Bound in Blood (4 page)

Carlos’ smile deepened. “And I have never met anyone quite as adorable as you.”

“Really? A man like you…?”

“I am just a man, Christopher, a man who considers himself fortunate to be able to hold someone as beautiful as you in my arms and make love to you over and over.”

Startled, yet deeply touched by what Carlos had just said, Chris found himself unable to form a reply, but his parted lips invoked an invitation Carlos did not refuse. His mouth closed over Chris’ in a kiss that was still tender but with a hungry demanding edge that had both men moaning with need and desire. Carlos’ hand slid down the length of Chris’ spine then cupped the round swell of his butt, pulling him in closer. The sensation of having this strong, hard body pressed to his overwhelmed Chris’ senses, filling him with a carnal longing to be possessed completely, to have Carlos take him body and soul. He almost cried out as the need overtook him, and as if Carlos had read his mind, his fingers slipped between Chris’ butt cheeks, probing at the tight ring of muscle, easing into the soft, silken heat beyond his resistance.

Chris’ body bucked from the sensation that swept through his blood. He arched his back, pushing his ass against Carlos’ fingers, drawing him deeper inside himself, shuddering with ecstasy as his sweet spot was probed and caressed. He whimpered with longing, pressing himself even further into Carlos’ embrace as if melting into his flesh and becoming one with him was the only thing that would bring him total satisfaction.

“Fuck me, please.” Chris’ face grew hot as he whispered the words. He’d never asked it of anyone before, and now, here he was almost begging this man to take him in a manner BOUND IN BLOOD

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he’d never really enjoyed. It was just that he was so sure, with Carlos, it would be everything he’d always hoped for.

Carlos withdrew his fingers and turned Chris over onto his stomach. Sitting astride Chris’ thighs, he stroked and massaged the smooth and lightly tanned flesh beneath him then leant forward to kiss the nape of Chris’ neck. His lips wove an erotic pattern down the length of Chris’ spine, coming to rest at the cleft between his buttocks where he laid a kiss on either cheek before parting them to allow his tongue access to Chris’ moist hole. Chris moaned aloud as Carlos laved the ring of tight muscle surrounding his opening. His body writhed, his hands clutched at the sheets beneath him as the tip of Carlos’ tongue entered him, bringing him to such an exquisite ecstasy, he thought for a moment he might lose all control and come too soon. He wanted all of Carlos inside him before that happened. He had just about enough reason left to reach for the nightstand drawer. Pulling it open, he slipped a condom packet into the palm of his hand and passed it back to Carlos then reached for the lube—lots of lube.

Carlos took the tube and coated his fingers, slipping one then two deep inside Chris’

ass. His fingers moved inside Chris, stretching his tight hole and, once more, bringing him to the brink of delirious joy. Chris raised his hips slightly as he felt the head of Carlos’ cock nudge at his opening. He held his breath, willing himself not to wince or cry out with the pain he was sure would accompany Carlos entering him. The tight ring of muscle protecting his opening gave up its resistance under the pressure of the hard, rigid flesh that pushed into him—then, not pain, at least not the excruciating pain he’d experienced once before, just an exquisite sharp burn that had him arching his back in surprise, followed by a feeling of intense exhilaration as Carlos pressed forward, driving every sensational, hard inch of his cock all the way inside him.

“Oh, yes!”

His cry of deep satisfaction was echoed by Carlos as he plunged in and out of Chris, his rhythm matched by the adorable man who writhed under him, bringing him a fulfilment he had not known for so long.

Yes, this was what he had craved for, hungered for all these empty years, someone who not only gave him his body, but his mind and soul. Combined with the raw physical need BOUND IN BLOOD

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expressed in both their longings was a tenderness, an emotion that went beyond the carnal, emotion that Carlos had not experienced in a long time. He pulled himself to his knees, lifting Chris so that his back was pressed to Carlos’ chest. Carlos wrapped his arms tightly around Chris’ body, holding him in an embrace neither man wanted to end. He raised his hips upward to meet Chris’ downward push, his cock sinking even deeper inside Chris.

Chris’ head fell back onto Carlos’ wide shoulder, his blissful moans muffled by Carlos’ lips covering his mouth with a lingering and sensuous kiss.

His lips moved to Chris’ neck where the scent of the sweet blood coursing through Chris’ jugular made his mind reel with need. His fangs lengthened, nipping gently at the smooth skin. Calling on all his willpower, he turned his head away, denying himself the life-giving human elixir.

Not yet, not yet. Not until he is willing.

Locking Chris to him with one arm, Carlos let his free hand glide down over Chris’

torso, reaching for the hot, throbbing flesh that jutted so proudly from between Chris’ thighs.

“Yes, my love,” he murmured, his lips pressed to Chris’ ear. “Come for me.” The lithe young man shuddered in his embrace. Cries of sheer pleasure were wrung from Chris as his body arched in total rapture and his orgasm was ripped from him, sending a torrent of semen arcing across the bed sheets. Carlos held him even tighter, laving his neck and throat with wet urgent kisses. His hips bucked faster now, driving his hard-as-steel cock into Chris’

hot core until he could hold back no longer, and he exploded into the condom with great, gut-wrenching spasms.

Chris curved an arm round Carlos’ neck, turning his head, seeking a kiss from the man who had brought him to a plane of ecstasy he had never until this moment known existed.

Still trembling with emotion, he was content to stay secure in Carlos’ embrace and to feel the pulsing of the man’s cock, still buried deep inside him.

“I think I’ve just been to heaven and back,” he whispered against the soft lips that caressed his.

“And you took me with you.” Carlos eased them both into a side-by-side position without pulling free of him. Chris clenched down on the still-hard flesh that filled him and pushed himself deeper into Carlos’ arms.

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Chris took one of the big hands that held him fast and raised it to his lips. “Will you stay with me tonight?”

“I wish I could.” Carlos nuzzled Chris’ ear. “But I have an extremely early morning appointment.”

Chris shifted slightly so that he could see Carlos’ face. “I thought you were on vacation.”

Carlos smiled. “Business mixed with pleasure.”

“But I’ll see you again?”

“You will—that you can depend on.”

“Then, that’s okay.” Chris lifted his head to kiss Carlos on his soft, full lips. “But you don’t have to leave just yet, do you?”

Carlos smiled down at him. “No, I do not.”

“Mmm…” Chris clenched his ass muscles around Carlos’ hardening cock. “You feel as though you’re ready to go again.”

“Ready when you are.”

“Oh, I’m ready.” Chris wrapped his arms about Carlos’ neck and pulled him down for another long kiss. “Let’s go.”

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Carlos let himself into the big house his friends owned in the Hollywood Hills. He entered the impressive reception hall and stood for moment, listening to the sounds of a violin being played in the drawing room.

Tony… What an incredible talent
, he thought. Silently, so as not to disturb the musician or his audience of three, he moved across the tiled floor and waited in the drawing room doorway until the last strains of the melody had died away. It gave him a moment or two to look, with some fondness, upon the beautiful form and face of his cousin, the Lady Andorra, as she gave her lover, Tony, her rapt attention. His gaze shifted to the man who sat by his cousin’s side—his lifelong friend Marcus Verano, truly the handsomest man he had ever known. Carlos retained a special affection for Marcus, for it was he who had comforted Andorra in her time of grief for the family she had lost to the vile actions of the Comte d’Arcy.

The attractive young man who sat nestled close to Marcus, Carlos had known only recently but had already formed a warm friendship with, was Roger Folsom—a mortal when he and Marcus had first met and fallen in love, but who had been changed through, once again, the evil machinations of their enemy, the Comte d’Arcy. A pity, Carlos had reflected many a time, that Marcus had sent d’Arcy into hiding. He would loved to have torn the contemptible Comte to shreds.

“Bravo, Tony!”

Carlos smiled as Marcus jumped to his feet, applauding with enthusiasm.

He turned to smile at Carlos. “Carlos, you have just missed hearing Tony’s new composition.”

“I heard the last few bars, and it sounded beautiful, Tony.”

“Thanks.” Tony’s mop of unruly, dark-brown hair had fallen across his forehead, hiding his thick brows, but his eyes twinkled with pleasure. He turned to accept a kiss on his cheek from the beautiful woman who slipped a proprietary arm around his waist.

“My Tony is a genius,” Andorra purred, hugging her man to her side.

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“Indeed he is,” Carlos agreed. He bent slightly and leant in to kiss Andorra lightly on both cheeks. “You look beautiful as ever, my dear cousin.”

Andorra smiled and tapped Carlos gently on his chin with her forefinger. “And where were you when Tony and I arrived? Marcus and Roger were expecting you earlier.”

“My apologies.” Carlos smiled at his hosts. “I was detained by a most interesting and delightful young mortal.”

“Ah…” Marcus grinned at him. “I thought it must have been something quite pressing.”

“Pressing the flesh you mean,” Roger said, winking at Carlos. “Anyone I know?”

“We didn’t get as far as exchanging our friends’ names,” Carlos replied, chuckling. “His name is Chris Jeffries, although I asked if I may call him Christopher. He is studying to be an accountant and has a part time job at the Xtasy Club, off Santa Monica.”

Roger grimaced. “Ugh, that dump.”

“It’s not the best of places,” Carlos agreed. “Nor the safest,” he added after a pause.

“You had trouble?” Marcus asked.

“Some thugs were out to beat Chris…Christopher to a pulp, so I stepped in and stopped them.”

“And now, he’s yours forever,” Roger sighed. “You’re his hero.”

“Actually, he defended himself very well,” Carlos said with a trace of admiration in his voice. “He showed he could be calm and courageous when faced with armed cowards.”

“How romantic,” Andorra remarked dryly, shaking her head. “You and your one-night love affairs, Carlos. It is time you found a forever companion again.”

“Would you care for some wine?” Marcus asked quickly.

“I’ll get it,” Tony said as Carlos nodded after a sharp look at Andorra. “I think I could use a martini right about now.”

“No, I mean it,” Andorra insisted. “You have been alone too long, Carlos.”

“
Andy
,” Tony said in a warning tone as he poured a dark red wine into a crystal glass.

“Carlos doesn’t want to talk about it.”

“But I do,” Andorra said, ignoring Tony’s warning. “We have all lost loved ones.

Marcus and I can attest to that.”

“Andorra,” Marcus murmured. “Now is not the time.”

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Carlos gave him a tight smile as he accepted the wine from Tony. “It’s all right, Marcus.

My dear cousin delights in meddling in my affairs.”

“I do not meddle, Carlos,” Andorra sniffed. “I merely want you to be happy.”

“I am happy.” Carlos’ smile widened. “In fact, tonight I have never been happier.”

“He was that good, eh?” Roger teased, his blue eyes glinting.

They shared a smile. “He was—
is—
a very interesting young man,” Carlos said.

“So you’re seeing him again?”

“I’m planning on it.”

“Great!” Roger positively beamed. “When do we get to meet him?”

“Uh…that may take some time to arrange.”

“Why? Hey, Marcus laid it all out for me the first night we were together.”

Carlos chuckled. “We are not all as self-assured as Marcus.”

“Oh, come now, Carlos,” Marcus said with a light laugh. “I have never known you to be unsure of your considerable charm.”

“Well, let’s just say I want to
very
sure before I reveal my true nature to him.”

“You didn’t take a little sip?” Roger asked with an impish smile.

“No, I did not.” Carlos grimaced for a moment. “That is not to say I wasn’t tempted. I was. But I felt something more than just a hunger for his blood. The waiting will be hard, of course.”

Andorra sighed impatiently. “Why bother? You will have discarded him and made him forget you as you have done with so many others over the years. Ever since Miguel died, you have—”

“Andorra!” Carlos glared at his cousin through narrowed eyes. “I have asked you repeatedly not to mention Miguel’s name. If you cannot honour my request, perhaps it is time I made
you
forget!”

“
Carlos
.” Andorra stared back at him, her beautiful face shadowed by shock.

Tony moved away from the bar and came to stand by her. “Carlos,” he said quietly putting a defensive arm around her. “Andy didn’t mean anything by it.”

Carlos’ glare swept away from his cousin and fixed on Tony’s frowning expression. He let out a long, hissing breath from between his teeth, but his shoulders visibly relaxed as his gaze softened. He bowed his head slightly.

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“My apologies, Andorra…Tony. I’m afraid the memory of that time is still like an open wound on my soul.”

“Oh, Carlos…” Andorra stepped forward and embraced him. “I am sorry. Sometimes my tongue is faster than my brain. I know how much you loved him—how much we all loved him.”