He grabbed those fingers, staring straight into Ethan’s eyes. Their lips were mere inches apart. Jean-Luc leaned in to close that slight gap, crashing his mouth hard down on his mate’s. The kiss was born of anger and regret—on Ethan’s side as well as his own, he suspected. He didn’t care if he left Ethan’s lips bruised and swollen in the heat of his passion.
“Oh, God, Jean-Luc,” Ethan panted as they broke apart for an instant, “can you forgive me?”
“Only if you forgive me, too.”
Jean-Luc nipped hard at Ethan’s neck. He tugged at his lover’s jacket, almost tearing the shoulder seams as he pulled it down Ethan’s arms. In return, Ethan undid the belt of Jean-Luc’s robe, allowing it to fall open entirely.
“Wow, you get really turned on when you’re mad…” Ethan commented. To back up his words, he gripped Jean-Luc’s cock, which had swollen to full erection.
Jean-Luc let out a low growl, the blood singing in his ears. He’d never had angry sex with Benoît—in all the years they’d been together, he could probably count the number of major arguments they’d had on the fingers of one hand. But Ethan was right. Rage and frustration had aroused him to the point where he wanted to fuck Ethan so hard he slammed him against the mattress with every stroke.
“You think you have the upper hand here, don’t you?” As Jean-Luc spoke, he shrugged the robe off his shoulders. “Well, you’re wrong.”
Ethan might have been almost as tall as him but Jean-Luc’s shifter physiology gave him superior body strength. With one arm, he hauled his mate over to the bed then threw him down.
“I’m going to fuck you like you’ve never been fucked before,” Jean-Luc purred in Ethan’s ear.
He made short work of stripping his lover, tossing his heavy work boots, socks, polo shirt and combat pants aside as he removed each item. Ethan’s briefs, he simply ripped off him, smiling in satisfaction at the sight of the ruined underwear. Through the whole process Ethan just stared at him defiantly, clearly waiting for Jean-Luc to make good on his promise.
On one of his secret visits to this room, Ethan had brought a strip of condoms with him, putting them in Jean-Luc’s top drawer to make sure they would always have a ready supply. Jean-Luc brought one out then tore open the foil. Once he’d skinned the sheath down his cock he tossed the tub of lube to Ethan.
“Grease yourself up,” he ordered, his tone brooking no argument. “I want to watch you get yourself nice and wet for me.”
Once more, color bloomed in Ethan’s cheeks. Jean-Luc knew this time it would be with shame at being made to lubricate his own arse. But Ethan didn’t object. He lay on the bed with his legs spread wide, giving Jean-Luc a perfect view of his fingers smearing the gooey stuff over and around his puckered opening.
It took all his patience not to leap on Ethan right then and there. The sight of those slippery digits sliding in and out of his lover’s arse drove Jean-Luc insane with want, but he managed to restrain himself until it became obvious Ethan was ready for him.
“Jean-Luc, I need you inside me.” Ethan’s voice was hoarse with desire.
He didn’t need any further invitation. Joining Ethan on the bed, he hauled his mate up so that he knelt on all fours, his rump raised. Jean-Luc guided his cockhead to Ethan’s hole, so beautifully prepared for him, then pushed home. He met almost no resistance, lodging himself in that hot, slippery channel with a series of measured thrusts.
Their coupling was fast, frantic—the wooden frame of the bed shuddering beneath the force of Jean-Luc’s movements. He pistoned in and out of Ethan, holding tight to his lover’s flanks as he jerked his hips back and forth. Heat rose between them. Sweat shone on Ethan’s back and he groaned with every stroke. Spurred on by the beast within him, Jean-Luc felt like he was fucking all the rage, all the regret out of his system. In the moment before he came, he bit the back of Ethan’s neck, seeking to mark the man as his own.
His cum filled the condom in quick, hot bursts. He reached underneath their joined bodies to grip Ethan’s cock and milk the seed from him in an explosive orgasm.
Finally, they lay spent and panting in each other’s arms and Jean-Luc was able to voice the request that had hovered on his lips since he’d divulged the reality of his nature to Ethan.
“Promise you won’t tell any of your colleagues what you know about my family.”
“How can you ask me not to reveal something as big as that? It’s the first time we’ve discovered genuine, unshakeable proof of the paranormal. We’d have half the country tuning in to see what we found…”
Jean-Luc could see the conflicting emotions cross Ethan’s face. He prayed his lover would not put the ratings of a television program before what they had together. “Please, if not for me then do it for Thérèse. Do you really want her and her baby to be presented as some kind of freak show?”
Ethan shook his head, and Jean-Luc knew that even though it had been a cheap shot, it had clearly hit home.
“You’re right,” Ethan said. “It wouldn’t be fair on her. And I’m sure we’ll have enough decent footage as it stands.”
He sounded like he was trying to convince himself. Jean-Luc hated having to destroy Ethan’s dreams of success but once the Champagne pride’s existence became common knowledge, it would only be a matter of time before the rest of his kind were hunted down. He would die before he allowed that to happen.
Pulling Ethan close, he murmured against his ear, “Thank you. Your decision means more to me than you could ever know. And I’m sorry I haven’t been the most gracious host to your friends but there’s time for that to change. Tomorrow night I’ll join you all for dinner in Épernay—if you’ll have my company…”
“Of course. I’m sure the others will be delighted to meet you at last.”
Ethan had to be aware how much the decision had cost Jean-Luc. The last time he’d ventured beyond the boundaries of the LeBlanc estate had been to attend Benoît’s funeral, and even then he’d returned home the moment the service was over. He was long overdue to make his return into society. At least he would be appearing in public with Ethan by his side. Strong he might be, but there were things Jean-Luc didn’t yet feel he could manage on his own.
Chapter Nineteen
La Reine Marie stood on a side road off the grand avenue where all the major Champagne houses were located. With a discreet sign above the door in the same shade as the mushroom-colored bricks of the building’s façade, the restaurant hardly seemed to go out of its way to advertise its presence.
The street being too narrow to allow parking, Jean-Luc had to make a slow circuit of the area until he found a small public car park on the nearby Rue de Reims. “The others are still following us?” he asked as he indicated to make the turn into the entrance.
Ethan glanced over his shoulder to make sure the minivan was behind them. “Yep. And it looks like they’ve realized we’re stopping here.”
“
Bien
.” Jean-Luc got out of the car and went to read the instructions on the ticket machine. He returned a moment later wearing a satisfied expression. “Well, our timing appears to be perfect. After seven, parking is free.”
He reversed his silver Citroën C6 into the nearest available spot, the maneuver more assured than Ethan would have expected given that Jean-Luc had mentioned he hadn’t driven anywhere for the best part of two years. Jean-Luc had explained that after Benoît’s crash, the last thing he’d been able to do was get behind the wheel of a car.
The original plan had been for the LeBlancs to travel in Marcus’ car but at the last minute Marcus and Thérèse had cried off. It appeared Thérèse wasn’t feeling well and Marcus didn’t want to leave her alone at home. On any other night, the live-in staff would have still been on the premises but with everyone going out to eat, he’d given Thomas and Mireille the evening off. Mireille had taken the opportunity to have dinner with her family while Thomas had gone into Reims to see a movie. Agathe had mentioned something about meeting up with friends.
As Ethan and Jean-Luc got out of the vehicle, Pete was pulling the minivan into one of the empty spaces opposite. Ethan wandered over to join the rest of his crew, Jean-Luc a pace behind.
To say the others had been surprised to learn Jean-Luc would be coming to dinner with them would have been putting it mildly. When Kim had wondered aloud what could possibly have tempted the man out of his self-imposed confinement, Ethan had shrugged and told her it must have been Marcus’ doing. He didn’t want to reveal how much time he and Jean-Luc had been spending together or how intimate their relationship had become.
Now they all waited for Jean-Luc to lead the way to the restaurant. Even though they’d been told the establishment wasn’t particularly formal, everyone had made at least a token attempt to dress smartly. Leon and Dex wore sports jackets with their shirt and jeans and Pete had even dug a tie out from somewhere. As for Kim, she had on a short, scarlet dress that hugged the curves of her breasts and hips and which Dex said made her look ‘foxy’. Everyone was in high spirits, clearly determined to make the most of their last night in France before packing up and departing for the Czech Republic.
“I hope you all like seafood,” Jean-Luc said as they strolled along the street. “This place is famous is for its scallops in a Champagne sauce. Though if that dish is not to your taste,
les escargots
are also very good.”
Everyone looked baffled, apart from Leon, who piped up, “Those are snails, right?”
“Correct,” Jean-Luc replied. “Chef Georges serves them in the traditional garlic and parsley butter, and you haven’t lived until you’ve tried them.”
Though his suggestion was met with an obvious lack of enthusiasm, he seemed oblivious to the fact. Ethan wondered whether Jean-Luc was keeping up this stream of patter in an attempt to entertain his guests or relax himself. He couldn’t begin to imagine what it must have been like to spend so long surrounded only by a small circle of family members and household employees—and to avoid all contact with even those few people unless it was unavoidable.
They were greeted at the door of La Reine Marie by a white-jacketed waiter who led them through the main dining room. A couple of tables were already occupied by diners. Ethan couldn’t help noticing every male head turn to watch the sight of Kim’s arse, wiggling in that tight dress as she passed them. None of their female companions seemed particularly upset or even surprised by the amount of blatant interest the men showed Kim. But then the image he had of the French was that affairs weren’t just tolerated here, they were practically compulsory.
The restaurant’s private back room had been reserved for them. It had two large, oval tables, each large enough for six people. The waiter stood to one side until everyone had taken their seat around one of those tables then handed out menus.
Ethan was relieved to see all the dishes described in both French and English. He could make sense of most of the words but he’d never have been able to translate terms like ‘calves’ liver’ and ‘roast partridge’.
When the waiter returned with the wine list, there seemed to be an unspoken agreement that Jean-Luc should choose for them. Having established that everyone was happy with red, he ordered a couple of bottles of Saint-Émilion, telling the waiter to have more to hand for when they’d finished those.
In lieu of studying his menu, Ethan cast a sideways glance at Jean-Luc. Keeping the secret of the LeBlanc family’s true nature was proving all but impossible. A couple of times he’d almost blurted it out to Kim. It was hardly surprising, given that he’d grown so used to sharing everything with her. And her regularly repeated motto seemed to ring in his ears.
Whatever happens, whatever we see, we’re all part of it.
But Jean-Luc was right. He couldn’t drop such a bombshell without there being consequences.
“And for you,
Monsieur
?”
Ethan realized the waiter had addressed him. His gaze flicked to the selections on offer. It didn’t matter what he picked. He always ended up looking at everyone else’s dishes and wishing he’d chosen one of those instead.
“Er, I’ll have the scallops to start and the venison for the main course, please.”
“Very good.” The waiter scribbled down his order then took the menu from him before moving on to Jean-Luc.
As they waited for their starters to arrive, the group helped themselves to the rustic bread and olives that had been left on the table. A sharp-featured middle-aged woman in a chic silk blouse and slacks walked into the room and straight over to Jean-Luc. Ethan assumed her to be the restaurant’s owner.
Jean-Luc rose to embrace the woman.
“Ah, Jean-Luc, it’s really you!” she exclaimed. “I thought I’d seen you arrive but I told myself I had to be imagining it. Are Marcus and Thérèse not here tonight?”
Jean-Luc shook his head. “They should have been but unfortunately my sister’s feeling unwell.”
“Nothing serious I hope?”
“No, just one of those minor complications that afflict pregnant women.”
From the way the woman’s eyes widened in surprise, it was clear to Ethan she hadn’t been aware that Thérèse was having a baby.
“So you’re to be an uncle? You all kept that very quiet, but then I can’t remember the last time any of your family dined with us.”
“I know, Sophie, and I regret that. Things have been…difficult at the château. But let me introduce you to my American friends. They’re here making a television program about the ghosts who haunt the château.”
“Really? How fascinating.”
In turn, Jean-Luc presented each of the team to Sophie. Ethan was quietly impressed that Jean-Luc remembered everyone’s name, given he hadn’t met them before tonight. Kim was quick to praise the restaurant’s discreetly elegant décor while Pete said he was looking forward to trying the chef’s special of pigeon baked in a pastry crust.
“Well,
bon appétit
,” Sophie said. “I shall leave you to enjoy your meals.”
When the waiter arrived to serve their starters, Ethan noticed no one had been brave enough to try the snails. And as appetizing as Jean-Luc’s crayfish salad appeared, it only took one mouthful of his scallops to convince Ethan he hadn’t made a mistake in his choice.