Author Notes: Hello again and thank you so much for the wonderful reviews! I will end this story at ten chapters so three more to go. As always, enjoy this next next chapter and please review :)
- Chapter Start -
Zero was right. It was another shocking question to add to the others he had already been asked. It also required a momentous decision that would change his life even more than his previous ones had.
And all in the same evening.
"Live here? With you two?" he echoed. "Why?"
"Because I want to see you every day," Yuuki replied without hesitation.
Zero scoffed and turned to Kaname.
"Why?" he demanded again.
Kaname only replied with a small, enigmatic smile and a side glance at Yuuki.
Right. Anything for Yuuki.
Zero shook his head. He was dreaming and would wake up any moment now to find himself back in his narrow bed in his small apartment. That was reality, what his life was right now. It wasn't much, but it was all his, one no longer burdened by blood tablets that didn't work or the threat of impending madness. One he was in charge of, not pushy and self appointed father figures like Cross or his own brusque sensei, Yagari.
It was an independent life and - if Zero were completely honest with himself - lonely as hell with nothing but work or sleep to occupy his long hours.
But this alternative... it was a complete one hundred and eighty degree change! He would be jumping not into the fire this time, but a raging inferno. This wasn't just some... some impersonal arrangement of looking to share a place with strangers to save on rent money. This was Kuran Manor and his housemates would be their owners. Zero was pretty sure Kaname and Yuuki didn't need monetary assistance from anyone - let alone himself - to sustain this huge house and whatever equally luxurious residences he was sure they owned.
Taking a deep breath, Zero let it out and glanced around the enormous kitchen, not seeing the polished marble surfaces and gleaming utensils, but the rest of the house in his mind's eye. He could see himself staying here for a week or two, or even a month - if forced - but move in permanently?
A practical voice in his head pointed out he would be able to see Yuuki whenever he liked without the awkwardness of wondering if she was with Kaname.
That's because she would be with Kaname. This is his home after all!
Then it reminded him they had already agreed to accept each other's presence and importance in Yuuki's life.
How does that help me when I want to be with her?
And then it mocked him for how he had still managed to complete his blood bond with Yuuki and consummate it with Kaname standing just three feet away.
Scowling, Zero ran both hands down his flushed face. As if that wasn't bad enough, he had also jerked off to the sight of-
"Zero, please say you'll stay here. I need you." Yuuki's voice was soft but fervent.
Zero looked up to see her staring at him, eyes huge and glowing. He could feel her need traveling across their newly created bond, loving tendrils brushing against his senses and teasing his fangs. Oh God. He wanted her again. Blood, body and soul.
Groaning, he wrenched his gaze away and saw Kaname watching him as well. The calm acceptance in that perfect face sent shock rippling up Zero's spine. Kaname knew. He knew what their new bond would do to Zero and Yuuki.
Was that why he had prompted Yuuki to ask him that question?
"But what would the others think?" Zero asked, more to stall for time than anything else.
"Others? Which others?" Yuuki asked, startled. She glanced around the kitchen as if expecting to see other people popping up from behind the counters.
"Since when have you cared about the opinion of others, Zero?" Kaname finally spoke up, a hint of a smirk played about his lips.
Zero glared at him.
No, he had never been one to bother about what others thought and neither had the Kurans. Besides, he was a respected hunter at the Hunter Association now, and he knew his superiors held the Kurans in high esteem.
So maybe - just maybe - it wouldn't be complete and utter madness if he...
Wait. Am I even contemplating this?!
- o -
Kaname watched the emotions playing over Zero's face with detached amusement. He wasn't surprised at the shocked confusion on the hunter's usually stoic face; they had thrown a lot at him this evening. What he was surprised at was his own capitulation to Yuuki's unasked wish. She hadn't voiced it... likely hadn't even thought of it on a conscious level yet.
That was the key word - 'yet'.
Kaname had no doubt in his mind Yuuki would come to the realisation soon enough whether it was two minutes from now or two hours. It had been the same way with them when they were first bonded. Consummation hadn't happened immediately what with Yuuki's prevalent shyness, but blood sharing had occurred frequently then. Yuuki would want to be close to Zero now that their bond was still very new. Zero would too, but on a lesser scale. Not that he had realised it either.
It was inevitable Zero would end up staying with them. It was just as inevitable Kaname would agree to it because no matter how deeply Zero got involved in their lives, it was still better - infinitely better - than the bleak and lonely future Kaname had envisaged for himself just a few hours earlier.
Besides, Zero Kiryuu was a level D vampire. A powerful and stable one to be sure, but with a lifespan so much shorter than that of a pureblood's. His days here on earth were numbered, and his time with them - no matter how long it lasted - would one day be nothing more than a brief interlude in their almost immortal lives.
Kaname frowned, thrusting that thought away almost as soon as it formed. It was unsettling... almost upsetting.
"Onii-san? Are you sure you're OK with this?"
Kaname blinked and turned to Yuuki, mildly surprised she had asked the question instead of Zero.
"Of course I am, dear one," he replied, forcing a smile.
"You don't look it," Zero said in his usual blunt way.
"I was thinking of something else," Kaname parried.
Zero folded his arms across his chest.
"Those other people perhaps?" he snarked and then he shook his head.
"This isn't a good idea, you know," he muttered.
For some strange reason, Kaname found himself smiling again.
"And yet you haven't said no," he said gently.
Zero scowled at him, but it was obvious his heart wasn't in it this time.
"It wouldn't make any difference, would it?"
Yuuki's gaze had been darting back and forth between the two males. Now she gave a delighted peal of laughter and jumped up, reaching across the counter to cup Zero's face in her hands.
"No, it wouldn't, Zero," she said, "but I still want to hear your answer."
- o -
Zero stared at Yuuki, conscious of her small warm hands on his cheeks. He was once again split between enchantment and exasperation, a common occurrence whenever it came to Yuuki. She may not have weighed the seriousness of her request, but he had.
No matter how he looked at it, he would be giving up his solitary independence, or at least a big portion of it. His boring independence, that little voice reminded him before he squashed it. He would be turning his life upside down just when it had stabilised. He would be inviting both suspicion and derision from the hunters and the vampires.
But all of that was moot anyway since he had already bonded with Yuuki. So maybe she had thought things through and came to this conclusion before he did. There was no going back for him now and since he had already made so many reckless decisions this evening... well, what was one more?
"Alright," Zero said before he could change his mind. "We'll give this a try."
When Yuuki squealed and pulled him closer to kiss him, he returned the kiss willingly, not even minding the fact that Kaname was sitting right there.
- o -
The walk back upstairs a few minutes later felt both new and familiar to the three of them. They knew what would soon take place in the bedroom and it showed in the way Zero's eyes trailed over Yuuki's slender figure and the way she smiled up at him, one hand tucked into his elbow and the other tucked into Kaname's as she walked between them. It was there in the calm expression on Kaname's face as he opened the door again with his mind and in the nod Zero gave him when the pureblood closed the door behind them.
Yuuki smiled happily at Kaname before turning to Zero, her eyes already glowing crimson.
"Zero."
There was no hesitation when Zero reached for her, bending his tall frame to fit his face in the crook of her slender neck. He felt her stretch up to do the same, her arms going around his neck and her delicate tongue tracing the bite area within his tattoo before she bit down.
Zero shivered and gave himself up to the moment, delighting in the feel of Yuuki in his arms, her delicious and powerful blood flooding his mouth and the radiant pleasure radiating from their bond. A small part of him still squirmed at Kaname's presence, but he tuned it out.
Tightening his arms around Yuuki, Zero allowed their bond to fan his desire even higher. He slipped his fangs free after a couple of minutes and licked her wounds closed and then he hoisted her up in his arms, feeling her slender legs go around his waist. With her fangs still buried in his neck, he strode over to the bed and sat down with her on his lap. His hands were shaking when he reached between their bodies to hurriedly undo his trousers, allowing his hard flesh to spring free.
Yuuki murmured against his neck and raised her head, panting softly as she licked her lips clean. There was no mistaking the warm assent in her eyes as she looked down at him, or the sweet scent of her arousal.
Zero was more than eager to comply. He found the hem of her woolen dress and tugged it up to her waist, growling in approval when he encountered nothing but smooth, bare skin. Then he paused, suddenly uncertain. He wanted her right now, but he wasn't sure enough of himself to just claim her her with no other form of foreplay first.
"Inside me, Zero. Please. Now."
Exhaling in relief, Zero held himself in one hand and steadied Yuuki with the other as she positioned herself over him, milky thighs spread wide over his and hands clutching his shoulders. She sank down upon him without warning, her sudden descent pulling a surprised cry from Zero.
"Yuuki...!" He shuddered hard at the sudden squeeze wet heat engulfing his flesh, almost coming on the spot.
"I love you," Yuuki whispered and kissed him. "Make love to me, Zero. Don't hold back."
Zero groaned into the kiss and clamped his hands around her waist. He bucked his hips, giving a sharp upward thrust.
Yuuki broke the kiss on a little scream and threw her head back. Then she was grinding down on him and Zero was thrusting up, the bond egging them towards a swift and inevitable end. In a matter of moments, Zero felt his body tighten and hastily slipped a hand between her legs, thumb finding and stroking the wet nub it found. He was deaf and blind to everything except the fierce pounding of his blood and Yuuki's sweet rocking actions, her panting cries competing with the waves of ecstasy spilling from their bond.
Zero felt her convulse around him a heartbeat before his world exploded.
- o -
Yuuki stirred, her body still quivering with soft, delicious aftershocks of pleasure. She was lying on Zero's chest with his cotton shirt soft against her cheek, the swift rise and fall slowing down along with his heartbeat. Their bond was content for now, but she knew it wouldn't last long. She couldn't believe she had forgotten how needy she and Kaname had been when they had first blood bonded. She had been too shy then to allow it to lead to sexual intimacy and Kaname too indulgent to force her, but blood sharing had occurred frequently.
And speaking of Kaname...
Opening her eyes, Yuuki saw him leaning against the bedroom door, arms folded across his chest. His posture was casual, but there was no mistaking the hunger she felt from their bond or the flush of desire high on his cheeks.
Pushing to sit up, Yuuki felt Zero's hands slide down her back as his flesh slipped out of her. It looked like she was going to be unbelievably sated until her bond with Zero stabilised, but she wasn't about to complain, not when she finally had the two men she loved with her.
"Onii-san?" she called. She got up off of Zero who scrambled to sit up, looking abashed as if he had forgotten all about Kaname's presence again.
"I should be catching up on my correspondence, dear one," Kaname said. Contrary to his words, he was nearing the bed, his eyes glittering as he stared at Yuuki.
She just shook her head and grabbed his hand, pulling him down to sit beside her. The sight of Zero moving hastily to the other side of the bed and tucking himself back in made her want to giggle - as if Kaname hadn't already seen all there was to see of him - but she held it back and grabbed his knee instead.
"Don't go anywhere, Zero. Please."
Zero stopped straightening his clothes and glared over his shoulder at her, amethyst eyes darting to Kaname and then back to her.
"You want me to watch, don't you," he grumbled.
When she smiled and nodded, he rolled his eyes and huffed, his cheeks turning pink again.
"Fine," he said shortly. "After all, I'll be living here, won't I?"
To be continued...
