Ever Dark Academy, Vol. 1

21. Rules

RULES

G rayson took a slug of the wine and then kissed Ryder. He loved how the wine tasted as it passed between them. The rasp of fangs against his tongue as he chased the alcohol had his cock stiffening in his pants. He wasn’t the other one in this relationship. They were both other and it was normal . He didn’t have to hide and he didn’t want Ryder to hide either.

He grasped the front of Ryder’s shirt and pulled the Vampire down the hallway to his room. Ryder laughed into their kiss, delighted, evidently, by his enthusiasm. But who could be less than enthusiastic with Ryder? He was perfect.

Grayson’s free hand roamed over the hills and valleys of that massive chest. He slipped along Ryder’s sides and over his powerful back. He dragged his fingernails down the planes of muscle, loving how they flexed and moved beneath his palm.

They were at the door to his bedroom and he blindly felt for the doorknob, but couldn’t locate it. Yet he didn’t want to break their kiss. The tongue and fangs and lips and heat and wine. It was so good. Ryder’s right hand left Grayson’s hip and suddenly there was a click and the door opened. Warm golden light spilled out of the inviting space. Ryder surprised him by pulling out of their kiss to look around. His silver eyes widened then he nodded.

“It’s you,” Ryder said.

Grayson tugged his Vampire inside and shut the door with his foot.

“Maybe. I don’t know. I’ve never had someplace this nice,” Grayson admitted. “Not even when I lived with my mom and stepdad.”

Ryder’s eyes flickered from the crackling fire to Grayson’s face. Interest and concern was written large in those predator’s eyes. Grayson put the bottle of wine down and started to undress. He didn’t want to speak of the past. He wanted to forget it. Especially now. The past would have him freezing up--not because sex with a virtual stranger was dangerous--but because sex with someone he would see the next day and the next and who looked at him like that was the dangerous part.

“The rooms are supposed to reflect their owner’s taste,” Ryder said.

“These were meant for someone else, remember?” Grayson pointed out. “This must be Gregory’s taste.”

“I don’t think so.” Ryder’s gaze swept the room. “It feels like you.”

Grayson thought so too. He’d felt that way the moment he’d stepped inside. Even now, it felt incredibly comfortable and familiar to him. That was one reason he wasn’t experiencing the usual anxiety of being in a new place where he didn’t know the exits. He felt he did know where he was down to the very last inch. And he knew he was safe here. The Ever Dark would take care of him.

Grayson frowned at that last thought. Why would the Ever Dark--if it could think at all--care about him? Then again, why would all those Immortals take him under their wings as they had? They and this place felt like his.

But Grayson shook himself. These fancies were distracting him from what he wanted. Which was Ryder. Naked. Erect. And all his for the taking. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to top or bottom tonight. He knew he wanted to do both with Ryder and lots of other things, too, but even his boundless enthusiasm for the Vampire couldn’t obscure that he was tired. So he might only get a few of those delights before sleep claimed him.

“I want that shirt off.” Grayson nodded towards Ryder’s top. “I’ve been itching to get my hands on your chest.”

Ryder complied with an easy grace. It shouldn’t have been sexy for someone to simply just lift their arms and pull off a long sleeved shirt. But it was when Ryder did it. He ran a hand through his hair as static electricity had mussed it. Grayson stopped toeing off his boots to reach over himself and run his hand through the short sides. Ryder’s hair seemed softer to him somehow than normal human hair and blacker too, like a raven’s wing, reminding him of the flock of birds he had shifted into earlier. So black it was almost blue. His fingers feathered through it and he wondered if there was something of every animal that Ryder could shift into about his body.

“Nice tats. Are those all the animals you can shift into?” Grayson asked as Ryder turned his head into Grayson’s hand and kissed his palm.

“Yeah. Demos calls it my menagerie.”

“Will you show me them all sometime?”

“The tattoos?”

“No.” Grayson laughed. “Your other forms. I’ve seen the bear and the birds. But I want to see the others.”

“Perhaps.” Ryder smiled almost secretively. “Which one would you most like to see?”

Grayson’s eyes eagerly devoured all of the forms from a magnificent stag to a lion. “Maybe it’s boring, but… the wolf. I want to see you as a wolf.”

Ryder nodded as if this made sense to him. “Wolves are beautiful.”

“I bet you’re a beautiful wolf.”

“You’ll have to make your own determination.”

Ryder’s lips drifted down to the pulse point at the wrist and those silver eyes hooded as he rested his mouth there. Grayson stilled, suddenly very aware of his heartbeat, too. His breath caught when Ryder kissed his inner wrist. It was such a delicate spot. The veins were near the surface. A human could bleed out if those were damaged there. He swallowed deeply as Ryder brought his hand down between them, resting it against the center of his chest. Grayson flexed his fingers, wanting to touch, but Ryder held him easily where he was.

“Rules,” Ryder said and the word had Grayson frowning.

“No.”

“ Yes .” Ryder smiled. “You need to agree to these or we stop right now.”

“Are you kidding? You want this as much as I do! Your cock is going to bust through that zipper,” Grayson groaned.

Those leather pants showed off that large bulge quite nicely. Grayson wondered if he would get a chance to taste Ryder’s cum. Could a Vampire’s semen turn one into a Vampire? Or was it different in any way? Was it dead? He realized he had no idea. Maybe he could listen to what Ryder had to say for a little while.

“Keep undressing and we’ll talk as we do,” Grayson said and pointedly pulled his hand away from Ryder.

The Vampire though was not trying to hold on. If he had been, Grayson knew that only using his powers--and a lot of them--could he have broken away otherwise. That should have bothered him, but it didn’t. There was almost a thrill at being this close to a fire that could burn, but instead only gave warmth. Then again, he, too, could have ripped Ryder’s head off with a thought so maybe they were both playing with fire.

Ryder grinned and shook his head. But not in disagreement as he unlaced his boot as he said, “Do you want me to feed from you?”

Grayson--whose hands had been on his belt--froze and he blinked. “Oh, yeah! For sure. I want to experience that. Do I get to taste your blood?”

Ryder froze. “No, Grayson, there’s a great risk you could turn even if you weren’t wholly near death.”

“Oh, right.” Grayson was shocked at his own disappointment. “Totally makes sense. So no, that’s out then.”

Ryder still wasn’t moving. His expression was strange. Taut and twisted for a moment. Grayson half thought he might start putting his clothes back on and take off.

Desperate for that not to happen, Grayson said, “Cum. What about that? Can I suck you off?”

Silver eyes were focused once more on his face. “Yes. That’s… that’s relatively safe.”

“Relatively?” Grayson laughed.

“Nothing is completely safe with me or any Vampire, Grayson,” Ryder said almost coldly.

“I’m not some shrinking violet here,” Grayson pointed out as the belt slithered from the loops of his pants. He was not a belt person. Why had he agreed to a belt? This whole outfit was being pushed into the farthest corners of the closet, warm or not.

“I realize that. You might have some rules, too. But I’m not your food,” Ryder said bluntly.

Grayson blinked. “Okay, I see your point. But I can kiss a cow--in a platonic way--and not end up eating them.”

Ryder’s forehead scrunched up and then he was laughing. “Sorry! Just trying to imagine you kissing a cow!”

Grayson grinned and pulled the sweater and shirt off at the same time. He was blinded for a moment, only able to see the firelight flickering through the weft and weave of the material. Ryder helped him pull it completely off. Grayson quickly went to flatten his hair as he felt it standing on end. Nothing was more unsexy than staticky hair. But Ryder didn’t seem to feel that way. His silver eyes were glowing–literally glowing –in the soft firelight of the room. He tossed Grayson’s sweater and shirt over the back of the couch and then smoothed down Grayson’s floating hair.

“Ugh, I’m all messy,” Grayson groused.

“You’re beautiful,” Ryder murmured.

The Vampire cupped his face and they were kissing again. The faint remnants of wine were on Ryder’s tongue and another taste. It was hard to qualify. It was addictive though. Grayson surged up against him, searching for more. Ryder’s massive arms encircled him, crushing Grayson to him, and it was marvelous. Grayson’s feet actually left the ground a few inches. Ryder’s strength was amazing. That taste… that taste though was...

Ryder was abruptly pulling away, holding him at arm’s length, and breathing heavily.

“What’s wrong?” Grayson demanded.

But Ryder shook his head as if to clear it and said, “Rules. Rules first.”

“Okay.”

Grayson’s tongue tingled. But he didn’t mention that. He didn’t mention how that tingling spread either to the very tips of his fingers and toes and the top of his head. The urge to dive back in and demand more of that taste was almost overwhelming. But he shoved it down. He didn’t force people. If they didn’t want to be touched, he didn’t touch them. If they wanted to stop, he stopped. Consent usually was the only power that others had over him. So he obeyed it.

“I find you…” Ryder licked his lips. “I’m very attracted to you.”

Grayson grinned. “I am to you as well. Good thing, huh?”

“Yes… and no.” Ryder scrubbed a hand over his beard. “I asked if you would let me feed from you, but perhaps I shouldn’t. That might not be wise.”

Grayson studied the Vampire’s face. Part of him wanted to howl that he wasn’t afraid of Ryder, that he wanted to know the feeling of fangs at his throat, but, again, consent was important. Feeling in control was important for people. He had to give Ryder that.

He stepped closer. Ryder froze again. Grayson moved slowly enough that Ryder could use normal human speed to pull away as he cupped Ryder’s cheek. When the Vampire turned his head into his palm once more and kissed it, letting his eyes slide shut, Grayson knew it was okay.

“You’re afraid of losing control with me,” Grayson guessed, even as he felt somewhat ridiculous saying that.

Ryder nodded, eyes still closed, mouth moving languidly against Grayson’s skin. His cock ached from the erotic touch.

Why would he inspire such emotion in Ryder? The Vampire was old. Surely, he’d had sex with loads of humans. But maybe he didn’t care if he drained them dry or not. And if that was the case then this was a bigger deal than Grayson had even considered. But, then again, he couldn’t imagine Ryder killing people without cause. That wasn’t in his nature. So there was something about Grayson, in particular, that made him feel this way.

“Okay, so what if I suck you off and then top you?” Grayson asked. “Will that help if I’m the one in control of what we do?”

Ryder’s eyes opened to slits. “You want to top me?”

“Oh, hell, yes,” Grayson said with an unapologetic grin. “All this strength you’ve got? So big. So bad. And to see you mewling like a kitten when I’m inside of you? God, I’m going to cum just thinking about it.”

Ryder’s chuckles tickled his skin. “You are a revelation.”

“I try. But it’s hard to surprise a guy that’s nearly half a millennia old.”

Another chuckle. “One would think it would be, but you’re full of surprises. I agree to your terms.”

“Good, because I really don’t think I can hold out much longer,” Grayson told him. “But we need lube and condoms--”

“Lubricant is in the bathroom. Second drawer from the left.” Ryder sniffed the air as he said this.

“You can smell the lubricant?” Grayson’s eyebrows lifted.

“Yes.” A flash of an impish smile.

“And the condoms? You can’t get diseased and--”

“Neither can you from me. Our cum doesn’t not contain enough of what changes humans to harm either,” Ryder said.

“Bareback. Wow. I’ve never… never done that.” Grayson blinked even as his cock pressed against the zipper.

“Do you not want to?”

“Oh, no, no, I do. I most certainly do. Just so many things haven’t been an option until now. With you.” Grayson swallowed. “Let me get that lube and you make yourself comfortable.”

Grayson was quickly turning and hurrying to the bathroom. He really thought he might cum if he kept looking at Ryder, feeling Ryder’s breath and lips against his skin, and talking about fucking bareback.

The bathroom was bigger than he remembered. There was what he would call mood lighting with strips of low, blue light that ran underneath the cabinets and around the outside of the mirror. It gave him more than enough light to find the lubricant in the drawer where Ryder had said it would be.

Good man, Balthazar. Prepared for everything.

He grabbed the tube of lubricant and padded his way back out to the bedroom. He stopped dead when he saw Ryder lying on his back on the bed--completely nude--legs spread, right hand playing with his cock and left hand twisting his own nipple.

“You’re trying to kill me.” Grayson reached down and squeezed his own cock through his pants to stop from cumming.

Ryder laughed delightedly and crooked a finger for him to come near. “I want your mouth on me, Grayson, then your pretty cock in me.”

“You really are trying to kill me. Death by orgasm. What a way to go.” Grayson grabbed the wine bottle and took a large swig of it while Ryder grinned at him. As he put a knee on the bed, he paused though and said, “You want to stop, you just say and we stop. You don’t like something, you tell me. No questions asked. No disappointment. It’s all good.”

Ryder studied his face. “You understand what it is like to be dangerous to your partner.”

It wasn’t a question, but a statement. Grayson nodded, unwilling to speak of his past adventures. How he’d lost control once and never again. Never, ever again.

But I can let go a little here. I can. Ryder is strong. He’s not going to be afraid of me.

“I’ll tell you. And you will do the same, yes?” Ryder asked.

Grayson nodded. “I’m open to most anything with you. I want to do everything with you.”

He was surprised by how easily those statements rolled off of his lips. It wasn’t that he was ashamed of his desires. It was the eagerness and the surety that he could open himself fully to them that surprised him.

Ryder just smiled and gave a nod.

The man has over 400 years of experience. He’s probably seen and done everything. So I just need to give him a good time. And have one myself.

“Lube. I will prepare myself as I have a feeling you will need to be inside of me in a hurry.” Ryder made grabby hands at the lubricant.

Grayson tossed it to him. Another swig of wine and then he was shimmying out of his pants. He cock ached as it hit the cooler air of the room. Ryder’s eyes immediately went to it and there was a flare of silver light in them. But then he was spreading his thighs and reaching between them for his opening. Grayson’s mouth was so dry. More wine. Much more wine.

Ryder slicked two fingers with the clear lubricant. He reached between his thighs, sliding his feet up, and sliding his pointer finger--slick with lube--over his anus. Those glistening fingers thrust inside of that pink ring of muscle. Grayson wobbled. He caught himself on the bed. Ryder grinned at him.

“You look a little out of control there,” Ryder said.

His first finger wiggled inside of him up to the knuckle. In and out. Thrusting. Ryder moaned and let his head fall back on the mound of pillows. They would smell like him--like them --after tonight. Grayson would be able to turn his head and the scent of Ryder would fill his nose.

It doesn’t have to just be one night. It won’t be just one night.

Ryder put a second finger inside himself. He pushed them all the way up to the root, groaning. His cheeks flushed and his pupils expanded.

A third finger and they were all moving in and out, stretching him. He spread those fingers wide and let out a hiss of pleasure-pain. Grayson imagined that it was his cock instead of those fingers inside of this powerful, amazing body. This Vampire’s perfect form. He shivered and his cock jerked.

“Mouth. On me,” Ryder demanded in a husky, deep voice.

He swallowed another mouthful of wine before he set the bottle aside. He clambored up onto the bed and covered that moaning mouth. He let the wine pass into Ryder’s mouth. The Vampire sucked his tongue in as well. Then he was kissing down Ryder’s chin and his throat. He kissed the soft skin of the hollow and let his tongue linger over the right nipple.

Grayson was looking for differences. Did a Vampire taste different? Yes. There was that hint of something more that he couldn’t figure out. Did a Vampire’s skin warm or did it stay cold? It warmed. Ryder was hot . Grayson’s tongue danced along that heated, flushed skin. He kissed and licked down the hills and valleys of muscle in Ryder’s stomach until he reached the beginnings of the treasure-trail of hair that led to his cock.

He felt that straining cock painting lines of precum over his bare stomach and chest as he moved. Grayson resisted the urge to run his fingers over the wet trail and lick his fingers clean. No, he wanted to taste Ryder first from the source .

Those dark, tight curls of air were perfumed with Ryder’s male musk. Grayson pressed his nose against them and breathed in. Ryder. Unadulterated. Then he was at the base of Ryder’s cock, which was as big as the rest of him.

Perfectly proportioned.

Grayson almost giggled. This monster of a cock made him almost wish he was bottoming this first time. It was long and thick and flushed dark purple. He’d need a hell of a lot more stretching before he could have accepted that member inside of him without pain. Even with plenty of stretching, it would still hurt a little bit. But that was all right. Pain and pleasure were twins during sex.

He licked the furry balls that were already tight against Ryder’s body. He shivered again at the greater amount of that taste . Then he slowly followed the prominent vein on the back of Ryder’s cock. The Vampire let out a hiss and a quick glance upwards showed those silver eyes were hooded and glowing.

Grayson mouthed the turgid member. The taste increased and he found himself licking it like it was a savory lollipop. When he reached the top, there was a pool of precum sitting in the slit. He lightly ran his tongue along that opening, scooping up the cream and swallowing it. His eyelids shut and he experienced a whole body shudder.

Not the same as a human. But familiar. So familiar…

He opened his mouth without opening his eyes and sank down onto the head. He felt the spongy press of it against his tongue and palate. He closed his lips tight around it and sucked . Ryder’s hips bucked, but a touch of Grayson’s power held them down. He heard the Vampire growl and thrash.

Let go, Ryder. I can hold you.

Grayson curled one hand around the base of Ryder’s cock. He would not be able to deep throat this. Not this time anyways. So he needed to give the whole of this beautiful cock attention at the same time. He moved up and down on the cock with his mouth, taking in a little more each time. As it was though, he could only get an inch or so below the cockhead before he had to pull up. He moved his hand up and down with his mouth, squeezing and massaging the length as he did so.

His other hand slipped between Ryder’s thighs and found that slick opening. Two of his fingers thrust inside. Ryder let out a throaty moan and tried to lift those hips up, but Grayson controlled them. He felt the Vampire testing him, his strength, and he loved it.

I can hold you. It’s okay. Let go.

Ryder’s legs fell down on the bed. His heels drummed a tattoo of need against the comforter. His hands fisted in Grayson’s hair. Large hands. Hands that could cover his entire skull and crush it. But they were light as feathers. Grayson sucked on Ryder’s cock harder as he pulled off it with a pop .

His eyes opened and he looked up at Ryder who was staring down at him with those glowing, slitted silver eyes. Color had flooded his cheeks and chest. The firelight painted him in gold as well. He was mesmerizing. So strong. Yet his. Under his control while he was under Ryder’s protection.

He went down on Ryder again, swallowing as much as he could, and then moving frantically up and down. His fingers twisted inside of Ryder, rubbing and moving. He knew Vampires did have prostates when Ryder bucked strong enough that Grayson almost lost control of him. But he held on.

He let Ryder arch when he felt that cock plump impossibly more in his mouth, making it so that only the head was inside of him. He suctioned his lips around the length even as he stroked Ryder and sent three fingers inside of the Vampire’s body.

The first taste of Ryder’s cum was a revelation. His mouth tingled. His throat tingled. His whole body tingled. For a moment, Grayson saw Nightvallen from above as if he were flying--as if he were one of the birds that Ryder could shift into--above the vast city. But no, he had no feathers. He was simply flying, using his gift to fly through the air like Superman. And then the flock surrounded him. The ravens so black they were almost blue with silver eyes were all around him. He and Ryder were flying together.

“I told you I could fly!” he heard a voice teasing and realized it was his, but it didn’t sound like him at all.

The raven cawed !

Grayson laughed, but that brought him back to Earth as he nearly lost some of that delicious cream that he was swallowing. One last swallow and it was done. But he still ran his tongue over the spongy head, wanting to prolong things.

He and Ryder were in his bed. They weren’t flying. His body did feel light though. So light. He didn’t feel the bed beneath his knees. That was when he realized that they were both levitating about a foot off the bed. Ryder opened his eyes and turned his head to the side. There was no gasp. No scream. No demanding to know what was happening. Instead, he turned back to Grayson and gave a grin.

“If this is what you do when I cum,” Ryder murmured, “I can’t wait to see what happens when you do.”

Grayson slowly pulled off that spent cock that was already hardening again. With a Cheshire-like grin, he said, “Let’s find out.”