12- Open Your Eyes: Pittsburgh Vampires Vol. 12

by B. A. Stretke

  Grant reared up on his hind legs and grabbed the vampire by the wrist as he was trying to thrust a blade into Grant’s side. He sunk his teeth in and pulled the man to the ground and with a jerk of his head tore the arm off and threw it to the side.

  The vampire struggled to gain his footing; the lack of an arm was not stopping him, but he stumbled, and that’s when Grant opened the man’s throat with a swipe of his claw. Falling forward the vampire tried to gain a grip on Grant’s hindquarters, but he sidestepped and then tackled the vampire taking him to the ground once again and this time finishing him.

  The scene was brutal, violent, and vicious, but Grant was incredible. He was so wild and untamed and yet so in control that Victor melted on the spot when their eyes met. The wolf was all Grant the dark eyes, the light brown hair, the commanding stance, and the love he felt emanating from the beast, which enveloped him completely.

  His beloved risked life and limb to save him, and Victor’s heart snapped opened at that moment, and all the true feeling he’d kept behind the hurt and the pain flowed out. Victor could feel everything his beloved was feeling and understood now with the depth of clarity all that he’d gone through.

  Grant shifted and began walking back towards Victor as the fight raged on around him. The guards were cleaning up the remainder of the vampire’s men, and Grant only had eyes for the little beauty standing on the sidelines. He and his wolf needed to satisfy themselves that their mate was well and safe. He had Kristof and Josef on either side of him, so he knew his mate was safe, but still, he had to touch him and hold him in his arms to be sure.

  He marveled at the man’s bravery. Considering his size and abilities, he wouldn’t have lasted five seconds with any of those men, but still, he charged right in to defend what was his. The act was touching, but Grant planned to punish him appropriately for putting himself in such danger. A firm spanking seemed to be in order, and Grant grinned at the vision that came to mind.

  He would have to thank the guard who intervened and saved his mate from harm. It was the same guard who’d given him the dirt on Victor that fateful evening and warned him away. He shook his head and thought what a difference a couple of days can make.

  Kristof handed him sweatpants and a t-shirt since his clothes had been shredded in the shift. “Very good, Grant. You’ve proven yourself quite capable.” Kristof commented. “Come see me after you’ve claimed your mate. I have an open position of Beta in my pack that we need to discuss.” Josef chuckled and nodded his approval.

  “Yes, sir,” Grant said and shifted his gaze back to his mate.

  Josef and Kristof stepped aside and went out to assist in the final clean-up of the ill-timed and ill-advised assault on the Imperial. Grant stepped up to his mate and looked down into the most gorgeous blue eyes in the world, and they were full of love, love for him. Victor had dropped his walls, and his emotions were sharp and certain, and the gift humbled Grant. He didn’t deserve it, but he wanted it, and he needed it more than he needed life.

  “You better put those clothes on before I jump you right here in front of everyone,” Victor whispered, and Grant barked a laugh at the comment.

  “Maybe I’d like it if you jumped me.” Grant shot back as he pulled on the borrowed items.

  “You’re going to like it a lot.” Victor teased as he began walking around the side of the club. Grant quickly caught up and wrapped his arm around Victor’s waist, pulling him up tight to his side. He guided Victor to his car in the lot, and they were promptly on their way. Neither wanted to dawdle around with the events of this evening; they needed each other, and they needed the completion of their bond. If Victor’s vampire nature was even anywhere near as freaked out as Grant’s wolf, they had a rough and ready night ahead of them.

  As soon as they pulled into Grant’s driveway, Victor jumped out and headed for the front door. His enthusiasm was becoming a fever. The necessity to establish their bond was riding him hard. He didn’t want his wolf to disappear again. Logically he knew that wouldn’t happen; he and Grant were at a place they both recognized and were both ready to go forward. He wasn’t going to walk away or ghost him; he was there to stay, but still, the fear would remain until the claim was in place. It’s just the way with paranormals.

  He waited at the door as Grant walked up behind him and encircled Victor’s waist with both arms and pulled him up against his chest. He tucked his face into Victor’s shoulder and took a deep breath. Victor turned his head and pressed his nose to the side of Grant’s head and did the same.

  “You smell heavenly.” Victor gushed and threaded his fingers through Grant’s hair holding him close so he could drink in the fresh wild evergreen scent of his beloved. Grant pressed his hard cock into the small of Victor’s back before responding with a deep sexy growl.

  He reached forward and unlocked the door. They moved inside and kicked off their shoes. Grant slammed the door behind them as he pushed Victor up against it holding him prone with his body. Victor was on fire; every nerve in his body was alive and signally for more.

  It had been ten months since he felt a man’s interest and need, and no one ever felt like Grant. His beloved was lightyears beyond any other encounter. The aroma, the touch, the taste, and the sheer power of the man wrapped around Victor and blew his mind.

  “I want you now, Grant. I’ve waited too long, and I need you right now.” His demands were delivered in a whisper, but the force of those words set Grant on a mission to please. He’d treated his mate in a reprehensible manner, and he had a lot for which to atone. To begin with, he would claim his beautiful mate and make him quiver and moan with pleasure and desire. Grant loved a challenge, and he loved his mate.

  It came on him slowly and then in a sudden rush. The love he felt for Victor was total, not just physical and emotional, but with every fiber of his being, he knew this man was it for him. Victor owned him as no else ever had. He couldn’t imagine a day without him in it or a night not holding Victor in his arms. This was real devotion, dedication, and commitment and he was more than ready to lock it in place.

  He swept Victor up into his arms and dashed up the stairs to his bedroom at the end of the hall overlooking his tiny backyard. A kick to the door swung it wide and carried Victor to the bed and lay him down with the utmost care and reverence. “This is my place, it’s a rental, and I’ve lived here about a year. If you like it, we can stay, or if you want to buy a place, I’m open to that too just so long as we’re together I don’t care where we are.”

  Victor smiled at him and cupped the side of his face with the softest hands of any man alive. His gaze was stimulating and awakening all of Grant’s baser needs and desires. His wolf was front and center aching for his mate.

  “We’ll work out the details a day at a time. As long as we are together, nothing else matters.” Victor reiterated Grant’s claim. He then pulled him down for a possessive kiss that grew deeper as he wrapped his arms around Grant and leaned back forcing him down upon him. The move was subtle but effective. They kissed and touched, reacquainting themselves with each other until they could hold back no longer.

  “We’re wearing entirely too much clothing,” Grant observed as he began pulling at Victor’s uniform vest, quickly removing it and moving onto his white shirt. In the meantime, Victor busied himself with sliding his hands inside Grant’s loose-fitting sweats and exploring to his heart’s content.

  “You’re playing with fire, my love.” Grant groaned when Victor ran his index finger down the crease of Grant’s muscular ass and pressed against the tight muscle of his entrance. It responded with a quiver, and Victor did it over and over again.

  Unable to take much more, Grant pushed up to his knees and jerked Victor’s shirt off over his head not bothering to deal with the buttons and then in one smooth move gripped the waistband of his dress pants and pulled them down and off with his briefs and tossed them to the floor with the shirt.

  Victor pulled off his socks and lay back down and gazed
up at his beloved, who was seated between Victor’s thighs and for some reason, was still wearing his sweats. Victor crossed his arms behind his head and cocked an eyebrow at Grant. “So, why are you not naked?”

  Grant sat still just watching Victor with the strangest look; it was either appreciation or confusion, and Victor was hoping for the latter. He could feel myriad emotions pinging through his beloved one chasing the other, and they all were all precious even the confusion.

  “I want to tell you something.” Grant began, and his tone was anxious, so Victor gave him his complete attention. Grant paused for a moment and then leaned forward and placed a lovely kiss Victor’s lips. “I love you; I wanted you to know that before we went further. I love you, and I will always strive to make sure you never regret accepting this mangy wolf as your forever mate.” He kissed him again, and Victor returned the kiss with a fervor holding him close.

  Victor pulled back and stared into Grant’s loving gaze, and it eased every doubt every apprehension he may have held. “I love you too. It became real for me tonight when I saw you battling with Caspian, and I was so afraid you’d be hurt. It wasn’t a slight on your abilities; it was my own belief that nothing good ever happens to guys like me. I thought I was going to lose you before I had a chance to really find you. I love you, and I’m so glad you’re okay.”

  “Thank you, baby. You never have to worry; I will always be there for you, always come back to you no matter what it takes.” He kissed him again harder this time pressing Victor into the mattress as he eased off his sweatpants and t-shirt with Victor’s help. He settled back down on top of Victor thrusting his hard cock along Victor’s hip while raining kisses down his cheek and across his jaw.

  Grant had a body that was made for pleasure, and Victor was going to enjoy every touch and every taste. The pressure of Grant’s cock against his hip was making his own cock harden, and his balls tighten as Grant gripped him and stroked in time with his own thrusts. It was delicious but not enough, not enough by far.

  Victor opened his legs and wrapped them around Grant’s hips, letting him settle against him, hard cock against hard cock. Grant’s was much larger and more intimidating, but Victor could thrust and grind with the best of them and in no time, had Grant moaning in delight. He could sense the beast just below the surface, and it was exhilarating and arousing to know so much power and strength lay just under the skin. He absolutely loved this wolf shifter.

  Grant needed to be inside his mate, and the drive got more and more desperate. His wolf was howling in his brain to finish and seal the deal. Victor was a lovely little tease, and every move was calculated to set Grant further and further on edge. He let go of Victor’s cock and moved his hand to slid down and over Victor’s tight little hole.

  He did this several times while sucking hard on Victor’s left nipple and then his right. The sweet man really enjoyed nipple play, so Grant obliged while pressing and inserting his thumb and then his index finger into Victor. The act of being inside his mate was stimulating him in a way that made everything sharper more intense and pleasurable.

  Victor moved his leg to drape it over Grant’s upper arm giving him easy access to stretch and prepare his mate before plunging inside. He wanted his cock inside that velvety soft hole but needed to be sure Victor could handle him first. Going slow was probably going to kill him, but he had to do it; his mate deserved only pleasure, no pain.

  Victor was losing his mind waiting for that hard cock to be stretching him wide and filling him fully. Grant was taking his time, and it was killing him. “I need you now, Grant.” He panted into his ear, and Grant responded immediately. He took a second to cover his cock with lube and add more to Victor’s stretched and ready hole, and then he plunged inside.

  It was one thrust, tip to base in one go, and it was delicious. The stretching sent tingles of delight dancing across Victor’s nerves and had him nearly climaxing with the sensation. Grant pulled back and then thrust again, giving him the same sensation and making his eyes roll back in his head. Victor had never known such intense pleasure in his life, and he couldn’t get enough of it.

  Grant wanted to slow down, fearing that his mate might be overwhelmed. But he couldn’t slow down; nothing could stop him from hammering home the need to claim his mate, to mark him inside and out as quickly as possible. The evening’s events had panicked his wolf, and the drive to claim was beyond his ability to control, and it was amazing. The heat combined with the energy was divine.

  It was so good, and Victor was eating it up, so he didn’t even try to slow down. This was their destiny, and slow could come later, but right now, they needed assurance and they needed the connection that would bind them for all time.

  The room was filled with the sounds of flesh slapping flesh and pleasurable moans and pants as they pushed one another grinding, thrusting and holding on for dear life as their future came into focus. Grant thrust deep, feeling the tightness around him, and the pulsating tremors as Victor let go and came with a force that surprised him.

  His fingernails dug into Grant’s biceps as he pumped stream after stream of warm sticky seed between them. Victor was just catching his breath when Grant felt himself tumble over into the abyss and drove himself to the hilt, stretching Victor to capacity and then coming so hard; he saw stars as he filled him full of his essence. The moment it hit, Grant dropped and sunk his teeth into Victor’s shoulder, marking him as the mate of the Beta wolf and Victor returned in kind.

  He sunk his fangs into Grant’s throat and began to feed, sending a fresh wave of sexual sensations flooding through Grant’s system. He came again adding to the already copious amounts of seed filling his gorgeous mate’s gorgeous ass.

  Grant slowly came down from his euphoric high and released the flesh of Victor’s shoulder and licked the wound closed. He felt Victor doing the same and knew that he, too, had a lovely mating scar that marked him as belonging to the little vampire with the amazing blue eyes.

  …

  They lay holding each other for several minutes before Grant pulled out and went to the adjacent bathroom to clean up and get a warm washcloth to clean his lovely mate. He then tossed it in the direction of the bathroom and stretched out beside Victor. Pulling him into his arms, he let out a satisfied sigh. “I’d like for you to move in as soon as possible.” He said in a hopeful tone of voice.

  “I can do that.” Victor agreed, and Grant pulled him closer and kissed the side of his head.

  “Now, I know I’m asking a lot, but I’m going to put it out there, and you tell me if I’m pushing too hard or if it is something you would consider.” Grant needed to ask, and he hoped he worded it right and didn’t end up offending his mate. “Would you consider quitting your job at the Imperial. My wolf and I have a jealous streak that may not be conducive to customers getting too familiar with you.” He paused for a moment, and Victor did not respond so he continued.

  “I am over one hundred years old, and I have managed my money well. You don’t need to work; I can support us both very easily.” This time Victor rolled over so as to look at Grant directly. He didn’t look upset, so that was good.

  “I am twenty-two, and I too have managed my money well, so together, I think financially we’re in a pretty good place.” Victor chuckled. “I do the stock market, I learned from a few experts at the Coven. I have no problem quitting the imperial, it wasn’t a career with me, but I’d like to take some classes and further my finance education. It’s something that I’ve wanted to pursue for a while now.”

  Grant was overjoyed he got everything he asked for, and his mate was completely on board. He knew it wouldn’t always be this easy, but for now, he was going to bask in the win.

  “Whatever makes you happy, makes me happy. You pursue any career path you wish, and I will support you a hundred percent as long as it doesn’t include getting too friendly with anyone who isn’t me.” He ended with a chuckle.

  “My friendliness extends only to you, my amazing wol
f,” Victor stated and kissed him hard and exacting, making himself perfectly clear.

  “I love you.”

  “I love you too.”

  EPILOGUE

  Victor put in his notice and moved in with Grant sharing his little bungalow and starting their new life together. Simon still continued to try and convince the couple to move to the new Coven location downtown wanting his brother close by. But for now, they were going to stay and enjoy the privacy of their rental until the end of Grant’s lease.

  The move downtown was inevitable due to Grant’s new position as Beta to Alpha Kristof. Grant was thrilled to be part of a pack once again. It had been twelve years that he had made it on his own with just casual wolf interactions from time to time. As Beta, he could thrive, and his wolf would never again fall into depression for lack of connection. Wolves were pack animals and to be on their own could be disastrous for some. Grant was fortunate that he was strong enough to make it on his own for so long. But now he had a pack of his own and an Alpha that he respected and admired.

  The two gamma wolves from the Eastside station were also accepted giving them all strength and stability in numbers. The Pittsburgh wolf pack was on the rise with further applications flowing in. Kristof’s leadership and his coveted relationship with Master Nikolas Hadden was becoming known statewide. Grant saw it as the beginning of something interesting, and he was proud to be a part of it.

  Julian’s killer was apprehended not long after the discovery of his body. As it turned out, Jordan Turnbull was not the killer. He had no ties to the underworld as suspected; he was just a work a day man who got caught up in an unfortunate situation. The fact that crime boss Harold Ramsey owned the hotel he managed made him look guilty, but in reality, he was just a manager and had never dealt with Ramsey directly.

  The killer was Julian’s actual boyfriend, the man he lived with, and who assumed, like everyone had, that Julian was true and faithful to him until he found out he wasn’t. The man accidentally killed Julian in a jealous rage and then panicked and dumped the body in the river. It was unfortunate, but it’s the risk you take when you play with the emotions of the unstable.