Disclaimer: Asher, jean-claude, and julianna are sole property of Laurell
K Hamilton. I'm just manipulating them in a puppet like fashion. i'm not
getting paid, so don't sue me. the settlement would only be about five
bucks anyway.

Asher held up the white rook, studying it in the electric lighting. He
was taken back, avant, before. A time of gilded gold, duals, and
chivalry. A time of happiness, completeness, simplicity. A time of
beauty. A time of wholeness. A time of Julianna.

        Glancing across the table at Jean-Claude, Asher asked, “Do you remember
the last time we played a game of chess, mon ami?”

        Jean-Claude tilted his head to the side, his long black hair flowing
over his shoulder like black silk. He did remember, very well. It had
been nearly 400 years ago, in a little inn in the country. Jean-Claude
had just been thinking of that night, but neglected to mention it,
fearing the pain it may cause his friend.

        Both Asher and Jean-Claude sat back in their chairs, reveling in the
nostalgic memories.
 

It had been a clear night, but no moon. Only a single candle provided
light for their game of chess. Asher was dressed in a burgundy waist-coat
over a white dress under shirt. The sleeves billowed out, ending in lace.
A lacy cravat tied around his neck, tucking into the waist-coat.
Jean-Claude was dressed almost his twin, only in dark blue. Jean-Claude
had worn colors back then, when Julianna was alive. He had only recently
begun to dress in polychrome again with Anita’s influence.

Asher held up the white ivory rook, watching the yellowing bone in the
candlelight. “I will make you a wager, Jean-Claude.”

“Oh? And what would that be, chardonneret?”

“Who wins this match shall have Julianna to themselves tonight.”

“Enticing. But would you care to ask Julianna what she thinks of this
wager?”

Asher gave a sliding glance to the bedroom. “She is just over there. I
know she can hear us.”

Julianna chose that moment to glide into the room. “Oui, I can hear you.”
Both vampires watched her with hungry eyes, trying not to drool,
resisting the temptation to take her right there on the floor. She wore a
frock of lavender, a glorious color for her brown hair and milky
complexion. Julianna sauntered up to the table. Leaning over the game,
she appeared to be studying the positions of the pieces, deliberately
giving her vampire lovers more than a taste of her décolletage.

Jean-Claude licked his lips unintentionally. Julianna noticed. “Why,
Jean-Claude, it appears you are loosing quite gloriously to my master.”
Resting a hand on his shoulder, Julianna leaned on him, studying the
board from his angle. She could see that Asher had him sufficiently
trapped. No wonder Asher had made the wager.
Julianna leaned down to Jean-Claude’s ear. “Tread softly, Jean-Claude. He
has you trapped in many places.” She flicked her tongue out, licking the
lobe of Jean-Claude’s ear. His breath immediately came faster, making her
smile. Asher set down his white rook. He would have check mate in less
than 3 moves.

Julianna wandered over to Asher and sat down on his lap. Her tight
corsets prevented her from curling around her master in the manner she
truly wanted at the moment, but no matter. They would be off soon enough.
But the question was, did she want one or both of them tonight? Both, of
course. “Check,” said Asher.

Julianna pushed out her bottom lip in a pout. Deftly she hooked a finger
under the corner of the wooden board, and flipped it into the air, pieces
black and white alike flying through space. “I win,” she said.

Asher frowned, and Jean-Claude laughed heartily, sending shivers not only
up her spine, but Asher’s as well. “You can be quite impossible
sometimes, Julianna,” Asher whispered above her lips a second before
pressing his lips to hers. As his tongue explored her mouth she untied
his cravat, tossing it to the wind, and began to unbutton his waist-coat.
She felt Jean-Claude at her back, his silken lips on her neck, trailing
down her shoulder.
 
 
 

“Oui, that was a glorious night,” said Asher, breaking the silence. A
single tear ran down both the vampire’s cheeks from remembering the woman
who was long dead, but would always live on forever in their hearts.