...For one single moment, Max allowed himself a small indulgence down the road of self-pity. He would have been happy being a vintner. He didn’t need all this hellish stress. His thoughts fluttered back to the present. Speaking of people who were pretty mindless, where the hell was Galien?

“Mortals want to believe,” Max said. “They want tangible proof. That’s why religion has become such a huge moneymaker. Jimmy McGill fills a void. He has his own sway, much as I hate to admit it. He has a lot of power. I can’t wait to bring him down.”

He dropped the glass so hard onto his antique marble coffee table, he was surprised it didn’t shatter. “Do you remember what people thought of him in school?”

“I remember we were friends in school, but not much more.” Blue shrugged, sitting close to him now. “Whatever you decide to do with Linda…that’s entirely up to you. I was thinking about Jimmy, about the fact that he was at my high school. And yet, he knows you from a long time ago. He has to be really ancient.”

“Um.” Max nodded. Ancient, like me. “Apparently, but I can’t think of how I know him. I just can’t place him.” Only Max, Katherine and Claude knew the true, secret ingredient to the House of Driscoll’s soil. Max had purchased bags of volcanic soil from the active shores of Mount Etna. He could taste the richness in the velvety, sweet tannins. He sighed, returning to the present, unpleasant conversation.

Blue frowned. “But…how could he have been a vampire in high school? Wouldn’t we have picked up on that?”

“Mortals usually don’t consider the possibility of vampires, except in movies. It’s possible he could have pulled it off. Vampires can walk in the sun as long as it’s not for extended periods. If he knew me a long time ago, he’s old. The sun bothers us less. I’m less concerned with how he managed to attend high school, and more perplexed as to why he’d bother.”

“Good question. Maybe he wanted to be an educated vampire.”

“An educated vampire? Maybe he wanted to study kids…get a handle on the youth mind.” Max sat up straight. “There’s something in what you say.”

* * *

Blue blushed at the unexpected compliment. He tried to guard his thoughts. He felt like such a sucker, needing crumbs from the banquet table of Max Driscoll’s thoughts.

“Well,” he said, finally, “it can’t all be about me, can it?”

Max smiled faintly, looking as though he were too busy with his own thoughts to interfere with Blue’s. “Maybe, maybe not.”

“Anyway,” Blue muttered, “perhaps instead of torturing your servants with your skills of seduction, you should devote some time to trying to remember how this Jimmy knows you.”

Max raised his head again, then laughed aloud. “Jealousy is not attractive, Blue, but keep telling yourself you’re not jealous. Maybe one day you’ll believe it.”

Blue bristled.

Max laughed all the harder.

“Don’t overanalyze me, Max Driscoll.” Blue pointed a finger at him.

“Come here,” Max said softly.

“No. Oh, no.” Blue shook his head but he inched closer anyway.

“Your body parts don’t seem to be in agreement.” Max’s legs fell open, his gaze moving to Blue’s groin. “If you want me, here’s your opportunity. I’m feeling generous.”

“Generous?” Blue scoffed. “You are arrogant. Horny, you mean?”

“Call it what you like. You want it.” Max teased with a grin.

Blue muffled a moan deep in his chest. “Yes,” he hissed. “Goddamn you, Max. You truly are a monster. Am I to share you with the others then, waiting my turn in the line?” Blue’s palms settled on Max’s muscular thighs as he lowered himself onto the floor, on his haunches between Max’s parted knees. He met those startling, dark eyes.

“Not tonight,” he told him. “Tonight, there is no line.”

“God, do what you did to me in the bathtub. Please,” Blue pleaded. ::I don’t care how pathetic I sound. I need. I ache, and you can fix that.::