Chapter 5
TOBIAS
Kate didn’t question Tobias when he turned up to work dressed more suitably for a fancy date, rather than for a day arranging shelves.
The polished brogues, brown cord trousers, and moss-green shirt certainly fit the Bodleian’s aesthetic, but Tobias had also chosen the outfit for one other reason – he wanted to continue to lure Alexander in, and he knew the trousers made his arse look irresistible.
His second day passed easily enough, although he spent a lot of time checking the clock, getting increasingly jittery as the hours wore on.
Finally, it was less than an hour until he would be leaving the library and heading over the main street to the restaurant Alexander had picked.
When it was finally time to clock out, Tobias grabbed his bag and nearly bolted out of the library. He left the library so quickly that he nearly smacked right into Alexander. He was standing so close to the entrance it felt as though he was the one to set a trap.
Alexander’s dark hair had been slicked back.
All but a single strand that fell over his forehead in a perfectly lain swoop.
He wore a three-piece navy tweed suit with ivory buttons, butterfly stitching, and silver cufflinks.
He smiled wryly down at Tobias before grabbing him by the shoulders and guiding him a pace back.
“Going somewhere in a hurry?” Alexander chuckled. “Thought I was trying to avoid you?” Tobias retorted. “Maybe. You’re early.”
“As are you.” Tobias feigned a smile, lowering his gaze, trying to seem bashful at being caught so excited to see Alexander. “Hello, professor.”
Alexander’s mouth tipped upwards, flashing his perfectly straight, very white teeth.
“Hello,” Alexander replied. “Is it too forward to say how glad I am to see you?”
Tobias shrugged. “I’d be disappointed if you said otherwise, to be honest.”
Alexander made no attempt to touch him, or even come closer; he looked strangely nervous. Tobias gave him a once-over look and a flirty wink, hoping to inspire some kind of reaction in Alexander.
Just as he hoped, Alexander flushed and cleared his throat, nervously tugging at his tie like he needed to give his hand something to do. “You look ravishing.”
Tobias smiled looking down at his outfit. “Oh, this? I just dug it out of the back of my closet.”
“Yes, that.” Alexander paused, taking in a deep breath. “You should know I’m not usually quite so early. But something told me that I shouldn’t stay away and give you the chance to escape. Not after you skipped out last night. I had to make sure you weren’t going to disappear on me again.”
“Are you always so blunt?” he asked, surprised at how open Alexander was being. If he was honest with Tobias, it would make his job that much easier. “Or does your mouth run away from you when you’re nervous?”
“Only with those who interest me,” Alexander replied, turning his back on the library and offering Tobias his arm. “Do I come across as nervous to you, Tobias?”
“I would say so,” Tobias retorted as he threaded his arm with Alexander’s. “Hungry?” Tobias asked as they started to walk, skirting around the humans who were milling around the old courtyard.
“Famished,” Alexander answered, a slight edge beneath the word. “How about you?”
“That depends on who’s paying,” Tobias said, already knowing that tonight, it certainly wouldn’t be him.
Alexander wasn’t the type of man who allowed a date to pay, and Tobias was fairly sure that he’d have a chance to repay Alexander after dessert.
He’d have dreaded it, except now, being in Alexander’s presence, the idea of seducing him didn’t seem like so much of a chore.
Since the kiss on the cheek was so well received, Tobias picked his next move with a little more confidence. “I should’ve brought a coat.”
“Are you cold?”
Tobias lifted Alexander’s arm and wrapped it over his shoulder. As he nestled in, exhaling a pleasured breath, he added for effect, “I was, but this is much better.”
Alexander’s stiffness lasted only a second before he relaxed into Tobias. “Yes, it is.”
One night with Alexander Damianos, that was all Tobias needed.
One night to manipulate his way closer to Vladimir.
He would show Alexander how otherworldly he could be, then string him along, make him desperate and needy – completely reliant, really.
And Tobias was confident he could do it, because he had played over this very night in his mind too many times to count.
There was nothing that would surprise him.
Or so he thought.
As they entered Quod, the restaurant had already begun to fill.
There was a man in the corner, playing a melody on a grand piano decorated with fresh flowers.
Couples sat opposite each other at small tables, eye-fucking over flutes of champagne.
Alexander was speaking to a stiff-lipped waiter while Tobias searched where they would be taken to.
It turned out that none of the clearly available tables ended up being where they would be dining.
Through the busy room, amongst the aroma of confit duck, steamed salmon, and spiced pear compote, their waiter led them towards a set of stairs.
Alexander gestured for Tobias to go up first. As Tobias walked up the stairs ahead, he made sure to sway his hips a little more than usual.
Alexander exhaled behind him; it was clearly worth the effort Tobias was putting in trying to seduce him.
At the top, the stairs opened to a hallway which led to yet another door.
Through it was the most romantic scene Tobias had ever seen.
And that said a lot, considering he’d been around a long while.
The rooftop balcony had been decorated like something out of a movie.
A single table, small enough to fit only two, was set up beneath a trellis of vines and vibrant flowers.
Fairy lights lit up the space, some even dripping like falling stars or vines from the wooden structure over the table.
A late-autumn drizzle was starting to fall, but between the glass panels hidden by the shrubbery and the two overly large electric heaters that were stationed above the table, the area was bone dry, warm, and utterly breathtaking.
“Risky place for a meal when it’s freezing and threatening rain,” Tobias said, pretending to be unimpressed.
“Don’t fret, darling. I’ve been checking the forecast all day, and the most tonight is going to be is chilly, and the rain should hold.
The heaters have been set up to make sure you’re not too cold, but let me know if it becomes too much.
” Alexander extended his hand, palm up, his brows lifting slightly upon his brow. “See. It’s perfectly dry.”
“What about you? Won’t you be cold, or is that tweed impenetrable to low temperatures?” Tobias couldn’t help teasing Alexander, just a bit.
“Now it’s your turn to worry about me. How sweet,” Alexander said in jest, patting Tobias on the backside with a swift but gentle hand.
Tobias shoved down the bolt of arousal that shot through him, yet another reaction that wasn’t planned.
“I’m sure we can discuss ways of warming up, if the moment calls for it. ”
There was no quelling the huff of surprise that left Tobias’ mouth at Alexander’s brashness, nor the warm imprint left by his touch.
It was no surprise, though, when Alexander pulled out the chair for him. As he sat, he made sure to watch Alexander through his lashes. “This all seems like overkill.”
“Why?” Alexander replied, sweeping his jacket back as he sat opposite him. “I enjoy the finer things in life. I apologise if this is off-putting, but I thought you’d appreciate a change in scenery.”
“Is my reliance on cheap meal deals and fast food that obvious? Or are you trying to offend me with your assumptions?”
Alexander shrugged, taking the napkin and shaking it out before laying it on his lap. “What can I say, I’m extremely well practised at reading the details of a person. No offence is meant.”
Bullshit, Tobias thought. You just want to show off your unlimited money to get into my pants. “Indulge me. What has our minimal interaction exposed about me so far?”
Alexander couldn’t answer right away since the waiter swept over and began pouring wine.
Red, of course. And Tobias couldn’t tell if Alexander’s need to spin the wine around the glass, smell it, and then taste it only added to his pretentious nature, or if it was almost endearing.
Like, did this man really believe this was how he would work himself into Tobias’ bed?
Once Alexander was satisfied that the bottle of 1960s Chateauneuf-du-Pape was sufficient, he finally answered Tobias’ question.
“I think you’re someone who’s open to having a little fun.”
“So I’m both lacking taste and you think I’m easy.” Tobias felt himself flush. Alexander wasn’t supposed to be the one unbalancing him by reading him so perfectly.
The professor studied him over the rim of his glass like the prey he no doubt believed Tobias was.
Tobias wondered if this was how he’d looked at Aubrey the first time he’d wined and dined him – or at any of the hundreds of other men and women he’d no doubt romanced and then killed over the centuries.
“I suppose your brash nature did. I’m confident you offered to suck my cock last night, in a roundabout way of saying it. ”
Tobias had known his seduction was working, but hadn’t suspected it was working this well. He spluttered on his drink, taking a moment to right himself.
“Did I speak out of turn?” Alexander’s eyes burned as he looked at Tobias over the rim of his glass.
“Maybe,” Tobias demurred, carefully adjusting his feet beneath the table.
Could he reach out and run a foot up Alexander’s leg?
He wanted to try, but he hesitated. Alexander enjoyed a chase, he knew that – so he couldn’t be too obviously easy if he wanted to keep him interested.
“If you think I made my desires clear, then why the need for all of this? If I’m an easily impressed man, you don’t need to wine and dine me to get my clothes on your floor. ”
“Oh, I know that,” Alexander said, refusing to take his eyes off Tobias.
“But I do want to do this. I’ve needed a good distraction the last few days.
If it makes you feel less like you’ll need to owe me something, play along.
Give in to the atmosphere. At the least, I promise you’ll have a delicious meal. ”
There was something more that Alexander wasn’t saying. Tobias opened himself up to Alexander’s aura, allowing a brief insight into whatever Alexander was truly feeling behind the flirtatious mask. Alexander glowed with a halo of blood-red crimson, the colour of deep resentment.
“Work drama stressing you out?” Tobias asked, leaning on the table, his fingers toying with the stem of the glass.
“More like daddy issues,” Alexander replied, biting his lip, his eyes going distant.
Tobias couldn’t hide his utter surprise at the blatant answer.
Alexander shook his head as if to clear it and then fixed his charming grin back onto his face.
“But don’t concern yourself with that. I took the liberty of ordering tonight’s dinner.
Which means you have no reason to focus on anything but me. ”
“Then where would you like to start, Professor Damianos?” Tobias put a soft purr in his tone as he said Alexander’s title.
“If you don’t mind, I would like to begin by getting to know you,” Alexander replied. “From the beginning. Family? Desires in life? Deepest regrets, that sort of thing. Anything to distract me from my own drama.”
Tobias took a moment to compose himself, because the true answer was something he couldn’t ever say: Well, your father was the reason my entire family died.
He cursed me to be a monster nearly five hundred years ago.
My desire in life is to cause him even a fraction of the pain he caused me. My deepest regret…
Of course, all of that couldn’t be said, so Tobias relayed the story he had told many other people in his life.
No matter how well-rehearsed it was, lying about something so personal hurt deeply.
At least the pain was a reminder that no matter how charming the man before him might be, he was nothing more than a means to the most important goal in Tobias’ life – seeking revenge for his family.
“You’ll regret asking that,” Tobias said, strategically morphing his face into one of despair. “I don’t have the most wholesome of life stories.”
Alexander blanched. “Forget I asked.”
“No, it’s okay.” Tobias waved a hand. “I want you to know.”
What came out of his mouth wasn’t exactly the truth, or a lie either. More like a twisted recount of the tragedy, crafted perfectly to further Tobias’ allure.
And, of course, it worked. By the time the first course came out, Alexander Damianos practically had his heart in the centre of Tobias’ palm, ready to be caressed – or squashed.