It was his friend who was doing the slapping. They were both hot teenage boys. A nasty, angry-looking young man – mmm – was the one doing the slap...ing - he had seen the fucking cunt first and been immediately furious. His instincts kicked in, and with youthful, superb macho-style, he removed his cigarette from his mouth with his left hand, his upper lip curling in a magnificent, young-man sneer which revealed his white teeth. Then, raising his bare, muscled right arm – he was wearing a tight,. Ashley had a little trouble getting the pin through, but after a few seconds, filled with her mother taking dozens of pictures, she had it on right. After a couple of group photos, the teens all rushed to Joshs car before Ashleys parents could hold them any longer. Helping the girls into the back seat, the boys jumped to the front. As he turned the ignition, Josh gave a little hidden wink to Katie through the mirror, reminding her of the last time they were both in this car. Before any parental. He only admitted that it wouldn’t be possible two weeks ago. Then he said his wife would be coming to the office party…”“Has she?”“No. She heard about Henry and me. I don’t know who told her. It might even have been Henry himself. It doesn’t matter. He’s not here either. I could have gone to the party.”“But then you wouldn’t have known that the Director trusts you.”“No. I wouldn’t have known, would I? But do I really care? Do I want promotion and a career if I’ve lost the man I loved?”“Don’t. Fractures of every kind, from compound to spinal, turned his very bones to pools of suffering, if that were not enough, he felt like his flesh was burning, and the scent of cooked meat and hair filled his very nostrils.Never in the entirety of his existence had Tereth wished for death, but in those horrific moments of agony he prayed for it. As his vampire nature clung to life, it became a curse, not a blessing. While it tried to heal itself, it lacked the energy to do more than prolong his.