“Hello, you clueless man.”
Raul raised an eyebrow in question. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“When I gave you the advice to keep it casual and let Ji-Su do his job I didn’t mean for you to be so cold that it seems as if you don’t like him.”
“What? Of course I like him.”
Solan shook his head. “That’s not what he thinks. He thinks you don’t like him and you’re not attracted to him.”
Raul frowned. Ji-Su thought he wasn’t attracted to him? How was that possible?
“Enjoyletting Ji-Su do his job, okay?” Solan continued. “And maybe stop holding yourself back.”
Raul started to ask him to explain what he meant by don’t hold back but Ji-Su returned at that moment. Solan moved to Everett’s side and Everett wrapped an arm around his shoulders to draw him in close. Ji-Su stopped next to Raul, but left a foot of space between them. Raul wondered about the distance. Was it because Ji-Su thought he wouldn’t want to be close to him? How had he fucked things up so badly?
“Everett is hosting a midnight garden blood drinking party this Saturday,” Solan said. “You two should come.”
Everett seconded the invite. “Yes. It will be a hedonistic night but you can participate as much or as little as you choose.”
Raul had been to many of Everett’s events over the years. They were always elegant, well put-on affairs with an edge of wildness for those who liked to indulge their desires in whatever manner they chose. He looked down at Ji-Su. “Would you like to go?”
Ji-Su nodded. “I’d love to. It sounds fun.”
“I’ll send over an invitation with all the details,” Everett said.
Solan smirked at Raul, his indigo eyes shining with deviltry. “You’re welcome,” he mouthed silently.
Raul didn’t know why Solan thought he should thank him, but he was looking forward to finding out.
Chapter 22
The day after the ballet, Ji-Su had a few hours of free time. He didn’t have any streams scheduled that evening and he had about another three hours before he had to log on to practice with his team. He decided to use the time to edit his latest stream to upload to YouTube later.
He was at his computer, cutting out sections of dead air when someone knocked on the door. He paused editing to call out. “Come in!”
Gloria came in. As always, she wore her uniform of neat blue button down and dark jeans. Today her hair was in a low braid over her left shoulder.
“You have a delivery waiting for you in the foyer, Mr. Ji-Su.”
Ji-Su set down his controller. “Hopefully this delivery is better than the last one.”
Gloria smiled. “I believe it is.”
He got up and went down to the front hall where a human stood waiting for him. The young man was dressed in a red and gold, old-fashioned style messenger uniform, with a billed hat perched jauntily on top of his curly brown hair.
“Hello, I’m Paxton, here at the request of Mr. Everett. This is for you and Mr. Raul.”
He held out a thick, cream paper scroll, tied with a red velvet ribbon.
“Thank you.” Ji-Su accepted the invite, impressed that Everett had gone to the trouble of having someone deliver it in person rather than putting it in the mail or sending an e-vite.
“You’re welcome.” The delivery man gave a little bow, smiled, and left.
Curious to see what it said, Ji-Su took the scroll to his hidden alcove in the hall to open it. He sat down on the bench, bringing one foot up to tuck under his butt. Untying the soft, red bow, he unrolled the expensive feeling paper. Bold calligraphy in blood red ink scrolled across the page.
You are cordially invited to the Sanguis Syndicate’s Midnight Garden Party. Leave all of your inhibitions at home as a night of decadent pleasure awaits you. Indulge yourself from twelve a.m. until pre-dawn. Dress code: Sensual Scarlet.The invite closed with the date and location for the event.
It sounded as if it would be a fun night. Ji-Su appreciated Solan inviting him. He’d show the invite to Raul when he came home, although since he worked with Everett, he might already be aware of the party details.