Page 26 of The Death God
“All you have to do is be there.” Gregory’s eyes were liquid heat as they caught his. “Now drink up so I can make you another, and you should make the dough before you forget about it.”
“I can do it later.” But he drained the last of the drink.
Chapter 10
Gregory made two gin and tonics while watching Thanatos measure water and flour. His motions were graceful, and his posture relaxed. Maybe two drinks would be enough to make him fall asleep.
Gregory searched the cupboards for some kind of snack. He didn’t want the alcohol to go straight to Thanatos’ head, and given he didn’t think he’d ever had alcohol before, wasn’t eating well, and hadn’t slept in ages, it would be good to have something to soak it up with. And since he needed to eat more, a snack was a win-win thing.
He found a bag with mixed nuts and poured them into a bowl. It wasn’t much, but it was something to start with.
Thanatos sat on the chair again, and Gregory nudged the glass and the bowl in his direction.
“So what else?” Thanatos looked at him without touching either the glass or the nuts.
“What do you mean, what else?”
“I know your maker was Orla. You work in real estate. You use your looks as a tool. Some people there will know you’re an assassin, but we don’t talk about it.”
Gregory grinned at him. “My favorite color is blue.”
“I hate blue.” The way he shuddered made Gregory believe him.
“Okay.”
“I hate white and beige.”
“You hate blue, white, and beige, but you love…?”
Thanatos frowned. “Love?”
“Like then. What do you like?”
“Colors?”
He shrugged. He doubted he’d ever need to know what colors Thanatos liked, but then again, he never asked for anything, so maybe he should learn to avoid buying something in a color he hated. Had he bought him any blue clothes? Most likely.
“Green. I like dark colors. I like that we have hardwood floors and not beige linoleum. I like that the walls have ugly flowery wallpaper and aren’t white.” He took another sip of the drink, and Gregory held in a wince. Blue, white, and beige from the house of horrors.
“What’s your favorite food, or perhaps more importantly, is there something you don’t like?”
Thanatos pursed his lips, and Gregory had a silly notion of capturing them in a kiss. They’d have to cross that bridge too, but not right this second.
“I don’t know. I don’t like overcooked green beans.”
Gregory chuckled. “Honey, I suspect there will be hors d’oeuvres and champagne and shit. Not overcooked green beans.”
“Fancy food?”
“Black tie.” He nodded, and Thanatos scrunched his nose.
“What if I don’t like it? Will there be oysters and caviar and shit, because I don’t think I can eat anything fish gooey.”
“Fish gooey?”
Thanatos made a face of distaste. “You know, something slimy and barely dead and fish-smelling.”
An involuntary chuckle escaped Gregory. “We can always say you’re allergic to seafood.” Though it was something they should have let Alaric’s people know beforehand.
