by Storm Savage
After weaving his way through four lanes of traffic, dodging the oncoming cars, and incurring several honking horns along the way, he managed to make it safely across the street. He walked into the shop.
“Oh sir,” a lady from behind the counter called out. “You’re not allowed in here without a shirt or shoes.”
Talon glanced down, then sighed. “I need to read some books though.”
She approached, her gaze moving over him slowly. Their eyes met and he saw the open desire in hers. Uh-oh, he thought but said nothing. She was rather short and plump but had a very cute face and a warm smile. She seemed like a nice lady.
“Wait here,” she whispered.
So he did.
A few minutes later, she reappeared holding a pair of white shoes and a shirt with no sleeves. “Here, you can borrow my gym clothes.” Her mouth crinkled into a frown. “Are you lost? You look lost. Do you need food?”
Talon licked his lips. Food! Yes. I am hungry. His focus went to her neck. He blinked hard to shut out the clawing thirst for blood. “Yes, on both accounts.”
“C’mon, I have a refrigerator in my office and a microwave.” She led him through another door to a dimly lit hallway.
He took in his surroundings, watching closely as the woman opened the door to a large rectangular shaped unit and pulled out food. Then she opened a smaller unit, stuck the food inside, and pushed several buttons. The machine hummed softly, glowing from inside as it did. A few seconds later, a bell dinged. The woman removed the food and placed it on a table.
“There you go. I keep frozen meals in here for those days that I forget my lunch and don’t have time to eat out.”
Before sitting to eat, Talon pulled the shirt overhead. It only covered half his torso but apparently covered enough to satisfy the woman, judging by the heated look on her face. The shoes felt tight but nicely padded on the soles.
“My…you have an amazing chest and abs,” the woman gushed, sitting across from him. “I’ve never seen you around here. Did you recently move to this area?”
“Yes.” He picked up a plastic fork and dug into the meal. “This is very good, what is this dish called?”
“Lasagna, haven’t you ever had it before?” She looked surprised.
“No, my family cooked differently.”
“You speak good English, but are you from a different country?”
“Uh, sort of, a different culture is more accurate.”
“Ohhh, you must be from the reservation. You do look like you could be Native American with that pretty black hair and those beautiful dark eyes.”
Talon began to think that this woman was not very bright. Her incessant curiosity began to wear on his nerves. All he wanted was to fill his mind with knowledge then find his mate. He wiped his mouth with a paper napkin, then handed her the empty container. “Thank you very much for the meal. Can I return the favor by helping out in your shop?”
She studied him openly with a finger pressed alongside her cheek. “You know, one of my girls called off today and I am backed up on work. Do you know how to alphabetize and shelve books?”
“I’m sure I can handle that.” He lowered one brow, insulted over the doubt in his intelligence.
“Great. I have an entire cart of used books that need put back on the shelf.”
Talon followed her to the back of the store, where she pointed out the cart loaded with books.
“I’m Sara, by the way, and you are?”
“Talon.”
“Well, very nice to meet you, Talon. Take your time, and thank you.” She walked away.
He breathed a sigh of relief yet felt exhilarated over the freedom to brows the books. He needed to learn as much as possible before meeting Kohl in person. With virtual ease, Talon shelved the stacks of books in alphabetical order, reading those that caught his interest. Still, they lacked vital information that he craved, specifically the modernization of the world around him. Once he completed the task Sara asked of him, Talon moved through the aisles, browsing the columns of books.
Looking up, he noticed signs on the ceiling that spelled out various categories of books. He moved to the section below History. There he found three complete shelves lined with thick volumes of encyclopedias labeled from A to Z. This is what I need…a complete crash course on life. He found a little stool and sat down with his first book.
By the time night crept into the windows, Talon had read dozens of books and skimmed through others, even magazines. The knowledge on those pages astounded him. He learned about all the advances in technology that the human race had discovered. His superior intelligence as an immortal had finally resulted in something productive—awareness.
Sara found him in the paperback section, still reading. “Hey, Talon, you did an amazing job! I can’t believe how fast you work.”
“I seem to love books,” he said with a light laugh.
“You went way beyond earning that little lunch I gave you. Let me pay you for a day’s work. I insist.”
He shrugged and nodded, knowing he needed money for decent clothes.
“You wouldn’t be interested in a full time position here, would you, cutie?”
“I’m not sure what I want to do yet. I’m still looking for someone.”
“Oh?” She arched her brows. “Is he from around here?”
“I believe so. His name is Kohl, a big muscular guy with dark hair about to here.” Talon made a chopping motion to his lower neck. “Gorgeous blue eyes, handsome face, archaeologist.”
“Oh my god, you know Kohl Archer? He teaches history at the high school. Are you a distant relative?”
There she was with the questions again. Talon forced a smile over his scowl. “Do you know where he lives?”
“No, and school is still on summer break, but I’ve seen him in my shop before. He’s quite the looker and unattached, so I heard.” Sara giggled. “Oh, I just melt to pieces when he looks at me with those pretty blue eyes.”
“Hm.” Talon stared at her. “I’ll keep looking. He’s bound to show up somewhere around here.”
Sara flashed him a flirty smile. “If you find him, make sure you two fellows come back to see me. You’re both a couple of hotties.”
He remembered that term from a magazine and gave her a polite nod of thanks.
“Take this, you earned it.” She handed him several bills pulled from a drawer behind the counter. “I hope you’ll consider my job offer.”
“I will. Thank you very much.” He inclined his head respectfully before leaving the store. With his head full of knowledge and his pocket full of cash, he walked the streets in search of a clothing store. According to the ads he’d seen, Sara had given him enough money to buy a decent outfit from a department store. He wanted to look his best when he and Kohl met for the first time in person.
Toward the outer edge of town, the supercenter he’d seen advertised in a newspaper came into view. A red neon sign glared above the entrance, Open 24 Hours. Talon meandered to the huge store and went inside. Racks of clothes stood in abundance all over the store. This looks easy, he mused. He called to mind the various styles he’d seen and had taken a liking to the black and white look. He set out in search of an outfit that would make Kohl drool.
After paying for his new garments, Talon slipped into the restroom to change. He tugged the black designer jeans over his ass, sucking in his breath as if doing so would help squeeze his cock into the skintight denim. Next, he pulled the nicely tailored, white sleeveless zip-front shirt overhead. He slid the silver zipper down as far as it would go, which opened the shirt to just above his navel, revealing a sexy glimpse of his chest. The black running shoes felt much better than the worn flats Sara had given him.
He dipped both hands under running water and splashed his face, then finger combed his hair, toying with the black strands until they hung just right over his eyes. Once satisfied with his appearance, he ditched the old garments in the trash and headed out in search of his man.
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Hunger rumbled in his stomach again and the thirst for blood had reared its demonic head. He fumbled through the few bills left in his pocket, just enough for a cheap bite at one of the fast food joints in the area. While standing near the shaded side of the building, he visually scanned the flashing lighted signs, contemplating which eatery to choose.
“Hey, man, you got a light?” A young guy, a very good-looking guy, approached from the side, a cigarette dangling between his lips.
“Sorry, no, I don’t smoke.”
“Ah, okay, thanks anyway.” The man gave him a studious look, then an obvious hot once over. “If you’re waiting on the bus, you might want to walk up there to the bus stop.” He pointed to a small glass shelter about fifty feet away.
“No, I’m good, thanks.”
“Nice threads.”
“Thanks.” Talon continued staring straight ahead, doing his best to ignore the man’s potent scent. He must be attracted to me for his scent to possess strong allure. Talon shifted his weight uneasily. I should go.
“I’ve never seen you around this store,” the man added. “I work here, just having a smoke before I start my shift.”
“I’m new in town.” Talon took a step away.
“Do you need someone to show you around? I get off at five, you wanna hook up?”
Talon’s head jerked around. His eyes stared at the guy’s face. Pheromones kicked into high gear as he scented this man’s arousal. Feeling nothing except hunger, Talon inched closer. “How about we move out of the sun and talk about where to meet?”
“Hell, yeah.” The man gazed back, eyes shimmering with evident desire.
They stepped into the shadows and out of public view. Talon’s hunger rose at an alarming rate, instantly making his cock hard. The urge to feed on this young man’s blood consumed him in a disturbing way.
“What’s your name?”
“Talon.”
“Damn, that’s a sexy name. I’m Chandler.”
“You smell…appetizing,” Talon purred near the man’s neck.
“You smell pretty good yourself. Where do you want to meet later?”
Talon’s focus shifted to the pulsing vein in Chandler’s neck. His heart began to race as his breathing accelerated. Saliva flooded his mouth. He inhaled deeply, drawing the man’s scent into his nostrils, already flaring with a frightening type of arousal that felt animalistic and dark. He licked the tanned skin so inviting to bite.
“Hell,” Chandler muttered. “You move fast. Can we pick this up later? I gotta get to work.”
“You came on to me.” Talon pulled back in a sudden movement, staring into apprehensive eyes. “And I am hungry.” He pinned the man’s hands to the brick wall behind him, preparing to slake the hunger raging inside.
Pressure formed around his canines as the vampire in his soul refused to be denied any longer. Fangs parted his lips. He released a low hiss while lowering his mouth back to Chandler’s neck. The pungent aroma of blood greeted his nose. Talon grinned as his lips drew closer to the bounty he craved.
The smaller, prettier man struggled to break free but Talon pressed his body against him, crushing him against the wall. Fear and desire emanated from the man in unseen waves that only an immortal could sense. The bulge in his jeans throbbed as Talon moved in for the kill.
Chapter Five
Kohl had been following a compelling scent since dawn. Sleep never actually came after the nightmare of Talon pleading for help. Kohl couldn’t erase the fiery vision from his mind. He’d dozed in fitful slumber and by morning decided to drive into town and read about all the things he’d never believed in, vampires, shifters and so on, in hope of finding a way to reach Talon. What he didn’t expect was to pick up the most alluring scent he’d ever encountered. And in a second hand bookstore, of all places. He tracked the scent into the supercenter and found the discarded clothes in the trash drenched in the potent allure.
All of this felt extremely foreign to Kohl, yet as if drawn by an unseen force, he pushed forward. He felt in his gut that the appealing scent belonged to Talon and Kohl wondered how his shifter slash vampire lover had broken into the mortal world. Regardless, he was determined to find the man. While leaving the supercenter, a powerful whiff of his chosen mate hit him full force, giving him an instant hard-on.
He’s very close! I can feel him. Kohl jogged along the sidewalk, looking in all directions, taking deep breaths to follow the pull. He rounded a corner and saw two men locked in a steamy embrace in the shadows. For a split second, Kohl dismissed it. Then suddenly the man facing the wall shot him a heated glance. I’d know those eyes anywhere!
“Talon! Stop!” Kohl shouted upon seeing the fangs. He prayed he hadn’t arrived too late.
The man hesitated long enough to loosen his hold on the smaller guy, who wriggled free and took off like a shot. He seemed unharmed. Please, please, tell me I’m not too late. Kohl’s throat went dry. Talon stared with intense black eyes, his gaze swallowing the few feet between them.
“Kohl?” he muttered.
They walked toward each other. Mixed emotion shadowed Talon’s face. Kohl saw the conflict and hunger amidst the hope and desire. He didn’t hesitate to take the man into a warm embrace when they closed the gap between them. Talon practically fell into his arms, breathing a sigh of open relief.
“Are you okay?” Kohl asked, stroking his silky hair.
“I’m hungry.”
Kohl drew back just enough to search those captivating dark depths. “How did you break the plane between worlds?”
“You reached out for me, told me to come to you. I was able to escape the void, but the stain of darkness still rages inside. I feel it like a monster clawing to get out.”
Kohl hugged him again. “You need to believe without a doubt that I love you.”
Talon nodded against his shoulder.
“C’mon, let me take you home and show you just how much I do.”
“Okay.”
Kohl stepped back, looking him over. “Damn…you are fucking gorgeous. And I love the clothes.”
A light smiled touched Talon’s lips. He lowered those lush lashes. “I wanted to look good for our first official meeting.”
“You look amazing. I want to eat you right here.”
Talon gazed at him in open adoration. “You are more handsome in the mortal realm than I ever dreamed possible. Everything I saw while trapped in the void was like looking through cloudy glass.”
“My car is not far away. Wait until Alaric meets you. He will be drooling for sure.”
“You live with Alaric, the Shasta Eagle?” Talon stopped walking.
“Yeah…shit, is that going to upset you?” Kohl didn’t take time to consider how this sweet man might feel about the one who’d buried the Bloodstone.
Talon shook his head. “No, he is not to blame. Actually, he has been my guardian since I fell from grace.”
“I know. Alaric let me read the journals, and he told me about his part in everything.”
“And he does not wish to claim me as his mate?” Worry hung on Talon’s soft voice.
“No. You belong to me. Alaric said that Shasta Shifters cannot mate with each other, as it would destroy their DNA. You are all mine, sweet thing…my immortal.” Kohl placed a gentle kiss on the man’s unbelievably sexy lips. “Alaric has been watching out for me, too, all these years, hoping I’d be the one to uncover the Bloodstone. We seem meant to be.”
“I will pleasure you in ways you’ve never known.” Talon’s demeanor shifted from tense to seductive as he rubbed his body against Kohl’s.
“I can’t believe we’re finally together.” Kohl sighed happily. “I was so worried about you after last night.”
Talon stared back, open gratitude sparking in his eyes. “Take me home now…please, my mate.”
Kohl could barely concentrate on driving as they headed back to his house. Excitement bubbled inside. His body tingled every time Talon spoke. The man’s scent wafted
over him periodically, making his cock ache for his lover’s touch.
He swung into the drive, threw the car into park, and jumped out. Talon’s mood had lightened during the ride home. Kohl noticed a spring in his step as he followed from behind, gawking at the man’s nice ass and legs poured into skintight black denim. Talon was downright gorgeous and built to the max with a pretty face that screamed kiss me all over.
“Would you like breakfast or something? You said you’re hungry.” Kohl closed the door behind them.
“My hunger is of another kind, something I want out of my soul. I was about to drink that man’s blood before you stopped me. I’d have been lost forever.”
“What will it take to make that stop?”
“I need to feel your love in the mortal realm. Once I am certain that you accept me as your soul mate to love for eternity, then my shifter form will be redeemed. My only hope was to find true love, the only thing that can destroy the vampire’s curse and drive away the bloodlust.”
Kohl stepped toward him. “I do love you, Talon. But I understand.” He took his hand and led him up the steps and into his bedroom. “Sorry about the basic décor. I’ve been single for a long time.”
“Don’t worry.” Talon flashed him an adorable smile. “We can splash it with color later. Right now, I just want to feel you in every way possible.”
Kohl groaned with need. “And I want to taste you.” He pushed him down on the bed.
Their hands moved frantically, tearing at buttons, zippers, and clothes until a pile of tangled garments lay on the floor. Kohl crawled onto the bed, bracing his weight over his mate’s hard body. Starting at Talon’s perfect lips, he kissed him deeply, pushing his tongue into the man’s mouth, drawing a moan of pleasure from him. They merged into a heady exchange of intense affection, kissing and touching each other urgently, hungrily.
Kohl worked his way down the most gorgeous body he’d ever seen, leaving a trail of moist kisses over the man’s muscled chest while caressing his long beautiful arms. He sucked one nipple, using his tongue to toy with the nipple ring, making Talon writhe on the bed beneath him. Taking his time, Kohl took turns teasing each nipple, thoroughly enjoying teasing the hard buds and pleasuring his mate.
