Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 54305 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 272(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54305 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 272(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Ryder was good at precisely none of those things. The idea of buying furnishings and decorations was overwhelming.
“I’m bad at that. Would you be willing to help me with my place?”
He didn’t think it was possible, but Gideon’s eyes got even wider. He gripped Ryder’s forearm with both of his hands. “Are you serious? You’d let me help you?”
“Please.”
Gideon squeezed and started pushing him toward the door that led to the secret stairs. “Let’s go! Let’s go! I need to see your place!”
Ryder smiled, caught up in Gideon’s enthusiasm as he let Gideon nudge him toward the stairs. “We don’t have to do this now. You still have boxes to unpack and your own place to get settled. I can wait.”
“No, we need to do this now. I’m dying to see how you and Rafe designed your place. It’ll give me an idea of what I’m working with.”
Keeping the rest of his very skeptical thoughts to himself, Ryder opened the door and led Gideon into a kitchen with black appliances, charcoal gray countertops, and black cabinets on dove-gray walls. The same color continued through the rest of the place. The living room and dining room had deep-green accents.
“Whoa,” Gideon exhaled in a whisper. Ryder didn’t know how to take that sound. “It’s like living inside a Japanese rock garden. It’s so peaceful.”
Ryder followed him into the living room, where he watched Gideon turn slowly in place. “You…like it? But your place is colorful.”
The vampire grinned at him. “Yeah, but that’s me. I’ve always wanted all the colors and bright things. But this condo is so you.”
“You don’t think it’s cold?”
Gideon twisted to face him, his mouth gaping open. “Cold? No! It’s calming. Relaxing. Everything about it is peaceful, like you could fall into this meditative state. Just like you.”
There were no words. Gideon thought he was peaceful. Calming.
He was insane.
Gideon cackled and leaned his shoulder into Ryder’s chest, wrapping an arm around his waist. “Yes, I think you’re relaxing. You’re very relaxing to be with.”
Before Ryder could soak in that touch, Gideon was pulling away to search the empty room. He looked at Ryder, confusion cutting lines through his forehead.
“I thought Rafe said he had your stuff delivered?”
Ryder led him to the bedroom, where he waved at the box of books, mattress, and duffel bag.
“What? That’s it?” Gideon screeched.
“I’m used to traveling light.”
“But-but-but you don’t have furniture! Or blankets! Do you even have towels?”
“I think I have one.”
Gideon stormed out of the bedroom, moving toward the living room. Ryder followed behind him, picking out Gideon muttering, “This won’t do,” under his breath.
“I’m not good at decorating. I don’t know what to get or how to make things match,” Ryder said to his back.
The shorter man waved a hand at him as he stopped in the middle of the living room and glared at the emptiness. “I will help you fix this. I know some good online stores that have stuff that would work well with your colors and style. We can make this look awesome.”
“But comfortable too, right? I want my space to be comfortable like yours.”
The smile Gideon gifted him with made his heart skip. He was going to die a second time, but this time of joy. Gideon had the best smile, the way his happiness shone through his bright-blue eyes.
“We can totally do that. I got you. When can we start?” Gideon had barely asked when his hands jumped to his hair and gripped it. “Wait! Work. We’ve gotta work. When do we have off again?”
“Few days, I think.”
“But you can’t wait that long for stuff.”
Ryder closed the distance between them and gently pried Gideon’s fingers from his hair so he couldn’t hurt himself. “I have a mattress and blanket for sleeping during the day. I have supplies for showering. At night, we’ll be at work. And I doubt I’ll use my kitchen. The only time I eat food is with the Variks. It can wait.”
Gideon frowned at him. “I guess, but the times we’re off shift and you want to relax somewhere other than on your mattress, you can always come up to my place and chill.”
“Won’t I be in the way of your new dating life?” Ryder grumbled.
The little vampire huffed at him and pulled his hands free. “You’re so annoying.” Gideon marched to the stairs, Ryder trailing him. “If you don’t watch it, I’ll load this place up with pink and glitter. You’ll never get that shit out.”
That was fine with Ryder. He’d accept it with a smile on his face so long as he got to spend more time with Gideon.
Chapter 3
Gideon
Shopping with Ryder was exhausting.
And Gideon usually had damn good stamina when it came to searching for deals and fun stuff.
It was even better that it was winter. The longer nights meant they had access to the stores for more hours. Thank God. They needed every second they could get.