Cronin's Key (24 page)

“Your permission?”

“Yes.” Alec slid off the bed and pulled his jeans off, then his shirt. And in only his underwear, he sidled over to where Cronin still sat on the bed and swung his leg over to straddle his hips. Alec deliberately ground down hard on him and tilted his head back so he could kiss him.

“I want more with you. I will always want more with you,” Alec whispered. Cronin’s pale skin looked silver in the light, and Alec traced his fingers over the silver scar on Cronin’s chest. “I want the human you.” Then he slid his thumb across Cronin’s bottom lip to reveal his fangs. “I want the vampire you.”

“We cannot…” Cronin cringed, not willing to say the words.

“Have penetrative sex,” Alec finished for him, grinding down on him once more. “Because sex means biting.”

Cronin barked out an embarrassed laugh, which Alec silenced with a kiss. “For what it’s worth, Cronin,” Alec murmured. “I look forward to it. The fucking, the biting…”

Cronin hissed out another growl. “Alec. You shouldn’t say such things to me.”

“Make me come, Cronin.” He mouthed the words against his lips, and Cronin reacted with a sharp growl and demanding hands. He gripped Alec in all the right places, holding him tightly while Alec slid his arms around Cronin and slid his tongue into Cronin’s mouth.

They ground their hips, seeking friction and touch. This time when Alec moved his hands to the button on Cronin’s jeans, he wasn’t stopped. And when Alec slid his hand around Cronin’s hard cock, he bucked upward, his whole body taut.

Then Alec flexed against him, the friction all he needed to send his orgasm spinning through him. Cronin wrapped his fingers around Alec’s shaft, and as he spilled between them, Alec arched his back and gave a silent scream. Cronin followed soon after, and for the longest, most perfect moment, they barely moved. They just rocked back and forth a little, collecting their breaths and semblance of thoughts, Alec still straddling Cronin with no intention of ever moving.

“Shower?” Cronin asked eventually.

All Alec could do was nod against Cronin’s shoulder. He’d almost fallen asleep.

Cronin stood up, holding Alec right where he was, and walked into the bathroom and into the shower. Cronin turned the water on with one hand, still holding Alec with such ease, slowly leaning him back into the streams of hot water. And slowly, slowly, Alec slid down until his feet hit the tiles. Still sleepy, he kind of slumped against Cronin, his face buried in his neck, while Cronin soaped them both with slow and languid hands.

“You need to sleep,” Cronin murmured.

Alec nodded again. “You need to come to bed with me.”

When Cronin spoke next, there was a smile in his voice. “You tempt me,
m’cridhe
.”

Alec stood to his full height then, resting his forehead on Cronin’s, making the vampire have to look up. The look in his eyes took Alec’s breath away. “
Am
I your heart?”

Cronin’s eyes slowly closed and he whispered, “Aye.”

Alec smiled at that. “I love it when you speak Gaelic to me.”

Cronin ducked his head, pressing his forehead against Alec’s jaw down to his neck. “You bring it out in me. It is not a tongue I’ve used in many years.”

Alec lifted Cronin’s chin, making eye contact between them. “You’ll not use your tongue for anyone else,” he said gruffly. He knew Cronin meant tongue as in language, but he couldn’t resist. “It is for me, and me alone.”

Cronin flushed at Alec’s words. His eyes darkened and when he licked his lips, Alec saw his fangs. Alec was laying claim to him, and Cronin’s reaction told him he more than liked it.

“Now take me to bed,” Alec demanded. “I haven’t finished with you yet.”

Alec immediately found himself lying in Cronin’s bed, the vampire over him once more, both of them dripping wet. “You leave my will power in ruins,” Cronin murmured.

The power Alec held over Cronin was heady, a heat expanding through his body, resonating in his chest. “Good. Now get on your back.”

Cronin bared his vampiric teeth just a little, but did as Alec asked. Alec rolled over him, nestling himself between Cronin’s thighs. They were both hard again, and Alec rolled his hips, rutting against him.

Alec kissed him then, resting on his elbows, still sliding their cocks together, frotting and grinding. “Grip us together,” Alec told him.

Cronin wrapped one hand around both their cocks, and Alec fucked his fist. Cronin was growling, a steady rumble, and the sound buzzed straight to Alec’s cock. He groaned into Cronin’s mouth and rolled his hips harder. “This is how I will fuck you,” he rasped out.

Cronin flexed underneath him, arching his back as he came. The sight, the feel of Cronin’s cock pulsing against his own, ripped Alec’s orgasm from his very toes.

When they’d collapsed, Alec could barely open his eyes. He felt Cronin move, then felt a cloth wiping him clean before the bed dipped one last time and Cronin lay back down. Alec was on his side, so he lifted his arm, implying that Cronin needed to put himself in the vacant space.

He did just that, of course, and once Cronin was settled, Alec snuggled against him, half lying on top of him. Still with his eyes closed, he reached blindly for Cronin’s hand and threaded their fingers. Alec smiled when he felt a gentle purr vibrate from Cronin’s chest, and he fell into sleep.

* * * *

When Alec woke up, Cronin was still there. Still lying there with his arm around him, still nudging his nose along Alec’s hair. “Hmm.” Alec stretched out. “You’re still here.”

Cronin kissed the side of Alec’s head and whispered, “Given we’re three days from going to war, there is no place I’d rather be.”

Alec sighed and let his still-sleepy brain catch up. “I don’t even know what day it is.” He lifted his arm to look at his watch. “What’s the time?”

“It’s one in the afternoon.”

“I’ve lost track of day and night,” Alec mumbled. “Being here with the windows all blacked out, it’s disorienting.”

Cronin kissed his temple. “Are you hungry? I can fix you some coffee if you wish.”

“Sounds good.” Alec didn’t move, though. “Are you hungry?”

Cronin hesitated a moment. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, hungry, thirsty, whatever. Do you need to feed? It’s been two days.”

“I will have to soon,” he said quietly. “I might leave when the others get back.”

Alec leaned up so he could see Cronin’s face. “Are they not back yet?”

“Not yet,” Cronin said simply. He certainly didn’t look concerned. “They’re not children.”

“But it’s daylight!”

“They’ll be somewhere safe. They’ve lived hundreds of years, Alec. They know what they’re doing.”

“Hmm.” Alec frowned. “I guess.” He sat up and rubbed his eyes, trying to wake himself up. “Are Eiji and Jodis still here?”

“Yes. Eiji took a delivery of his crossbows. He’s very excited.” Cronin smiled fondly.

“Oh, cool,” Alec said, getting off the bed. “I wanna check them out.” He started to walk to the door, then stopped and looked down at his naked self. “Might need some clothes first, huh?”

“I’d rather you didn’t,” Cronin said with a sly smirk, “but the others might not share my sentiment.”

Alec heard Jodis mumble something from the living room, and Cronin laughed. He got out of bed and pulled on his jeans with a vampire speed so fast Alec barely registered the movements. When he stopped being a blur, he stood, fully dressed, looking all kinds of fucking gorgeous, and still smiling. “You like to shower upon waking,” he mused. “I will have your coffee ready by the time you are done.”

Alec couldn’t help himself. He walked slowly, still buck naked, his cock hanging thick and heavy, and stood in front of Cronin. Alec put his hands to Cronin’s face to angle his head upward a little and planted a kiss on his lips. Then without a word, he simply turned and walked into the bathroom.

* * * *

Showered, shaved, dressed, and now fully awake, Alec followed the scent of coffee to the living room, where Cronin had his steaming cup waiting for him. Eiji had boxes opened on the floor and dining table. There were six crossbows in total, and a grinning Eiji. “These were the best idea,” he said excitedly. “Care to try one?”

“Uh…” Alec was unsure. He looked at his coffee, then around the room. Jodis smiled warmly at him. “I might have my coffee first, but thanks for the offer.”

Eiji didn’t seem bothered. Still excited, he held up a long black wooden arrow. There was no metal tip, the fletches were so small they looked almost like a groove in the wood, and there was a simple plastic nock where the string of the bow would fit.

Alec looked back to the streamlined feathers at the end of the arrow. “What’s with the fletching?”

“Well, I asked for these specifically,” Eiji said. “I calculated that with the pressure with which a vampire can fire a bow, and what is sure to be close proximity to our targets, the less drag on the arrow, the better.”

“They’ll be like sleek wooden missiles,” Alec furthered.

“Exactly!” Eiji was still grinning.

Cronin stood in close to Alec and gently slipped his fingers around Alec’s free hand. “I told you he was excited.”

“He’s like a child waking to gifts on his birthday,” Jodis said, looking at Eiji with such warmth and love that Alec found himself blushing. He quickly turned away and Cronin pulled him into his side with a laugh.

Cronin was smiling his eye-crinkling smile. He waved his hand at a brown paper bag on the table. “I took the liberty of ordering you some toasted sandwiches from a delicatessen. I asked for a popular selection. I hope they’re to your liking.”

“Thank you,” Alec said quietly. He loved that Cronin was thoughtful to his needs. He opened the bag and took out the first. It was roast beef and vegetables with melted cheese on Turkish bread. Alec moaned as he tasted it. “Oh my god, it’s really good.” He finished the first one and downed his coffee in record time, not realizing how hungry he was. “You know, I never thought I’d say this, but I can’t wait to go grocery shopping so I don’t have to have someone order me food all the time.”

“You can order more groceries online and have them delivered,” Eiji said. He was now holding a crossbow, and yes, still grinning. “Isn’t it pretty?”

Alec snorted. “Not sure if pretty is the word I’d use.” He looked at Cronin. “But I’d really like to do the online grocery thing, if that’s okay?” Alec wasn’t sure why he didn’t think of it before.

“Of course!” Cronin said quickly. His dark eyes were wide and he frowned. “I’m so sorry I didn’t think to suggest you order your own things earlier.”

Cronin looked so sorry, it squeezed Alec’s heart. He kissed him hard and quick. “It’s no big deal. Eiji got me some before, and I didn’t think of it either. We’ll do it now.”

“Oh!” Eiji cried. “I will need some melons.”

Alec blinked in surprise. “What on earth for?”

Eiji held up the crossbow and grinned. “So I can shoot them!”

Cronin obviously wasn’t waiting for anything else, he pulled Alec’s hand and led him through the doors to the office. Alec was still chuckling when he sat at the desk. “Does he get this excited all the time?”

“Not always,” Cronin said, amused. He leaned against the desk and put the credit card in front of the laptop. “He gets excited about many things. Each new development in technology is a marvel given from the eras we are from. But there was this time at the turn of the 1900s. It was New Year’s Eve, we were in Paris, and they were showcasing a phonograph. It played the sweetest music, and Eiji thought it was fantastic. We had to acquire one, for sure.”

“Because it was amazing,” Eiji called out, still in the living room, but no doubt hearing every word spoken. “Nothing like CD players or iPods these days, but oh, how we danced.”

Alec tried to listen but heard nothing. He nodded toward the door. “Are they dancing right now?”

“He won’t put the crossbow down,” Jodis answered.

Alec laughed, and Cronin smiled fondly. He turned and spoke to the door, presumably to Eiji and Jodis. “Do you remember that time in 1862, we took accommodations in that townhouse with internal plumbing?”

Jodis’s musical laughter carried through the apartment. “He turned the tap on and off, on and off.”

Eiji appeared at the door, looking solely at Alec. “I once carried pails of water from streams or dug wells for it, and there it was coming freely from a faucet in the comfort of the house, as needed. They mock me, but I remember harder, simpler times. You’d think these two were born in the twentieth century.”

Cronin threw his head back and laughed. “I appreciate running water, my friend. I just didn’t play with the tap for two days straight like a simpleton.”

Eiji’s mouth fell open. “I seem to recall you being impressed with the airplane and motorcar”—he turned to face the living room—“and you my dear, the wonders of bottled shampoo, because washing your white hair with charcoal was so much fun.”

Alec burst out laughing. He didn’t hear what it was Jodis said back to Eiji, but he grinned wickedly before disappearing at a vampire speed followed by a loud peal of Jodis’s laughter.

Cronin was smiling widely, the kind that creased the corners of his eyes. It spread warmth through Alec just to see him so happy, and Eiji and Jodis as well. It was as if, for just a moment, the seriousness of the whole Egyptian-Queen-trying-to-steal-his-heart mess was forgotten.

“Airplanes and automobiles?” Alec asked Cronin.

“They were exciting times,” Cronin said, still smiling.

“I guess you don’t need either of them with the whole leaping thing, do you?”

Cronin’s mouth twisted into an almost pout. “I’ve never driven a car.”

Alec couldn’t believe it. “You what?”

Cronin chuckled. “As you said, I’ve never had a need. If I need to be somewhere, I leap there.”

“But you’d like to?”

“One day.”

“Then I will teach you.”

Eiji was suddenly at the door. “And me?”

Alec laughed. “Of course!” he said. Eiji smiled so hard, Alec wondered how it didn’t split his face. “When all this mess is over, I will take you all driving.”

Eiji was gone again, speaking so fast Alec couldn’t understand him, and Jodis laughed soon after. Cronin leaned down, and doing what Alec had done to him a few times, he put his finger under Alec’s chin and tilted his head up so he could kiss him. “Thank you,” he said.