A Royal Craving (29 page)

T
he whole way through the ceremony, the only thought Prosper had been capable of was that he had finally found his soul mate.

Spencer was more than a friend, more than a husband and a life mate. He was the other half of Prosper's soul; the only man in the world who could make him happy. And now they were united before God and their family, bound by the ancient vampire laws to spend the rest of their lives with one another.

Prosper did not confess that his mind had wandered during the ceremony, to take in the exquisite beauty beside him, to cherish each human reaction, while it existed. The faint flush to Spencer's cheeks as he recited his vows, the nervous tremor in his voice as they sealed their union. Those things may not exist in just a few more hours, once he had undergone the necessary change to become a vampire.

Yet, they were as much a part of Spencer as his deafness and his smile; they were intricately linked to his fondest memories of their time together. As much as he knew this turning was essential to keeping his son and husband alive, Prosper would miss those small human quirks.

They took his breath away, until all he could think about was how beautiful and smart and wonderful Spencer was; how he deserved better than any life Prosper could give him. But Spencer had chosen him, with all his heart. He stood beside him, thanking their guests for their well wishes, while wearing
his
wedding band and carrying
his
child. With no hesitation, no doubts, not even a little apprehension.

“Are you in shock or purely lost to your thoughts?” Spencer’s voice caught him off guard and he turned to smile at him, unsurprised by the teasing.

“I am well. I merely long to get you alone,” Prosper confessed, gently brushing a few strands of hair from his eyes.

Spencer stood on his tip toes to kiss him lightly. “Then get me alone, my husband,” he whispered, smiling a dazzling, charming smile.

Taking his arm, Prosper led Spencer through to their bedroom, with a bubbling excitement growing in the pit of his stomach. They were married and he would turn his delicate human into a strong, capable vampire, so he may carry their child safely to full term.

The moment the door closed behind him, Prosper bent to kiss Spencer lingeringly, unable to wait another second to celebrate their life together. “I love you,” he said, meaning every word and many more that could never be spoken. There were not enough words in existence to explain how he felt, as he stared into his husband's eyes.

“I love you too. Thank you for such a beautiful ceremony. It was more than I had ever imagined it could be,” Spencer gushed.

Prosper smiled, as sad and joyous thoughts seeped into his mind, letting him finally feel how truly exhausted and near to collapse his delicate human was.

He had been afraid of a distant priest, a clinical or moderately violent ceremony that involved lots of blood. In his present condition, Spencer had worried that he could be incapable of holding back his thirst for blood or that he would faint before it could all be over.

“Are you ready for this? It will not be pleasant.” Prosper wanted to remind him of the way that the turning worked.

Thankfully, Spencer nodded, looking more confident than he felt. If he could, Prosper would have postponed this moment until he knew his lover was as healthy as a human could be, even if that meant waiting for their child to come into the world. But they did not have the luxury of time. Every moment sapped life out of his son and husband; to delay would be as dangerous as ending their lives with his own hand.

Prosper could not allow fear and protective instincts to take his family from him.

With a decisive sigh, he led the way to the bed and waited for Spencer to get comfortable. He would be there a long time.

Once he was ready, Prosper climbed over him on his knees and sat by his side. He wanted Spencer to know that he would be there for him, no matter what. Then he used a small knife from the bedside table to put a long cut into his wrist, and held it to his husband's mouth.

Beautiful green eyes never looked away from Prosper's, as he encouraged Spencer to drink what he could as fast as possible. The quicker it got into his system, the sooner it would all be over.

Spencer gave no struggle, having been consuming his blood for long enough that the taste and thickness never panicked his human nature.

Prosper smiled when fingers dug into his wrist and those green eyes disappeared behind eyelids; Spencer fed hungrily, as though this may be his last meal.

When his eyes popped open again, almost instantly, Prosper offered reassurance. “Yes, little one. Keep going. Everything will be over soon,” he promised, gently using his free hand to brush at his short hair.

His suit was already spotted with blood, but the sight was a welcome reminder that Prosper held life in his veins. No other could save Spencer and their son. Only his blood could give them life and he would sacrifice every drop of it, if it meant keeping them by his side.

They stayed that way for half an hour, until Prosper felt his instincts kick in. He had to pull his wrist back from Spencer, at the end, because he was determined to keep going. “Just rest now,” he suggested, in a quiet voice.

They both knew what was coming, but everyone reacted in their own way. Only time would tell how badly the turning affected his human body.

After just a few minutes, Spencer arched off the bed with a blood curdling scream. He lifted himself into a seated position, his back arched as far as it could go, without breaking anything.

Prosper was there to catch him in his arms and gently lower him to the bed, once the wave of pain stopped. He had to close his eyes tight, as flashes of mirrored pain and frantic thoughts raced through his mind.

Spencer thought he was dying, that the turning had not worked and he would leave Prosper alone, with not even their child to offer him comfort.

To know that may be his last thought sent shards of pain through Prosper's heart; he had never imagined being so loved by another being that his welfare would be their last thought.

His heart pounded, as he watched Spencer's eyes roll back in his head, until all he could see were the whites. It was infuriating to be King and a vampire already, but know that he was helpless. Nothing could help Spencer now. He would turn or he and their child would die.

There was no middle ground, in a turning.

Spencer twitched furiously in his arms, occasionally screaming and writhing on the bed as Prosper stayed with him.

Time passed excruciatingly slow. If Spencer did not wake or speak by morning, he would fetch Parry and hope his brother knew what had gone wrong. He would not wait for Spencer to die before taking action.

If Spencer was too weak to fight for his life and that of their child, then Prosper would step in and fight for them. It may not be possible or permitted, but he had never obeyed the rules particularly well. He was an impossible creature, as was his husband and their son. Perhaps it would take an impossible venture to save their lives?

Prosper prayed and panicked for nearly three hours.

When it was over, Spencer’s mouth opened in a silent scream, as he once more arched off the bed. This time, prepared, Prosper helped him lean over the edge of the bed, where Spencer vomited into the basin he had ready for such an instance. All that came up was dark red, nearly black congealed blood.

As he stared into frightened, unfocused eyes, Prosper offered all the encouragement he could, to convince him this was going according to plan. However terrifying and brutal that plan may be.

“You are strong and brave, little one. Stay with me and fight for our son,” he asked, keeping his voice soft and calm though he knew Spencer could not hear him. The words were as much to comfort himself as for his lover's sake.

Prosper gently rubbed Spencer's back in small circular motions, as the next few moments passed. He was sick a third and fourth time before his superior senses warned him that Spencer's lungs were clear of his human essence.

An hour later, his eyes opened and Spencer blinked at him with cool green eyes that sparkled like emeralds.

Prosper smiled; he had his Spencer back. His healthy, beautiful husband.

“Come with me. We shall bathe and start the night anew,” he promised. There were no words to explain how relieved and happy he was.

Spencer nodded his agreement and tried to rise up, but he was still weak. He would be for a few more hours yet.

Prosper picked up his battered body, having fought through much pain, and held him in his arms until the bath had been run. He sank into the heat and savoured the sigh of relief that Spencer let slip, the second his body lowered into the water.

When fingers touched his chin and his lover shifted to lie across his lap, his heavy head resting on Prosper's shoulder, all he could do was smile, with tears of joy.

“I love you, my husband,” Spencer whispered.

They met halfway in a sweet, lingering kiss, only for his husband to frown and hold a hand to his mouth. Prosper gently pulled it away and ducked in to kiss the vampire fangs that had clearly exhibited his hunger.

“Feed, my love. Then we shall celebrate your victory,” he promised, holding out his wrist.

He would normally pierce the skin for his love, but Spencer was not a human anymore and he would need to learn how to take what he needed.

After a moment of confusion, his lover carefully wrapped long fingers around Prosper's wrist and drew it to his mouth. Sharp teeth raised and gently lowered against his skin, until Spencer understood the force required for a piercing bite.

No matter how long it took him to learn how to use his new gifts, Prosper would wait and be there to lend a guiding hand. For now, he held his love close and ran tender fingers through his hair as Spencer fed from his veins.

Tonight, they would wash off the stink of humanity left on his skin and celebrate their union as a married couple should on their wedding night.

When the early hours of morning came upon them, Prosper could introduce him to the wonders of darkness and immortality.

P
rosper basked in the pleasure of a simple kiss, closing his eyes and returning the love he felt from Spencer.

His control slipped.

He gripped Spencer's waist as tightly as he dared, without hurting him. He needed to remember that he was real, solid and safe. He kissed him with all the passion he had, parting Spencer's lips as he tasted him. Chocolate. Sweetness. And a touch of cinnamon.

His supernatural senses opened, to explore the young man in his arms.

Spencer teased him, as he pressed further into their embrace, his hands moving of their own accord, running up Prosper's chest and around the back of his neck. The moment elicited a groan of approval that escaped him, as a tongue brushed his and fingers grasped his hair.

Prosper's sense had abandoned him to soak in the pleasurable feelings that Spencer gave him. It felt like jumping into a river of passion that stayed exactly the right temperature and diving far beneath the surface, to immerse in what he found there.

They stumbled toward the bed, as a sharp tooth nipped his bottom lip. He loved that; since his turning, Spencer brought out his vampire teeth any chance he could get. To torment him senseless and to feed the blood cravings that were still new.

Prosper used his speed to get them on the bed and moaned at the weight of Spencer against him. His lover lay beneath him, as he had planned, until his companion used his new vampire strength to throw him onto his back and climb over him.

“You are playful tonight,” Prosper realised, smiling up at his beautiful lover.

Spencer nodded and leaned in to kiss him, with a lingering sensuality. “I have missed you,” he whispered against his lips.

Prosper reluctantly withdrew from their kiss, breathless and trying hard to control himself. He understood what his lover meant. He had been gone on business, in the city, for three days and it was intolerable being away from his life mate. But, with his lover pregnant, it would not be advisable for him to travel.

It was hard to pull away, when Prosper's calloused fingers brushed over the silky smooth skin of Spencer's back. His lover had been ready for his return home; lying in bed, entirely naked.

When he heard the soft sigh his lover left slip, as Spencer moved on to kiss his neck, Prosper's brain took a wanton holiday from his rational senses. He loved the gentle scrape of teeth against his neck.

They had been married for four months, with their son growing inside of Spencer.

Turning had not cured him of his deafness and it had not healed the cross on the palm of his left hand, but they were not things that mattered.

Prosper knew the reason for his own hunger lay with his companion. Spencer was complete, just as he felt complete with his lover. Being with Spencer was like finding a missing part of his soul he did not know he had lost.

Spencer moaned, as Prosper gave in to the passion and let his head loll back in bliss. A talented mouth moved down his neck, nipping, teasing. It was a beautiful sensation.

He was free with Spencer. He did not see the monster or an unworthy King.

Prosper could not take more; he grasped his lover's hair and dragged his dark head up to kiss his mouth.

Spencer moaned against his lips as fingers gripped at his hair, pulling Prosper further into their embrace. “I love you,” he whispered, parting from their kiss. He placed a kiss on his jaw line, smiling at the heartfelt groan Prosper gave in response to the gentle graze of teeth left on his skin.

“Spencer, please,” he begged, lost to his emotions. He gazed up at Spencer, admiring the darkening of his eyes that said everything he needed to know; he hungered and wanted him in a dozen ways.

When Spencer slid his hands under his shirt, Prosper moved into his touch and nipped at his bottom lip, teasingly.

Normally, at that moment, he would back off and suggest doing something to take their minds off each other. But not this time.

Caught up in their fervent emotions, Prosper did not feel the smallest amount of self-consciousness creeping in.

Spencer ran his hands over his bare chest, feeling each scar, each burn. Accustomed to that soft touch, Prosper did not care other than to appreciate the love and tenderness of each caress. How could he feel self-conscious when Spencer had his hands on him? When he adored him?

Prosper loved every moment. And he wanted to give it its true appreciation. He reluctantly parted from their kiss and pushed his lover onto his back. He pressed his hands into the mattress on either side of his companion's head, both breathing hard, as they stared at each other with nothing but love.

Spencer nudged his head to kiss his neck, but as much as Prosper wanted to give in, his hunger gnawed at him and his lover could not satisfy his craving, this time.

“Are you hungry, my love?” Prosper asked, feeling a strength of hunger he had not felt in a long time.

“Yes. We both are,” Spencer said, running his hand over his growing bump.

Prosper smiled, as he added his hand to their baby's safe haven.

Braddock currently worked on a new machine, with the help of vampire technology and the money available to them. Until the machine had been finished, which might take a few weeks, they would not know how it had become medically possible for his companion to get pregnant.

“What are you craving this week?” he wondered, since his lover had requested specific concoctions in the last few months; blood added to his ice cream and hot chocolate cake baked with ginger and lemon.

“Something hot. And…large. I am starving,” he confessed, with a faint frown that said the hunger was not all his own.

Prosper kissed his lips, then pushed off the bed. He fashioned clothes with his mind, to replace the items Spencer had removed, and headed for the door.

It made him happy to share a meal with Spencer and know a part of his child had his partially human genetics. They knew of no other way a turned vampire could accept or crave human food.  It either concerned the scientist who had 'created' Spencer or was part of Prosper's own affliction. Whichever, it made for long nights spent eating, drinking and sharing their lives together.