Thicker than Blood

14. Elias

CHAPTER 14

Elias

I would be lying if I didn’t acknowledge the excitement vibrating through my veins right now at the prospect of tasting the lovely mortal again. But first, I lead him down the stairs to Paradiso and to the table where my friends sit.

Enyo is bright-eyed with eager energy, a state that draws quite a bit of supernatural attention in his direction. Geordi holds his friend’s hand, as if to keep him from wandering off. When we approach the table, it’s Jagger who immediately focuses on Enyo.

“Well, hello there,” Jagger says, standing and towering over the petite mortal.

A pretty smile spreads across Enyo’s lips. “Hello. I’m Enyo.”

“Jagger.”

“Gentlemen, I have a request. Our mortal friends here would like to be compelled. They’re conducting an experiment.”

“I’d love to assist,” Jagger says, hooking his arm around Enyo’s waist.

“Lucius, would you help me with Geordi?”

He raises an elegant eyebrow. “Certainly.”

Jagger leads Enyo away from the others, causing Geordi to tense beside me.

“Your friend is safe,” I say to Geordi. “Jagger won’t hurt him.”

“Um, okay. I need to take the vaccine again before we begin.”

“Of course.” With my hand on his lower back, I guide him to a more private area, slightly growling at all the prying eyes and grabby hands as we pass. “You’re very popular here.”

“I have no idea why. I’m not popular anywhere.”

“There’s something special about you. I find myself equally intrigued.”

He gazes up at me with pretty eyes. “Weird, but okay.”

Chuckling, I gesture to the couch. “Does this work?”

“It’s fine.”

He sits and opens his bag, working to inject himself again. Lucius appears too, bumping his arm into mine.

“What’s happening?”

“It’s the vaccine he’s working on,” I explain. “It worked well on his friend but not on him when he first tried. He wants to see how it works with a different vampire.”

“What would you like me to compel him to do?”

“Ask him to offer his neck. That’s what I did.”

Lucius nods, watching Geordi squirm with pain as the vaccine moves through him. “Looks unpleasant.”

“Apparently it’s painful.”

“All this to allow us to be more ourselves?”

“That’s what he says.”

“And you trust him?”

Nodding, I tear my eyes away from the mortal for a moment. “I do. Oddly enough.”

Lucius chuckles. “Then I will trust him too.”

Geordi exhales and drags a hand through his hair. “Okay. I’m ready.”

Lucius approaches, sitting next to Geordi. I stand nearby, watching intently as Lucius does his thing. Even from where I stand, I can tell the compulsion is having no effect on the mortal.

“Offer your neck,” Lucius says as he drags his fingers up and down Geordi’s back.

Geordi’s eyelids flutter and he sways just slightly but he’s clearly still in charge as he pulls the collar of his shirt around his neck in a protective gesture.

Lucius frowns and leans in closer, whispering words I myself have used on many mortals.

We drown them in flattery, soak them in desire, bathe them in our sex appeal, but Geordi’s gaze doesn’t falter. After a few more minutes of this, he leans back.

“That was different from before.”

“I felt your resistance to my advances,” Lucius says.

“I felt it too,” I add. “It definitely works. No average mortal could resist what Lucius just put you through.”

He nods, nibbling his bottom lip. He doesn’t look as happy as I expected.

“Isn’t this a good thing?” I ask. “You had a different reaction the first time, if memory serves me.”

He’s already scribbling in a notebook as Lucius gazes up at me, looking amused.

“Thank you for your help, my friend.”

“Pleasure, but now I’m peckish. If you need me, I’ll be buried between the legs of a pretty mortal.”

“Enjoy.”

As Lucius leaves, I take his spot beside Geordi. He glances at me but continues his notetaking.

“Question,” I say.

“Yeah?”

“You didn’t react the same with Lucius as you did with me.”

He seemingly ignores the question, continuing to frantically scrawl in his journal.

“Geordi, look at me.”

He huffs a breath but pauses, gazing at me. “Yes?”

“Remember what happened with me? Your inhibitions were lowered. I don’t think that just happened with Lucius.”

His brow creases. “I know.”

“What did it feel like?”

“Like walking against a strong wind. His words tried to get into my head, but I was able to keep them out.”

Smiling, I brush a lock of his honey-colored hair behind his ear, pleased when his breath catches. “I think you’re missing the obvious.”

“What?”

“While slightly different, the vaccine did work against Lucius’s advances. You didn’t offer your neck.”

He looks confused for a second.

“And unlike with me, you didn’t crawl onto his lap and taste his kiss.” I brush my thumb across his chin. “Perhaps you’d like me to try again while the vaccine is still in your veins.”

Holding my gaze, he nods.

“Say yes, Geordi.”

“Yes, Geordi.” He blinks. “I mean, yes, Elias.”

“Good boy.” Sliding my hand to his neck, I focus on his pretty eyes. “Tell me something no one else knows about you. A secret, just for the two of us.”

I sense the nugget of resistance inside him, but it’s quickly muted by a wave of desire pouring off him. “I want to be fucked by a vampire.”

Smiling, I caress his cheek. “Is that really a secret?”

He hums as he sways toward me. “I want to be fucked by you .”

“How delightful.”

“You don’t understand. As long as I’ve known you’ve existed, I’ve wanted you.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Oh, now this is interesting. For five years?”

He shakes his head. “I knew before the war. I think I’ve always known about vampires.”

“Hmm. Perhaps you have. There’s something unique about you.”

“I’m just weird. Not unique.”

“No, my lovely mortal. You’re not weird at all. I rather like you.” I lean just a little closer. “Would you like to fuck now?”

He nods as a gorgeous smile lights up his face. “Please.”

“What about the rules?”

His brow creases for a second. “It can be our secret. Just one time. For research.”

I laugh at that. “If I couldn’t sense your true desire, I’d be concerned I’m just another experiment for you.”

“You’re not, Elias. You’re a dream come true.”

“And you, darling, are a refreshing surprise for an old vampire.”

He licks his lips, twisting his fingers around my jacket.

“Now, shall I take you to my bedroom or defile you right here in this semi-private place?”

“Oh gods.”

“What would make your fantasy complete?”

“Here. Please, Elias.”

“My, your pleas are pretty. I’ll happily take you apart piece by piece right here on this couch.”

He nods rapidly.

“Use your words, darling. Your consent is so sweet. Say yes, my beautiful mortal, and I will make your dreams come true.”

“Yes, Elias. Make me yours.”

“With absolute pleasure.”