Chapter 5 #2
“Stuff it, Slayer.” Snake knocked back a shot and poured another. “He said Meridian’s on the move but nowhere near. We’re safer aboard the ship, so get dressed and pack up.”
“How do you know Meridian’s moving about?” Gunner asked. “Did you tag him?”
“We’re tapped into a pirate network. Whoever spots him pings the group.”
Horatio stood and stretched. “Get a good look before I cover all this up.”
Snake waved him off. “Bah. You’ll be naked again in no time.”
“Damn, I hope so.”
Gunner eyeballed Horatio’s chiseled ass as he disappeared into a back room.
“I prefer him undressed too.” Snake moved closer and patted Gunner’s knee. “Feeling less wonky?”
“The tequila helped.” Snake’s accent, a sexy mix of British nobleman and raunchy pirate, cranked Gunner’s libido. He couldn’t stop staring at the generous bulge in his tight suede pants. “Can you give me a rundown of where we traveled?”
“From Earth, we went to Graphica. Now, we’re in Middleton.”
“Is this a planet?”
“No, it’s a dimension—a self-contained world with its own rules and terrain.
Contrary to what Earth people believe, space travel is impossible.
The only way to access another world is to create a portal using magic or machine.
Once we’re in a safe place, I want to hear how you built yours.
It’s impressive for someone your age. Which is? ”
“Twenty-two. And you?”
“Two hundred, give or take a few months.” Something seemed to be pushing behind Snake’s top lip, making it puffier. A sly smile slowly spread across his face and revealed long, sharp canines. “But my kind are immortal.”
Gunner’s balls tried to crawl up his ass. “Are you a… vampire?”
“Sure am.”
A vampire! Snake was a motherfucking space pirate vampire! Why didn’t Horatio mention this terrifying little tidbit? Gunner tried to speak but his jaw was clenched tight.
“I can smell your fear, pet. It’s making me thirsty.” Snake tipped Gunner’s face toward his. “But I’m different from the vampires in your Earth movies—Horatio told me about those. No bats. No coffins. And I can’t turn you, either. We vamps are born, not made.”
“Could you drink all my blood until my heart stopped?” He covered his neck.
Snake moved Gunner’s hand away and kissed across his throat. “Of course. But you haven’t given me a reason to kill you. Yet.”
“Hoo boy.” Gunner glanced toward the hallway, but Horatio was taking his time.
“Need a drink, lad?” Snake swigged from the bottle and planted a boozy kiss on Gunner’s lips. “Tastes better on you.” Another kiss, this time with a sexy hint of tongue. “And I was only teasing. Killing you never crossed my mind.”
Gunner exhaled. “That was just mean.”
“A nice jolt of fear sends a tingle to your dick.” Snake twirled a lock of Gunner’s hair around his finger. “How do you feel now?”
“Tingly. All over.” And horny enough to come in his pants.
“Slayer’s right. You really are a cutie.”
“Thanks. You are, too, um, I mean, you’re…” Gunner couldn’t come up with an appropriate word to describe him, except maybe “fuck-a-licious,” but he didn’t want to say that out loud to a cool vampire like Snake.
“So sweet. So shy.” Snake stroked Gunner’s cheek. “Makes you irresistible.”
At first, the sexy vamp looked human, but the longer Gunner stared, the more unnatural his beauty became: eyes like liquid mercury—so deep and hypnotic, he couldn’t look away. Impossibly flawless skin. Lush lips that curved into a perpetual, wicked smile.
“I could play with you for hours.” Snake’s voice was audible honey. “I’d start at your mouth and lick my way down to your ass. Would you let me?”
Lost in those swirling silver eyes, Gunner could only nod. The painful ache in his groin morphed into a delicious swelling. His breathing slowed. His muscles turned liquid.
“Can I put my hand down your britches?” Pressed close, Snake tugged up Gunner’s shirt and tickled the skin above his waistband. “Just a quick fondle?”
Another nod from Gunner. Another sly grin from Snake. He slithered his hand down the front of Gunner’s loose-cut jeans—his touch gentler and more sensual than he expected from a blood-sucking vampire.
“I love when a cock gets harder under my touch.” His thumb glossed over Gunner’s slick crown. “Even better when it drips for me.”
Gunner flinched when Horatio appeared, clad in a black leather ensemble that made his eyes more vivid—the same eyes that stared daggers at Snake.
“You’re fucking hot, Horatio,” Gunner gushed.
Instead of removing his hand, Snake fondled Gunner’s sac. “He’s a tall, dark, and handsome prince. With a gigantic… sword.”
Horatio cocked an eyebrow at Snake. “You ready to go, pirate?”
“I suppose.” Snake slowly rolled Gunner’s balls together. “Though I should have a quick nip before we set off.”
Gunner giggled. “Dude, he’s a vampire!”
“He’s also not thirsty. I can tell because his lips are dark. When he needs blood, they turn pale. His eyes turn different shades of silver, too. You feelin’ stoned, kid?”
“Yeah.” Gunner leaned back and let Snake continue. “Kinda.”
“He did that,” Horatio wiggled his fingers in front of Gunner’s eyes, “with his freaky vampire powers.” He pointed at Snake. “Freaky.”
“Right. You bend over for me because of my hypnotic powers. The fact that you’re a naughty little Nancy has nothing to do with it.”
Horatio flipped his hair back and laughed. “Fair point.” He showed Snake the blood-red guitar he’d been carrying. “This one’s your favorite, right?”
“Old Red. We’ve shared some good times.” Snake reached lower to massage Gunner’s taint. “Where’s the one you sleep with at night?”
Horatio turned. Gunner recognized the metallic blue twelve-string slung across his back. “That’s the one you disappeared with!”
“Sure is.” Horatio pulled it around to the front. “There. Now I feel like me.”
Gunner swooned. Hard. Horatio could’ve walked right off stage. Tight leather, swagger for days, even his guitar glimmered as if bathed in spotlights and not the light from the window.
“His dick got harder than steel when you strutted out here, Horatio. Mine too.”
Snake’s fingertip brushed Gunner’s asshole, making him squirm. Ravenous need grabbed him by the balls. “Can we stay here for a while? Please?”
“I don’t see why not. This is the last place Meridian would expect to find us. What say you, Guitar Slayer?”
“Depends.” Horatio set his guitar aside, along with his coat, before sitting on Gunner’s opposite side. “Gunner needs to know something first.”