Late Night Snack

by Lou Harper

  Sometimes life takes strange turns. Gabe is a slayer but his lover is a vampire. And so is his boss. When Gabe is tasked with capturing a delinquent blood sucker, he's determined to succeed, even if it means posing as bait. There is only one problem: Harvey, his possessive boyfriend, might ruin everything.

  Warning: hot fang-on-man action, role-playing, and one pissed off vampire.

  License Notes

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  Fate had a strange sense of humor. Being a former slayer, Gabe Vadas had ambivalent feelings about vampires in general and a wariness of Victor Augustine in particular. Augustine was possibly the oldest, and definitely the most powerful vampire in Chicago. He was also Gabe's employer.

  Augustine's study reminded Gabe of those Masterpiece Theater shows, the kind that took place in English manor houses—lots of wood and leather and books. The muted lighting added to the effect. When he'd arrived Gabe had been offered a seat, a snifter of brandy, and two photographs. Now he sipped his drink and studied the portraits of two young men, committing their features to memory. Eventually, he turned back to Augustine, but said nothing. He knew better than to prod the old vamp.

  Augustine brushed an invisible speck of dust from his tailored trousers. "Somebody in this city has gone to the trouble of creating new vampires—without their consent I may add—and then abandoned them. I consider such exploits in my town most disagreeable."

  Gabe grimaced. There were multiple things that bothered him regarding Augustine's announcement. Making baby vamps required skill and experience. It was a risky procedure that could easily result in the subjects' death. Or worse. "Are they all right?"

  "Physically yes. The perpetrator knew what he was doing."

  "So it's an older vamp then." Gabe also knew it was expected of the senior vampire to care and guide his or her "offspring" for the first few years. "You said without their consent."

  "Correct. Both men were abducted from a place called Club 9. I believe you're familiar with the establishment."

  Gabe nodded. Club 9 was a fancy nightclub with a diverse clientele. Gays, straights, in-betweens, and vamps too. Gabe had been there on both business and pleasure. "Can't the victims identify the vamp?"

  "They don't remember anything beyond having an excellent time and possibly flirting with someone. They were both heavily under the influence at the time, and it's reasonable to assume the vampire used charm as well."

  Gabe's dislike for this unknown blood sucker grew by the second. "What do we know?"

  "Very little I'm afraid. The first incident happened on a Saturday, almost a fortnight ago. The second occurred last week. Regrettably, certain persons in my employ didn't think these events were worthy of my attention, until very recently. I had to disabuse them of their misconception in the strongest terms."

  Gabe didn't envy those underlings, but they weren't his problem. "You think it'll happen again?"

  Augustine steepled his fingers. "One such deed could be a random act, but two shows deliberation. It would be foolish to expect the perpetrator to stop there."

  Gabe nodded. "Három a Magyar igazság."

  "Pardon?"

  "A Hungarian saying about how things happen in threes." Gabe shook his head. "I dunno. Returning to the scene of the crime for the second time seems incredibly reckless to me."

  "Mr. Vadas, do you believe in intuition?"

  "I haven't thought about it."

  "I have. I subscribe to the notion that intuition is the subconscious manifestation of years of experience—of which I have a great deal. I sense arrogance from this…miscreant. Also there's something in his favor: the club hosts theme nights once a month and this Saturday's motif is a fancy dress party. No one without full costume will be admitted. So our friend will be able to enjoy total anonymity."

  "That won't make it easier to catch him. Or her." Gabe had captured a number of misbehaving bloodsuckers for Augustine before, but usually he had more to go on.

  A hint of a smile played on Augustine's lips. "By good fortune, you have something in common with the victims, which makes you expressly suitable for this assignment—other than your natural abilities, of course. They were both vegetarian, like you."

  It was true—Gabe, once a shameless carnivore, gave up meat to please his boyfriend. Harvey, who had been a veg-head before becoming a vampire. The transformation wasn't a voluntary action in his case either. But the vamps responsible for turning Harvey were dead for good. Gabe had made sure of that. However, Augustine's announcement made him uneasy. "That's strange."

  Augustine didn't need ESP to suss out Gabe's thinking. "I know what you have on your mind, but I don't believe there's a connection. Many of my kind consider people who abstain from consuming meat as a delicacy. Needless to say, it's a matter of taste."

  "So vegetarians really do taste better?" Funny that. Harvey had kept telling Gabe, but he thought it was just to keep bacon out of their fridge.

  "It's an acquired taste. I presume you understand what needs to be done."

  Gabe downed the rest of his drink. "Yeah, sure. You want me to be the bait. Fine with me, but what if there are other salad-munchers in there too?"

  "You'll be the only one. The bouncers at the door will be my men and they'll make sure no one else gets in."

  "Vamps can tell?"

  "From a close proximity, yes."

  Gabe stood. "I'll do my best, but I can't guarantee success. Your guy…or girl may show or may not. He or she may go to some other club and grab someone there or may stop altogether."

  Augustine also rose from his chair. "I can assure you, I'm aware of the odds. I have my men pursuing other lines of inquiry, but since today's already Friday, our options for speedy resolution are limited. You can understand why your assistance is so valuable."

  Gabe nodded. "Yup. I better go get me a costume."

  ***

  "I don't like it," Harvey announced when Gabe told him about the case. His eyes narrowed to slits, making the Chinese half of his heritage more apparent. "It's like tying a goat to a tree to catch a lion." He was sitting behind the island dividing the kitchen from the living room, surrounded by glass jars and a notebook.

  "I'm not a goat, and I know what I'm doing." Gabe pulled a chair up to the other side of the island.

  Harvey rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, big bad slayer. Don't forget, your main advantage is surprise. Sensing vamps, so you can get a drop on them before they realize you're more than just fast food in a pretty package. We're still stronger than you, though. What's your plan anyway? Other than to show up at the club and bleat?"

  "Ha ha, funny. I have a solid plan, so don't worry."

  "Okay, let me hear it."

  "Well the perp has to take the subjects to a secondary spot, because it's not the kind of thing he can do willy-nilly in a dark corner. Too risky. The place is probably nearby because a charm lasts only so long. So I'll let him lure me into his lair, get a confession, and wrap him up."

  Harvey slammed his notepad closed. "That's a terrible plan. What if he has friends? What if it's a she?"

  "What does that have to do with anything?"

  Harvey pursed his lips. "I really don't like this. At least I'll be there to keep an eye on you."

  Gabe cleared his throat. "Umm, no. I'm doing this one alone." He braced himself for the oncoming storm.

  Harvey jumped up so fast, he knocked his chair over. "What the hell? Why? We work well together."

  "Because I know you. You're territorial, even for a vamp, and that's saying a lot. I won't have you ruining the whole operation
by marching in and making a scene while I'm trying to attract another vamp."

  "I would not!"

  "I'm going in alone. And that's my last word." Gabe crossed his arms over his chest to show he meant business.

  Harvey tried to change his mind for the next half an hour, but Gabe stood his ground. He slept alone that day.

  ***

  Club 9 had a busy night and an intriguing crowd that Saturday. Some patrons interpreted the costume rule by wearing as little as possible. Gabe counted half a dozen Cher and Lady Gaga impersonators. Or were they impostors? Hard to tell. Some of the partygoers wore big masks and little else. He'd gone with a more traditional cop outfit. That'd been the best he could come up with at such short notice. The irony of being undercover wearing a uniform was a bonus.

  Catching his reflection in the bar mirror, Gabe had to admit, he looked rather butch. Before he'd left home the still surly Harvey had given him advice on how to soften his movements, so he'd look like a Joe Shmoe in a costume and not a slayer on the prowl.

  Police belts also had the advantage that you could put various leather pouches on them without attracting attention. He didn't carry a gun, not even a water pistol, but one of those containers held a couple of steel-tipped wooden stakes, for an emergency. Augustine would rather have the perp brought in alive—so to say.

  Gabe's innate ability to sense vampires came in handy as he circled around from bar to dance floor and every dark nook and cranny of the place. He lingered around every blood sucker long enough for them to smell him. After an hour of circling he still hadn't had a single bite—literal or otherwise—and was getting frustrated.

  All the cranberry juices he drank in place of alcohol took their toll and he needed to take a trip to the bathroom. Suspicious noises drifted out of one of the stalls but he could tell neither of the occupants were vamps, so he ignored it. He did his business and headed back toward the bar but didn't get far. A tall and curvaceous vampire with caramel skin and a breathtakingly tight red dress blocked his way.

  "There you are, darling. You've been avoiding me all night. You're such a tease."

  "Hello Jade." Gabe took in her mane-like black wig. "Diana Ross?" he guessed.

  She batted her fake lashes and stepped closer. "What can I say, the classics never get old. Love what you're wearing." The dress shimmered and dazzled with every move she made. "You know how uniforms make me hot and hungry," she purred.

  Yes, Gabe knew, and it'd been one of the numerous reasons he'd been keeping away from Jade. He spotted another one of those reasons marching up to them at that very moment. It was Harvey, wearing a very short purple dress and white lace-up boots. Well, he was anything if not predictable. Gabe swallowed his extreme annoyance and pretended not to know their new company.

  Harvey smiled at Gabe but danger sparkled in his eyes. "There you are, Officer. I have a crime to report: someone stole my innocence," he said in a soft, feminine voice.

  Jade sniggered. "Oh, Honey the statute of limitation on that expired a long time ago."

  Harvey gave her a withering look. "Jade darling, what are you doing lurking here in the dark? Isn't there a football team somewhere you should be ravishing?"

  Jade smiled back sweetly. "They can wait. Pretty costume, if a bit desperate. Who are you supposed to be, if you don't mind me asking? Cinderella's slutty step-sister?"

  Harvey put his hands on his waist. "Michelle Kwan, who else? Not all of us can dress like Oprah and get away with it."

  Jade made the sound of someone who's just swallowed a very large frog and required the Heimlich maneuver to dislodge it.

  Exploiting Jade's momentary loss for words, Harvey turned back to Gabe with a pointed glare. "I must discuss an important matter with you, Officer. Would you come with me?"

  Gabe had no other choice than to follow. Harvey led him down a hallway to the so-called emergency exit. A burly vampire stood guard but after a quick scan of their faces he let them through and out into the alley. No alarm sounded.

  As soon as they got outside, Harvey pushed Gabe against the wall and slipped a hand into Gabe's pants.

  "Harvey, I'm going to strangle you," Gabe hissed.

  "Shh!" Harvey turned Gabe's head, exposing his pulse point.

  For a brief second Gabe felt the fangs puncturing his skin, but the sensation was quickly washed away by a sensual buzz. Harvey sucked hard and Gabe knew it would leave a bruise, but he couldn't care less. His dick had a mind of its own, and it could never resist Harvey. Right now it was hard and in great need of attention.

  Harvey dropped to his knees and released said member from its polyester prison. He first licked the shaft from root to tip before circling his lips around the head. The slurping sounds seemed unnaturally loud in the empty alleyway. Gabe closed his eyes and his head fell against the wall. He grumbled when Harvey let go of his cock, but a second later Harvey swallowed him down even deeper. At the same time Gabe felt a slippery finger push between his butt cheeks and into his ass.

  Between the two kinds of stimulation Gabe's grip on self-control began to slip. He grabbed Harvey's head and held it firm. He shoved his cock all the way down Harvey's throat and kept pumping. Harvey could stop it if he wanted. Obviously he didn't.

  Gabe bit his lip as he came, struggling to keep the moans of pleasure inside. Finally, he sagged against the wall. Harvey pulled off Gabe's cock, passing his tongue over the tip one last time.

  He stood and licked his lips. "Mmm…tasty."

  "Damn it, Harvey, go home. Stay out of this," Gabe croaked.

  "Okay." Harvey turned and went back inside.

  Gabe took another minute to get himself together.

  ***

  When he rejoined the crowd, Gabe noticed a different vibe. As if someone had pumped alien pheromones into the ventilation system. Sweaty bodies writhed in rhythm and lust burned in countless pairs of eyes. He knew his heightened perception was the aftereffect of Harvey having fed on him. He touched his neck. The break in the skin had healed already but the hickey was probably getting darker. Harvey must've been in a real tizzy because he didn't normally leave a mark where it could be seen by anyone.

  Gabe dove into the crowd and made his way around from one vampire to another as before. He couldn't see or sense Harvey inside, but spotted Jade at the bar putting the moves on a tall blond with quarterback shoulders. It appeared that like Jade had found her take-out for the night. The guy would be up for a big surprise later, seeing how Jade had a few extra parts than an average girl.

  A splash of icy liquid down his shirt shocked Gabe out of his thoughts.

  "Oh shit, I'm sorry mate," the man apologized. "Here, let me." He grabbed a napkin from the bar and furiously dabbed it on Gabe's chest.

  "S'okay," Gabe slurred and took the man's hand. He looked the guy over—average looking, brown hair, brown eyes, and vampire. He was new. From this close Gabe could clearly feel the vamp's craving stir. The guy wore all green, even his mask. There was a symbol of some sort on his chest. "Are you Peter Pan?" Gabe swayed and blinked slowly to seem inebriated.

  "Green Lantern. You know from the comic books? There'll be a movie coming out about him this summer." He was in no hurry to free his hand from Gabe's grasp. "I'm Flynn."

  Gabe gave the hand a squeeze before letting it go. "Gabe. You look hot in green," he said with a lecherous smile. It wasn't his usual thing to play the seducer—he had more experience with playing drunk—but he thought he was doing pretty good.

  "And you look hot in blue. I feel terrible drenching you like that. Let me buy you a drink. What would you like?" His accent was thick but Gabe couldn't place it. Something from across the pond. Scottish?

  "Cape Codder will do."

  A couple of minutes later Flynn and Gabe stood in a dark corner, drinks in hand. Gabe raised his to his lips frequently, but only took sips. He needed to keep his head straight.

  "Love your accent, where's it from?" he asked.

  "Australia." Flynn pronounced it as Austr
aiya. His gaze flickered to Gabe's throat for a second.

  "I've never been with an Australian," Gabe said as flirty as he could manage.

  Flynn's face split into a lascivious grin and he leaned closer. "Would you like to find out what's down under?" he whispered. His hunger was so strong now, Gabe could practically feel it curling around him. Flynn might've been the perp or not and there was only one sure way to find out.

  Gabe lowered his voice. "Will there be surprises?"

  The vamp's nostrils flared as if taking in Gabe's scent. "There might be. Wouldn't you like to live dangerously?" Flynn's average guy persona had peeled away. Gabe detected amber flashes in his eyes and even got a glimpse of the fangs. "My hotel's nearby. You should come with me," the vamp continued. He glared at Gabe in a peculiar way—Gabe realized he was being charmed. He was one of the few people it didn't work on, but the vamp didn't have to know that.

  Gabe schooled his face into a dopey expression he'd seen on charmed people and nodded. "Okay."

  "Let's go," Flynn said, still glaring. He led Gabe out through the front door.

  Once they were outside Flynn took off his mask and slipped off his top—he wore a plain, black T-shirt underneath. Suddenly he looked far more inconspicuous.

  They didn't go far; the Williams Inn stood a convenient block and a half away, around the corner. It was a small hotel that had seen better days, but hadn't completely given into despair yet. Flynn swiftly whisked Gabe through the half-lit foyer and into the elevator. Gabe started to feel confident that he was on the right target. He kept an idiotic smile plastered onto his face and his eyes sort of out of focus. It seemed to please his would-be abductor.

  Once inside the room, Flynn placed his hands on Gabe's chest. "Let's get you out of this wet shirt." His fingers made quick work of the buttons. He pushed the uniform shirt off and leaned close to Gabe's naked skin. His eyes fluttered closed and his lips parted. He inhaled deeply. An expression close to reverence played on his face. When he opened his eyes they were black as coal. He slowly backed Gabe towards the bed.