In a momentary shimmer of refracted light, Akiel and Tepin appeared in the park under the umbrella of a large tree. Instantly, they were surrounded by sounds, smells and twinkling multicolored lights. Without missing a step, they continued their slow walk out from under the tree and further into the park.

Tepin was aware of Akiel in all the ways that she could be - through touch, sight, scent, the blood.  It all swirled in her as they pressed together through the rift, making her unsure of where he ended and she began.  It was rare that they were given the chance to be this close to each other, particularly in public, and it made the lights of Zilker Park twinkle even brighter.  She was hyper-aware of everything that happened around her, and everything was pleasurable - the music from the various venues, the flow of conversations, the bright smell of fresh blood.  Even her hunger was a pleasure waiting to be sated. 

She fit herself perfectly under Akiel's arm.  They were not as noticeable in this crowd as they had been on the streets of Austin.  The crowds here were more varied and paid less attention, even if they did unintentionally give Akiel and Tepin a wider berth than they would have any other well-dressed couple.  Tepin was already sifting through the various layers of blood around her, through the people around her, trying to find prey to focus on.  It would be easy to draw just anyone into the shadows, but she wanted a challenge tonight.

She licked her lips and looked up at Akiel.  "Singles or doubles," she asked with a smile.

Outside of the privacy of their home, Akiel seldom allowed himself to smile. Smiling led to assumptions, and assumptions led to mistaken liberties. When he did smile, Akiel smiled without concern for what anyone thought or might make of it. The exception to this was when he was alone with Tepin. The rules, the mask and the careful designs melted away. He was another person in her presence and in their privacy. As they walked into the park and Tepin eased herself close and comfortable under his arm, Akiel smiled - a genuine, uninhibited and unaffected expression of his pleasure. A momentary glance downward to her, and Akiel knew he was truly on a holiday. So sweet it seemed to him that he decided it was more of a honeymoon than a vacation.

The taste of blood in the air was not yet intoxicating, but it was soon to become so. Tepin’s glance to him met his eyes, already favoring her beautiful hair and perfect skin.

“Hmm,” he answered her. “I’ve a fancy to share a sip from the same cup this evening. Or would you think that cavalier?” Their gaze harmonized in the blood. He could feel her excitement and her hunger. He pulled her just a bit closer.