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“Oh God, no nuzzling allowed or I’ll have to keep my jacket fastened all night.” Zeph pulled back. “One rule. You’re not allowed to leave my side. It’s going to be packed and I might not find you again. You need the toilet, then I go too. And vice versa, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Are we ready?”

Jack patted his pocket. “Tickets, driving licence and phone.”

“And your gun, James Bond.” Zeph grinned.

Jack managed to smile. “If you’re good, I’ll let you play with it later.”

Zeph tipped back his head and laughed.

When they set off on the half-mile walk to St John’s College, Jack took hold of Zeph’s hand.

He heard the catch in Zeph’s breath and felt Zeph’s fingers tighten around his, and knew he’d made Zeph happy.

Unexpectedly, it made Jack happy too. For this night at least, he was going to forget what he was and be what Zeph wanted him to be.

“It’s going to be hard not to eat and drink too much,” Zeph said. “Unlimited food and drink, as much champagne as you like. If you think I’m overdoing it, stop me.”

“How will I be able to tell?”

“Probably when I turn green.”

“Right. Is it usual that the college doesn’t reveal the theme of the ball until the night?”

“John’s likes to keep it secret. Not sure the others do.”

“What sort of themes do they have?”

Zeph was rubbing his thumb in Jack’s palm and he could feel it in his cock. Fuck.

“Midsummer Night’s Dream, Orient Express, Venetian carnival, Roman mythology… They go to a lot of trouble.”

They saw other couples and groups in evening wear making their way through the city. The girls—women, Jack corrected himself, were in elaborate ball gowns, some backless, some so cut away at the front he was surprised they stayed in place.

They joined the short queue outside the main gate. It was eight fifteen. Those with early entry could go in an hour before the ball started at nine.

Zeph leaned against him. “Thank you so much for bringing me to this. I’ll never forget it. Ever.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I don’t care if it’s elitist, I wanted to go one time and this is it. Thank you.”

Jack wasn’t sure what he expected the event to be like, but after tickets and ID had been checked—Zeph hadn’t noticed the different surname—they were given wrist bands and a programme.

They walked into Chapel Court, which had been turned into a winter wonderland.

Machines were filling the air with flurries of fake snow and an acapella choir sang Christmas songs as flakes landed on their hair.

Holding glasses of champagne and plates of canapes, Zeph led him from Chapel Court to First Court.

Jack had already memorised the layout, Thomas’s rule about knowing your surroundings applied at all times.

An enormous ice rink had been set up in that area, with more snow machines operating.

In addition, the entire courtyard had been filled with illuminated Christmas trees of every size and colour.

“Wow,” Zeph whispered. “And this is only one part of it. Can you skate?”

“Yes. Can you?”

“Want to before it’s busy and we have to contend with drunken idiots?”

“Why not?”

They took off their jackets, leaving them next to their glasses and plates.

They were the first ones on the ice. Jack had learnt to skate because Thomas considered it a useful skill.

The same with skiing. Not that he’d ever had to use either on a job.

He was competent and swift more than stylish, but as Zeph glided out on to the ice, Jack saw he was in another league.

Elegant and graceful, skating backwards as easily as he skated forwards.

They did a couple of circuits and still no one else was skating.

“I’d like to jump while there’s no one on the ice,” Zeph said.

“Go ahead.”

“What if I fall?”

“Then you get up and try again. But let me get my phone.”

Jack skated to the edge while Zeph did loops of the rink.

It was hard to take his eyes off him. Once he had his phone ready, he waved.

Zeph sped up, took off while skating forwards, twisted in the air and landed going backwards.

No hesitation. No slip. Jack heard clapping and turned to see a group watching.

“Again!” a girl shouted.

Jack took a few pictures, then put his phone back into his jacket pocket and returned to the ice. Zeph did the same jump again, then a different one before he skated to Jack’s side.

“Ten out of ten for that triple axel…double toe loop foot…salchow.”

Zeph laughed. “No such jump.”

“God, you’re good,” Jack whispered.

“Does that mean I don’t get to play with your gun?” Zeph whispered back.

“Patience. The evening’s only just begun.”

They skated round together holding hands until more and more people began to pour onto the ice, then they changed back into their shoes.

“How come you skate so well?” Jack asked.

“My mum took me when I was small and then Elisa, Dad’s new wife was keen so I used to go with her and my stepsisters.”

Champagne topped up, they toured the rest of what was on offer.

Live acts were due to perform at various times during the evening, some were famous names.

No wonder they charged so much for the tickets.

He kept hold of Zeph’s hand as they wandered round, crossing the fairy light-strewn Bridge of Sighs into New Court.

Everyone was holding hands, or roamed arm in arm or hugged.

No one took any notice of him holding hands with Zeph. He wouldn’t have cared if they had.

The dinner was great. It was hard to choose what to eat.

He ended up with turkey stuffed with nuts and fruit accompanied by roasted vegetables.

Zeph had his leg pressed against his under the table.

Every time Jack looked at him, he was smiling.

Mostly at Jack. Zeph had taken pictures constantly.

Of all they’d seen, of the meal, of Jack, of the two of them.

“I know you said no pictures, but I’d never share them.”

Jack had always followed Thomas’s rule of not letting himself be photographed if he could avoid it, but how could he stop Zeph? What excuse could he possibly give that wouldn’t upset him?

But he’d delete any closeups from Zeph’s phone.

And when they’d finished eating inside, there was more to eat and drink outside.

Punts on the grass were filled with ice and bottles and cans.

There were cocktail bars, pizza ovens, a hog roast, popcorn, ice cream, chocolate fountains, white candy floss, shaved ice extravaganzas…

The ball would go on until morning with something on offer in every court.

Stand-up comedians, string quartets, rock bands…

And the snow kept falling. It was impossible not to be impressed.

He and Zeph danced in a silent disco where they wore headsets, rocked in an 80s disco while an Abba tribute band banged out hit after hit, waltzed in a formal ballroom under glittering chandeliers and danced outside in the snow.

They swayed, cheeks pressed together and Zeph sang quietly in his ear.

Apart from learning a few ballroom dances with Thomas, Jack had never danced before.

It was difficult to have Zeph in his arms and not be hard.

They had prime spots for the firework display that turned out to be a combination of pyrotechnics and lasers.

Jack wasn’t easily impressed but the next twenty minutes were mind-blowing.

Controlled bursts of fire into the air, along with drones creating shapes, all synchronised to music from films, while the college itself was illuminated in its own light show.

When the last fireworks had died, Zeph leaned against him. “I would love to program a display like that.”

“More than work for you-know-who?”

“Can’t I do both?”

“Probably not.” Jack pulled him round and kissed him.

They stayed until two in the morning. Jack wanted to go back but he wasn’t going to be the one to say that.

“Have you had enough?” Zeph asked. “I have if you have. I don’t think I want to wait to have breakfast. I can’t drink or eat another thing. I want to save some of my energy to play with your gun.”

Jack took his hand and pulled him towards the exit. “And what are you thinking needs doing to it?”

“Lots of polishing. And if it goes off accidentally and hits me, it won’t matter.” Zeph grinned.

“I think you’ve been bad enough.”

“Oh good.”