more was said about Cutter, Storm, or Alex.
Still, they never left Uli’s mind.
* * * *
Cassidy Frost bounced through the partying crowd to meet Alex and him at the door. He was one of the few guys Uli had met here who seemed totally psyched to be a zombie.
“I’m so glad you dragged him to the party.” Cassidy hugged Uli and then shifted awkwardly to hug Alex. “He never attends birthday parties.”
Uli turned away to avoid witnessing Cassidy and Alex’s squeeze. Jealousy licked up his spine at the thought of Cassidy’s hands on his…on Alex. When the clinch ended, he twisted back in time to see Cassidy adjust what he considered his trademark look.
Black fishnets over tie-dyed stockings encased the man’s long legs. The primary colors echoed the rest of his garb: a red T-shirt tucked into the waistband of a matching tie-dyed kilt.
“Do you like my pouch?” Cassidy held up the leather pocketbook draped around his waist.
“Yeah. Is that a sporran? It looks authentic,” Alex yelled loud enough to be heard over the music.
Uli couldn’t stop his smile. He hadn’t expected an American to know the correct term, but Alex was super smart. “Impressive.”
Alex shrugged. “I enjoy reading about different cultures.”
“Yeah, I think that’s what Beau called it. He brought it back on their last trip to Scotland.” Cassidy grinned. “Though I made the tie-dye kilt.”
Uli chuckled. In comparison to all of Cassidy vivid colors, he felt plain in jeans and his favorite blue silk shirt, but Alex said the color made his eyes pop. Cutter had liked him in all blue, and Storm had wolf-whistled the last time Uli wore the shirt. He’d have to trust them on it.
“Who’s the party for again?” Alex asked.
Cassidy leaned in. “We are celebrating John Weisman’s birthday.”
Uli glanced around the Roman-themed suite, decked out with white marble walls, colorful mosaic floors depicting various sexual positions two or more men could find pleasure in, several huge beds, and a large walk-in, silver-tiled pool.
“A birthday party, huh? With all the sex, it could pass as a Roman orgy.”
Cassidy shrugged. “He’ll be the dreaded twenty-three at midnight. It’s his last night.”
Fuck. That had to suck. Zombies completed their transition at twenty-three, and until John found his mate, he’d lose his ability to orgasm. In the meantime, he’d still need male essence to survive and had to provide satisfaction while receiving none.
Not for the first time, Ulrich was thrilled to have found Cutter already. He needed to figure out how to explain mating to Cutter, but hopefully he’d accept doing the exchange to become a zombie himself. But he couldn’t have that conversation until he transitioned. Even Kai, who trusted Ulrich’s visions implicitly, advised him to wait until the transition on the off chance he was incorrect. He wasn’t.
Clusters of zombies talked and ate, but most were in various stages of undress, foreplay, and sex. One couple engaged in vigorous intercourse on the pool’s edge toppled into the water, triggering a splash and much laughter.
Uli returned his attention to Cassidy, who was twenty-eight. Five years without relief. God, how could he stand it?
How could Alex? Uli could barely believe Alex’s claims. To never allow himself the pleasure of release? A fierce need to rectify Alex’s situation swamped Uli.
Alex’s gaze was glued to the scene playing out before them. Wanting to break the sexual spell the moment cast, Uli pulled Alex farther into the room to walk behind Cassidy.
Maybe Ulrich could get Alex comfortable with sex. He could—
But he had a mate. Still, when Alex’s face pinked, Uli longed to help him.
As usual, when Alex crossed the room everything stopped and the occupants stared. Jaws dropped. It was rude.
“Take a picture, it lasts longer,” Cassidy snapped. As if permission were the only thing needed, several partiers raised their phones. Virtual shutter