“What did you do?”
“Delegated.”
Devan laughed. “Excellent. I taught you well.”
Jonty smiled.
“I’ll be in tomorrow with you and I’ll take a look. You want to tell me what you’ve arranged so far for the Halloween event?”
“Not really. My head’s spinning.”
“I turned up the temperature on the hot tub.”
Jonty’s eyes widened.
“How about I make you some toast and we’ll sit outside for a while.”
“Every time I wonder if you really are the Best Boyfriend in the Entire Multiverse, you show me you totally are.”
“You wonder, do you?” Devan raised his eyebrows. “Does that happen often?”
“Regularly. You have competition, you know―have you seen my fan mail recently? I have to keep you on your toes.”
“You’ve had another message from a fan?”
“Yes, don’t sound so shocked.”
Jonty’s dancing and karaoke had been so popular in Matvey’s hotel when they’d visited Vladivostok, that Matvey had included clips on the hotel website, and fan mail to Jonty had followed. Jonty had a fabulous voice.
“You’re my biggest fan though, right?” Jonty slid his hand over Devan’s crotch.
“Absolutely. Get in the water and I’ll make your toast, Mr TikTok star. Jam? Peanut butter? Marmite? Or…though it pains me to offer it…honey and peanut butter.”
“Is there any bread? Or butter? Or jam? Or peanut butter? I know we have Marmite. That stuff would survive a nuclear holocaust.”
“I went shopping on the way up here.”
“Did you buy any horsey hooves?”
“No.”
Jonty whined. “Are you going to ask me to fasten the tins of beans to my feet?”
“Eh…?”
“Peanut butter, please.”
He stripped off as Devan watched, tossed his clothes onto the couch, then slid open the glass doors and took the cover off the hot tub. Devan didn’t turn away until Jonty was submerged in the water. It was impossible to look at him and not want him. Not just look. Jonty was so much more able than he gave himself credit for. He was sharp and smart. Really, Devan should have had no doubt that Jonty could pull off this Halloween event. Jonty could do anything he set his mind to.
On the other hand, there was no way he wanted Jonty to have to deal with Bruce. Devan hoped Bruce wasn’t up to something, but if Jonty suspected something was wrong, there probably was. He’d find out tomorrow.
When he joined Jonty by the hot tub, he brought out a couple of bottles of beer as well. He handed Jonty the plate of toast, stripped, then slid in beside him.
Jonty moved closer and kissed him. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Devan took a slug of beer, then leaned back and spread out his arms on the edge of the tub.
“Look at the stars,” Jonty whispered. “They’re so bright tonight. Makes me feel small and insignificant and a bit dull.”
“Fishing for compliments in our hot tub? You know that’s not where they’re kept.”
Jonty laughed. “Tell me where they are. Under the couch? In your pocket?”
“You’re not small, dull or insignificant. You’re the most important thing in my world.”
“Ahh. Thank you. Apart from your Aston Martin.”
“Obviously.”
“And the dogs.”
Devan laughed. “Feed me a bit of toast, sex slave.”
“Oh shit. It’s all gone. You didn’t say you wanted any. I’ll go and make you some.”
As Jonty stood up, Devan tugged him down. “I was just teasing.”
“Hmm. How good an actor are you?”
“Why?” Devan had learnt it was better to make sure he knew what he was letting himself in for before he answered some of Jonty’s questions.
“While I was talking to him, Alan mentioned murder-mystery. I don’t think we can do anything like Cluedo with the guests having to work out that the butler killed the gardener in the conservatory with a blowpipe. There’s just too many people and we don’t have a conservatory.”
“And there aren’t blowpipes in Cluedo.”
“There should be.”
“I don’t think there’s a gardener either.”
Jonty wailed. “Who made up that game? Well, we can have little groups acting something out in various places in the hotel. A staged piece of drama or music. Music might be better. I’ve asked Tay and Ink, and Mike and Willis if they’d do something. I thought we could too. I know it won’t be…professional, but I think it would be funnier. And cheaper. They’ll all do it for nothing apart from the meal.”
“What sort of thing did you have in mind?”
“Abduction, murder, torture. All three. Vampire-corrupts-angel sex. But that last bit’s just for you and me.” Jonty took a sip of beer and moved round in the water to straddle Devan’s legs. “Play along, okay?”
“Okay.” Easy to agree to anything when Jonty’s cock was pressed up against his.
“It was such a long way from the stars to get here, but how could I ignore your call? I like your…hot tub…Drake? That is your name? It sounded a bit like Drake Cooler. It’s a little warm in here though. You’re not trying to cook me, are you?”
Devan set his beer aside and ran his hands down Jonty’s arms. “You nice and tender,” he said in his best Transylvanian accent. “No need to cook.”
“You said you were hungry, but there’s no food.”
“I haff food.”
“What big eyes you have, Drake Cooler. Why are you looking at me like that?”
Devan leaned in and slowly licked up Jonty’s neck. “You beautiful. Make me happy to look at you.”
“What lovely ears you have.” Jonty nipped his ear.
“All the better to hear your bootiful scream… I mean bootiful voice.”
Jonty smiled and brushed his lips over Devan’s. “What big teeth you have,” he whispered.
“All the better to eat with. I feel thrum of pulse. Are you frightened, angel?”
“Of you? Never.”
“You should be.” Devan pulled Jonty in close and wrapped his hands around his arse. “No one know you here vith me. You smell delicious. I know you vill taste same. Just a little sip, my sweet angel. Von’t hurt, promise.”
“All my beer has gone.”
“Not beer I vant.” Devan squeezed the globes of Jonty’s backside, then bared his teeth and hissed. “I vant blood. Your blood. Angel blood vill make me live forever. Unite us forever.”
Devan gently sucked Jonty’s neck, then nipped it.
“Oh God,” Jonty reared up in the water. “Not Drake Cooler. Dracula! You tricked me.”
“Too late, little angel. Now you are mine. Forever.”
Jonty giggled as Devan pulled him back down and pushed him under the water.
5
Devan drove them to the hotel in Jonty’s car the next morning, with the dogs secured in the back seat. There was something about the wild beauty of Northumberland that made Devan feel less stressed, more human. Even on a cold grey day, as it was today, it somehow seemed easier to breathe. He’d walked the dogs on the beach while Jonty was still asleep. Devan hadn’t had the heart to wake him, he’d been so tired last night.