Duet in Blood (11 page)

“Well, I’ll leave you two horror aficionados to set the date. See you back inside.”

“He’s a nice guy,” I said, watching him disappear through the French doors.

“The best,” Roger said, his eyes glistening. “So what night’s good for you? ‘
The Hidden
Door
’ opens at the multi-plex on Brea.”

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69

We set the date and time just before Joseph came out to tell me it was time to leave.

Roger whined his disappointment.

“Sorry, but I have a very full day tomorrow,” Joseph explained. “And I’m afraid I have to leave for Europe earlier than planned. Tomorrow night, actually.”

Now it was my turn to whine. “Oh no. I was going to make you dinner, remember?”

“Maybe you could take a later flight,” Roger said, nudging Joseph’s arm.

“Could you?” I pleaded.

Joseph smiled at me. “I’ll check the later flights. Now, we must go. Goodnight, Roger.”

He kissed him on the cheek. “You look wonderful.”

“Thanks.” Roger hugged us both at the same time. “If you get lonesome, Micah, call me.

Joseph will give you our numbers.”

We said our goodbyes, and Marcus walked us to the door. No matter how many times I had stared at his flawless face during the course of the evening, I still couldn’t get over just how incredible he looked. When he took my hand and gently kissed my cheek, I swear I felt that surge of energy again. Or was it just his physical presence that caused my heart to beat the faster? Whatever it was, one thing I was sure of—I would never forget meeting this man.

Joseph was quiet as we sped down from the hills in the hired cab.

“You all right?” I asked.

“A little sad to leave you,” he said.

I moved closer to his side. “Me too,” I whispered, taking his hand.

“Did you enjoy yourself tonight?”

“Very much. That Roger is a character, but everyone is very nice. Andorra is so

beautiful, and Marcus…”

“Marcus is very beautiful also, I know.” He put his arm around my shoulders. “I will miss you, Micah.”

“I’ll miss you, too.”

“Will you? Will you come with me then?”

I stared at him with wide eyes. “You mean it? God, I’d love too, but…” I groaned. “I’d have to give notice at the bookstore, and…”

“I know. It’s unreasonable of me to ask at such short notice.” His smile was sad. “Next time, I will warn you in advance, so you can get the time off.”

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“That would be terrific.” I wanted to leap on him and pleasure him right there on the cab’s back seat. He sensed my excitement and rubbed the inside of my thigh, bring me to full alert.
Break all the speed records, cabbie
, I thought,
and get us back to his hotel, tout suite
.

Joseph

I had experienced a slight apprehension during our dinner with Marcus. Had it been too soon to introduce Micah to my old friends? I had worried that he might feel out of his depth, but to my delight, he seemed to have really enjoyed the evening, especially meeting Roger. What a joy to see Roger so improved, and even if he is still a little unsteady on his feet sometimes and often does not remember just how powerful he now is, for the most part he handles it well—and with some humour. One day, I hope to be able to tell Micah just how much Marcus means to me, what extraordinary adventures we have had together and just how important he still is in my life.

I had told Marcus that, on my return from Paris, it was my intention to explain to Micah exactly who and what I am. I had asked him how he had broken the news to Roger, and how had he accepted it? Marcus’ reply had come after some quiet laughter as he recalled how he had almost frightened Roger to death by spiriting him away from a birthday party thrown in his honour.

“It was a Halloween costume party,” he chuckled. “And I came in my most formal

attire—you know, the full Count Dracula thing. Roger was masquerading as a devil—a golden devil, I might add. Little did I know he would live up to his image once I got to know him better.”

I laughed, knowing Marcus was joking. I wonder if it was possible to see two people more in love than Marcus and Roger.

“So you absconded with him from his own party,” I said, still laughing. “But how did you calm his fears when he discovered what you are?”

He grinned. “As you may have noticed, Roger’s a feisty little fellow, and though he looked like he was about to faint at first, he recovered quite quickly—then I kissed him.”

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“Aah… And who can resist a kiss from Marcus?” I teased him.

“There have been one or two.” Then more seriously he said, “Joseph, Micah is a very attractive young man, and I can tell he possesses an above average intelligence. It is easy to see why you have become enamoured of him so quickly. My only advice is not to wait too long before telling him the truth of yourself. If he cannot accept it, you must make him forget ever meeting you. In the end, it will be much harder on you than on him, my friend.”

Micah nudged my shoulder with his chin. “What are you thinking about?” he asked, curling an arm around my chest. We were lying in bed in my hotel suite after another bout of rapturous lovemaking. He had fallen silent afterward, and I had assumed was asleep.

“You,” I answered, kissing his nose. “Or rather, you and I.”

“Mmm…nice thoughts I hope.”

“The very best of thoughts.”

“I like it that you said, you and I…”

“Micah…” I turned to face him, holding him close. “When I return from Paris, I would like to tell you more of my life before you.”

“I’d like that,” he said. “Having met some of your friends, I figured you’ve led a pretty exciting life—travelling, meeting important people.”

“Yes, something like that. I just hope I won’t bore you.”

“Bore me?” He laughed and kissed my chest. “Boring is not a word I would ever use to describe you or the time we spend together.” He raised his head and smiled at me, brushing my lips gently with his. Our legs were tangled together, the swell of his erection pressed against mine. “You see?” he whispered. “Does this feel like boredom to you?”

I felt my hunger for him envelop me. I buried my face in the soft, sweet skin at the base of his throat. He sighed, a deep sensuous sigh of longing. Despite myself, I felt my fangs extend, scraping lightly at his skin. He shivered in my arms but did not pull away, instead, he pressed himself even closer to me, his hand gripping my cock, guiding it between his thighs, opening to me, his legs wrapped around my waist.

He reached across me, to where we now kept the condoms and lube. So many times I had wanted to tell him condoms were not necessary, for vampire blood destroys all infections, but how could I, without revealing that part of me he might find, at the very least, unacceptable?

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His lips on my ear, whispering of his love for me, while he skilfully slipped the latex sheath over my pulsing flesh, brought me once more to my senses. The bloodlust that had, for a moment, clouded my vision retreated, and again the sweetness of Micah’s body was all I craved. I entered him, slowly thrusting into the depths of his being, losing myself in the sensuous heat of our conjoined bodies and the moist warmth of his kisses.

“Oh yes,” he moaned into my mouth. “Oh, Joseph…feels fantastic…”

“My sweet Micah,” I breathed against his lips as our rhythm quickened, and his

muscles tightened around my throbbing manhood. He clung to me as we rode the waves of ecstasy together. I felt his body stiffen in the throes of his orgasm and his hot semen spurt between our closely-knit torsos.

In my rapture, I almost levitated us from the bed. How I wanted him to realise the full force of my love for him—to let him soar with me to the skies, to have him revel as I did in the heightened sensual sensations only a vampire can feel.

Perhaps, one day we would experience all that together…

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Micah

Working can be a real pain in the you-know-what at times, but it helps when you have wonderful memories of the previous night to put that extra zip in your step. The memory of the time spent in Joseph’s arms, the taste of his kisses still lingering on my lips, the sensation of having him deep inside me, all helped to counteract the fact I’d have to wait almost a whole week for a repeat performance.

However, Ron’s strange behaviour at the dinner party still had me worried, and I wanted to find out just what had been troubling him. I figured the best way was to just show up at his restaurant around six, the time he had his break.

It was already dark by the time I reached La Fortuna, the daylight savings time having just kicked in for the winter months. I stood in the hall outside Ron’s office and momentarily halted on hearing his voice raised in concern.

“But I don’t want him to be hurt, that’s all,” he was saying to someone else in his office.

“There is no reason for him to be hurt, Ron,” a low, melodious voice replied. Jean-Claude. “You know us better than that, surely.”

“I know
you
better than that—and Marcus too. But Joseph… I don’t know him at all well. Do you?”

“Yes. I have known Joseph for many years. He and Marcus were—” He broke off

suddenly, and I had the uncanny feeling that he knew I was standing outside, where I had absolutely no business being. Why was I eavesdropping anyway?

I coughed loudly to let them know I was there. “Ron…it’s Micah. Are you busy?”

He appeared in the office doorway, once more looking distraught at seeing me. “Hi, Micah. Come on in.”

Jean-Claude gave me a wary smile. Was he wondering how much I had heard of their conversation?

“Hi guys.” I stood awkwardly just inside the doorway. “Is this a bad time?”

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“No, Micah.” Jean-Claude hugged me. “Good to see you again.” He looked at Ron for a second then said, “We were just talking about you actually.”

“You were?”

“Yes. Ron is a little concerned about your relationship with Joseph.”

Ron rolled his eyes. “Jean-Claude, for Pete’s sake.”

“Well, you are—and it is obvious that Micah sensed something the other night. That’s why you are here, Micah, is it not?”

I nodded. “I thought you were upset because I was at the party.”

Ron looked at me miserably. “Shit…this is none of my business, but you’re my buddy, and I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”

“Hurt how?” I asked.

Ron and Jean-Claude glanced at one another, then Jean-Claude said, “Oh, the fact that Joseph is very rarely in LA. His business takes him all over the world, you see. It will be difficult for the two of you to have as much time together as you might wish.”

This all sounded a little lame, and it sure as hell didn’t explain why Ron was upset at my being at the dinner party. I decided I wasn’t going to press the point though—not with Jean-Claude there. Ron had to tell me the truth eventually, and when we were alone, I would nag him until he did.

“Oh well, if that’s all it is,” I said airily. “I’m sure we can work something out. He’ll be back in town at the end of the week, so we can talk about it then.”

“He will?” Both of them looked surprised.

“Yeah, he’s coming back early. I guess he can’t get enough of me.” I was trying for some levity.

“Well, I cannot censure him for that,” Jean-Claude said, winking at me. “He would be mad to leave a handsome young man like yourself on the loose.”

“Excuse me?’” Ron gave him the evil eye. “Would you mind not trying to put the make on my friend right in front of me?”

Our laughter seemed to clear the air a bit, and Ron looked a bit more relaxed, but I was still determined to find out just what was on his mind.

When I got home that night, Roger had left me a message, confirming our movie date for the following evening. I was a bit more pleased about that than I thought I should be. I DUET IN BLOOD

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felt that somehow I had been invited into their circle—and I only hoped Ron wouldn’t get pissed off about that too.

Joseph had also left me a message, and as I listened to his husky, sexy voice, I found myself realising just how much I’d missed him since he’d been gone—even though it was only three days, and we had talked on the phone every day.

“Hello Micah, it’s Joseph. I hope you are enjoying yourself wherever you are. I just wanted to call again and hear your voice. Even though we’re thousands of miles apart, it brings you closer to me, and helps me forget, for the moment, how much I miss you.
Mon
cher
, I cannot wait to hold you in my arms again and feel your sweet lips on mine. I hope the operator isn’t listening!” His deep chuckle made me smile. “Anyway, I’ll be in LA at the end of the week.
A bientot
.”

I listened to his message several times, just so I could close my eyes and imagine him saying those sweet words in my ear. In the week that I had known him, he had become the most important part of my life. I knew I had fallen in love, and I was pretty sure he had strong feelings for me. I was just a little nervous to actually say the words, I love you, for fear he might figure it was too soon for such a commitment – and, I wanted to make sure I wouldn’t get burned again.

After all, I’d thought Robert was going to be mine until death did us part, or something, and look what had happened there. I know that’s the chance we take when we get all wrapped up in a relationship, but I honestly didn’t want to go through that again. Maybe it was a good thing Joseph had left town—it gave me time to think. Problem was, thinking of him made me miss him even more.

Roger was waiting for me outside the movie house, looking as cute as a button in a royal blue polo shirt and white chinos. He gave me a big wave and smile when he spotted me in the throng of people lining up outside.