Blood Lust

CHAPTER TWENTY

Isaac heard the locking mechanism closing at his back, realizing the scary guy must have opened it using some sort of telekinesis and the same to secure it. It didn’t surprise him to see a tall pillar candle burning. Seth liked to wake to the light, prefering it rather than the darkness that filled his world. He lay stretched nude on a wide, deep blue spread-draped bed with high posters. Aside from it and a simple chest-of-drawers, the room remained empty.

“The Vamp Hilton.”

You were to fly home.

Aside from my newly found sexual submissive streak, I generally do as I please. Isaac removed his coat and shoes, leaving them on the floor beside the door. He then stripped to the skin, folding his clothes and placing them atop the chest of drawers. I have lots to say to you. But, it’ll happen out loud, with you looking at me. Crawling on top of his lover, he sighed at the warmth radiating from Seth’s big body. I kept picturing you putting your mouth on someone else, so I barely slept. He rubbed his face over Seth’s smooth, hard chest. See you at sunset.

Boy?

Yes?

Celeste provides her vampiric guests with screened and packaged nourishment. For the first time, I made use of the service.

Not exactly a romantically profuse assurance he would remain faithful even in feeding. However, it would do. Did it taste good? he asked.

No.

Good.

He woke to cool silky hair trailing his chest and belly. Opening his eyes, he murmured, “I missed you.”

Seth moved up over him. “I need you, Isaac.”

Reaching up to his pull his lover’s head down to him, he said, “I missed that, too.” The weight of his vampire pressed him into the mattress. Seth growled deep in his chest as he sank his blood teeth into Isaac’s throat. Just the brief pain, then drugging libidinous splendor raking through him.

“Yeah, take it.”

They writhed against each other. Isaac, aroused by the giving of nourishment and receiving of pleasure, and Seth as inflamed by his feeding as always. Your body’s so sweet.

“I’m sorry I hurt your feelings.”

The instant the apology left his lips, he found his arms empty and cool air his only companion.

Seth stood beside the bed, a naked tower of wrath. “You did not ‘hurt’ my ‘feelings’. This is a human weakness removed from me with my mortality.”

Dazed by the abrupt separation, yet wishing to mend the rift between them, Isaac sat up and scooted to the bed’s edge. The angle of flickering flame brought out the burgundy lights in Seth’s hair and the fire in his eyes.

Isaac realized the truth would work better for them both. “Man, I have the same equipment as you despite species. Few males like to admit to the shit, but truth is, it stomped the hell outta my feelings when you walked away from me last night.”

Snarling, sounding and smelling positively feral, Seth replied, “You rejected me.”

Isaac reached out to run his hands up and down his lover’s lean sides. “I rejected my ability to come out as bi-sexual in a crowd of colleagues and readers.”

“Would you be so shamed to stand at my side before my society?”

“Probably not,” he answered honestly. “I don’t know.”

Seth moved so swiftly it defied interpretation by his eyes. Between one heartbeat and the next, Isaac’s lover had him upon the bed, looming over him with lowered blood teeth. “You admit to a double standard, having no respect for me as your lover.”

That set off Isaac’s temper. “No, you bastard. I admit to being flawed. Period.” Staring up at his lover’s sharpened features and menacing posture, he challenged, “Don’t try the scary vampire shit when you get pissed. It might make your balls feel bigger, but it makes my heart hurt.”

Seth’s mouth ravished his, making him arch and rub his erection against any portion of his lover he could.

Isaac moaned and held tight to his lover. Breaking the contact of their mouths long enough to speak, he whispered, “Make love to me, Seth. Show me around the Vamp Hilton, then take me home.”

They arrived with a little time to spare before dawn. As a pair, they unloaded and went to pay Poppy a visit.

Isaac almost cried like a damn chick from the emotions that swamped him seeing his equine friend. Inhaling her warm scent and rubbing her face, he spoke. Miss me, pretty girl?

She whickered low in her throat, nuzzling him. It made him glad all over again that he’d returned home.

Seth lent a hand in grooming the mare, and then they unpacked their luggage. Isaac didn’t argue when his lover made certain fresh clothes and various items traveled to his house with them as they settled into Seth’s residence just before dawn.

“I have to go down to rest, boy.”

“Go,” Isaac bid. “When we left, you handled it. Seems fair I handle our return.”

Seth stepped close and pulled Isaac into his arms. “Will I see your face when I wake?”

Heart thumping like a base drum, he countered, “I’ll go where I am most wanted.”

“I want you most.”

Isaac smiled. “Then, you’ll see my face.”

He found the house stocked with food, toiletries and beverages. Isaac pawed through the pantry and fridge, enjoying the investment his lover made into his comfort.

Seth cared.

Following a nuked, though tasty meal, he ventured upstairs to dig into his lover’s past. The antiques, clothing, art and even some weaponry seemed almost sterile, removed from nostalgic retention. It made Isaac wonder if Seth had even retained them due to their meaning to him. Or, merely as trophies taken in a life as a predator.

Had Seth killed to feed?

Even as he considered it, something in him questioned the hypocrisy of censure. The meat he consumed came from slaughtered animals. Creatures that had never even known a free life died to feed humans. The fruit, grain, vegetables and fruits he consumed gave up life to nourish his body. Did his species alone entitle him to the privilege of life at another life’s expense? And, what if vampires targeted the guilty predators among humans? Didn’t that equate to civil service?

Isaac suffered some heavy-duty growing pains as he realized he needed to step away from the hot penis and mouth to ask hard questions.