Chapter 23
Twenty-Three
Marcus pushed the doorbell and took a step backward so that he was standing next to Ethan again.
He looked down at his lover and smiled. His blond hair was artfully styled off his face and he wore just a deep sapphire blue vest, leaving his muscular arms bare and perfectly accenting the gems in his collar.
The black leather pants looked as if they’d been painted onto his body the way they were molded to his every curve and hollow.
It was hard to keep his hands off Ethan’s ass.
“If you grab me, there’s going to be no hiding my erection,” Ethan warned in a low voice.
Marcus smirked. “Then everyone will be envious of me. They will know that I have the most beautiful pet who has the most beautiful cock.”
Ethan tilted his head, looking up at Marcus with a knowing smirk. “And if you’re a good boy tonight, you might get fucked by that beautiful cock.”
Marcus fought hard not to adjust himself at that thought. He had to admit that he’d wondered what it would be like to feel Ethan moving in him, his balls slapping against his ass.
But now was not the time for such thoughts.
They had come to see Winslow, a member of the American Ministry and the only one who lived within easy driving distance of Marcus.
The excuse for the visit was an easy one—there had been an unprovoked attack on Marcus’s home that resulted in the death of a clan member.
The Ministry was supposed to be keeping the peace.
But Marcus was also hoping to get the latest gossip and maybe spread a little of his own.
In preparation for the night, Rafe and Winter had come over to his town house to give Ethan some lessons on how to act as a pet.
It was probably for the best since he and Ethan hadn’t gotten much further than how a pet should act in bed.
That they had down to perfection, but it wouldn’t help them at Winslow’s.
After a couple of hours of instruction, Ethan was acting like the perfect, attentive, yet somewhat spoiled pet. God help him if Ethan actually started acting like that. He was both alluring and annoying, leaving Marcus unsure if he wanted to strangle him or fuck him.
The front door swung open, and a butler in a severe black uniform greeted them.
The man recognized Marcus, though Marcus couldn’t remember his name.
Marcus had been called before Winslow once as representative of his family to be reprimanded for some reckless adventure of Rafe’s.
Winslow was the only Ministry member to live within his city.
“Good evening, Marcus. I was unaware you had an appointment with Master Winslow,” the butler said, waving for them to enter the grand foyer.
The butler didn’t acknowledge Ethan, but that was to be expected.
He was an accessory. While it rankled Marcus, he reminded himself that this would work to their advantage later.
“Unfortunately, there wasn’t time for scheduling an appointment.
My clan has been attacked. Winslow needs to deal with this immediately,” Marcus demanded, raising his voice.
Rafe would undoubtedly be disappointed by his lack of extravagant temper tantrum, but such a display would have been out of character for him.
“I’m so sorry to hear that, sir. If you would follow me to the lounge, I will inform Master Winslow that you are here.”
Marcus gave a stiff nod, and they walked across the foyer to a pair of open double doors.
The room was larger than the typical lounge, with two leather sofas and matching chairs.
The curtains over the floor-to-ceiling windows had been pulled back to reveal a clear black sky glittering with stars.
An ornate chandelier shone overhead, casting warm light over the richness of the room.
“Can I get you anything while you wait, sir?”
“Refreshment for my pet. A white wine would be nice and maybe something to nibble.” Marcus paused and smiled down at Ethan. “He needs to keep up his strength.” Ethan blushed and looked up at Marcus with an expression of pure adoration.
The butler gave a bow and left. Marcus watched Ethan turn around in the center of the room, taking in its richness, before looking at Marcus with a wink.
Shoving down his fears, Marcus smiled at Ethan.
Anxiety crawled over his skin, and there was a little voice demanding that he pull Ethan into his arms and carry him out of that house.
It was one thing for Ethan to be in Rafe’s home.
Ethan would always be safe around his family.
The home of another vampire was an entirely different story.
One of the most effective ways to attack a vampire was to strike through his pet.
Too often he’d witnessed “unfortunate accidents” where a pet was maimed or killed because a vampire played too rough.
No one played with his Ethan. No one touched his Ethan, ever.
“Get that footstool there,” Marcus said, pointing to a leather cushion on intricately carved wooden legs.
“Pull it over to my chair.” He then selected a chair and sat.
Ethan hurried to follow his instructions, though he might have been careful to position himself so that Marcus got a very clear view of his ass when he bent over to pick up the footstool.
Marcus could only smirk at his antics, not quite sure if Ethan was trying to tempt him or if he was merely playing the part of the attentive and sexual pet. It was likely a little of column A and a little of column B in this case.
Ethan carried the footstool over and placed it directly beside Marcus’s chair but a little in front of him. Once he took his place, Marcus ran his hand through Ethan’s hair in a slow caress before wrapping his fingers around the back of his neck.
“Perfect.”
“Fuck, Marcus,” Ethan whispered. “It’s like my body can’t decide whether to be scared or aroused.”
Marcus tightened his hand on Ethan’s neck a tiny bit. “Be a good boy, and I’ll make you come on the drive home.”
“Yep. Gonna go with aroused.”
Footsteps echoed through the hall for a couple of seconds before a tall man with blond hair so pale it was nearly white appeared.
His sharp dark eyes paused for only a second on Ethan before continuing on to Marcus.
Pushing to his feet, Marcus kept one hand on Ethan, holding him down on the footstool.
“Marcus, Slate brings me news of an attack,” Winslow said as he drew closer. “Is your clan well and safe?”
“If it was, would I be here?” Marcus snapped. He waited until Winslow chose a seat across from him before returning to his own. The butler, Slate, placed a tray on the table in front of Ethan with a glass of white wine and a charcuterie board with a selection of cheeses, crackers, nuts, and meats.
“Very true,” Winslow said with a weary sigh as he dropped in his chair. “Can you tell me what happened?”
“My house was invaded by humans with weapons and body armor. Two of my brothers were visiting at the time. We had just dispatched the humans when they were followed by vampires. Vampires and humans working together to attack me and my family!” Marcus didn’t have to fake his anger and outrage.
The fact that someone had weaponized the humans and turned them into a battering ram was disturbing.
It meant that everyone needed to increase their daytime security.
There was always the threat of the random, rogue assassin infiltrating a vampire’s lair during the daylight hours, but the chance of an entire army hitting a house and killing everyone within was a terrifying thought.
Deep lines of concern dug into Winslow’s face and he sat back in his chair, glaring at the floor for a moment. “Was anyone—”
“Julianna. My mother. She’s gone.”
“Marcus…I’m so very sorry.”
Marcus fought to keep the fresh anger from showing on his face.
Winslow’s comments rang as less than sincere.
He knew that most of the vampire community were not fans of Julianna.
She was a dangerous loose cannon. She was an unknown entity that could destroy their secret on one very bad night.
That didn’t mean she deserved to die. Marcus and his brothers had kept the situation under control.
“She died protecting my pet.” Marcus stroked Ethan’s hair, and Ethan leaned his head against the arm of Marcus’s chair, moving that much closer to his touch.
“I can understand why. He’s quite lovely. I didn’t know you had one. I didn’t think you believed in pets.”
“I thought they were a nuisance, but then I found Ethan. His skills and beauty were quite convincing that pets could be enjoyable.”
Ethan looked up at Marcus and fluttered his eyelashes. “I want to be your perfect pet,” he purred.
“Perfect pet? Is someone talking about me?” asked a playful female voice.
Marcus looked up from Ethan’s doting gaze to see a slender young woman stroll into the room, wearing a skirt that was slit straight up to her hip.
Long, shapely legs flashed in the red material with every step she took.
Her top covered only her breasts, leaving bare a soft, flat stomach.
She elegantly lowered herself to Winslow’s feet, wrapping one arm and a leg around Winslow’s left leg.
“We were talking about Marcus’s new pet, dearest,” Winslow said, stroking his hand absently through her fire-red hair.
“He’s adorable. And such a pretty collar,” she gushed, though her eyes were less than welcoming as she carefully watched Ethan.
“The Variks are known for having exquisite taste in expensive things. We shouldn’t be surprised that it extends to their pets.”
“While this is all fine and good, I want to know what the Ministry plans to do about the attack on my family. About the unprovoked attack and death of Julianna,” Marcus snarled.