“That’s fine. I’ll do the laundry,” Wyatt agreed. He paused and scratched his jaw. “We forgot something.”
“What’s that?”
“Bathrooms.”
Just as Bel brought the car to a halt at a red light, River unbuckled his seat belt and grabbed the back of Bel’s seat, pulling himself forward so he was directly between the vampire and wolf. “Bel, I will do anything you want if you will just keep your cleaning lady to take care of the bathrooms. Please, Bel, anything you ask. Anything at all.”
Bel’s body shook with laughter, and even Wyatt looked like he was struggling to not laugh.
“Is that your line in the sand? Bathrooms?”
River made a scoffing noise. “Isn’t it everyone’s?”
“That is true,” Wyatt agreed.
“Plus, you have like five bathrooms, and three of them are huge!”
“I’ll keep the cleaning service for the bathrooms if you put your belt back on,” Bel said with a broad smile.
River hooted happily as he settled in his seat and pulled his belt into place. Both wolves said they healed quickly, but Bel was not willing to put that to the test if they were in an accident.
The light changed, and Bel turned the sedan into an upscale shopping plaza. He could feel the tension zinging from both Wyatt and River as they took in their new surroundings. There was a hint of curiosity, but mostly anxiety.
“Bel?” Wyatt asked in a low voice.
“We’re going shopping,” Bel announced. “The clothes you have are nowhere close to adequate for your needs. We are taking care of that tonight.”
“Bel, no! We don’t need a lot of clothes. What we have is plenty,” Wyatt argued.
“No, it’s not, and it’s ridiculous to claim otherwise.” Bel pulled the car in front of a fancy storefront, and a pair of men dressed in black slacks and shirts jumped to get the doors, but Bel held up one hand to halt them as he put the car into park. Unbuckling his seat belt, he turned sideways so he could look at both River and Wyatt. “If you want me to be your master, this is me doing my duty and taking care of your needs. If I’m not that, then let me be your friend and help you.”
Bel fought hard to keep his tone firm and unyielding through that entire speech. He’d been practicing the damn thing since the night before, when he’d made this appointment.
But one look at Wyatt’s and River’s wary gazes had him crumbling.
“Please,” he said in a voice barely over a whisper. “I just want to help.”
Wyatt and River seemed to crack at the same time. “Of course! We don’t want to be any trouble. We didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.” They were practically talking over each other, and Bel could breathe again.
“Good. This won’t take long, and it’ll be fun.” Bel gave a nod to the man waiting beside his door, and it was instantly swept open. A valet grabbed both passenger doors on the other side of the car, allowing Wyatt and River to step out at the same time.
The surprising thing was that River hurried around the car to walk beside Bel, putting his body between that of the valet and Bel as if the vampire needed protecting. Wyatt fell into step beside him at the sidewalk. It was the strangest feeling, being so protected while the wolves vibrated with worry and cautiousness. This was the first time they’d stepped out into public together. Bel could only hope the discomfort would ease as time passed.
Another valet pulled open the door to the shop, and a tall thin man wearing a sharp suit with a bold red tie stood waiting for him.
“Beltran Varik! It’s so good to see you again!” the man greeted.
“Hello, Carl. Thanks for arranging this on such short notice,” Bel said, shaking his hand before turning back to his wolves. “Wyatt, River, this is my personal shopper, Carl Plunkett. He’s been taking care of my wardrobe needs for about twenty years now. I asked him to help get you both properly outfitted.”
Carl smiled broadly, shaking their hands eagerly. “It is such a pleasure to meet you. Mr. Varik has trusted me with all his wardrobe needs, and I assure you that you are in very good hands.”
“Thank you,” Wyatt said, looking lost. River didn’t say anything. He nodded at Carl and seemed reluctant to move without Wyatt at his side.
“Now, let’s get you both measured by my assistants here while I pick out a few things for you to try on,” Carl directed, waving his hand toward a pair of men in suits with tape measures draped around their necks and little pads of paper in their hands. Wyatt immediately started toward where Carl motioned, but River hesitated. Wyatt gazed at his lover, a questioning look on his face, but Bel stepped forward first.