“They were sure that Marcie would go for Angel or Spike, she’s such a Buffy fan, but I kind of beat her to the punch.” Cassandra looks toward Lucas with a smile.
My gaze goes to the K&A CFO in sheer appreciation. His sandy-colored hair is a much lighter shade tonight—bleached. He wears a tan duster with red lining, black jeans and T-shirt, and heavy Goth boots with the buckles up the calves. The stage makeup he is using has lightened his biker’s tan, and someone had done a professional job with it, hollowing out his cheekbones to give him the angular look James Marsters brought to the character of Spike. His gray eyes have a different look to them, a little more blue to the silver, the use of contacts, I’m sure. And then of course there are those fangs, the tips of which show as he takes a sip from the drink he balances on one knee. He even has Spike’s arrogant sprawled posture, an ankle on his opposite knee, arms spread out on either side of the seat.
Seeing my attention to that, Cass nods. “We said they had to give the costumes 100%. Which includes the look, the mannerisms, everything. And you know how thorough they are.”
“Thank you, Jesus God,” Dana agrees fervently.
“Well, I would have told Ben I wanted the Spike or Angel thing, but your closet obsession with Spike stole my thunder.” Marcie grins at her sister. “Seriously, as much as I love Angel, it didn’t fit Ben.” She turns her attention to me. “Have you ever seen Frank Langella’s Dracula?”
“Oh yes! Actually that movie is one of my favorites. He was so elegant and charming, yet so dangerous at the same time. He is definitely my favorite actor to portray Dracula. Did you realize that Frank Langella never wore fangs in the movie?”
“I didn’t even notice.” Marcie grins. “But I’m glad Ben wore them tonight.” She reaches up, touches his mouth with one glossy fingernail and he obliges her with a tiny nip, eyes intensifying upon her. “I saw it one night, late night television,” she explains, pulling her gaze away from his face reluctantly. “The scene that caught me was where he very nearly bites a woman’s neck while they’re dancing, but then he draws back and gives this little secret smile. He’s savoring the moment…drawing it out. It’s scary sexy. You know he can kill her, but you sort of don’t care, because you want to see him do whatever it is he wants to do to her.”
“Memo,” Lucas advises Ben. “Marcie probably shouldn’t handle any public relations interviews tonight. Not sure how well that will translate.”
“It doesn’t matter how offended people act. They know exactly what I mean,” Marcie sniffs. “And a lot of them agree in their dark little hearts.”
As I shift my gaze to Ben, I see that scary/sexy aura reflected very well. He looks like a turn of the century lord-of-the-manor, come back from a gallop on the moors. He wears an unlaced open white shirt that reveals a generous amount of hard chest. His tight black breeches are going to have every woman at the Ball staring at his ass, thighs and undeniably sizeable package (including myself of course). The look is accentuated by the polished knee-high boots. He also has a cape folded over the seat. He arches a brow, and his expression changes, the glitter in his eyes so close to Frank’s mesmerizing charisma I wonder if he had dramatic coaching. Of course, he is a lawyer, used to regular court performances. “When I will you to do a thing,” he intones, “It shall be done. Hear and obey.”
“Yesss Master.” And even though I respond in a playful tone, I’m sure Ben picks up on the fact that I’m not completely unaffected by that command. Damn him.
“There’s a scary sadistic streak to Frank Langella.” Marcie sends me a conspiratorial wink. She knows all too well how I feel. I caught her shiver when he said the words, and I’m sure he did as well. “It fits Ben.”
“Boy howdy,” Dana mutters.
“Does that mean my slave doesn’t want me to share her with him again?” Peter murmurs. “Teach her another lesson?”
The men never allow a bystander to hear what they don’t want heard, so the fact I’m able to pick up that tidbit tells me they’re enjoying playing with me. I’m coming to the conclusion that they are vampires, fed by women’s arousal. From Savannah’s look of amused sympathy toward me, she’s more than aware of it. I know she’ll intervene when she thinks it’s getting a bit much, but at the moment I can’t say it’s bothering me in the slightest. In fact I might be enjoying it a little too much.
Dana swallows. Ben’s gaze has shifted and sharpened on her. His hand is back on Marcie’s leg, and her thighs automatically part for him as he caresses her. Dana’s expression suggests a mix of arousal and terror, as if she can feel his regard, but she rallies quickly. Which Peter anticipates, because when her chin firms and lifts, his storm gray eyes smile, waiting for her sassy retort.
“He’s welcome anytime. But he should bring martial arts Barbie along.” She presses her body against her Master’s larger one, her fingers sliding along his lower abdomen, teasing his belt. “She’s always in trouble, so we can share the lesson. Give our Masters a taste of girl-girl submission.”
Peter cocks his brow toward Ben, a dangerous smile surfacing as Marcie’s gaze becomes more heavy-lidded. Ben’s fingers have tightened on her thigh.
“I think they like the idea, Dana,” Marcie says.
“Why don’t you tell us about Peter’s costume, Dana?” Savannah cuts across them, giving them all a severe look. “Behave.”
I can’t help but notice Matt is simply listening to all of this, leaning back behind his wife, playing with her loose hair, those dark eyes missing nothing, firm mouth occasionally quirking at the comments being exchanged. What is going through the man’s mind?
Peter grins broadly, distracting me. It’s a disconcerting effect, given he has the most prominent fangs of the group, and one of the most intimidating costumes. Dana lifts her hand to stroke through the buzz cut that has been done a la Wesley Snipes, with the triangular cuts along the scalp.
“Blade was just the obvious choice. I mean, total kick ass, monster-sized guy, weighed down with weapons.”
I have to agree Peter looks the part, complete with wraparound glasses, black leather duster and a faux samurai scabbarded blade that has a back holster. He’s also wearing the heavy buckled boots, apparently the fashion choice of modern urban vampires like Blade and Spike.
That leaves Jon. As my gaze shifts to him, I shake my head. I never would have thought it, but it’s perfect. “Gary Oldman, right?”
Not the gross mutation of Dracula, where Gary had the long braid and creepy talons. This was Gary in the gray top hat and swallow tail coat. The look is completed by the high dark gray silk cravat and silver stick pin, boots and tailored trousers. Jon even wears the steam punk style wire-rimmed shades. His dark hair has either been grown out further for the occasion, or he’s employed Hollywood grade hair extensions, managing Gary’s wavy locks to his shoulders. As beautiful as Jon’s features already are, it works well, even with the trim moustache and tiny sharp line of beard. At my expectant, hopeful look, he relents, and gives me a flash of the fangs.
Rachel beams at my expression. “I’m trying to convince him to grow his hair out that long for real. We all love it.”
“Yeah, the girls won’t stop playing with it,” Ben snorts and affects a feminine tone. “He’s going to let them put it in curlers for him later tonight. Then they’ll exchange secrets and play with a Ouija board.”
“You’re just jealous you’re not invited,” Jon says mildly. “They’ll all be wearing lingerie and having pillow fights.”
“Yes, because that’s what happens at all girl sleepovers.” Lucas nods sagely. “We’ve seen it in movies. Take video, Jon.”
I shake my head at all of them. Despite the continuous banter, I have to say that the dark, dangerous and extremely desirable vampire vibe is quite fitting for the men. “How do you guys feel about the costume theme the women chose for you?”
**********
Oh my! Is that Master Matt's sensual voice I hear? *thud* You don't want to miss what he has to say in the Limo tomorrow when he and the other K&A men answer my question! And you'll also get a peek at what the ladies chose as their costumes and I might even have sneaked a little Joey into our conversation as well!
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