Carrick glanced up from his book and gently nudged Leto's head aside from where it lay against his leg. Luna and Elsa lay curled by the fire, sound asleep. He smiled, marking his place before setting the book aside and standing up.
It as a the glance at his dogs that reminded him how easily Russ now came and went from the house. His guard dog Acheron would be prowling the grounds by now, on the hunt for both intruders and slaves who were out of their quarters. Evidently the fiercely-loyal guard dog had sensed no threat in Russell's presence, and had happily let him pass.
"Welcome back. How was civilisation? It's been weeks since I left the Island." He crossed the room to kiss his lover in greeting.
Carrick really shouldn't have been surprised at how quickly Russ could pick up the scent of an unfamiliar male in the house.
"He's on loan, from Willard Schmidt - you know, the man who runs the local gladiator arena." The vampire explained. "He's away on business, and he knows I've been without a slave for a while, so he lent me his boy to keep me occupied."