Jaden

Chapter 21
(Q & A)

He sat beside him, watching him sleep, waiting, patiently, for signs of life to show on the delicate face of his love. He placed his teddy bear beside him, so that it will be there when he awoke. His hands could not resist touching his face, and he tenderly traced his finger from his forehead down to his nose and across his full lips. Fingers caressed his eyelids down to his cheekbones, drinking in his beauty, and loving the feel of his cool skin.

He found that he could not get enough of the beautiful young man lying still on his bed. He wanted so much to embrace his beautiful body and make love to him, to be free of clothing, not to be constricted by any barriers, skin to skin, heat to heat, a love and passion so intoxicating that he found himself holding his breath. He leaned down closer and kissed his soft pink lips, cool soft lips that will become warm once fed. He found he could stay like this for hours, kissing him and finding so much pleasure in this act alone.
He kissed him again and again, while his hand found its way into soft thick silky raven hair and gently let his fingers caress and comb through it.

Marcus sat up and looked down at his sleeping beauty, he never thought he could love again, or love so deeply. He has loved before, but not like this. Never has he felt so strongly committed, or so possessive of anyone he loved. Jaden was special to him; it was as if their souls are connected. He knew now that they are a part of each other and can never be separated. He would be lost without him, and somehow he knew that Jaden loved him with the same intensity and passion and found him to be just as possessive. He understood Jaden’s jealousy when he saw Victor with Adrian. Just the thought of it made him smile.

He looked up when he heard a soft knock on the door, and gave a low voiced reply for his brother Victor to enter the room. Victor entered and stood by the bedside; he bowed his head in greeting to his brother and smiled down at Jaden. He leaned in closer to press the back of his hand against Jaden’s cheek and placed his other hand on Marcus’s shoulder.

“How long will he sleep, before he awakens after you?” asked Victor, as he moved away and sat at the foot of the bed and laid down on his side leaning on his elbow.

“He sleeps for another two hours.” Marcus answered, as he lifted Jaden in his arms to hold him close, looking down at him and touching his face, his thumb slowly stroking his cheek.

Marcus looked past Victor and asked for Adrian, Victor told him that he went outside to find Nate, he wanted to see him before he left and give him the Christmas gifts they bought for his family. Marcus thanked him for coming home, he was glad Victor and Adrian decided to return early from their little vacation.

Victor and Adrian lived on the estate with Marcus; occasionally they would travel and explore new places together. Always inviting Marcus to join them, but most of the time he preferred to stay home. Sometimes their trips would last a few months, if they went over seas they would stay away as long as a year. Whenever they did travel, Victor would remain in constant contact with his brother, as it happened when they were on their recent vacation, Victor received an email from his brother letting him know that someone new has join the household and to not be alarmed when he saw Jaden.

He watched his brother Marcus lovingly hold and caress Jaden, and smiled as he himself remembered what it was like when he first fell madly in love with Adrian. He could see himself in Marcus, he too was fascinated with the desire to touch and love Adrian. He loved Adrian with such passion and fire in his soul that he never thought he was capable of, and he saw the same emotions on his brother’s face. Victor was happy to see Marcus love again. However, he also sensed something else. He called Marcus once he read his email, and on the phone, he picked up on his brother’s tension in his voice. There was anger simmering below the surface and decided to cut his trip short and come home.

“You love him.” Victor said to his brother, “and he loves you.”

Victor got up from the bed and slowly walked around the room; he noticed the hairbrush and smiled.

“What I don’t understand is why you have not claimed him brother?” still smiling in question to his brother. Then he moved over to the small Christmas tree and admired its decorations. He turned his head to look at Marcus and said, “I see all around me the evidence of a man truly in love, the little gifts, and this lovely tree. Ah and yes, the adorable stuffed bear, the size of a small babe.”

Then he slowly sat in an oversized chair and noticed a small pile of books on the table by the chair. Some books are about travel, with beautiful photos, and there were simpler ones, children’s books. Victor’s eyebrow arched in question as he picked up one book by Shel Silverstein. “The Giving Tree?” Victor asked.

Marcus let out a small laugh, he watched his brother walk around the room trying to fish for answers, he assured him that he was not regressing in his old age.

“What is going on Marcus? Although I am pleased to see you with someone, I cannot help but think there is more then meets the eye.” Victor asked. He put the book down and crossed his hands on his stomach waiting for Marcus to explain.

Both brothers remained quiet; Marcus looked down at Jaden’s face and continued to caress his brow, down to his lips. He looked up again and stared into his brother’s eyes. Two sets of crystal blue eyes looked at each other until Victor closed his and leaned his head to the side as if listening for something. Then he opened his eyes and looked back at Marcus and said,

“You need not worry about Adrian; he is still with Nate happily chatting away.” Then he smiled as he could picture his Adrian just going on and on, while poor Nate stood by patiently listening and nodding his head in agreement. Adrian loved winter and the holidays; he was like a small child in a candy store. His enthusiasm was infectious.

“I am sure he will talk Nate’s ears off for quite some time.” Victor said in amusement.

Marcus nodded, he had much to discuss with Victor. In addition, Marcus preferred that Adrian did not have to hear it from him. It was up to Victor to decide if Adrian should know of such things. He and Victor were alike in many ways, when it came to the ones they loved and protected they never disrespected each other’s relationships. He knew that Victor tried to protect Adrian from being exposed to anything that is less then pleasant.

Marcus let out a sigh and gently laid Jaden back down on the bed, putting his teddy bear close to him. Jaden instinctively held the stuffed animal in a tight embrace. He then walked over to where his brother waited and sat in the chair across from him. Marcus then looked back at the bed where Jaden slept and already could feel a loss from having to separate himself from the sleeping young man. He looked back at Victor and shrugged his shoulders and smiled, “I know it is silly, but already I miss touching him and having him near me.” blushed Marcus.

Victor chuckled, and replied. “Believe me Marcus, I understand. Where it not for our ability to be able to sense each other, I would be running outside to find Adrian to make sure he is safe.”

Marcus smiled and appreciated his brother’s understanding and started by telling his brother that the books are for Jaden, he told him that Jaden could not read or write. He went into Jaden’s background touching on how he was raised by an uncaring mother. Then he told him about Lizzie. Victor nodded and closed his eyes in respect to Lizzie and what had happened to her. Silently he said a quiet prayer for the brave soul.

Then Marcus told his brother how he met Jaden, he told him what was done to the boy and the condition he found him in. He could not explain why he saved Jaden’s life, but if he was to survive, then being a vampire was the only way. He told him about the disc he found and what was on it.

When Marcus began to describe what he saw his voice broke and he had to stop and take in a deep breathe. Seeing it was hard enough, but having to speak of it he found was more difficult. Marcus could not understand why he found this hard to do. It was then that Victor spoke, and told Marcus that it was hard because he was speaking of someone he loved and cared for very much. Marcus nodded in agreement.

As Marcus continued to speak of Jaden’s torment in the film, both men grew angry and their eyes slowly bled to black. Not wanting their emotions to be sensed by Adrian and Jaden, they quickly regained control and closed themselves off to the younger vampires. When Marcus finished, he let himself relax and let the tension and anger seep out of him.

Victor remained quiet as he listened to his brother; he could see pain as well as feel it from his brother as he spoke about Jaden’s past. He realized just how much Marcus had fallen for this young man. Victor was happy for his brother, for too long he has been alone, and he always wished that Marcus would someday find someone and be happy as he was with Adrian.

“I see that you love him Marcus, and Jaden most certainly loves you.” Victor’s brows frowned in confusion and asked, “But you have not claimed him, why is that? He is yours Marcus, claim him properly and be done with it.”

Marcus shook his head in anger as he answered his brother. He spoke in a low tensed whisper.

“He has suffered too much Victor, and I need to wait until I know he is truly able to trust me.”

He looked sadly at Jaden.

“I want so much to show him a better life, even if it has to be in darkness. However, I fear that he will never be able to trust me. When I do touch him I can see his fear in his eyes, I can feel it.” he leaned back in the chair as if he ran a marathon, closing his eyes he continued to speak, “I hope that I can be what he needs, I hope to make him happy enough to help him cope with this atrocity.”

It was then that Victor got up from his chair and walked over to his brother. Placing a hand on his shoulder and squeezed in comfort.

“There is not one day of regret that I have taken Adrian; I have never apologized for it. He is the love of my life, and he gives me purpose to exist. Even now as we speak here in your room, I cannot help but miss him. I took my time with him, for he too has suffered in the hands of cruel masters. In time, he learned to trust me completely, for time is what we have in abundance. It will not be easy, Jaden will sometimes forget where he is, but as long as you are patient and re-affirm your love, Jaden will learn to live with it and make his own peace. You will see my brother, Jaden will learn to trust you, and he loves you. Adrian and I are very happy for you both.”

“Victor it was only last night when at last we spoke to each other of our true feelings, and when I tried to get closer to him I could tell he wanted it as much as I did.”

Feeling as if he were a dirty old man, looking sad at Jaden while he still slept, Marcus’s voice became a low whisper, “and as much as he wanted it to happen, he suddenly became frightened. He loves me yes that is true” now his voice became cold and angry,

“However he is afraid that I may still hurt him, hurt him like the others did.”

Marcus shut his eyes and growled in frustration, “As much as I want to claim him as my mate, I have to be patient. I cannot rush him or force him. If I do, in time he may end up hating me instead.”

Victor shrugged his shoulders, “I understand how you feel Marcus, but do not take too long. Soon you have to make the proper introductions to the others in the House of Drakar`, and even thou you made him.
If he remains unclaimed it will leave the door open for others to try and claim him. Jaden is much too sweet and beautiful not to be noticed by others and they will come to desire him for their own. You know how competitive other vampires can be when they see someone like Jaden”

He then patted his brother’s shoulder, walked over to the bedside, looked down at Jaden, and noticed his eyelids twitch. It will not be long before he awakens.
“I pledge to you Marcus that I will help to protect him as I protect and love my Adrian.” leaning down to touch Jaden’s face again, he placed a kiss on his forehead and looked back at Marcus, “Jaden is family now, and we take care of our own. Do not wait too long to claim what is rightfully yours.”

Victor walked over to the door and before he stepped out he asked, “This disc you watched, is it in your desk?”

Marcus nodded, and replied with a tinge of anger underlining his tone of voice, “yes, you should know Victor I plan on finding them.” He walked over to the bed to check on Jaden.

Victor shrugged his shoulder in response and said, “Then I better learn all I can about them. They have to be stopped.” Pointing his finger at Jaden, “he may have been the first to suffer at their hands, but if not, it is possible they will do it again.”

Marcus nodded in agreement, he walked over to his brother, and each man took each other’s arm, in an old custom of shaking hands in agreement. Both brothers understood each other well; they smiled the kind of smile that would send icy chills of fear even in the most fearsome men.

“What on earth is going on? The two of you please, rein in the testosterone level, I can barely breathe.” Adrian gasped as he came closer to Marcus’s room, wide amethyst eyes staring at them.