125 Navigating the Vampire Maze

by Charlie Richards

  Gaping, Jerome stared at him. “What the hell?” Cocking his head and narrowing his eyes, he added, “Do you wear them all the time when it’s near Halloween?”

  “Not at all,” Rhyme said, winking. “These aren’t something I wear. My fangs just are... because I’m a vampire.” Still grinning, he waggled his eyebrows. “Yep. We exist.”

  “You’re about as subtle as a wrecking ball, babe,” Max commented dryly.

  Stanton snorted, then released Francois, so he could head to the fridge and get the beers Rhyme recommended.

  On second thought...

  Pausing, Stanton opened the cupboard to the left of the stove and grabbed the bottle of whiskey.

  Three hours later, Jerome lay snoring in his favorite recliner. After great food and ample amounts of whiskey, the man had accepted the existence of vampires. They’d all sat down to watch a movie, and ten minutes in, his friend had conked right out.

  Rhyme and Max chuckled as they rose.

  “Where are you going?” Stanton asked from where he sat on the love seat with Francois pressed against his side.

  Grinning, Rhyme stated, “You guys want to be doing something other than sitting and watching a movie.” He touched his nose, then cast a pointed look at their crotches. “Vampires have an enhanced sense of smell, and you both reek of need. Go fuck and complete your bond.”

  “Bond?” Stanton recalled hearing that before. “I still don’t know what that is.”

  “I will explain,” Francois told him.

  Waving, Rhyme and Max headed toward the door. When they reached it, Rhyme opened it while Max turned back toward them. “Got plenty of lube?”

  “I... uh”—Stanton felt his face begin to burn—”yeah.”

  He’d bought some the night before because his dick was getting sore from all the jacking off he’d been doing.

  Max laughed and gave him a thumbs up. “Have fun, guys.”

  Then they exited, closing the door behind them.

  Stanton nibbled his bottom lip, trying to decide what he was supposed to do. Even if Francois had been a woman, he wouldn’t have known how to make his move. At bars, women always pursued him.

  “May we go to your bedroom, Stanton?” Francois asked softly, rubbing his thigh with one lean-fingered hand. “I wish to be able to speak freely.” His gaze strayed to Jerome for a few seconds before smiling up at him. “And I wish to be alone wiz you.”

  Nodding, Stanton rose. “I wanna be alone with you, too,” he admitted, helping Francois to his feet.

  Still holding the vampire’s hand—he found he really enjoyed the simple intimate contact—Stanton grabbed the remote. He turned the volume down a little, hoping the rumble of the TV would cover any noises they made. Plus, it should help keep Jerome asleep, especially after all the alcohol his friend had consumed.

  Stanton placed the remote on the coffee table, then led the way down the hall to his bedroom. As he opened the door, he felt a wash of embarrassment at the state of his room. The place was sort of a mess, since his long hours had left him exhausted every night when he came home.

  Releasing Francois, Stanton began picking up his dirty clothes. He heard the snick of the door’s lock as he dropped the jeans and underwear into his laundry basket. When he returned to his room, Stanton found Francois closing the distance between them.

  “Relax, Stanton,” Francois urged, resting his palm on Stanton’s torso. “While I do normally like a tidy room, zat can wait.” Then his glance strayed to the unmade bed before he refocused on Stanton and gave him a hungry smile. “Besides, wiz what I hope for, we would be mussing up zat bed soon anyway.”

  “Oh, yeah?”

  “Mmm-hmmm.”

  Stanton smiled as he rested his hands on the slender man’s waist. His hands were so big that he could practically wrap them around him. Knowing he didn’t have to temper his strength caused a surge of relief to fill him as he slid his palms under Francois’s shirt.

  “Last time, you got to explore,” Stanton commented as he gripped the hem of Francois’s shirt and began to lift it. “Can I explore you today?”

  “You may explore me anytime you wish, my beloved,” Francois replied, lifting his arms to facilitate Stanton pulling his nice polo shirt over his head. “I am yours and will do whatever you wish to give you pleasure.” Then Francois grimaced and added, “As long as it does not put your life in danger.”

  As Stanton folded the polo shirt in half and draped it over a chair, he nodded his head. “That makes sense.” Then he turned back and licked his lips as he admired Francois’s pale, toned form. He reached out and skimmed his fingertips over one perky pink nipple, then traced around the light tan areola. “Your body is beautiful, Francois.” Lowering his gaze, Stanton followed it with his fingers, teasing over his flat stomach, then down his treasure trail to the button of his designer jeans. “Can I take these off, too?”

  Francois nodded, so Stanton began unbuttoning and unzipping.

  “Will you take off your clothes, too?” Francois asked, his voice filling with huskiness. “I would love to see you again.” Then he grinned cheekily. “And it would be difficult to complete our bond otherwise.”

  Stanton opened his mouth to answer as he unzipped Francois’s fly, and all thought fled. Spotting the erection he’d been dreaming about touching again, of tasting, Stanton teased his forefinger over the already damp crown. He licked his lips as his mouth watered.

  “Oh, beloved,” Francois whined, shifting in Stanton’s hold. “You need to stop if you don’t want me to blow first thing.”

  Chuckling softly, Stanton admitted, “I’d like to see that.” Then he glanced at the bed beyond Francois and growled softly. “Although, I want to taste you even more.”

  Then Stanton pushed Francois’s jeans down his legs. “Tell me about bonding. What is it?” From the word usage, he could guess, but he didn’t want to possibly misunderstand something.

  Francois lifted his leg at Stanton’s urging, explaining as he undressed him. “Bonding is simple, but you need to understand that it can never be undone.” Peering down at him, shifting his weight to his other foot so Stanton could remove his shoe, sock, and finally his pant leg, Francois looked at him with a serious expression. “To complete our bond, I will spill in your body while feeding from you.” Francois reached down and traced along Stanton’s jawline, possessiveness filling his eyes. “Zen, our life forces will be bonded, and we will live togezer, forever.”

  “Live together?” Stanton asked as he slowly rose to his feet. He began peeling off his clothes and nodding absently. “Yeah, that’s what couples do. Max moved in with Rhyme really fast.” As he shoved his jeans down his legs, a thought hit him. “But you live in Montana. Do you expect me to move up there?”

  Francois sighed, his features turning troubled. “I hope to convince you to move zere, yes.”

  Standing naked before an equally nude Francois, Stanton was having trouble concentrating. Still, he knew the conversation was important. He sighed as he rested his hands on his hips... just to keep himself from reaching for the other man’s delectable body.

  “Can you move here?” Stanton asked curiously. “Get a job as a chef around here?”

  Wincing, Francois rubbed the back of his neck. He backed up and settled on the side of Stanton’s bed, shoving the blanket aside in the process. Resting his hands on his thighs, Francois nodded slowly.

  “I could. I would need to petition Master Jaymes, so I could become part of his coven.” Francois cocked his head, his eyes going vacant. “Zey already have a chef for zeir ranch, so I would need to find somezing in town to occupy my time while you are working.” Then Francois refocused on Stanton and smiled at him. “Unless you would like to quit? I have plenty of money. Zere is no need for you to work.”

  Stanton stared at Francois, processing what he’d said. The vampire had to change covens in order to stay around there permanently. He was willing to give up his position and change his way of life... for him.


  Shaking his head, Stanton crossed to the bed. “Naw, don’t try to do all that. Me and Jerome, we can move.”

  Francois’s brows shot up. “Please know your best friend is welcome to come,” he told him slowly. “I see how he behaves more like a big brozer, but can you really speak for him?”

  Now that Stanton had decided on his future, he felt settled. It was similar to how he had felt after moving in with Jerome and getting his job as a mason. This feeling, however, was even more intense.

  “I’ll convince him,” Stanton stated confidently. He gripped Francois’s hips and pushed him up the bed. As Stanton grabbed the lube, he explained, “The only other person Jerome loves is his brother. Tony moved to Wisconsin a year and a half ago for an awesome job opportunity.” Crawling onto the bed, Stanton pushed between Francois’s legs, appreciating how his lover didn’t resist. “Jerome would have moved out there when Tony did, but he didn’t want to leave me behind, and I couldn’t find a position out there.”

  Gods, I have a lover.

  As Stanton peered down and admired Francois’s lean, toned form, he skimmed his palm up his thigh. “Gonna suck you now while I open you up for my dick.” His left hand reached Francois’s groin, and he carefully cupped his balls. Remembering how he’d liked it when he squeezed them, he did it now... and pride flooded him when Francois moaned. “Yeah, I like that sound.”

  “J-Just so you know,” Francois muttered on panting breaths. “I’m gonna fuck you right back.”

  Stanton’s chute muscles clench, but his gut tightened with anticipation. “Yeah,” he agreed, nodding while releasing Francois’s ball sack. “Sounds perfect.”

  After popping the lid of the lube, Stanton poured a liberal amount on the fingers of his right hand. “I’ve never done this, but I watched some porn and did some reading,” he admitted, closing the lid with his thumb. “Let me know if I do something wrong.”

  “I-I know I will love it,” Francois told him. “Because it’s you.”

  Stanton’s stomach twisted for a whole different reason, and something fluttered in his chest. Peering at Francois, he couldn’t find any words to respond. When the slender vampire just smiled at him, Stanton smiled back.

  “Now, my beloved,” Francois urged, lifting his legs, grabbing the backs of his thighs, and spreading himself. “Do what you wish wiz me.”

  Heeding Francois’s words, Stanton dropped the tube of lube and reached down with his other hand. He pressed his slicked fingertips to the vampire’s hole, then eased one inside. Feeling the squeeze on his finger, he groaned softly, and his erection twitched.

  Stanton’s heart hammered in his chest as he pulled his finger nearly free, then pushed it back in again. He stared raptly at where he fingered Francois, having never seen anything so sexy in his life. When he pushed in a second finger beside the first, he crooked them a little and—

  Francois moaned and rocked into his touch. “More, my beloved,” he encouraged. “Faster.”

  Obeying, Stanton pulled his fingers out, then pushed them back in. When he pegged Francois’s prostate again, the twitching of his lover’s erection caught his attention. He saw the pre-cum bubble up from the slit, and his desire to taste slammed through him anew.

  Planting his weight on his left hand, Stanton bent over. He opened his mouth and wrapped his lips around Francois’s crown. While swiping his tongue over the flared head, he suckled lightly on the bobbing flesh.

  Francois’s lightly flavored pre-cum teased his taste buds pleasantly. That combined with the taste of Francois’s smooth skin, causing a craving for more. He sucked harder as he sank down a little, massaging the length in his mouth with his tongue.

  At the same time, Stanton began working Francois’s chute in earnest. He spread his fingers a little and twisted them, massaging and stretching the muscular channel. Petting his prostate often, Stanton moaned at the nearly steady flow of pre-cum dripping onto his tongue.

  Balancing carefully on his knees, he cradled Francois’s testicles as he worked in a third finger.

  Francois groaned and shuddered. “S-So close,” he warned gruffly. His cock twitched within the confines of Stanton’s mouth. “Stanton!”

  Stanton felt Francois’s hand on his head, pushing at him gently. Peering up at Francois, he ignored the warning. Instead, he sank as far as he could on his lover’s erection—which was only about halfway—and at the same time, pressed firmly against his prostate.

  To Stanton’s delight, Francois’s eyes widened, his jaw sagged open, and a deep moan rumbled from him. He also orgasmed. While Francois’s eyes rolled to the back of his head, he flooded Stanton’s waiting mouth with his seed.

  Swallowing swiftly, Stanton hummed in surprised pleasure. Francois’s cum coated his taste buds deliciously. He wanted more... so much more, and sucked and swallowed greedily.

  Then, remembering the advice he’d read online, Stanton used Francois’s relaxed orgasmic state to push a fourth finger into his vampire’s chute. He was a big man, and he didn’t want to hurt his smaller lover. Even though Francois’s dick stopped spurting, he didn’t soften, filling Stanton with pride.

  Stanton eased off Francois’s erection, his own cock’s throbbing twitches flooding him with driving need. He needed like he never had before. Slipping his fingers free of Francois’s channel, Stanton gripped himself. He grabbed the lube and added some more.

  Stanton levered over Francois and guided his crown to Francois’s greased hole. When he touched himself to his lover, he froze and peered up at him. “Should I put on a condom?”

  Why didn’t I think about that before?

  Francois met his gaze with a loopy smile. “No, my beloved.” He released his thighs and wrapped them around Stanton’s waist. “No condoms between us.”

  A shiver of excitement trickled down Stanton’s spine. Giving in to his body’s need, he pushed... hard. When his bulbous crown popped past Francois’s guardian muscle, he gasped. The exquisite heat and pressure went straight to his head... and his balls... and he thrust, sinking as deep as he could go. Stanton bucked, pulling partway out, then jerked forward again.

  With his senses on fire with pleasure, Stanton couldn’t have stopped it if he’d even realized it was so close. One pump, two, and he froze as a cry of delight burst from his throat. Shuddering above Francois, he flooded his vampire with his seed.

  Chapter Twelve

  Francois cracked an eyelid, uncertain what had woken him. With the marathon he and Stanton had enjoyed, he should have been damn near in a coma. After Stanton had apologized for coming embarrassingly fast, Francois had explained how flattered he was that his human had lost all control.

  Damn heady stuff.

  “Besides,” Francois had added. “It’s not as if we are anywhere near being done.”

  Then Francois had grabbed the damp towel from the floor—he’d guessed Stanton had used it to dry off after his shower earlier—and had cleaned them up. Using the teasing as foreplay, he’d begun another round. Mounting Stanton and completing their bond had been one of the highlights of Francois’s life...and he intended to do it over and over for centuries.

  So what woke me?

  The soft murmur of the TV could still be heard from the other room, telling Francois that Jerome was probably still passed out in there. In fact, he could hear the human’s snores. As Francois parsed out the other noises of the apartment complex, he realized there was an odd popping and cracking noise that he couldn’t place.

  It reminded him of the noises a shifter’s body made when they changed forms.

  Then... Francois smelled it.

  Smoke!

  What zee hell?

  Francois eased out of Stanton’s bed. Being the little spoon would take some getting used to, but he loved how it felt to have his big human’s arms wrapped around him. Plus, it seemed to make Stanton happy. Once his beloved had accepted their connection, he’d turned into a very touchy-feely guy.

  I hope he’s zat way out of zee
house, too.

  Time would tell.

  After grabbing his jeans, Francois jerked them on. As he zipped, he crossed to the door. He opened it, and a fresh wave of smoke hit his nostrils, and his eyes stung a little.

  “Oh fuck,” Francois cried, pivoting and sprinting back to the bed. He shook Stanton’s shoulder. “Wake up, beloved,” he urged. “We have a problem.”

  “Hmmm?” Stanton turned his head and peered up at him blearily. “Wassit?”

  “Zere’s a fire somewhere around here, Stanton,” Francois told him. “We need to find it and put it out or get out of here. Get dressed.” The pop of something electrical exploding not too far away reached his ears. “Probably just get out of here. Come on.”

  Francois grabbed his shirt and tugged it on as he pushed his bare feet into his shoes, skipping his socks. To his relief, his cell phone was still in his pocket. As he yanked it free, Francois was pleased to see Stanton up and moving.

  “I’m going to check on Jerome and see if I can figure out where zee fire is,” Francois told Stanton. “Hurry, beloved.”

  After Stanton had nodded and returned to pulling on clothes, Francois rushed from the room. He squinted against the light smoke filling the air. When he reached the end of the hall, Francois groaned. The wall near the kitchen licked with flames, and if he had to guess, it was the sound of breaking glass that had roused him, since the small window over the sink had shattered.

  Francois jogged in the other direction, toward the flickering light of the TV. Rounding the sofa, he peered at Jerome. The human was still snoring, passed out in the recliner.

  Gripping the human’s shoulder, Francois shook it. “Wake up, Jerome,” he ordered, uncomfortable with the heat at his back. Using the phone in his other hand, he called nine-one-one. “Jerome!” he cried, trying again. “Wake up!”

  When the operator picked up, Francois rattled off Stanton’s address and the situation.