Breakfast was strained. My being Venatori was not going to settle well with Benji’s father. Made me wonder how Alex felt about it. Under the table I felt Alex’s hand on my knee, he squeezed alerting me to my ever drifting thoughts. I shut my self off from all but Alex. It was a lot easier than I thought it might be.
The man across from me visibly relaxed the moment I shielded. He didn’t look up but Mama did and frowned. “Now it feels like every other Feras…” Her frowned deepened.
I nodded. “I’m sorry, but the fact you can read me is making your husband upset. It’s better this way.”
“For who?” Alex asked.
I turned to look at him and shrugged, “I didn’t shut you out.”
Alex nodded, “I know. I can feel the icy chill of your powers eating you up along with your anxiety and your self-esteem issues.”
I frowned, “I’ll survive.”
Alex smirked. “I don’t know if I will.”
I dropped my eyes, picked up a strip of bacon. “You don’t have to listen.” I crunched the bacon with Alex watching me.
Alex growled and stood up taking my hand with him and I had no real choice but to follow him or be pulled out of my chair. Alex smiled as he leaned down to hug Mama, “Mama, we are going to go. I can’t risk the attacks that are about to follow if he stays here with bigotry.”
Chen objected, “I am no bigot.”
Alex laughed, “Sir, we all are here. We all have reason to hate the Venatori. Including Nox, but that’s not a reason to judge every Venatori. I know for a fact Nox has a big heart, even took in a dragon boy when his parents were killed by the Venatori.”
I leaned against Alex and sort of whispered, but not really, “I’m working on another kid here in Vegas.”
He looked at me wide eyed, “One of the things you have to do while you are here?”
“I didn’t have to, but I wanted to help him the moment I saw him. They are going to make him tacet if I can’t help him.”
“Not that I know what that is, but it can’t be good.” Alex said and pressed a kiss to my cheek. “Mama, sir, maybe you’ll come visit in New York and I’ll show you Nox isn’t so bad.”
Chen growled softly but nodded his head as if he were agreeing to something unsaid. I didn’t really want to know as Alex tugged me after him grabbing a slice of bacon as he passed.
We were out the front door and walking back towards the strip when Alex asked me, “You okay, pretty boy?”
I nodded even as I let the shielding go. At least most of it. I always had some sort of protection about me, but that was mostly so I didn’t have to see the patterns all the time. They interfered in daily life.
Alex gave me a sigh of relief and tugged me down another street. “Now to that shopping?”
I let out an exaggerated sigh, “I guess.”
Alex stopped and turned to look at me. I couldn’t help the wide grin on my face. “That wasn’t fair, I thought you didn’t want to go.”
“No, I do. I promise.” I stepped into Alex and pressed a long slow kiss to his lips. I let out a soft moan and Alex’s free hand gripped my hip pulling me tighter against him. I broke the kiss with a smack and bit my bottom lip. “I’m kind enjoying the thought of letting you dress me up and parade me about like some model.”
“My own private fashion show?” Alex asked as he headed back in the direction he’d been going.
I didn’t say it out loud, only thought about how I’d gladly do a strip tease for him too. I was rewarded with a groan. “Fuck Pretty boy! I might have to hold you to that thought.”
“It would be my pleasure.” My mind was full of all the dirty things we could do in his hotel room.
Alex growled. “Okay, that’s enough or you won’t get any of it later.” Alex threatened.
I laughed, “What’s wrong Tinman?”
Alex rolled his eyes. “I don’t like when you say that.”
“That’s good, cause I don’t like saying it.” I added. “I like Alex, it’s kinda a shame that’s your whole name. Alexander could roll off my tongue rather nicely.” Alex gave me a side long glance, “I’ll figure out some nickname for you.”
“You have one already.” Alex said.
“Mushu isn’t sexy though. You got pretty boy and you have no idea what it does to me when you say it.”
Alex chortled and almost chocked because he laughed so hard. “I know exactly what it does to you pretty boy, I feel it every. fucking. time.” Alex pulled me hard against him and kissed me.
We both groaned as Alex pulled away and dragged me into a shop. “First.” He said as he walked into a decked out room full of suits. I had done this once for Dorian. I didn’t really like suits, but I could do it. Alex chuckled, “This is so you fit in with James when I’m him.”
I nodded, “Do you expect me to be normal?”
Alex shook my head, “Nox you can never hide you are Venatori.”
“So how are you going to explain that I’m with you like this and with James like that.” I gestured to a fancy suit hanging on a mannequin.
“I’m not going to. If people see us together, and don’t recognize me that’s their own dumb stupidity. Just don’t say my name ever.” He grinned at me.
I rolled my eyes. “Fine, babe. I’ll do that.” I growled, “I don’t like that either.”
A man in a fancy suit came up to us and looked me over in my jeans and t-shirt and hoodie and frowned. “A pleasure as always, sir.” He said as he looked at Alex. “What can I do for you?”
Alex tilted his head and nodded in my direction. “I need appropriate attire so he can escort me around town without drawing attention.”
The man relaxed visibly as he looked at me. “Measurements?”
I shrugged, “It’s been a while. And I really don’t remember.” I pulled out my phone and sent Dorian a message asking him the same thing. To which there was a prompt reply
D: Are you buying clothes?
N: Alex is buying me clothes. Tailor shop need measurements.
And in the next moment I received all my measurements.
N: How do you know this?
D: I have my ways.
I sighed as I showed the man the text and his eyes were wide with surprise. “You have a personal tailor?”
I shook my head. “Uh, no. A personal shopper maybe, I don’t know what he does.” He still looked at me with surprise.
“I’ll be right back with a few options.”
Alex rolled his eyes, “You don’t even buy your clothes for yourself?”
“I buy my t-shirts.” I corrected.
“And here I thought you were the more normal of us when it came to this type of thing. But Dorian buys all your clothes. The only thing you shop for is food.”
I grinned at Alex. “I don’t care about any of it. I’ll replace a pair of jeans if they have too many holes. I buy t-shirts cause I like them. I’ll buy a hoodie or a jacket cause it’s fun. Furniture, I’m never home to use. I bought all my kitchen supplies. Dorian furnished my apartment both times. It’s my money but he spends it.”
Alex smirked, “So I can spend your money in your name?” Alex rubbed his hands together, “I think I can do that.”
I loved that Alex wanted to spend my money and it seemed to make him so happy too. I leaned across the small distance between us and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. “You can spend all my money if you want.”
“How about I spend my money on you. I have more than enough.” He nodded in the direction of the man walking our way with several plastic covered garments.
“I don’t need things.” I protested again as the salesman sauntered up to me and waved for me to follow him.
“Indulge me Nox.”
I nodded with a grunt and lead the way to the back to the dressing rooms which were in the back. He hung the articles of clothing on the rail nearby and uncovered a dark suit which he showed Alex and not me. I took a little offence to that but didn’t let it show. The smile on my face didn’t slip.
Alex spoke in my head You don’t like?
“It’s fine.” I said out loud and Alex smirked as the man turned to look at me with a slight reddening behind his ears.
“If you are certain.” He said softly then looked back at Alex for approval and Alex just shrugged. The sales man let out a huff and turned to me. “Which shirt?”
“Something not white?” I looked at Alex and he shrugged again.
“You gotta wear it.”
My smile grew and I turned to the man, “Something bright and colorful to offset the dark.”
He frowned but he went off to find something to wear. Alex picked up the suit and ran his fingers down the material and then held it up against my body. My breath caught as he looked me over. It wasn’t the same appreciation as when he was looking at me earlier. But fuck if it didn’t make me want him too.
Alex chuckled, “You are so fucking easy.”
I leaned in and whispered in Alex’s ear. “It wouldn’t take much to show you just how easy I am.”
Alex groaned. “We can wait for that.”
I only nodded. Alex could see the naughty thoughts in my head. “You like that thought eh?” He shoved me in the direction of the dressing room. No touching, he whispered in my mind.
I went as I was told and I changed into the pants and waited until a lime green garment of hung over the edge of the door. “The brightest we have.”
I guess it would do. The red or orange shirts I had at home would work better but this was different. I could dye my hair the same color, thought not here in front of a human helping me. But for Alex I would.
When I came out Alex was sitting on a chair with his leg cross across his knee and his fingers were steppled while he waited for me to come up. There were no mirrors in the room so when he saw me for the first time was also the first time I’d seen myself in the outfit.
Alex stood up and walked around me. He ran his fingers across my shoulders and grabbed the edges, “A little off here.” His fingers trailed down my arms and he shifted, “A little longer here.”
Alex kicked my feet apart as he ran his fingers over my ass and then down the inside of my legs to the hem of the pants. “A little longer here.”
He looked at me, “You look amazing.”
I grinned at him. “I always look amazing.”
Alex pressed a kiss to my neck from behind. “You do, this just makes it more so. Now go take it off and try this one on.” He said as he patted the next garment which was a stark contrast to the dark suit I was in.
“How many suits do I need?” I asked.
Alex raised his eye brown and pulled his lips in and then grinned. “I would have you just naked, but I think Sergio and the world might find problems with that.”
“You might find problems with that. All those people gawking at me, when I’m yours.” I added as I walked into the dressing room again.
The Mind of Nox 