“The guys at Killer Kuts love it. They’re friends with the owner, and he gives them deals. Plus, that was where I had my first date with Niko and look how good that’s turned out. I consider Duets to be a good luck charm, that is if a bar can be a good luck charm? What do you say?”
“Have you discussed this with Niko?” Tory questioned. “Maybe he won’t like the idea of me and his friend going out? Some people don’t like to hook up their friends just in case it doesn’t turn out well.”
Asher shook his head. “No, but I’m sure he’ll think it’s a marvelous idea. Niko’s great, and he just wants the people around him to be happy like we are.”
“Great, set it up and give me ample time to prepare. You know how I like my primping time.”
“You had better start now because if Ray is available tonight, I say we do this thing.”
“T–T–Tonight,” Tory stuttered. “I need at least forty-eight hours to prepare for a date. I need to get my mind in the right place and hit the StairMaster for a couple of hours at least.”
“I find it ironic that you can morph into any shape you desire — eagle, dinosaur — but you still can’t will away a little extra weight from the midsection on demand.”
“It’s fun to hit the gym and work up a sweat, which isn’t easy for a vampire.”
“Don’t give me that crap. I’ve been to that gym. You go there for the eye candy.”
“So. That’s not a crime just an extra added bonus.” Tory let out a whistle. “There’s this one guy who wears the skimpiest pair of shorts—”
“Forget about that guy and think about tonight.” Asher pointed to Tory’s stylist station. “Get primping. Looks like the front of your hair is falling down. Might need a few extra spritzes of spray. I’m running across the street to fill Niko in. Cover for me, and for heaven’s sake don’t let Jerrod know what I’m doing. We’ll have to hear an ear load, and I’m not in the mood for that.”
Signaling two thumbs up to Asher, Tory whispered, “I’m so excited.”
Asher returned, “Me too,” before rushing out the door and across the street to Killer Kuts.
* * * *
Asher bustled into the barbershop, and thankfully Niko wasn’t working on a client. Asher nodded a “hello” to the rest of the inhabitants at Killer Kuts before rushing up to Niko.
“Hey, baby,” Niko said, a slow smile sliding across his sexy lips. “Didn’t get enough before sunrise, so you’re back for more?”
Asher grabbed a quick kiss before getting down to business. “I think we should set up Ray and Tory. They’d be great for each other. My intuition is telling me that if we do this, it’ll turn out to be a great thing.” Asher found it hard to contain his excitement. “What do you think?” Asher took hold of Niko’s muscular arms and shook. “And you’re included in the little matchmaking scheme, too.”
Niko groaned. “Do I have to be? I generally shy away from this kind of situation.”
“You sound a lot like Jerrod right now.”
“He’s an intelligent being, although not exactly warm and fuzzy, but sometimes that can be overrated. I’ll accept your observation as a compliment.”
Asher grunted. “It wasn’t supposed to be.” Sneaking up closer to Niko, Asher pressed his mouth to his boyfriend’s ear. “If you go along with this, I’ll do that little role-playing thing you’ve been wanting me to do.”
“Isn’t that bordering on emotional blackmail?”
“Sexual, maybe, but not emotional.”
“It’s all the same, babe.” Niko nuzzled in, his voice sounding like the purr of a tiger. A very pleased tiger. “So, what you’re saying is, that you’ll put on that—”
“Sexy outfit?”
“And—”
“Use the handcuffs?” Asher said. “Oh yeah.” He was breathless with anticipation.
Niko visibly swallowed, and his eyelids were heavy. “Just call me cupid.”
“Great!” Asher pulled away. “Go talk to him now because he’s not busy with a client.” Asher eyed Ray who was standing about a foot away. He nudged Niko. “Go so I can run back to work and tell Tory the good news.”
“The things I’ll do for love,” Niko said under his breath.
“And role-playing,” Asher finished, sending his lover a wink.
* * * *
Through the window, Tory watched Asher jog across the street. He was grinning from ear to ear. Tory broke out into a smile, too, recognizing that this was a good sign. Freshly sprayed and wearing a dash of his favorite cologne, Tory couldn’t help but bring his hands together and do an exuberant little clap.
Pushing through the door, Asher said, “He’s asking Ray now. Where’s Jerrod?”
“Shampooing a client. He doesn’t suspect a thing.”
“Great.”
“How will we know if Ray says yes or not?”
“Niko’s going to text with Ray’s answer, but don’t worry, Ray will definitely say yes. You didn’t see the way he was looking at you yesterday on your way to work.”
“Really?” Tory cooed. “How?”
“Like you’re the tasty morsel that you are,” Asher teased.
Tory couldn’t help but allow his imagination to run wild. “Maybe this can be the end of all those endless terrible dates I’ve been having lately. Maybe Ray and I can move in together and live happily ever after for eternity.” He spun, his arms out to the side. “Wouldn’t that be great?”
Jerrod appeared from around the corner. He shook the suds and water from his hands, small beads shooting from the tips of his fingers. “Why are you two smiling?” His gaze landed on Tory’s. “And why are you doing your best ballerina imitation in the middle of the salon?”
“I’m happy,” Tory returned. “Is that so bad?”
“No,” Jerrod paused, his dark eyebrow arched questioningly. “But I don’t trust you two when you’re both happy at the same time. I smell a rat.”
Asher made a derisive noise in the back of his throat. “Don’t get your undies in a twist.”
Jerrod inclined his head. “I don’t wear underwear.”
Tory scrunched up his nose as Asher stuck out his tongue. “TMI, boss,” Tory responded. “TMI.”
“Am I safe to venture a guess that Asher is going through with his desire to play matchmaker?”
“So,” Asher said. “You’re not involved, so why should you care?”
“Why?” Jerrod parroted, offering an answer. “Because everything that goes on with the pair of you and this salon is my business. If your scheme doesn’t work out, Asher, Tory could possibly blame you if whomever you’re setting him up with turns out to be Mister Wrong instead of Mister Right. Then animosity and resentment builds nightly, and before you know it, you two would be pulling each other’s hair out like a pair of pissed off drag queens.”
“That would never happen,” Asher assured. “Right, Tory?”
“Right,” Tory said placing both hands on his hips. “Never.”
At that moment, Asher’s phone pinged signaling a text. He rushed over to where it was lying on his stylist’s station and picked it up. He took in a sharp intake of breath as he read the message.
“Well,” Tory said. “What does it say, or am I going to have to run over there and rip it out of your hands and read it myself?”
“See,” Jerrod said. “The cat fight’s already starting.”
“I’m only joking,” Tory assured. He turned to Asher. “But a speedy reply wouldn’t go amiss.”
Asher looked up, blue eyes dancing. “Honey, you’d better start picking out china patterns because tonight you have a date.”
CHAPTER THREE
Tory and Asher arrived first at Duets, a neighborhood haunt, haunted mostly by vampires. Instead of taking a stool at the bar, they decided to occupy a four-man high top table tucked away in a corner. The room was dimly lit and perfect for first dates or any clandestine late-night tête-à-tête.
Tory shuffled on his stool. “I’ve neve
r been here before. It’s” — he looked around searching for the perfect word — “otherworldly.”
Asher chuckled. “That’s an interesting assessment coming from an immortal, cold-blooded creature like you.”
“I might be cold-blooded,” Tory began, “but at least I don’t show my fangs on my time off.” He eyed a vampire, who was flying all his colors; fangs exposed and long nails curling like a roller coaster, seated at a neighboring table drinking alone. Tory doubted the vampire was ever considered good-looking when he was human or not; even his mother would be unable to hold her son in her gaze for too long. “No wonder some humans are frightened of us.”
Asher hummed in agreement. “Forget about him and let’s focus on tonight.” Asher scooted the stool closer to the table. He placed his elbows on the table and leaned toward Tory. “Have you thought of topics you’d like to cover?”
“Topics? Tory croaked. “I thought I would just wing it.”
“Um, no,” Asher said. “If you want to find a partner in life you have to do your research.”
“But I don’t know anything about him other than he’s a barber and he’s hot.”
“That’s a start although a feeble one.” Asher shifted in his chair, his eyes looking somewhere toward the ceiling. “I believe Niko said he was from the Mid-Atlantic states? Maryland? Virginia, possibly?”
“I don’t know much about those areas. I went to Washington D.C. once. I had a tryst with a congressman, but that lasted less than forty-eight hours, and I only saw the inside of a hotel room. It was a nice weekend.”
Asher’s gaze landed on Tory. “Let’s keep that to ourselves, okay?”
“Obviously.” Tory was ready to ask the ugly vampire if he could sit with him instead of with Asher. “I thought I would keep the conversation normal.”
“How boring.”
“What did you discuss on your first date with Niko?”
Asher coughed, and he placed his hand on his chest. “We can’t use that as an example.”
“Why not?”
“Because it wasn’t much of one,” Asher admitted. “We had a few shots of something potent, spoke of his cousin’s issues, you know, Mario and those murders, then I hopped on the back of his Harley, and then shortly after that he hopped on me.”
“That doesn’t sound like a bad date if you leave out the murder and discussing other people’s issues part.”
Asher went glassy-eyed. “It wasn’t. It was . . . miraculous.”
“I remember when you walked into Everlasting the following night. The way you look now was the way you looked then.”
Asher sighed. “He still can tick all my boxes.”
“That sounds nice.” Tory sighed too. “Hopefully Ray can tick a box or two for me also.”
“I’m positive he can.”
As the two friends stared off into space, dreaming about sex — one with his partner and the other a potential partner, the door to Duets swung wide and Niko and Ray filled the threshold with their imposing shoulders. They were a wall of vampire muscle, and they commanded attention. Saluting the bartender, Carlos, with a cool nod, Niko and Ray sauntered over to the table where Tory and Asher were waiting.
“Baby,” Niko greeted before leaning in for a sultry kiss that even got Tory hot under the collar. At that moment Tory wanted what Asher had now, more than ever.
Tearing his gaze away from the kissing couple, Tory smiled at Ray as Tory’s heart skipped a few beats. “Have a seat,” he managed to say as Ray slid onto the stool with the ease of an athlete, his musky manly scent filling the air between them. Every move the man made was smooth and effortless, as if he possessed an innate grace. Immediately, Tory felt awkward and small beside the hulking hunk.
Ray proffered his hand. “Tory, I’m Ray. Nice to meet you.” Ray’s deep baritone voice almost melted Tory right out of his seat onto the sleek tile floor of Duets.
Mercy.
Swallowing away the lump of lust threatening to choke him, Tory said, “Nice to meet you too,” before taking Ray’s long-fingered hand. His palm was surprisingly warm and lacked the roughness Tory had expected.
Asher and Niko chatted amicably in a hushed tone, but Tory still felt his friend’s gaze boring into him.
Ray’s eyes roamed the table’s empty surface except for a cluster of lit votive candles. “No drinks yet?” he asked. “Allow me to have the pleasure. What would you like, Tory? Guys?”
Tory loved a vampire with manners. “Half synthetic blood, half diet soda,” Tory answered. “Have to watch my figure.”
“Let me be the one to do that,” Ray said, without missing a step.
Asher’s eyebrows shot high into two arches as Niko muffled a chuckle, and Tory’s cheeks flushed to a hot pink. Tory was used to compliments, but for some reason, Ray’s sounded genuine and promising. The nuzzling duo to Tory’s side placed their drink order, and Tory had the pleasure of watching Ray’s retreating backside as he made his way to the bar. A moan escaped Tory as he leaned his elbows on the table. “That man is fine with a capital F.”
“I have to agree,” Asher said, staring at Ray’s butt in tight jeans filled in all the right places.
Niko elbowed Asher. “The only butt you should be salivating over is mine, so pop your eyes back in your head and get your tongue off the floor. STAT.”
Turning toward Niko, Asher said, “Although I can appreciate the beauty of man-meat, the only ass I lust over is yours.”
Niko’s face lit up when he smiled, obviously happy with Asher’s statement. They started nuzzling and cooing again until Ray returned with the drinks clutched in his large hands. Placing them onto the table, he took his seat. They sipped quietly before Tory was the first to break the silence. “So, it’s my understanding that you went on a trip recently?”
Ray’s drink stilled for a second, suspended in midair before he took a swig of the questionable, deep purple concoction. Ice cubes clinked against the glass. “Yeah. D.C.,” was all he said.
Tory continued, “Is that where you’re from? We were discussing that area earlier.” He pointed to Asher. “Before you arrived.”
“It’s a nice city,” Ray said. “No beach though. I love to walk on the beach late into the night. Glad that Alderman business is over. Makes the beach safe again.”
Tory smiled, looking at Asher and Niko. “Me, too, thanks to these two.”
“We had some help,” Niko answered. “You were there, too.”
“I just lent moral support. I hardly threw a punch. But I will admit, I was pretty frightened that night. Alderman is a questionable individual.”
Niko scoffed. “If you mean scary as all get out? Yep. He certainly is.”
Asher placed his hand over Niko’s, which was resting on the table. “Let’s forget about that night. I hate thinking about it. I was so afraid I was going to lose you.”
“Never,” Niko assured. “I’m yours for the rest of time.”
“Just wanted to express my gratitude,” Ray said, continuing, “to present company. Didn’t mean to stir up bad memories.”
Tory attempted to steer the conversation back to Ray. “Do you have family in D.C.?”
Ray shook his head ever so slightly. “No longer. They all died long ago.”
“One of the downsides when you have eternal life but others do not,” Tory shared and then took a drink.
“Still have great memories of the place. Some of the neighborhoods still resemble the way I remember them. But other areas. . .” Ray’s words hung in the air. “Time marches on.”
“That pesky Starbucks,” Tory said, only half-joking. “Do we really need one on every street corner?”
“It’s a great city, even with all of the Starbucks. You really must visit it sometime.”
“I want to. Is that where you made the change?” Tory asked, referring to when Ray had made the decision to become a vampire, or for some, when the decision was made for them.
“Yes,” Ray answered, his amber eyes dancing
in the candlelight. “And I chose to become immortal. I knew what I was getting into, or at least I thought I did.”
Tory nodded. “Nothing really can prepare you fully, can it?”
A chorus of “Nos” rose above the din of the bar that was becoming more crowded. Tory continued, “I was one heck of a cocky changeling. Doing all the stupid things all new startups do.”
Niko chuckled. “Remember your first kill?”
Tory fluttered his hands. “Oh, my word, I was so freaked out. My boyfriend at the time, the one I changed for, had to do it for me. I eventually got the hang of it though. I have to admit, I never really liked it like other vampires did — do,” he corrected.
“I guess,” Ray said, “that’s why we live in Sangre. We’re safe from being hunted by humans and vampires alike. Coexistence is an underrated thing if you ask me.”
Tory could feel his eyes glaze over as he gazed into the handsomest face he’d ever seen. Ray’s square and sculpted features appeared powerful but soft at the same time, and that had nothing to do with the candlelight. Also, Ray had a tendency to lower his chin and peer from under his dense lashes every time he said Tory’s name. At first Tory thought he imagined it, but now he knew that he wasn’t delusional because he was about to do it again.
“Tory,” Ray’s head dipped. “I hope you don’t think I’m being too intrusive but who turned you? Was it your boyfriend?”
“Ex-boyfriend,” Tory corrected. “Zoria splits his time between Amsterdam and Johannesburg. He says that Sangre is too provincial for him. I say he’s too pretentious for Sangre. Makes me happy.”
“No love lost between you then?”
“I do love him, but after being together a few hundred years, we grew apart. He wanted to continue killing for sport and feeding, and I didn’t. It’s really that simple.”
Asher spoke. “We’re seemingly all the same but not. I don’t miss killing. Not one bit. The synthetic blood is so much better than when it first appeared on the market, and when I need the real thing” — Asher playfully bounced his shoulder off Niko’s — “I have the sexiest and most willing of partners.”
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