Buzz & Blow

by Alex Carreras

  Alderman laughed sardonically. “Do I appear to be that inhospitable?”

  It was Mario’s turn to speak up. “Does that mean asshole? If yes, then yep you certainly do.”

  “You weren’t refusing what I was offering the other night, fledgling,” Alderman said without missing a beat.

  Mario released a low growl, the animalistic sound unnerving. It was full of anger and hate, and Niko hoped his cousin wouldn’t lose his head. One thing Niko knew, to be a good fighter you had to remain focused. Anger got in the way of strategy and Niko had seen stronger men than Mario wounded, sometimes mortally, because their rage made them sloppy. Niko stepped back to stand beside Mario. “Focus,” he said to Mario without moving his lips. “He’s baiting you. Remain calm.”

  Reaching into the air, Alderman snatched both tumblers of blood and drank thirstily, double fisting, then allowed them to fall to the hard marble floor shattering into a million pieces. He appeared to stumble, but only for a second before recovering.

  Niko’s mouth salivated as he remembered the taste of human blood. It had been a long time since he experienced such unadulterated pleasure. But the cost was too high for a high that would only make him crave more, an endless cycle of savagery and killing. That was no life but eternal death instead. Niko watched intently, anticipating Alderman’s next move.

  Alderman’s eyes burned deeper, swirling like an angry ocean. “Why did you come here?”

  “I thought it was obvious,” Niko said.

  “I want to hear you beg,” Alderman replied, moving forward.

  Keeping Alderman directly in front of him, Niko angled to the side as Mario mirrored his every move. He was ready to take on Alderman if he made the first move, but Niko was hesitant to initiate a fight. He’d come here to remedy Mario’s situation, not make it worse. “Don’t do anything foolish. It’s two against one, and you’re nothing but skin and bones. I’m betting we’ll kick your ass.”

  “You fools,” Alderman said through a chuckle. “I can afford to hire the best mercenaries money and blood can buy.” He clicked his fingers again, and two hulking mounds of muscle appeared by his side. Their massive thighs pulsed and their arms twitched, aching for a fight. These were killers that would rip their victims limb from limb before feasting on their hearts. They buzzed with a frenetic frequency that discombobulated Niko’s brain. Mario stumbled to the side, blinking, while Niko fought the high-pitched noise as best he could, hoping to shut it down.

  Alderman raised his arms to his side as he offered a formal introduction. “Meet Javic and Slavic straight from the Ukraine, two brothers who are indebted to me for eternity.” Slow smiles stretched across broad angular features, saliva dripping from lengthening fangs. The brothers were fearsome, and judging by the dull looks in their eyes and the slope of their foreheads, of low intellect, bred for one thing and one thing only.

  Niko measured his breathing, long and slow. “We’re not looking for a fight. And we don’t care what you do, Alderman, but just keep us out of it, that’s all we’re asking.”

  “It’s too late for that, don’t you think? You come here to my home, my sanctuary in the sky, and disrupt my peaceful night, and you don’t expect there to be a fight? You two are delusional and need to be put in your place.”

  “And where the hell is that?” Mario said.

  “Under. My. Thumb. Like most of the residents of this city.”

  Niko scoffed. “That will never happen, and you know it, so you might as well send your hired thugs away and allow us to leave in peace.”

  Alderman shook his head. “That doesn’t sound like much fun. I need some entertainment for the night because this little conversation is becoming very, very boring.” He feigned an exaggerated yawn.

  Asshole.

  “We’re not your entertainment,” Niko said, “and Mario was not your entertainment last night. The fun and the show are over.” He began backing away out of the penthouse onto the terrace, and into the foggy night.

  The brothers started to moan their displeasure, the sickening sound causing Niko’s stomach to churn with revulsion.

  To Niko’s surprise, Alderman raised his arms abruptly, silencing the hired killers. “Do I have your word that this meeting never happened?” He looked at Mario first, then to Niko.

  Niko and Mario nodded simultaneously, Niko adding, “You have our word.”

  The brothers disappeared, and Alderman’s ghastly appearance reverted to his normal blue-eyed, translucent-looking self, still a tad disheartening but a little less so. “Then get the fuck out of my house and out of my sight,” Alderman said, “before I change my mind.”

  Out on the terrace, Niko and Mario took a running leap off the terrace, arching into the air. Pellets of cool water saturated their skin as they landed on the façade of a neighboring building, riding the hard concrete structure down to the street below. Landing with a huff, Niko was now able to let down his guard.

  “That was crazy, man,” Mario said, excitement and exaltation all over his face. “I’m so glad you said to come here and confront that albino bag of bones. It’s over. We won.”

  Niko spun on Mario. “Over? It’s only just beginning. That monster let us go so he could have fun with us at his leisure, that sick, sadistic bastard. He’s going to give us the illusion of safety and then he’s going to fuck with us so damn bad. If you expect to live in this reality and not the one Alderman will send you to, you’d better get wise. Never trust him or any of his associates. Got that?”

  “Jesus, why do you always have to ruin my happy moods? Can’t you just let me live in my little world without pillaging it?”

  Niko wanted to laugh but didn’t, the childish and absurd comment striking him as funny. “No,” he said, shooting his cousin a look that signified the discussion was over and done with.

  They walked in silence toward Niko’s apartment, light spilling through parting clouds along the horizon.

  Niko looked over his shoulder checking to see if they were being followed. He saw and sensed nothing, but Alderman already knew where he lived, and that Mario was staying with him, so he doubted Alderman would waste the manpower. If the location of his place was no longer safe, at least there was some safety in numbers, Niko hoped. He also wondered how safe Asher was, but it was already too late for him to go to Asher’s apartment and check on him, the faint sun already singeing the skin on the back of his neck and along the tops of his shoulders. He’d have to fend for himself during the hours of daylight, but first thing, Niko intended to be on Asher’s doorstep.

  CHAPTER TEN

  “What are you doing here?” Asher opened his apartment door, his eyes still full of sleep. He blinked them clear and yawned.

  “That’s not the welcome I expected.” Niko stepped in, his face only inches away from Asher’s. “I know how to clear that foggy head of yours.” He closed the space between them and landed a heated kiss on Asher’s lips.

  Blood rushed from Asher’s brain straight to his dick. Mumbling through a kiss, he said, “At least a certain part of my anatomy is wide awake.”

  Niko reached down and stroked Asher’s rigid cock that was tenting his deep blue orchid silk pajama pants. “You taste so good, baby.” Niko’s voice sounded breathless. “And you feel so good.”

  “I think I should be the one saying that.” Asher ever so slightly thrust his hips, pushing the underside of his dick into Niko’s cupped palm.

  Niko trailed hard kisses along Asher’s neck. “Am I going to make you late for work?”

  “Who cares,” Asher moaned. “They can handle my first client without me.”

  Niko finished his trail of kisses and looked into Asher’s heavily lidded eyes. “Although I’m enjoying myself, I didn’t come here for a booty call.”

  “That’s too bad.” Asher smiled. “’Cause I’m willing to give you anything you want, handsome.”

  Niko straightened, becoming serious. He turned and closed the apartment door. “Last night I saw Alderman
pay you a visit at Everlasting. Why would he do that?”

  “Want some orange juice?” Asher felt the need to change the subject.

  Niko nodded. “What did you overhear?”

  “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.”

  “Listen, I don’t care about that, but I care about you.”

  Butterflies flipped Asher’s stomach, the anticipation of a relationship with Niko getting the best of him. His mind raced with scenarios mostly involving a midnight wedding under a full moon, both in black tie. “I heard what Mario said . . . and what Alderman and his people forced on him. When I was overhearing this, I felt so sorry for him. His voice sounded full of anguish.”

  Asher walked toward the kitchen and to the refrigerator. “Can I offer you anything else? Underdone bacon perhaps? Or a very rare hamburger?”

  “No thanks,” Niko said. “Just the O.J. and then you naked, splayed on your bed.”

  Asher felt heat rise to his face, and his nipples perked. “I think I can manage that.” He swallowed the lump of lust that had formed in his throat. “How is your cousin doing?”

  “Honestly, he’s pretty damn freaked.”

  “I would be too,” Asher admitted. “That Alderman is one piece of work. Jerrod can’t stand him.”

  “Huh, funny,” Niko said. “Maybe me and Jerrod aren’t that different after all.”

  “I’d find it hard to believe that Alderman has many friends.”

  “He has hired hands who are very loyal, and I think he’s blackmailing the rest of the people he surrounds himself with. He’s a powerful creature, and I regret that Mario got mixed up with him.”

  Asher snorted. “I bet he does too. I know I would. He’s one scary-ass fucker.”

  “And that’s why I’m here. I don’t like that for whatever reason, Alderman knows that you were there when Mario was at my place, and that you possibly know about his involvement in the murders at the beach.”

  “He apparently had Mario followed and must’ve seen me leaving your place. I blipped on his radar, and he made a visit to see what I knew. I guess the possibility frightened him enough.”

  “What did you tell him?”

  “Nothing, of course. I don’t think he’ll be making an appointment for a haircut anytime soon.”

  “If he does, make sure you have a slip with the scissors and cut his throat instead of his split ends.”

  They chuckled, the absurd but still entertaining thought making them laugh at a serious situation.

  Asher removed a pitcher of fresh orange juice from the stainless-steel refrigerator and selected two crystal glasses from a nearby cabinet. He poured, offering one to Niko as he drank half of his in one gulp. He refilled his glass as he watched Niko’s dark eyes peering over the rim of the glass. Asher recognized that look from the other night when they first made love. Asher wondered if he was sending Niko that same look. If he wasn’t, he’d better work on it a little harder. “There was some loose talk of making me late for work.” Asher wagged his eyebrows. “The bedroom’s just over there.”

  Niko followed Asher’s gaze. A slow, seductive smile crept over his full lips that begged to be kissed. He proffered a hand, Asher taking it. They walked into the bedroom without sharing one word. Asher stopped and turned when he reached the bottom of his bed. Niko skimmed his hands down Asher’s chest, leaving sparks along the way. Stopping at the waistband of Asher’s pajamas, Niko tugged the knot allowing the pants to fall in a whisper of silk against smooth flesh, the fine fabric catching on his erect penis for only a brief moment before pooling around his ankles. Asher leaned in and kissed, getting lost in the pillowy softness of Niko’s lips and the hard thrusts of his tongue pushing into Asher’s mouth. They deepened their kiss as they tangled tongues. Hands traveled down Asher’s back to his mounds that ached for Niko’s touch, his lover’s long fingers sliding into his cleft and finding that sweet spot. Asher took in a sharp intake of air as Niko encircled his pulsing bud.

  “I want to do what I did the other night,” Niko said, breaking the kiss. “Sliding deep inside you is the best thing I’ve ever experienced in my life. You fit me perfectly. It’s like we’re made for each other.”

  Asher was pleased that he could bring so much joy to the man he was quickly falling in love with. They had shared their bodies and their blood, and now Asher longed to share his life with the sexy barber who had more class than a Vanderbilt but still looked like a tattooed thug in a rap video; the combination intoxicating. “I want you to, too,” he said, arching his back to feel Niko’s fingers press against his flesh. “I want you to fuck me long and hard. Can you do that?”

  Sliding a finger into Asher, Niko promised he would do that and more. “Is this what you want?”

  Asher bit Niko’s muscular shoulder, bearing down. “Yes.” The word was only a whisper. “Now.” He was never a patient man.

  Tugging off Niko’s T-shirt and hurrying him out of his jeans, Niko tossed his boots to the side, discarded in a heap. They fell onto the mattress, their limbs entwined. Niko’s warm mouth suckled Asher’s nipple, driving him straight to ecstasy. He continued to trail down along Asher’s quivering abdomen, lapping at his navel for only a second, before taking Asher’s cock fully into his mouth. In a rush of breath, Asher writhed against the cool cotton sheets, the friction only adding to the pleasure. “You are amazing,” he sighed, filling his hands with Niko’s bobbing head, the short hairs prickling Asher’s palm. Not only did the man have a talent to fuck, but he also excelled at sucking too. I am one lucky vampire, Asher thought to himself, allowing a smile to take shape. Damn lucky.

  And just when he was getting close, Niko stopped. “You can’t lose that nut yet, babe. I have different plans for it. I’m gonna fuck it out of you.”

  Niko’s dirty talk made Asher’s balls jump, nipples perk, and hole ache for entry. He turned over, pressing his stomach firmly against the mattress. Looking over his shoulder, Asher said, “Take me. Claim me. Make me yours.” Asher raised his ass in an offering.

  His hands on Asher’s mounds, Niko pulled them apart and kissed along his cleavage. On finding his anus, Niko kissed the tender ring of muscle. Fisting the sheets, Asher begged. “Please. Now.” He gulped, repeating what he desired. “Now.”

  Getting into position, Niko lubed his cock with saliva and his own dripping juices. He thrust his hips forward, pushing his meaty cockhead between Asher’s ass cheeks until he found the desired target.

  Tears tugged at the corner of Asher’s eyes as he felt his anus accommodate Niko’s girth. He pressed his face against the sheets as Niko pushed into him, inch by glorious inch. Asher loved to feel the weight of Niko’s muscular body laying heavily on his. It made him feel whole and complete. Happy.

  Grinding, Niko started to fuck. “How’s that feel?” He toyed with Asher’s earlobe, nibbling.

  “So good,” Asher cooed. “You have the perfect size cock. Hurts just enough.”

  The bed started to rock as Niko picked up the pace. Asher met each thrust, slamming into Niko’s body harder with each one given. Sighs escalated to moans as their bodies heated and their minds soared. Falling under his spell, Asher turned as he felt Niko’s fangs scrape along his back. He could feel his skin on the brink of tearing, his lover’s teeth so sharp. “Drink me,” Asher commanded. “Fuck me good.”

  Niko didn’t need any more encouragement than that.

  Sinking his teeth into the sleek contours of Asher’s neck, Niko continued to fuck.

  Asher sighed, tears spilling down his cheeks. He angled his neck and arched his back to give his lover everything that he needed, allowing Niko deeper and better access. Asher floated in the ecstasy, his body and mind free from any unpleasantness in his life. It was all left behind, Asher’s entire concentration focused on the extreme pleasure he was receiving from his endowed lover.

  Niko took what Asher gave with a gentle forcefulness that Asher had never experienced before. Time stood still, desire taking center stage. Body to body, skin again
st skin, Niko groaned, “I’m going to come.”

  Reaching between his legs, Asher stroked his rigid cock. “Give it to me,” he said through a strangled moan as he gratified his deep-seated need.

  Moving as one, the couple orgasmed in unison, their minds and bodies in perfect synchronicity. Collapsing from exhaustion, the lay together in the cool bedding, a stark contrast from their heated flesh, as Asher closed his eyes, completely and totally fulfilled.

  Niko held Asher tighter, relishing in the softness of his flawless skin. He stroked the delicate strands of hair off Asher’s forehead with his fingertips, his hair smelling of lavender and thyme. Asher was too beautiful to be considered handsome; the word handsome unable to do him justice. Every inch of the man was perfection, from his pinky fingers to every dark blond eyelash that curled above his grey-blue eyes. Even the small scar just under his chin looked purposeful, as if God himself had placed it there. A small part of Niko almost felt unworthy to hold the delicate creature in his arms. Almost.

  Stealing a quick kiss, Niko roused the slumbering Asher. “You have to wake up. You have work, remember, and so do I.”

  Asher groaned. “You really do know how to ruin a moment.”

  Niko smiled. Asher was also funny. He loved that in a lover. “I’d hate for you to face the wrath of your boss.”

  Asher released a heartwarming laugh, his smile making Niko swell with love. “He’s not so bad,” Asher said, nuzzling into Niko. “His bark is much worse than his bite. Actually, he’s really a big old cuddly vampire who wants to make sure his friends are safe. You just have to know how to handle him, that’s all.”

  “I’ll take your word for it.”

  Starting to make a move, Asher shifted to get up but hesitated, looking at Niko instead. “It might be too early to discuss this, but I’m going to ask anyway.”

  “Okay,” Niko responded, wondering what Asher was going to say. They had been through so much in the last twenty-four hours that Niko wasn’t sure what was on the forefront of Asher’s thoughts. “No need to keep anything bottled up.”