Thicker than Blood

12. Elias

CHAPTER 12

Elias

S urrounded by my friends, I listen to their updates of happenings in their own areas. I called and they came, as I knew they would. I’m pleased that my instincts about them were correct. Soren is telling us about a local gang getting attacked and killed by vampires just days before we became aware of the uprising.

I’m about to ask a question but my thoughts shift abruptly to the lovely mortal Geordi. Sensual spikes of heat prick my skin and my fangs descend. My tongue tingles from the brief taste of the man, and as I close my eyes, I see visions of him naked in his bed, his cock swollen and chest heaving as he fantasizes about me ravaging him.

Well. Isn’t this an interesting development? Our psychic connection lingers long after our interlude.

“Elias?”

I snap my head up to Soren. “Yes?”

“Where did you go?”

“Apologies. I have a lot on my mind.”

Lucius grins, briefly waggling his eyebrows at me. “Do tell, friend.”

Ignoring his jab, I wave for them to continue. “Please, go on. What did I miss?”

“Lucius said there’s a vampire in South Asia who may know some underground vampires.”

Lucius nods. “Yes, I met him some years ago. He calls himself Baia.”

“I’ve not heard that name.”

“No. He’s solitary. Lone wolf vibes, if you will. In my experience with him, he’s fiercely loyal and protective of our kind.”

“How did you meet him?” Jagger asks. For just a moment, I admire his rugged good looks. He’s a muscular man with facial features almost too pretty for his rough and tumble presence. He hails from Spain originally, and I try to imagine what he looked like in his princely clothes when he was part of the Spanish royal family. Instead of messy golden-brown locks and wild eyes, did he instead appear regal and tame?

“He came to my aid,” Lucius says. “I wandered into a bar with a crowd that was hostile towards strangers. He was there in a flash, assuring the locals I was his guest. We spent the evening together talking, hunting, and I think we became friends to some extent. I’m sure if I called upon him, he would answer.”

“I trust your judgment.”

My breath catches in time with Geordi’s. How unusual to feel his emotions so clearly. The effects of the tiny taste of his blood should have worn off long ago. He’s pleasuring himself, I’m sure of it, and my body reacts. My cock swells and my gums throb with the need to taste him again, but instead of an amuse-bouche, I desire to gorge myself on his pretty flesh, swallow his moans, lap up his pleasure.

“Gods,” Hendrix says. “Elias.”

Holding my hand to my chest, I try to smile through the intensity of desire, but I release a choked sound instead. “I’m experiencing something unusual.”

“Obviously,” Jagger says. “Care to enlighten us?”

“I suppose it doesn’t hurt to share. The mortal who came to me earlier to discuss the collaboration…” I pause, chuckling through the surge of heat spreading through me. “I took a tiny taste to put my scent on him before I brought him down to Paradiso.”

“And?” Soren asks.

“The connection lingers. I can sense him as we speak. He’s pleasuring himself.”

“Oh, now this is interesting,” Lucius says. “You can feel him?”

I nod. “Every bit of it. He…” My eyelids flutter. “Clearly. He’s imagining the two of us. I didn’t even properly feed. It was a dot of blood.”

“Interesting,” Soren says. “How could that be?”

“It must be the vaccine.”

“Vaccine?” Hendrix asks.

“He’s developing a serum that will protect mortals from our compulsion. The purpose of it is to remove the restriction from us, but it would be completely voluntary to take.”

“Why would a mortal want to do that?” Jagger asks.

“That was my question. Apparently, he has some empathy for our plight. He thinks it’s unfair that we’re forced to repress our nature.”

Soren scoffs. “There must be something else. Mortals are not altruistic when it comes to us.”

“He’s different. He doesn’t think we’re monsters or unable to control ourselves. He sees us as… extensions of our former humanity.”

“A dangerous view,” Soren says. “Not all of us remember that part of ourselves.”

“I know. He may be a bit naive, but I believe his intentions are good. That’s why I agreed to this project. If there are any mortals to be trusted, he’s one of them.”

“If you hadn’t tasted his blood I would challenge your statement,” Lucius says, “but we all know your ability is airtight.”

I nod. “Thank you. All of you. If we are to preserve our way of life, this is a necessary sacrifice. We were forced out of the shadows and into shackles. This little uprising may be the opportunity we need to restore the balance we’ve all benefited from.”

“Are you suggesting we ask for more liberties than we currently have?” Jagger asks.

“I believe it’s an opportunity to learn more about their research. Like this vaccine—if it works, it removes the rule about compulsion. What else could they be working on? Perhaps a method allowing us to feed freely and safely. Or the one rule that I personally find insulting.”

“The fraternization rule,” Soren says, with a hint of a growl in his voice.

“Indeed. Why shouldn’t mortals be allowed to make their own choices? If we show ourselves to be reasonable and safe, I think we could renegotiate.”

“Intriguing proposition,” Hendrix says. “I’m willing to try.”

I open my mouth to speak, but my words freeze on my tongue as another spike of Geordi’s pleasure hits me. If I were alone right now, I’d reach into my slacks and get myself off, but as I’m not, I’m forced to ride out his orgasm without touching myself.

I throw my head back, gripping the arms of the chair I sit in as visions of Geordi writhing in his bed, gushing cum and calling out my name play in my head. I have to squeeze my cock painfully hard to stop from embarrassing myself in front of my friends.

The vision fades and I’m left stunned. When I open my eyes, my friends are staring at me as if I just grew an extra head.

“All the gods,” I whisper, breathlessly. “It was as if I was there in the room with him.”

“And we are watching you,” Lucius says with a smirk. “This mortal must be delightful.”

Gathering my composure, I nod. “He’s lovely, but this response is not normal.”

“Did you take the vaccine?” Soren asks.

“No, he did.”

“Did it work?” Jagger asks.

“No. It had the opposite effect. It seems to have unlocked his most hidden desires.”

“Like fucking a vampire?” Hendrix muses.

“Exactly. Apparently, he’s at home right now imagining just that. I felt his orgasm.”

“Was he thinking of you?” Soren asks.

“Yes.” I clear my throat. “How convenient. I had every intention of coaxing him to my bed. Knowing his inner desires just made my quest that much easier.”

“Have you ever had difficulty getting someone into your bed?” Lucius asks. “I seem to remember falling in quite easily.”

Chuckling, I lean back. “He follows the rules. It’s adorable.”

“Ah, and he’s met the ultimate rule breaker,” Lucius says.

“That he has.” Only seconds later, my phone rings and his name lights up the screen. “Speaking of…” I hit the answer button. “Hello, Geordi.”

A whimper greets me before he clears his throat. “Elias. Are you busy?”

“Not for you. What can I help you with?”

“I’d like to come back tonight and bring a friend. A researcher. I want to know if the effect of the vaccine is unique to me or if it’s a flaw. Would that be possible?”

“You trust this researcher?”

“He’s the closest thing I have to a best friend. I trust him.”

“Then I trust him. Come whenever you like. I’m always here.”

He blows out a breath. “We’ll come around seven.”

“I’ll be waiting. Have you had a productive day?”

I’m gifted with another whimper. “Um, yes. It was fine. Good. I, um… yes.”

Grinning, I glance up at my friends watching me. “Very good. I look forward to seeing you again, Geordi.”

“You too. I mean, I look forward to seeing you too. Okay, bye.”

He ends the call before I can say more. “He’s a nervous little thing.”

“He’s coming over?” Jagger asks. “Can we see him?”

“Of course. As long as we’re all clear that I’ve claimed him.”

“It’s only slightly obvious.” Soren grins. “Only a madman would attempt to intervene.”

“Alright then, we have a plan. Please go rest and enjoy yourselves. Paradiso is available.”

In just a few hours, I get to see the beautiful mortal again, and maybe this time I’ll lure those delightful moans from his lips in person.