Chapter 5 #2
And despite knowing Rafe’s intent, Philippe found himself tightening his fingers around Rafe’s.
The vampire was so different from the others he had encountered.
He was intrigued by his confidence, his playfulness.
There was a joie de vivre to him that he hadn’t touched on in so damn long.
Certainly not since he’d become a vampire.
Philippe clung to his companion, telling himself to revel in the pleasure he’d found in being around Rafe. It would all end too quickly.
Despite their long lives, Philippe had found that happiness in their world was as fleeting as it had been while a human.
On the opposite side of the dance floor, Rafe pulled him down a short, dimly lit hallway. They passed a barback carrying a case of alcohol to the bar, and then they were alone. The music still thumped loudly, but the air had become less stifling without the heavy press of bodies.
Rafe stunned Philippe by pushing him against the wall.
He stepped closer, leaving less than an inch of electrified air separating them.
Still holding his left hand, Rafe braced his right forearm next to Philippe’s head and bent his own face slowly down.
Philippe tensed, the hair on his arms standing on end.
So close to his neck. Rafe had to be able to smell his blood rushing just below the surface.
Maybe even hear the steady thump thump over the music.
Philippe knew he was stronger than Rafe.
He wasn’t trapped. He could shove the other vampire away, pin him, break him, if Rafe attacked.
If he dared to pierce his throat with those beautiful white fangs.
But that was the fun part. The anticipation.
Waiting to see what Rafe would do next. How would he push?
Was he simply trying to see what liberties Philippe would permit?
And that was the tricky question. What would he permit?
Already it felt like too much.
His dick was rock hard in his jeans, pressing painfully against the zipper and begging for Rafe to take him in hand. Relieve some of the unrelenting ache.
“There we go,” Rafe purred in his ear. He was being so damn careful. Only their hands touched. Rafe was keeping just enough space between them that Philippe could see him in his peripheral vision. “Away from prying eyes and overprotective nannies.”
“Looking to get me alone?”
Rafe’s smile grew, revealing just the tiniest hint of those perfect fangs. As a man, Rafe was undeniably sexy. But as a vampire, he was pure, unadulterated sex. “Sweet golden angel, I’m sure everyone here would very much like to get you alone.”
“You keep calling me that. Angel. Do you like the idea of sullying the divine?”
Rafe slowly inched his head closer, brushing his nose against a lock of Philippe’s hair. When he spoke, his hot breath danced along the shell of his ear, and Philippe had to ball his free hand into a fist at his side to keep from reaching for Rafe.
“I won’t deny that it would be a very fun bonus, but your likeness to the holy isn’t your only alluring characteristic. Or even your most tempting.”
Philippe hummed softly. “I’m tempted to ask which of my characteristics you find most alluring—”
“A very long conversation, I fear.”
“But we should talk business first. Piper.”
“Can we not spare a few hours for more pleasurable things?”
Philippe’s cock throbbed with Rafe’s whispered question, also begging him to reconsider. A few hours wouldn’t hurt, right? But it had already been too many days, and Piper needed them.
“We can’t,” Philippe said, careful to make his voice firm.
Rafe pulled away so that they were facing each other. Too much of the joy had bled from his handsome features, and there was a cold seriousness to him. “Pity. I’m sure that once business is completed, you’ll find yourself no longer in the mood for pleasurable things.”
Philippe nearly laughed in Rafe’s face at that pronouncement.
Instead he stunned Rafe with a quick move of his own.
Tightening his fingers around Rafe, he placed his free hand against Rafe’s shoulder.
In a flash, he spun them so that Rafe’s back was pressed to the wall where Philippe had been only a moment earlier.
The only difference was that their clutched hands were pinned behind Rafe while Philippe’s other hand was wrapped around Rafe’s neck.
Rafe held completely still beneath Philippe as if his muscles had turned to warm marble.
Where Rafe had only teased moments ago, Philippe pressed his face into Rafe’s neck, feeling the frantic beating of his pulse against his lips.
The most beautiful scents wafted around him—desire, need, relief, and hunger.
But there was also a sharp tang of fear that nearly soured everything for Philippe. He never wanted Rafe to fear him.
“Anyone who passes up pleasurable things with you is a fool,” Philippe murmured.
Rafe swallowed hard. “Vampires have different priorities than humans.”
“Maybe,” Philippe allowed. He closed his eyes and breathed Rafe in again.
“But after we’ve found Piper, you’re my top priority.
I want to see that look of joy on your face again.
To know that I put it there.” He licked up Rafe’s neck, following that tempting artery.
At the same time, Philippe took another step closer, pressing his hard dick into Rafe’s groin.
The devilish vampire moaned, the delicious sound sending ripples of need through Philippe.
“And I’ll warn you, I like to be in control.
But I’ll never take more than is freely offered. ”
He could feel Rafe’s heartbeat ramp up at his words, but any worries that it was from fear were shoved aside by the free hand clamping on Philippe’s hip and keeping them tightly pressed together.
Philippe indulged one more tease, allowing the tip of one of his fangs to scrape along Rafe’s fragile flesh.
A soft, perfect whimper climbed up Rafe’s throat, and Philippe knew he had to have this vampire, to taste every inch of him and swallow all those wonderful, needy sounds.
But that would be later. He had to remember why he’d agreed to even meet with any of the Variks in the first place. It wasn’t for physical enjoyment or companionship. Piper needed him.
Reluctantly, Philippe released Rafe’s neck and took a step back, putting some space between them.
He tried to let go of Rafe’s fingers, but Rafe’s hand followed his, extending the touch for an extra second before they completely separated.
Something in him hated the distance. He shouldn’t ache for the warm strength of Rafe’s long fingers, but he did.
Glancing around, Philippe was pleased to find that they were still alone.
The encounter probably lasted only seconds, but it had felt like so much more time had passed.
He felt changed, as if something of Rafe had found its way deep inside of him and was trying to make itself at home.
Such a thing shouldn’t be possible in mere seconds.
Philippe lifted his eyes to Rafe, who also looked like he was struggling to replace his mask of easy control and confidence. His haunting blue eyes couldn’t hold Philippe’s for long, darting away again.
“Piper,” Rafe said, his voice low and a little rough. “My office is this way.” He led the way up a set of stairs to a black door on the second floor. It was enough time for Philippe to get his mind clear again. Or at least he hoped so.
Jesus fucking Christ…that backfired.
Five seconds alone with Philippe and he was practically begging the vampire to fuck his brains out.
His damn dick and balls hurt so bad. He needed relief. Could vampires even get blue balls? He had no idea. He’d never had them as a human, and he’d definitely never been afflicted with that problem as a vampire. There was no shortage of willing partners.
But even as his body begged for relief, his mind was already proving to be mutinous. It wasn’t enough to find a soft body to plunge his leaking cock into. No. He wanted Philippe.
Those whispered words about control had punched every one of Rafe’s secret buttons, leaving him aching to be pinned and filled. It had been so damn long.
Oh, he bottomed on occasion in a lovely threesome or more, but even then, he was tightly in control of everyone’s pleasure.
But being with Philippe would be about handing over control and sinking into everything the vampire would give him.
It was something he had allowed himself only a couple of times as a human and only once as a vampire.
Handing that kind of power and control over to another vampire was simply too dangerous.
He wanted that with Philippe, though.
And it scared him more than anything had in a very long time.
As he led the way into the office, Rafe ripped his gaze away from the large black desk that dominated one side of the room.
Of course, he wasn’t fast enough for his all-too clever imagination as it immediately conjured up images of being bent over the smooth surface, papers and whatnot shoved carelessly to the floor.
Legs spread wide as possible with his pants down around his knees.
Philippe pounding into him with brutal force, one hand pressed to his spine and the other fisted in his hair.
Rafe walked briskly across the room to the table covered in crystal tumblers and various bottles of alcohol. He needed a goddamn drink so he could get his mind on the topic at hand and away from other more tempting images.
“Drink?” Rafe inquired, relieved that he at least sounded like he was pulled together. He could at least fake his way through the next few minutes while he waited for the blood to return to his brain.