Duet in Blood

by J. P. Bowie

  “That is a matter of opinion.”

  He smiled into my eyes, and once more, I felt as though he had just cast a spell over me.

  His lips took mine in a kiss that made my heart soar, along with every part of me, especially down there. I opened to him, loving the feel of his tongue as it pushed its way between my lips, filling my mouth with moist caresses. I unbuttoned his shirt, slipping my hands inside to feel the cool, smooth skin of his torso. My thumbs flicked at his nipples, and he groaned as desire welled inside him at my touch. I tugged at his belt buckle then unzipped his fly, my searching fingers finding the prize I knew was mine. He gasped into my mouth as I massaged his hardness through the soft cotton of his briefs.

  I got down on my knees. With both hands, I slowly pulled his slacks down his hips. The outline of his dick, straining under the fabric of his underwear, was an impressive sight, making mine jump in response. I ran my lips over the white cotton, tracing the length and thickness that lay beneath, then, very slowly, I eased down his briefs, first laying bare his beautiful butt. I caressed the satin-like flesh with the palms of my hands, then, and only because I couldn’t stand to wait another second, I released his burgeoning erection. For a moment, I was content to gaze at its smooth, silky girth as it rose with an elegant curve from his dark pubic hair.

  I grasped the base and ran my tongue over the head, licking up the sweet honey of his pre-cum. My lips slid along the length of his shaft, my throat loosening to take it all in. I put my hands on his butt, pulling him in until my nose was buried in his crotch and I could inhale his wonderful scent—spicy with an underlying trace of musk. A total turn on. His hands stroked my hair as he pumped slowly in and out of my mouth. I felt myself being lowered gently onto the floor. I seemed to have lost all my clothes in the process, but I was too into what we were doing to wonder how. His tongue teased the very tip of my cock, probing at the slit, making my hips jerk upwards, wanting him to take all of me into his DUET IN BLOOD

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  mouth. But instead, he licked his way down under my balls, teasing each one with a flick of his tongue.

  He flipped me onto my stomach and burrowed his face between my butt cheeks. His

  tongue probed my opening, pushed past my sphincter muscles and brought me to an ecstatic high like nothing before. I raised my butt, pushing upwards as his tongue swirled inside me.

  “Joseph,” I gasped. “Oh, my God, Joseph…” I practically clawed the carpet to shreds from the sensations he was overwhelming me with. “Fuck me,” I gasped. “Oh, please fuck me.”

  He ran his tongue up the length of my spine, setting my skin on fire. The coolness of his lubed fingers sinking inside me made me shiver with delight. He paused for a moment to slip on a condom, then his lips touched my ear. I squirmed beneath him, raising my butt to meet the hard shaft that now pushed its way into me. His size should have caused me pain, but instead it brought me ecstasy, filling me up, fusing us together, joining us as one. As much as I loved having his cock in my mouth, to have its pulsing hardness so deep inside me, filled me with not only pleasure, but incredible joy.

  He rolled onto his back, his arms about my chest, his legs intertwined with mine, keeping me locked to him. He grasped my erection, pumping it rhythmically in time with the upward thrusts of his hips. I felt as though I was being consumed by him, taken over, body, mind and soul, and helpless to prevent it. I was his to do with what he wished, and I wished he would never stop. Never in my entire life had I felt this way. Never had I given myself so completely or so wantonly. This man inspired an almost primitive wildness in me, as though he had tapped into a part of me I hadn’t known existed until now. I was making noises I’d never heard come from me before—mewling, whimpering sounds that begged him, urged him to take me and never let me go.

  My body thrashed over his, meeting every relentless thrust of his with my own. I felt an incredible sensual rush as he propelled me towards my climax. As fantastic as I knew it would be, I wanted to hang on to this unbelievable experience as long as I could. But my body took over, and my orgasm erupted out of me in a series of mind-blowing jolts that shot a stream of semen over both our heads.

  “Yes…”

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  Joseph’s arms tightened around me as he shook in the paroxysm of his own climax. His body arched under me, practically lifting us both off the floor. Oh, my God! That was as close to heaven as I’ll ever get, I thought.

  We lay there, locked together, neither one of us wanting to be the first to move. The feel of him still so big and hard inside me was something I wanted to hold on to for as long as I could. His fingertips fluttered over my nipples, teasing each one, sending tingling ripples of icy fire through me. I wriggled my butt, bearing down on his erection. He gripped my cock, and I felt myself grow hard again under his touch. That had never happened so soon afterward, but there I was, pumping away inside his fist, while his hips thrust upward, driving his hot, hard shaft even deeper inside me.

  “Aaah…” The roar that was torn from my throat as I climaxed again must have been heard on every floor of the hotel, if not the entire city block. Joseph bucked under me, his mouth fastened on my shoulder to muffle his own cries of ecstasy as he came in great shuddering spasms. We collapsed together, and as he eased out of me, I rolled over on top of him, laying kisses on his chest, worrying his nipples with my teeth, laving his throat with my tongue and planting a scorching kiss on his succulent lips. He smiled into my eyes, and my heart turned over—and that’s when I fell in love with him.

  I must have dozed off in his arms, for next thing I knew, we were in his bed together, and there was a loud knocking noise coming from somewhere in the suite.

  “That will be room service,” he muttered, shifting away from me. I reached for him, unwilling to let him go. He smiled and kissed my forehead, then slipped on a robe and left the room. I heard his pleasant voice and chuckle as he kibitzed with the room service person then a girlish giggle. Oh good, no cute busboy to distract Joseph’s attention from me. Not that I was insecure or anything.

  A moment later, he was back. “Dinner is served, sir,” he said, with a courtly bow.

  Dinner…oh yeah, that’s what it was, a dinner date—and I suddenly realised I was famished.

  There’s nothing like sex to work up an appetite. I jumped from bed, accepting the robe he handed me and followed him into the living room that was now lit by candlelight.

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  “Wow,” I murmured. “This is so romantic.”

  Acting the part of the handsomest maitre d’ I’d ever seen, Joseph lifted the top off one of the dishes with a flourish. He bowed slightly. “Et voila…chicken a la king,” he announced.

  “Sautéed potatoes and asparagus tips in a butter sauce. Would monsieur care for some wine…or a beer?”

  I giggled. “Would you think me a trifle gauche if I said I preferred beer to wine?”

  “Not at all, monsieur. Your wish is my command. Please to sit, here.”

  Oh, I like this, I thought, watching him move with his panther-like grace, his hot butt outlined by the thin silk of his robe. I sighed with happiness—all this and dinner, too. He brought me my beer and a scorching kiss that threatened to postpone the lavish meal spread before us. His smile on my lips told me he was thinking the same thing. We chuckled together, then he moved away to his seat but not before I caught a glimpse of the tenting in front of his robe.

  “Salud,” he murmured, clinking my glass with his.

  “Salud.” I gazed at him, trying to remember if I had ever been happier.

  “I don’t think I have ever been happier,” he said, his beautiful eyes gleaming in the candlelight.

  “There you go again,” I said. “Reading my mind...”

  “Two minds with but a single thought.” He gave me that astounding smile of his again, before taking a
sip of his wine. “Someone, somewhere, said that—but I can’t remember who.”

  “And right now, they’re one-track minds,” I kidded. “Seriously though, you have made me feel so much better about myself, Joseph. I thank you for that.”

  He reached for my hand and grasped it firmly. “I’m glad I have been able to at least do that. I know a failed relationship can often leave a person feeling inadequate, but believe me, Micah, you are far too special a person to be a victim of low self-esteem. You are a very sweet, witty and caring young man.” His eyes twinkled as he added, “And an extremely accomplished lover.” I blushed at his words but loved hearing them. Boy, no one had ever said anything like that to me before.

  Especially Robert.

  “Now, I suggest you eat up before all this gets cold. Another beer?”

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  “Please.” I tucked into the delicious meal as he got up to bring me a refill for my glass.

  “Joseph…I was thinking. Would you like to come to my place tomorrow night? I can fix us something to eat and rent a DVD or something. Or we could just kick back and talk.”

  “That would be delightful,” he said, pouring my beer. “But don’t cook anything for me.

  I have an early business dinner. I can be with you around eight, if that’s all right?”

  “Great! Oh, I almost forgot.” I ran over to the chair where I’d dropped my bomber jacket and retrieved the sunglasses I’d bought him. “Sorry about the cheesy wrapping...”

  “What is this?” For a moment, he looked like a little kid as he eagerly tore the paper bag off the case. “Oh, Micah…”

  Jeez, was he going to cry?

  “That is so very sweet of you.” He put them on and smiled at me.

  “You look like a movie star,” I said. “But I prefer looking at your eyes.”

  He took off the glasses. His eyes were filled with tears.

  “Aw, Joseph…” I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him close against me.

  “They’re just dumb glasses.”

  “I will treasure them forever,” he whispered, his lips on my ear.

  “Good luck with that. I can never keep those suckers for more than a couple of weeks!”

  His lips took mine in a kiss so softly sensual that, not surprisingly, the great dinner did get very, very cold—but the sex we had was hotter than hot. It was after midnight when I finally told Joseph I had to leave.

  “But Tuesday’s my day off,” I told him. “So, if you like, you can stay over tomorrow night.”

  “But Tuesday is not my day off,” he said, tapping the tip of my nose with his finger.

  “So, I will have to decline that very nice invitation. But…” He smiled at my noises of disappointment. “I reserve the right to accept at a future date.”

  “You got it,” I said, moving into his arms and delivering a hot kiss to his lips.

  “Micah,” he whispered in my ear then let his lips rest on my throat. I felt a sudden urgency in that movement, and I tightened my arms about him in anticipation of what was to come. Whatever it was did not happen, for he stepped back quickly from our embrace, a strange, haunted look on his face. Then, just as quickly, that look had gone, and he smiled at me as he kissed me goodnight.

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  Man, but I could almost swear I had never enjoyed body contact as much as I did with this guy. He’s the best, I told myself.

  And I love him.

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  Chapter Four

  Joseph

  I smiled as I closed the door after Micah left. More and more, I could feel our soul-bond grow stronger. I knew he felt it too. I had tried hard not to read his thoughts, sensing he might be alarmed if he realised I really could. He had mentioned it on more than one occasion, but I had played the innocent, making it feel more like a coincidence to him.

  Of course, I could not tell him the real reason I would not stay overnight at his apartment. He would no doubt flood the rooms with early morning light—and his gift of sunglasses would not save me from the sun’s rays. That which gave life to almost everything on this planet would bring me, and all those like me, a slow but sure and painful death.

  There were times when Micah reminded me of Bernard, the one they had sent to initiate the change within me, the vampire who had brought me news of Marcus, and who had given me his blood. The same powerful blood that flowed in their veins now was a part of me. I wished he did not remind me of Bernard quite so much, for it brought back too many painful memories and a deep rooted fear for Micah’s safety. A foolish fear, really, I told myself, for the vile creatures that had dragged Bernard from me were long dead and, therefore, no longer a danger to anyone. Still, sometimes in my nightmare visions, they were very much alive. In those same nightmares, Angelo would appear before me, begging me to save him—

  and I was helpless to do so.

  Some years after they had taken Angelo from me, they had moved me to another of

  their strongholds. Hidden deep in the subterranean caverns below an abandoned castle, they continued to terrorise me, keeping me weak so that I could not fight them off. They had learned that the change had made me stronger than most men. Once, in a fit of outrage, and not knowing how strong I had become, I had lashed out at the Master, breaking his cheekbone. My punishment had been terrible, and my supply of blood diminished to only enough to keep me alive. After all the years of praying that one day Marcus would hear of my captivity and come to rescue me, I had finally given up all hope. In my weakened state, I DUET IN BLOOD

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  resolved to let myself die. How many years had I lived anyway? Much more than mortal men can expect. My parents would be long dead, the world outside changed and uncaring of my existence.

  Die, Joseph, I would tell myself over and over. Just die. But I could not die, for those who held me would not allow it. Each day, they brought me just enough blood, and each day, I wept as I drank it.

  With a determined effort, I cleared my mind of those memories and glanced at my

  watch. A little after midnight. Time to assuage my hunger before the streets of West Hollywood emptied for the night. The bars would soon spill out their young and boisterous patrons who would be heading home early in preparation for the new workweek to come.

  Micah’s blood, pulsing sweet and strong under his skin, had been an almost

  overpowering temptation. One day, I would have to tell him my true identity, reveal to him the darker side of me—that part of me that sends me out into the night, as it now did, to find that which would quench my thirst and satisfy the hunger that never really left me.

  The streets and sidewalks of West Hollywood were damp from an earlier rainfall as I walked with measured nonchalance between the flashing lights and pounding music that beckoned passers-by into the anonymous ambience of the gay bars that lined both sides of Santa Monica Boulevard.

  “Hi, you look lonesome.” The sweet-faced young man, who stood smoking a cigarette outside one of the more popular bars, gave me a sly smile.

  “Can you take care of that for me?” I asked, preparing him for his affirmative answer.

  “You bet.” He took my hand and led me into a nearby, darkened doorway. “You’re

  hot,” he whispered, tugging at my fly.

  I cupped his face between my hands and kissed his mouth lightly. “Open your eyes,” I said. As his liquid blue eyes gazed into mine, I entered his mind and told him that all he would remember of this encounter was that it had been wonderful. I then added the thought that he would never want to smoke another cigarette ever again. He gazed back at me with the complete trust of one whose will has suddenly been taken from them.

  As my lips caressed his throat, his arousal pressed against my thigh. “Oh, feels so good,” he murmured. “So good…”

 
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  My bite was clean and deep. He stiffened in my arms for just a moment, then he was clinging to me, pushing his neck against my mouth, as he sent his sweet, life-sustaining blood pulsing over my tongue. He shuddered and moaned aloud as he orgasmed without my ever touching him. I licked the puncture marks on his neck, my saliva immediately healing the wounds.

  “Please stay,” he whispered as I stepped back from our embrace. I kissed him once more, before leaving him alone in that dark doorway, knowing that all he would remember of our meeting was that it had brought him pleasure—and that he was now a non-smoker.

  Micah

  Just before I got off work, I called my friend Ron Hendricks at the Italian restaurant he managed.

  “Hey Micah.” He sounded surprised but pleased to hear from me. “How’s it goin’?”

  “Good,” I told him. “Sorry I haven’t called in such a long time.”

  “That’s okay, I know what it’s like when you’re in a relationship.”

  “Uh…Robert and I broke up.”

  “Oh gee, I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

  “How are you doin’?” I asked, not wanting to talk about Robert.

  “Good.”

  “You seeing anyone?”

  “Well, as a matter of fact, yes I am.”

  “That’s great. Listen, I thought I’d stop by the restaurant when you take your break.

  Have some coffee…catch up. You up for that?”

  “Sounds good. Come by around six. We can use my office in back.”

  “See you then.”

  I put down the phone, feeling happy that Ron was in for renewing our friendship. I’d felt guilty about being out of touch for so long. Whenever Robert and I had gone out, which DUET IN BLOOD

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  according to him, wasn’t very often, it had usually been with his friends, and I, in my weakness, had never complained or suggested an alternative.