Brian’s POV I didn’t want him to go. I wanted him here, where I could keep him close and keep my eye on him. But I had to act rationally and this was the best option for everyone. At Deb’s, he would be out of harm’s way, and he would be far enough away from me that I might have a chance to clear my head. Obviously, with Justin around, I would not be in the position to think straight. He seemed to challenge every instinct and left me with too many questions that I didn’t have time to contemplate right now. Ethan may be a fledgling, but I’ve learned never to underestimate an opponent, no matter what the circumstance. He was lying beside me, sleeping quietly after finally realizing I wasn’t going to give in to his demands. If I were to let him have his way, if I felt his warmth again, or allowed myself the pleasure of being inside him, I might never have the strength to make him leave. He couldn’t possibly understand what he put into motion when he offered himself to me, and I was insane to have thought I could deny what would happen once I accepted the offer. But there was a way to stop it. And I had to, before it was too late. Leaving this place, the place I’d called home for thirty years would be hard to do, but sending him to Deb’s was almost unbearable. But I had no choice, on both counts. If Justin was right and the town was talking, it wouldn’t be long until I’d have to go anyway. This turn of events gave me the excuse to disappear now, rather than later, when another hunter may decide to be brave enough to face me. Besides… if for no other reason, I knew I couldn’t be here waiting when Justin came looking for me. ~*~ An hour went by, moving much too quickly. I could sense the daylight just on the horizon and soon it would be time. He shifted restlessly, pushing closer to me and I couldn’t help but wrap my arms tightly around him. I'd put on quite a show of resistance when he was begging me to take him again, but in reality, there was nothing I wanted more. I let my hand rest upon his chest, pressing it against his heart. It was calming in a way; feeling it, listening to the sound of the steady beat ringing in my ears. “Do you miss it?” he asked sleepily, locking his fingers in mine, pulling my hand tighter to him. “No.” He chuckled softly, “Liar.” I shook my head. “I don’t miss it, but I like listening to yours beat.” “And it does so wildly. My pulse races from your touch. I would think my heart would give up from exhaustion when I’m around you.” I disagreed. “It is calm now.” I saw his smile as he rolled toward me, shifting onto his back. “You’re not touching me in the right place.” I groaned, lying my head down onto his chest before raising it back up to look at him. “Justin.” “Once more, Brian. Please. I need to feel you.” His body was so tempting, as it always was. If he’d known how close I was to giving in only an hour ago, he would not have fallen asleep so easily. Now, with the scent of his sex as well as his blood calling to me, it may have just been an inevitable postponement. As I breathed in deeply, letting the combination take over my senses, I knew I would take him, one way or another. “I won’t be fooled into thinking you don’t want me.” His hand moved to caress my hip and then slid down to rub the hardness pushing against him. I couldn’t exactly deny it when the evidence was so prominent. “It’s not about not wanting you. It’s… I fear I want you too much. In a way that would not be fair to you.” After pulling his hand away, he moved his hips, rubbing his leg between mine causing a sensational friction between us. I couldn’t help but moan as I buried my head into his chest. When he began removing articles of clothing, any delusion I had of stopping this was lost. ~*~ The sounds of his pleasure filled the room as I took him between my lips. My tongue glided down his flesh, lapping at the wetness, tasting his excitement. His hands were in my hair, trying to guide me… trying to show me where he wanted my attention. I swallowed his length and took him to the back of my throat, squeezing and suctioning around him, the advantages of being without breath. When his back arched and he began begging, I slid off, dragging my tongue lower, beneath his scrotum. I pressed at the area there, listening to the yelp of delight the action pulled from him. “Please, Brian.” I knew what he wanted. He’d learned the pleasure that could be derived from being orally breeched, and now that he had, he was shameless in asking for it. Lucky for him, I was more than willing to give it. ~*~ He was smooth and wet after letting me spend several minutes ravishing him, my tongue entering him over and over until he was desperately moaning, his body thrashing on the bed, insisting that I take him… now. He was gasping, pleading for something more… more than what my tongue could give. His absolute wantonness drove me to the edge of madness. If he were stronger… stronger than human, I would have pounded into him with the force and vigor that I know would break him in two. It was a challenge, but as he placed his legs upon my shoulders, I slid into him carefully, reminding myself that he was only human. He reached for me, pulling me down on top of his body until our lips could meet in a hungry kiss. Once I felt his tongue against mine, I couldn’t stop and the pace became frantic, almost animalistic as he opened up to allow me all the way inside. Flesh slapped against flesh, rougher than I would have intended, but his cries of gratification told me he was enjoying the wildness of our coupling as much as I was. I left his mouth and pressed my lips to his cheek, down the curve of his ear… following a path to suck on his collarbone, all the while denying where this was heading because I didn’t want to think about it. “Please, Brian.” He turned his head and exposed the soft, smooth skin of his neck, still red from my previous bite. “I know what you want.” And I did, as I knew I would. I longed for the taste of his blood on my lips. I wanted to feel the richness of his essence sliding down my throat. I growled against him, lowering my head to nuzzle his skin. He lifted his legs, flexing even more to draw me deeper into his body. “Don’t fight it, for I am yours to take.” One hand moved to my back, his fingernails scraping my skin, releasing into the air the subtle scent of fresh blood, while the other tugged at me, pulling me firmly against his neck. “I want it,” he whispered. Opening my mouth, I momentarily rested my lips against my mark and then summonsed the change, freeing the demon. His muscles clenched around me and he held his breath as my hand slid into his hair, tilting his head back further. I sank into his flesh, reveling in the sweetness that spilled over my tongue. After the penetration, when he was able to breathe again, he moaned his pleasure and wrapped his arms around me. My hips ground into him once more and then I stopped all movement as my erection throbbed, deeply encased in his tight warmth. I could feel his hardness against me, pressed firmly between our bodies, the wetness seeping out onto my stomach. I allowed myself a brief moment to focus on nothing but the taste of him. I filled my mouth and swallowed slowly, cautiously listening to his heartbeat for signs of distress. His grip was still tight, urging me to continue, but foolishly, he had no idea when a vampire’s bite would pass the point of danger. All he knew was the bliss. The complete feeling of ecstasy that swam through every inch of his body. With one last pull from the wound, I stopped sucking, leaving my teeth imbedded in his skin, reluctant to break that connection with him. When he felt the absence of motion and knew I had taken all that I would, he let his head drop to the pillow and wrapped his feet strongly around my waist, pushing his hips upward, begging me to let him finish. Within moments, I felt his contractions and my stomach was coated with his release as I filled him from the inside with my own. ~*~ Silence filled the air around us as we lay naked and spent, watching the night give way to the daylight. He left only once to take care of his human needs and to draw the heavy shade across my window before returning to nestle his body against mine. “Brian?” I lazily glanced at him, running my fingers through the soft patch of hair beneath his navel, watching as his stomach jumped and quivered at my touch. “Hmm?” “Does my blood make you stronger? More so than animals?” I nodded. “Yes.” He smiled. “Good.” “Though I’ve fed too much, too soon, leaving you weaker than I would like. I will have to keep you another few hours before trusting you to ride by yourself.” “I’ll be fine, Brian. Though another few hours with you isn’t entirely unpleasant.” Placing my hand on his cheek, I turned his head to face me, searching the emotion behind his eyes. This would be the last time we’d be together and I wanted to commit everything about him to memory. “Promise you won’t stop until you get there. Not for anyone.” He pulled me down and met my lips gently. “I promise. I’ll be safe.” ~*~ Justin’s POV The ride was completely uneventful, as I’m sure Brian hoped it would be. I left in plenty of time to ensure daylight stayed with me, even though in my condition, I rode easier than my normal pace and barely made it before nightfall. I’d never admit it to Brian, but the weakness I felt was greater than I let on and I was anxious to find a place to rest and regain a bit of strength. The directions he mapped out took me to a small town on the outskirts of Charleston, where I did as he instructed and stopped nowhere until I found my destination. I was relieved to see the sign on the quaint two-story building reading Liberty Inn. What I was not prepared for was the house’s owner and the vampires that called it home. TBC