, Aron was off the couch and in the other room. Liam turned and followed him into the kitchen.

All hell broke loose.

“Are you fuckin’ mental, Cam? The girls are here!” Aron yelled.

“What the fuck, Camren!” Liam scolded.

Their ears perked up at this, instinctively wanting to peek in the next room. And, when Eve thought about it, Camren hadn't been out of his room all day? When did he even leave? How did he pass through all of them to get into the kitchen. Unless he came through the…. back door…

The puzzle pieces clicked together as both girls’ hearts dropped into their stomachs. They moved together, bumping into Liam's chest as he blocked them from the doorway.

“No.” He growled.

“Wh-”

“You would be scarred for the rest of your life. There are some things in the world you cannot unsee. I am telling you right now, neither of you are going in there.”

Aron continued to sling insults and yell at Camren. Plates fell from what Eve assumed was the cupboard and shattered on the floor, sending even more urgency through the girls.

“Do not let them in here!” Aron yelled to Liam.

As Eve simultaneously pushed against Liam's gangly, yet strong frame, Freya stubbornly slipped past him, underneath his arm.

“Freya! God dammit, EVE-” Liam's voice boomed, shaking the entire house.

Freya and Eve stood in the entrance of the kitchen with their eyes on one of the most horrific things they'd ever seen.

A lamb lay on the kitchen counter, body ripped open at the abdomen. Clearly deceased, its neck was bent at an unnatural angle with eyes shut. Camren leaned over it, hands digging in its warm body, pulling out chunks of raw muscle and moaning softly as he devoured and drank. Inhuman noises left his wet mouth, filling the girls with a sense of primal dread.

Dark, red blood ran down his forearms, pouring onto the white floor tiles around him, staining them ruby. He ignored Aron's scolds, yanking a leg bone out of his way as he feasted, the girls hearing the snapping and popping of sinew and cartilage. He pulled it from the socket, tossing it aside, the lamb's form becoming even more disfigured. He chewed, gurgled and smacked his lips together, fangs gnashing against the meat, in full creature mode, taking everything he needed from the deceased animal.

It was primal and terrifying. Like nothing they'd ever seen before, and from Camren nonetheless. He was monstrous, the sweet blonde they knew long gone, and in his place, a soulless void. He satisfied a deep, visceral hunger and saw nothing else aside from his relief. The noises leaving his body were no longer “human” as he fed, ingesting every part of this lamb he could physically put in his mouth.

The world seemed to stop entirely before the heavy smell of iron choked both girls.

Aron couldn't pull him away from the animal's corpse. Yet, Camren stopped moving for a moment, entirely still as he heard the two rapid heartbeats enter the room. In one terrifying moment, Camren snapped his head toward their direction, looking in the doorway with a nauseating grin as he inhaled sharply, smelling their fear and blood beneath the surface. Countless serrated teeth met their gazes, eyes hollow and black as lava rock.

“C-Cam?” Freya choked out, body frozen in place, silent tears streaming down her cheeks.

And he moved.

Aron immediately went to block him. The two became a blur between tangled limbs, fists flying, black blood splattering on the kitchen tiles as they produced their own wounds. Eve screamed and tried to back away, but her limbs wouldn't listen to her brain, which had been processing in slow motion anyways. Her surroundings were no longer stable, but wobbly ground that she no longer had a solid stance on.

Frenzied, Camren blurred out of Aron's grasp and came face to face with Freya. His lips pulled apart into a sick smile again- this time, bright red blood spilled down his chin. Freya swore she saw her own reflection in the black mirror that were his eyes.

Time stood still as Eve watched, helpless as her feet remained concrete. Aron’s arms wrapped around Camren's abdomen, pulling him into a roll that cracked the nearest wall as they both tumbled to the ground. In the same breath, Liam wrapped his arms around Freya's hips, yanking her out of Camren's reach. Eve's legs gave out from underneath her as she, yet again, lost consciousness in the face of death. She dropped to the floor like a rag doll as the chaos continued around her.

The odor of the lamb’s blood was obnoxious now, causing both Aron and Liam to shift even further into their own dark forms. Their voices now deeper in pitch, a deep bass that would unsettle even the bravest. Aron cursed at Camren as he fought with all of his might to get to Freya, putting up one hell of a resistance. Liam pushed Freya in the opposite direction, throwing her towards the stairs and shooing her up the steps.

“For the love of God, fucking GO!”

She scrambled, feet not fast enough. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears and she couldn't process her own movements, fighting through her own state of shock. Liam held up the rear with Eve's unconscious body draped in his arms, resisting his own urge to plunge his teeth into her.

They rounded the corner as Desmond's bedroom door flew open, cracking against the wall. He ghosted past them, moving so fast that Freya wouldn't have been able to tell who he was, had he not come from his own bedroom.

“Grab your things, NOW-”

Freya's hands blurred as she grabbed her necessities from Camren's night stand, haphazardly throwing on a winter jacket and boots. Liam shook Eve awake, gently muffling her mouth with one huge hand in the event she woke up and screamed. His huge hand covered the entire bottom half of her face.

Her eyes widened as she woke, confused about why she was in Liam's arms. It took just a few moments before she began to tremble again, the blood scent still strong in her nostrils.

“Only grab essentials, things you absolutely can't live without and that aren't already at your apartmen-”

She could barely hear what Liam was saying, her body responding on auto pilot. His voice was lower in pitch in an attempt to ground the both of them to the current moment. Eve ran as fast as her legs could carry her, into Aron's room, throwing a hoodie and boots on. Her fingers shook as she grabbed her phone from the bed, running out weakly with fawn legs.

“Go, let's go!”

The house rumbled and shifted from all of the movement downstairs, and the girls knew just what it meant. The men were fighting, throwing each other into appliances and drywall as they tried to contain Camren, his lean and shorter build a huge advantage in this situation, easily able to slip between arms and duck quickly. Beneath the sound of shattering plates, Eve caught Desmond's voice, simultaneously both a growl and a yell as he reamed Camren out. Camren snarled in response, still listening intently to the fast heartbeats upstairs.

They followed Liam down the stairs, him turning to yell over his shoulder.

“Do not look in that kitchen, fucking listen to me this time-”

And they did. Both girls obeyed, terrified to even pass through the adjacent room. The sounds got even louder, the rumbling from the impact of their physical bodies crashing into things activating the girls’ fight or flight. The sounds of growling, plates smashing, wood and drywall cracking, and yelling- paired with the physical rumbling of the house reminded Eve of a tornado. The house may as well be wrapped in one, and she saw one way out. They sprinted as fast they could to the front door after Liam threw it open for them.

“Leave. Stay together, stay safe.” He couldn't hide the nervousness and anxiety in his own voice, nearly cracking with emotion on that last word.

The wind whipped around them the second they stepped onto the porch, blowing vividly around them and plunging them into cold. So cold it nearly burned their skin. Freya ran with keys in her hand, whipping open her car door, Eve doing the same. She jumped into the passenger seat, Freya launching the shifter in the top gear. The tires skidded on the fresh snow below them as it whipped them backward down the long driveway.

Liam stayed in the doorway and watched the girls as they pulled onto the main road. Eve's throat burned with the influx of shock-ridden dry sobs. She took one last look at him as Freya accelerated. Against the black night surrounding them, the home dwindled into a small speck of light in the rear view.

—----------

“Yes, well.. how you holding up, honey?”

James' voice came from the phone in Freya's hands. It was the next day, the girls sitting in front of Eve's house in the front seats of Freya's car.

Freya's fingers drummed on the steering wheel momentarily, her tongue poking her cheek as they both sat quietly.

“You girls doing okay this week? I'm sure not being able to see the boys has been quite hard for you both. But just think, at least you've got each other for the time being.”

They hung in silence once more, Eve too nervous to speak up and tell James that they, in fact, had seen the boys all week. She blinked, eyes bouncing between Freya's hand and her face.