“Were you his only lover?”
“Oh no. He had many lovers before Sadomori mutilated him. He was gorgeous and vampire and human alike bedded him often. Recently, I sensed he’d given his heart to someone, although I do not know who.”
“His body was not found. Maybe he survived.”
“Tabun, perhaps. I am not ready to grieve his death yet. I have lost too many.”
Tatsu tightened his arm around that too-slim waist and staked his claim. “I’m not going away. Ever.” Tatsu nuzzled closer, loving the musky odor of sex-ladened sweat. Arisada’s sweat.
The vampire sighed. He wanted to believe in the promise, in those words, but, oh, their precious naïveté. The harsh reality of their true difference lay between them. Tatsu’s lifespan would be only a handful of decades. Arisada could live for centuries. No, not centuries. Not even one day longer than his beloved. He would commit seppuku within the hour of Tatsu’s death.
“Can you make peace with time, Su-kun? How it is different for us?”
“As much as I can. I am at peace with that. Besides, no one can predict the future. I just wonder what is going to happen in Seattle. A lot of folks are blaming vampires for destroying the Needle. Things could get ugly. And Tendai has no leader.”
“Tendai has a leader. I am the natural successor to Sadomori.” Arisada sounded as if the idea was distasteful.
“Oh, if you become king, I will be queen.” Tatsu’s laughter spilled out. And in that, all the hurt from years of hatred and bigotry dissolved. How wonderfully queer to experience such healing from the love of a vampire!
The logic of the situation burst upon Arisada. “Su-kun, with you by my side we can forge peace between Seattle’s two races. We can rebuild the city.”
Tatsu sat up, his jade eyes sparkling. “I have a degree in bio-engineering. I know where improvements could be made.”
The vampire interrupted by pulling him down against his breast. “I believe this is how our karmas will atone.
Arisada drew the sheet over them, “Enough talk, sweet boy. Nete, kudasai. Sleep, please.”
Arisada listened to his lover’s breathing as it deepened into sleep. He reached down and found Tatsu’s kimono on the floor. Dug out the battered lighter and pack of Kings, lit one, took his first drag in decades. A mild rush of nicotine hummed along his nerves. He watched the lazy curl of smoke. Wondered about the end of his servitude to Ukita Sadomori.
He was not convinced Sadomori was dead. Old, cunning, paranoid, the Daimyō always had an escape plan. And even if dead, Arisada knew Sadomori’s legacy of torture and rape would always haunt him and his koibito.
But for now, Arisada let peace flow into his soul. His soulmate lay wrapped around him, clinging tight even in sleep. He extinguished the smoke, pressed against Tatsu and enclosed him with a fierce possessiveness. His leg, draped across Tatsu’s hip, felt the responding nudge of his semi-hard cock. Arisada traced his forefinger over his lover’s sleeping mouth, lips parted around the tip of a pretty, pink tongue.
Saito Arisada whispered prayers of gratitude to the gentle Buddha Amida for guiding him in the Way of the Samurai, granting him honor and love.
And for Tatsu Cobb, whose beautiful tamashii had restored the honor of Koji Nowaki.
B. D. Heywood, 2012
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About the author:
Born and educated in England, B. D. Heywood lived in several countries before moving to the United States. On the way to a career as an award-winning journalist, Heywood worked as a researcher, teacher, lecturer and construction estimator with a short, side trip into demolition.
Heywood’s study of Buddhism and martial arts evolved from a long-time admiration for the culture and history of Japan. The Battle of Mii-dera in Japan in 1180 inspired the story for Eternal Samurai. A love for all things samurai and vampire and hard-hitting erotica led to the creation of this unique, cross-genre story.
According to a playwright friend, whose productions have sizzled the stage for many years, the novel contains “the best damn, gay erotica” he has ever read.
In addition to working on a second M/M novel and an anthology of erotic gay stories, Heywood provides editorial services for clients in the medical, engineering and environmental industries. Any spare time goes to training horses, advocating for gay rights, and supporting several community organizations including an equine rescue operation.
To reach the author, please e-mail: [email protected]
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ICINI Publishing Co.
P. O. Box 39746
Phoenix, AZ 85069
ISBN-13: 978-0988300002
Table of Contents
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
About the Author:
Eternal Samurai Page 38
