along with his heart.
No . . . no, goddamn it, no . . .
"Tell me something," Saxton whispered. "Have you ever kissed a male before?"
Yes, he has, Qhuinn wanted to scream--Blay shook his head. He actually shook his head. Qhuinn squeezed his eyes shut and forced himself to calm down enough to dematerialize. As he took form in front of the Brotherhood's mansion, he was shaking like a motherfucker . . . and briefly considered bending over and fertilizing the bushes with the dinner he'd eaten before leaving with Xhex and John.
A couple of inhales later, he decided it was more appealing to go with plan A and get good and shitfaced. With that in mind, he walked into the vestibule, got let in by Fritz, and headed for the kitchen. Hell, maybe he'd take it a little further than just a buzz. God knew Saxton wasn't going to want to stop at a kiss or two in a cold, damp alley, and Blay had looked like he was prepared to finally get what he'd needed all along.
So there was plenty of time to hammer the hooch until he blacked the fuck out.
Jesus . . . Christ, Qhuinn thought as he rubbed his chest and heard his cousin's voice over and over again: Tell me something. Have you ever kissed a male before?
The image of Blay shaking his head was like a scar on Qhuinn's brain, and didn't that just carry him right out the far side of the kitchen to the storage room where the cases of alcohol were kept.
Such a cliche. Getting sauced because you didn't want to deal. But he might as well do one thing in his life according to tradition. Heading back through the kitchen, he realized there was at least one saving grace. When the pair of them did the deed, it had to be back at Saxton's house, because no casual visitors were allowed in the king's home, 280
ever.
As he came out into the foyer, he stopped dead.
Blay was just ducking in through the vestibule.
"Back so soon," Qhuinn said gruffly. "Don't tell me my cousin is that fast."
Blay didn't even pause. Just kept on going up the stairs. "Your cousin is a gentleman."
Qhuinn fell in behind his best friend, getting right on the guy's heels.
"You think? In my experience, he just looks like one." That got Blay to turn around. "You always liked him before. He was your favorite. I can remember you talking about him like he was a god."
"I grew out of that."
"Well, I like him. A lot."
Qhuinn wanted to growl, but killed the impulse by cracking open the Herradura he'd snagged off the shelf and taking a swallow. "Good for you. I'm just thrilled for you both."
"Really. Then why aren't you even using a glass." Qhuinn marched around his buddy and didn't stop as Blay said,
"Where're John and Xhex?"
"Out. In the world. On their own."
"I thought you were supposed to stay with them?"
"I was momentarily dismissed." Qhuinn paused at the top of the stairs and tapped the tear that had been tattooed under his eye. "She's an assassin, for God's sake. She can take care of him just fine. Besides, they were hanging at Tohr's old place."
When he got to his room, Qhuinn kicked the door shut and stripped his clothes off. After swigging from the bottle, he closed his eyes and sent out a summons.
Layla would be good company right about now.
Right up his alley.
After all, she had been trained for sex, and all she wanted to do was use him as an erotic gymnasium. He didn't have to worry about hurting her or her getting attached to him. She was a professional, so to speak. Or she would be when he was done with her.
As for Blay? He had no idea why the guy had come back instead of heading off into Saxton's bed, but one thing was clear. The pair of them were attracted to each other and Saxton wasn't the kind to wait when it came to somebody he wanted.
Qhuinn and his cousin were related, after all.
And that wasn't going to save the sonofabitch in the slightest if he 281
broke Blay's heart.
282
FORTY-ONE
The party at the farmhouse went on and on and more people kept coming, their cars parking on the lawn, their bodies jamming into the downstairs rooms. Most who showed were ones that Lash had seen at the Xtreme Park, but not all of them. And they kept bringing more booze. Sixpacks. Bottles. Kegs. God