That made Adalric’s steps falter before he charged down a path on the left. He was pretty certain that was the way toward the noise. Wait, Spieron is fighting two vampires, one being my second enforcer? Damn! He felt a bit guilty, knowing how badly he’d misjudged the guy. He could even imagine why the vampire hadn’t come to him with his suspicions. He probably would have either dismissed them out of hand, or questioned Edwin, which would have put Spieron in even more danger.
When he burst into the area where the hedges were carved out into three discreet domes with lovers benches tucked in each one, Adalric could hear the thud of fists on flesh and the snarling sound only an angry vampire could make. No one was in the clearing, and the sounds were coming from his right…which appeared to be a solid hedge.
Taking in the height, Adalric crouched low, then leaped over the nine-foot bush. He landed in a crouch, and looked around quickly. A shiver worked down his spine as he took in the scene.
Chad lay crumpled near a tree, not far from a watchful Seth. Spieron fought Edwin and Loren valiantly, doing his best to keep between the pair and Seth. He kept his left arm tucked to his side, indicating either a cracked or broken rib. The vampire’s swift movements and ability to counter most of the attacking pair’s strikes made Adalric think of a martial artist.
But it was the blood dripping from his beloved’s lip that incensed Adalric.
Roaring, he launched at Loren. The vampire spun in shock, but didn’t react to his presence fast enough. Adalric landed on his chest, taking him to the ground. Without remorse, he wrapped his hands around the man’s throat and twisted. The sickening crack told him he’d snapped his neck and he released the vampire, who lay still beneath him.
Adalric knew the difficulties of actually killing a vampire, so he didn’t stop there. He sank his claws into Loren’s chest and tore out his heart. Tossing the still beating, bloody organ away, he watched the red bleed out of the other guy’s eyes, showing shocked blue which quickly drained of life.
Hearing Spieron’s cry of pain, Adalric’s head snap up just in time to see the vampire thud to the ground after hitting a tree…hard, since the guy wasn’t rising. Seeing the way his right arm bent awkwardly at the elbow—making him fight back a cringe—Adalric knew it was broken.
“You’re in so much trouble, Edwin,” he snarled.
Edwin spun to face him, his lip curling to reveal his fangs. “You’ve outlived your usefulness, old man. You should have moved on decades ago.”
“Tsk, tsk, that’s no way to speak to your coven leader.” He put just enough dryness in his tone to piss his ex-buddy off. Knowing a vampire for that many years, Adalric had learned how to push his buttons.
“You don’t deserve that title,” Edwin snapped. “And soon, everyone will know it!”
Ignoring the comment, Adalric glanced toward his lover, taking in the man’s red-hazed form it was tough to see injuries. “You all right, Seth?” he asked, somehow keeping the growl out of his tone, well…mostly anyway.
“Yeah, I’m fine. ’Bout time you got here.”
Adalric grinned. His beloved’s snarky attitude told him his lover was just fine, or would be as soon as he got rid of this asshole threatening him. Just then, Toni, Darian, Gerald, and even Daystrum—although a bit more slowly—came streaking around the corner.
He pointed at Spieron. “Check him,” he ordered, “and back off. Edwin is mine.”
Edwin curled his lip and sneered, “Oh, this is even better. I will beat you in front of your inner circle and your coven will be mine!”
“Come and try it.”
Adalric had seen his enforcer fight a few times over the years, but he couldn’t remember if Edwin had seen him fight. Of course, he hadn’t actually had to indulge in a brawl with another vampire in some time—not counting the incident where he’d tracked down the rogue that had attacked Gallo. That had been kids play.
He grinned and flexed his hands, readying the three inch, slender claws extending from his fingertips. Watching the other man circle, Adalric stood at the ready, easily keeping himself between Edwin and Seth.
Smirking, Adalric asked, “Are you going to take all night? I have things to attend to.” From the corner of his eye, he saw Darian help Daystrum back out of the clearing. Just the fact that his second had attempted to come to his beloved’s aid warmed his heart. Gerard dropped to his knees beside Spieron and started checking for injuries. Toni stood over both of them, but eyed Adalric and Edwin.
When Edwin roared and leaped forward, swinging a clawed hand at his chest, Adalric stepped neatly to the left and shoved the other vampire, using the male’s momentum to send him stumbling into a tree. Edwin recovered quickly.
The vampire enforcer spun around and spread his arms, his claws gleaming in the moonlight. Adalric adopted a cat-stance, his hands lifted in a defensive posture while keeping his weight on his back leg. Keeping just a bit of weight on the toes of his front leg, he watched carefully for tells to Edwin’s next move.
He didn’t have long to wait.
Adalric saw Edwin’s weight shift as his body tilted slightly forward right before the traitor snapped his leg up in a round house kick that, if landed, would probably have cracked a rib or two.
Stepping forward, Adalric captured Edwin’s leg against his side and pulled. The other vampire stumbled forward, trying to wrench his leg free while still remaining upright. Not giving him a chance to catch his balance, Adalric slammed an elbow into Edwin’s now exposed side.
The vampire cried out in pain and shock and started to crumple. On his way down, Edwin sank his claws into Adalric’s thigh. Snarling as agony shot through the punctured muscle, he jerked away, out of Edwin’s grasp.
Adalric didn’t stay back. He pushed the pain to the back of his mind and as soon as Edwin’s claws were visible, blood dripping from the one, Adalric leaped beside his opponent, grabbed the vampire’s clean arm, and used the hold to roll Edwin to his stomach. With the guy’s arm locked behind his back and Adalric’s knee on the small of his back, he subdued Edwin.
He wrapped his other hand around Edwin’s throat, his claws pressing into the tender flesh. He warred with his desire for vengeance, to tear out Edwin’s heart, as he’d done to Loren. Adalric wanted to give no mercy to the vampires who’d caused harm to his beloved. A low growl rolled up his throat at that thought. He’d be well within his right to end the vampire’s life.
“Adalric.”
Seth spoke his name, sounding uncertain. He jerked his head up and spotted his human now standing with Gerard and a groggy looking Spieron. Toni stood a few feet away beside a kneeling, trussed up Chad.
How long have I been struggling with this decision? He knew before he’d bonded, he would never have even hesitated. Did that make him weak?
Compassion is never a weakness, Adalric.
He stared at Seth. Through his hazed vision, he saw the lines of blood flowing through his lover’s veins and a new kind of lust flooded him. His dick swelled in his jeans and he hissed softly at the sudden pressure.
“Mine,” he snarled.
“Yours,” Seth affirmed, keeping his gaze focused on Adalric. The human licked his lips, obviously sensing the sudden shift.
To Adalric’s relief, Seth didn’t appear concerned upon seeing his eyes. His lover had come a long way in the past two weeks. He smiled grimly. “Toni, lock Edwin and Chad in the cellar,” he ordered, though his gaze remained fixed on the man he planned to ravish, and soon. “Then contact the council and report these events.”
“Yes, sir,” Toni responded. The vampire quickly took Adalric’s place and used his hold on Edwin’s arm to haul him to his feet.
“Spieron,” Adalric said, finally dragging his gaze away from Seth. He looked at the injured vampire, who—even groggy—managed to look concerned, even fearful, probably for his life. “Thank you, for keeping my beloved safe. I could use a loyal enforcer.” He refused to cast an accusing look at the vampire he’d thought of as his friend. “
Especially one with your talents.”
“Thank you, sir,” Spieron whispered, his surprise evident in his tone. “I’d be honored.”
“I’ll initiate you later,” he promised, then returned his focus to Seth. Slowly, he stalked toward his lover. “I have something more important to do at the moment.”
Seth took a step back, the movement triggering Adalric’s desire to capture his beloved and fuck him, show him his place. He crouched, ready to leap upon the man, to hell with whoever watched, when Seth said, “Your leg. Are you okay?”
With the adrenaline thrumming through his body, Adalric didn’t even feel the wound. All he felt was the throb of his dick pulsing in his jeans, the need to bury his shaft in Seth’s body, to sink his fangs in Seth’s neck, and once again claim him as his own.
“I’m fine,” he assured, right before he leaped. He swooped his beloved into his arms, tossing him over his shoulder, and leaped over the nearest hedge, praying there’d be something somewhat secluded on the other side.
“Hey,” Seth called. “I can walk!” He punctuated his words with a slap on Adalric’s ass.
Freezing, Adalric slowly allowed Seth to slide down the front of his body. He growled softly upon feeling his beloved’s hard dick behind his fly. “Naughty, beloved,” he rumbled gruffly. “Very naughty.”
“So is carting me around like a sack of potatoes,” Seth shot back, smirking. Before Adalric’s sluggish brain could come up with a response, his human continued, “Thank you for coming for me.”
Adalric cupped his beloved’s jaw and pressed his forehead against Seth’s. “I will always come for you,” he replied, then frowned. “But I’d really prefer you don’t get kidnapped again.”
“Me, too,” Seth replied.
That settled, Adalric returned to his original intention, to reclaim his beloved. He slanted his mouth over Seth’s and thrust his tongue inside. Dominating Seth’s mouth, he tangled their tongues, drawing Seth’s appendage into his mouth, and sucking on it strongly. His beloved moaned and melted against him, and Adalric swallowed the noises even as they set his blood on fire.
He tugged at jeans and shirt, using his claws to strip the offending fabric from his human’s body. Releasing his lover’s lips, he spotted the cement bench. He grinned upon hearing the whine of frustration as he gripped Seth’s hips and spun him.
Whipping his shirt over his head, Adalric laid it on the bench, then pushed Seth over it. He yanked open his fly, easing the pressure on his aching shaft.
“Wait! Wait, wait,” Seth chanted.
“That’s not going to happen,” Adalric countered gruffly, although he knew he needed to slow down, prep his beloved. Never did he want to hurt his human.
“Lube.” Seth swung his arm and pointed at the remains of his jeans. “In my hip pocket.”
Adalric snagged the ruined cloth and searched the pockets, finding a single-use packet. Pulling it out, he growled. “And what were you doing with this?”
“Always carry some now. Always want to be prepared,” Seth admitted. The way he panted, giving away his need, not to mention the arousal scenting the air around him like the finest aphrodisiac. Looking over his shoulder at him, Seth snickered and added, “You’re a horny bastard, Adalric.”
Chuckling, Adalric tore open the packet and poured most of the slick onto his fingers. “Only for you, beloved.”
“Better be,” Seth replied, his words ending on a grunt as Adalric slipped first one, then two fingers into his ass.
Adalric draped his body over Seth’s as he worked him, running his free hand over the smooth skin of Seth’s back, touching, feeling, reaffirming that his beloved was there with him, alive and healthy. “My beloved,” he crooned. “My love.”
“So,” Seth panted, “what you said earlier was true? You love me?”
“Oh, yes,” Adalric assured. “Very much.” Pulling the three fingers he now had in Seth’s ass free of his lover’s body, Adalric turned the man to face him. “You are my heart, Seth. Without you, I am nothing.”
Seth traced his fingers down Adalric’s jaw, then up over his brow. “Never thought I’d find a love like this,” Seth whispered. “And I do love you.”
Adalric’s heart sang at Seth’s admission. He wrapped his arms around Seth, holding him tight, and captured his lover’s lips. Lifting the man as he enjoyed his beloved’s masculine flavor, Adalric turned and sat on the shirt on the bench. He settled Seth on his lap and, using one hand, aligned his erection with Seth’s stretched hole and guided him down.
His beloved’s head lolled on his neck, breaking the kiss, and let out a long, low moan. “Fuck, never thought I’d enjoy this so much.”
Hissing his own pleasure, Adalric struggled to form words as exquisite pressure swallowed his cock. “S-sex?” he asked.
Seth’s chest heaved and he gripped Adalric’s shoulders as he fully seated himself on his prick. Adalric gripped Seth’s hips, holding him tight. His cock twitched and jerked inside the hot depths of his human.
Grinning, Seth shook his head. “Bottoming,” he admitted. “I can’t get enough of your dick in my ass.”
“Good,” Adalric replied. “Because I plan to keep it in you as often as possible.”
“That’s great,” Seth snapped. “Now loosen your grip so I can move.”
“So pushy,” Adalric crooned, struggling to maintain control.
“Yep. Know what I want.”
Then, Seth squeezed his ass muscles rhythmically, milking Adalric’s dick.
Adalric roared. He lifted his lover a couple inches and began reaming his ass. Seth moaned and shuddered in his arms as Adalric nailed his human’s prostate on every thrust. Seconds later, Seth tilted his head, baring his neck.
“Please,” he moaned.
“With pleasure,” Adalric replied huskily. He gave Seth exactly what he wanted and sank his fangs into his beloved’s neck.
Seth stiffened in his arms, then groaned, his cock unloading, slicking their torsos with his seed. Between the clamp of Seth’s ass on his swollen erection and the exquisite taste of his beloved’s life-blood, Adalric lost it. His orgasm crashed over him, a wave of bliss as he flooded Seth with cum.
After several minutes, Adalric withdrew his fangs and licked the mark clean, sealing it. Holding his lover to his chest, his softening shaft still buried in Seth’s body, Adalric knew he’d do anything and everything for this human. He smiled, remembering his friend’s words from weeks before.
Just as it should be.
Frowning, the sound of water running caught his attention. He looked left and spotted a fountain, the centerpiece a bare-breasted mermaid rising from the water, her bust thrust forward and head flung back. From her mouth arced a stream of water which spilled into the pool of the fountain around her.
Chuckling, Adalric murmured, “Huh. The spitting mermaid.”
Seth lifted his head from where he rested it on Adalric’s shoulder and followed his gaze. “Yep, the entryway to this area is right there,” he said, pointing at an opening not too far away. “Told you I could have walked.”
Adalric stared at his lover fondly. “I knew you’d keep me on my toes.”
Seth petted Adalric’s neck softly and smiled smugly. “When you’re right you’re right.” He pecked his lips. “You wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Grinning, Adalric nodded. “Hell, yeah.”
About the Author
Charlie lives on a mini ranchette in Utah with her husband and furry, four-legged children. She started writing fantasy when she was eight, and after stumbling onto her first erotic romance at age nineteen, she realized her true calling. She now focuses on writing erotic romance, normally of the paranormal variety, with heroes and heroines of all kinds. You can often find her curled up with her laptop and a cup of tea or glass of wine, creating her next adventure. Charlie enjoys exploring the mountains on horseback, 4-wheeler, or motorcycle. Her favorite exercise is jumping lessons with her Arabian gelding Apache or her Thoroug
hbred mare Repo. And she can’t get enough of sexy highlanders with their kilts and swords. Right now, she and her muse are working with dedication on her Wolves of Stone Ridge series and Kontra’s Menagerie series.
She can be reached at [email protected]
Or visit her at www.charlie-richards.com
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