by Rayna Vause
Kier pulled her into a hug. “Then don’t think about what’s been done to him. We can’t change it, but we can stop it. Let’s just focus on getting him out.”
“How? How are we going to get into the Purity compound and get him out? That building is practically a fortress.”
“I think Rogan may be our best option. Any type of obvious attack on the Purity facility would either get us killed, spark a war between vampires and humans, or both.”
She paced away from Kier. She sat on the edge of the couch with her elbows braced on her knees and her head propped in her hands. “Do you think we can trust this Rogan guy? I mean, he works for the enemy.”
“I don’t think we have much choice in the matter.”
“I hate that,” Alex grumbled. “What if this is a setup? What if it’s just an elaborate plan to get their hands on Danny? It’s stupid to take on a bar full of vampires. But a squad full of Purity soldiers could subdue a couple of vampires who stride onto their turf like lambs to the slaughter.”
Kier scratched his chin. “I think Rogan is smart enough to realize I would never bring Danny with me into Purity’s facility.”
“That’s what I mean. He locks you up or worse kills you, and Danny is left unprotected. It’s a hell of a lot easier to take him without you around, Kier.” Danny’s lungs stopped working for a long moment. The thought of anyone hurting Kier to get to him stole his breath, made him sick to his stomach. He must have made a sound because both Kier and Alex looked over at him.
Kier held out a hand, and Danny crossed to him. Kier wrapped an arm around his shoulders, and Danny wrapped his arm around Kier’s waist and settled into the curve of his body, relishing the warmth and contact.
Alex held out a hand and Danny clasped it. “So what’s the plan?” Danny asked.
Kier brushed his lips against Danny’s temple and then said, “I think the best thing we can do is wait to hear from Rogan.”
“You really think this Rogan guy is playing straight with us?” Alex cocked her head at Kier. “We’re just supposed to take him at his word that he’s with Purity. Hell, he could be setting us up for anything.”
Kier shrugged. “I suppose anything is possible, but walking into a vampire bar and giving your adversary inside information doesn’t seem to be the best plan of action. I think the best thing we can do is wait to hear from Rogan. I could be wrong, but I didn’t sense any reason to distrust his story. Still, just like always, we watch our backs.”
Alex frowned but nodded. “I just hate waiting. I want Aiden out of there now.” She scrubbed her hand down her face and flopped back on the couch.
“I know you do, but we need to be smart about this.” Kier laid a hand on Alex’s arm. “Now do me a favor and go home. You need to clear your head, get away from people for the evening. I can take care of the bar tonight.”
Alex shook her head. “No. I need the distraction of work. I promise, no more broken glass tonight.”
“Are you sure?” Kier asked.
She smiled and nodded as she rose. She crossed to Kier and clasped his shoulder. Their eyes met and some sort of silent communication passed between them. Then she turned and headed out of the room. When she reached the door, she glanced back over her shoulder at Kier. “Hey. Do you need me?” Alex tapped her neck.
Kier shook his head. “I’m good for now.”
Alex raised an eyebrow at him. “Promise me you’ll see to that issue from earlier.”
Kier’s face went blank. His eyes shifted to Danny, then back to Alex. “I’ve already made arrangements to do that.”
“Good,” she said, then disappeared from the room.
Danny shifted to stand in front of Kier. He ran his hands up and down Kier’s arms. “Are you doing all right? It can’t have been easy learning about your friend.”
Kier rested his hands on Danny’s hips and tugged him close. “I’m fine. Worried about Aiden, but at least he’s still alive. How about you? It’s good news if Purity really does have a cure in the offing. We may be able to fix you after all.”
Danny stared into Kier’s eyes, but he couldn’t read him. Once again Kier had locked himself behind those shields he so expertly constructed. “I honestly don’t know how I feel. It’s a lot to take in and still a big maybe. While they may be working toward a cure, they don’t have it yet.”
Kier dropped his hands to his sides, started to move away, but Danny wrapped his arms around his neck, refusing to let go. “Listen to me. If this cure becomes a reality, I’ll have some decisions to make. But, even if I decide I want to find a way to remain human, that doesn’t mean I’m going to run screaming from you again. If I opt to remain human, for now, that doesn’t mean I’m rejecting who and what you are. No, I’m still not sure if I can ever see myself as a vampire, but give me time, Kier. Give me a chance to figure it all out.”
Danny leaned in and pressed a soft kiss on Kier’s lips. He closed his eyes and breathed in the warm, earthy scent of Kier. When he opened his eyes, he cupped Kier’s face so he couldn’t look away. “Whatever the future brings, whatever questions or doubts I may have, I want to figure it all out with you, if you’ll let me.”
Kier rested his forehead against Danny’s. “I think I can do that.”
“Good. First question. What did Alex mean? What issue does she want you to address?”
Chapter 10
A BITTER, cold breeze blew, penetrating Danny’s coat, making him shiver. He crowded close to Kier while Kier fished in his pocket for the house keys.
“Hurry up, K. I’m about to turn into an icicle.”
Kier snorted. “You need a warmer coat if you’re that cold after walking one block.”
“You need to pick up the pace. This wind is killing me.” He huddled closer to Kier, using his bulk to block the frigid gusts. They barreled through the door when it opened, and Danny headed for the back stairs leading downstairs. As he approached the stairway, he noticed a light go on in his peripheral vision. He turned to see Kier entering the parlor on the main floor. Danny backtracked and stuck his head in through the entrance.
“Hey. What’s going on? Aren’t you coming down?”
Kier glanced at him, down at his watch, then back at the door. “Go ahead to bed. I’ll be down in a few minutes.”
Danny frowned and strode into the room. He stopped in front of Kier and cocked his head. “What’s going on?”
Kier looked back at the door. “Nothing. I just need to take care of something. Go on to bed. It’s been an eventful evening.”
Danny shook his head. “I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what’s going on with you.”
Kier shoved a hand through his hair. “I have a… dinner date. So to speak.”
Danny frowned. “A dinner date?” Then the light bulb went on. “Oh! A dinner date. You’re going to….”
“Yes, Danny. I’m going to feed. I’m going to drink someone’s blood. So why don’t you head on down before Gina gets here.”
Danny shook his head. “Not going to happen. I need to see this. Need to be a part of this. I need to see how it works.” Danny stepped up to Kier and raised a hand to cup his face. “I want to experience this with you.”
Kier closed his eyes and pulled Danny close. Danny slid his hand up Kier’s firm muscled back as Kier rested his forehead against his. “I’m not sure this is a good idea. I don’t know that you’re ready to see this yet.”
“If everyone waited until they were truly ready to do something, very little would ever get accomplished.” A thought that had poked at him all night forced its way into his mind. His mouth dropped open as realization dawned. “This is the issue Alex wanted you to attend to, isn’t it? When we were dancing earlier, you wanted to bite me, drink from me. Didn’t you?”
“Yes. Like I said, I got caught up and the hunger got the better of me.”
“Hunger? But you’ve been, um, eating.”
“Cold feeds. Every so often a vampire needs warm, fresh blood. If
we go too long, the craving becomes a compulsion. It’s what causes random vampire attacks to happen sometimes.” Kier shifted his gaze away. “I’ve gone a little too long since my last—” Kier cleared his throat. “Warm feed. If Alex hadn’t snapped me out of it, I might have gone too far.”
Danny wrapped his arms around Kier, stared into his eyes. “Never happen.”
The doorbell rang, interrupting their moment. Danny pressed a short fast kiss to Kier’s lips. The contact sent a quick spark of electricity shooting through him. “Go answer the door.” Danny released him and stepped back. Kier searched Danny’s eyes for one long moment, then nodded and went to let in their guest.
“Hey, Kier,” a woman purred as she walked into the house. “It’s been a while. I was glad to hear from you.” She ran a hand down Kier’s arm as she strode past and into the parlor.
Danny clenched his teeth, resisting the urge to tell her to keep her hands to herself. She paused for a moment when she spotted him, then upped the seductive wattage of her smile and swaggered toward him. “You didn’t tell me this was going to be a ménage, Kier. Name’s Gina.”
“Danny.”
Her eyes went wide, and she shot a sly smile at Kier. “So, this is the famous Danny. You didn’t tell me he was so good-looking. This is going to be fun.”
Danny cocked an eyebrow at Kier. He’d talked about Danny to other people. Interesting.
“It’s just me tonight, Gina. He’s just going to watch.”
She smirked. “I can work with that.”
Kier actually blushed. “Knock it off.” She chuckled low and seductively. She shed her leather coat and tossed it over the back of a chair.
She met Danny’s gaze and held it as she walked to Kier, plastered her back to his chest, reached up, hooked a hand around the back of his head, and tugged him toward her neck. Kier’s fangs extended as he lowered his mouth to her smooth throat. He hesitated, flicking his gaze to Danny, then away. Then he closed his eyes and sank in his teeth. She gasped and clutched at him when he sucked on her neck. Gina moaned, a sound of pure ecstasy.
Danny shoved his hands into his pockets and locked his knees. It took everything in him not to march over to the woman and yank her away from his man. He wanted Kier’s hands on him. Wanted Kier’s mouth on his skin, drinking from him. His entire body went hot and hard. His breathing picked up speed.
Gina’s gasps and moans got louder as she writhed against Kier. Danny couldn’t take much more of this. He needed to touch Kier. Needed Kier’s hands on him. Needed Gina gone. Just as his patience broke, Kier pulled his mouth away from her neck. Danny blew out a hard, steadying breath, but his body still throbbed.
“Damn you, Kier. I just needed another minute more.”
Kier smiled at the pouting woman. “Maybe next time, Gina.”
“You big tease. Anytime you need me, just call. Anytime.” She leaned up and kissed his cheek.
Kier laid a hand on her arm. “Are you okay to get home?”
“I’ll be fine. I’ve got a ride waiting outside for me,” she said as she reached for her coat. She flashed one last satisfied smile, then strutted toward the door. The front door closed with a soft click.
Kier’s dark gaze met Danny’s. Held it. “Not as bad as you expected it to be?”
Danny shook his head in response. He crossed to Kier, reached up to take his face between his hands. “It was the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.” He claimed Kier’s mouth, pouring every ounce of emotion swirling inside him into that kiss until his lungs screamed for air. He released Kier’s lips and sucked in a long, slow breath. “Next time you feed, you feed from me. Are we clear?”
Kier froze in place. “Are you sure? Drinking your blood doesn’t freak you out?”
Danny nodded and slid his hand down Kier’s chest. He paused to flick his nipple through his T-shirt, then gripped handfuls of his shirt. “I’m sure. And, while I know it’s probably unrealistic, I don’t want your mouth on anyone but me. I don’t want you sharing something that intimate with anyone but me.” He tugged Kier’s shirt up and off.
Kier growled at him and pulled their bodies flush.
“Last question. Is this safe? Will my blood hurt you?”
“It shouldn’t. Can’t make me any more of a vampire then I already am, but let’s get the all clear from Sharon first. Better to be sure. After that, every part of you is mine.”
Danny chuckled at that, then closed his eyes and reveled in the press of body to body. He breathed in Kier’s unique, rich, spicy scent. God, the man smells good. He pressed his nose to the junction of Kier’s neck and shoulder for a long moment. Then he turned his head to run the tip of his tongue along the long, lean muscle. He tasted the faintest hint of salt. As he licked the flavor from his lips, he lifted his gaze and got trapped by the bluest eyes he’d ever seen. Neither of them spoke. Words would only break whatever spell had woven itself around them. Danny wasn’t taking that chance. He planned to enjoy every second of this.
In that moment, the rest of the world floated away. Nothing important existed except him, Kier, and this moment. Keeping their gazes locked, Danny slowly moved up Kier’s body until their lips all but touched. He ran the tip of his tongue along the crease of Kier’s lips. He cupped his hand around Kier’s neck, pulling him to him, closing the remaining space between them. For a moment, Kier stood still, not participating but not resisting, and then his lips parted, giving Danny access to the warm interior of his mouth. Their tongues tangled, sipping and sampling until air became a necessity. Danny caressed his way down Kier’s body, and his mouth and tongue followed, leaving a hot wet trail as he made his way to the tightened nub of Kier’s nipple. He sucked hard, saw Kier’s hands clench, heard Kier cry out his name in the low raspy tone that was so familiar, and Danny knew he had him. He’d heard that tone countless times in the past, and he reveled in the fact that he could still pull it out of Kier. Kier wrapped his hand in Danny’s hair, and his body arched up.
“Damn, Danny.”
Danny smiled, pressing a kiss to his chest. He dropped to his knees, unzipped Kier’s jeans, and tugged them down to reveal the treasure inside. He nuzzled Kier’s abs and the crease of his thigh before pressing his face into the patch of hair at his groin. He breathed in the musky scent of Kier, steeping himself in aroma and sensation. Kier’s fingers slid through his hair, over his shoulders, his back, touching everything that he could reach. Demanding more.
Danny moved lower, trailing hot breath over the long length of Kier, close enough to taste, touch, but teasing them both. He lapped at the tip, a long, wet taste. Kier widened his stance, then clutched Danny’s hair. Danny loved Kier’s responses to his touch. Loved that he could drive him wild with pleasure. He rewarded them both by taking Kier in his mouth. He sucked the tip, swirling his tongue around the head. He gripped the base of Kier’s cock, working him with both mouth and hands. The sounds coming from Kier sent heat rushing through Danny.
“Christ. More. Need you.”
Danny smiled around that lovely erection, then went back to rocking Kier’s world. He reached to massage the heavy sac between his Kier’s legs. Took Kier in deeper, running his tongue along the thick vein that coursed down the length of his shaft. He reached for his own cock, freed it from the confines of his jeans, and stroked himself. Heat and need raced through him, ratcheting his desire up to the next level.
Kier moaned, easing back from Danny. Kier pulled him to his feet and, with preternatural speed, had Danny undressed and pinned to the floor.
Danny laughed as he met Kier’s sexy smile. “Would it be corny to say you sure know how to sweep a guy off his feet?”
“Extremely.” Danny shivered as Kier’s warm breath and the low rumbled word caressed his ear. Kier claimed his mouth, running his tongue along the crease, coaxing his lips to part again. He began to explore Danny’s body, trailing his fingers down his sides, gripping his hips, and pulling them tight against each other. Danny moaned, doing some exploring of his o
wn as he sucked Kier’s lower lip. He’d never been able to get enough of Kier’s flavor when they’d been dating, and nothing had changed during the time they’d been apart. The man could take him from zero to scorching in seconds. Danny released his mouth, then buried his face in the curve of Kier’s neck, breathing in his scent before nipping and sucking on his skin, skimming along his jawline, stopping to feast on his earlobe. He lost himself to the magic Kier’s hands could weave.
Kier skimmed his hands over Danny’s hips down the back of his thighs. They ground against each other, creating a delicious friction, but he didn’t want to go over this way. He wanted Kier in him in every way, driving him out of his mind with pleasure.
“Want you. Need to feel you, taste you.” Danny’s heart thundered, and ragged breaths sawed out of his lungs.
“I’m right here. I’ll take care of you.”
“We need—”
“I know. Be right back.” Danny’s body didn’t even have time to get cool from the loss of body heat before Kier’s returned. He wrapped arms and legs around Kier as he offered a kiss. Kier accepted, devouring him with breath-stealing kisses. Their tongues twined and explored. Danny’s body throbbed. He clutched Kier to him as though he might disappear, and he ate at his mouth as though the intoxicating flavor would be the last thing he’d ever taste. Danny arched when a slick finger tickled the sensitive, puckered flesh of his rear entrance, gently pressing against it until Kier could ease a finger inside him.
Danny cried out as his breath backed up in his throat. He squirmed, wanting more of that finger inside him, reveling in the tiny sparks that danced through him. Kier’s finger moved slowly but steadily, in and out, letting Danny adjust to the intimate invasion. When the ring of muscle loosened, he inserted a second finger, pushing in farther, searching for and finding that sweet spot that sent electricity zinging through Danny. He cried out, “Oh shit! Do that again, damn.”