Chapter 12
A year passed, during which the love Reynaud and Burke felt for each other deepened even more than they thought possible.
They had their moments, of course, when things went awry. Like the time Antoine sent Reynaud on a mission that could have proved deadly. Reynaud told Burke he was leaving, but not why. He returned two weeks later to be faced by a very angry lover.
Standing, arms akimbo, in the middle of his living room, Burke said, “I happened to run into Antoine a couple of nights ago. When I asked him when you’d be back he said ‘When you’ve dealt with the problem’. From the way he said it I knew you weren’t acting as his emissary, taking a message to another King.” He glared at Reynaud. “That’s what you made me think was happening.”
“I didn’t want you to worry,” Reynaud replied contritely. “It was nothing I couldn’t handle. Just a troublesome rogue. Since he knew who to look out for in that territory, I was its King’s secret weapon. It happens at times.”
“Yeah? Well, next time, be honest with me. I’d rather worry about your safety than wonder why the hell it’s taking so long and if maybe you met someone new. Another vampire who caught your fancy.”
“Burke, damn it! That is not going to happen.”
“So you say.” Burke turned his back on Reynaud, striding to the window to stare out at the dark night sky.
“How many times do I have to tell you I love you before you truly believe me?” Reynaud asked, coming up behind him to enfold him in his arms.
Burke stiffened. “It’s not that. Well, not really. I don’t want any secrets between us, Rey. Can’t you understand that?”
“I can. I’m sorry. I should have been open about what I was doing. More open than I was.” He pressed a kiss to the nape of Burke’s neck. “After all this time, and what we’ve been through together, I should have known better than to think you’d have panicked if I told you the whole truth.”
Burke finally relaxed, turning in Reynaud’s embrace to look at him with a rueful smile. “I would have panicked anyway, because I love you. I don’t want you getting hurt. That said, I’d also have realized you’re quite able to take care of yourself—mostly.”
“Mostly?” Reynaud lifted an eyebrow.
“Well, I have seen you hurt a couple of times, but hey, it comes with the territory I guess, considering what you do for Antoine.” He brushed a kiss over Reynaud’s lips. “At least you heal fast, which is a plus.”
“My body does. My heart, if I did something to drive you away…”
“That will never happen,” Burke declared. “I was angry, but I’m over it, so…” He kissed him again. “Welcome home.”
* * * *
It had been a dead night for Burke as far as hunting went, so he stopped early and called Reynaud to ask him to join him at the club if he was free—which he was. As a matter of fact, for the last month Burke only come upon one vampire preying on a human. When he’d said something about it to Reynaud the previous Saturday, Reynaud replied that the vampire population had finally come to the realization that The Hunter was not going anywhere.
“It took five years?” Burke replied in disbelief.
Reynaud chuckled. “Sometimes we’re slow to catch on.”
Now, after spending an hour dancing, and chatting with a couple of the regulars they had become friends with, Reynaud suggested it was time to leave.
As soon as they were out of the club, he said, “We have to talk.”
Burke grimaced. “That sounds sort of…dire.”
“I didn’t mean it to.” Putting his arm around Burke’s waist, Reynaud said, “I’ll tell you when we get to my place.”
Once they were there, Reynaud suggested they go out to the patio. “There’s a nice breeze, so it will be cool, and the moon’s almost full.”
“Very romantic,” Burke replied dryly, knowing that wasn’t what Reynaud had in mind.
When they settled in two of the chairs, Reynaud took Burke’s hands, saying, “I think we should move in together.”
For a moment Burke smiled happily, leaning in to give him a kiss. Then something struck him. “Whose house?”
“Mine, of course,” Reynaud replied. “It’s in the heart of the city so we’ll be close to everything.”
“It’s not like I live a hundred miles from here, Rey. And my house has been in my family since my grandfather built it in nineteen-o-eight. It holds a lot of history, and a lot of memories.”
“Do you think mine doesn’t?” Reynaud replied with a trace of asperity. “Memories that are mine, not ones passed down through the generations.” He swept his arm around. “Look at it. It’s perfect for us.”
“Crammed in between other buildings. No yard, no grass, no real privacy. Okay, you do have privacy of a sort since you have shutters and drapes to keep nosy tourists from seeing inside, but still, Rey.”
“Speaking of nosy, what about your neighbor, Tom.” Reynaud had met him twice when he and Burke had gone to Burke’s house early enough that the man was out on his porch. “He’s nice, but what happens when he realizes I’m only around after dark?”
“The same thing that probably happens with your neighbors. He’ll think you work long hours doing whatever.”
“I’ve spent several lifetimes here, Burke. I’m not sure I want to give that up. I’ve made this place totally my own.”
“Then my moving in would disrupt that. I’d want to feel as if it was ours, not yours.”
“I didn’t mean it that way, damn it.”
“There’s more than enough room in my house for all your things. You know that.”
Reynaud nodded. “I do, but still…”
“We need to think about this. Both of us do. It’s not that I don’t want to live with you. There’s nothing I want more. But it will mean a big upheaval and losing part of ourselves no matter whose house we choose.”
“You’re right. It was only an idea.” Reynaud replied. “We can keep on the way we have been. As you pointed out, it’s not as if we lived a hundred miles apart.”
“Exactly, and we’ve made it work so far.”
They kissed, and being who they were, two men who loved each other deeply, they ended up in Reynaud’s bed for the rest of the night.
* * * *
“What am I going to do?” Reynaud asked two weeks later, pacing the length of Antoine’s living room and back again.
“About what?” Antoine asked.
“Me and Burke and our present arrangement. I want us to live together. So does he. The problem is, where? Our homes mean a lot to us, so no matter which one we choose one of us will be losing a part of our lives, if that makes sense.”
“It does.” Antoine shook his head, muttering, “Children. What would you do without me to counsel you?”
“Meaning?”
“Stop worrying about whose home you end up in and start looking for one that will work for both of you. One without all the memories attached to it. It’s not as if you can’t take all your possessions with you, right? Those are where the memories are for the most part. The structure is only a place to house them.”
“I suppose,” Reynaud replied doubtfully.
“At least think about it. Suggest it to Burke and see how he feels.”
* * * *
It had taken some talking on Reynaud’s part, but Burke had finally agreed that Antoine’s idea had merit.
“Not in the Quarter,” Burke said as he and Reynaud pored over real estate listings. “Or anywhere close to mine. We don’t want to walk by either of our old places and wonder if moving was the best idea.”
“Very true,” Reynaud replied. He tapped a picture. “This one’s not bad.”
“Too close to the neighbors,” Burke pointed out with some validity as there was only a driveway separating the houses on one side, and a narrow lawn with a couple of trees on the other.
Reynaud kept scrolling. “This?”
“Lovely woodwork, and great floors, but the bath
rooms? I bet they were real rooms when the house was built, and there was an outdoor privy. So someone decided to turn the two smallest ones into bathrooms when they got indoor plumbing and no one’s done anything about it since then.”
Reynaud laughed in agreement.
“This one has a nice hunk of property surrounding it,” Burke said of another one. “Of course it’s way out of the city.”
“Does it matter?” Reynaud asked. “You’ve got a car.”
“I know, but…There, stop.” Burke put his hand over Reynaud’s when the pointer landed on another house. “It looks like a small plantation house and it’s well separated from any neighbors by the large yard on all sides. There’s a second floor balcony, and…”
“Three bedrooms, four baths. Four? Okay. An eat-in kitchen according to the information.” Reynaud scrolled through the pictures until he came to it. “Not bad. Brick walls, old cabinetry, but modern appliances.”
“I love the beamed ceilings on the ground floor,” Burke said. “It’s also got a great view of Lake Pontchartrain.”
Reynaud brought up a map site. “Only a twenty minute drive from the Quarter and your job.”
“That’s doable,” Burke replied as he took out his phone. “What’s the realtor’s number?” Reynaud told him and Burke called her, setting up an appointment to see the house the following evening. “My husband works until eight so eight-thirty would be prefect.” He grinned when Reynaud lifted an eyebrow, whispering “I figured that was better than saying ‘my lover’.”
A week later, after a second trip to the house, they put in a bid. Before that happened, they had a brief if heated debate about how they would pay for it—especially the down payment. Burke finally settled down and admitted Reynaud had a point when the vampire said, “I’ve lived a long life and have invested well. You know that. The money’s just sitting there, drawing interest. Besides which, once you sell your house, you’ll be able to pay half the mortgage. I’m betting you’ll make a small fortune on it, given where it’s located.”
“Close to the zoo?” Burke had joked. He hoped Reynaud was right because he wanted to carry his weight in their relationship, now that they were buying a house and moving in together.
It seemed to take forever before closing on the house happened. In the interim, each of them made decisions on what they would take with them and what would be discarded for lack of room in their new home.
They didn’t do more than that until the house was officially theirs. When that happened, Reynaud and Burke went to work building a place in the wine cellar to hide the refrigerator that would hold Reynaud’s blood supply.
Then came the actual moves, once they’d packed their belongings. Burke hired a moving company for his things, since he could be out during the day to supervise.
As the van filled up—and it was a large one—Burke grumbled, “How the hell did I manage to accumulate so much stuff.”
One of the movers overhead him and laughed. “That’s the classic question from least eighty percent of the people who hire us.”
Reynaud’s move was done with the help of some of his team once Burke had rented a truck for them to use.
Eventually, everything was in place.
“Now, we celebrate,” Burke said, getting a bottle of Merlot from the wine cellar.
“Where’s the oysters and caviar?” Reynaud joked.
“In the fridge.”
“You’re kidding.”
Burke laughed. “I am. I don’t like them and you can’t eat them.”
They toasted to their new home before going upstairs to celebrate in a much more primal way. First, they undressed each other, kissing as each article of clothing hit the floor. From there, they engaged in some mutual foreplay.
Then Reynaud said, cupping Burke’s face in his hands, “I would love to show you what it’s like when we share blood while we make love. But only if you’re willing.”
“I’ve been waiting for you to ask,” Burke replied, his heart pounding.
Reynaud smiled elatedly before giving him a passionate kiss. “Remember,” he cautioned when they parted, “Only a sip.” When Burke nodded, Reynaud told him to lie on his back, which he did, putting his legs on Reynaud’s shoulders. It was a position they’d used many times before but this time there was another reason. “It will make it easier for us feed from each other,” Reynaud explained.
He entered Burke slowly, as was his wont even though they’d been lovers for well over a year. When his cock was fully engulfed he moved faster, his gaze locked on Burke’s face. Burke met each thrust with one of his own. Then, at the last moment before they would come, Reynaud leaned forward, offering his throat to Burke. For a moment, Burke hesitated, uncertain if he could bite him.
“Do it,” Reynaud whispered—and Burke did, tasting his lover’s blood. Seconds later, Reynaud’s fangs entered his throat.
Pure ecstasy flooded Burke as he swallowed, his orgasm washing over him with an intensity he’d never felt before. It was as if his world was filled with light and love—love that Reynaud was returning to him tenfold. He wanted more. He wanted it all. Only the memory of what Reynaud had said kept him from drinking again.
Then it was over—but not. Even as he came down, Burke felt a connection to Reynaud that hadn’t existed before. “I love you more than I thought possible,” he whispered when he could speak again.
Reynaud grinned wickedly. “Great sex will do that.” Then he sobered. “I love you, too. More than life itself, I do.”
They kissed, slowly, intensely—pouring their feelings into it.
“Now, you need to get some sleep,” Reynaud said, moving to the side of their bed. “It’s late and it’s been an exhausting couple of days and nights.”
“Do you have to report in to Antoine?”
“Not tonight.”
“Then stay with me?” Burke opened his arms.
Reynaud slid into them, his head on Burke’s shoulder. “Sleep well, my love.”
“With you here, I will,” Burke replied, resting his head against his lover’s. His eyes closed and he slept.
Chapter 13
“Happy birthday,” Reynaud proclaimed the moment Burke walked into the living room Thursday night, two years after they had moved into their home.
“Thank you, I think. I’m not sure turning thirty is that great.”
“It’s hardly old,” Reynaud countered before giving him a hug.
“From your standpoint probably not.” Burke smiled and kissed him. “Still, from the way people at work treated me you’d think I was teetering on the edge of middle-age.”
“Making you two-hundred and forty-nine. You don’t look a day over…thirty.” Reynaud grinned.
“Stop trying to cheer me up,” Burke grumbled. Then he laughed. “Okay, in your terms that’s true.”
“Why don’t you go up and change into something a bit dressier than your jeans and shirt. We’re going out.”
“Where?”
“You’ll see.”
“Vampires, I swear.”
Burke did as Reynaud had asked, coming back downstairs in slacks and a light blue button-down shirt. Taking his hand, Reynaud led him out to the back yard.
“Your first gift is something you’ve never done before, at least not without an airplane.” Reynaud put his arm around Burke’s waist and suddenly they were flying. Burke knew they were invisible as well, so once he got past the strange sensation of being so far above the ground with only his lover keeping him from falling, he looked around.
“This is spectacular,” he said as they flew over the countryside. He could see the lake below them, the moonlight turning it glittering silver. The lights of the city glowed ahead of them—until Reynaud veered away. When he did, Burke had the feeling they were heading toward Antoine’s plantation.
He was correct. When they landed in the large patio behind the house, lights came on, illuminating a table holding a huge cake. Surrounding it were Antoine and most of Reyn
aud’s team. A universal shout of “Happy Birthday” filled the air.
“Thank you so much,” Burke replied when the surprise wore off. To Reynaud he whispered, “Do you expect me to eat all of that?”
Reynaud laughed. “Of course not. This is one of those rare times when all of us will eat to celebrate with you.”
Burke knew it was possible for vampires to dine on real food, although it rarely happened once they passed their first year, so he felt honored that they would share the cake with him.
“Sit,” Antoine said, gesturing toward a chair that was obviously the seat of honor from its plush red velvet upholstery.
When Burke had, two servants appeared, one carrying a tray of glasses, the other two bottles of red wine. Each vampire, and Burke, took a glass, then waited while they were filled.
“To Burke,” Antoine proclaimed, raising his glass. “Once the bane of our existence. Now, our friend and companion.”
“And the man I love with all my heart,” Reynaud added, smiling softly.
Everyone drank. Then, at Reynaud’s insistence, Burke cut the first slice of cake. From then the party proceeded as most do, with music, dancing, laughter, and good conversation. Finally, in the wee hours of the morning, the guests dispersed until only Burke, Reynaud, and Antoine remained.
“Now comes the second part of my gift to you,” Reynaud said. “If you’ll accept it. If you won’t, I’ll understand.” He took a deep breath. “We’ve never really discussed this except as a possibility, sometime in the future.”
Burke had the feeling he knew what was coming next, and it wasn’t a proposal—or at least not the normal kind. They had talked about his being turned, but only in theory. As if neither of them was willing to commit to the ultimate test of their love. But he had thought about it since Reynaud had first broached the subject. There were times, especially after they’d made love, when it was all he thought about—although he hadn’t let Reynaud know. He hadn’t planned to until he was certain he was ready.
“You know what to expect,” Reynaud said, sitting on the arm of the chair, his hand resting on Burke’s shoulder. “It’s not a decision to be made lightly.” He smiled wryly. “There will be a point when the pain becomes so unbearable you’ll wish you could truly die.”
Burke and the Vampire Page 12
