Crimson Ties

by V L Moon

  Adjusting to the new position, Copi settled himself deeper between Vischeral's thighs. His mouth remained locked in place. As Vischeral's hands memorized his body, Copi arced and rolled into his touch. The blistering heat gathering in Vischeral's gut expanded, racing up desire's peak.

  “Copi. I'm close,” Vischeral panted. “You need to stop…control slipping.” The male ignored him. Instead, his head moved faster, driving Vischeral higher and higher. Another liquid fire caress of Copi's mouth and Vischeral's large body bowed away from the wall, burying his cock deep in Copi's throat.

  Copi's hands slid under him grasping his ass and holding Vischeral in place. Fangs drove into Vischeral's lower lip, sending blood trickling down his chin. He shook with the force of his release as rope after rope of hot semen pumped from him into his partner.

  The muscles of Copi's throat worked his length even more as he swallowed, pushing Vischeral even farther over the edge of insanity. Darkness blurred the edges of his vision. Everything receded except the feel of Copi milking him.

  Spent, Vischeral sagged against the stone wall of the cave, eyes closed, breath coming in ragged gasps. Copi's hands maintained their possessive grip on his ass, but his head now lay on Vischeral's right thigh. His warm breath fanned Vischeral's still engorged cock. Raising a hand, Vischeral threaded his fingers through the male's hai, loathe to break the silence.

  ~*~*~*~

  Copi gasped for breath after swallowing as much as he could of Vischeral’s release. The taste of his own blood mixed with the highly erotic blend of Vischeral's essence proved more potent than any alcohol he’d ever tried. Stretched out over the densely packed muscle of Vischeral's thighs, he lay still trying to gather himself together. His heart still hammered like a drum in his chest. His and Vischeral’s heavy breathing was the only discernible noise in the darkened depths of the cave.

  Copi's hands remained splayed around the smooth hard rounds of Vischeral's ass. He was loath to release his hold on the man in his grasp for fear the dream would shatter into a million different pieces. If it was a dream, he never wanted to wake up in the real world where his vision of Vischeral stayed the same shade of eternal grey.

  All he wanted at that moment was within his grasp, literally. Lean but strong fingers trailed lazily through his wavy hair. He wondered if Vischeral even realized he was doing it. His semi-erect cock lay along his abs, and already Copi hungered for another taste. In his jeans, his own cock bucked wanting attention.

  Nervous and a bit scared to look up into Vischeral's eyes, he closed his own tight and drew in a breath. “Does it always feel so good for people, humans, when you bite, or feed, or whatever you call it?”

  As soon as the question rolled from his mouth, Copi felt the tension loom. The heaviness inside the cave weighed on his skin, making it hard to breath. He felt the power of Vischeral’s gaze fall onto his back. He knew Vischeral was going to reply; the man’s body tensed beneath him as if coiling himself for a fight.

  “Depends on what the vampire wants them to feel,” Vischeral replied. Copi knew the title was thrown out for his benefit. Problem was; he didn’t care. Vampire, human, demon, angel, none of it mattered because whatever he was, he was Vischeral, and Copi wanted him.

  Moving slowly, he tugged one hand from beneath his partner and rubbed it up the denim clad muscular thigh. He braced his weight and shifted upward again so he straddled the man’s hips. Both hands continued the exploration of his chest. His right hand came to rest over the rapidly beating pulse of Vischeral's heart. Finally, his head lifted, and he met the hard stare he’d come to know so well.

  “Well I like the way it felt. Fuck that. I loved the way it felt, so thank you.” He tilted his head. So many questions winged through his head. “You have a heart that beats, but you don't need to breathe. I’ve noticed,” he said when Vischeral’s eyebrows winged upward. “Is there any part of you left from the life you led before? Where did you come from? Where were you made? How old are you? Have you ever turned anyone? What do you feel when you drink?”

  Copi gulped fearful that his trail of questions would spark Vischeral’s immense rage. It was there, hidden just below the surface. It prowled like a shadow in the dark inky depths of his illustrious eyes. Copi held that gaze and lifted a hand to trail his fingertips along Vischeral's stunning, ruggedly handsome face. When Vischeral didn’t pull away, he cupped the chiseled jaw in his palm. Though he didn’t speak, his eyes pleaded with Vischeral not to break the spell, to allow the moment between them to continue. He almost purred his delight when Vischeral mimicked his movements.

  ~*~*~*~

  Staring deep into his partner's eyes, Vischeral struggled with himself. In all of the years since he’d been turned, he’d never spoken of home. He missed Italy, hated that he’d missed his human family’s growth. But, he couldn’t risk going back there so he’d shut the memories away and focused on getting by the best way he could.

  Almost unconsciously, he raised his hand to cup the male's face. Copi's questions hung in the air. His body still quaked from the dual assault of Copi's blood and his hot mouth on his cock. Vischeral wondered if he could even speak much less form a coherent answer. Taking a deep unsteady breath, he reached for the cold anger that usually closed him off from the human world. He visibly flinched when he found the seething mass of his emotions instead. Copi's amber eyes bore into his own not demanding a response, but what Vischeral saw; the banked desire, the naked hope drove him to speak.

  “For vampires,” Vischeral paused again at the naming of what he was. Most humans ran screaming, but not his Copi. The male stayed steadfast, his hand still firmly holding Vischeral's jaw. “Feeding is always pleasurable. We are assuaging a hunger that humans will never understand. It burns within us every second of every day.” Vischeral stopped, waiting for the disgust, expecting Copi to withdraw from him in horror.

  Stealing himself for the inevitable, he tried to look away from the hypnotic pull of Copi's gaze, but the bastard would have none of it. Instead of leaving, Copi leaned closer and linked his arms loosely around Vischeral’s neck. The wicked friction of his partner's jeans against his still swollen sex robbed him of his train of thought. His hands slid down to grasp Copi's lean hips.

  “If you want answers, Cophious Dane, you are going to have to be still. In case no one told you, vampires are very, very sexual beings especially with a partner to whom they are….”Vischeral snapped his jaw closed. His partner might have been okay with him being a vampire, but would he be as calm knowing the vampire was fully and irrevocably bonded to him? Vischeral didn't think so.

  “Quit stalling and answer the questions, Vischeral,” Copi said low. His voice vibrated with the sexual tension wavering in the air around them. He shifted again, putting exquisite pressure on Vischeral’s dick. With a growl, Vischeral surged to his feet easily hauling the other male up with him. Surprise lit Copi's eyes. Vischeral spun, pinned him to the wall and leaned in so they were eye to eye. The position took some of the pressure off of his throbbing sex and gave him the ability to think coherently even if Copi continued to wiggle around.

  “Yes, my heart beats, but only because I will it to. It's part of the illusion, Copi. The same illusion we give to the humans when we feed. There are laws, treaties, things you don’t understand. Vampires exist all around the world. We have a king, an Elder council and they enforce our laws. The most important law we have is that we keep the secret of our existence from humans.”

  He shrugged. “I don’t know all of the rules, I left before they could be explained. I do know there are only a select few in higher levels of human government and religion who know and enforce the laws the same as our council. But, the rest of you tend to panic. And that’s why, by vampire law, I am faced with two choices. As soon as you offered—as soon as you knew, it became my responsibility to mind wipe you or kill you.”

  Releasing the human male, Vischeral took a step back and stalked away pacing as much as he could over the rock strewn f
loor. His bonded nature raged. There was no fucking way he could harm a hair on Copi's head, much less kill him. What the fuck was he going to do now?

  ~*~*~*~

  Consumed by the darkness of the foreboding cave, Copi stood in complete and utter shock. Vischeral's answers to the questions he'd asked stunned him speechless, and the powerful display of strength heated his blood all over again. Visions of Vischeral ripping through what clothes were left and biting him again and again filled his mind. The cold finally broke through and he shivered.

  “One question, Bourne.” The words emerged from a dry and somewhat shaky throat. The words stilled a raging, pacing vampire in place. Fighting the trembling in his legs, Copi took small steps to close the cavernous void that had sprung up between them. He didn’t hesitate when he stood in front of his partner. He reached up to tilt Vischeral’s stubborn jaw so their eyes met again. The imminent threat of his death loomed like a specter, but one of Vischeral’s answers stuck in head and nagged at him. His hand trembled, not from fear of the vampire, but from the fear of rejection.

  “You said the feeding is primarily based on illusion for the humans; a lie to make them feel good so that when you bite the feeding is easy?” The last emerged more of a question instead of the statement he’d intended. Instead of waiting for a reply, he brushed his lips lightly over the moist full lips of Vischeral's mouth. He moaned softly at the delectable taste.

  “Tell me partner, is doing this…with me…an illusion to you?” Vischeral’s lips parted and Copi took advantage. He plunged his tongue gently between Vischeral's lips. His arms wrapped around the other man, and he pressed closer. The temperature rose dramatically as he clung to the one person, or rather, one vampire that had changed his life.

  ~*~*~*~

  Vischeral held himself still in the strong circle of Copi's embrace. Being so close to what he desired above all else seriously tested his wavering control. His fangs extended, but he was careful to keep them clear of Copi’s probing tongue. Copi's absolute trust in him robbed him of the strength to resist the male. He'd just told the human he was obligated to end his life; yet, Copi didn't shy away. Instead, he'd come at Vischeral head on. Of their own accord, Vischeral arms circled Copi's waist, lifting him up closer and changing the angle of contact.

  With practiced ease, he took control of the kiss, meeting Copi's exploring tongue with his own. When Copi pulled away from the kiss, Vischeral let him slide down his body until his feet hit the rocky ground. His partner’s head lowered, his forehead coming to rest on Vischeral's shoulder while he struggled to control his breathing. Vischeral's hands rested lightly on the male's hips.

  “Are you going to answer me?” Copi raised his head. Despite the tension riding them both, Vischeral gave a rare smile.

  “Shouldn't you be asking, are you going to kill me?” he challenged his partner. He watched in stunned disbelief as Copi shook his head negatively.

  “We both know the answer to that question. You had your chance, and you didn't take it,” he shot back. “So, man up ya big bastard. Is it an illusion with me?”

  Staring into his amber eyes, Vischeral found he couldn't lie to the male though he seriously considered it. “No.” Vischeral forced himself to release Copi and stepped clear of his reach. Quickly, he fastened his pants before temptation removed his ability to think. “It’s never been an illusion with you.” He heard Copi’s swift inhalation. Oh right, the male didn’t’ remember the first time. “You’ve always been different, even back in the alley in New York.”

  “So, it was you. I wasn’t crazy,” Copi said.

  “No, you weren’t.” Vischeral shoved an unsteady hand into his hair. “I should have wiped myself completely from your memory, but for some reason, I couldn’t do it. I never imagined you’d end up here. I’m sorry, Copi. If I’d done what I was supposed to, you’d still be in New York….” Soft lips covered his again and cut off his words.

  “And, I wouldn’t be here with you. This is where I want to be.” Vischeral saw the truth of the words in Copi’s eyes, and he shook his head.

  “Here, you are the target of a maniac. Look around you, Copi. Look at what he’s done, and he’s coming after you. He’s coming after you because of me.” Vischeral’s gaze swept the carnage again. “He’s trapped us here knowing of my thirst. He expects me to kill you, drain you dry. And, if I don’t, he’ll be out there waiting for you.”

  “And, what about you, Vischeral? I saw what he did to you,” Copi challenged. “Besides, you caught Roan. He’s in custody. His wolf has to be pinned up somewhere. We just have to get him to tell us where.”

  Vischeral sighed heavily. “Copi, Roan doesn’t own the wolf. Roan works with the wolf. The killer is a man, rather a wolf shifter. He changes forms to do this.” He swept a hand around the cave. “You believe I’m a vampire, so you have to know I’m telling you the truth.”

  “A werewolf?” Copi asked, and Vischeral almost laughed at the incredulous look on his face. Vampires he accepted, werewolves not so much. But, it wasn’t the time for jokes. He had to make the male understand the danger.

  “No, a shifter. He doesn’t need the moon to change. He can do it at will. Think about it. The human forensics can’t identify it, it’s larger than a normal wolf and the kill site and drop sites are never the same. No animal is smart enough to hide what’s in this cave.” He paused to let Copi absorb the information. “But, a shifter can and has. Roan helped him. The night outside the Tap Root, the wolf was there because of Roan. Roan followed us into the woods and attacked me to protect his Alpha.”

  “So Roan’s a wolf too?” Copi asked, and then he whistled low. “Of course he is that’s why you played basketball with his head. You wanted to shut him up before he told me.” Amber eyes bore into Vischeral so he nodded.

  “We have to let someone know. My God, everyone in the jail will be in danger. We have to get out of here.” Copi stumbled over the rocks toward the barricaded entrance. “You can move this can’t you?” The certainty in Copi’s expression swelled Vischeral’s chest.

  “Yeah, but not now. The sun’s too close to rising,” he said.

  “So that part’s true then, you can’t go out in the sun?” Copi paced back over to his side.

  “Only our King can tolerate the sun and none knows how he does it,” Vischeral explained. “When the sun rises I’ll have to sleep. I won’t be able to protect you.” He yanked the arsenal of weapons from his boots and waistband. “There are more in my coat.” The thought of why his coat lay across the cavern sparked his rage again. “Shoot for the head and the heart and shoot fast. Don’t hesitate.”

  “Silver bullets?” Copi joked as he took the offered weapons.

  “No smartass, he’s not a werewolf.” Copi’s unrepentant grin split his face, and Vischeral had the strongest desire to kiss him. But, the suffocating mantle of sleep weighed on him. He'd fed, though not as much as needed, and his body needed time to rejuvenate.

  Turning away from his partner he searched for a relatively clear spot on the ground. Not for himself. He could sleep anywhere. Copi needed to rest as well. Before he could get them out, he would need to feed again. Should he tell Copi now, or wait? He chose to wait and better ensure the male slept. Moving a few rocks near the back wall, he formed a sort of barrier between them and the entrance. He waved Copi over.

  “I need to sleep. My body heals faster while I’m in repose, and I can’t do anything until the sun goes down. You need to rest if you can. Tonight will be strenuous work,” he paused and looked at the small cleared space.

  “Welcome to Chez Wolf,” he tried to joke, but then castigated himself. Copi didn't seem to care. He sat and looked up at Vischeral an unspoken question in his eyes. Folding his large frame in half, Vischeral planted his ass opposite his partner. When Copi remained sitting, Vischeral shrugged and stretched out on his back, his long legs crossed at the ankle and his arms tucked under his head as a sort of pillow.

  He closed his eyes and listened
to the rustling of Copi's clothes as the human pulled his sweater back over his head and moved around in the cramped space. Finally, Copi's head came to rest on his shoulder seconds before his ass wiggled into position at Vischeral's hip. Copi cleared his throat and mumbled something to rushed for Vischeral to catch. “What is it, Copi?”

  “I said it's cold, and you’re hotter than the fucking sun,” Copi groused as a shiver worked its way down his body. It was all the incentive Vischeral needed. Rolling easily, he fitted his body around the other male, spooning him shoulder to ankle. His arm came to rest naturally along Copi's hip. Copi snuggled back deeper into Vischeral's larger body, eliciting a growl. Copi chuckled.

  “You're not as immune to me as you let on are you? Nice to know,” he mused. Vischeral chose not to answer caught up as he was in the rightness of holding Copi in his arms. He was in serious fucking trouble where his partner was concerned.

  “Shut the fuck up and go to sleep, detective. I don't do pillow talk,” he grumbled. Copi laughed again and then settled. In minutes, the male slept soundly. Uncomfortable with his back to the entrance even though it was blocked, Vischeral closed his eyes anyway. He’d feed one more time, and if he couldn’t get them out, they were in trouble. Burying his face in Copi's wavy hair, he thrust the problem from his mind. Sleep claimed him just as Copi murmured his name. He drifted off with an atypical smile curving his lips.

  ~*~*~*~

  Enfolded in Vischeral’s embrace, Copi slept oblivious to the hard cold floor beneath him. The comfort and warmth emanating from Vischeral overshadowed the nightmarish conditions of the damp cave. Hunger pangs finally woke him from a sleep worthy of the dead. He winced at the pun and opened his eyes to find the flashlight batteries had finally died. He refused the notion to move out of Vischeral's arms to check. Instead, he backed in further, bringing his partner's immensely powerful and heavy arms up to cradle his slightly smaller frame.