Bed and Breakfast [Bloodkin 1] (Siren Publishing Classic ManLove) (5 page)

“It can wait until tomorrow,” he said.

“If he shows up,” Kier added, a warning in his voice.

Dark amusement filled Vane at Kier’s words. He didn’t doubt Marlais would regret ever agreeing to Vane’s proposal come morning. But Vane had a way of getting what he wanted. “He may not realize it now,” he told his friend, “but he doesn’t have a choice.”

Kier chuckled and sniffed the air theatrically. “Indeed, my friend. Indeed.”

This time, it was Vane who ignored his friend. He thought back to that moment of his fantasy when he’d desired Marlais so much. This young human might be more of a problem than Vane originally thought.

* * * *

Moss knelt in front of Vane, his mouth watering at the sight of the shaft just within his reach. Vane pulled him close, and Moss complied with the silent demand. He lowered his mouth over the hard cock. At first, he didn’t know what to do. He experimentally tasted the liquid pooling at the head, finding the taste addicting. He lapped across the glans and even dared to explore around the slit. But he went too slow, causing Vane to release a frustrated growl. “Open your mouth, damn it,” the bloodkin said.

On instinct, Moss obeyed, only to have his mouth invaded by Vane’s cock. He choked at the sudden sensation, finding it hard to breathe. Thankfully, Vane soon let go, allowing him to take the lead.

Moss bobbed his head up and down Vane’s cock, loving the feel of the heavy shaft on his tongue. He’d never done this before, his few lovers having been women. Only now did he realize what he’d been missing.

Then again, he doubted any other male lover would’ve made him feel like this. Moss’s entire body buzzed with need, his own shaft throbbing, begging for release. He moaned, the sound muffled by the cock in his mouth.

Moss couldn’t take it any longer. He struggled with the bindings of his breeches and released his own cock from its confines. It was hard to focus both on pleasuring Vane and on finding his own peak, but somehow Moss did it.

It went on and on, with Vane fucking his face and Moss fucking his own fist. He absently heard Vane growling obscenities, but a weird buzzing filled his ears and he could make out very little from the words. And then hot cum hit his taste buds as his lover climaxed. The sensation pushed Moss over the edge, and he came as well.

He rode the orgasm for the longest time, the sensations unlike anything he’d ever experienced. He heard his own voice cry out Vane’s name and distantly wondered how that was even possible if he still had Vane’s cock in his mouth.

The thought made his mind clear up a bit, and he opened his eyes to his empty, pathetic room. The only living beings in the area other than him were the rats, scampering around the corners. Moss could have sobbed in loss, and his remaining arousal dissipated as if it had never been.

Unwilling to let a stupid dream get the best of him, he got up from his little cot and walked to the pot serving as a cleaning space. As he dipped a rag in the water, he recalled the dream, and the entire night before. This was such a surreal situation, and he felt strangely empty and abandoned. He swore he still tasted Vane’s cum in his mouth, but that couldn’t be. Or could it?

After returning from his peculiar interview, he’d fallen asleep almost instantly. Then he’d had the disturbing dream that seemed so vivid. Had he really accepted to be the secretary of a bloodkin? The bloodkin had separated him from his family to begin with. This was a terrible idea, and one he would have never agreed to had he been in his right mind.

He could only find one explanation for his poor reasoning and the dream. Vane must have seduced him just like the strangers in his town had done with so many others. But he didn’t have to work there. He hadn’t signed the contract. Normally, he operated with the motto “my word is my bond” always in mind, but this time, he needed to make an exception.

Nodding to himself, Moss finished cleaning up and returned to bed. He grimaced in distaste as he realized he’d soiled the one blanket he owned, but he didn’t have any choice but to use it. Nights could get very chilly here.

Bundling back up in the cot and carefully avoiding the wet spot, Moss closed his eyes and forced himself to sleep. Tomorrow would be another day, and perhaps he’d be able to find a better job. For all his efforts, that night, he dreamed of dark eyes and sensual lips on his own.

* * * *

The next morning, Moss headed out toward the harbor, hoping to find another daily job so he could at least eat today. He ran into some of his former employers and ended up spending a few good hours carrying heavy boxes around. A part of him screamed he’d had a chance for an excellent job with Vane Bloodmoor, but then, he remembered his father’s advice and everything that had happened in Elmya. As much as he liked Vane, he couldn’t let the other man take over his life. He didn’t want to lose himself like his friends had.

Unfortunately, he hadn’t slept well the night before, tormented by dreams of Vane, and his distracted musings didn’t help his performance. Several times, he was reprimanded, and the money he received at the end of the job hardly covered his eating needs for the following day.

Disheartened, Moss headed toward his poor home. At least it was close to the harbor and he didn’t have to drag his tired body too far. But as he reached his little hovel, he noticed a familiar-looking carriage.

He considered running away, but he did have to advise his former employer of his decision. He spotted Benson waiting, and figured talking to the butler would suffice.

He’d have preferred to wear something different while doing so, since his appearance echoed his day spent working in the harbor. But at this point, it didn’t matter since after this evening, Moss would most likely never see Benson ever again.

Taking a deep breath, Moss headed toward Benson. “Mister Hayden,” the butler greeted him. “Do you have a response for us?”

Moss nodded. “I changed my mind. This is a bad idea. I don’t think I can take such a job.”

“I thought you might say that.” The carriage door opened and Vane stepped out.

Moss froze. He could have resisted Benson, but with Vane himself here, he found his previous decision melting away like butter left in the sun.

“Vane…I mean, Lord Bloodmoor…”

Vane glowered at him. “Shut up and get in the carriage.”

The tone reminded Moss of his dream, and his cock stirred in his linen work pants. No, this was a very bad moment to be aroused. And then, Vane stepped closer, and Moss’s body responded to the other man’s close proximity. “Go on,” he whispered huskily. “You’ve made me wait enough.”

Moss wanted to obey. In fact, his entire body screamed to do so. He could no longer remember why he’d even thought he needed to resist. But his legs refused to move, and his knees yielded. He almost fell on his face right in front of Vane, but the other man caught him just in time.

Vane’s arm went around Moss’s waist, and he whimpered as Vane’s body came into close contact with his own. Flashes of the dream passed through his mind’s eye, and he had the sudden urge to reenact it, right then and there. Judging by the feel of Vane’s hard shaft against him, the other man would have very much liked something similar.

But Vane showed more caution and control than Moss. He pulled Moss along and basically tossed him into the luxurious carriage. To Moss’s surprise, Benson didn’t get in. The carriage rolled off, leaving the butler behind.

“W–what’s going on?” he asked. “Where is he going?”

Vane ignored his question. “Did you read through the contract?” he asked instead of offering a reply.

Moss shook his head. He hadn’t read through it. He’d left at dawn for his harbor job, convinced he would refuse the weird secretary position. “I fell asleep shortly after I got back, and in the morning—”

Vane cut him off before he could finish the phrase. “Well, you’re coming with me now so you can read it. You may not be my employee yet, but you did promise to give me an actual answer. I don’t appreciate being ignored.”

Moss’s face heated at the reprimand. “Yes, my lord,” he muttered. He should have known better. He’d been taught manners by a very educated lady, and here he was, ignoring his mother’s every lesson. “I understand.”

Vane nodded. “Excellent. Never disobey me again. I don’t like it.”

“Yes, my lord,” Moss repeated. He could swear he saw Vane adjust himself in his pants, but the motion was so fast it could have very well been his imagination.

He tried to distract himself and looked away from his employer. Outside, the city looked as busy as ever, with carts surrounding the carriage, errand boys running to and fro. Merchants advertised their wares, and ragged-looking housewives occasionally engaged in not-so-polite debates with them, intent on decreasing the prices.

It occurred to Moss none of the people seemed to pay any heed to the passing vehicle. In fact, they went about their business as if expensive carriages were the norm in their city and the district, when in fact, Moss could count the times he’d seen them on the fingers of one hand. Only the wealthiest folk benefited from such comforts, and not even rich human families, like Moss’s had been, could afford one. The magicks and technologies needed to fashion such items went beyond anything Moss could ever hope to see.

“You are wondering why they can’t see the carriage,” Vane said. “Like I said, my kind has certain abilities, and I can make the humans avoid our vehicle without them even noticing.”

Moss gaped at Vane. “But didn’t you say you dislike manipulating humans? That you don’t use your powers for such things?” He closed his mouth when he realized he’d insulted his employer. “I–I’m sorry,” he stammered.

Strangely, Vane didn’t look upset. In fact, he looked amused. “Don’t apologize. I am pleased you asked since you will be seeing me use my powers in the future. And to answer your question, there is a difference between the two cases.” He paused, as if taking a moment to assess his words. “In this situation, I use my abilities for my comfort and convenience. It would be very annoying to have the humans take notice of the carriage and either take off screaming or beg for money.”

Moss nodded. He agreed with that, but he still didn’t grasp the difference Vane was talking about. “But isn’t the ‘bed and breakfast’ thing convenience as well?” He couldn’t make himself say “sex and blood.”

Vane shook his head. “That is need and base instinct. Using my power for obtaining it would render me close to an animal, like many of my kin have become.” Vane’s gaze seemed to turn heated, more intense. “My education and position help me conquer it. Others are not so lucky, or simply do not bother.”

Moss was beginning to understand. “It’s not so different with humans,” he replied, proud when his voice didn’t tremble. “Following instinct and need blindly leads to disastrous results.”

“Precisely.” Vane’s expression turned predatory. “With the exception that my instinct is to possess, feed, and hurt, and much more extreme. I have other abilities, such as telekinesis, for example, but I won’t get into that right now.”

Moss didn’t know what to say to that. He’d somehow ended up in a very dangerous situation, but he didn’t even feel frightened.

“Ah, we’re here,” Vane said suddenly.

Startled, Moss looked outside once more. Indeed, at some point during the conversation, they’d left the harbor district and were now in front of Vane’s home. When had so much time passed?

The carriage slowed down and stopped, and Moss’s nervousness doubled. Vane opened the door and jumped outside, then gestured him out. Taken aback, Moss tripped and caught himself before falling. He realized then his messy clothing had dirtied the expensive seating of the carriage.

What a disaster. He’d been so lost in Vane’s presence he’d even forgotten to feel self-conscious about his clothing. He wished now he’d have fulfilled his promise. At least that way, Vane wouldn’t have seen him like this.

“Come on,” Vane said, and Moss’s body moved as if of its own accord.

He joined Vane out of the carriage, the same feeling of wonder filling him as he took in the house. When Vane headed toward the front entrance, Moss followed. His shamelessness returned with a vengeance and he took advantage of his position to admire Vane’s ass and broad back. His hands itched to touch, to see if those muscles were as hard as they seemed, to feel and explore everything.

He struggled to keep a modicum of composure, even if he suspected Vane could see straight through him. Vane led him inside, and just when Moss thought he’d had enough surprises for the day, an army of servants met them. Liveried men and women in maid outfits popped up from every direction, fussing around Vane and giving Moss curious looks. Moss could only guess what they thought of him and wanted the ground to swallow him whole.

“Everyone, this is my future companion, Mister Marlais Hayden. As usual, you are to help him with everything he needs.”

There were yeses all around, and then silence fell. Moss had to say something to introduce himself. “Hi. It’s a pleasure to be here. I’m Marlais, but you can call me Moss.”

Another chorus of agreements followed, but this time, they sounded less practiced and a bit more intrigued.

“Well, then, Pena, prepare a bath for our new guest.” A tiny woman nodded and did a small curtsy. “Go with her,” Vane told Moss. “After you wash up and get a change of clothes, I expect you in my study.” He clapped his hands together. “Everyone, back to your duties.”