Depit Amoureux

Summary: � And this is how they started to have *fun*.

Author's Note: The wonderful world of Anita Blake was created by Laurell K. Hamilton. 'Depit Amoureux' is the title of a play by Moliere.

Jean-Claude looked up as someone knocked on his door, sending up a quiet prayer to whichever deity it was that watched over lovers and fools that this would not turn out to be an emergency or crisis that would have to be dealt with immediately. In fact, Jean-Claude would prefer for it not to be an emergency or crisis that would have to be dealt with tomorrow or next week either, but time and experience had taught him to be satisfied with small victories.

One such a small victory, he hoped to win tonight, although his unknown visitor might dash those hopes. Squaring his shoulders, Jean-Claude opened the door, intending to stop any trouble from coming any further than the threshold. He was somewhat surprised, if not entirely relieved, to see Asher standing in front of him, the part of his face that was visible not showing any kind of expression that Jean-Claude could read.

In theory, Asher held no real position in Jean-Claude's kiss - he was a guest, rather than an actual part of it. In practice though, all of Jean-Claude's vampires knew who Asher was, and what he had been to Jean-Claude, and as a result, none dared to give him orders or question his actions. Jean-Claude knew that several times, Asher had prevented a crisis from escalating simply by giving orders and being instantly obeyed, as if it had been Jean-Claude himself who'd given the orders.

However, Jean-Claude also knew that Asher still refused to officially accept any kind of position, and might well stop doing what he did if Jean-Claude were to speak to him about it. Thus, Jean-Claude kept his silence and his distance, hoping that it would eventually be enough to win Asher over.

"You need not be concerned; I am not here to inform you that there is a crowd outside the Circus who wish to burn it down as a foul den of vice and sin," Asher said, his voice and slight accent making the words sound soft and almost lyrical. "Or, if there is, that is not why I am here."

Jean-Claude didn't bother to hide his grin. He would have prefered for Asher to have long forgotten his bitterness by now, and returned to being the close friend he had once been to Jean-Claude, but the fact that he was here at present, and teasing Jean-Claude would have to serve as a hopeful sign. It was progress, to be sure.

"I am greatly relieved to hear so." Jean-Claude stepped aside, inviting Asher to enter. "Especially tonight, such an event would be ... awkward."

"You look well," Asher said, sitting down in a nearby seat, while Jean-Claude nestled himself on the couch. "You look very well indeed."

Jean-Claude was somewhat uncertain how to take that comment; was Asher telling him that he had been looking not so good recently, or was he simply making idle conversation to avoid the subject of why tonight, especially, a disturbance at the Circus would be awkward? In the end, he decided to take the compliment at face value. It was the safest thing to do - Jean-Claude had already learned the hard way that the Asher who sat facing him was not the same as the Asher he had known and loved, over two centuries ago. Responding to the new Asher in the same way he would have responded to the old one would be foolish, and more likely to deepen the ridge between them than to mend it.

"Thank you." Inclining his head, Jean-Claude floundered for a compliment to pay Asher in return. He could say that Asher looked beautiful and mean it, but he knew such words would hardly be welcome, because Asher himself did not believe them. "I hope you are well, also."

He had tried to keep track of that, at first, ordering some of his people to watch over Asher, questioning anyone who had exchanged more than a few words with him, hungering to learn anything at all about Asher and frustrated at the way Asher shut himself away from him. And so Asher had come to see him, as Jean-Claude had hoped, to bitterly complain about being spied on and accusing Jean-Claude of being pushy and rude, sticking his nose where it had no business being. Jean-Claude had made the mistake of becoming angry in return, telling Asher his actions had been caused by concern, not suspicion. Asher had not reacted well to that statement, and Jean-Claude had reluctantly promised to leave him in peace, hoping Asher would come to see the truth of Jean-Claude's words on his own.

"As well as can be expected of a man whose best friend has betrayed him," Asher replied. The accent that had sounded graceful and musical mere seconds ago, now made the words sound cold and hissing.

Jean-Claude winced. "Asher, I beg you, can't you let this rest?"

"How can I, when you talk to me of peace and a new start one moment, and then betray me the next?" Asher demanded bitterly. "You tell me you want my forgiveness, that your only wish is for us to become lovers again, yet your actions belie your words."

"I do not understand what you are referring to," Jean-Claude replied, vaguely pleased that at least Asher had begun to consider Jean-Claude's entreaties but disturbed to be faced with this new accusation of having betrayed Asher in some way.

"No?" Asher cocked his head. "Is it not true that you will be receiving Monsieur Zeeman this night? Is it nothing but a baseless rumor that you intend to seduce him, in order to seal your control over the local pack of werewolves?"

"I do wish people would stop thinking of Richard as a complete innocent, merely because he sometimes acts that way," Jean-Claude murmured, as if to himself. He considered asking Asher what business of his it was who Jean-Claude did or didn't take to his bed, when Asher himself had made it so abundantly clear that he himself had no desire to revive that part of their relationship. Asher really had no right to act outraged over something like this and perhaps, Jean-Claude realized, it was time to tell him that. All these weeks, Jean-Claude had been patient and polite, finding excuses for Asher's rudeness, telling himself that soon, Asher would change his mind.

No other vampire in his territory would have been allowed to say even half of the things Asher had said to him many times over. In the end though, Jean-Claude was the Master of the City, and Asher was here only with his permission, obliged to obey his rules.

"And if that first part would be true, what of it?" Jean-Claude lifted his head and stared at Asher. "Is it not my right to seduce or be seduced by whomever I please? You and I are no longer lovers - we are barely even friends, although I have offered you my friendship many times."

"Oh, yes, you have been so very generous, Jean-Claude," Asher spat. "Offering me your friendship like it were the greatest treasure on this earth. How arrogant you are, how utterly sure of yourself! Behold the world, and Jean-Claude at its center." Asher laughed. "How would it ever occur to you that anyone could look at you and not want you?"

"You seem to have little trouble doing precisely that," Jean-Claude replied dryly, determined to remain calm and not let his emotions get the better of him. He also sincerely hoped Jason wouldn't simply tell Richard where to find him. This was not a scene he wanted any outsider to walk in on, and as deeply as he might care for Richard, when it came to him and Asher, Richard *was* an outsider.

"It is another whom I want, but you seem determined to take him away from me."

Jean-Claude frowned. "I assure you that I was not aware that you had any serious interest in Richard, aside from deriving a certain pleasure from shocking him by pretending to - "

"How would you know if I was pretending or not?" Asher interrupted him. "Did it occur to you to ask me before arranging this little tete-a-tete? And would you have allowed for it to make a difference? If I had asked for him, would you have given him to me?"

Jean-Claude wanted to say that he hardly had the power to 'give' Richard to anyone, like some sort of toy one passed to someone else after one had grown bored with it. A part of him doubted though - he knew that Richard would never have approached him on his own if Jean-Claude had not made it clear to him that he was interested in that sort of relationship, but that he would also be content with friendship. If Asher had been the one to make that offer, sincerely and not merely as a joke, a way to embarrass Richard and get a rise out of him, would Richard have responded in kind?

"Your silence answers me clearly enough." Asher sneered, rising. "I hope you enjoy reaping the fruits of your betrayal, Jean-Claude. I hope they will turn to ash and leave you as scarred as I am, and as alone."

"No." Jean-Claude rose as well, feeling anger and grief rising in him. "I will not allow you to do this ... again. I have grown tired of your playing the martyr. If it is Richard you want, then take him."

Asher froze. "You are giving him to me?" Jean-Claude thought he detected a hint of surprise in Asher's voice, but also a hint of contempt. It occured to him that possibly, not even Asher himself knew which emotions Jean-Claude awakened in him.

"You are mistaking my meaning." Jean-Claude sat down again, graceful and controlled. "If you truly are determined to have him, then it is not me you should be speaking to. It is him. I will not back off, merely because of your childish demands, but neither will I intervene, if he chooses you over me. This much I will offer you, for the sake of our old friendship. No more."

Asher kept standing, although he made no movement in the direction of the door. "And who would choose someone like me, scarred and ugly, over someone like you? As always, your gestures are hollow and meaningless, nothing but a pretense of caring."

Jean-Claude winced. "Asher ... "

Asher merely stared at him.

"To me, you will never lose your beauty," Jean-Claude said, knowing he meant it, and wishing for Asher to know it, too, to finally stop seeing only the truths that Asher himself had created.

Asher turned away from him. "As it happens, you were correct in your assessment of my feelings for Monsieur Zeeman. He amuses me, but he does not mean the same to me as Julianna once did."

Jean-Claude held his breath. It was the first time Asher had allowed that name to pop up in their conversation. He did not know why Asher had brought it up now, without Jean-Claude even pressing him to accept the past for what it had been, and move on.

"Or you," Asher added, so softly that Jean-Claude didn't quite dare to believe he'd actually spoken those words. "Still," Asher opened the door, "he is, as your pomme might say, 'fun'. I will not fight you for him, Jean-Claude, but perhaps you should give some thought to sharing."

"I do not believe Richard would care much to be 'shared'," Jean-Claude said neutrally.

"Well, if he doesn't, then perhaps he would care to share *you*. Enjoy the rest of your night, Jean-Claude." Asher slipped out the door, leaving Jean-Claude to contemplate his words and try to separate truth from lie, and play-acting from sincerity.

x

Asher found himself trembling slightly as he walked towards the exit of the Circus, away from Jean-Claude and the temptation he presented. It was, Asher knew, foolish to expect things to be as they had been in the past, especially since it had been Asher himself who had time and time again told Jean-Claude that any attempt to recreate their former closeness would be futile, and yet, in spite of his words and actions, Asher had hoped that somehow, Jean-Claude would prove him wrong.

Before he'd met Jean-Claude, Asher knew he'd never dreamt of defying Belle, of breaking away from her kiss and building a life for himself. In that regard, he could stare Jean-Claude straight in the eyes and tell him that he was to blame for all of Asher's suffering and all the scars that now marred Asher's once so perfect body. If Asher had never met Jean-Claude, he would still be beautiful.

He would still be beautiful, yes, but he also would never have known what it truly meant to love and be loved in return, not fawned over like some favorite pet and showed off like a fetching piece of jewelry. Asher knew that even as he blamed Jean-Claude, a far greater deal of blame should be appointed to him. He'd been older, more experienced than Jean-Claude. He'd known Belle, and that she did not take kindly to people leaving her, especially not when she had not yet tired of them.

A spurned lover might slink away in the night, and good riddance, but one whom she still favored and wished to see and make use of, would do so at his own risk. Jean-Claude had been too young to be fully aware of what dangers awaited a vampire unprotected by a kiss and a mistress who had the ear of the king himself, but Asher had not. He'd known that at best, they'd be left to their own devices and at worst, they'd find themselves actively hunted by Belle's allies and enemies alike.

"Hey, who peed in your cornflakes this morning?"

Slightly annoyed at being torn so rudely from his reveries, Asher looked up to find himself facing Jean-Claude's pomme de sang. Inwardly sighing, he attempted to keep his voice and expression pleasant.

"Nobody, I assure you. I was merely ... thinking. Has Richard arrived?" Asher knew Jean-Claude had requested Jason to wait for Richard at the entrance of the Circus, and accompany him directly to Jean-Claude's quarters, to prevent any unpleasant incidents. Had he consulted Asher on this matter, then Asher would have told him giving the task to Jason had been a mistake - it only rubbed in that Richard had failed at giving Jason the sense of security that he wanted in the pack, and that Jean-Claude had not. Richard might have the ethics of a boy scout, and not go around showing off his beauty (which was, Asher felt, considerable enough to excuse at least a little vanity) but he possessed a strong sense of duty, and seeing Jason putting a Master Vampire before his Ulfric wasn't going to improve his temper in any way.

"Yes, I'm here." Richard glowered at Asher, walking up from behind Jason to place himself in front of him, as if he wished to protect Jason from some sort of attack.

"And in such a lovely mood, too. I can tell how eager you are for tonight's meeting," Asher murmured. An ordinary human might not have heard him, but Richard and Jason both did. Jason chuckled, while Richard merely glowered some more.

"I didn't come here to listen to your blabbering," Richard declared hotly.

"The merest bit of teasing, and already you are accusing me of babbling," Asher replied mournfully, feeling his spirits lift somewhat. "It must be that you are used to people being silent around you or, perhaps, you prefer actions over words? Were I to throw myself at you, would you admit you love me then?" Asher took a step forwards, amused as he saw Richard beginning to step back, before he realized that in doing so, he was likely to step on Jason's toes.

"I don't mind people talking to me, I just don't like lies," Richard said. "But if you're asking, yes, I do think you're all talk, Asher. Some people may not mind when they're getting lied to, as long as the lies sound good, but I'm not one of them."

"Are you accusing me of being a - what is it called again? A player? Someone who is not to be trusted because he swears his love and heart to everyone who draws his attention?" Asher grinned, genuinely amused. Only Richard would be able to voice such an accusation with a straight face, without even considering once that with the way Asher looked, he would be lucky to even find one person willing to share his bed.

"Well, and isn't that what you are?" Richard crossed his arms over his chest. "I bet you wouldn't know real love if it hit you over the head."

Jason gasped. Asher briefly wondered how much he knew, how much Jean-Claude had told him. More than Richard, it would appear. Richard was blunt and open, but never cruel on purpose. His ignorance was both his greatest defense and his greatest weakness, enabling him to wound without even knowing it. But then, in a sense, his words might be true, Asher reflected wryly. Asher had once possessed two people who loved him deeply, and where were they now? If he'd realized what he'd had sooner, would he have been more cautious? Would he have protested more strongly against Jean-Claude's proposal to set out on their own, to see the world?

"Are you offering to show me, Richard?" Asher asked, moving so that the light favored his good side.

Richard opened his mouth and closed it again.

"Uhm, guys?" Jason cleared his throat. "Sorry to interrupt, but Jean-Claude's waiting."

"Of course. We would not want for Jean-Claude to have to wait, would we?" Asher smiled, for one moment feeling the bite of the envy he had earlier claimed not to feel for Jean-Claude, and moved past Richard, determined not to be in the Circus for the remainder of this night.

"Asher." Richard grabbed his wrist as he passed. It was the first time he had touched Asher voluntarily, and the gesture surprised the vampire so much that his hand was halfway to Richard's throat before he caught himself. "I apologize for saying what I said. It was uncalled for."

For a moment, Asher was tempted to use this moment the way he would have, if he'd been as callous and careless as Richard had claimed him to be. The opening was almost too perfect to pass up.

"No harm, no foul, as they say." Asher shrugged.

Richard released him, looking faintly surprised. Perhaps, Asher reflected as he left, he had not been the only one to realize how perfect the opening had been and how easy it would have been for Asher to prove Richard's accusation to be true.

He only hoped Jean-Claude knew how fortunate he was, to find someone like Richard in his city.

x

Richard wondered what had been bothering Asher. From the looks he got from Jason, his words hadn't helped any, although Richard felt Asher had deserved them. Jason hardly had any right to criticize him anyway; he was one of the pack, but rather than accept Richard's protection, he'd chosen to run to Jean-Claude, offering the vampire his blood and absolute obedience.

True, Richard might be here as well, but he'd never crawl before anyone, least of all Jean-Claude, and the only way he'd let a vampire drink his blood would be over his dead body, and after one hell of a fight. From what he'd seen and felt of the other's power, Jean-Claude might be capable of winning such a fight, but only barely, and only if he truly cared about nothing more than establishing himself as the absolute power in this city, over vampire and werewolf alike. Richard was betting his life on the guess that Jean-Claude wasn't like that, that his offer of friendship was real.

Ignoring Jason's nervous attempts at striking up a conversation, Richard once again considered the riddle presented to him by Jean-Claude. He knew a good deal of his distrust came from the part of him that rejected his beast, that kept wishing to be nothing more than a simple school-teacher. When he'd become Ulfric, he'd locked it away, accepting that he was one of the lukoi, doomed to either fight for his life, or let himself get killed. Sylvia and the others who had supported him against Marcus thought that the fact that he'd won meant that he'd fully become one of them, reconciled with being a monster.

They were wrong though. Richard knew he'd never wholly accept not being human, like he knew that he'd always be held back by that lack of self-acceptance. For all his faults, Marcus had been a better Ulfric. He'd been afraid of being outed, true, but for practical, rational reasons, not because he needed other people to help him keep up the pretense and not go insane by being forced to face the truth.

"We ran into Asher on our way in," he heard Jason explain, apparently answering some question Richard had been too distracted to hear.

"Indeed," Jean-Claude replied. "And what did Asher have to say?" There was something very cold about Jean-Claude's tone of voice. Jason shivered, his body-language radiating submission and obedience. Richard was too busy trying to convince his body that he was not about to get into a fight to be offended at the way Jason acted. Besides, anyone would have been freaked out by that kind of tone - Jason's being Jean-Claude's animal to call might make him more sensitive to the Master Vampire's moods, but in this case, it only added to things; it didn't cause them.

"Nothing, same as always." Richard's voice sounded hoarse and his throat felt very dry. "Come on, Jean-Claude, you know what he's like! You should make him get out more, learn some new pick-up lines."

Jean-Claude turned to look at him, and even as Richard avoided his gaze instinctively, he still felt it gliding over him, like icecold water. Jason made a soft noise that sounded more animal than human, and all of a sudden, Jean-Claude smiled and the mood broke.

"I do know what he is like, yes, and I apologize if he caused you any embarrassment, my dear Richard." Jean-Claude inclined his head. Jason relaxed almost immediately, and this time, Richard did feel a hint of distaste at the display. Jason might not be an alpha, but he could at least make an effort to act like a human being, instead of some pet, waiting on its master's every pleasure.

"A fifteen-year-old schoolgirl hitting on you is embarrassing." Richard snorted. "A thousand-year-old vampire hitting on you is just annoying."

"What? You mean it's the age-difference that bothers you instead of the gender?" Jason asked, apparently sufficiently recovered to get smart with someone who, in theory, could decide over his life and death. Richard would never actually use that authority, of course, but he was still vaguely bothered by Jason's lack of respect.

"Jason, I seem to recall you mentioning that you wanted to study for a test this evening? You have my permission to go and do so now." Jean-Claude gestured for Richard to come inside, not even waiting for Jason to nod and mumble a thanks, or perhaps a good-luck wish.

"*Is* it the age-difference that bothers you?" Jean-Claude inquired, closing the door and walking to a side-table where, to Richard's surprise, he spotted one of those modern coffee-machines.

"No." Richard shook his head. "Well, not with Asher. It does bother me with the schoolgirls, I admit. I mean, if they were ten years older, I wouldn't mind half as much."

Jean-Claude chuckled. "Is that any way for a boy scout to talk?"

"How often do I need to tell you guys I'm not some sort of saint?" Richard grimaced at the cup of coffee Jean-Claude handed him. It looked pretty, sure, if you liked fancy, expensive-looking stuff, but Richard was willing to bet he'd be able to empty the cup with one big sip. "Just because it bothers me that I'm a monster and don't want to treat other people like cattle doesn't mean I'm some goodie two-shoes who helps old ladies to cross the street in his spare time."

Jean-Claude frowned, but chose to let the monster-comment slide, instead trying to keep the conversation light. "And yet, if you did see an old lady unable to cross the street by herself, would you not help her? You can't deny you have a, shall we say chivalrous? streak. It is what draws people to your cause. It is what makes people willing to believe in your ideals, impractical as they may be sometimes."

"I believe that people will be decent, if you give them a chance," Richard said.

"Yes," Jean-Claude agreed. "Even though you have been betrayed, you keep on believing that. It is charming, such innocence."

"It's better than believing everyone's out to get you, just because you got burnt once," Richard shot back. "Tell me, Jean-Claude, are you happy, never being able to trust anyone? Asher would - "

"Do not speak to me of Asher," Jean-Claude hissed, his pleasantness vanished like it had been only an act, a mask now ripped off. "You have no idea of what has passed between us. You have no right to judge me. What would you know of betrayal and suffering? You know nothing."

Richard swallowed. He'd thought he'd be able to handle Jean-Claude if it came to a fight, but right now, his body felt paralyzed. Marcus had been powerful, but not like this.

Jean-Claude dropped himself in a seat. "You know nothing," he repeated, more softly. "It is one of the things that draw me to you, I suppose. One rarely finds someone so open nowadays, so utterly without falseness. It is not quite ignorance. Rather, it is some sort of deliberate blindness, a willful choice to pretend there is no evil in this world, nor people who would choose evil over good."

By rights, Richard mused, he shouldn't feel flattered by Jean-Claude's words. The vampire had been ready to kill him a few moments ago, merely for saying a name. Jean-Claude might talk about trust, but Richard knew he'd gladly make an exception for vampires. Vampires weren't humans, as far as Richard was concerned. Maybe they didn't deserve to be hunted down and killed, as long as they didn't harm anyone, only that didn't mean Richard felt they should be given the right to vote, or treated like any normal citizen. Vampires weren't normal. At least werewolves were normal most of the time, but vampires were undead bloodsuckers all night and day.

"It's not a pretense," Richard managed. "The world *is* like that. You just need to see it."

Jean-Claude smiled at him. "Perhaps you are right."

Richard waited for the 'but' to follow. When it didn't come, he sent Jean-Claude a suspicious look. "What's with the lack of arguments? I know you don't agree with me; fine, I don't agree with *you* most of the time either."

"Only 'most of the time'?" Jean-Claude questioned, back to looking calm and fully at ease.

"The point I'm trying to make is: we don't have to agree on each and every small thing in order to be allies." Richard put his empty cup on the table, realizing he'd barely tasted the coffee.

"I didn't invite you because I wished to make you my ally," Jean-Claude said. "I had hoped for us to become friends, at the very least."

"Friends, allies, same difference." Richard made an impatient gesture.

Jean-Claude looked like he was about to say something to that, then changed his mind. "At best, I had hoped for us to become lovers." He spoke softly, and his gaze was firmly on the wall just left of Richard's head. Thus, it took Richard a moment to fully comprehend the words and their meaning.

"Do I have some sort of sign on my forehead that says: hey, I'm gay and looking for a vampire boyfriend?" Richard groaned.

"Are you? Or rather: can you honestly say that you are not?" Jean-Claude asked.

"Boy scout's honor and all?" Richard snorted. "Of course not!"

"And yet you - " Jean-Claude paused. "Of course not?" he echoed.

"Well, I'm not looking for a fang-faced guy to have sex with, but ... " Richard shrugged. "I'm aware that I'm occasionally attracted to other men, yes. It's kind of hard to miss, you know, seeing as how I'm me and all. And hey, I'm already in a closet for one thing, why not for this, too?"

"You seem very ... matter of fact about it," Jean-Claude murmured, somewhat distractedly.

"Oh, I'm sorry, was I supposed to deny it? I know you, Jean-Claude. Not well, perhaps, but well enough to know that if I claimed to be perfectly straight, you'd have done everything you could to prove me wrong, simply to make a point. I guess we have at least that much in common; neither of us can stand being lied to. We just react to it differently." Richard made himself a little more comfortable. In spite of Jean-Claude's statement, he felt far from 'matter of fact' about his bisexuality.

Jean-Claude nodded, his expression that of someone whose mind was miles away.

"Actually, I'm wildly attracted to you, so why don't we skip the talking and have sex right now?" Richard continued. He knew that if Jean-Claude was less preoccupied than he seemed, things might get messy, but then again, it wasn't completely untrue that he found Jean-Claude attractive.

"Hm-hm." Jean-Claude blinked owlishly. "What?"

"I said: can I have another cup of coffee?" Richard held up the cup in question.

"That was not what I heard you say." Jean-Claude studied Richard with narrowed eyes.

Richard managed not to smirk, although it was hard not to gloat a little at having managed to get the upper hand in a confrontation with Jean-Claude.

"Are you ... teasing me?" Jean-Claude asked incredulously.

"Are you ... going to get me another cup of coffee?" Richard retorted, unable to keep a grin off his face. It would seem that the Master of the City wasn't used to being teased - possibly because he was, after all, the Master of the City. The realization that he might actually hold an edge here made Richard's grin widen; Jean-Claude might be able to seduce the pants off (nearly) everyone, but when it came to someone turning the tables on him, he was at a loss.

Jean-Claude moved, too fast for Richard's eyes to follow him, and was suddenly looming over Richard, almost close enough to touch him, but not quite. Richard hastily revised his earlier idea. Jean-Claude might be taken aback by *Richard* being the one to come on to him, but with the way he looked, he had to be used to people hitting on him.

"May I have your empty cup then?" Jean-Claude asked, holding out his hand. Richard wasn't sure how much of what he felt was due to Jean-Claude's power, and how much of it was simply caused by the proximity of someone who was, by all standards, drop-dead sexy, and he didn't care too much at the moment either. With the way Jean-Claude was standing, he'd have to turn and bend down to collect Richard's empty cup. It might be simple coincidence, but Richard wouldn't have bet on it.

"On second thought, I don't really want any more coffee," Richard said hoarsely.

"Then what *do* you want?" Jean-Claude purred, still not touching Richard. The smug expression on his face informed Richard that Jean-Claude definitely thought he was back in control of their little game again, and that he imagined he knew exactly what Richard's next move was going to be.

"Well." Richard licked his lips. "Do you have some beer around here?"

Jean-Claude took one step back, by some miracle not bumping into the table, before he started to laugh. It wasn't the kind of laugh Richard would have expected from him, although he supposed it really made no sense to expect Jean-Claude to act like a human actor playing Count Dracula.