STORY EXCERPT

It was Emil’s fault that Severin now forever connected bloodlust and human lust. It aroused him to drink and when he had sex, he longed to bite. The two needs were inseparable. It was Emil who had made them that way. Severin cast a resentful glance toward the dais.

King Emil sat there presiding over his subjects, on a jewelled throne no less, suit made of velvet and stiff collar pinching his neck. Severin would never deny the man was sexually magnetic, more so than other vampires.

Tall and commanding, he wore his intense sexuality on his sleeve. He lay with both sexes but preferred men. He was never short of a companion, vampire or human, and dominated his partners with an iron fist. Severin could testify to that.

He glanced at his friend who was looking at Emil, too. Severin sighed. Istvan was his only friend. Vampires didn’t and couldn’t afford to have friends but Istvan was different. He had picked Severin up when he was at the bottom and continued to hold him up. That was why his friend deserved better than Emil.

“Put your eyes back in,” he said good-naturedly.

A flush bloomed over Istvan’s pale skin. His amber eyes seemed misty. Nervously, he touched his chestnut hair.

Severin smiled and shook his head fondly. Perhaps he needed to find Istvan a mate to get him over this fascination with the dreadful Emil. His gaze took in Emil once more and sharpened with interest when he saw Emil was holding a length of chain.

Good God, the vampire had a pet attached to it!

A human no less—it was very popular among vampires at the time, a pet on tap for blood and sexual services—a man kneeling on a silken cushion a few paces behind Emil, chain attached to an iron collar around his neck.

Something prickled along the back of Severin’s neck as he took in the pale, slight figure wearing an outfit of white silk that clung to his lean curves. The pet’s face was downcast, delicate bone structure and sooty lashes emphasised by his cropped, glossy black hair. His small hands were folded together on his lap. He was motionless, barely breathing.

Severin reeled back, dropping his goblet.

It was the love of his life.

* * * *

Severin stared, drenched suddenly in cold sweat. Severin knew this man like he was his own twin. As dark as Severin was blond, as pure as Severin was defiled.

Nikolaus.

“Severin?” Istvan steadied him by the arm as Severin swayed in shock. He looked down at the marble floor, running crimson with blood as waiters hurried to clean it up and the bloodlust hit him without warning. His fangs snapped out, eyes turning red and it was all he could do to stop himself darting across the room, throwing himself at the man who still held his dead heart and tearing into his throat the way he’d always longed to do.

Istvan’s fingers tightened on him. He had been in Budapest when Severin met Nikolaus in Vienna ten years previously and had later picked up the pieces from the fallout of Severin’s affair. Hardly an affair in retrospect. He had barely touched Nikolaus at all. But knowing him over that short period of a few weeks, it was enough to lose his head and his heart in a way he never had in his life before.

Severin allowed Istvan to lead him out of the ballroom, through the French windows and onto the balcony that commanded views of the rugged Bavarian countryside for miles. He slumped against the stone railing, clutching with feverish hands.

“Emil’s pet?” Istvan questioned, tense by his side.

Severin nodded. “Nikolaus.” The name tore from his chest, leaving a jagged wound. It was snowing. Severin put his head back, opened his mouth, and tasted soft flakes on his tongue. “Oh God,” he said. “We must leave.” Even as he said the words, he knew he couldn’t go without speaking to Nikolaus just once, no matter what it cost him.

Istvan’s voice was gentle. “You know we can’t. It would be the ultimate insult. He’d kill us.”

“He wouldn’t kill you, you’re his favourite.” Severin bit his tongue against the bitterness he heard on it. Who was he to judge whatever strange relationship Emil and Istvan had? When had he ever succeeded in being close to anyone in the last five hundred years?

Istvan was silent.

“I’m sorry.”

Istvan gazed at the snowy landscape. “I’m not immune from his wrath, you know that.”

That was true. During lover’s tiffs in the past, Emil had almost killed Istvan. Severin rubbed his hands over his face roughly and gave a loud sigh. “I never thought to set eyes on him again.”

“I know. We must go back to the party. You must greet Emil as though nothing has happened. Once he’s seen you he’ll be happy. Maybe we can slip away early tomorrow.”

Severin swallowed. How exactly did he greet Emil with Nikolaus chained by his side without wanting to rip the vampire’s throat out for daring to touch what Severin had never had? Wanton, erotic images filled his mind of Emil entwined with Nikolaus, naked limbs writhing, the vampire’s teeth in the human’s throat, drinking, tasting that sweet nectar that Severin had always denied himself because of some misguided view of his love for Nikolaus. At this distance, he asked himself why. Why hadn’t he taken what he wanted? Made Nikolaus into his mate for all time. He didn’t know. It seemed obvious now but then Severin thought Nikolaus had never wanted it. Maybe he had never felt the same intensity of feelings. Severin wasn’t sure. All he knew was that leaving Nikolaus had ripped him apart from the inside out and left him a shell.

Istvan touched his shoulder. “Come on.”

Severin turned, followed Istvan back inside and to the instrument of his doom.

ADULT EXCERPT

Emil’s chamber was opulent. Everything was black and crimson, the huge four-poster bed dominating the room. A fire burned in the grate and candles stood on the nightstands, casting sinister shadows on the walls. Emil had attached Nikolaus’s collar and linked the chain to it. He had led Nikolaus through the Schloss and Nikolaus had attracted all sorts of attention from vampires.

Now Emil took off the collar. He pushed Nikolaus roughly onto the bed and there wrapped silk bonds around his wrists before attaching them to the posts of the bed. Nikolaus lay there on his back looking at the two men. His chest heaved. He was still aroused.

“See how he wants it all the time?” Emil said. “Nothing satisfies him.”

Severin shivered. He noticed the items on the bedside table. A leather paddle, a carved dildo, and a stoppered bottle, no doubt containing oil to aid penetration. His blood heated to boiling point. He watched as Emil started to strip.

Severin knew the vampire’s body well. Emil was hard with muscle and well-endowed. He discarded his frock-coat and shirt and slid his breeches down his legs. His rampant cock jutted out, his balls large and heavy. Severin stared, mesmerised as Emil climbed onto the bed. The other vampire pawed at Nikolaus’s crotch roughly and Nikolaus whined, lifting his pelvis. Emil glanced over his shoulder with a grin. Then he lifted his hand and with one swipe, tore Nikolaus’s breeches apart.

Nikolaus hissed. His erection sprang free and landed heavily against his belly, leaving a trail of pre-cum. Severin ground his teeth. Emil dragged the ruined clothes away and Nikolaus spread his legs wantonly, tight little balls bouncing.

“See?” Emil said.

Severin stared at Nikolaus’s cock, fixated. The human was adequately blessed, his prick long and of good girth. Severin’s mouth filled with saliva to taste it. Emil knelt back.

“Whore,” he said and slapped Nikolaus’s cock.

Nikolaus jerked and whined but his erection remained towering, even after two subsequent slaps. Severin stepped closer, desperate to release himself.

“Strip,” Emil ordered and Severin scrambled to obey. Before he had his underwear discarded, Emil had straddled Nikolaus’s face, forcing his cock down the human’s throat. Nikolaus groaned and started to suck furiously. With his erection straining, Severin climbed onto the bed. He looked at the human’s purple prick and then he looked at Emil’s tight, hard buttocks and thought about forcing himself between them.

With a desperate moan, he shoved Nikolaus’s thighs farther apart and bent his head, sucking all of the human’s glorious length down his throat.

Nikolaus gave a muffled cry. Severin looked up and saw Emil glancing over his shoulder, watching the show. He grinned and rocked forward swiftly, fucking Nikolaus’s mouth. Severin trailed his lips down Nikolaus’s rigid shaft. Eagerly, he licked at the human’s balls before sucking them one by one into his mouth.

Nikolaus writhed under his touch. He bucked up, nailing his cock to the back of Severin’s throat as he took him inside again. Severin pushed his hips down firmly. Then he cupped Nikolaus’s balls and squeezed as he sucked. He heard Emil’s deep grunts and the soft cries Nikolaus emitted around his cock. Severin reached up and ran his hand over Emil’s firm buttocks. The vampire shuddered, glanced around. Severin trailed fingers down Emil’s crack, probing between them.

Emil let out a throaty curse. He climbed off Nikolaus’s face and sat a moment watching Severin deep-throating Nikolaus. The human now gave full rein to his cries and moans. Emil looked amused. He reached over and pinched Nikolaus’s nipples into hard little pebbles, one after the other. Nikolaus bucked. His cock leaked copiously into Severin’s mouth.

Emil gripped Severin by the hair and pulled him away. “Enough.”

Severin wanted that hot load down his throat but he did as Emil asked, bearing in mind that this little ménage could end any time the powerful vampire said so. Severin was just grateful to be invited to the party. He sat up, looking at Nikolaus. The human held steady eye contact, his eyes nearly black with desire.

“Please,” he said.

“Please, what?” Emil demanded.

“Please make me come.” Nikolaus’s voice was small, desperate.

Emil laughed. “You’ll be lucky if you survive tonight once I let Severin loose on you.”

Nikolaus blanched. Severin said nothing. He wasn’t thinking too clearly. His fangs remained unsheathed and the bloodlust battled with the human lust. He needed both and he needed them now. He straddled Nikolaus’s hips and leant down over him. He expected Emil to drag him back with every move he made but the older vampire was silent, watching. Severin caught the scent of Nikolaus’s blood, the adrenaline and testosterone thickening it, making it heady, and he gripped the human by the back of the neck and kissed him hard.

Nikolaus gasped into his mouth. Severin thrust in his tongue and the human wrapped his own around it, duelling and seeking. He lifted his legs, thighs hard around Severin’s hips and as they kissed fiercely, Severin felt his cock slide between Nikolaus’s buttocks. He groaned, pushing, and was met by Nikolaus’s pelvis, his partner more than willing. He applied more pressure, felt the head of his cock swallowed before he was dragged back by the neck and thrown onto the floor.

“What are you doing?” Emil stood over him imperiously. “Did I say you could fuck him?”