Zack leaned back into Roger and then winced as the first flare of embarrassment pushed past the fuzzy ecstasy. “And I was … uh. Loud?”
“Very,” Roger said with a soft rumble of pleasure. He wrapped his arms around Zack and stroked down the center of his chest with one hand. “I’m still unsure if I came because of the taste of your blood or the way you sounded as you came.”
“Everyone probably heard,” Zack said.
Roger spun Zack around in his arms, and the adrenaline of the sudden movement chased the fuzziness to the edges of his mind. Zack grabbed onto Roger’s shoulders as Roger held him close. A fierce scowl crossed Roger’s lips, but his eyes only had a blaze of righteous care in them. “I won’t let anyone make fun of you. Not even you, if I can help it.”
“Thanks,” Zack said with a soft chuckle. He let his hands glide down Roger’s arms before extracting himself from his hold. He slid into the fishnet shirt. “I think … I think I want to try it.”
“Try what?” Roger asked.
“Being poly.”
“Zack …”
“I get if you’re worried this is postorgasm bliss, but it’s deeper than that.” Zack put on the shorts, trying his best not to flinch as he put too much weight on his injured leg. The wound wasn’t that deep, but between it and the fucking, he was stiffer than usual. He sat on the edge of the bed to put on his socks andboots. “What we just shared was amazing. And I know letting people in means more than sex. But I’m curious. And you have all this love, and I don’t want to hog it or be the only source of it. You deserve as much love as you can handle too.”
Roger swept in for a kiss.
Zack grabbed him by the shirt and kept him close, lingering in the kiss. Then he murmured, “We don’t hide those relationships, though.”
“Of course not,” Roger said. He kissed Zack quickly again. “If someone breaks your heart, I need to know who they are so I can rip them to shreds.”
“Roger, you can’t plan on killing potential ex-partners,” Zack complained, but he couldn’t help grinning.
“I’m a vampire. I completely can.” Roger gave him another quick kiss before standing and holding his hand out. “Ready?”
“I still need to do my hair and makeup.” Zack rubbed his chin, then narrowed his eyes. “Did you ever finish that shave?”
“Damn it, I knew I forgot something.” Roger groaned. “At least this time, you’re dressed.”
Zack stood and held out his arms as he twisted around. “This counts asdressed? I mean, my perfectly round ass is in freaking spandex.”
Roger laughed and nudged Zack toward the bathroom. “Well, I, at least, will be able to contain myself. For now.”
“I don’t know,” Zack teased as he led the way. “All I had to do last time was be depressing and kiss you.”
“I’d suggest we get a third party to ensure we stay on task, but honestly, any of the three available witnesses would probably enjoy the show,” Roger said. With a sigh, he added, “But I am serious. We’re going to be later than we should, and we don’t want to upset Candide.”
“Fine, fine, fine. I’ll stay on target.” Zack started to clean up the disorganized mess the bottles and various toiletries hadbecome in order to find his shaving cream. “Let’s get the shave done. I’ll have Kit help me with the makeup in the limo.”
CHAPTER 13
Where the attitude in the limo the previous night had been filled with caution and drunken apprehension, the atmosphere was more akin to the impromptu intimate parties Roger was known for. The driver was a shifter that Dmitri had helped Roger hire, so the five of them had the back of the limousine to themselves. Kit, Zack, and Carver were dressed for display. Like Zack, Kit wore a fishnet shirt, though theirs was red to match their collar and hair, and shorter, slicker shorts. Carver had forgone a shirt and wore only a pair of sturdy black briefs along with his red collar.
Takashi had dark charcoal pants and a red dress shirt that coordinated in shade with Roger’s purple silk. He’d been wearing the matching suit jacket until Roger suggested he loosen up and leave it behind. The collar of his shirt was undone, and he had gold cufflinks of tiny anchors on his sleeves.
Kit had brought their makeup bag, and they embellished Zack’s natural features. Carver found the bottle of bourbon hiding in a compartment and poured some for himself.
After Kit was done with Zack, they asked if Carver wanted any, which led to a rabbit hole of a discussion between the three of them about whether or not Carver needed any makeup atall. The arguments back and forth were the type that Roger had heard dozens of different times from different people in different eras.
But the smiles Zack kept sneaking his way were breathtakingly new.
Takashi shared the back seat with him while the other three were closer to the driver’s partition. The limo could fit another half dozen in the space easily, but Kit and Zack had slid to where Carver had found the compartment of alcohol. Kit had joined in the drinking, but Zack hadn’t.
Takashi said quietly to Roger, “He seems in a better mood.”
“We talked a few things out,” Roger replied under his breath.
