The Vampire and the Man-Eater (11 page)

Shocked at hearing echoes of his own words and thoughts, Brock began to rise. The heat of Daniel's hand sent his senses 103

The Vampire and the Man-eater

by G.A. Hauser

whirling. "
Ooooh, God
..." Brock's eyes clamped tight as the shower of colors commenced.

"That's it ... don't you look lovely."

Straining to jam his hips into Daniel's palm, Brock gave in, released himself to the pleasure.
Stop fighting it. Stop
resisting.
Let it lift you to the heavens, let it wash over you with its sexual gratification. "
Ahhhh, oh, Dan ... Dan ... don't
stop ... don't stop
..."

Hearing Daniel's muffled moan, Brock knew he was bleeding. Maybe it was a small sacrifice to pay for this kind of euphoria. Perhaps the blood gave Daniel pleasure this intense. Who was he to deny his lover anything when he was giving so much with his skill and charm?

"
Take it, take it ... Oh, Christ, Daniel, take it!"

* * * *

When he opened his eyes he assumed it to be some late hour and for Daniel to be long gone. But he wasn't. Daniel was seated on the edge of his bed, slipping on his boots.

As if sensing he was awake, Daniel peered back at him.

Brock touched his throat, expecting blood on his hand.

"I have cleaned you up. I know you do not like the sight."

"You put a band-aid on me?"

Daniel smiled shyly.

Pushing back the blankets, Brock crawled to where Daniel sat and wrapped around him like a snake, resting his head on Daniel's lap. "Don't go."

"I must, sweet-cheeks."

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Brock broke up with laughter. "Wow, does that sound weird coming from you."

"It does not work well, does it?" Daniel chuckled.

His smile fading to an ache, Brock reached around Daniel's neck, hauling himself to his lips. Daniel cradled him, kissing him passionately, teasing Brock's tongue with his.

"Stay," Brock hissed between kisses.

"I wish I could."

Pausing, thinking, Brock dropped back to Daniel's lap and asked, "Are you married?"

"Married?"

"Yes. Is that why you sneak off? All the clandestine meetings?"

"You think I am married?" Daniel began to shake with laughter.

"Well?"

"Well?" Daniel echoed, nudging Brock off so he could stand. Twisting back, Daniel held up his hand. "No. Do not begin with all your questions."

Knowing he would feel dizzy when he stood, Brock did so slowly, reaching for Daniel to steady him. Clinging to Daniel, Brock hugged him with all the strength he had left. "I think I understand, Danny."

"What do you understand, my beauty?" Daniel nuzzled into Brock's neck.

"The blood does for you what the sex does for me."

"I knew you were a clever, clever man."

"I get it. I don't claim to understand it, but I get it."

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"There is no need to understand. There is only a need to share together."

"Yes." Brock held Daniel's head still and kissed him, sucking at his mouth.

"I must go."

"All right." Brock released him, steadying himself on the doorframe of his bedroom. After the slight dizziness passed, he walked Daniel to his door. "Tomorrow?"

"Count on it." Daniel swept Brock into his arms, dipping him, kissing him, setting him on his feet once again.

"Whoa!" Brock held onto the wall so he didn't topple over.

"Sleep."

"I will. Goodnight, Danny."

"Goodnight, sweet-cheeks."

Savoring Daniel's wink, Brock waited until he vanished into the elevator, closing the door and shutting the lights off as he went. Entering the bathroom, checking the band-aid, Brock smiled sweetly, turning to urinate into the toilet. As he let his stream go, he noticed the bloody tissues in the trash, wincing, trying not to stare.

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Chapter Eight

"Hi, Eli." Brock relaxed in his supple leather chair.

"Sorry I didn't call you sooner. I've been kind of busy."

"I didn't expect you to." Brock adjusted his headset so he could hear him better.

"Well, you know, this thing with Daniel had you pretty worried."

"Oh. That."

"Yes. That."

"Don't worry."

"Why? You two come to some agreement?"

"Yes, actually." Brock grew hard from just thinking about Daniel. That had never happened before. No one he had met had ever turned him on to that extent. With his desk acting like a blind, Brock rubbed his stiff mound through his Ralph Lauren suit trousers.

"And? No more weird fetishes?"

"Let's just say we've reached a compromise."

"Huh. Now you have me curious. Anyway, are we still on for the club this weekend? I'm meeting Gary there."

"Gary?"

"Yes, Gary."

"You mean the young guy who gave you the blowjob?"

Brock laughed.

"He was more than just a blowjob, Brock."

"No kidding?" Brock noticed his second line light up. "I have to go. I got another call."

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"Should I call you at home later tonight?"

"Sure." Brock disconnected him and answered the second line. "Brock Hart, how may I help you?"

As he was involved with his call, he watched Faith come in with his latte. He smiled at her timidly, knowing they had left things unresolved. "Yes, I can trade for you. No, it's simple to set up..." Brock watched Faith remove something from her pocket and step behind him.

"Yes, I can do that. It's not a problem." He felt a tickle on his neck and jerked back to look at her. She was clasping something around his collar. Staring at her in curiosity, he listened to the man on the other end of the phone. When Faith smiled angelically at him and walked away, Brock touched a light metal chain that she had set around his neck.

Instantly distracted, he turned back to the computer and began clicking keys. "I don't think you should go anywhere near real estate, Frank..."

* * * *

As the light outdoors vanished in a cloudy twilight, Brock's eyes felt the strain from the long day. The New York Stock Exchange had closed and his ringing phone let up. Removing his headset, he rubbed his scalp through his hair to unwind before he headed home. Shutting down his computer and his light, he craved Daniel yet had no way to contact him.

Looking around every corner, expecting him to materialize like he usually did, Brock waved goodbye to some co-workers and rode the elevator to the parking garage. Stepping out into the cement floor, he once again looked for his lover.

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"Hello?" Feeling foolish, he sat in his car with the engine running, hoping Daniel would pop up and sit next to him.

"Baby, where are you?"

Pouting, wanting him, Brock drove home imagining Daniel would be in the lobby when he arrived.

Disappointed, Brock stepped into the elevator as loneliness crept through him.

Taking off his tie as he walked into his home, Brock entered his bedroom and gasped to find Daniel naked in his bed. "How did you get in here?"

About to reply, Daniel panicked and jumped off the mattress in fear.

"Daniel? What's wrong? Did you copy my key or something? What the hell are you pointing at?"

"What is that?"

"What is what?" Brock touched his shirt collar.

"That!"

As Brock approached, Daniel shrank away. "Daniel! Stop moving. Don't I even get a kiss for your little breaking and entering act? I would have given you a key."

"Get away!"

Devastated by Daniel's behavior, Brock stood still and tilted his head in confusion. "Get away? And you hate it when I tell
you
that."

"Get rid of that thing!"

"What thing?" Brock was completely baffled. "Daniel, make sense!"

When he took another step towards Daniel, Daniel hissed and backed against the wall.

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"Man, are you high?" As Brock continued to take off his shirt, his collar got held up on something. Feeling the tiny chain, Brock remembered Faith clipping the necklace on him.

"Do you mean this?" He raised it up with his thumb.

Watching Daniel cower and cover his face, Brock had to laugh. "You have some very weird hang-ups, Danny." Brock unfastened the tiny necklace and looked at it. A silver cross barely the size of a dime hung from the hair-thin chain.

"Christ, is that what she put on me? Figures." He dropped it on his nightstand. "My secretary, Faith? I told her I was gay and now I'm getting religion wrapped around my neck." He took off his shirt and set it on a chair. "Are you going to tell me how you got in here?"

Daniel caught his breath, his long hair hanging over his face as he recuperated.

Brock approached him in concern, cupping his jaw. "Are you all right?"

"Yes. Dispose of that thing, will you? I cannot tolerate it."

"I know. I'm not keen on religion either."

"No. I mean now."

"Do what?" Brock kicked off his shoes and socks, sliding his slacks down his legs.

"Throw it out!"

"I'll just give it back to her. I can't really throw it out."

Brock set his trousers on the chair with his shirt. "It's amazing what religious zealots think of our kind, huh, Danny?"

"I have had nothing but trouble from them."

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"Me too. Are you hungry? Or am I eating alone again?"

When Daniel rushed him and held onto him tightly, quivering and hiding his face over Brock's shoulder, Brock was surprised. "All right, what's all this?"

"Hold me."

Brock wrapped around him, rubbing his back and squeezing him tight. "It's okay. I'm here."

"That horrible thing brings back terrible memories."

"You're shaking." Brock kissed his hair, massaging his back and shoulders to soothe him. "Did your parents shove religion down your throat as a young boy?"

"Yes. That and more. My life was made miserable because of the church."

"Shh, okay." Brock pushed Daniel's long thick hair back from his eyes. He had never imagined Daniel could fear anything, but everyone had their demons. Urging Daniel to sit on the bed with him, Brock watched Daniel avoid the nightstand with the cross resting on it with all his power.

Walking him to the opposite side of the bed, Brock sat them both down. "You want to talk about it?"

"Yes. I do." Daniel cuddled against him. "I know this sounds strange, Brock, but I have never been able to sit and talk to a soul. I have been alone for a very long time."

"Poor baby. It is hard finding a good relationship. Believe me. I know." He kissed Daniel's cheek.

"You do not know the half of it. I have been the object of so much hatred and ridicule."

Brock hugged him tighter. "It's hard being a gay man anywhere, Danny. I know."

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As if Daniel was already lost in thought, he began, "I was a choir boy at King's College Chapel. First there was the abuse from the vicar. He was a horrible man. He took out all his anger and frustration on us. He beat me with a stick, Brock, on more than a few occasions. It was terrible. I was taken from him when I was fifteen and sent away. It only got worse from there. And of course, well, then this happened to me."

Daniel gestured to his face as if Brock could understand his thoughts.

"Oh, lover. No. You were beaten as a child? I had no idea."

"It was truly miserable. I hate the church and all it stands for. I realize Henry the Eighth was just breaking away from the Catholic Church at the time to start the Church of England. I got that. You know, he was sick of all the power from the Pope in Rome..."

"Henry the Eighth? Are you into history? Are you a teacher or something?"

"But it did not help that he forced Catholics to convert.

They were the same I suppose, in the end, but worse in temper. They were so angry at him they took it out on us boys."

"King's College Chapel? Is that in England?"

"Cambridge."

"Is that where you're from? You don't really have an English accent."

"I was only born there. I was taken away when I was quite small."

"It sounds like you had a rough childhood, Danny." Brock kissed his cheek. "Divorced parents?"

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"What? No." Daniel shivered. "I never knew any parents. I was orphaned I think. No one has ever said. I was really neglected for most of my young life. Or what I remember about it."

"You're shaking. Get under the blankets. I'll warm you up."

Brock coaxed him.

After Daniel was beneath the covers he shouted, "Get that thing out of this room! Out of this home! Please, Brock."

"Yes. I get it. Bad memories." Brock hurried to collect the tiny necklace. He didn't want to throw it out. He needed to return it to Faith. Rushing out of the bedroom, he searched frantically for a hiding spot dropping it into a vase on an antique drop-leaf table by the door. Sprinting back to the bedroom he found Daniel peeking out from under the blankets. "It's gone."

"Did you dispose of it properly?"

Crawling into the bed with him, Brock hugged him. "Don't worry."

"I do not want to see it again."

"You won't. I'm so sorry you had bad experiences as a child."

"You do not know the half of it."

"I'm here if you need to tell me." Brock wrapped his legs around Daniel, clinging to him.

"I am loath to discuss it."

"Sometimes it helps getting it out."

Daniel stared at Brock's eyes for a long moment. "You will let me talk to you?"

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