With a Kiss

by Kim Dare

  Marcus somehow found the strength to lift his arm and allow the other man into his space. Liam took hold of the wrist resting on his shoulder, as he turned within Marcus’ embrace.

  The moment Marcus stepped away from the door, all hell broke loose. A few more stumbling steps forward under Liam’s guidance and Marcus was able to half sit, half collapse on the edge of the hospital bed, his head spinning and stomach turning over the supreme effort of sitting upright without anything to support him.

  Catching hold of Liam’s hand to stop the boy’s retreat, Marcus saw the panic in his eyes as noise and confusion filled the room.

  Marcus raised his other hand. “Enough!”

  The word brought blessed silence down around them. Marcus dropped that hand and turned his head to look at each member of the crowd packed into his room in turn. They were all staring at him with the same dumbfounded expression in their eyes, as if they’d never seen a vampire wake up before!

  As much as he longed to chase them out, Marcus pushed down the desire. “One doctor and one nurse can stay. The rest of you, get out.”

  After much frantic whispering by the door, every word of which was loud enough for his vampiric senses to pick up if Marcus actually gave a damn about anything they said, two people separated themselves from the rest of the group.

  The doctor—a Dr. Blackhill according to his name tag—turned to face Liam as the others left. “If you’d like to wait outside while we examine Mr. Corrigan,” he began.

  “He stays here.”

  The doctor looked from Marcus to Liam and back again before he squared his shoulders and tilted back his chin. “If you don’t release him, then security—”

  “Won’t be any more of a match for a vampire than any other human,” Marcus cut in.

  The doctor faltered. His body language retreated. His hands rose in a conciliatory little gesture. “If you need to feed then we can arrange for—”

  “I don’t want a blood whore. Check his injuries. Make sure he’s not seriously hurt. If you’re not capable of that, go find a doctor who is.”

  The room fell silent. Marcus didn’t have to turn his head to see how quickly the boy’s anxiety levels were sky rocketing. He could practically feel the panic emanating from him.

  A nurse stepped forward.

  Marcus glanced at her name tag. Jenny Trent. Her expression was wary, but her movements had a determination about them that the others who had entered the room had lacked. “Hi, Liam.”

  “Hi.”

  Marcus watched her run an assessing gaze over Liam before turning her attention to back to him.

  “He needs dry clothes. I’m going to open the door and ask one of the other nurses to fetch him some clean scrubs and a towel.”

  Yes, dry clothes. He should have thought of that. Marcus nodded his permission to the nurse.

  Rather than rushing to do his bidding, she looked at the floor by the bed. “Your IV fell out. I’ll ask for another bag of blood to be—”

  “Human,” Marcus said.

  Jenny opened her lips to speak, but the doctor got there first. “It’s hospital policy not to waste our limited human blood supply on—”

  “Would you rather I feed from you?” Marcus cut in.

  “What! Who do you think you’re—?” the doctor began to bluster.

  “I am going to feed in the next few minutes,” Marcus said. “It will be on human blood. From a bag or from your neck, I don’t care which.”

  The room fell completely silent. Still standing right next to Marcus, Liam was suddenly acutely aware of every beat of his own heart. Rumor had it that vampires could hear a human pulse from miles away; they could home in on whoever they wanted to feed on and…

  Liam closed his eyes and did his damndest to remain calm. There was nothing to be afraid of. It wasn’t exactly the first day he’d wondered if he wouldn’t be better off dead. Perhaps it would be easier if Marcus did feed from him. It was supposed to be a pleasant way to go.

  He was vaguely aware of Jenny going to the door and speaking to someone on the other side of it, but Liam couldn’t make his mind focus on anything at all. It was as if the whole world were full of cotton wool. The air was dense and fluffy. Movements had to be slow. Thoughts were even slower, as they too fought their way through the soft white fog.

  Liam remained next to Marcus, but he wasn’t really present in any real sense of the word. Marcus was awake. He’d heard every syllable. Liam wasn’t ready to deal with a third bombshell.

  “The hospital has rules for a reason!”

  Every muscle in Liam’s body tensed as the doctor’s sudden yell pushed its way into his mind. He flinched away from Dr. Blackhill, knowing what kind of pain angry voices usually led to.

  Turning his head, he looked instinctively toward Marcus.

  The vampire still sat calmly on the edge of his bed, still apparently unconcerned by the fact he was stark bollock naked.

  Anger burned in Marcus’ eyes. It was impossible to imagine that the fact he was in a hospital made him any less dangerous. Just because he could barely stand, that didn’t make him any less bloodthirsty. Hell, after three years, he had to be more desperate to feed than ever.

  Liam stared at the pure fury in Marcus’ expression for several long seconds, unable to move, unable to think, as trapped as any rabbit in the headlights had ever been.

  Marcus’ attention was all on Dr. Blackhill, until, without any warning, it swung around to Liam. The vampire’s eyebrows drew closer together. His expression mellowed slightly. “Everything’s fine, Liam. This is nothing you need to worry about.”

  Liam found himself nodding, even though he wasn’t entirely sure what he was agreeing with. “Can I…can I help you back into your bed?” he asked, cautiously.

  Their gazes met. Marcus seemed to think about it for a long time before he gave a curt nod. Liam wasn’t really sure how to help him. It seemed like he did little more than fuss around the edges of the bed straightening the blankets than anything else, but Marcus let out what sounded suspiciously like a relieved little sigh as he lay back. Liam knew he’d been right to ask then. Marcus was exhausted.

  As he lay his head back against the pillow and closed his eyes, the other man was instantly transformed back into the Marcus Liam had become so familiar with over the last few months. Without thinking about it, Liam pushed the vampire’s hair back from his face, the same way he had so many times in the past.

  It was all Liam could do not to leap away from the bed when Marcus opened his eyes again.

  Liam’s hand went to his own mouth. His lips still tingled from the kiss.

  The sound of the door opening behind him made Liam peer over his shoulder. He saw a set of scrubs and a bag of blood being handed to Jenny. Just a moment later, the scrubs were placed in his hands.

  “You know where the en-suite is,” Jenny said.

  Liam wasn’t sure why he felt he had to look to Marcus for permission to leave the room, but he didn’t take a single step until the vampire nodded to him.

  As he closed the door in the far corner of the room, Liam dropped his head forward and rested his temple against the woodwork.

  He’d heard it all. Marcus had actually been listening to him the whole time. Liam closed his eyes very tightly and ignored the way his head throbbed in response. A shiver ran down his back and called him back to more immediate concerns.

  Quickly stripping off his wet clothes, Liam picked up a towel and rubbed vigorously at his skin, trying to warm himself up, as much as dry himself off. Skirting around sore spots as much as possible, he hurriedly finished up with the towel and pulled the scrubs on.

  His ribs called him an idiot for rushing. The sense of foreboding he felt at leaving Marcus all alone with people who were practically strangers to him, didn’t care what his ribs had to say.

  As soon as he was covered, Liam stepped back into the hospital room. Everyone promptly stopped talking. Liam looked from one face to another and finally to the hook
on the stand alongside Marcus’ bed, where the new IV of human blood should have been hanging.

  Nothing.

  Liam frowned slightly. There had definitely been a bag of blood delivered. He lowered his gaze and spotted an empty IV on the floor near the other side of Marcus’ bed.

  Stepping forward, Liam picked it up. The bag was empty, but it was definitely the one that had contained human blood. It now harbored two puncture marks, about an inch and a half apart as well. Something had slicked cleanly through the toughened plastic. There wasn’t even a residue of blood remaining. It had been… drained… completely… dry…

  Liam’s thoughts slowed down until they might as well have been treacle being poured from a great height. Doing his best not to let anyone see the way his hands shook, Liam walked across to the waste bin in the corner of the room and dropped the empty bag into it as if it were just another bit of litter.

  “Isn’t there something you should be doing?”

  Liam looked across to Marcus, but the vampire wasn’t talking to him.

  “I told you he needed to be checked out. Don’t just stand there,” Marcus snapped at the doctor.

  Dr. Blackwell turned to Liam. His expression was completely blank, but Liam had heard enough gossip to know the other man by reputation. He had no interest in treating anyone who wouldn’t get his name into a medical journal.

  Examining a vampire who just came out of a coma was just his kind of thing. Dealing with a few scrapes and bruises would just be a waste of his time and skill.

  “What happened?” Dr. Blackwell asked, boredom barely concealed by a thin veneer of professionalism.

  Liam looked in every possible direction bar directly at the doctor’s face. Shrugging slightly, he wrapped his arms around his body. Even with the dry clothes, he was still chilled down to the bone.

  “I didn’t do anything. He just woke up,” Liam mumbled.

  “And that was when he hit you?” Dr. Blackwell asked.

  Shocked into looking the doctor in the eye, Liam opened and closed his mouth several times, but no words emerged.

  “No,” Jenny said, from his left. “The bruises were from before you got to the hospital, right?”

  Liam turned to her, but he still couldn’t make words happen.

  “Honey, you only ever come here outside regular visiting hours when he’s been drinking,” Jenny said, very softly.

  Feeling the heat rush to his cheeks, Liam dropped his gaze to the floor and let it stay there.

  A moment passed. Dr. Blackwell cleared his throat. “Let’s see what damage has been done.”

  It was, well, it was the kind of examination a doctor gave someone who’d been beaten up by his boyfriend. Liam knew the routine well enough. He had all the pat answers lined up in his head and went through them on rote, trying not to care that Marcus was on the other side of the room and could still hear every word he said.

  Liam closed his eyes for a moment. It was pointless for him to try to keep secrets now. Marcus had heard it all—every stupid confession, every pathetic little admission. Liam’s eyes were still closed and he was still cursing himself for being so stupid, when the exam came to an end and Dr. Blackwell stepped away.

  “Well?” Marcus demanded.

  Liam blinked open his eyes.

  Dr. Blackwell peered down his nose at him. “Nothing serious. His ribs are bruised, not broken. His lip and his other bruising will heal on its own. The only treatment is rest…” His words slowly faded away.

  Marcus didn’t say a word, but Liam could damn near feel the temperature in the room drop. He obviously wasn’t impressed with the doctor’s answer.

  “But I suppose I could prescribe some painkillers and some anti-inflammatory,” Dr. Blackwell added quickly. “They’ll keep him more comfortable while the injuries heal.”

  Marcus turned to Liam. “Come here.” His voice was so different compared to when he spoke to the doctor; it could easily have been mistaken for coming from a different person.

  It never occurred to Liam to try to disobey. He stepped forward.

  “I’m fine,” he whispered. “I really don’t need anything. If I wasn’t so clumsy then…”

  Marcus’ fingertips pressed lightly against Liam’s mouth and silenced him. “You can both go now,” he ordered the doctor and nurse, never once breaking eye contact with Liam.

  The door had closed behind them before Marcus dropped his hand back to the bed. “It’s far too late for lies.”

  Liam swallowed rapidly, but didn’t try to speak. He stared down at where Marcus’ hand rested on the sheet. Every line of the vampire’s body seemed different now he was awake. It was impossible for Liam to put his finger on what the difference was, but ever since he’d fed—

  “Look at me, Liam.”

  Liam found himself closing his eyes instead.

  “You’re not going back to his house tonight.”

  Liam’s gaze snapped up to meet Marcus’. “I should…”

  The vampire shook his head and Liam’s ability to speak dissolved away as if it had never existed.

  “You’ll stay here tonight.”

  It sounded so much like a statement of fact; Liam had no idea how to contradict it. He glanced at the chair by the side of the bed. Even the uncomfortable molded plastic looked tempting.

  “Ralph can be dealt with in the morning,” Marcus said.

  Liam glanced back to the vampire. Ralph probably wouldn’t even notice he was gone. He’d have hell to pay when he saw his boyfriend next, anyway. The chances of him staying at the hospital displeasing Ralph even more were low.

  “I want you to stay.”

  Liam met the other man’s eyes.

  Marcus wanted him there. As soon as that fact registered inside Liam’s head, everything else seemed far less important. He nodded and took a step back toward the chair.

  Marcus’ hand was instantly wrapped around his wrist. “Where are you going?”

  Liam waved his free hand toward the chair. “I…do you mind if I sit down?” Suddenly it was obvious that he should have asked before taking such a liberty. Heat rushed to Liam’s cheeks at being caught out on such bad manners on top of everything else.

  “You can’t sleep on that. You’ll lie here, next to me.”

  “What?” Liam automatically tried to take a step back, but the grip around his wrist didn’t yield in the slightest.

  “You’ll sleep next to me,” Marcus repeated.

  Liam looked at the bed Marcus lay in as if he’d never seen it before. There was no logical reason why he should agree to do any such thing, except that he wanted to. Liam looked at the other man’s grip on his wrist. It was strong, but it was careful, too. His grip didn’t hurt, it just wrapped around him, making him feel strangely safe and protected.

  “What would the doctors and nurses think?” Liam said.

  Marcus paused for a moment. Liam was sure that the other man checked whatever his first response would have been, but when he finally spoke, Liam couldn’t have been more surprised.

  “They’ll probably assume that, after so long trapped in my sleep, I was reluctant to sleep alone tonight.”

  Liam met Marcus’ eyes. There wasn’t even a hint of emotion on his face, but Liam was sure that meant nothing. He’d always known that Marcus would be good at hiding his pain if he ever woke up.

  “I…” Liam nodded. “Okay.” There was no way he could say anything else.

  Marcus carefully shifted himself across to the far side of the narrow hospital bed.

  Well aware that he should be putting up far more of a protest, Liam somehow found it impossible to bring the words to his lips. The idea of hiding away in the hospital all night appealed. Hell, as much as he should hate to admit it, the idea of curling up with Marcus appealed, too.

  Blushing a little at his complete lack of coordination, Liam carefully climbed onto the free side of the bed. The mattress was warm where the other man had lain. Marcus’ arm looped around his shoulders. Tha
t was only to make the best use of the limited room. Liam was sure of that, but it still felt like Marcus was keeping him safe and encouraging him to curl more comfortably into his side.

  The vampire’s body was wonderfully hot against Liam’s chilled frame, and when Marcus pull his blanket up around Liam’s shoulders, a snug little cocoon formed around them both. Resting his head carefully on Marcus’ shoulder, Liam did his best not to take up too much room, not to jostle the other man.

  Closing his eyes for a second, Liam tried to focus on timing his breaths so they didn’t compete with Marcus’ but settled neatly into time with them, but he was sure there was no way he’d actually be able to sleep.

  The bed was too small, he was pressed too tightly against a man he barely knew, and he never had slept during the nights after Ralph had been out drinking.

  No, Liam told himself, as he subconsciously snuggled a little bit more comfortably into Marcus’ embrace. He wouldn’t sleep. He’d just close his eyes for a few moments…

  Chapter Three

  Marcus stared up at the bland white ceiling above the hospital bed, unable to move a single muscle. It would be too big a risk to even twitch. Liam needed his sleep. Marcus glanced down at his prey as Liam stirred only to snuggle in against him once more.

  A soft, contented little noise escaped from the back of Liam’s throat as his arm slid a little farther around Marcus’ torso. The gentle caress went straight to Marcus’ cock. Risk or no risk, there was no way he could stop his shaft from rising in response to the boy’s occasional squirming.

  Three years of being unable to react to any stimulus only made his cock more eager to show off its newly regained ability to harden. Six months of fantasizing about the boy who’d just climbed into his bed wasn’t quite the equivalent of a cold shower.

  Marcus barely held back an irritable growl. It wasn’t natural for a vampire to sleep with his prey this way. His whole body screamed that prey were for sucking and screwing. A bag of blood was no substitute for a vein.