Outside the courtroom window, snow fell in large flakes, highlighted by the streetlamps as they blinked on, but it was the gold lapel pin that held everyone's attention as it sat on the table in front of Marco.

"We were just talking about your father's pin not an hour ago," Adamo said, holding Vincent in an accusatory gaze. "You told me it never turned up."

"It didn't just turn-up," Vincent explained. "I asked for it and it was given to me."

"Who gave it to you?" Boris said as he pointed a meaty finger at the object in question.

"I have promised my source anonymity, as they value their life and the life of their family," Vincent said firmly. "But my source asserts they witnessed Marco with the piece and became suspicious. When I shared my suspicions of Marco's crime with this source, they agreed to procure the object for me as further proof Marco murdered Roberto Valentino and took the pin as his prize."

"That's impossible!" Marco roared, shoving his seat back as he stood to address Vincent, chest to burly chest. "Your allegation is absurd and unfounded."

"Magister Bourdain! Please, conduct yourself," Adamo said, gesturing for Marco to sit down. After a moment of shared hatred between Marco and Vincent, Marco complied. "Vincent, you're offering us something that is completely based on your word. The fact that Roberto's token was even on him when he died is pure speculation." He glanced around the table at his fellow magisters and every head bobbed in agreement, even George, but they were right. Vincent was winging this part. "I am afraid we have to throw that out as unsubstantiated evidence."

Vincent clenched his jaw, but he maintained his poise as he leaned heavily over Marco's shoulder and scooped up the pin. "You're right. I have little evidence to back my belief that Marco is responsible for my father's death. I didn't want to believe it either. I wanted to keep blaming a name without a face, but it took the word of a rogue demon, with nothing to gain or lose by his disclosure, to open my eyes."

Vincent started to pace as he prepared to elaborate, and rather than stop him, Adamo seemed content to indulge him. "We can know a lot about a man just by his nature. I interact every day with humans. I read them like an open book. If they're happy with their job, or their mate, or if they aren't dealing with anything and hide behind a mask. Of course, gollums are trained in that, sniffing out the good from the bad. The lies from the truth."

At this point in his speech, Vincent looked pointedly at Marco. "The truth remains, whether or not the evidence does. I suspect the Barad's have petitioned for a full hearing regarding your infidelity and twenty-five year cover-up. That should keep you busy for a while."

"Can I assume from that well-executed discourse that you are dropping the murder allegations on Magister Bourdain," Adamo asked Vincent.

"For now, yes. Thank you for giving me audience." Vincent met the eyes of every jury member, including his grandfather, but there was no connection there. Just dead air.

"Well, then. I move that a paternity test be conducted within the next thirty-six hours," Adamo said. "Barring any weather delays."

"I second," said an overly-tanned magister who didn't have a problem staring at me whenever I looked his way.

A chorus of ayes concluded the hearing, and Adamo appeared to be ready to dismiss the courtroom when Deidra stood up to address the table.

"We still have my petition to discuss," she said, narrowing her eyes at the robed assembly. Was that a faded bruise on her cheek hiding under her makeup? Did I do that?"

"We do not conduct full hearings to discuss petitions, Deidra," Adamo said. "Let us do that later at the party."

"This is a serious matter, and you're treating it like some request to change the soap in the bathroom," she argued. "Gollum protocol specifically states that I am in my rights to sequester Vincent for twenty-four hours in an attempt to secure him as a mate."

"And Vincent has submitted his petition to be mated to Reese," Adamo said. "Clearly, he has made his choice in the matter."

"But, that is not how the protocol is written. Vincent is not officially mated yet, and other hopefuls have the option to challenge for this right."

"I think the operative word here is 'hopefuls'," Adamo continued. "You do not have hope where this union is concerned. Vincent has gone against the council's wishes to put an end to his affair with Reese, risking his place as domus magister. This fact alone tells me your petition will fail. So, let us all retire to my home before the city is buried in snow, and have ourselves a good old-fashioned Bacchanal."

~ ~ ~

With Deidra eating crow after Adamo shut her down in the gollum courtroom and Marco facing the firing squad at the hands of his in-laws, a party seemed like a perfectly reasonable idea. I needed to let go of the anxious knot I'd been hanging onto for most of our visit, and Vincent looked like he'd been set adrift on an endless sea as he fiddled with the collar of his shirt.

"Do you want me to get you a brandy?" I said. "You look like you could use a sedative."

He sighed as he walked to the bed where I stood in my bra and panties, hovering over my suitcase and stressing about my lack of party gear. He wrapped his arms around my middle as he nuzzled his face in my neck. "I can think of other things to calm my nerves besides alcohol."

"I like the way you think, but I really need to figure out what I'm wearing to this shindig. I only packed for an overnight stay."

"Didn't you bring something for a night out? I thought we discussed that possibility."

"We did, and I did, but I'm not sure I want to wear it for a Bacchanal. Have you ever been to one?  I looked it up on my phone and it means wild and drunken revelry."

"That about sums it up. And when everyone is properly plastered, many engage in sex. There are eight bedrooms, five bathrooms, and most of the closets accommodate at least three bodies."

"I'm not going to ask if you've ever tried out the closets, but now that I know what kind of guests will be attending, you may not want me wearing the dress I packed."

I stared down at the plunging neckline of my little black dress, one of the three Vincent bought the night Todd and Claude paid their visit. Definitely a stunner, but to wear it in front of drunk horny people... maybe not.

"Which dress did you bring?" Vincent loosened his hold so I could lean forward, and I felt his erection dig into my back as I plucked out the dress and held it up. "Oh, that one. I thought we decided you would only wear that for romantic dinners out."

"Hence, my problem with the party. And the other outfit is for our return trip home tomorrow. Definitely less style and more function." I showed him my well-worn jeans and long-sleeved Redskins jersey.

"Damn. I don't think Adamo will approve of jeans and a football jersey. Just wear the green dress you wore to the hearing." Vincent spoke into my hair as he returned to his task of exploring what was beneath my panties.

"I can't wear the same thing to the party. Even a non-fashionista like me knows that. Face it, the black dress is my only option."

Vincent's fingers had found what they were looking for, and I arched my butt into his groin, releasing a whispered 'Mmm' as he fondled me. "As long as you stay by my side, there shouldn't be a problem. Just keep in mind, you have a very distinctive scent. It will be difficult for gollums to keep their distance from you."

"Gollums like you?" I turned in his arms, giving him access to my mouth, which he kissed gently, first one corner then the other.

"Would you think me crude if I took you now?" he said as his teeth gently tugged on my bottom lip. "If the gollums get a whiff of my scent on you, they'll be more likely to leave you alone."

"Hold up. Are you saying you want to mark your territory?"

He tried to look pouty but he couldn't pull it off.  "That didn't come out the way I meant it to."

"Why don't you try again, then."

His pout turned into a surrendering smirk, and he lifted his hand to caress my cheek. "How about this... I am a jealous bastard with an insatiable need to be inside you."

Vincent quickly captured my lips, weaving his magic through honest words and a scorching kiss. Part of me felt suffocated by his protective nature, while the other saw it as the perks of being coveted. He pacified his vulnerability with sex, and this gave me power. Was that so wrong? When Vincent released my mouth, I smiled coyly, and the next thing I knew, I was being lifted off my feet and lowered onto the bed.

"Don't you think we should take off the bedspread?" I asked as Vincent made quick work of removing my panties. "We made a mess the last time."

"I don't plan on missing my mark," he said as he unzipped himself.

A moment later, Vincent was circling my entrance, priming me until my juices flowed, and I moaned as he entered, possessing me with his fullness. I drank up his lustful expression as he plunged forward, and I savored that first satisfying drive before Vincent followed it up with several more thrusts, reaching deeper each time. He unlatched my bra and removed it, grinning down at my breasts. The girls were usually successful at pulling a smile from him.

"I will never tire of looking at you," he said, gazing at me like a young boy smitten with his first lover. "You are my angel. My savior."

His vulnerable words caressed my heartstrings, and I felt moisture prick the corners of my eyes. Vincent noticed and he kissed each lid, but he didn't say a word as he made love to me, slowly, sensually, making it easy to find my release. It came upon me in a shattering eruption that he nursed until I was sated, then he applied a lingering kiss to my lips as he withdrew and maneuvered over me to straddle my chest.

Carnal Vincent quickly highjacked vulnerable Vincent, and I watched his deliberate movements as he gripped his erection and stroked it, dragging his slick head across my nipples and bringing on a pleasurable ache. Vincent's jaw clenched as he approached his moment, and he navigated himself between my breasts, dragging his hardness back and forth. His release came on strong, sending ropy strands of warmth across my chest and neck, and bringing a rakish smile to his face.

Eau de gollum. Definitely, my favorite.