A Bite of Fulfillment
Page 2
Each thought chased the other through his mind and he could feel his head start to swim.
“Just breathe. It’ll be okay.” Bobby’s voice seemed to reach him from a long way off.
Realizing he held his breath, Seth opened his mouth and sucked in a lungful of life giving oxygen. He focused on taking one breath at a time, and slowly the spots cleared. He still felt disconnected, though, as if his brain had shut off.
“I’m going back to my room,” he mumbled, pulling away from Bobby and striding down the path.
Except, instead of going inside, Seth wandered deeper into the gardens. He took solace in the flowers, enjoying their fragrance and vibrant colors. He didn’t let himself think about how his life had irrevocably changed. For now, the flowers were enough.
Seth wouldn’t have been able to tell anyone how long he walked, his mind adrift. Eventually, he came across a section of freshly tilled earth. Pink and yellow posies still in their little plastic cartons spread out along the empty bed. A trowel lay nearby.
He dropped to his knees and started planting. It didn’t matter that he was doing someone else’s chore, all Seth cared about was sinking his hands into the cool, damp earth and taking control of something…the flower arrangement.
Bobby had been right. Seth was a closet gardener. He had a small garden on his balcony and loved tending it. Except, now…even that was gone, wasn’t it? What would happen to his plants? Seth hoped someone took the time to find them a new home.
A shadow darkening the edge of the bed finally pulled Seth out of his gardening-induced stupor. Sitting on his knees, Seth tilted his head back and found Adalric staring down at him. Damn, what could the vampire possibly want now?
For a moment, neither said anything, and Seth took the opportunity to truly assess the man. Adalric wore his dark hair cut short. Coupled with his strong jaw, high cheekbones, and thin eyebrows, Adalric appeared every bit the distinguished businessman. His slender body probably looked amazing in a suit, especially if it were a bit rumbled from a bit of play with a dirty firefighter.
That thought snapped Seth out of his musings. He shouldn’t be thinking that way, especially about a paranormal…and a vampire, at that. Adalric had never been his type anyway. Seth went for men smaller than he was. He was a top, so even if Adalric swung his way—which was unlikely—there’d be no way the powerful vampire would allow anyone to tap his ass.
Finally, Adalric moved, breaking whatever spell they’d been under, and shoved his hands in his pockets. “Bobby said you were probably still out here,” Adalric commented, eyeing him steadily.
Seth shrugged, seeing as a response seemed redundant.
“I need to talk to you, Seth,” Adalric stated. “I need to head back to my own people, and I need you to come with me.”
That’s a lot of needs, he thought absently. Then Adalric’s actual words sank in. Wait, what? “Why would I go with you?” That came out harsher than he’d intended, but considering all the shit thrown at him over the last couple weeks, who could blame him.
“You’ll come with me because you can’t stay here.” Adalric sounded so reasonable, as if the answer were simple.
Seth’s jaw dropped open in shock. “What? Why?” Then he shook his head. “Wait, no. I don’t want to stay here. I want to go home, but you’ve taken that away from me, too!” He rose to his feet, brushing his hands on his jeans as he did so, and pointed a finger at the man. “You had no right to declare me legally dead!”
Adalric’s jaw tightened for just a second, and if Seth hadn’t been staring right at his thin lips, he’d probably have missed it. Wrenching his gaze away from the man’s mouth, Seth lifted his focus to Adalric’s dark brown eyes.
His brows drawing together, Adalric’s nostrils flared as he inhaled, slow and deep, probably trying to keep his cool. “I know you don’t understand, and probably feel our ways are heavy-handed, but please try to understand that as leaders among our people, Maelgwn and I have to look at the bigger picture.” Adalric’s tongue darted out, wetting his bottom lip. He seemed to be trying to figure out his next words.
Seth beat him to it. Glaring, he stated, “So you just think you can decide for everyone?”
“Yes,” Adalric replied almost instantaneously. Seth gasped at his audacity, but he didn’t stop there. “My people’s safety depends on my decisions, Seth, and I’ve been around for over three centuries, over two of those centuries as a coven leader.” He took a couple steps forward, closing the distance between them. “I’ve seen a hell of a lot, and I’ve earned the right to make those decisions. I’m sorry your life is now being turned upside-down, but currently, you are under my protection. That means you come with me.”
Good God! This guy is over three hundred years old? How old can vampires get? Seth swallowed hard and swept his gaze over him again. He looks good for an old man. He sighed, turning away and focusing on the garden he’d been working on. Defeat washed over him, and he suddenly felt exhausted. “You’re not giving me a choice, are you?”
Adalric settled his hands on his shoulders, and Seth tensed. The guy squeezed gently, kneading Seth’s muscles with surprising strength in his long, slender fingers. “I will help you build a new life, Seth,” Adalric stated softly, his breath ghosting over Seth’s ear, telling him how close the vampire truly stood.
Seth couldn’t stop the goose bumps from breaking over his arms. “How…how are you going to do that?” He felt the knots beginning to ease from his shoulders. For some reason, Seth found Adalric’s touch oddly relaxing.
“We’ll discuss that later,” Adalric assured. “Right now, I’m going to mark you, so everyone in my coven knows you’re under my protection.”
All the tension Adalric had eased from him came rushing back. “M-mark me? H-how?”
“I think you know the answer to that, Seth,” Adalric countered, his tone dropping to a soft purr.
Something sharp scraped gently up Seth’s neck, making him shiver. The soft, warm puffs of breath finally clued in his brain that those were the vampire’s teeth! Seth whimpered, although he’d deny it to his dying day.
“Easy now, Seth,” Adalric crooned. “You’ll be fine.” He continued to massage Seth, although he moved his hands to Seth’s upper arms, so he could continue laving his neck with his tongue and teeth. “This won’t hurt for but a second.”
Seth had watched a vampire tear out his friend’s throat. “Are you sure this is necessary?” He valued his life and didn’t want to die.
“Oh, yes,” Adalric mumbled, his lips ghosting over Seth’s skin, soaking it with saliva.
Praying Adalric would be careful, Seth tilted his head, giving him more access. Maybe if he didn’t fight, Adalric would get this over quickly.
“That’s the way,” Adalric urged. “I’ll take good care of you.”
Seth thought that seemed an odd thing to say, but then felt the prick of twin fangs sinking into his neck, causing him to gasp. Just as suddenly, the pain morphed into the most decadent sensation he’d ever experienced, and a line of fire shot straight down his spine to boil in his balls, making his testicles roll. In less than a second, he found himself harder than nails.
A moan escaped him and he feared he’d come in his jeans as each sucking pull on his neck felt better than a damn Hoover on his dick. He throbbed, his pulse spiking and his balls pulling tight against his body.
Adalric hummed against his neck, then reached around and palmed Seth’s cock through his jeans. Seth shouted hoarsely and bucked into Adalric’s hand, unable to censure his movements. The vampire made quick work of Seth’s fly and dipped his hand beneath his briefs. He gripped Seth’s dick and pulled it free, stroking firmly.
Seth’s head lolled backward to rest against Adalric’s shoulder. Never had he felt anything so amazing. Between the sucking on his neck and the hard strokes to his cock, Seth’s blood pounded through his veins and his dick twitched in Adalric’s grip. Panting, Seth rocked his hips into the other man’s hold, despe
rately needing to come.
“Gonna come for me, Seth?” Adalric asked, his words somewhat garbled.
Adalric swiped his thumb over Seth’s sensitive, leaking cap, and that was all it took. Seth opened his mouth in a silent scream as his balls unloaded, shooting his seed up and out. The best orgasm he could ever remember bowled over him, setting his senses reeling.
Panting hard, endorphins pinging through his system, Seth felt Adalric gently remove his teeth, then lick his neck. Seth shivered, his cock actually making an attempt to harden again.
“Feel all right?” Adalric asked softly, a smile coloring his voice.
“Oh, God, yes,” Seth muttered, somehow managing to untie his tongue. “That was—that was amazing,” he admitted.
“Good.”
Leaning against Adalric, Seth felt the hard ridge of the vampire’s dick pressing against his ass. He swallowed hard, trying to figure out what he was supposed to do now. Did Adalric expect him to offer him his ass? Because it would be a cold day in hell before that would happen.
To Seth’s surprise, Adalric reached around and gently tucked him in and righted his clothes before placing his hands on Seth’s hips to steady him. He kissed Seth’s neck, then eased away from him.
“You okay?”
Seth blinked, confused by Adalric’s sudden withdrawal. Wait, wasn’t that what he wanted? Seth righted himself and turned to face Adalric, sweeping a glance down his body and seeing the man’s obvious bulge.
“I—yeah,” he finally murmured.
“Good.” Adalric smiled before reaching up and cupping Seth’s cheek. To Seth’s shock, Adalric lowered his head the couple inches difference in their heights and pressed his lips to his own. Just as quickly, before Seth could even decide what to do, Adalric lifted his head. “We need to get on the road. My jet is waiting at the airport.”
Jet? Airport? Now? “What about you?” Seth asked before his brain caught up with his mouth.
Adalric grinned. “Have no fear, Seth. I got what I needed…for now.” He winked. Then, grabbing Seth’s hand, led him away from the gardens.
As Seth followed meekly, he wondered if that was all Adalric thought of him as…a food source. Then he wondered why he even cared.
Chapter Three
Eight hours later, the exquisite flavor of his beloved still lingered on Adalric’s tongue. Seth tasted truly amazing, better than he’d imagined. He’d desperately wanted to bend the man over and fuck him senseless. Unfortunately, there hadn’t been time, plus Adalric knew Seth wasn’t ready.
Patience wasn’t something Adalric was known for, but in this case, he’d manage it. Adalric needed to woo his beloved slowly, giving him pleasure and stability. He knew it would just take time…and now that he’d tasted his beloved’s blood, starting the bonding process, Adalric knew it would be worth it.
They didn’t speak much during their travels, but now that they were in the back of a limo, headed toward Adalric’s coven, he knew he had to explain a couple things to the human.
Adalric maneuvered around the limo until he sat next to Seth, who continued to stare at his Samsung tablet as if he weren’t there. He glanced down at the screen and saw the open book on the kindle app. After two minutes, Seth still hadn’t turned the page.
Smiling, Adalric turned toward his beloved and settled his left arm over the back of the seat behind his human. With his right hand, he gently grasped the electronic device and pulled. Evidently, that hadn’t been what Seth was expecting, for the tablet easily slipped from the man’s grip.
That didn’t stop him from snapping his head up and glaring at Adalric, however. “Hey, what the hell? I was reading that.”
Adalric smiled and lifted a brow, amused at his beloved’s indignation. “Were you? What’s it about?”
Seth’s cheeks flushed and he scowled. “The damn book’s about a guy who discovers a skeleton behind a wall in his basement. There’s ghosts and stuff and—fuck, just give it back.”
His brows shooting up, Adalric slowly handed the tablet back. “I’m sorry. You hadn’t turned a page since I moved next to you. I thought perhaps you were too distracted to read,” he crooned, running his right hand over the man’s shoulder.
A rosy blush swept up Seth’s neck and he glared at his electronic device. “I read a little slow, that’s all,” he mumbled.
Ah, shit. Did I just touch a nerve? From the guy’s unfocused death glare at the now blank screen and the way his heart pounded, Adalric knew he had. He needed to do something…quick.
“My apologies. I thought you were ignoring me, which is something, I must admit, I find extremely irritating,” he told him. If he shared a little of his own misgivings, perhaps he could smooth things back over.
Seth nodded once, then admitted, “I was…sort of.” He shot a disgruntled look Adalric’s way. “You’re not exactly my favorite person right now,” he grumbled.
Forcing back a sigh, Adalric shrugged. He couldn’t change the past, and wouldn’t, if he were honest with himself. Everything that had happened had brought his beloved to him. Now, it was his job to build a bond with the stubborn human.
One step at a time.
“Look, the reason I interrupted is because we will be arriving at my home soon, and there are a few things I need to explain,” Adalric said. He couldn’t help himself. Now that he had Seth’s attention, those wary hazel eyes fixed on him, Adalric really wanted to touch. Using his left hand where it rested on the back of the seat behind Seth, he gently rubbed his thumb over the bite mark he’d left hours before.
Seth shivered under his touch, blinking in surprise. He licked his lips, and Adalric watched with some satisfaction that it took the man several seconds to form his next question. “What do I need to know? I don’t exactly want to piss anyone off and get my throat ripped out.” Now, the human’s shiver was one of trepidation, and that just wouldn’t do at all.
A low growl rolled through Adalric’s chest before he could stop it. A red haze slid over his vision at the very thought of harm coming to his beloved. “If anyone dares touch you, I will end them.”
With a shocked look, Seth leaned away from him and hissed, “Your eyes.”
Adalric closed his eyes and sucked in a deep breath. When he had himself back under control, he returned his gaze to Seth. “My eyes shift to the equivalent of infrared vision. It’s so we can see the body heat of our—” Oh, damn. I really should have thought that comment out better.
“Your prey?” Seth asked, frowning.
“In essence, yes,” Adalric replied, figuring it was better to get the truth out there now. He didn’t need anything else to come around and bite him on the ass. When Seth didn’t immediately respond, he decided to move forward. A glance out the window told him he was running out of time, again. “Look, I know you’re not happy about being here. I understand that. But I am master of my coven, and because you are under my protection, you have a certain…duty…to me.”
Seth’s blond brows drew down as he scowled at him. “Like what? I gotta feed you now?”
“In part,” Adalric admitted, “but the truth is, you can’t ignore me in public. If I talk to you, you respond. To ignore me would be an insult, a…challenge to my leadership, and I would need to punish you for that.” He tried to say the words gently, to express the seriousness of the issue.
Eyes wide, mouth open, clearly shocked, it took a few seconds for Seth to respond. Finally, he shook his head and glared. “You’d punish me? How?”
Pinning him with a cool stare, Adalric lifted a brow and asked, “Do you truly want to know? I tell you this so you can avoid the situation.”
“Yeah,” Seth snapped. “Exactly how do you think you’d punish me?”
Quick as lightning, Adalric lifted his free hand, wrapped it around Seth’s neck while the other grasped his shoulder, and used the loose hold to push him down so he lay across the seat. He twisted his body and followed his beloved down, easily pinning him, even with his leaner frame.
“That attitude right there is unacceptable when we are not alone, Seth,” Adalric warned in a chilly tone. If the only way to get his beloved to understand the seriousness of this conversation was to use force, he’d do it. “Belligerence is not acceptable. You will obey me in public. Grievances will be revealed in private, and we will adjust our behavior accordingly.”
He pierced the human he hoped to make his—in every sense of the word—with a hard stare. “This is not negotiable.”
Seth’s Adam’s apple bobbed under Adalric’s fingers, and he found himself stroking that lump softly, almost as if petting the man would clear the fear from his expression and scent. Adalric hadn’t wanted the conversation to go this way, but—he shut down that line of thought and waited, continuing the subtle caress.
“Will you—will you at least tell me what the punishment is?” Seth whispered.
Adalric had to hand it to the man for his persistence. “It would depend on the situation and what had happened. It could be anything from me sending you to our chambers, to me laying you across my knee and spanking you in front of my coven.” Adalric prayed he wouldn’t have to do anything worse, so didn’t mention the possibility.
“You’d spank me?” Seth’s gasp sounded more outraged than shocked. “I’m not into that kind of…thing.”
“Good,” Adalric replied. “It’ll be better incentive to stay in line.”
“Wait, did you say our chambers?”
Adalric lifted a brow, just stopping himself from grimacing. Damn, he had said that. “You’re staying in my wing of the mansion, so yes, our chambers,” he amended.