Chapter 19
Nineteen
Rage burned through Marcus as he stared Ethan.
He felt so fucking betrayed. He’d trusted Ethan, let him get so damn close.
He’d spent weeks agonizing over if and how to tell Ethan that he was a vampire, but he’d always known.
He’d known and gotten close to Marcus with the sole purpose of destroying his family.
He wanted to make Ethan pay for his treachery.
But there was a small voice in the back of his mind reminding him that Ethan had already paid.
He’d lost his family. They’d been murdered by a vampire.
He’d been left alone in the world with no one to watch over him, protect him, hold him tight.
Even when the world was at its bleakest, Marcus always had his brothers. Ethan had no one.
Marcus stomped down on the voice. Ethan had plotted to steal away his family.
Yet, Winter said Ethan hadn’t given any information to the League.
He’d had ample chances. He could have unlocked the doors during the day and allowed them to walk right into his house.
He could have given them the address of his new home and even the addresses of his brothers.
Access to that information was given on his very first day at work.
But he didn’t. He’d protected Marcus as much as he could.
“You’ve known all along,” Marcus snarled.
“Yes,” Ethan whispered, his voice sounding pained and choked. Marcus loosened his hold on Ethan’s throat a little, and Ethan sucked in great gulps of air, coughing a little.
“Why? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I was afraid.”
“What? You were afraid that I’d kill you. That I’d rip your throat out.” Marcus barely managed to keep from tightening his hand on Ethan’s throat again.
“No. I was afraid you’d send me away. That I wouldn’t see you again.”
Marcus lurched back, releasing Ethan’s throat so quickly it was like he’d been scorched by his touch. “What?”
“I was stupid and scared,” Ethan admitted.
Ethan blinked and two fat tears rolled down the sides of his face.
“I was afraid if I told you the truth, you’d fire me and send me away.
I couldn’t let you go. Not yet.” Very slowly, he lifted his trembling fingers to Marcus’s face, lightly touching his cheek as if he was afraid Marcus would move away from him.
“I think I’m falling in love with you, and I’m not ready to lose you. ”
Marcus shoved away from Ethan, his mind spinning. Of all the things he’d expected Ethan to say, that was not it. He shook his head, trying to clear it, trying to think through the chaos, but his brain kept repeating the same joyous phrase, Ethan loves me. Ethan loves me.
Ethan sat up beside him, carefully placing both hands on his body. “Marcus? Are you okay?”
“Light-headed,” Marcus murmured, though it was the least of his problems.
“You’ve lost too much blood. You need to feed.”
Marcus couldn’t argue with that, but he needed to get out of the house to do that.
As they sat there, he was far too aware of the enticing smell of Ethan’s blood wafting to him, tantalizing him.
A ready, warm blood supply was only inches away.
No need to haul his pain-riddled body into the streets in search of a victim. Ethan was right there.
Yes, it had been his original plan to feed from Ethan.
He’d been angry and felt betrayed, but in just a couple of seconds, his world had been turned upside down.
Ethan had protected him because he was a good person.
He’d lied to the League, because…he loved Marcus.
He couldn’t feed from Ethan now. Couldn’t risk taking too much.
Marcus needed to get away, find someone else.
Once he started to heal and some of the pain eased, he’d be able to think more clearly.
“I need to go.” Marcus shifted on the couch, gathering his strength to try to rise again.
“No. I’m right here. You’re too weak to go out.
” Ethan jumped up from the couch and whipped his shirt over his head.
He stood before Marcus, bare-chested, smelling so damn delicious.
Marcus reached out, fingers skimming over bruises that were still healing from the attack he’d suffered just days ago.
An attack that happened because he was protecting Marcus and his family.
“This is going to happen. Just tell me where you want me, to make this easiest on you,” Ethan said.
Marcus grabbed Ethan’s arm and pulled him into his lap so that he was straddling him.
He’d dreamed of doing this when Ethan had sat on his lap against the piano and now he was going to fucking have it.
For the first time in his life, he was holding his victim flush against his body, reveling in the feel and pleasure of the person.
And it was going to be that much sweeter because it was Ethan.
He closed his eyes against the fresh wave of pain that rocketed through him as Ethan pressed against him.
He buried his face in Ethan’s neck and breathed deep.
The scent of sweat and blood and Ethan filled his nostrils.
God, he’d wanted this, wanted Ethan for so damn long.
He wanted to savor every second of it, draw it out, but he was so fucking hungry he could barely think.
Opening his mouth, he carefully scraped his fangs across his tender flesh.
“Marcus?” Ethan said on a whimper.
“Shhh…I’ve got you.”
“I know. I trust you.”
Those three words helped Marcus tighten his control over his hunger. He was not going to take more than he needed.
“I’m sorry. This is going to hurt at first, but I promise I’ll make you feel better.”
Ethan took a breath and Marcus was sure he was going to say something else, but he didn’t give him the chance.
He struck quickly, plunging his fangs deep into Ethan’s neck, piercing arteries with expert skill.
Ethan jerked and stiffened in shock. A little cry of pain escaped him before he could catch it.
Marcus removed his fangs and sucked hard, pulling that first mouthful of blood into his system.
The relief was exquisite, and the pain almost immediately receded to the back of his mind.
On the second swallow, he reached deep and sent a wave of ecstasy crashing through Ethan.
With each drink, he washed Ethan’s body in physical pleasure.
He could feel Ethan’s cock swelling against his stomach.
Ethan shifted his hips, moaning softly. One hand slid down his spine to cup his tight ass, holding him against his body.
“Oh, God! Marcus!” he cried out, lost to the bliss Marcus was weaving. “Please! I need to come.”
Reluctantly, Marcus swiped his tongue across the two holes he’d created, using his saliva to heal the wounds. Ethan shivered, his body still thrusting against his. Marcus’s cock was swelling, begging for attention, but he ignored it. His focus was on Ethan and giving him the release he needed.
Marcus removed his mouth from Ethan’s shoulder and leaned against the cushions, putting enough room between them so he could open up Ethan’s jeans.
“Grab your dick,” Marcus commanded. Ethan nodded, his eyes glazed over and still lost to the building need.
He thrust his hand inside his pants and pulled his straining cock free of his jeans and underwear.
Marcus sucked in a breath to see the slick member flushed dark red and glistening with pre-cum.
Ethan wrapped his hand around his dick and roughly stroked himself.
Grabbing a handful of Ethan’s hair, Marcus forced him to meet his gaze. “Tell me what you want, Ethan.”
“You. Want you. Want to feed you and then I want…want you to fuck me. Want to be yours always,” Ethan panted. “Please, Marcus.”
“Then come for me. Be mine.”
Ethan moaned, his entire body jerking and tensing as he came hard. Marcus could feel the ropes of cum landing on his shirt, and he wished he’d been naked so he could feel the warm liquid branding his skin. Ethan was his, but what Ethan didn’t realize was that Marcus now belonged to Ethan.
Ethan lay against Marcus’s chest; his entire body felt so fucking relaxed and warm.
Everything was right in the world when he was snuggled against Marcus, his arms wrapped tight around him like he never wanted to let go.
He wanted to cling to that feeling of rightness forever, but conscious thought was starting to creep into his brain, demanding things to make sense.
His brain was also demanding that he face the things that were happening around him, particularly that he was putting all his weight on a man who was terribly injured.
Carefully placing his hand on the back of the couch, Ethan pushed, trying to climb off Marcus. The arms around him loosened a little to allow some space between them, but Marcus didn’t fully release him.
“What’s wrong? Did I hurt you?” Marcus murmured against his hair.
“No, but you are hurt. I need to get up,” Ethan said.
“No.” Marcus tightened his arms again, pulling Ethan down against him. “I don’t want you to move yet.”
Ethan gave a little huff and settled in his lap. He hadn’t really wanted to move. He was just trying to be considerate of Marcus’s injuries. “I don’t want to hurt you more.”
“You’re not. I’m already healing.”
Of course, that brought a new whirlwind of thoughts to his brain. Marcus was a vampire and they could finally talk about all the things that had been rattling around in his mind. Ethan’s head popped up and he gazed at Marcus.
“I’m alive.”
Marcus frowned, lines crisscrossing his brow. “Yes. You sound surprised.”
“I thought…I didn’t know if you had to kill the person when you fed.”
A look of horror crossed Marcus’s face, and he released Ethan so quickly that Ethan nearly fell backward off the couch. “And you willingly offered to feed me, thinking that I’d kill you?”