“I play video games and live stream myself playing them online.”
“Interesting. I’m into a different type of gaming. I run a casino.” He ran several actually but there was no need to bring that up in casual conversation.
“I’ve only been to a casino once. I got scared when I lost twenty dollars at the craps table, left, and never went back.”
“That’s too bad. If you come to my casino, I’ll show you a much better time than that.”
“Is this a sales pitch? Will part of the night be spent with you trying to sell me a time share?”
Raul grinned. “Not a sales pitch. More of an attempt to get you to spend time with me so I can hear your lovely laugh again. In fact, I might nudge the table a bit to make sure you win to hear you celebrate.”
Ji-Su bit his lip, clearly holding back the laugh Raul wanted to hear.
“Are you saying your casino is corrupt?”
“Not at all. But I’m willing to make an exception for a human as pretty as you.”
Now Ji-Su laughed. Raul listened and watched, completely captivated. Far too soon, Ji-Su’s laugh quieted, although the humor lingered in his expression. Raul was about to ask him about his blood patron and how long he had left on his contract when Ji-Su looked off to the side.
“There’s my patron.”
Raul turned to look in the direction of Ji-Su’s gaze. An African American vampire with medium-brown skin, dressed in a black tux approached. His jacket hung open and the bowtie was undone. He was average height for a vampire, with dark hair separated into twists and dyed blond on the tips. Threesimilarly attired humans and one vampire walked behind him. Raul recognized Ji-Su’s patron. He didn’t know his first name but he knew he was a LaMonte. The LaMontes were one of the upper-class vampire families that resided in Dear Lake.
“Cedric, you’re back,” Ji-Su said.
“Obviously,” the other vampire drawled as he stepped partially in between Raul and Ji-Su. His eyes moved to take in Raul. “Who is this you’re talking to?”
“This is Raul. Raul, this is Cedric.”
Raul nodded his head at the introduction. The other vampire didn’t extend his hand for a greeting so Raul didn’t bother to either. Only two seconds in Cedric’s presence and he already didn’t like him. After a moment of cold silence between them, Cedric’s eyes left his and slid back to Ji-Su.
“I left you at our table. Next time, stay where I put you.”
A blush tinged Ji-Su’s cheeks pink, no doubt from embarrassment at the rude way Cedric had spoken to him in front of everyone.
“I apologize for wandering off. I hope you weren’t worried.”
“I wasn’t.” Cedric clamped a hand around Ji-Su’s upper arm. “Let’s go.”
Ji-Su gave Raul a polite smile. “It was nice to meet you.”
“You as well.”
Cedric practically dragged Ji-Su back to their table. Thanks to his sharp vampire senses, Raul heard their hushed conversation over the music as they walked away.
“I don’t want you talking to any vampires unless I introduce you to them first and give you permission.”
“Okay.”
Raul didn’t like Cedric’s demeanor or the way he treated Ji-Su. But there wasn’t cause for him to do anything about it. Cedric hadn’t been abusive, merely rude and abrasive. And Ji-Su looked healthy and well cared for as was expected for a blood pet. Still,he had the urge to go over and steal Ji-Su away from Cedric and take him back to his ranch to keep for himself. Odd, since he’d never been one to covet what belonged to someone else. But something about Ji-Su brought out instincts he’d never felt before.
At the sound of footsteps behind him, Raul closed his mind to those thoughts and turned away from watching the group retake their seats. His own blood pets approached. Linda, a tall, curvy, raven-haired Latina and Alan a handsome, curly-haired Caucasian with a slim, broad-shouldered build. The two came to stand on either side of him and linked their arms through his.
“Who was that darling young man?” Linda asked.
“Ji-Su, a blood pet of Cedric LaMonte.”
“Is he a friend of yours?”