“That’s good then.” She let go of him and then smiled at them both. “Well? Off you go, mein lieblings. Godspeed to you both and don’t wait so long to come see me again next time.”
“We won’t, Nana, I promise.” Laurent gave her one last hug and a kiss on her wrinkled cheek and then took Paul’s hand. “Come. We’d better go if we’re going to make it in time.”
“I am glad we decided to speak to your mother first,” Laurent said as Paul pulled the Spyder into a spot around the side of the Chop Shop. “I think I need a little more time to work up to speaking to mine.”
“I thought your mom was the easy one.” Paul scanned the lighted windows, hoping to see Lucia’s silhouette.
“She is.” Laurent sounded so grim that Paul turned to face him, frowning. “Hey, we don’t have to do this if you don’t want to. We can just see my stepmom, put my bike on a trailer hitch behind the car and hit the road.”
“No, as difficult as it will be, I must do this. It’s the only way we can ever be free.”
Laurent sighed. “But I must admit I am not looking forward to my father’s rage when I renounce the title.”
Paul gave him a crooked grin. “Just tell him you’ll stay and keep the whole monarchy mierta going as long as he doesn’t mind you being with a were.”
“That is the one thing he must not find out.” Laurent looked pale in the glow of the dashboard lights. “If I renounce the title for my own reasons and go my own way, it is all well and good. But if he knew I was bonded to a wolf he would have grounds to hold me against my will. I would be considered mad and a danger to myself and others.”
Paul gave a short, barking laugh. “Yeah, my old man would think I was fucking crazy too if he knew I’d been hooking up with a vamp. Especially a male vamp. At least your dad doesn’t mind you fucking around with another guy.”
“And what will your packleader say?” Laurent looked away but Paul could feel the tendril of anxiety coming through their bond.
“You let me worry about Angel.” He patted Laurent’s thigh. “I never felt for Angel what I feel for you, babe.” He cleared his throat awkwardly. “He, uh, never followed through on any of his…I dunno, offers? Promises? Anyway, he kept me hanging. You don’t do that.”
Laurent looked at him and smiled. “Yes, you know you can take me any time you like. I am always ready to have you inside me.”
The soft words sent a surge of lust straight to Paul’s cock. “Keep talking like that and I’ll have to fuck you right here.”
“I think that would be a poor idea. Your father might come up at any moment.”
“I doubt it. He’s usually home this time of night watching the game on his flat screen. I am hoping that Lucia’s here, though. But if she isn’t I can always call her and ask her to come over. C’mon.” He got out of the car, motioning for Laurent to follow.
If Laurent was reluctant to meet Paul’s stepmother, he certainly didn’t show it. He followed willingly enough as Paul unlocked the side door of the Chop Shop and stepped inside. The lights were on so somebody had to be in—hopefully it was Lucia staying late to work on the books again.
“Lucia?” he called as Laurent stepped in behind him and closed the door. “Uh, Mom? You here?”
“Paul?” She stepped out of the lighted office. “Paul! Paulito.” She ran forward and gave him a hug, then stepped back and looked up at him. “You smell like vampire. And your neck…” She reached up to brush her fingertips against the freshest set of fang marks, on the right side of his throat.
“I am afraid those are my handiwork.” Laurent had been standing silently in the shadows beside the door but now he stepped forward, smiling apologetically.
“Madre de Dios. ” Lucia put a hand to her heart. “I didn’t even see you there. Forgive me. You must be Paul’s, um… friend?”
“I am.” Laurent came forward and took her hand. Bowing over it, he brushed her knuckles gently with his lips and murmured something in French.
Lucia’s caramel-colored skin took on a pinkish tinge. “I’m pleased to meet you too.
Any friend of Paul’s—”
“He’s more than my friend.” Paul felt he had to make that clear. “You know that, Lucia.” “Paul…” She shook her head. “I always thought that maybe…the way you and Angel were always together and the way you looked at him…”
“Laurent isn’t Angel. But about the rest of it, yeah. I’m, um, sort of into guys right now.” Paul shifted uncomfortably. When he’d imagined this scene with Lucia, somehow it had never occurred to him that he would have to come out and say that he was if not gay, exactly, at least interested in other men. “The bite marks on my neck— that’s a vamp sex thing,” he said lamely, trying to explain without actually explaining.