Caramel: Book 3 of the Lord Emperor Vampire Series

Sorry, doing a drive by and drop off. Q&A later. Whoo hoo, long weekend!!!!

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Eeks and egads. I called Armor, Marcus. Gack! During a sex scence. Double Gack!! Madly typing to correct that now.
Thanks "ATOI" By the way, we call it May twofour(24) -- partly because it's comes close to that day but mainly for the number of beers in a case. :)


Rosei
Domenicos, Tajen and Xandre -- meet my furry babies, Pizza, Armand and Aku.

k
Q: Did I mention that Sasha is a shortened form of the name Alexsandr? I still can't imagine him calling his belvoed Sasha...but I try to warm up to it.
A: I'm going to write a chappie over in rants/journals on Claudius but here is a quick sound bite. Sex asked Claudius what his real name was as a human. He said Sasha Kornasnov. I know Alexander can be called Sasha...so the question becomes, why didn't Claudius say, Alexander? Is our beloved Black Death hiding something from his little lover? And why? *Bwah hahahaha*

P.S. Liam also mentioned that he had been reincarnated as an Alexander as well.


Tsuki the Moon
Q: Is Azrael a Disturbed fan?
A: You know what, I had to read that a couple of times before I got it. Oh... music band. Duh. Actually, when X was heading off to disciplinary action in Cinnamon, he was handed Azrael's mp3player that Claudius had recorded a message on. Az was listening to Enya. In that same vein, he listens to Loreena Mckinnett and Suzanne Vega. You would think he would be a death metal kind of guy. Just the many, many layers of our Angel of Death.


Thanks for putting up with the computer glitch of my own making so it seems. I will never touch the "greater than/less than" keys ever again. Kisses and huggies (not the diaper kind) to the Loyal and true: AsyenMari;sesshomarunaraku; k; Tsuki the Moon; Rosei; DemonAkasha; meadows_peak; Laur; Lioncourt; Rosemary; a.taste.of.insanity;Spirit; Rosemary; and miles

On with the Show!


Chapter 118: Tuesday Morning, coming down

“Oh God….Armor…Armor….”

“What is it, Little One?”

“Kill me now….uuuhhhh.” I held onto my stomach and rolled into a ball. I knew Father meant well but…please…make it stop.

Armor sat me up and shook up a bottle of the pink stuff that for some reason was sitting beside the bed on the night stand. I thought it was wrong to treat a stomach agonizing ache like by eating more, or drinking more. I also had no doubt that he would force that junk down my throat. When he handed it to me, I gulped it down like it was in a shot glass. Knives couldn’t have stabbed worse that this…

I got pulled over onto his lap and he gathered me close. This had to be the first time in a long while that his applely scent didn’t send me into ecstasy, it made me want to throw up. He started rocking. It must be an ingrained thing. Why would rocking make something seem better. I don’t know, it just does. I groaned and held my overstuffed stomach and leaned heavily into him.

“Ssshh, Little One. Sex didn’t get a chance to eat all day.”

I had all of Sex’s day. Another day, another mortal enemy. If we were wicked, would we be getting allies? I curled my knees a little tighter. The pink stuff wasn’t working. I started as Armor’s warm hand came down and started to slowly rub my stomach. Rubbing and rocking. There was not medicinal term for that. Hot dogs and sauerkraut mixed with a rock of a slab of lasagna, we were going to have to have a heart to heart about eating on a set schedule. Especially if I was going to be suffering from it. I groaned again.

“My poor little piglet.” He whispered into my hair.

“Not funny.”

Armor shifted me on his lap and started to circle my lower back “I do not care how you are, as long as you are in my arms.”

That was nice. It warmed the cockles of my heart.

“I’m going to be sick!”

Now that’s love. He knelt beside me and held my hair out of the way as I spoke to the porcelain god. I’ve drunk myself stupid and never felt this bad, even recently on top of the Ferris wheel, I didn’t feel this bad.

He reached over grabbed the mouthwash and waited until I finished gagging again at the strong taste. I wasn’t trembling but I was weak. I rested my face against the side of the bowl.

“Come here.” I got hauled backwards and up, then carried back to bed. I was in no condition to do anything. I laid a hand on my stomach. It felt better. I closed my eyes as soon as my head hit the pillow.

I jerked out of my light slumber as a wet wash cloth was laid across my forehead.

“Feeling better, Little One?”

“I’m just tired. What time is it?”

“3:00”

“Sorry…”

“What are you sorry for? It is not your fault that you are ill.”

“When you took me from that bar, you never bargained for all of this mess.”

“Define mess.” Armor climbed into bed and slid to the middle sitting at the headboard. He pulled me across him.

“Well holding my hair out of the way so I don’t hurl on it.”

“I wanted your hair to grow. Why did you think I was always playing with it?”

”At the time, I thought you were a sadistic prick.”

“That is what I wanted you to think.”

“I burnt…” Armor’s voice cut me off.

“Where are you right at this moment, Beautiful?”

I frowned. “On your stomach.”

“In my arms?”

“Well, yeah.”

“You are there willingly?”

“I love you, Pretty.”

“Then everything I could ever have hoped for I have, Xavier.” I felt myself lift as a deep sigh exited his chest. “Why do you continually question my love for you?”

I stilled. What?

“Sex is not you. Azrael is not you. You know I am not Marcus and Father…is a force unto himself. What your brothers and my brother does, is their affair. It does not affect our time….well it should not. Do not look for trouble, X. It will find us soon enough.”

“I didn’t mean….”

“Sssh, Little One. Sleep.”

“But…”

“Will you ever do something I tell you to do without arguing with me?” I looked up at his face. There was nothing there but care and indulgence. Well I felt like an ass. I laid my head back down on his chest, pressing my ear against his skin. I could feel his thump, thump, thump of a heartbeat.

“Probably not.”

“Good, then I know that you are fine. Sleep. We both need it.” I could feel a slight rhythmic pulling of my hair as his fingers tangled in it. I had a whole lotta vampire in my face. It worked just as well as at my back. I closed my eyes and slept.


I fought my way out of zzz land at the sound of plates clattering together. Armor was sprawled on me, his face buried into my hair at my shoulder. He had his one arm across my back. One leg across my thighs and another leg across my lower calf. I snuggled my hip back to him. Wait a minute. His other leg was touching my left leg from hip to ankle. I twisted and looked down at the bed. Why would Haley be here? That’s not my pup. A white wolf lay curled on my leg. What the hell?

I ran through Sex’s memories. Oh holy crap. Vladimir. It was as if I called his name. His golden eyes opened and looked right at me. Deliberately he shifted and stretched out on the bed but pressed his length from my ankle to my knee. He laid his head on my upper thigh and just looked at me. Expecting something.

The plates rattled again. I turned and looked at Haruka. “Good Morning, Emperor. I am in charge of your meals until Chesterton returns. I have brought breakfast. Would you like a mug of blood or would you prefer to drink from me?”

Er…I pinched the bridge of my nose. This was way too early in the morning. The arm across me shifted around my waist and I got flipped onto my back. Warm chocolate eyes looked down at me. “You look panicked.”

“Because I am.”

I got a kiss to the top of my head then Armor turned his attention to our little Japanese hostess. “Ohayo, Haruka-kun. Xavier-san will take a mug. How are you getting along now?”

“Everyone is friendly. I like it here.”

“That’s good. We can serve ourselves.”

Haruka bowed and turned to leave then stopped and reached into her pocket. She turned back and held out the scrap of paper. “Harold-san asked me to give this to Xavier-san.”

I held out my hand. She approached the bed warily looking at the wolf that was still half laying on me even though Armor had flipped me like a pancake. Hmmmm, pancakes. She had no problem looking at Armor and me though. “Domo arigato, Haruka-kun.”
She gave one last look at Vladimir then exited staged right.

I opened up the paper. It basically reminded me that I was supposed to call my mother. Then I realized it. Armor spoke Japanese. “Did you mindfuck somebody?”

“Hmm?” He picked the note out of my hand and looked at it. “Vladimir, can you bring the phone over here.”

What the… What was this nonchalance? “There’s a Lycan in our bed!”

“Vladimir is mated to Sex. Not to you.”

“But…you speak Japanese.”

“Barely. Haruka-kun laughs her head off at my accent. She has a beautiful smile. I am glad that you brought her back with you. I do not think her life was that great before.” Armor looked down at me. “Life does not stop just because you are not with me, Little One. I have about half a course of ‘how to speak Japanese” under my belt. Remember, I cannot absorb another’s talent or abilities like you. I have to take a slower route.”

Vladimir stood naked and in human form in front of me. I pulled my eyes off his massive Lycan bits and took the phone. Oh, yeah. I thought Haley was going to rend me unable to walk. There was no way in hell this Lycan was going to get into sniffing distance. He lowered himself into reverent pose.

“Thank you, Blood Emperor for allowing me to stay. If I returned to the pack’s den on my first mating night, it would have opened up a possibility of challenge as Pack Leader. That isn’t needed right now, while we are trying to establish a new territory.” He raised his head. “I ask that you scent mark me before I return to the den.”

I flopped back on the mattress. Armor’s face loomed over me. “What would be the point of keeping him here all night if he has no mate or scent markings on him? That would still open up a challenge.”

Ooooh, I had a headache. I re-pinched the bridge of my nose. Armor lifted the blanket and the bed dipped as Vladimir’s form slid in beside me. What did Queen Victoria say. Ladies, lay back and think of England. Well in my case it was lay back and think of the Nation. I closed my eyes. Vladimir tentatively touched my chest. At least I still had my pj’s on.

“Please, Lord Alpha.”

I slowly brought my arms up and wrapped him in a loose embrace. My breathing was shallow. I stiffened as I felt warm breath along my temple. A familiar voice sounded in my ear. “I am sorry I did this to you Little One. Vladimir, lay face down on the bed. Come here, X.”

The Lycan shifted off me. I felt Armor’s hand in my hair and he brushed it back from my face. “What did you tell me about what Domination meant for Haley?”

“It’s protection and belonging.”

“Sex took Vladimir out of anger and by mistake. That cannot be undone. He is asking for the same thing, unless you wish to humiliate him and send the pack into a challenge frenzy.”

“Why does it have to be me?”

“You are the Blood Emperor.” Armor took the phone from my hand. He began to nuzzle long my hairline to my ear. “I will prepare you. Touch him, Beautiful. Leave your cinnamon essence embedded in his skin and hair. As I leave mine on yours.”

It was akin to having sex while your family dog watches you. It just ain’t right. Still my big monkey hit all the right buttons and stroked all those little pleasure zones. I felt a flush across my face. Huuuuuuunnn

I felt a feral gaze on me. I gasped as Armor took me in his mouth. I forced my head back against the pillow. My mouth hung open as I panted. I groaned as another body got piled on me. I opened my eyes and saw Armor’s hand on his wrist jerking Vladimir over further upon my torso as he continued to lick me into submission.

“Alpha…” Vladimir lowered his head and rubbed it back and forth on the side of mine. “You are so beautiful…for a vampire.”

Backhanded compliment. Nnnnnhhhh.

There was a loud slurp. “Bite him.”

Vladimir rubbed his chest against my hardened little nubs of treason. Huh?

“X, mark him. Bite him but do not fang him.”

I reached down and gave a yank on Armor's hair. He looked up from my crotch. His eyes had a circle of red around his iris. I got a long lingering stroke in that sensitive little patch behind my balls. I short circuited. Hot blood splashed in my mouth. I left human bite marks on Vladimir’s shoulder. He kissed my throat. Licking with his rough tongue and nipping at the underside of my jaw.

“Alpha….” Vladimir leaned over me and rubbed the right side of his head against me. A nub got plucked.

GAAahhhh. Armor swallowed me to the root. My eyes rolled up into the top of my skull. There was too many sensations…too much…and I smelt the blood dripping from his tawny muscular shoulder. My fangs tingled. Lips kissed down that sensitive vein of my throat then sucked a hickey at the hollow of my collarbone.

/Mine./

That snapped me out of Armor’s sexual magic touch. I straight armed Valdimir across the shoulder and he flipped off me onto the mattress. I had hoped to flip him right off the bed. Armor stopped and watched both of us. That was one thing the Lycan were going to have over me—absolute ease with their nakedness, even when fully aroused. I grabbed the edge of the comforter and covered my wet and stick privates.

“Your scent marked. You’ve got mate markings. You’ve left your mark on me. Time for you to go.”

For a moment, I thought he was going to move toward me but then he bowed his head and slid to the side of the bed. “By your leave, Blood Emperor.” He morphed back into the off white wolf and headed for the bedroom door. He grabbed the handle with his teeth, pulled down and backed up then slipped through the opening.

Armor and I sounded like stereo. “We need a different handle.”

“Xavier?”

I sighed and sat up in bed, “Can we call this over? I might have an erection, but all the passion just went pfffttt. Besides, I smell like Vladimir.”

“You have blood..” He gestured at the corner of my mouth. I wiped at it with my fingers. The Russian wolf didn’t need any more encouragement. I think he was going to be a nuisance.”

The bedroom door swung open and my loveable nuisance came bounding in. At least he had clothes on, but he was bitten all to hell but from the smile on his face and the glow in his eyes, it was worth it. He got about three bounds from the bed when a feminine voice rang out.

“Haley!” He skidded to a halt by the side of the bed.

Ping stood at the door in a pair of black capris and a pale yellow peasant shirt. Like my scruffy Lycan, she was barefoot.

“What did I say, about jumping on the Blood Emperor?”

“You’d get Claudius to pin my ears back.” He sighed, then turned back and grinned at me. “Good morning!” He flopped on the bed and crawled up to kiss me on the cheek. He stuck his tongue out. “You taste like Vlad.”

“Yah….I’m on the way to the shower to take care of that now.”

“Good morning, Lord Armor.” I counted myself grateful. Haley launched himself at Armor who wasn’t prepared for it and both of them slipped off the side of the bed taking my comforter covering with them.

“HALEY!” Ping rolled her eyes. She grinned at me. “Pups.”

I got the once over. “Nice…for a vampire.”

Two backhanded compliments. Two attempts at seduction and all before I had my morning mug of blood. I hope today wasn’t going to be a repeat of yesterday.

I wiggled my ass off the bed and headed for the bathroom. What was the point of shutting my bedroom door? Everybody just came in anyway.

I took matters in to my own hand in the shower. I couldn’t be walking around like a horny toad all day. I would have jerked Vladimir off until I got that little possessive ring in my ears. He was bound and determined he was going to mate with this form. Little did he know, my determination was greater than his. I finished cleaning up a got out of the shower and proceeded with the farce of attempting to dry my hair. I was going to have to get it cut. There was just no if, ands, or buts about it.

I girded with loins with a fluffy bathrobe and headed back out into grand central station. Armor sat alone beside the breakfast tray, sipping his mug of blood and reading the newspaper. Well wasn’t that a cozy domestic scene.

“What’s on the menu today?”

Armor folded the paper and pulled off the silver dome. “Spanish omelet with home fries, sausages and fresh fruit. Ooh, no sauerkraut.”

“Haha.” I crossed to my closet and pulled out pale blue silk boxers.

It was too much to have hoped for a second chair. I really didn’t mind that much any more. Armor wanted me close. I settled myself across his thighs and reached for a cup of coffee. The familiar little blue pills were sitting beside the tray. I think I actually had to have something in my stomach before taking them.

I got my hair lifted off the back of my neck and the soothing strokes of a brush lifted my mood. I got a Lycan problem and a problem with a Lycan. Vlad. Changed his life because of a poster. The fact that it was worldwide now, didn’t sit that great with me either. Well, at least with my white hair, I could get some anonymity for a bit.

“Armor, I’m going to have to get a hair cut. It’s too heavy and I’m getting headaches by the middle of the day.”

I got a light kiss at the base of my neck. “How short?”

“Probably to my waist.”

“All right. You made the front page today.” Armor reached past me and picked up the
Newspaper. The panic of the exclusive restaurant as someone shot out the window. Blood was found on the scene but no one could be located who was injured. Police were conducting an thorough investigation. Patrons would be contacted and interviewed. Damn, that means I should be expecting a visit from the city’s finest sometime soon.

“Anything about a body in the park?”

“Page three.”

“Good, no connection.” The phone got handed to me. Oh, yeah. Armor went back to brushing out the tangles. I dialed home.

“Xavier Farms.” A familiar voice picked up the phone.

“Hey, Dad. I just word that Mom was sick.”

“Yeah, we heard. White demon of death. You do get the most descriptive titles, son. Your mother is still resting, but you and I know that if I don’t give her the phone she will rip me a new one. We’ve been hearing rumors, Xavier. Some not so great.”

I picked at my home fries. “Such as….”

“You reorganized the Eastern Division of Shadoe Inc by killing off the board of directors in one day.”

“I did not kill the board of directors…just the CEO and a couple of managers.”

“Well, that’s so much better.”

“Dad.”

“What about the one that you brought back your own Lycan pack?”

“Yeah.”

“What are you doing! You want the Regency to crack down on your ass.”

“I already had a meeting with the Lady Regent. She cracked me a good one across the face.”

“Son, what are you doing?”

“Britta the Elder wants me dead. As someone said, you can only fight an Elek with an Elek. My little Lycan that I saved in the woods, found himself a mate out East. She is setting up the Imperial Pack.”

“You are upsetting the status quo, Xavier. The Regency likes everything calm.”

I raised my hand to my forehead. “I know. I’m trying to keep everything low key.”

“Piking a werewolf head is not low key.”

“I’m not the one starting this war.”

“Don’t make your sister finish it, Xavier. Here’s your mother.”

I could hear the phone exchange hands. “I am so pissed and disappointed in you right now, Xavier.”

“How are you feeling, Mom?”

“Weak. Weak, weak weak. I hate this.”

“I only just heard.”

“I know. Although you are a royal pain in the ass now, I know you are not a disrespectful son. It would have been nice to have you here for Shayne coronation.”

“I got something that might make up for that.”

“I seriously doubt that.”

Armor wrapped his arms around my waist and he pressed his face along side mine. “Oh, I think it will, Grandma.”

“Grandma? Grandma! How….You’re gay!”

“Oh, it is true, Lady Hunter.”

“Armor? What is going on? If this is a practical joke, it’s pretty sick to be playing it on an frail old woman.”

“You are not old, Mom. Claudia went to a fertility clinic. We are having triplets.”

“Triplets! Dear, did you hear that! Our little vampire is having babies. When are you coming home?”

“I don’t think I can. It’s not safe for you or for Claudia. Did you see the newspaper this morning?”

“Is the paper here yet?”

The phone exchanged hands. “The mysterious blood trail…that was you?”

“If I hadn’t of moved just before the shot, I’d have been dead. Don’t tell Mom. As if I don’t have enough going on, I’ve got a hit out on me by an organization called Orel Wessel. Ever heard of it?”

“Orel Wessel? Not familiar to me. Your mother has never heard of it either.”

“Dad, do you guys need anything? I can pay the medical bills and mortgage.”

“Don’t be insulting. The Regency is taking good care of us. I am still on in a consulting role. There has even been talk of having me brought in as a teacher to the Mage Academy. You know, I’ve wanted to teach.”

“Sorry, I had no talent.”

“Well, we know why now, don’t we. Here’s your mother again.”

“Babyboy, how is Armor taking the news?”

“I am going to be an Uncle. I had happy for them both.”

“How is this going to work?”

“That is something that we all have to figure out. Everyone is happy. Know that your grandchildren will be loved and protected by the entire House of Von Drachenfeld.”

“And you?”

“I will die to protect your son and his children.”

“I’ll hold you to that.”

“MOM!”

“You owe Shayne a coronation gift. She needs a better car. Those little girls are growing like weeds and clothes must be fashionable. Shayne was never so much trouble.”

“You love your granddaughters.”

“Of course, I do. What are you having?”

Er…Claudia never said. “We want it to be a surprise.”

“When’s her due date.”

“Uh… November…”

“And you’re getting married in August. She is going to be as big as a house.”

“That’s the only time our schedules….”

“Bullpucky. No bride wants to waddle down the aisle. Give me her number.”

I wracked my brain but nothing came up. “It was in my address book in my cell, but I melted it yesterday. I’ll have my assistant call.”

“Assistant. My Babyboy has an assistant. Are you okay, Xavier?”

“I’m fine Mom. What about Azrael? He didn’t look that good from that entertainment news thing about the bachelor auction.”

“I’m letting him and Marcus work out their problems.”

“That is so strange.”

“Tell me about it. I’ve got to finish breakfast and get ready for work. Meetings all day long. I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you when you needed me, Mom.”

“Did you bring me something nice from Japan?”

“It’s got to clear customs.”

“I know you have a company to run, Babyboy. Just give me a call once in a while. I have never been so…inactive in my life. Oh, and I want updates on those triplets. Are they going to be vampires?”

“They’re going to be Royals.”

“Be Happy, Xavier. You too Armor. Dad says he’ll research Orel Wessel. Be good.”

“I will. Bye, Mom.”

I clicked the off button and leaned back against my big hunk of man. “Hades and William are looking after Orel Wessel.”

“Yesterday, they basically told me to sit still and look pretty.”

“Yes. I should have said something.”

“You were lucky enough to be sitting upright. Marcus really fucked you up.”

“That is how he deals, or should I say, does not deal with issues. If Lanseng had not taken him in, I do not doubt he would still be in control out in the wilds somewhere drinking himself into a stupor.”

“Still that pissed me off. Play celebrity. What do they think I am, Paris Hilton? It’s my head Orel Wessel want to put a bullet into. Attacking a problem from two angles is actually sound thinking. What did Haley and Ping want? I doubt they came just to knock you off the bed.”

“Or admire your naked ass.”

“Thank god, I’ve got too much admiration as it is.” I returned tongue in cheek and ended up with his tongue in my cheek. Now the scent of Lycan was out of my head…Armor’s masterful way with my body could be truly appreciated. I shifted to deepen the kiss and got a hand in my face that pushed me back. I blinked at him between his spread fingers.

“Actually, Ping came to report last evening excursion. The Imperials have cleared and secured a two block radius around Von Drachenfeld. No werewolves in the vicinity. They plan on securing the area around Shadoe Inc today. She requested once they clear the zone that the Loyal come in and guard it. She said to expect fireworks pretty soon. There will either be an all out attack or you’ll finally get an envoy from Britta the Elder. She said, hope for the attack.”

I licked his palm.

“X…you need to eat. You do not want a repeat of earlier this morning.”

No…that was more than enough. I fanged the meaty part of his Mound of Venus then let go. He hissed then pulled his hand back. “What was that for?”

“Don’t start the engine then hand me off to a replacement driver.”

“You think I like to see you so enraptured when we are not alone?”

“You have this body tuned to perfection, Armor.”

“What is it with you and car references?”

“We need to watch Vladimir.”

“I will lay down the law with him. Father has made it clear that he is first in Sex’s bed. I will have to do the same thing.”

“What about Azrael? I’m a little worried about him right now. If Vladimir came sniffing after him…he’s weak and might give in.”

“If Marcus can’t defend his claim, he doesn’t deserve Azrael. Besides…Lanseng has proven himself more than capable of taking care of business if it comes to physical violence.” I got twisted back toward the serving cart and Armor put a fork in my hand. “Eat. Now. Don’t make me make you. I can always call Haley in to penguin you.”

I broke out laughing. I got a kiss to my shoulder and Armor went back to brushing my long, long hair. Yes. I was always good a puzzles. I had a dozy. Who wanted me dead? Well Britta obviously but she was coming at it clandestinely. Nobody wanted a war. I think it was more than just the resurrection of the House of Von Drachenfeld. Why now? They could have killed me when I was foundering around as Armor’s toy and didn’t know my ass from a hole in the ground. Why now?

“Oh, look at the entertainment section. Page two.” Armor’s voice was filled with rich amusement.

I chewed on my omelet which wasn’t bad for being cold and flipped to the section. Oh dear mother of god. It was the billboard picture taking up the whole page. Sex was….well just oozing all over the page. The wings had caught the light beautifully and gleamed in pastel glory. Those war braids sparkled like diamonds. His skin was almost as white as his clothes which made a hell of a contrast with Black Claudius. Mom would definitely want this poster.

“He looks happy. Sex is doing great things with him. I do not think I have ever seen Father look so relaxed.”

I looked down at the newspaper ad. Even though the quality wasn’t like an art photograph, you could see the joy and indulgence shining out of those blue eyes. And the love. “Yeah. Little Emperor seems to be doing good.” Keep it up, Sex.

I turned back to my meal. Needed a good breakfast to start the day. Sit there and look pretty. Hummp. I’ll show you how pretty I can look when I find out who wants me dead. I popped my pills and drank my blood. I kissed Armor’s cheek and stood up. I was good to go.

* * *