Which seemed to only amuse Takashi more.
Which made Zack want to explode, but he couldn’t. And life wasn’t fair because while smug didn’t work for most guys, it was working pretty well for Takashi. Even better than it ever did for Roger.
“I’d hope he’d be someone we could share,”Roger had said.
Roger and Takashi had been together before. Was Roger already … did he want Takashi back? Was there some sort of talk between them? Zack held in a groan. He hated not knowing everything.
Takashi leaned in. At first, Zack worried he was going for a kiss, and his mind spun. There were too many people watching, and he hadn’t expected to be kissing anyone in public. Ever.
Instead, Takashi put his cheek against Zack’s and whispered in his ear, “We can learn useful information while we wait for Roger. We don’t have to poke our heads out far, but an empty room wouldn’t do us any good.”
Creatures that stuck out their heads tended to be the ones who got them bitten off, but Zack had to concede that Takashi had a point. He’d been so thrown off by Candide’s display upstairs he’d forgotten what his mission should be that night. Recon.
“You’re right, master,” Zack said softly.
“Glad you approve,” Takashi purred before stepping away.
Rather than letting his hormones absorb his focus like they were begging to do, Zack stowed the potential fantasies about Takashi and took in details of the room as they entered. It was another lavish sitting room with chairs and couches. An occasional coffee table broke up the space, though two pets were using one of the lower ones as additional seating. Beautiful, framed photographs of different locations around the world hung on the walls. Despite the crowd, the room had a stark feeling, a coldness that permeated the entirety of the Chateau.
Thankfully, there were two empty chairs in the back corner. Observing without having to socialize would be easier for Zack, and they wouldn’t have to worry about people sneaking up behind them. He was grateful Takashi snaked his way through the room to those seats instead of trying for one of the few couch seats. After all, Zack, Kit, and Carver would be expected to sit on the floor if Takashi took one of those.
Takashi took the seat that had the best view of the room while Kit plopped into the other like they didn’t have a care in the world. Zack couldn’t tell if it was an artful act or if Kit really didn’t care that they were in the devil’s nest. Meanwhile, Carver looked a few shades paler than normal, and he sat on the floor between the seats.
Thrumming with too much nervous energy, Zack leaned against the wall beside Takashi’s chair. Ten other vampires were hanging out in the sitting room. Judging from the collars, there were six other head pets, fifteen regular pets, and five donors making rounds through the room. Two servants, denoted with brown collars, were picking up empty glasses and taking the occasional order, usually from a vampire.
“Zackery,” Takashi said lightly and then absentmindedly patted his lap.
Zack clenched his jaw and did a quick sweep of the nearby room. Had anyone else heard him? Kit and Carver must have. Even if no one else had, those two expected him to act like a pet.
Which meant he had to obey.
Fuck me. Zack pushed off the wall and sat on Takashi’s lap, facing out into the room.
Takashi put his arms around Zack, his touch featherlight, and murmured in his ear, “There we go. Now we can share what we see.”
Was there anything Takashi did that didn’t have six motives behind it? Zack leaned his head back against Takashi’s shoulder. “Who says I’m sharing?”
“Careful, I might think you don’t like me,” Takashi teased.
“Maybe I don’t.”
“I’m wounded. I adore you.”
“You don’t know me,” Zack replied.
Takashi stroked Zack’s arm. His touch was cool where the mesh was open, like he was dotting Zack’s skin with ice as he moved. His voice was low and gentle in his ear, a continuing whisper. “I have had the opportunity to study you, and I find plenty to admire. I’d love the chance to sink my teeth into you and discover what you taste like. And if not your blood, perhaps something else.”
The flirt made Zack blush, and he hated that anyone in the room would not only see his reddened cheeks but that the vampires might be able to feel that thin tendril of desire coiling in his stomach. Takashi could feel his every squirm, and he was having trouble sitting still.
And he accidentally made eye contact with Carver, who was suppressing a knowing grin.
Panic slithered through Zack’s mind and started growing walls between the cracks in his thoughts. Anyone could see him on Takashi’s lap. Anyone could see that he had a bandage on his thigh and another on his wrist. He kept searching the crowd for anyone who was judging him. Was that redhead staring? Was the guy with the dreads giggling at him?
“Hey,” Takashi murmured. He was nudging Zack’s hip.
Oh God, what does he want from me? He can’t possibly want sex. Not here! Right?Startled, Zack jumped up from Takashi’s lap. When Takashi grabbed for him, Zack instinctively slipped his grip. His lungs hurt. Why did his lungs hurt? Theydidn’t have air. He wasn’t breathing right. Why was he standing? Why was Kit staring at him like that?
Suddenly, Carver leapt to his feet, and he wrapped his beefy arms around him, instantly tucking Zack’s against his shoulder, one hand on the back of his head. He muttered, “It’s a hug. Just a hug. Nobody can see you.”
