Duet in Blood

by J. P. Bowie

  “You complaining?”

  “What do you think?”

  “I think it’s time you took me home.”

  He looked around then led me into the shadows where he wrapped his arms around

  me and delivered a long, hot, scorching kiss to my mouth.

  “Hold tight,” he whispered.

  Not something I’d ever argue with, but this time he really meant hold tight. We were already at roof top height before I realised we were actually flying. We soared into the night sky, leaving the dome of the Sacre-Coeur cathedral far below us and the lights of Paris stretched out as far as I could see.

  “All right?” he asked, his face pressed to mine.

  “Yeah…just don’t get a cramp or something.”

  He laughed as we zoomed through the cool night air, then as if flying wasn’t amazing enough, we started making out.

  I don’t think words could ever describe what that felt like, so I won’t even try. Suffice to say that when we landed on the balcony outside his apartment we were both sporting raging hard-ons and only got halfway across the living room floor before we were rolling around naked on the rug in front of the fireplace that had very conveniently become filled with glowing embers.

  Happy Birthday, Micah!

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  Chapter Fourteen

  Ron called around ten next morning.

  “Wanna grab some coffee and croissants? There’s a café on Boulevard Montmartre that Jean-Claude told me about. I’ve got directions.”

  “Sounds good but I don’t know where you are.”

  He laughed. “Right…take a cab. Here’s the address…I’ll spell it.”

  I looked in on Joseph before I left, but he was deep in his vampire sleep mode. I knew he wouldn’t be up and about ‘til late afternoon, so I left him a note saying I was with Ron. I got a cab almost as soon as I stepped outside, and after reading the address to the cabbie in horrible French, I was soon whizzing through the streets of Paris at breakneck speed. We pulled up outside the café with a screech of brakes, and it was then I realised I had no money. Thank goodness Ron was standing outside waiting for me.

  “Ron,” I yelled. “Can you pay the driver?” He ambled over and took care of the fare.

  “Sorry,” I said. “It didn’t even occur to me I’m penniless in Paris.”

  “Sounds like the title to a book,” he remarked, grinning. “You don’t look penniless.

  That’s a nice shirt.” He fingered the material. “New?”

  “New to me. It’s Joseph’s. Everything I have on is his, even the shoes. My clothes went up in the explosion.”

  “Wow.” He put his arm round my shoulders. “Come on…Jean-Claude says this place is the greatest.”

  The aroma of good coffee and warm bread greeted us as we entered the café. After some hilarious attempts to pronounce what we wanted from the chalked menu on the wall, and some help from the cute, perky young waiter who oozed Gallic charm, we settled down with hot black coffee and buttery croissants. Delicious!

  “So…” Ron wolfed down about half his croissant in one go. “How long you stayin’?”

  “Not sure. I got fired from the bookstore, so there’s no big rush to go back. Maybe another week or so.”

  “Mmm…” He wiped the flaky crumbs from his lips. “We could fly back together.”

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  “You mean in a plane, right?”

  “Yeah. As much as I love Jean-Claude, the thought of him carrying me five thousand miles on his back, doesn’t turn me on.” He chuckled. “Roger offered after that Angelo guy made off with you, but I was too chicken.”

  “I don’t blame you. Roger’s still a bit erratic when it comes to flying.” I looked at him fondly. “It was really nice of you to come all the way out here, Ron. It gives me a chance to sort of catch up on my sanity. What’s been going on recently is…well…it’s been bizarre, to say the least.”

  He nodded and patted my hand. “It really does take time to get used to it all. This is not something you can tell your friends about. My bro would freak if he knew the truth. He and Ted really like Jean-Claude, and they’ve taken to coming down from Portland more often to see us both. It’s been hairy a couple of times—and remember Barney, the cop I dated a couple of years back?”

  I nodded yes.

  “Well, he’s dating this cute guy, John. I kinda introduced them, and they want us to go out for lunch and stuff, and sometimes Jean-Claude just can’t join us, so they wonder what’s up. Man, I think I’ve used just about every excuse in the book.”

  “But would you change any of it?” I asked.

  “Sometimes I wish he was just like any other guy, except of course, he never can be. I love him, and I guess I don’t have to tell you about the sex.”

  I grinned at him. “Go ahead…”

  “You first.” We laughed together, then he said, “He’s just so fantastic, Micah. So sweet and caring.”

  “Joseph, too. I have never met a more amazing man. All these preconceived ideas of what a vampire should be just don’t apply to him…or Marcus…or any of them, really.”

  Ron nodded. “Yeah. Talk about a case of bad PR.”

  “So, have you considered, you know, changing?”

  “We’ve talked about, but he’s not in any hurry for me to take that on. I talked to Tony too, about it, and he says he probably will one day. He’s really tight with Roger—they went through something of a nightmare together just before Roger was changed.”

  “What happened?”

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  “Some vampire jerks kidnapped them to get revenge on Marcus and Andorra. Tony

  was to be given to some slobbering monster, but he jumped out of the window to escape.

  Fortunately, Andorra caught him as he fell or he wouldn’t be around today. But Roger wasn’t so lucky. Right in front of Marcus, they drained him of almost all his blood.”

  “He told me that bit,” I said quietly, thinking how horrendous all that must been for the guy. “No wonder he thinks so much of Tony.”

  “Yeah, and Tony told me that since Roger’s change he feels he should follow, but right now, he thinks he’s more of a benefit to Andorra if he stays mortal. I get the impression he stays on guard while she sleeps.”

  “Wow…and I left Joseph alone in the apartment.”

  “He’ll be fine, Micah.”

  “But they got to him before.”

  “Not at his home. Vampires have special powers to protect what’s theirs while they sleep.”

  “But you just said Tony stands guard…”

  “That’s Tony.” He smiled. “He likes to play the macho card when it comes to Andorra.

  Besides, from what I understand, Angelo and the wizards aren’t a threat anymore.”

  I shivered involuntarily. “God, I hope not. That Angelo was one mean fucker.”

  “Tell me. So, let’s go see something of Paris. It’s my first time here too, y’know.”

  When I got back to Joseph’s apartment, he was lying on the couch reading, dressed in a pair of lounging pants and a sweat top. He smiled and rose to greet me, holding me in his arms as if we’d been apart for weeks instead of hours.

  I liked that!

  “Did you have fun with Ron?” he asked after giving me a long and rapturous kiss.

  “Phew…let me get my breath back,” I teased. “Yes, we had a great time. Saw lots of tourist spots but not the Louvre. I’d really like for you to take me there, maybe late tomorrow afternoon when it starts to get dark?”

  “That can be arranged,” he murmured, kissing my neck.

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  “I just figured you’d know more about it than the tour guides.”

  He chuckled. “Why? Just because I’ve been around longer?”<
br />
  “That, and you’re smarter than most anyone else I know.”

  “Flattery will get you anything you want, young man.” He took my hand and led me over to the dining table. I gasped at the array of gift-wrapped boxes spread out across the top of the table.

  “Happy Birthday, Micah,” he murmured, his arm around my waist.

  “Oh, Joseph.” I stopped myself from saying, ‘Oh, you shouldn’t…’ That always sounds so corny to me, but I was thinking it…so many gifts. “You went out for these—but when?”

  “No,” he said chuckling. “I had them delivered from a local men’s boutique. I simply told them your approximate measurements, and they had them all here within the hour—

  just before you arrived, actually. Now, open something.”

  He seemed as excited as me as I tore at the wrappings…something I found incredibly touching. My eyes were wet as I opened box after box containing a variety of shirts, pants, tees, sandals, shoes, underwear—you name it, he’d thought of it.

  “And for the chilly Paris nights,” he said, beaming at me as I opened the last box.

  “Something to keep you warm when I cannot.”

  I pulled out the most beautiful dark brown leather bomber jacket I’d ever seen. It was butter-soft to the touch and must have cost a fortune. Now I really was crying. “Thank you so much. This is the best birthday I’ve ever had…ever.”

  He kissed me gently and wiped my wet cheeks with his thumbs. “You are entirely

  welcome, my love. Clothes seemed the most practical of gifts.”

  His lips, brushing my neck, were driving me crazy. I could feel the heft of his erection through the thin fabric of his pants. It was causing the most delicious pressure against my hardening cock.

  “Do we have any plans for this evening?” I asked.

  “No…” His lips had moved to my earlobe. “I thought it would be just you and I for a change.”

  “Sounds great. So we can get naked and stay that way all night?”

  “That also sounds great.” He unbuttoned my shirt and let it drop to the floor.

  “Careful…that’s not mine.”

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  “It is now.” His lips were now on my chest, teasing each nipple ‘til they hardened under his touch. He unbuckled my belt then pulled down my zipper, his searching hand closing round my rock-hard cock. He knelt in front of me, his lips skimming over my abdomen, his tongue flicking at my navel. I groaned aloud, my fingers brushing through his short dark hair. He looked up at me and smiled, and my heart turned over.

  “Oh, Joseph,” I murmured. I fell on my knees and wrapped my arms about him.

  Suddenly, there was so much more in what I felt for him than just sex. He had become everything to me—everything I wanted and needed, and I never wanted to let go. “I love you, Joseph. I love you, with all my heart and soul.”

  “And I love you, Micah. I always will.”

  Much, much later, I rolled out of bed and padded through to the bathroom to relieve myself. As I washed my hands, I looked at my reflection in the mirror and smiled, feeling mighty pleased with myself. Never had I been happier, never so fulfilled, never so loved. In the moments that I would actually stop to wonder at all of this, it still seemed too incredible to be true. Less than a month ago, I was still mooning around, trying to get over Robert, being a pain in the ass to myself, and anyone else who would listen to my whining.

  Now, I was in Paris, for Pete’s sake, and had the most beautiful guy making sweet love to me at every opportunity.

  True, I was unemployed, but what the hey. I’d take care of that when I got back to LA.

  Right now, after what Joseph and I had just been through, we deserved this time together—

  to really get to know one another and talk about the future.

  The future. Just what did that hold for us? I wondered. Ron had been reticent about talking of the ‘change’. I was sure Tony had been a big influence for him on that matter, but somehow it didn’t seem to equate for Joseph and me. I knew that if he asked me to take the ultimate step, I would say yes.

  When I went back into the bedroom, Joseph was fast asleep. It was almost seven, so not wanting to disturb him I slipped on my new robe and walked through to the kitchen to make myself some coffee. Outside, the sun had still not risen, but it was light enough to make me take my coffee out onto the balcony so I could see Paris awaken to a new day. I stood at the balcony rail, sipping my coffee and peering down onto the street below, watching the few cars taking early morning risers to work. A movement in a darkened doorway near the DUET IN BLOOD

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  corner caught my eye. A figure, shrouded in a long black coat, stood there looking up at me.

  An involuntary shiver rippled down my spine, and I stepped back quickly, slopping my coffee onto my bare feet.

  “Ouch…shit…dammit!”

  I fumbled with the coffee mug before putting it down on a table by the window.

  Rubbing my foot, I took a tentative look down at the corner again. No one there. Had I imagined it? It was still kinda dark and shadowy. Should I wake Joseph and tell him? Tell him what exactly? I asked myself. Oh yeah, I thought I saw someone in black standing in a darkened doorway. Take him out of his deep sleep and sound like a scared sissy? No, won’t do that…I’ll call Ron in about an hour…See if he wants to do something today.

  I fancied a visit to Versailles. I’d seen some incredible photographs of the gardens in one of the books at work. The sun was beginning to rise as I stood there, staring down at the street below.

  Had to have been my imagination.

  After I showered, I sorted through the pile of new clothes Joseph had bought me and selected a pale blue sports shirt and blue jeans. It hadn’t felt chilly when I’d stood on the balcony. The shivers I’d experienced merely coming from my own imagination.

  When I called him, Ron was up and ready for another day of playing tourist, so we arranged to meet at the same café as the day before. I left Joseph a note telling him where I was going, and that I’d be back around four. Humming a jaunty tune, I headed out to meet Ron.

  Joseph

  Even in our deepest sleep, we vampires can be aware of what dangers surround us, so it was easy for Marcus to enter my mind and alert me to what was wrong that day.

  Micah is missing, Joseph…

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  Missing? I sat up, fully alert, my sensory powers reaching out, seeking his whereabouts.

  As hard as I tried, I could not connect with his mind, something I had been able to do with relative ease since he and I had soul-bonded.

  I cannot reach him either, Marcus informed me. Some kind of barrier must have been placed around him.

  My heart was gripped with an icy fear. So, it’s not over yet.

  It appears not.

  How long since he was taken?

  About two hours, Marcus replied. He was to meet with Ron at ten. Ron waited until eleven then called your apartment. When he received no reply, he came here and alerted Jean-Claude. The fact that we cannot locate him is why I am convinced he has been abducted.

  I cursed myself for having turned off the ringer on the phone, but I so seldom use it.

  Two hours…enough time for Micah to have been well and truly hidden from our powers of communication. Cursing, I sprang from my bed, only too aware of my inability to do anything until the sun went down.

  Marcus, sensing my despair, tried to ease my mind, but we both knew Micah was in deadly danger. Ron says the day is overcast, and rain is forecast. With any luck, we should be able to begin our search very soon.

  But where to begin, Marcus?

  My instincts tell me that Darius is behind this.

  Darius? But why would he take Micah? His quarrel has always been with us, and he knows all he has to do is call us out. He doesn’t need Micah as bait
.

  I don’t believe he is holding him as bait, Joseph…

  Then what…? As soon as I asked the question, the answer hit me like an icy blow to my chest. You mean he wants Micah for himself?

  Marcus gave me a mental nod. Micah mentioned to me that Darius had cast a long look at him just before we left Angelo’s stronghold.

  My mind reeled as I envisioned just what this implied. Darius had been our sworn enemy for centuries. He hated Marcus for his benign philosophy and for his ability to maintain the loyalty of his followers. Darius and his Dark Forces were the epitome of evil, and the reason humans regarded us all as bloodsucking killers. Darius would not be gentle.

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  “Micah, Micah,” I groaned, as I imagined him, terrified beyond belief at what had happened to him. Surely, even if we were successful in rescuing him from this ghastly situation, he would never want to look at me again. He would never forgive me for placing him in such danger.

  Joseph, you are not to blame for this. I should have been more aware of the possibility that Darius coveted Micah.

  My thoughts were bleak as I asked him, Is there a way to contact Darius? Would he perhaps listen to reason, if I begged him…?

  I have tried and failed to communicate with him, but it is my guess that he will not take Micah to his Underworld. It would be seen as a weakness by his followers if he takes a mortal lover. Humans are prey to the Dark Forces, to be used and thrown aside—not loved.

  Then where will we find him?

  There are two places I know of, one here in Paris, the other in Berlin.

  Does he know you are aware of these places? I asked.

  No. You remember that Darius was enamoured of Bernard, and asked him to join with the Dark Forces. Bernard was flattered and tempted, until he realised the extent of the evil Darius spreads about him. During the time of their dalliance, Darius showed Bernard his two secret hideaways.

  So, obviously we will visit his lair here in Paris first.

  Yes…but Joseph, I will go alone, Marcus said gently.