Edwin kissed him again, his touch soothing. “Fuck’s sake, behave yourself,” he hissed. “This isn’t about you.”
Sorley whined. “I need him.” He wriggled free enough to press the heel of his hand to his throbbing groin.
He felt Alec’s soft puff of laughter against his spine. “Mon Dieu, you are the horniest vampire I have ever known. Let the poor man drink his fill. You will have eternity to fuck.”
Dalziel grunted. “Behave yourself, Sorley, or youwillbe going to the cellar to cool off.” His tone changed, gentle but steely firm, seductive, every inch the vampire of myths and legends — utterly impossible to resist. “You’re doing so well, Gethin. A little more. Yes, of course you can take more. You want to rest, yes, I know. Soon you can sleep. You will feel so much better when you awake. So strong, so bright, so ready for your lover.”
It was too much. Sorley turned his head into Edwin’s shoulder. “Get me out of here.”
He refused to head down to the basement. Instead, he wrapped his arms around himself and paced up and down the length of the former scullery where the door to the cellar was located. Alec and Edwin eyed him cautiously, one at each end of the small room.
“I couldn’t stay there and listen to Dalziel chatting him up!” he cried finally. “He’s sex on a fucking stick and he’s usingthatvoice on myboyfriend. He doesn’t even want him.” A choked sob broke free. “I need Gethin! Ihurtwithout him.” His skin felt too tight for his bones. “What if he dies? Could you hear his heartbeat? Could you!?”
“Fucking hell, calm down. Gethin is fine. Dalziel’s using thrall to get him to drink, as you bloody well know, you muppet. You’re just sulking ’cause you’re so horny you can’t see straight but yourlurve bondhas your conscience tied in knots and wrapped in a pretty pink bow.” Edwin huffed loudly, and adjusted his own package in his tailored trousers. “I’ve got some sympathy with the horny part. The pheromones flying about in there were a bit much. Lucky Charley, running off to get nailed to the nearest flat surface.” He halted Sorley’s pacing to get his attention. “Will you be all right with Alec for a minute if I find Pavel and grab some blood?”
“Leave Pavel if he’s resting,” Sorley muttered. “You can find a fridge and use a microwave like the rest of us. You’re not helpless.”
“Maybe I like the idea of having staff.” His friend bared his fangs as he strolled out in search of a drink.
Sorley resumed his lengths of the scullery, counting his steps under his breath until finally Alec grimaced and caught Sorley by the arm. “For heaven’s sake, stop pacing. It won’t help you or tire you out, as you well know.”
Sorley snapped his teeth, but he stopped. “Fuck’s sake, I need todosomething.”
“You can’t,” Alec said baldly. “We wait. Dalziel’s blood will work on Gethin, then you will get your man back. This is how it goes and you know it.” He waggled his brows. “Of course, there issomethingyou could do, but you have developed the affliction called love, so I am afraid you will have to deal with your baser urges alone — for now.” He grinned. “Whereas I’m wondering whether Edwin would be amenable to—”
“Ha! Don’t get your hopes up, love.” Edwin sauntered back in, licking his lips and with a half empty packet of blood in one hand. “I’m not nearly as toppy as I look.”
Sorley snorted, his anguish over Gethin momentarily pushed aside. “Oh dear, this won’t end well.”
Alec gave Edwin a haughty look. “And what exactly does that mean?”
Sorley stopped pacing. This could be fun. “Yes, do go on, Eddie. What do you mean?”
Edwin looked between the pair, suddenly less confident. “Uh, have I made an incorrect assumption about your sexuality, Alec?”
Alec rolled his eyes, then fixed them on Edwin. “Unless by some bizarre quirk of stupidity you have decided I am straight, no.”
Edwin waved a hand at Alec’s tiny five-foot-five frame. “But you’re…”
Alec’s glare intensified. “I advise you to consider your next words very carefully. You know what they say about stereotypes.”
Edwin’s eyes bugged. “Are you a top?”
Sorley grinned. “I think I’ll leave you two to work out your sexual frustrations. Eddie,” He clapped him on the shoulder as he passed, “good luck grovelling, pal. I’m sure you’ll find a way to make it up to him.” He chortled. “On your knees would be a good start.”
Gethin was lying as still as a corpse on the chaise longue, his previous warm skin tone now tinged with blueish-grey. It was no comfort that it would change again. Dalziel glanced up from a tablet as Sorley came in.
“He is fine. Are you recovered enough to be around him?”
Sorley nodded, his throat tight. “I’m worried though.”
“I know, but you are at the point of offending me. At no time in my three centuries have I lost anyone I turned. Gethin is fit and healthy. The fact he is a wolf is of no consequence. Well, maybe a little, because he is such a big man, but my blood will work, even if it takes longer than usual. Listen to his body and reassure yourself. I need to feed. I shall return very soon.”
Sorley sat gingerly on the edge of the chaise and palmed Gethin’s forehead; it felt neither warm nor cold. Vampire temperature, in fact. That had to be a good sign, right? He sighed and made enough space for him to perch on the edge of the chaise and lay his head over Gethin’s heart.
“I love you. Ineedyou,” he whispered. “Come back to me quickly, my love.” His own heart ached, a band of pain squeezing the infuriating organ and making his eyes smart with yet more unsheddable tears.
Gethin’s heart thudded. Sorley waited, utterly still. A long minute later, it thumped again. Dalziel returned and sat back in his armchair, quiet and still.
