Page 75 of The Baritone's Rival

He had drifted off into an almost meditative state when the door opened with a creak, jolting him back to reality. He expected Trent to emerge from it, but instead, it was the intern again.

“Um…the auditors would like you to join us, Mr. Acosta.”

Oscar’s brow furrowed in confusion, but he stood and followed her into the audition room. Trent was still there, leaning on the piano with an easy grace, chatting with the director of the program, a bearded man in his early forties. Maestro Zaslavsky.

“Ah, Mr. Acosta, thanks for joining. Mr. Erickson was saying that the two of you do an excellent version of the duet from Don Carlo. Since you had the appointment after him, I thought you might perform it for us.”

“Oh!” Oscar locked eyes with Trent, who was wearing a mischievous smile. “If…if you want to.”

“Of course I do,” Trent said, and gestured for Oscar to stand next to him. Oscar sidled up to him, basking in the confidence and ease that radiated off Trent. He was so relaxed. He must have realized he was nailing the audition.

Trent leaned in and whispered in Oscar’s ear. “We’re best as a team.”

Oscar’s chest warmed with the certainty of Trent’s words. He was right. The two of them had spent so long competing, but it was them together, joined with an ever-strengthening connection, that held the possibility of true triumph.

Oscar turned, facing the table of auditors, and smiled as the piano launched into the dramatic introduction. As Trent and Oscar began, their voices blended, balanced and complementary, and they poured themselves into the melody. They imbued it with their hope and their desire and, yes, their love, as the music swelled and filled the room.

Oscar’s roomsat the Grosvenor covenhouse were spare. Before any vampires had inhabited it, the building had been modern condominiums above a ground floor office space, and Oscar lived in a basic one-bedroom. He’d done little to decorate it. He hadn’t seen the need before now. The walls were still the slate gray of the original construction, and they were bare. He shifted self-consciously from leg to leg as Trent entered the apartment.

“Hey, this is where I?—”

Trent’s mouth was against him before he could finish the sentence, pushing him against the granite kitchen island. It looked like his mate wasn’t overly concerned with his lack of interior design. There was nothing tender about Trent now, his thick, muscular tongue invading Oscar’s mouth. He moaned at the aggression. He loved it when Trent took control.

Oscar moaned even louder as Trent’s hand came up to the back of his neck, gripping him and holding him as he continued to ravage him. The man was going to kill him. Oscar shuddered, and he brushed his rock hard cock against Trent’s leg. Trent could be rougher, even. Oscar was a vampire, he wouldn’t?—

“Wait.” Oscar pushed back gently on Trent’s chest. “You don’t want to be a vampire?”

“Not yet,” Trent replied. “Eventually yes. In a couple of years.” Trent squinted at Oscar with suspicion. “Why?”

“It’s just…you’re human. Humans are very breakable.”

Trent didn’t answer. Oscar couldn’t tell if he was considering what he’d said, or angry at him for being overprotective.

“That makes sense,” Trent said. “But I’m not ready.”

Oscar nodded, wrapping his arms around Trent’s strong back. “We’ll wait. But…well, I don’t want to put any pressure on you…”

“What?”

“If we complete the mating bond, that will provide some protection, without having to turn you. You’ll gain some strength and speed, just not as much as a full vampire.”

Trent cocked his head. “Oh. Why don’t we do that?”

“I don’t know.” Oscar tore his eyes away from Trent, staring at the laminate floor beneath. “I don’t want you to feel pressure?—”

“Oscar.” Trent reached forward and brought Oscar’s chin up, forcing him to reestablish eye contact. “I love you.”

“You do?” The words were barely perceptible as they escaped from Oscar’s lips.

“Of course I do. I’m sorry it took me so long to say it. I…” Trent stopped, taking in a deep breath and letting it out. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m proud that you’re my mate.”

“You are?”

“I know…I was kind of an asshole. But I promise you. I’m in this.”

Oscar nodded. Tears welled up, and he forced himself to speak. “Now that the danger is past and Elliott is dead, I just…I’m having trouble accepting that things can begood. They haven’t been in so long.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “I don’t want to lose you.”

“You won’t,” Trent said, a fiery determination shining in his eyes. “I’ll prove it to you.”

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