Belle Morte Bites (Belle Morte 4.3)

Valentine's Day: Part Four

Jason practically skipped down Belle Morte's main staircase, and almost collided with a woman at the bottom, carrying an enormous bundle of red roses.

"Sorry," he said.

The woman smiled blandly at him, and continued into the vestibule, heading for the ballroom, where tonight's charity dinner was taking place.

"Please watch where you're going. I need everything to go according to plan tonight," said Ysanne, emerging from the hallway to the left of the stairs.

"Sorry," Jason said again, but he couldn't help grinning. "I'm just excited."

"So I see." Ysanne stopped in front of him and folded her arms. "Do you know where you're going?"

"Just to the cinema, I think. Gid hasn't said which one."

That might not have sounded exciting to everyone, but this was the first truly normal date that he and Gideon had had. Their relationship had blossomed inside these walls a year ago, culminating in Jason proposing out in the snow, but they hadn't been able to go on dates the way other people would – both because Gideon was a vampire, and because of the way the vampire world had been shaken by betrayal and bloodshed. Now things had settled, and Jason was finally going on a Valentine's Day date with his fiancé.

"Do I look okay?" Jason asked, smoothing the front of his shirt.

Ysanne reached out and tweaked his collar slightly.

"Thanks," he said.

Ysanne gave him a little nod. "Have fun," she said.

Something in her voice made Jason pause. "Do you know where Gid's taking me?"

"Perhaps."

"But you're not going to tell me," Jason guessed.

"Of course not."

Jason sighed. "Fine. I'll find out the old-fashioned way."

Waving goodbye to Ysanne, he hurried across the vestibule and through the front door. Gideon had told him that he'd be waiting outside with a car, but Jason had expected one of the black Belle Morte vehicles, not the sleek limousine that he found. Gideon stood by the side of the limo, looking particularly delicious in dark jeans and a black shirt, and Jason's heart skipped a beat.

Some day soon he was going to marry this man.

Gideon smiled and held out a single red rose.

"This is gorgeous and romantic," Jason said, taking the rose. "I thought we were just going to the cinema."

"We are," Gideon said, opening the limo door for Jason.

Jason climbed in, sliding across the buttery-soft leather seats. Gideon followed him.

"Do I get to know which cinema?" Jason asked.

"Not yet."

Jason narrowed his eyes. "I'm intrigued."

Gideon just smiled.

After twenty minutes, Gideon took a black velvet ribbon from his pocket.

"In the back of the limo?" Jason clutched at imaginary pearls.

Gideon tied the ribbon around Jason's eyes, sealing him in darkness.

"Well, this is kinky," he said, eagerly listening to Gideon's movement, trying to work out what his vampire was doing.

The limo door opened, and Gideon took Jason's hands. He guided Jason out of the car.