The hangover

Morning came slowly.

Not peacefully—

Joey suspected his life had permanently lost the right to peaceful—

but slowly.

His bedroom sat wrapped in soft gray light filtering through the blinds, the city outside still half asleep. For the first time in days, there were no alarms blaring, no hunters trying to kick the door down, and no screaming cursed weapons demanding ****.

Which honestly felt suspicious.

Joey lay still for a moment, staring at the ceiling.

Then he became aware of the cool body pressed against his side.

Cassandra.

She lay curled against him beneath the blankets, dark hair spilled across his chest and pillow like ink. One pale thigh rested over his leg possessively while one hand sat lazily against his stomach.

Joey smiled despite himself.

A week ago he had been worried about grease traps and late rent.

Now he woke up next to a gorgeous vampire after surviving a supernatural gang war.

Life was weird.

“You are staring again,” Cassandra murmured sleepily without opening her eyes.

Joey jumped slightly.

“That is deeply creepy.”

“You like it.”

“…A little.”

That earned him a small smile.

Cassandra opened her eyes slowly, crimson irises duller in the daylight but still unnervingly beautiful.

For several quiet seconds neither of them spoke.

Joey could feel it through the bond again.

Warmth.

Comfort.

Something deeper than lust now.

Which somehow scared him more than the hunters had.

He brushed a strand of dark hair behind her ear carefully, fingertips trailing down her cool cheek. Cassandra leaned into the touch automatically, eyes half-lidded.

That tiny reaction did dangerous things to Joey’s brain.

“You’re doing the staring thing again,” she teased softly.

“You’re unfairly pretty in the morning.”

“I am unfairly pretty all the time.”

“…Also true.”

Cassandra smirked and shifted closer until their legs tangled fully beneath the blankets. Her lips brushed his slowly, teasing more than kissing at first.

Then Joey kissed her properly.

Slow.

Warm.

Unhurried.

Not desperation this time.

Not adrenaline or fear or survival.

Just wanting her close.

Cassandra made a quiet pleased sound against his mouth and climbed partially over him, cool fingers sliding into his hair while kissing him deeper.

Joey’s hands settled against her waist instinctively.

“Careful,” Cassandra murmured against his lips. “You already exhausted me once this weekend.”

Joey laughed softly.

“You say that like you weren’t encouraging literally all of it.”

“I regret nothing.”

“Honestly? Fair.”

She kissed him again before finally settling against his chest with a content little sigh.

Only then did Joey notice something missing.

“…Wait.”

Cassandra glanced up.

“What?”

“Where’s Crystal?”

Cassandra blinked once before answering.

“Greta took her home after we left the bar.”

Joey relaxed slightly.

“She’s okay?”

“She is fine,” Cassandra assured him. “Greta stayed long enough to ward her apartment and make sure no one followed her.”

Joey nodded.

Honestly?

Greta protecting someone sounded terrifyingly effective.

“And the others?” he asked.

“Gone back to their own lives for now. Malcolm had another contract nearby. Valerie claimed she needed a shower and ‘three drinks worth regretting.’ Elias disappeared after attempting to flirt with the bartender.”

Joey frowned.

“…Did it work?”

Cassandra considered.

“The bartender gave him mozzarella sticks.”

“…That’s either very good or very bad.”

“We may never know.”

Joey snorted quietly.

For a while they stayed there together beneath the blankets in comfortable silence.

No danger.

No fighting.

Just soft morning light and Cassandra tracing lazy circles against his chest with one pale fingertip.

Then Joey shifted slightly and felt something crinkle beneath him.

“…Ow.”

Cassandra raised an eyebrow.

“What now?”

Joey reached beneath the pillow and pulled out a folded piece of paper.

He blinked.

Then groaned.

“Oh God.”

Cassandra looked curious.

“What is it?”

Joey unfolded the paper carefully.

Taylor’s number.

Right.

Because apparently in between surviving **** cultists and acquiring supernatural girlfriends, he had also somehow charmed a cute college girl at Burger Chief.

His life genuinely made no sense anymore.

Cassandra noticed the expression on his face immediately.

“…Ah,” she said knowingly.

Joey rubbed the back of his neck.

“I forgot I even had this.”

“The college girl.”

“Taylor.”

“The very pretty college girl.”

Joey narrowed his eyes slightly.

“Why do I feel like you’re setting me up right now?”

“Because I am.”

Joey dropped backward onto the pillow dramatically.

“Cassandra…”

She propped herself up on one elbow beside him, the blanket slipping slightly down one shoulder.

“What?”

“I barely understand whatever THIS is yet,” he said motioning between them. “Now you want me to text another girl?”

Cassandra looked genuinely confused.

“Yes.”

“That is not helping my panic.”

She laughed softly.

It still startled Joey sometimes how human she could sound when she really meant it.

“You are thinking about this incorrectly,” Cassandra explained. “Affection is not ownership.”

Joey looked at her quietly.

That… honestly tracked with everything he knew about her so far.

“You really wouldn’t care?” he asked carefully.

Cassandra studied him for a moment before answering.

“You came back for me against Silas when every instinct should have told you to run.” Her voice softened slightly. “You protected Crystal. You protect people even when you are terrified.”

She brushed her fingers gently along his jaw.

“I am not worried about losing you, Joey.”

That hit him embarrassingly hard.

Which Cassandra absolutely noticed through the bond.

Her smirk returned instantly.

“Oh no,” she purred. “That one landed.”

“Please stop emotionally perceiving me.”

“Never.”

Joey groaned into the pillow while Cassandra laughed and leaned down to kiss the corner of his mouth again.

Then she grabbed his phone from the nightstand and dropped it onto his chest.

“You should text her.”

“I don’t even know what to say.”

“You fought hunters with a haunted machete. Surely you can survive messaging a college student.”

“That was somehow less stressful.”

Cassandra rolled her eyes affectionately before settling against him again.

“Come now, burger boy,” she murmured against his neck. “Impress me.”