At the front of the group, Giacinta rushed to close the curtains Bellina had opened. Santo carried the cooler to the dresser and set it down. As he opened it, Christian glanced around the room, his gaze sliding over the tasteful furniture, and pausing on the king-sized bed as he took note of the flowers and robes arranged on the comforter.
The robes had been tied at the waists and spread out to look something like snow angels, while flowers and leaves had been arranged to spell welcome on the comforter.
"Fancy," Raffaele commented, appearing at his side to hand him a bag of blood.
"Hmm." Christian popped the bag to his already descending fangs, only to frown as a ringing sounded from his pocket.
"Phone," Raffaele pointed out with amusement. He'd just been about to pop his own bag to his teeth, but arched an eyebrow and asked, "Want me to answer it?"
Christian pulled the phone from his pocket, read the caller ID, and shook his head. He then hit the button and raised it to his ear, grunting a version of hello.
"Christian Notte, are you talking with your mouth full?" Marguerite's voice admonished gently.
Christian found his lips curving in a smile around the bag in his mouth as he mumbled yes around the obstruction, the word coming out "es."
"Oh, I'm sorry to interrupt your feeding, then, dear.
I just wanted to be sure you and your cousins got in. Is everything all right there?
Christian said "es" again and then tore the bag away with relief when he realized it was empty. "It's beautiful.
A bit sunny though, don't you think?"
"Well, this is the Caribbean, darling," she pointed out with a laugh. "It's all right though. The curtains do a good job of keeping the sun out while you're sleeping and it's lovely at night."
"Hmm." Christian glanced around when Santo whistled.
When his cousin immediately tossed him a second bag, Christian caught it, but merely held the bag as he spoke. "Did Father arrange for the villa?"
"Yes, dear. He felt that since you're doing us a favor by coming here, you should all be comfortable. Besides, if he hadn't, Gia would have been the only one with her own room and you boys would have had to share and that's no good."
"And why, pray tell, would that be no good?" Christian asked with interest.
"Oh, well, I remember how much you disliked it when we were in England and you and the boys were sharing there," she said lightly.
"Uh-huh," he said with disbelief.
"Anyway, I should let you go. You're probably exhausted after your flight and would like to sleep, and we want you well rested and perky for tonight."
"Why? What's happening tonight?" he asked at once.
"Well, you'll be performing, of course," she said on a laugh. "Genie is so grateful you were willing to fill in for the band that canceled, she's coming to the show tonight and offered to buy us all drinks during your break. So make sure you join us then."
"Right," Christian said. "Tell Father I'm paying for the villa."
"Now, Christian-
," Marguerite began.
"I'm hanging up, Mom. Good sleep," Christian interrupted and started to hang up, but paused when he heard his father say, "Marguerite? What's wrong, cara?"
"He called me Mom," Christian heard her say in a sniffly voice.
"Ah, bella," Julius Notte crooned. There was a rustling and the line died.
Christian smiled faintly and pressed the button to end the call, then set his phone on the bedside table and glanced around.
"I'm guessing you're taking this room?" Zanipolo asked, pulling a bag of blood from his fangs.