There was no answer from the worm. I'd never known it to remain dormant after I'd woken. I stood up from the bed and went to the bathroom to relieve myself. In the mirror, I saw the mess. I had multiple bite marks, dried blood, and ejaculate across my stomach, and Helmin's segments, along with my matted brown hair. I looked ravaged. 

The worm was awake. Good. "Sleeping. And he will be for some time."

I opened the shower door and sighed. "Shower, on, thirty-eight degrees Celsius, please." The water sprang to life, and I stepped into it. Substances ran from my body as I took a bit of body wash and a washcloth to my skin. 

That seemed to quiet it. I finished cleaning up, then dried off and put on a robe since my clothes were likely still on the balcony. When I opened an audio call to the concierge desk, I was not surprised when Felven answered.

"Good afternoon, may we assist you?"

"Hello, Felven."

"Quinn? Why are you still in the guest's room?"

"It's a very long story. Could you have room service bring me lunch and dinner? I'll be here until he wakes."

"Certainly. Would you like me to charge the room?"

"No, charge my employee account." Felven was quiet. "And please cancel my appointments for today. I don't believe I'm scheduled to help in the spa, but I have a few classes this afternoon." And one I already missed earlier in the morning. 

The quiet continued, and I wondered if I was disconnected. "Quinn, are you safe?"

That was a good question that might have been excellent to ask before now. "I'm safe. The guest is safe. No cause for alarm."

"I'll convey your sentiments to management."

"Thank you. I appreciate your discretion, Felven."

"Be well, my friend."

I disconnected the call and found myself with nothing to do but watch holo or read. The room tablet had access to a large number of periodicals from across the planet. I opened the Amsterdam Times, which covered most of the upper eastern seaboard territories. There wasn't anything unusual about most of the articles until I found one with the headline: "Valentino Household Missing After Estate Fire." 

Covens were not to be trifled with. This was likely the safest place for Mateo. They would not dare to attempt anything directly. There were too many wards and safety measures. However, it would not harm anything to send a communication to Felven so that security would know if any members of the east coast covens arrived. 

Lunch arrived via a hatch system set next to the door. Some companions had their own rooms, others shared with their vampire host. The hatch allowed for items to be passed through while maintaining the daylight security of the room. 

The fact that Helmin had not conveyed its hunger nor spoke was peaceful and slightly odd. It was my constant companion for a very long time. However, this was the first time I'd not experienced its hunger as a persistent need. 

I spent much of the afternoon reading and meditating until the early evening. When Mateo finally woke, I was eating my second meal of the day. He showered, exited the bathroom in a robe, selected a bottle of wine with two glasses then joined me at the table. 

"Do you drink?"

"No, not regularly."

"Would you like to join me?" I gave him a slight nod, and he poured me a third of the amount that he poured himself. "Did a slightly judgemental smile appear on your face just now?"

"It might have been a smile. I don't know that it was all that judgemental. More amused than anything."

Mateo smiled. "Amused is acceptable." He took a drink. "Did you know that your friend talks while you sleep?"

I nearly choked on my microgreens. 

"By that reaction, I am guessing the answer is no." His smile spread to a grin. "Helmin was very affectionate with its words, albeit slurred. You're right in the fact that it's quite taken with me. Although I have to admit, I've never had a non-bipedal paramore."

"I was unaware that Helmin had that much control of my language and speech. I suppose I should consider myself lucky that it does not have a grasp of my gross motor functions."

Mateo slowly swirled the glass in his hand. "I wouldn't be surprised if Helmin develops that ability in time. The more integrated the two of you become, the more abilities it will work out for itself."

I couldn't decide if that bothered me or not, so I changed the subject to something more awkward, but one I knew bothered me. "Did we have intercourse last night?"

"Strictly speaking, no." Mateo's smile dimmed. "It's not that I wouldn't have wanted to, but when Helmin spoke and said you were unconscious, we stopped what we were doing. Besides, it was near the time I usually sleep. So I brought you inside, and Helmin kept me company until the daylight took me. I do apologize for not cleaning you up, but Helmin thought it would upset you." Mateo set down his glass and folded his arms on the table.

My food seemed less appealing. "Thank you. Helmin was right. Seeing the evidence of what happened helped, though it did not occur to me to ask the worm what it remembered. I assumed it had passed out with me."

"How is Helmin?" Mateo picked up his glass again. 

"Quiet, even now. It is the first time I have not felt its hunger." Mateo's smile returned. I found myself admiring his smile, his gentle face, the ease of our conversation. While I pieced the previous evening's events together, Mateo was patient with me. "How are you this evening?"

"Sated. Blissfully, sated." Mateo reached his hand toward me, and I, who had not physically touched anyone in a long time until last night, found my own hand gravitating toward his offered one. "You are a very, very remarkable individual, Quinn. Helmin is also. I would like to make up for last night, if I may."

"Make up for it? How?" While we might not have had intercourse, I remember a certain amount of pleasure before I slipped into unconsciousness. I wasn't sure I was ready for another night as intense as the previous one.

"Tonight is about your pleasure. What would you like? Helmin gave me its promise that it would assist." I must have had a shocked look on my face because Mateo laughed. "Oh, come now, Helmin may be blunt, but it does care about you. Quite a lot, actually. Helmin was upset at first and thought we had harmed you last night. It was the one that stopped us when it realized what had happened to you."

That was a lot to process. I knew Helmin cared, but I thought it was in regards to survival and our connection, not actual concern. 

"Maybe I should start with a few questions instead," Mateo said as he squeezed my hand then let go of it. I found myself missing the contact. 

I shrugged. "You may, but I also reserve the right to not answer."

"Oh, playing a bit of hard-to-get, I like it." Mateo picked up his wine and finished it off. He played with the glass a moment before he set it down. "I do tend to woo people before I dine from them or have sex with them. I apologize again for the abruptness of everything yesterday. While you did consent, I felt it might have been under duress from the two other parties involved. So my first question is, did you enjoy last night, or did you feel left out or without a say?"

My mouth felt dry, so I picked up my wine glass and took a drink. "I felt," so many things last night, but several words came to mind. "....included, cherished," my gaze met Mateo's, and a smile tugged at my lips, "....accepted." After that, I felt brave enough to continue. "Last night was very pleasurable until I could no longer participate."

"Ah, we overwhelmed you."

"You did, though I admit, I don't know what I should have expected. This is not something I've done before."

"Sex?"

I shook my head. "No, I've had sex, though I've not entertained the notion of having sex with anyone after Helmin and I started to coexist."

"No one's approached you?"

"Many have, and I rebuffed their advances. It is hard to trust strangers with secrets you've kept because your family has taught you to keep them."

"Why were you honest with me then?"

It was a good question, so I spoke the truth as I saw it. "Helmin wanted more, and that was an influencing factor, but I realized after you accepted my worm that I also wanted more. That I should want more, with or without Helmin's interest."

"You seized an opportunity." Mateo smiled.

"Yes." 

"Would you like another? Opportunity, that is."

"With you?" 

Mateo nodded. 

"Yes, I would very much so."

"Finish your dinner. I'll make some arrangements." With that, Mateo got up from the table,  poured another glass of wine, and took it with him to the holo interface. I finished my dinner. I felt I might need the energy for the evening ahead of me.