Regardless of his lame-ass words, a blush colored her cheeks, and it took everything he had to keep blood from rushing to his dick. "You clean up well yourself, Dr. Vale."
He raised his brows and clicked his tongue. "I thought we weren't being super formal anymore, Nora."
"We were before, but—" She paused and looked down at her lap.
He might've spooked her with his presents, but he didn't fucking care. He'd wanted to do something nice for her, and after learning a few things from Bates—mostly about how Nora never left the building, although the male wouldn't say why—ideas had just sprung to mind.
And it was weird, because he'd never really felt this urge before with other females, to try and make one smile or be happy. At least none outside of the doctor-patient relationship.
River was about to ask her point-blank about the gifts, but his sister and her husband walked in, both a bit flustered with ruffled I've-been-fucked-recently hair. Yesenia also had a recently sealed bite mark on her neck.
Not wanting to think of his sister moaning and groaning with anyone, River noted the wine already poured in a glass in front of him, grabbed it, and took a deep drink.
Yesenia spoke as she sat next to Nora. "Sorry we're late. I squeezed in a lesson with Rebecca, but then it made me late for Leo. And, well…"
River put up a hand. "Please don't finish that sentence. If I have to hear about the vampire railing you against a wall, I might go throw myself off the roof."
Leo smiled smugly but Yesenia rolled her eyes and spoke again. "I won't." She gave him a quick once-over, the look more of sisterly concern than Nora's previously heated one. "From what I can see, you look good dressed as a late-nineteenth-century male, River. Don't you agree, Nora?"
Yesenia and her meddling. For a split second, fratricide sounded pretty damn good.
Good thing he loved his sister too much to follow through.
Nora cleared her throat. "Leo's valet can make anyone look good."
The corner of his mouth ticked up. "Even you?"
Her cheeks turned red. "Of course not. He's a valet, which means he dresses and grooms males."
He nodded. "Yeah, I had a front-row seat to all that fuss today. Although have you ever worn pants and a button-up shirt? It's pretty common where Senia and I come from for females to do so." He couldn't resist yanking her chain, so he quickly tagged on, "If so, then Bates might work with you too."
Her entire face was burning now. "No, trousers are for males."
He leaned forward. River enjoyed the hell out of teasing her. "I bet Senia has worn them at some point in this time, as she hates dresses." He glanced to his sister, and she nodded. River moved his gaze back to Nora. "If you wear trousers for an evening, then I can wear a skirt."
"A skirt?" she squeaked.
He shrugged. "I'm comfortable enough with myself and my masculinity to try it for an evening. Especially if it means I can see you in pants."
The thought of seeing her curvy ass and hips outlined by a tight pair of pants made his cock twitch. Not to mention he wondered if she'd have skinny thighs or lush ones to cushion his head as he lapped at her sweet cunt.
What, no, he wasn't going to eat her pussy. A vampire's claiming didn't require that.
Leo frowned and grunted. "No, that's bloody ridiculous. Nora doesn't want to wear trousers, so don't pressure her."
He eyed his brother-in-law. They hadn't really had a chance to sit and talk shit out yet. But no matter who the fuck he was in this time, Dark Lord or whatever, River wasn't going to act all afraid of him. "Nora can speak for herself."
Leo stared back at him, his eyes intense. "Careful, Vale. I won't have you embarrass my sister."
"And yet you let my sister walk in on your arm, clearly mussed and bitten from fucking, and you don't care?"
Leo narrowed his eyes and growled. "I don't care what the fuck has been done to you lately. Keep disrespecting me and my family and I'll toss your arse out on the street."
They stared at one another and it seemed they were going to have a dick-swinging contest.
If only he was at full strength, River wouldn't mind and could probably win.
Nora clapped her hands and they both looked at her. "Stop, the both of you." She pointed at Leo. "Remember River just arrived and hasn't wrapped his head around being here, or how things are. Maybe if you talked with him instead of growling or prodding him, you two might get along."