in the club in order to slow things down and make the patrons wish for them even more as a source of solace. The lyrics and the melancholy way that Quinn swayed told him that at least part of his news wasn’t something that would surprise Quinn. His lover was obviously already sad—and likely not simply because of the recent terrible loss of life.
Quinn hadn’t noticed Alex’s intrusion yet, so he stood watching, wanting, loving, aching and almost desperate to grab his boy and take him to bed to stay there, buried in his body, shutting everything else out for the rest of their lives. It was a fleeting desire that left him nearly gasping for breath with its intensity. His cock hardened as it always did when Quinn was within sight—or even in thought. Alex didn’t need the visual of all that creamy, soft skin flashing with sensual movement to become aroused. It had always been so with this human. It took no effort to raise the memory of the first time he’d seen the frightened boy who had literally fainted into his arms. As much as he’d tried to resist the lure, he’d been helpless to do so.
And it had nearly cost Quinn his life—twice.
That madness ended now. The failure to stop Dracul had come with terrible prices over the years. Quinn’s death wasn’t going to be added to that long list. Either Alex finally succeeded in stopping the fucker or Quinn would have the means to keep himself safe when Alex was no longer able to do so, not that he’d done a very good job as it was. He flashed again on the image of Quinn crouched over a fallen boy, using his body as a shield while death rained down on him. It caused Alex’s lungs to freeze and his body to tremble with an uncharacteristic weakness that frightened him.
“Alex?”
The song had ended while he’d been mired in his fear. He looked up to stare at his lover. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt you.”
Quinn shrugged and turned off his iPhone. The sudden quiet made it easy for Alex to detect Quinn’s breaths and his heartbeat. As per usual, Alex focused on the pulse at the base of the human’s neck. It was rapid from his exertion, and Alex could almost taste the sweetness of the blood pumping furiously through all those veins. Saliva pooled in his mouth and his fangs itched with the desire to descend.
“Do you need to feed?” Quinn asked the question with an icy coolness that spelled danger.
Alex ignored it and the spike of more fear. “No.” Raising the hand that held the folder of paper, he said, “We need to talk.”
Quinn shrugged then walked over to where he’d thrown a towel across the back of a chair. “I agree, but you go first.” His tone was matter-of-fact, with a heavy dose of steel beneath it. He began to wipe the sheen of sweat from his torso.
Alex tracked the movement, as he assumed he was expected to do. Damn the boy, anyway, for knowing him so well. “All right. Let’s sit.” He moved to the sectional sofa and sat in a spot close to the coffee table.
“I’m fine where I am, thanks.” Quinn flipped the towel over his shoulders and stood with hip cocked and arms folded. Anger radiated off him.
Alex practically tore open the folder and slapped paper and a pen on the table. “You need to sign some of these documents, so staying there won’t be effective.”
Quinn didn’t move. “What is all of that about?”
“If you stop being difficult and come over here, you’ll find out.” He suppressed a sigh when the boy stayed where he was. “Very well, if you must be coaxed…most of these are things I have signed for you to hold on to.”
He stared at the pile, because looking at Quinn while he delivered this news was going to be too painful. “I’ve deeded both buildings over to you—this one and the club’s, as well as a few dozen other properties around the world. Everything has been publicly recorded, so it’s final. Also here are transfers of my ownership interests in the club and other business ventures that I went into with Val, Emil and Harry, as well as a bill of sale handing over all of my personal property assets.”
Now, he did look at the boy. “I’ve added your name to all of my bank accounts, making us co-owners of those funds. I