Ji-Su’s eyes went wide at that news. “That’s unexpected. He doesn’t usually leave the house this early. He must have been really mad to get up and make the drive out here at this hour.”
“Does he get mad at you often?”
“It’s not like that.” Ji-Su shrugged. “He’s just an entitled jerk.”
“Hmmm. Well yes, he was mad.”
“I’d better get going then. Were your staff able to bring my car back?”
“Your car is here. However, you don’t need to go back to Cedric.”
“I do. I don’t want him to report my absence to the agency and have them think I’m breaching my contract. If that happens, I’ll be out the rest of my salary.”
“Your contract has been taken care of.”
“What do you mean?”
“I bought out your contract.”
At that calmly stated announcement, Ji-Su’s mouth dropped open in shock. “I had ten months left to go. You gave Cedric fifty-six thousand dollars? Why?”
“I was concerned for you.”
“Vampires know they can’t abuse their blood pets or they’ll be blacklisted from the agency.”
“Yes, that’s true. But that rule is in place because there have been vampires who made it necessary. And unfortunately, there are still occasions where a vampire crosses the line with the human under their care. I can’t see the future, but something tells me that Cedric would have hurt you. I did not feel it was safe for you to go back to him for the remainder of your contract.”
“Oh.” Ji-Su set down his fork. Realization was starting to hit that maybe Cedric wasn’t just a jerk, he might have been dangerous. He’d had an uncomfortable gut feeling about the vampire, but he’d attributed it to being nervous serving as a blood pet for the first time. Apparently, his gut had been trying to warn him.
He stared unblinking at the flaky croissant on his plate. It was possible that his seemingly erratic decision to rush from Cedric’s home with nothing more than keys, wallet, phone, and the clothes on his back had been his subconscious’s attempt tosave him from an unpleasant fate. Not wanting to think too hard on that, he mentally shook himself.
After a few moments, he looked up at Raul. The vampire was watching him with concern in his deep brown eyes. “Since you paid for me, I guess that means I’m your blood pet now.” Beneath his worry over Cedric was a pulse of excitement at the thought of belonging to Raul.
“You don’t have to be. I didn’t buy out your contract to have you for myself. I did it because I was concerned. You don’t owe me anything in return for that.”
“But you did pay for me. You should get something in exchange. If I don’t stay as your blood pet, I’ll be in your debt. Serving as your donor for the ten months you paid for is the least I can do.” Still overwhelmed at what Raul had done for him, Ji-Su looked around the breakfast room. Although large, it was a warm, cozy room with beautiful furniture and rustic yet elegant artwork. “Your home is lovely and I’m a stranger. I can understand if you don’t want me barging in when you didn’t plan for that. I don’t have to stay here like in a usual blood pet arrangement. I could get my own place and drive out to your ranch when you need to feed.”
Raul held up a hand to stop his rambling.
“If you’re sure you want to serve as my blood pet then you will of course stay here at the ranch.”
Ji-Su nodded. “I’m sure.” He’d wanted to see Raul again. and although he’d thought it would be nice to do so when he no longer needed to serve as a blood pet, he couldn’t hate this turn of events. He’d rather serve as blood pet for Raul—who he actually liked—than Cedric.
“Alright then,” Raul said. “Your agency will draw up a new contract between us. They’re vetting me as well. That should all be taken care of tonight.”
Ji-Su was relieved that was so easily settled. “I guess I should go and get my things from Cedric’s. Do you have anyone who can help me pack up and bring everything back here? It’s not much. Nothing more than clothes and gaming equipment. Everything else is in storage.”
“Why don’t you wait a day or two for that? Let Cedric cool down before you return for your stuff.”
“But I don’t have any clothes here.”
“I can take you shopping in Ladue Circle tonight and we’ll get whatever you need.”
Ji-Su grinned at Raul casually naming the most expensive shopping area in Dear Lake. “I don’t need to go to Ladue Circle for a few sweatshirts and a pair of jeans. Target is fine.”
“Okay, then. Eat up and we’ll go.”
AFTER BREAKFAST, RAULmade the call to let the agency know that Ji-Su would be staying with him and to go ahead with the paperwork and vetting. He couldn’t disguise the hint of happiness that slipped into his voice as he informed the agency supervisor that Ji-Su had elected to stay with him. He had Ji-Su there in his home, without having to wait for his original contract with Cedric to run out. The possessive urge to keep Ji-Su for himself returned. He was close to making that happen.