Masculine Delights

Edward woke first to the sound of Jason's heart beating. He blinked several times and stretched. Jason sure knew how make love. He smiled. For the first time in a very long time, he was happy.

Jean-Claude shifted, throwing a thigh over Edward's body.

Edward ran his hand across his lover's thigh. He realized that it was almost Christmas. He wondered if vampire's even celebrated the holiday.

The Master of the City purred, cuddling his face into Edward's shoulder.

Edward stroked the other man's hair. He wished that Van Cleef wasn't here and that he could spend the holidays with his lover.

"You think too hard..." Jean-Claude grumbled as he woke, looking up at the assassin, his dark lashes heavy over deep blue eyes.

"What am I thinking then?" He asked innocently.

"Probably something along the lines that this is your fault with Van Cleef. I do not know for sure, but I know you are feeling guilty." Jean-Claude pressed a kiss to Edward's mouth.

He returned the kiss. "Do vampires celebrate Christmas?"

Jean-Claude paused. "Oui, por quoi? Though for most it has more to do with the tradition of gift exchanging rather than the birth of the Christ child..."

"I was just thinking that it's like a week away..."

"So you celebrate? Bon. Then I shall get you a present. I have had one in mind, but..." Jean-Claude traced Edward's nipple with an idle hand.

"It's kind of hard to get anything right now with Van Cleef breathing down our necks."

"Then we shall exchange gifts at another time. After all, it is the thought." Jean-Claude kissed him softly, ignoring the sleeping forms of Asher and Jason.

Edward moaned into Jean-Claude's mouth. "I'm a little sore from last night."

"Je suis desole, Edward..." He paused, smiled. "That, however, always was a favorite feeling of mine."

"Jason is more fierce with his love making."

"I saw." Jean-Claude shrugged. "He did not restrain himself as I have."

"You're telling me." He rubbed his butt.

Laughing softly, Jean-Claude pushed Edward's hand out of the way, then spread his legs. Gently, he kissed the soreness away.

"You're too good to me Jean-Claude. I'm a bad person who has killed a lot of people and yet you can love me..."

He paused, quirked a brow. "Edward... as old as I am, do you really think that I have never killed?"

"I have probably killed more than you and you have centuries on me." He said.

Jean-Claude shrugged. "Edward, I do not care."

"I have done some things I regret."

"As have I. However, loving you is not, and never will be one of them." He cupped Edward's face. "Trust me."

"I do trust you." Edward kissed him.

Making a soft noise, Jean-Claude nuzzled his neck. "Mon Petite Morte... you are the best gift I could ask for... but I would be honored if you would top me when you feel... up to it."

"That may not be tonight." Edward laughed. "I don't know how Asher survives it."

The blonde vampire stirred, gesturing at Jean-Claude as he spoke, "I had to teach him how to love a man."

"Oh the stories you could tell me." Edward laughed.

Jean-Claude sighed. "You wish to hear of my humiliation?"

"Now, Jean-Claude... you weren't that bad. Besides... I appreciate the vigor you put into your love making." Asher teased.

"How am I supposed to know that you weren't always perfect if I don't get to hear the stories?"

"I'd rather you think I were perfect even if I am far from it even now." Jean-Claude stood, grabbing his robe.

Edward shrugged. "It makes you seem more human."

Asher curled around Jason, smiling at the slight snoring of the wolf. "Mon Ami, it is not an insult..."

"If you say so." Jean-Claude began to pull back his hair.

Edward's phone began to ring. He looked at the phone. Very few people had the number. He grabbed the phone and looked at the number. "Hello?"

"Hello, Eddy." A woman's voice said to Death. "It's been awhile."

"Alexia..." Edward shifted on the bed, getting comfortable, his voice dropping slightly. "To what do I owe the honor of this call?"

"I hear that you're having some problems with Van Cleef. The Sisterhood would be more than glad to take care of him for you." Alexia paused. "Consider it repayment for saving my life."

"Oh really? And how did you hear about this?" Edward didn't notice the tightening in Jean-Claude's shoulders. The vampire could hear every word of the conversation.

"We have just as many spies as Van Cleef." She practically spat him name out. "I know of many who would to have a chance to kill him."

"And you want to. Got a Jones, huh, Lexia?" He used the old nickname he'd called her many times in the past, not really thinking anything of it.

She laughed. "You and Van Cleef are the only ones that have shot me and lived to tell the tale. But unlike Van Cleef, I don't want to blow you're head off Eddy."

"You got your revenge in other ways, Lexia." He smirked. "If you want to help, I'll take it."

"What's wrong, Eddy, don't like that lovely scar I left oh so very close to your precious goods?" She laughed. "The Sisterhood will be joining you shortly. Would it be too much to ask to receive shelter in the Circus?"

Edward looked at Jean-Claude, who shrugged at him. "We have room." He said simply, before standing and going into his office.

The assassin frowned, not understanding the suddenly cool behavior. "It's fine, Lexia."

"Good. See you soon." She hung up the phone.

Edward slid off the bed and followed Jean-Claude. "Something wrong?"

"Why would there be?" Rather than turning on the lights in his office, Jean-Claude had instead lit candles, and sat at his desk going over various invoices for his many clubs.

"You sound upset is all..."

"How so?" Jean-Claude's voice was calm, he made sure of it. Edward thought he was a poor lover, and then... that conversation on the phone with his 'Lexia'. He resisted the urge to growl.

"You're voice gives you away. You keep your voice calm like that when you're hiding emotion." Edward crossed his arms over his chest.

"Do I?"

"Yes, you do."

Without replying, Jean-Claude went back to his paperwork.

"Whatever, Jean-Claude." He left the room and went to freshen up in the bathroom a bit.

Asher knocked on the office door.

"Entre."

"Mon ami, the look on Death's face...what is wrong?"

"Nothing, Asher. Absolutely nothing." Jean-Claude couldn't really keep the sarcasm from his voice.

"He did not mean anything by his comments earlier. All he knows is that you are a perfect lover and that he is so new. He wishes to hear of when you were in his place."

"So you know my lover better than I, I take it?"

"No that's what he was mumbling as he stormed into the bathroom." Asher said, frustrated.

Jean-Claude sighed, placing his head in his hands.

"Do you want to talk, mon ami?"

"I am a fool, Asher." He swore softly in French, then pushed himself to his feet. "What if this... attraction he has towards men is a fluke? Left over from the spell?! And what if he decides he much prefers women, such as his precious 'Lexia'?"

"Mon ami, this is unlike you. You are not the jealous type." Asher looked at him. "Edward truly loves you. A blind man could see that."

"I know..." Jean-Claude nearly groaned. "I was fine with us... earlier. That was fun... but a woman calls him and I become worried. I am a fool..."

"All you can do is hope for the best." Asher said as he left to join Jason.

Counting to ten, Jean-Claude sighed, knocking on his bathroom door.

"What?" Edward said testily.

"Je suis desole..." Depression rained down on the Master of the City, and he headed back for his office.

Edward just shook his head. Alexia would be there soon and she would be able to read him like a book if he let Jean-Claude's pissiness get to him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Asher kissed Jason slowly awake. He was not staying here while Edward and Jean-Claude fought.

"Hmm?" Jason asked as he woke up.

"We are returning to our rooms, Mon Loup. Morte and Jean-Claude are having a spat, and I do not wish to stay here." Asher sighed.

Jason rolled out of bed. "I'm with you." He kissed his lover and they headed to their room together.

Asher explained the phone call and the conversation, his tone decidedly annoyed. "And Mon Ami went to apologize, and Edward was too pissed to so much as open the door even after Jean-Claude said "Je suis desole"..."

The wolf shook his head. "They're both so stubborn." He sighed.

"I am ready to lock them in a room together." Asher flopped back on the bed.

He snorted. "They'd probably kill each other."

"I am thrilled by your enthusiasm, Mon Loup." Asher said drily.

"Sorry..." He said. "So this Lexia chick gave him the wicked scar on his crotch huh?"

"Oui."

"Is it such a good idea to let her stay here with Jean-Claude around?"

"Probably not, but we need all the help we can get."

The Sisterhood arrived several hours later. Lexia had only her closest and most trusted friends with her. They were a all ruthless killers, but Lexia was the best of them, earning her the name 'The Angel of Death'. Her and Edward always joked that she was his angel.

Jean-Claude greeted them as he would greet the council- with severe caution. And though Edward was at his side, there was no sign on Jean-Claude's part that they were involved.

Lexia nodded at Jean-Claude. "Thank you for welcoming us into your home. Hopefully, we can get rid of your problem soon."

He nodded. "Merci. Jason shall take you to your rooms." He motioned at his Pomme. "If you have any questions, feel free, of course, to ask."

She nodded and her and the other assassins followed Jason. Edward stopped her. "Hey Lexia, let's go talk. It's been a while." He headed off with the woman.

The Master of the City watched for a moment, then began to head outside. He might as well get some work done if Edward was so enraptured with her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Edward returned to the room several hours later. He undressed and crawled into bed.

It was only half an hour later when Asher entered the room, looking beyond distressed. "Get dressed, Edward."

Edward grabbed his clothes quickly. "What happened?"

Asher stilled, halfway out the door, unable to feel his connection with his old lover and dear friend at all. "Jean-Claude's limo blew up. The... firefighters have found no remains other than the driver in the fire."

Edward's legs went out from under him as the news hit him. "N-no...he can't be..." Jean-Claude had promised him he'd be ok. He was a liar.

Moving to Edward's side, he lifted the assassin. "Get up- we have to control the city or hundreds will die, not just him."

Death replaced Edward quickly as he buried his emotions. "Let's go." Lexia met up with them outside. She was shouting orders at the other women as they climbed into various vehicles.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~