Julian gripped the edge of the table until his knuckles turned white. He was acutely aware of the staff in the hallway, the three pairs of curious young eyes, and the sheer, overwhelming proximity of the man who was currently looking at the 'bite' with a look of high-velocity smugness.
Please don't, Julian pleaded silently, his eyes fixed on the map on the table. Don't pull another stunt like the breakfast kiss. Not in front of the kids.
Alaric looked into his eyes, presumably reading his mind and understanding completely. Then, he leaned down to look at the map, but his face was inches from Julian's ear. He could smell the lingering scent of the Duke's cedar-wood soap.
"A big one, you say?" Alaric's voice was a ghost of a whisper, intended only for Julian. "It must have been a very hungry insect to leave such a mark on such a... delicate skin."
