Chapter 62
Rafe’s New Bed
Philippe leaned on the bar of Rafe’s nightclub, watching the crowd of people dancing to the thumping music, drinking the expensive beverages, and having a good time. He’d agreed to monitor the place while Rafe saw to some unexpected work in their penthouse.
His mate had been bubbling over with ill-concealed excitement from the moment they woke this evening.
Rafe had a surprise.
Since falling for the interesting vampire, Philippe had learned that he could never anticipate what his lover would come up with next.
Considering he was already more than a couple of centuries old, Rafe surprising him was a spectacular feat. Until he’d met Rafe, he’d thought nothing could surprise him any longer. But his Rafe was constantly proving him so very wrong.
“Still no idea what that lunatic has planned?”
Philippe’s head popped up, and he smiled at his oldest friend, Jullien, who slid onto the empty stool beside him.
“I don’t. He said he wanted it to be a surprise, and Rafe is very good at his surprises.”
“Have you reminded him that King Aiden finally has the domain under control? That we’re all enjoying the peace. We’d very much like it if he didn’t destroy it with his nonsense.”
“Why are you so sour tonight? Rafe isn’t going to destroy anything.
” Philippe’s eyes traveled down the bar, and he spotted just the person he needed.
With a wicked grin, Philippe waved a hand to catch Lola’s attention and motioned for her to come join them at their end of the bar.
From the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Jullien dropping his head and almost shrinking his body at the approach of the very sexy vampire.
Jullien would never admit such a thing, but he was smitten with the woman, and Philippe was determined to keep placing them within each other’s vicinity until Jullien cracked.
“Evening, Philippe, Jullien,” Lola murmured, her voice barely reaching above the music as she joined them.
“Do you know anything about Rafe’s surprise?” Philippe inquired.
She lifted a sculpted eyebrow at him. “Do you really think I’d ruin Rafe’s surprise if I knew something?”
Philippe chuckled and shook his head. “No, I don’t.”
“Would you at least tell us if Rafe was plotting something that would rain hell and destruction on our heads?” Jullien grumbled.
Philippe didn’t have a chance to chastise him—Lola had placed her forearms on the bar and leaned toward Jullien, her long fingers inches away from his. “What’s wrong, Jullien? Aren’t you in the mood for a little fun?”
“I think you and Rafe have a warped sense of fun.”
That reply only made her smile grow even wider. “You haven’t let me show you what kind of fun I like to have. You might enjoy it.”
Philippe bit his bottom lip at the obvious shiver that ran through Jullien. At least Lola was making some clear overtures toward Jullien, even if his old friend remained stuck in the mud.
Philippe’s phone vibrated in his pocket and he pulled it out to find a text from Rafe waiting for him.
Rafe: My surprise is ready for you! Come see, mon ange!
Rafe: Here is but a small taste.
Rafe: [image]
“Mon Dieu,” slipped from Philippe’s lips before he could catch it as his brain tried and failed to process the image of the bed. Was he serious? Rafe was redecorating their home.
“What? What happened?” Jullien demanded.
“Is that Rafe’s surprise?” Lola asked, sounding as if she were also curious. Maybe she didn’t know what her boss was up to.
Philippe pressed the phone to his chest and stared wordlessly at his companions, trying to remember the English language. “I—yes. His surprise. I need to go up to the penthouse. Do you have things under control down here? I should be back. Later.”
He was already stepping away from the bar as he spoke.
Lola laughed and lazily waved a hand at him. “Yeah, yeah. Go. We got it. See you tomorrow night.”
Philippe darted away, weaving through the crowd and various employees to get to the elevator. It was only when he stepped into the car that he realized he should have argued with Lola that he would return this evening.
No matter.
As the car zoomed up to the top floor, Philippe pulled his phone from his chest and dared to look at the picture of the enormous black bed again. What in the world? This was so very different from Rafe’s normal style and taste. He liked sleek, clean lines. Modern minimalism.
This was…this was very unexpected.
He sighed at his thought and shook his head. This was so very Rafe.
As he stepped off the elevator and crossed to the living room, he found his beautiful mate waiting for him, his arms spread wide. “There’s mon ange! I have the most wonderful surprise for you.”
Philippe’s eyes darted around the living room and the other bits of the penthouse he could see from where he stood.
So far, everything appeared the same. Apparently, Rafe was just redecorating their bedroom.
Okay. That was good. He might make fun of Jullien, but he was the same.
He needed his changes in small doses. Redecorating the bedroom alone was fine.
After pocketing his phone, Philippe stepped into Rafe’s waiting embrace. “I’m eager to see what you’ve been up to. Have you been feeling restless? Am I not keeping you entertained enough?”
Rafe huffed. “I thought it was time for something new. It’s not your job to entertain me. Simply love me.”
“And I love you with all of my heart and soul,” Philippe answered, tipping his face up toward Rafe.
His lover took the offering without question, losing them in a slow, deep kiss that wiped away Philippe’s trepidation and filled him with warm reassurance and a sense of safety that only Rafe could provide.
Philippe loved this man so completely. Rafe was his everything, and he would happily follow him into whatever chaos, hell, or heaven he pursued.
Rafe lifted his mouth from Philippe’s and smiled. “Are you trying to distract me?”
“Maybe give you a reason to try out that bed you showed me.”
Excitement lit Rafe’s eyes, and he grabbed Philippe’s hand, pulling him along to the bedroom.
Where Philippe was once again knocked speechless.
The black bed was even bigger in person, with its ornate headboard reaching almost to the ceiling.
It dominated the room with its size and overwhelming grandeur.
Through the delicate gothic lacework, he spied a soft pastel rainbow.
The room smelled of fresh paint, and all the furniture and knickknacks that had been in the room were now gone.
All the new furnishings matched the bed—black and dripping ornate gothic details.
“Mon Dieu,” he whispered a second time.
Rafe stepped up behind Philippe and wrapped his arms around his waist while placing his chin on his shoulder. “What do you think, mon ange?”
“Mon Dieu,” he repeated because he still didn’t have words.
“Tell me. Honestly. First thoughts.”
“I think you’ve erected a cathedral to worship at the feet of a great LGBT peacock god.” Philippe froze. He had not meant to say that out loud. The censor in his head remained locked in shock.
But relief surged through him as Rafe’s bright laughter filled the room.
“Yes! And our peacock god prefers to be honored with sex!” Rafe released Philippe so he could come to stand in front of him, his beautiful eyes alight with an inner fire that melted Philippe’s brain. “Sweaty, bone-melting sex. Only then will we please our rainbow god. Shall we worship, my love?”
“Yes, but I have one concern.”
Rafe became serious in a heartbeat. “What? How can I fix this?”
Philippe bent at the waist and pointed toward the visible legs of the bed. “Those are a bit…spindly. Are you sure they will hold during our more aggressive…worship?”
Rafe bent with him and narrowed his eyes on the legs in question. “That is an excellent point.” He turned his head toward Philippe and his smile became positively wicked. “But there is only one way to discover if our new bed can keep up with our desire.”
“Yes, my love. Let’s try it out.”