“Why is that? What’s stopping you from reaching out to me?”
“You already know the answers to both your questions. I can’t change who or what I am.”
Marius moved his hand, until he gripped Disco’s chin and forced him to lift his head, until their gazes met. Marius ran his fingers along Disco’s jaw and swiped his thumb back and forth across his cheek—a lover’s caress. I saw what I’d glimpsed in the foyer earlier, only now, at my particular vantage point, I could name it. Marius had been a cold fish when he dealt with me, but as he gazed down at the vampire he had created, I could see love etched across his face.
“You haven’t even tried.”
“I can’t make myself feel something I don’t.”
“You might be surprised how you’d feel if you’d give yourself to me. I’d make it special, Gabriel. Something you’d enjoy. You’d never regret spending a night in my bed.”
“I love her.” Disco maintained eye contact as he said it. “And you know I’m not interested in men. Even if I were, I wouldn’t go there. I’ve found the one person I need. I don’t want anyone else.”
“She doesn’t deserve your adoration.” There was hostility in Marius’s statement, as well as anguish. “You’re being a fool.”
“Perhaps, but it’s my decision. She’s mine. I’m not letting her go.”
Marius released Disco, and I moved from the pillar, afraid of being seen. This was something I didn’t want know about. Disco wasn’t bisexual. Judging by his reaction to Marius’s touch, the notion made him as uncomfortable as it made me.
I spun around, oblivious to my surroundings, and bumped directly into Paine. He wrapped an arm around my elbow and lifted a finger to his lips. I nodded, trying to move away from the office.
We walked from the area under the stairs, down the hallway, and to the door that led to an enormous garden at the back of the property. Paine waited until I was outside and closed it behind us. It wasn’t until I gasped that I realized I had been holding my breath, waiting until I was at a safe distance from Disco and Marius to breathe.
“Now you know,” Paine said. “Gabriel was aware you’d have to learn the truth sooner or later. Considering what transpired in front of the family, he’s relieved it was sooner.”
“He knows I was there?” I turned to face Paine, horrified. “He knows I heard everything? He knows I saw everything?”
His lips curved at the corners. “He knew you were there entire time. He was the one who sent me to get you.”
“I suppose telepathy goes a long way when you have a house to run.”
Paine stepped toward me, until we were chest to chest. He placed his hands on my arms, rubbing his thumbs lightly against my sweater. “Or when you want to protect someone you love.”
“Like Marius loves Disco?”
His thumbs went still. “Marius has always wanted more out of his relationship with Gabriel. That’s why he changed him. It’s not uncommon for sexual desires to shift when you become a vampire. Heterosexual men and women often find they are attracted to the same sex shortly after their conversion.”
“But not all of them?”
“No.” Paine resumed making lazy strokes against my arm. “Not all of us.”
“Disco said he was a close friend of the family. Was that a lie?”
“No, it wasn’t a lie. Marius was close with Gabriel’s family. It wasn’t until Gabriel reached maturity that Marius’s feelings started to change.”
“Did he come on to him then? When Disco was human?”
Paine dropped his hands, and I knew he wasn’t comfortable with the situation either. “Once.”
“Care to elaborate?” I folded my arms over my chest, attempting to mask the tremor that speared through me.
“I don’t know the details, aside from Gabriel said no and Marius left that same night. We didn’t see him again until Cold Harbor.”