Charles kept a small house, and it was filled with the erotic smell of blood that attacked Aidan's senses the moment he stepped inside. Charles, obviously used to it, just pulled the key out of the door and waited for Aidan to pass him so he could close it.

Aidan gave a breathy sigh and Charles chuckled and asked, "Nice, isn't it?"

Aidan's eyes were dark and his fangs already bared when turned to face Charles. "Where is it?"

Charles just smiled and shoved the door closed.

If Aidan had been more aware, he would've been worried, he would've assumed that Charles was stalling for a band of hunters to surround Aidan. But he was weak, and distracted, and hungry. So he trusted Charles when he walked through another door and came back holding a jar of blood.

Aidan cringed just a little and Charles noticed.

"What's the matter?"

"Nothing." The truth was that drinking someone was sensual and visceral, and drinking it out of a jar made him feel like an addict in need of a fix. He figured that's nearly what he was anyway so why not accept it? "I appreciate it." He reached out for the jar but Charles pulled it out of reach.

"Tell me." he insisted calmly. "Is there a type you prefer more than-" He lifted it and read the label. "-O negative?"

Aidan took a couple deep breaths, trying to resist from attacking Charles to get the jar from him. He couldn't handle the smell without the taste, it was just a rude tease that angered him.

Without putting the precious jar down, Charles took his suit jacket off and tossed it by the collar onto the sofa. "Tell me…" he stopped, waiting for a name as he unbuttoned one of his cuffs.

"Aidan."

"Aidan." Charles smiled, rolling his sleeve up to the elbow and pouring a small stream of blood down his forearm. He held his arm evenly so it wouldn't slide too far, until he took a step closer to Aidan and raised it near his face. "What is your type?"

They didn't break eye contact while Aidan finally gave in and slowly licked the blood from Charles' arm, until he jerked away and nearly spit on the floor.

"It's a little different, I know." Charles smiled.

Aidan wiped his mouth with the back of his hand while Charles sat the jar down on the end table, unbuttoned his shirt and dropped it off his shoulders, then pulled off his undershirt. "I can make it taste better." he said.

Any excuses Aidan had given himself in the bar for staring were confirmed as lies by the way he was staring now. He just plain liked the view, and there was too much going on in the moment for him to analyze what that meant.

Charles poured some blood into his hand before replacing the jar on the table, and smeared it all over his chest.

Aidan was breathing heavy now, and lunged for Charles, grabbing his sides and pulling him closer. His mouth ran wild, sucking and nipping at the blood stained skin, barely getting the taste against the cold, cologne-coated body. Aidan pulled away and shoved him onto the couch, picked up the jar and poured nearly all of it out over Charles. He dropped it on the floor and climbed onto the couch.

Aidan licked the torso under him, running his hands in the blood and letting them rest around Charles' neck. He somehow, and for some reason, made his way to Charles' mouth and before he knew what he was doing, they were kissing, the coppery taste biting at both their tongues. His knee was between Charles' legs, and grinding against him while he convulsing and moaned. Aidan suddenly realized what was happening and pushed himself up, pulling his face off Charles', who just laughed and asked, "What?"

"I didn't… mean to do that."

Charles was still smiling. Blood had been forced into the tiny cracks and grooves of his lips and was smeared all over his face. "So licking is acceptable, but kissing is off limits?"

Aidan stood up and looked down at his now stained suit. He rolled his eyes at himself and took off his jacket and began to unbutton his vest.

"Are you going to beat me up now?" Charles asked, sounding as if he was challenging Aidan. "Tell me you're 'not that way'?"

"I'm not saying…" Aidan let out a nasally sigh and looked down Charles' body. "I don't even know your name."

"Charles. I'm called Charles."

Josh was sitting completely still out of discomfort, with his eyes locked on Aidan's. He swallowed.

Aidan smiled. "You wanted to know."

"I didn't want to know everything!" He stood up and ran a hand through his hair. "I mean- It's- You're- Okay. It's fine." He sat back down. He was talking more to himself than to Aidan, whose shoulders shook in silent laughter.

"I'm not saying it's gross, I'm saying…" He thought for a moment but Aidan spoke before he could continue.

"I get it." Aidan nodded.

"I have no problems with this." he said, looking Aidan in the eye again. "Assuming that there is a this to not have any problems with."

Aidan laughed again. Josh always had to make things more complicated than they were. He shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe. He seems serious enough, he's not the type to just walk out."

"Well, I support you…"

Aidan turned away and rolled his eyes.

"I'll beat him up if he cheats on you."

Aidan gave him a look that said they both knew how that would end.

"I'll pay someone to beat him up."

They laughed.

"Maybe we can have him over for pretend dinner and a movie." Josh smiled too enthusiastically.

"Pretend dinner?" Sally repeated.

They both jumped and turned to look at her standing behind the couch.

"Who's coming over for pretend dinner?"

Aidan just smiled and said, "Charles."