Reynaud nodded. “The wounding part. I’ll admit I was surprised it was such a large one. I’ve never been able to take it to that extreme before.” He rested his hand on Burke’s thigh. “Maybe because I never had the need to, to protect someone I truly care for.”
“I like that idea. Well, not the protecting part. I’d rather not be in that situation again.” He glanced at Reynaud. “I take it you and Leon used to be more than friends from what Wynn said.”
Reynaud waggled his hand. “We had a brief fling, about, hell over a hundred years ago. I ended it almost as soon as it began because he was too clingy. He wasn’t happy but I thought he’d accepted my decision since he took off for parts unknown. He showed up again, maybe forty years later. I told him I still wasn’t interested and I thought he finally got it since he left town—again. I didn’t know he was back until a couple of months ago. He didn’t try to get in contact with me, and started hanging around with Wynn, so I figured that was that, until tonight.”
“Almost makes me feel sorry for Wynn.”
“Me, too, which is why I did what I did. He’s a decent guy, just weak and a bit lonely. I suspect it’s why he fell in with Leon.”
“Speaking of decent guys, I guess. What happened with Jakob?”
“His King listened to his reasons for killing his Sire. When Jakob told him about the vampire who mistreated him, after his Sire abandoned him, the King ruled that Jakob was to pay his penance by helping other Children who had been summarily left to their own devices by Sires who wanted nothing to do with them even before their year was up.”
“Damn. That happens?”
“Fortunately not too often, but it does. I think Jakob will be a good teacher. Oh, and the Old vampire who abused him has been dealt with.”
Something in Reynaud’s tone of voice, made Burke ask, “By you?”
Reynaud nodded. “Despite the fact I owe no allegiance to that particular King, I offered my services and he accepted. So I and one of his people hunted the bastard down and dispatched him. That’s the reason I didn’t come home until tonight. Of course I had to report in to Antoine first, before looking for you.”
“A good thing, I suspect. If you’d found me earlier I wouldn’t have run into Leon and he’d still be out there, plotting how to get rid of me so he could step into my shoes.”
Reynaud snorted derisively. “There is no way that would have happened, no matter what he thought.”
By then, they had arrived at Burke’s house. As soon as they were inside, Reynaud pulled Burke to him, kissing him deeply. When they broke apart, he said, “Go eat.”
Burke cocked his head, asking with feigned innocence, “Because I might need all the energy I can get?”
Without skipping a beat, Reynaud replied, “Because you’re too thin,” while hustling him into the kitchen.
“Uh-huh.” From the gleam in Reynaud’s eyes, Burke knew he was teasing.
* * * *
Reynaud grinned, sitting at the table as Burke made a large sandwich before joining him while he ate. Reynaud couldn’t take his gaze off the man who had become the center of his life. “I meant it when I said I missed you.”
“I know. I missed you, too.” Burke took another bite then put the sandwich down, taking Reynaud’s hands in his. “I have a confession to make. I had a long conversation with Antoine Saturday night.”
Reynaud knew that, as Antoine had told him the same thing. He didn’t admit it however, wanting to hear what Burke had to say. “And?” he replied.
“By then I was totally pissed at you—and him. I figured he was going to crow about how it was just as well you’d left because you’d have time to think and then decide to break up with me. I was wrong.” Burke smiled. “He laid it on the line, telling me I was good for you and he hoped I would…well, he didn’t say ‘come to my senses,’ but he might as well have. He said I loved you, which I denied. Then he told me I was to do everything in my power to make certain you understood that I did. After that, he gave me the key to your house, in case you didn’t call when you got back.”
“Sneaky bastard,” Reynaud said, chuckling. “Would you have used it?”
“Yes.” Burke looked dead at him. “He was right. I do love you so if it came down to it, I would have.”
Reynaud smiled slowly. “Damned good thing because I love you back.” He relished the brilliant smile Burke gave him in reply. He was even happier when Burke came over to him and planted a kiss on his lips that left no doubt about what Burke expected would happen next. Reynaud pulled him into his lap to return it enthusiastically.
“We need…” Burke said breathlessly.
“To go upstairs before I take you on the kitchen table?”
“It would be more comfortable.”
“Comfort is a good thing,” Reynaud agreed as he tightened his hold on Burke and stood. With Burke’s arms wrapped around his neck, Reynaud carried him upstairs while they kissed again.
“You might want to let go,” Reynaud suggested when they got to the bedroom and he tried to put Burke down.
“Do I have to?” Burke replied with a very feigned pout—and then did.
If Reynaud thought their first time together would be an exercise in getting out of their clothes and into bed as fast as possible he was wrong, which didn’t bother him in the least.
“There was a time when I wondered if we’d get this far. Now that we have…” Burke said as he slowly unbuttoned Reynaud’s shirt. “I want to undress you inch by inch and savor every second of it.” He ran his fingers over Reynaud’s skin when it was revealed. “So perfect. Pure masculinity.” He eased Reynaud’s shirt off his shoulders.
Reynaud smiled, taking Burke’s hands before he could move them lower. “My turn.” He worked as slowly as Burke had at removing his shirt, and when it fell to the floor, he rubbed the pads of his thumbs over Burke’s nipples, eliciting a moan of need as they hardened.
“Now, can I?” Burke asked, not waiting for a reply as he worked to remove Reynaud’s jeans. When he had, he stroked one hand up his lover’s hard cock.
“You’re asking for it,” Reynaud said as he quickly divested Burke of his slacks. He dropped to his knees, running his tongue over the head of his cock, lapping at the leaking slit. He would have continued if Burke hadn’t put one hand under his chin and bent to kiss him when he looked up.
“Bed. Remember? More comfortable.” Burke fell back onto it and sprawled wantonly, beckoning for Reynaud to join him.
Reynaud couldn’t resist such an offer, not that he would have tried to. He knelt over his lover, hands on each side of his head. “Definitely more comfortable,” he agreed before kissing him hard, invading his mouth with his tongue when Burke opened to him.
The kiss ended as all of them must when more important things take precedence—like Reynaud’s desire to explore Burke’s body inch by wonderful inch. He’d had many lovers in his life time but none that had meant as much to him as Burke. He did his best to show him, using tongue, lips, and fingers to tease and torment him until Burke was writhing from pent up need as yet unfulfilled.
“You make me feel…special,” Burke whispered between one gasp of delight and the next.
“Because you are,” Reynaud said, looking up from what he was doing to Burke’s cock before taking it into his mouth again, sucking for a long moment then releasing it. He knew if he continued Burke would come. “I do hope you have lube,” he whispered, nipping Burke’s earlobe.
“Yes, and…” Burke paused. “We don’t need them, do we?”
“No.”
“Loving a vampire has many rewards,” Burke replied as he gestured toward the nightstand. “This is just one of them.”
And one drawback for both of us that I am. Reynaud pushed that thought away. In time they would have to deal with it, but that was a long way down the road.
While Reynaud got the lube, Burke moved onto his hands and knees. “I hope I’m not presuming,” he said, looking over his shoulder at his
lover.
Reynaud chuckled. “Not at all, which is a good thing. It means we mesh in this way, as in so many other things.”
“Mesh is an interesting way to…” Burke gasped when Reynaud eased one well-lubed finger into him, followed seconds later by a second one. “More,” he moaned when Reynaud stroked his sweet spot.
For the first time since they’d met, Reynaud delved into Burke’s mind, wanting to know what he was thinking. He smiled when he heard, ::I don’t want to come before he gets a chance to…But, damn…:: and quickly wrapped his hand around Burke’s cock to keep that from occurring. He almost replied he wouldn’t allow it to happen, but had the strong feeling that if Burke knew he was reading his thoughts it would upset him immensely.
Easing his fingers out, he pressed his cock to Burke’s entrance. “If I hurt you…”
Burke looked back at him. “It will pass, and then…” He bit down on his lip when Reynaud entered him, his fingers whitening as he twisted them in the sheets.
Moving with infinite patience, Reynaud pushed in until his cock was fully engulfed. He waited, allowing Burke to get used to it, then eased almost out and thrust in again. When he did that a second time, Burke met his thrust with one of his own, taking him in with a low cry of pleasure and desire for more. Soon they were moving as one. Reynaud had never felt so connected with a lover as he was at this moment in time. Then Burke tightened around him and with a shout he came. That was all it took. Reynaud’s orgasm followed seconds later. He fangs lengthened as it did and he was barely able to repress the need to bite Burke to enhance the wonder of what they were sharing—but he did.
When they finally regained some semblance of composure, Reynaud pulled out, eased off Burke, and then took him in his arms when Burke turned to look at him. They shared a slow, gentle kiss before Burke said, “That was…You were…”
When he didn’t finish his sentences, Reynaud laughed. “Tongue tied?”
“No. Trying to think of a word that says it all. Fantastic, maybe. Superb, brilliant, magnificent, glorious?”
“Would you like me to go get the thesaurus, if you have one?”
“No, smartass.” Burke hugged him tightly. “Take it from me, no word can even begin to describe how I felt about tonight. How I feel about you.”
“My thoughts exactly,” Reynaud replied. “I love you, you love me, and we just showed each other we do in one of the best ways possible, on a physical level.” He kissed him again, then said. “Now, it’s time for me to leave.”
“But it’s not even close to morning,” Burke protested.
“Actually, it is, and you need to get some sleep, as little as it might be. You have a job and I’m sure they’d like you to show up on time.”
Burke sighed. “Too true.” He traced his knuckles over Reynaud’s jaw. “When will I see you again?”
“Definitely Sunday night, as always. Friday and Saturday if possible. I don’t want to take you away from your hunting. It’s too valuable to us, as I’ve told you more than once.”
“You only love me because I can do that,” Burke teased.
“Trust me, that’s definitely on the bottom of the list. I love you because you’re the most wonderful man I’ve ever known.” He gave Burke another deep kiss before getting out of bed and going into the bathroom to clean up. He smiled when he felt Burke watching him from the doorway.
“I’d suggest a shower, but…” Burke grinned. “Then you’d be stuck here until tonight.”
Reynaud gave him a swift hug, replying, “While I’m not certain stuck is how I’d phrase it, I would be. So I’ll get dressed and be on my way.”
He was putting on his shoes when Burke reappeared from the bathroom.
“I can drive you home,” Burke said as he pulled on his jeans.
“No need to.” Taking Burke’s hand, Reynaud led him out to the bedroom balcony. “I love you,” he said softly.
“I love you, too. I always will,” Burke replied, kissing him. “Now off with you. The false dawn is here. I don’t want you frying before you can make it home.”
Reynaud laughed. “It won’t happen, I promise.” He returned the kiss, went invisible, and took to the air. As he flew home, he wondered how long ‘always’ would be. To him, it means until he dies which will be much too soon, and there’s no help for that. He knew it wasn’t the truth. He was also certain Burke would never agree to the alternative. What human would willingly become a vampire, even in the name of love? Only two that he knew of. So perhaps…He could hope, although he doubted it would happen.
Chapter 11
It had been a month since Reynaud and Burke had professed their love and things were back to normal.
One Saturday night, Burke was out hunting, as he did every weekend. He had followed a vampire as he led his prey into an alley behind the shops on Magazine Street—taking him out before he could feed. This was the third time this evening that he’d had to dispatch one, and it was only midnight. It made him wonder what was going on.
He texted Reynaud to find out where he was, which was at the club, and said he’d meet him there. When he arrived, he suggested they take a walk because what he had to say wasn’t something they could talk about with dozens of men around.
“We’re aware there’s a problem,” Reynaud said as they walked toward the river—after Burke told him about having dealt with three vampires in the space of three hours. “So far, Antoine hasn’t been able to find out who’s causing it.”
“As far as I can tell from how they felt, they were all young. Not Fledglings, but not Young Adults, either.”
“Adolescents?”
“Probably. They definitely weren’t benign or I wouldn’t have gone after them. On the other hand they didn’t feel evil, the way Morra and Silvan did.” Burke paused, frowning. “It’s almost as if they’re confused, if that makes sense.”
“Confused how?”
“It’s hard to explain. It was like they knew they shouldn’t be going after humans but they couldn’t stop themselves. They were too hungry.”
Reynaud nodded. “As if they were being compelled?”
“I suppose so,” Burke replied, waggling his hand. “That or…I don’t know. Why would someone, a vampire obviously, compel other ones to do something that could reveal your presence?”
“That, my love, is the question. As I said, Antoine is trying to find an answer.”
“Well, he’d better try harder,” Burke replied with some asperity. “Is your team out watching for them, too?”
“They have been, once we figured out what was happening, but it’s only been going on for the last three days as far as we know. They’d eliminated four of them.” Reynaud smiled sourly. “You’ve almost tied that in one night.”
“The chances are they, the ones doing this, are watching for any vampires who might want to stop them. Or…” Burke nodded slowly. “Possibly…whoever is controlling them is out there when they pick a victim, and warns them if he senses another vampire close by.”
“Interesting theory. It would explain why you’re having better luck stopping them.”
“One thing for sure, whoever is doing it is a rogue himself.”
“I agree. An older one if he’s strong enough to compel them to do his bidding.” Reynaud stopped walking, frowning as he looked at Burke.
“You figured it out?” Burke asked.
“Perhaps. Are you parked in your usual spot?”
Burke laughed. “I think that’s a ‘duh’ question.”
“Good. Let’s go talk with Antoine.”
* * * *
“Something that never crossed my mind,” Antoine said when Reynaud proposed his theory. “Eliminate my…our secret weapon—” he glanced at Burke, “—and it gives him, whoever he is, a chance to do whatever he’s planning next.”
“Come on,” Burke said. “How can I be a danger to anyone? Sure, I eliminate the ones who want to feed on a human, but they’re mostly badly trained Fledglings or vampires who p
refer fresh blood to bagged. I’m no danger to full-out rogues.”
“I disagree,” Reynaud said. “You took out Morra, and you led us to Silvan. While no one but us knows it was you specifically, everyone knows it was The Hunter. Given what you do, you could be a great danger to, as you put it, a full-out rogue with an agenda. So he compels his minions to go after humans, hoping you’ll show up to stop them.”
“If that’s what’s going on, why hasn’t he already tried to kill me? It’s not like I vanish the moment I’ve eliminated my target.”
“He has a point, Reynaud,” Antoine said.
Reynaud nodded as he began to pace the room. “If he’s too close to you, Burke, you’d sense him. He wants to know who you are but not end up on your radar until he’s ready to deal with you.”
“And he might know that by this time, since you took out three of them tonight,” Antoine added.
“If that’s the case and he followed me from a distance, he probably saw me with Reynaud.”
“That could well be, in which case he now knows you’re connected to him, and by extension to me,” Antoine agreed.
“Presuming you’re right, what now?” Burke asked.
“You go home, where you wait for him to do whatever he’s planning.”
“Like hell!” Reynaud glared at Antoine.
“Easy, Reynaud,” Antoine said. “I don’t plan on his being unprotected. You and I will be there. Before you ask, Burke, unless our foe is an Ancient, I can shield our presence from him. If he is, then all bets are off, I’m afraid.”
“If he is an Ancient, he wouldn’t be worried about The Hunter to begin with, I’d think,” Reynaud replied. “Still, I don’t like setting Burke up this way.”
“Unless I miss my guess, he’s already in the rogue’s sights after tonight.”
“That gives me a real creepy feeling,” Burke said.
“Good,” Antoine replied. “Then you’ll be doubly alert and aware if he comes anywhere near your house.”
“At least he can’t come inside without an invitation.”
“Which he could compel you to give him.” Antoine frowned deeply. “Which he might have already. You said you weren’t aware of Silvan when he had shape-shifted into a cat, right?” When Burke nodded, Antoine asked, “Did you see any animals this evening?”
Burke and the Vampire Page 10
