Dark Temptations

by Eric Alan Williams

  _____

  Xairin and Jason had danced for over two hours. Jason kept readjusting himself as they danced. Clearly, Xairin could be very submissive, based on the way he danced at times; other times, he was more aggressive, but either way, he clearly indicated who was playing what role, if it went there tonight. The two were hitting it off well. Xairin was smiling and laughing, while Jason was getting more and more caught up in Xairin's glowing grins.

  For Jason, this was freedom he had never truly had, and Xairin was giving him hope of finally being able to move on from his father's shadow. Not to mention, Xairin was driving Jason's Alpha side crazy, the need to mate as an Alpha Werewolf was an overpowering drive, the fact that Jason was genuinely liking Xairin, made it more intense. He knew deep down, he was going to break the promise he had made to Sam. Xairin turned Jason on, in ways he couldn’t resist and the more he got to know him, the more he wanted the vampire.

  "Need another blood?" Jason asked. Hoping to cool off a minute.

  Xairin shook his head. "No, I'm okay, what would you like to do next? Keep dancing?"

  Jason was going to be honest. "Xairin, if we keep dancing, and you keep grinding up on me like that, I'm not sure how much longer I can control myself in keeping our clothing on. I don't want to come off as that guy wanting just that, but being an Alpha werewolf, we tend to be really horny, and I've never been an Alpha before until now."

  Xairin nodded. "I hope I'm not making you uncomfortable?"

  Jason leaned in and whispered into Xairin's ear. "You are making me feel great. I haven't had this much fun in a while, and I mean that."

  Jason looked over at a hologram display near the gold-painted dais. "It says over there, that they have holo-band Karaoke in about twenty minutes. Wanna try it?"

  "Me? Sing? Man, I might have superpowers, but that sure ain't one of them."

  Jason laughed. "Oh, come on, I have never met an Immortal that couldn't sing."

  "Now, you have." Xairin chuckled.

  "Seriously, I have never met an Immortal that can't sing, it is in all of our DNA!" Jason insisted.

  "Dude, the last time I sang, I was booed off a stage. No…" Xairin replied.

  "When was it? When you were a dhampling?" Jason asked.

  Xairin looked at him. "Yeah, I was in Jr High, and the show choir director assigned me a solo."

  Jason smirked. "Why were you in the show choir if you can't sing?"

  "I needed an art credit before high school, it was the only thing left," Xairin said.

  "Well, I am signing you up, according to that holo-sign, the louder the crowd cheers, the higher the score is for the person singing. Whoever gets the lowest score, pays for dinner…" He eyed Xairin. "We are doing this."

  “Please don't make me sing Jason.”

  Jason grinned. “You are singing.”

  Xairin's heart pounded. Jason got up and went and registered them and paid the entry currency fees. Xairin sat there with a horrified expression. "Holy shit. Man… Really?" He said under his breath. It did dawn on him that he had pulled from that backup singer who played guitar. "Here's to hoping." He mumbled.

  Jason sat back down beside Xairin. "Man, I haven't done karaoke in like a decade or so."

  "I've never done karaoke," Xairin said sarcastically.

  Jason smirked. "Oh, come on, it will be fun."

  Xairin nodded. "Yeah, if you're in the audience watching people that can't sing, yeah, then it's a good laugh, but if you're the one that can't sing, then no, no Jason, it's not."

  Jason rolled his eyes. "Hey, I have been on a leash for a while, I can't help that I want to have some fun for a change."

  Xairin frowned. "I get it, having fun after being controlled by an over-controlling asshole sucks, but, Karaoke?"

  Jason gave him a flirtingly, handsome smile. "Hey, a guy that can sing, well, that is a turn on for me."

  Xairin looked off to the side and then cocked his head as he looked back at him. "Okay, fine. I'll give it a try."

  The two sat there as they waited for their names to be called up. Ten had signed up, which was The Twisted Mango's first prize event to take place before their own drag queens would take to the stage. Xairin and Jason both giggled at a few people trying it out. As the performer stood there, holographic images, so real, depicting a band playing alongside the person singing, gave a live performance feel. "Jason Fifer?" A Drag queen with pink hair, with blue fades, called out.

  "See you in a minute, sexy," Jason said.

  Xairin's heart pounded. He was nervous. But he was intrigued to see what Jason would sing since most of the songs were set to a random selection to provide a challenge.

  Jason got a contemporary rock song. "As the days go by, as I wait here to spread my wings and fly, I just think of you, I just think of you. Yeah…"

  Xairin rolled his eyes. Jason was pointing right at him, which made Xairin feel both flattered, and a bit put on the spot. Either way, he crossed his arms and smiled, shaking his head. "When I spread my wings, when I learn to fly, I will fly to you, fly to you, yeah." Xairin had to admit, Jason could sing rather well, and with the holo-band going, he felt like he was sitting in a rock concert.

  The crowded club was cheering.

  Jason's song ended. He came off the stage, smiling. A lot of the gay guys in the crowded room were giving him lustful glares, which caused Xairin to raise an eyebrow as he walked over.

  "Xairin Thunder?" The drag queen called out.

  Ezra heard Xairin's name and instantly stopped scoping the club and started walking near the stage. He couldn't help himself.

  "You are up bloodsucker," Jason said playfully.

  Xairin made a playful biting face. He looked at the stage, took a deep breath, and started walking.

  He walked up the steps, went to the microphone, and grasped it. He looked forward to the prompter. The lyrics came quickly along with musical notes below it. Given the pull, he could make it out and realized the song started with words before the holo-band would start playing. Xairin grasped the microphone tightly and tried his best to dig into the pull from the thrall he had created. Xairin's voice came off, deep, carrying the tune well.

  I'm walking on broken glass, trying my best to escape the past, if you saw me, would you save me? Huh..." He went into the first crescendo.

  I'm out here all alone, trying my best to find a place to call my own, if you saw me, would you save me? Huh..." The music started playing, the holo-band started engaging. It looked as if a real band was playing as the holo band began playing a pop-rock tune.

  "When I first met you, I thought the hell I knew was finally through. We made a life together, a wonderful life together. We once had it all, then I made a mistake that caused our kingdom to fall, I lost you, I lost you... I tried a hundred ways, to prove I had mended my ways, I still lost you, I still lost you."

  The drumming beats picked up.

  "I'm walking on broken glass, trying my best to escape the past. If you saw me? Would you save me? Huh?"

  "I'm out here all alone, trying my best to find a place to call my own. If you saw me, would save me?"

  "I think about you every night, wishing I knew how the hell to make things right. I miss you; I miss you. I'm like a zombie every day, just trying to make my way, I still think of you, I still think of you. You were my life, now all I think about is looking at this knife, I'm tired, so, so tired."

  "I'm walking on broken glass, trying my best to escape the past. If you saw me? Would you save me?"

  "I'm out here all alone, trying my best to find a place to call my own. If you saw me? Would save me?"

  "Time is running out, no matter how loud I try to shout, I miss you, I love you. I see that you've moved on, for me, it is the dark that ate the fucking dawn, I miss you, I miss you. I know I made one mistake, and for me, my heart now quakes, can you forgive me? I just want you to forgive me…"

  Xairin prepared to get louder as he went into the last parts of the song. His voice carried w
ith an unnatural beauty as his deep voice hit the high notes and low notes and went into drawn-out crescendos again. The crowd was clapping and shouting.

  "Cause I'm walking on broken glass, trying my best to escape the past. If you saw me? Would you save me?"

  I'm out here all alone, trying my best to find a place to call my own if you saw me… Would you save me? huh..."

  Ezra started to tear up. Meanwhile, Jason clapped. Hearing Xairin sing, was like signing an ironclad deal in Jason's book. It was a turn-on for him, and Xairin just hit a new level in why Jason couldn't wait to get him alone.

  The crowd was wailing and cheering.

  The drag queen gently took the microphone. "I don't know who he is, but a voice like that has my oven set to five hundred degrees, baby!" She fanned herself.

  The last two performers didn't draw out the response Xairin got. He ended up winning a month of free drinks.

  Xairin typed his name on a tablet that a droid brought over and took a picture of him. Jason was standing behind him. "See, I told you Immortals can sing."

  Xairin shrugged. "Okay fine, but I did pull from one of my thralls that can sing so, not sure how accurate it is that all Immortals can naturally sing."

  Jason huffed. "We can, and either way, you sing really good. That random song you got was interesting. But man, I'd save you in a heartbeat."

  Across the crowded club, Ezra was sitting there watching Xairin smile at Jason. He thought about the words to the random song Xairin ended up with. "Would you save me?" Ezra knew in his heart, he would. The part of the song that mentioned making a mistake, Ezra, now dwelt on telling Xairin about how he wasn't sure if it was a good idea being together after the gorgon and gargoyle attack. That song made him regret that, even if he was protecting his sister, his heart longed for Xairin. Seeing him with another man didn't make him angry, just sad, really sad.

  Xairin felt flattered at what Jason had just mentioned... "Well, thank you."

  "What would you like to do next?" Xairin asked.

  Jason shrugged. "Late night dinner?"

  Xairin smiled. "That works."

  Chapter 7.3

  Xairin looked through the online menu display on the hover-jeep's touch screen and found an all-night steak house, called Casper's Steak house. It said on the listing, open 24 hours, and that they had an Immortium menu. "There's Casper's Steak house about five minutes from here. I've never been there, but it has a five-star rating, open all night, and it says they have an Immortium menu." Xairin said while looking over at a smiling Jason.

  "Works for me. As long as they have blood for you, that's all I'm worried about. I'm not like these new immortals; I can even tolerate some veggies when the need arises." Jason said.

  Xairin went to turn and start up the air-fans when Jason reached over and pulled him closer. Jason kissed Xairin. It caught the vampire off guard, but he didn't resist, he was just pleasantly surprised. Jason's kiss was genuinely felt, but a bit over the top. One of those kisses where Xairin felt like Jason was trying to eat his face. "He pulled back. "Slow down, tiger."

  "I can't help it. I, I just really want to kiss you." Jason said, breathing heavily.

  Xairin was flattered. "Well, let me lead the kiss, you're too anxious. Kiss me like this." Xairin leaned over, pressed his hands against Jason's cheeks, and slowly went into a passionate kiss that sent chills down Jason's spine. It left the werewolf breathless. The way Xairin delivered that kiss, had Jason wanting more, now! He caught on fast as to how Xairin wanted to be kissed. He liked it.

  After it was over, Jason's eyes were wide. He was panting for a moment. Jason’s heart was skipping beats, and his body was tingling. He had to catch his breath. "Wow… And wow, I've never been critiqued on how I kiss, but man, I have to admit, I've never been kissed like that before."

  Xairin shrugged. "Well, it did seem like you were trying to eat my face for a moment." He chuckled.

  "I guess I've never really thought about how to kiss a guy."

  Xairin shrugged again. "No big deal. I hope I didn't offend you?"

  Jason shook his head. "Hell no, I'm glad you said something. I've been kissing guys like that, on each of the few occasions I've been with a man. I wish someone would have said something sooner."

  "Can I try again?" Jason asked, and Xairin nodded.

  This time, they were holding each other as Jason went into a slow passionate kiss that picked up intensity, not over the top, but went from kissing Xairin's mouth to his neck, to the other side, and ended back up at Xairin's mouth again. Xairin moaned a little. Xairin was getting turned on, he moaned a little again. "I thought you were hungry?"

  Jason nodded as he kissed Xairin and nibbled on his right ear. "I'm hungry for a lot of things tonight."

  "I actually want some blood, so, can we chill out just a bit and then see what happens after dinner?" Xairin asked humbly.

  Jason grabbed his hand. "You're the prince."

  Xairin smirked and playfully batted his eyes. "That's right. I am."

  They arrived at a busy restaurant built into the side of a street-side, mall strip. The outside was lit up with big words, "Casper's Steak House." In big, bold red glowing letters. The restaurant looked like it was four floors in height, having noticeable flora from the outside blast-proof glass. There was a line to get in. Jason and Xairin held hands while they waited.

  After a twenty-minute wait, they finally made it to one of the podiums where a girl in a black outfit waited to greet and seat the guests. "Hello, Welcome to Casper’s. How many are dining tonight?"

  Jason spoke up. "Two, just us."

  The girl, "Holly," was on her name tag, smiled. "Any dietary restrictions or food allergies?"

  Jason pointed over to Xairin. "We need a blood menu for him."

  "Sure, no problem. And you?"

  "A regular menu is fine."

  She grabbed two menus and escorted them to an elevator that took them to the third floor, and over to a booth that overlooked the street. "Your waiter will be Brian; he should be with you shortly." She handed them the menus.

  Xairin grabbed the one with Immortium, wrote on the top of it, and started looking through it. The vampire section was actually pretty detailed with different blood types, while Jason, looked at the ribs. It wasn't long until a leanly built man, with brown hair and a hard part in his hairstyle, approached wearing the same black attire. He had his tablet ready. "Hello, I'm Brian, can I start you two off with any appetizers?"

  Xairin pointed at a blood fondu, "What's in this blood fondu?"

  "Fairly popular appetizer for our vampire clientele, our blood fondu, is pigs’ blood, O negative, blended with raw cloned muscle into a puree, and offered with a side of frozen cloned muscle chips, raw of course."

  "I guess I can try it. That and a glass of water."

  Brian looked at Jason. "And you, sir?"

  Jason started spouting off. "I will have three orders of spicy chicken wings, one order of onion rings, and water with lemon."

  Brian looked a little confused. "Just the two of you?"

  Jason nodded. "Yeah. I'm a werewolf, not one of those new ones, but an older wolf. I have a cast-iron stomach. Human food doesn't bother me. I'm pretty hungry."

  "Okay, I will put that in." Brian typed on his tablet and walked off.

  "I have seven days to spend here, what would you like to do tomorrow?" Jason asked.

  Xairin hadn't thought that far ahead. "It's Friday the 12th, so I'm game for anything. I have to leave for Tour on the 20th, but that's almost two weeks away. So for the next seven days, I am up for hanging out and doing whatever."

  "Any amusement parks in Bastion City?"

  Xairin nodded. "Actually, yeah, there's one."

  "Maybe we could hit that up tomorrow and do some hiking or something? I was reading the brochure to the hotel; it seems like there are some nice trails around it."

  "Any Zoos?" Jason asked.

  Xairin nodded. "Actually yeah, New Beginnings Zoo. It has most
ly cloned animals, but that's actually where the bat that bit me came from. I hear it reopened so we could check it out."

  Brian returned with a droid, helping carry the appetizers. Jason wasted no time digging into the wings, while Xairin gently plucked one of the frozen muscle chips and scooped up some of the warm blood-fondu. It tasted pretty decent. "Not bad."

  "Are you two ready to order?' Brian asked.