Blood Lure (13 page)

Marcus nodded. “Then be grateful you have a second chance to make it right.” The glint in Marcus’ emerald green eyes softened as he gazed at Andrew’s earnest expression.

“Your grief is understandable, but Jared loved your brother too. He loves you, just not in the way you desired.”

“I have accepted that, and now must move on, after I have apologised to Jared.” His smile was rueful. “A proper apology, this time.”

Marcus put a hand on Andrew’s shoulder and steered him towards the living room.

“He has already forgiven you, my friend. But it is good that you both see each other again under better conditions.”

Andrew paused in the doorway of the luxurious room, his gaze taking in the rich furnishings along with the small group of men who rose from the various couches and chairs as he entered. He recognised only Jared and Joseph.

Jared was the first to greet him.

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“Andrew!” Jared strode across the room and pulled Andrew into a fast embrace. “I’m so glad you’re here. Our last meeting was one I have anguished over ever since.”

Andrew pressed his forehead to Jared’s with relief and affection. “I cannot even begin to tell you how sorry I am.”

“Hush.” Jared kissed Andrew’s lips. “It is over. You and I are friends again. That is all that matters.”

He stepped back and gestured to a young man who hung back, a small distance from them.

“Joey, I want you to meet an old friend, Andrew Berés. Andrew this is Joey Ryan.”

A mortal
…

Andrew stared at Joey, taking in the riot of chestnut curls that crowned his head and the steady blue gaze he directed at Andrew.

He is not afraid of us.

He took the warm hand offered him, and forced a smile to his lips.

Jared’s lover
…

He tried to ignore the prickle of envy that danced behind his eyes.

“Hi, Andrew. Jared told me about your brother, Michael.” The young man’s voice sounded sincere as he added, “I’m so sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you.”

“And I’m Roger.” A smiling fair-haired vampire stuck out his hand. “Marcus’

plaything.”

“
Roger
…” Marcus shook his head. “Pay him no heed, Andrew. Roger likes to poke fun at everything and every
one
.”

“Whereas you like to poke me,” Roger said with a mischievous smile.

Marcus sighed but any reprimand would have been drowned out by the laughter from the other men.

Joseph walked over and clasped Andrew’s hand. “Now that you’ve met our resident clown, I’d like to introduce you to Micah, my forever companion. He’s a little more restrained than Roger.”

“Huh, that’s what he thinks.” Roger grinned at Andrew.

“A pleasure.” Andrew relaxed a little as he gripped the auburn-haired vampire’s hand.

He longed to be a part of the good-natured camaraderie displayed by the other men, and a BLOOD LURE

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part of his mind regretted he did not now have the handsome fireman he’d met at the bar by his side.

He felt Roger’s eyes on him, then the young vampire gave him a slow wink.

Hmm… Roger is certainly one to keep an eye on
—
and your thoughts well hidden from!

After some good wine had been served, the conversation turned inevitably to the fate of Bernard Fieldman, the man who had instigated Michael’s murder. After Joseph had handed him over to the police in New York, Fieldman had immediately hired a team of lawyers to defend himself. He’d been released on bail until a trial date could be set.

“The man is quite deranged,” Joseph said, addressing Andrew. “For some reason he blamed you for his present predicament. To quote him verbatim—‘That bastard vampire’s brother will pay for this’.”

Andrew grimaced. “I met the man but once, before you brought him to the council chamber. I hated the idea that Michael was involved with someone like him. I intercepted a phone call from Fieldman meant for Michael, and I…well, I suppose I was not very polite.

We exchanged some heated words, during which he told me he was not one I should antagonise, or I would suffer for it. Something like that. I expect as he no longer has Michael to threaten, he now feels he can direct his hatred at me.”

Roger looked from Joseph to Andrew, a question in his eyes. “But being mad at you is reason enough to kill you?”

“As Joseph said,” Marcus murmured, “Fieldman is deranged. Reason enough.”

“I wonder how he knew Michael was vampire,” Micah remarked.

Jared nodded. “Yes, I’ve wondered about that. Michael was sure he had hidden his identity from the group he gambled with. He had no other association with them other than the gambling. Yet the men Fieldman sent to murder Michael went prepared to deal with one of our kind.”

“Maybe, uh…” Joey faltered as six pairs of vampire eyes focussed on him. “Jeez, guys, tone down the intense stares. You just made me very nervous.”

Roger and Micah were the first to chuckle and break the tension. “Sorry, Joey,” Micah said. “I can relate. Before Joseph changed me it was sometimes unnerving to look into his eyes. They’re beautiful, but just a little eerie.”

“Eerie?” Joseph looked suitably hurt.

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“And beautiful,” Micah said, kissing his lover’s cheek.

“So you were saying, Joey?” Andrew prompted.

Joey cleared his throat. “Those guys your brother was mixed up with—they sound like hoodlums. You know, the kind of guys who trust no one. It could be Fieldman had Michael followed, then became suspicious of his nocturnal habits. Maybe he was even seen, uh,
feeding
…”

“Don’t you think they’d have raised a ruckus if they found out?” Roger asked. “I mean, how many mortals are comfortable sitting beside one of us? Well, apart from one or two.”

All eyes went to Joey again. He moved closer to Jared who put an arm around his shoulders. “You are comfortable with us, aren’t you?” he murmured.

Joey nodded. “Yes, but it’s possible not all the members of the gambling ring knew.”

“I think your opinion is sound,” Andrew said quietly. “In a way, it’s the only feasible explanation. And when he thought Michael couldn’t repay his debt, to murder him was the way to exact vengeance, and also remove the possible threat of Michael turning on them.”

“Not that he would have done such a thing,” Jared interjected.

“But among mortals, we do have a certain reputation,” Marcus remarked. “Fieldman most likely withheld Michael’s identity from the other members in order to not cause panic among them, then later, could have become nervous himself.”

“I’m now more concerned about Fieldman’s threat towards Andrew.” Jared shifted his gaze to Joseph. “You erased all memory of the meeting as Quince directed?”

“Yes, but he will still remember what occurred before. His telephone conversation with Andrew, for instance. It might have been wiser to have erased all memories concerning Michael and Andrew.”

“But wouldn’t that have given him problems with his gambling friends?” Joey asked. “I mean, for him to suddenly not remember Michael being a member of the group might have caused some raised eyebrows, and questions being asked.”

“That’s true,” Andrew agreed. “It would have required erasing the memories of the entire group of Fieldman’s cronies.

“So you must watch your back, my friend,” Marcus said. “We will of course be there for your protection.”

Andrew smiled his thanks. “But Fieldman is in New York, and presumably unable to leave town before his trial. He may want to harm me, but his hands are somewhat tied right BLOOD LURE

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now.” He rose from his chair. “Thank you, all of you, for your concern and hospitality. I should go now and let you rest.”

Jared walked with him to the door, where they embraced.

“Thank you, Jared, for your forgiveness. My existence has been a painful one without your friendship.”

“You will have it always.” Jared kissed Andrew’s lips gently. “And please be careful.

Let me know if you need my help, anytime, anywhere.”

“I will.” Andrew smiled into Jared’s eyes. “Joey is a beautiful man, and an intelligent one. The bond between the two of you is already strong. I wish you all happiness, now that you have found the one you can love forever.”

He glanced over Jared’s shoulder at Joey who was watching them from a few feet away.

“May I have a word with him, alone?”

At Jared’s nod of consent Andrew stretched out his hand to Joey who took it in a warm grasp. “I am glad I met you, Joey, and I wish you and Jared all happiness together. You have chosen a wonderful man to love.”

“Thank you. I’m just glad you guys are friends again. Did Jared tell you he saved my father’s life? How could I not love him after all he’s done for me and my family? Not to mention he’s the most incredible guy I’ve ever met.”

“And you don’t mind the problems you will face loving a vampire?”

Joey shook his head and said with a certain defiance. “My best buddy, Chris, is Carlos Galeano’s lover. If he has no problem with it, neither do I. Besides,” he added, with a gentleness Andrew found disarming, ”I love Jared too much for it ever to be a problem. I know there will be some rough times ahead of us, but what relationship doesn’t have those?”

As Andrew stepped out into the darkness surrounding Marcus’ mansion, he found himself thinking of Tommy again, and what Joey had said about all relationships having problems. The mortal had spoken true, yet Andrew could not foresee a future with a mortal for himself. Perhaps the flaw lay within him—perhaps he was simply unwilling to complicate his life any more than he already had. His reunion with Jared had been bittersweet. He felt the loss of Jared’s physical love more deeply than he cared to admit, while at the same time, realising he must put it all behind him, and move on. But to where?

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Lost in his thoughts, he drifted upwards into the cool night sky, then flew like a silent shadow back to his hotel room.

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“Guess who we’re meeting tonight?” Jared gave Joey a teasing smile.

“Another ex of yours?” Joey asked tartly.

Jared pretended to ponder the question. “I don’t
think
they are.”

“
They
? Out with it, mister.”

Jared laughed. He loved this mortal man and his quirky sense of humour. How had he managed to exist without him for these two hundred years? No one had ever touched him in so many different ways, or had ever sparked desire in him as quickly as Joey did. His feelings for Joey went far beyond his physical attraction, far beyond even the lure of his blood, potent though it was.

“Come on, tell me,” Joey insisted.

“Very well. I was going to keep it as a surprise, but it’s perhaps better you know in advance. Chris and Carlos are back in Los Angeles and—”

Joey gave out a whoop and jumped into Jared’s arms. “And we’re going to see them?

Oh boy, I can’t wait to see the look on Chris’s face when he sees you and me together. He’s going to freak, totally freak. You didn’t tell him, did you?”

“No, I didn’t,” Jared mumbled, kissing Joey’s neck. “Mmm, you smell so good.”

“Mmm, yourself.” Joey wound his legs around Jared’s waist, writhing against Jared’s hard body. “You
feel
so good. What time are we meeting them?”

“In about two hours, at Carlos’ apartment on Melrose.”

“Two whole hours. What can we possibly do ‘til then?”

Jared chuckled. “Um, you choose.”

“Fuck me.”

Jared rolled his eyes. “How did I know you’d choose that?”

“Easy, and you didn’t even have to read my mind.”

They were naked and on Joey’s bed in an instant. Joey smiled into Jared’s eyes as the vampire lay over him, his lips less than an inch from Joey’s.

“I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of you doing that,” he whispered.

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“What?”

“You know what. That instantaneous naked-and-in-bed thing you do. You’ll have to show me how you do it one day.”

“One day,” Jared murmured, rubbing his lips over Joey’s.

“Of course, I don’t mind it when you take your time too,” Joey teased.

He parted his lips to let Jared’s tongue slip into the wet heat of his mouth. He sucked on the strong, demanding tongue that licked and probed to reach every corner of his mouth.

God, but this man was the greatest. Joey loved everything about him. So what if he was a vampire? He had more life and energy than any other man he’d ever met. Besides, it had always been Joey’s secret fantasy to be made love to by a vampire—not so secret, really. He’d shared it with Chris who had totally agreed with him, and the fantasies had come true, amazingly, for both of them.

He couldn’t dwell on those thoughts too long, for Jared was kissing an erotic trail over Joey’s neck and chest, nuzzling his armpits, teasing his nipples until Joey thought he couldn’t bear the thrill of Jared’s touch a moment longer. He almost came apart when Jared took him into his mouth, the wet heat enveloping his pulsing flesh a rapture so exquisite, there were no words in his mind he could find to describe it. His hands raked through the silken strands of Jared’s hair while his hips bucked, driving himself deeper into Jared’s eager mouth. He felt the head of his cock gripped by Jared’s throat muscles and he cried out as he fought the sudden lack of control that threatened to make him erupt into that hot silken depth.

“Jared, Jared… Wait…”

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to come—he just didn’t want this time of ecstasy to be over too soon. He wanted Jared inside him, filling him with his glorious rigid flesh, taking him to that part of his existence only this man could. Everything he’d thought and wondered about Jared previous to his finding out he was vampire had simply revolved around the fact he considered Jared to be an incredibly caring and powerful lover.