The vampire's eyes opens. Where there was death there's life now. Emerald green flare to life and he searches the right side of the big bed with his hand. Not even looking before his hand reaches out. His pale almost translucent fingers brushes something soft, a tendril of hair, silken to the touch.

" Nathaniel.."

He hadn't been there at dawn and Damian had been worried. Worried that something had happened. That some, bigger, badder cat had hurt his kitty, but here he is. Twigs and leaves scattered in his auburn hair, sleeping soundly by his side. Eyes closed, breath even.

Damian watches him. Some bigger cat has indeed touched him, but the claw marks are almost gone already, erased by the wereleopard's ability to recover within hours. Just fine white stripes now, marring the naked shoulder. His body is so beautiful, so perfect from all angles. His face serene in his sleep.

He holds the ruby collar in his hand, and suddenly Damian knows why he's been attacked. He'd known it even when he offered the leopard the collar the night before. The pard didn't like it. They were proud, the cats.

Nathaniel had sacrificed that pride. Done it for him. Out of love...

Damian brushes the sleeping boy's cheek with his yet pale and bloodless lips. He hopes the wounds hasn't bled too much. Nathaniel needs his blood, they are so many who wants something from him...Blood, lust...love...

Damian hopes he is one of the few who manages to give him something in return.

He looks down the line of their bodies, finds something peculiar lying there, a rope of hair, neatly braided. Damian smiles lovingly. Nathaniel has amused himself with braiding their hair together before going to sleep.

Two shiny snakes of deep burning auburn is coiled around and braided with a long rope of crimson red. Binding them together in their sleep. The hot blooded cat and the dead...

He opens Nathaniel's hand carefully and lifts out the glittering collar, puts it aside. Laces his fingers in Nathaniel's instead.

"You came back," he whisper in the boy's ear. Scent of fur and woodland, blood.


IV

Then Musette arrived and Nathaniel was, according to rumors, ill. He'd fainted at Guilty Pleasures, exhausted from feeding the ardeur they said. Damian felt guilty. He should have thought as far as not to drain the boy further, take both blood, pleasure and lust from him when he was already used as source for Anita. He yearned to see him though, longed for him with his whole being, hoped sincerely that Nathaniel wasn't lost in dark thoughts of self-doubt after their unfortunate departure from the woods.

He cursed his own insensitivity but realized he wasn't at all used at dealing with human emotions and even if Nathaniel was a bit more than human, he was still young, and so very, very gentle and sweet. So insecure, despite his startling beauty. Fragile and bruised...easy to break...to hurt. A problem, Damian knew that, Nathaniel would require a lot of work, but for some reason he wasn't afraid, or didn't question his own judgment in any way because... because Nathaniel was the one that he wanted. The one his heart had turned to, and even Nathaniel had blushingly admitted that what had happened between them in the Executioner's kitchen had been 'special'...

It still was, an orgasm in the forest didn't change that fact, it increased it. If anything it made Damian wish for more...crave it, like blood. His love was a rare thing, seldom enflamed. When he loved there was no questions, no limits or conditions. He could be patient, kind - whatever it took to be a good lover - a partner, for the cat.

He hoped with his whole heart that Nathaniel felt the same way about him. Or that he felt *something* for him. Something would do...Damian could work with something. The kitten held all the cards now, but he didn't know it...yet.

Still, time sped by like a unstoppable river. The growing tension at the Circus due to Musette and her people's presence, the insecurity about her motivations inflicted them all. Made them all jumpy and alert, and damned busy. The few times Damian had tried to approach his kitten he'd been discouraged by the number of guardians, other wereleopards tending to his sick kitten, carrying him around and sleeping next to him in a nest of warm, healing lycanthrope limbs. A part of him dreaded to see it...the evidence of his thoughtlessness...his lover's heart didn't want to see how ill Nathaniel was, just the mere thought of it was enough to make him feel as if his heart would burst. Still, given an opportunity he would take it. And if this whole situation took much longer he'd *would* go see him, even confess his own use of Nathaniel to Anita if he had to.

Damian wasn't a coward, he just wanted to make sure he and Nathaniel stood on common ground before taking this further and involve other creatures in their love-affair.

They finally met again on the night of the big vampire banquet. When Damian saw the pale, fragile boy it felt like it's been ages since he last beheld the sweet face in front of him, yet it was not. It was just a couple of days since their wild ride in the forest.

He saw instantly that the boy wasn't well. He looked weak and exhausted. Dark rings under his eyes. Damian swallowed hard and hoped that he hadn't added too much to the fatigue, that it was mostly due to Anita and her ardeur's frequent use of his body and strength.

He wished he could talk to him, wish there had been time, but the current events demanded their attention and Damian could do naught but offer his calm to the executioner, help her keep her balance, her temper, faced with the night's challenges. So, instead of a slender kitten paw he held the strong hand of the slayer. Had to block out all thoughts of his sick lover and transfer a steady stream of cool calm to his mistress.

He noticed Nathaniel's shy glances, his screaming loneliness. He read hurt in those eyes. Repressed but still there...Made him appear even more fragile, that glazed, empty loneliness in the purple depths of his eyes. It made Damian want to lift him up and worship him. Hold him close to his heart and calm him, kiss every inch of him better. Tell him what a wonderful creature he was. A blazing star, his Nathaniel...

He got his moment sooner than expected. Anita went to see Asher and Jean-Claude and the rest of them were left to prepare for the spectacle, the show of vampiric strength. They were all a part of Jean-Claude's court tonight, and just to put an extra spin on it they were also supposed to pretend to be his harem to soothe Belle Morte's bruised ego.

By a stroke of luck Damian found Nathaniel alone in a wardrobe adjusting his make-up in front of a big, gold framed mirror. He had just peeked in, hoping to catch a glance of his love, having him all to himself was such a treat he didn't hesitate but stepped inside on silent feet and locked the door behind him.

" Nathaniel," he said low and serious. Standing right inside the door of the dim lit chamber. Only the rows of light bulbs around the mirror was lit, created long shadows on the stoned walls of the Circus. A smell of stage make-up...perfume...

Nathaniel's eyes flickered. Moved rapidly, but didn't look straight at him.

" Hi, Damian," he said breathlessly and continued without pausing, his body tense: "I'm sorry I walked away like that the other night. I guess I was just caught up in the moment... of course you couldn't bring me here. I didn't really expect that. I just thought it would be nice to make it a night." He breathed and wetted his lips nervously.

Damian crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the wall, ignored Nathaniel's self-doubting excuses. They meant nothing to him, held no significance. Instead he asked about what lay heavy on his heart:

" You've been ill?" He said calmly.

" Yes...No...It's nothing," Nathaniel's sweet voice answered.

" How much of it is because of what I did to you?" Damian replied and ignored the denial.

" Oh nothing!" Nathaniel blushed in the chair. "You gave me strength," he continued. "Didn't take anything away..."

Damian moved over to Nathaniel's chair, careful not to step in the pool of hair by his feet. He leaned over Nathaniel's shoulder and met his eyes in the mirror:

" Are you sure about that?" He asked and noticed Nathaniel's puckered nipples peeking out between soft straps of cream-colored leather.

" Yes..." Nathaniel whispered and kept his gaze in his in the mirror. His lips were glossed and parted. The faint scent of vanilla tickled Damian's sensitive nostrils. He lifted pale fingers to Nathaniel's cheek and trailed the smooth skin softly.

" None of it?" He asked.

Nathaniel bit his lower lip and dropped his gaze.

" I ..." he began but trailed off without finishing.

" Did I hurt you?" Damian breathed in his ear.

" Stop it!" Nathaniel's voice suddenly held sorrow.

" No..." Damian's hands slid over the wereleopard's chest. Over leather and skin, embraced him from behind.

" Why?" Nathaniel's voice was a whisper again.

" I want to keep you..." Damian's lips brushed Nathaniel's cheek softly.

Nathaniel watched the mirror as mesmerized, he lifted his slender hand and rested it on to of Damian's forearm, still draped over his chest.

" How?" He asked. "I already have a master..."

Damian's rich laughter filled the room with velvet and dark spices.

" Yes," he smiled. " But I'm a lover, not a master...for you."

" How?" Nathaniel asked again, his voice was low, hoarse and strangled. His heart beat rapidly under Damian's palm.

" Didn't you want a lover of your own choosing?" Damian purred teasingly.

" Yes, but..."

" I'd take you to the Circus if I could," Damian interrupted. " I'd keep you close all the time if we didn't have obligations..." he explained calmly.

The other was silent for a little while, tried to make sense of the vampire's words:

"...You mean like a b-..." Nathaniel interrupted himself and bit his lip again. His gaze flickered, looked at anything but him. His pale cheeks were stained with red.

" Like a boyfriend?" Damian asked smiling. "If that's what you wish to call it...Yes." He nuzzled Nathaniel's neck gently. "If you want me..." he added softly. Drugged himself on the scent of him. Felt his body respond in all ways possible. His tongue swept across the smooth skin, tasted the vanilla mingled musk, the underlying fur.

" Do you like me?" The question was surprising enough that Damian looked up. Met the smoky purple in the mirror again. Noticed Nathaniel's thighs wrapped in straps of soft leather.

" I'm offering my heart on a plate, Nathaniel...I'm in love with you." He said seriously.

" Really?" Nathaniel's breath came shivering.

" Really." Damian stated calm.

"...I'm in love with you too..." It was almost to low to be heard. As if he expected a punishment, or to be told it was all a cruel joke.

" I love you," Damian breathed against his skin. Nathaniel sat utterly still. Watched Damian's caresses in the mirror. His hand still rested on Damian's forearm while he watched the vampire slide his lips across his skin, green eyes half-closed and hazed.

" Really?" Nathaniel mouthed again.

" Really," a puff of air on the skin by his left ear. "This is how a loved man looks," he added softly in the fine shell of his ear, lapped gently at the ear lobe.

" Yes..." Nathaniel sat as in a trance. Stared at the image in the mirror. The vampire with the ruby red hair, his grip on him. The caressing lips.

A hard knock on the door interrupted them:

" It's time!" A loud voice sounded through the heavy wood before the vampire on the other side moved further down the corridor, knocked on other doors.

" I'm sorry, Nathaniel," Damian whispered gently and brushed tresses of auburn hair away from the youth's forehead. "I will be seeing you soon," he added, and then as an afterthought: "If you want to..."

" I want to." Nathaniel's soft voice sounded gently. "If you're sure," he added shyly.

Damian laughed a little again.

" You have no idea how sure I am, kitten," he smiled lovingly, reached out a hand and helped Nathaniel to his feet. Marveled at the sight of the lovely pair of buttocks he caught a glimpse of when the cat rose. He found out he really liked that leather-strap suit. A lot.

Nathaniel turned a purple gaze to him:

" So do I see you...tonight?" He asked. Still a bit insecure. So oblivious to his own considerable charms.

" Of course," Damian's gaze blazed, turned smoldering, glittering emerald green. "As soon as this banquet is over with I was hoping that...you would honor me with your presence in my rooms," he said breathlessly, meant every word he said - every formal syllable.

"Sure," Nathaniel smiled sweetly ."I'd be happy to," he breathed.

Damian sighed with relief, his body, still drugged with the feel of Nathaniel, tingled with anticipation. He wasn't sure if Nathaniel believed him, yet. That his feelings for him were true...But if he got this night. This opportunity, he would do anything in his powers to convince the gentle wereleopard of his sincerity. He just hoped his own lust wouldn't get the better of him...that he would end up throwing the boy to the bed and fuck him before he'd been properly convinced. The way his body felt right now, though, when watching the graceful creature in front of him...that was most definitely a possibility.

**********************

When the banquet turned out - not a banquet at all, and Belle Morte's fragrance of red roses spread chokingly distinct and heavy in the banquet hall, Damian despaired. Torn between his duties to his mistress and his desire to protect the cat who, because of his species, was bound by the European vampire's spell. He felt tendrils of terror grip his heart when Nathaniel's eyes bled gold as his beast was summoned - a rush of relief when the threat was removed. At least, he thought in a moment of sardonic humor, because of the evening's unfortunate turn, he was spared from seeing Nathaniel eat on the floor or being drained by a foreign vampire...He wished he was more powerful though, powerful enough to keep Nathaniel out of the extended triumvirate's games and politics...Anita meant it all so well, but...Nathaniel was his now, and quite frankly he wasn't too eager to share. At least not yet, before he'd staked a final claim on him.
He was the only male among Jean-Claude's people who appeared without make-up. He knew Anita would think it to be because of his attitudes, his supposed homophobia...Truth was that he, in a moment of rare vanity, had dropped the idea in order to appear more manly in front of Nathaniel. That's what had drawn him to Damian in the first place, wasn't it? The vampire's strong masculinity...

Even when all hell broke loose and he was forced to put his strength to use in order to support his mistress against the overwhelming powers of Belle Morte, he didn't forget about Nathaniel. When Belle-in-Musette's eyes fell on his beloved his heart froze in his chest. He endured her touch on his own skin much better than her eyes on Nathaniel's lithe form. And still he could do nothing to protect him, just brush his hand gently while they all stood by and watched her drain Asher for life.

When the fight finally ended he was exhausted. The pressure of the tension, the angst the attack had unleashed...His fear for Nathaniel in the middle of it all...the fear that some of them wouldn't survive the night paired with the state of his own emotions even before the turmoil had begun, left him feeling drained and empty.

The party licked their wounds in silence. Damian as well. The banquet hall emptied slowly and he settled for his rooms. Needed rest, feeding... His night of hot love was ruined, but after the terror he was too numb to feel disappointed.

" Damian," a clear voice called after him. He turned to see Nathaniel coming quickly after him down the torch lit corridor and his mouth cracked open in a wide smile.

" Sweet prince," he muttered to himself and stopped to wait for him.

" Damian," Nathaniel repeated when he caught up with him. His hand fluttered to Damian's shoulder, played lightly and a little nervous with the fabric of his tunic. "Weren't we supposed to... shouldn't we...I mean...is the offer still standing?" He burst out in a rapid tumble of words.

Damian caught his hand, lifted it of his shoulder.

" Aren't you sick?" He asked the wereleopard. "Shouldn't you cuddle up with your cats and regain strength after this...strenuous night?" He asked the boy seriously, surprised...

" I...I'd rather be with you," Nathaniel said breathlessly. His huge, violet eyes looked up at Damian, "if it's all right with you..." he added.

Damian chuckled:

" Of course, " he motioned with his hand down the corridor. "Right this way," he guided the kitten with a palm on his back, felt the glide and slide of the shifting, red hair. The sudden closeness of the other course through his body like fine wine or particularly powerful blood. He didn't feel tired at all anymore, just...happy!

They walked into Damian's carpeted chambers. The vampire took his round and lit the candles at the tables and on the walls. Real white wax. Smelly and smoky, but what he preferred.

Nathaniel took a look around. Saw the heavy wooden furniture. The thick, ornamented rugs. The crystal and the mahogany and said, "Wow!"

" Welcome to the vampire's lair," Damian smiled sarcastically and sat down in a throne-like chair embroidered with a rather nasty hunt scene.

Nathaniel's gaze fell on the inner chamber, partly hidden from view by a small archway and red velvet drapes. He saw the huge bed of dark wood scattered with pillows in different red and gold patterns, the forest green bed spread and drew his breath with a deep sigh.

" It's a nice bed," Damian commented. "I think you'll like it..."

Nathaniel turned to him with a wide smile.

" I already do, " he said. "It reminds me of Christmas..."

Damian, who hadn't seen it exactly that way before laughed out loud.

" Oh, Nathaniel," he chuckled," I think I'll have a lot of fun with you..."

Nathaniel reddened but smiled, looked somewhat awkward and misplaced in his naughty leather strap suit.

" You look so beautiful when you laugh," he said lowly without meeting Damian's gaze.

" Really?" The vampire replied smiling. "Why don't have a seat in Santa's lap and tell him just how beautiful?" He said, suddenly serious while the green flames were lit in his eyes again.

Nathaniel beamed at him, then he crossed the floor with graceful steps, rolling hips and sensual sways, showing off his skills as a dancer.

" I could be your elf," he cocked his head slightly. Something new and bold had come into his eyes now.

" My very naught elf," Damian caught his wrist and pulled him down to straddle his lap. Nathaniel laughed joyfully;

" You're so flirty," he grinned. "Bet you seduced all the ladies back in the Victorian days," he smiled sweetly.

" Sure," Damian replied and embraced his cat. Began stroking his leather strapped back slowly up and down. "When my mistress wanted me to," he finished his sentence.

" Oh, yes - she was pretty bad wasn't she?" Nathaniel was all compassion. His fingers dipped in under Damian's neckline.

" Made Belle Morte seem like a kitten," Damian arched one of his eye-brows. Was serious enough, but not completely. "...But Jean-Claude bargained for me," he continued. "And here I have more freedom than most mortal men...And I found you," he finally tilted his head and offered Nathaniel his lips.

Nathaniel was all serious face and shivering breath when he bent down to take the offer. Their kiss was a soft caress, moist softness and lingering sweetness.

" I can't believe it's this easy," Nathaniel said softly when the kiss ended. "That the one I want, wants me back," he explained.

" Nathaniel," Damian said gently. "Nothing in our existence is easy...we saw that tonight...We belong to Jean-Claude and the Executioner, we're kept beings both of us, always ready to serve...and die." He paused and caught a tendril of Nathaniel's hair between his fingers, studied it intensely while talking. "But this is," he said and rose his gaze to meet Nathaniel's. "This one thing is easy...we should be grateful for that..."

" Yes..." Nathaniel agreed in a whisper and embraced the vampire, pressed himself closer, searching for that reassuring physical contact his kind craved so for.

" I'm not a mighty and powerful vampire, Nathaniel," Damian spoke again. " I can't shield and protect you as you deserve...But I can love you," Damian said lowly. Continued to touch and play with Nathaniel's hair.

" I think you're mighty enough, " Nathaniel replied. "You've survived for so long, been through so much pain..." He trailed off, rested his cheek on Damian's shoulder. "And you're sexy and kind and funny," he smiled. " And you don't make me feel helpless or foolish..."

" See," Damian smiled down at him: "Lover material, nothing more, but I hope that's enough...I'll be good to you, Nathaniel," he added in a whisper. Felt the wereleopard's eyelashes flutter on his neck.

" Thanks," Nathaniel replied softly. He shifted a bit in the vampire's lap. "Can we go to bed now?" He begged coyly.

Damian chuckled lowly.

" Who am I to deny my beautiful anything!" He flirted and rose with Nathaniel straddling his hips, spun around on the floor with him in his arms. "See, I can dance too," he smirked at Nathaniel.

" Yes," Nathaniel beamed and coiled his arms around the other's neck. "To bed, handsome," he said in the sweetest, demanding voice Damian had ever heard.

Damian carried him through the archway, stopped to press kisses to his neck, lick his lips, roam the other's mouth with his tongue, before finally dumping him not too gently down on the bed.

" Look...a Christmas angel," he said with a dramatic gesture and looked down at the giggling cat. "But I looks like I got the present," he added more serious, slumped to his knees on the big, heavy mattress, crawled over his prey with feral movements.

" You're a bit cattish yourself," Nathaniel squirmed with delight. His breathing came rapid, gave his own hunger away.

" Yes," Damian purred. "They should've been my animal to call," he said, not at all serious.

" I'll be your animal to call," Nathaniel lifted his hips off the mattress, grind them lightly against Damian's.

" Good," Damian smiled. " I need only one," he continued before he interrupted himself with a loud hiss as Nathaniel's movements caught in his loins, created a fire there once more.

" Sweet heavens," he muttered and covered Nathaniel's lips with his own. Dipped his tongue in there, savored the taste of the playful, sweet being beneath him. He pushed his hips violently against Nathaniel's, heard him gasp in response. He smiled satisfied and proceeded to move slowly down the kittens torso, lick and taste his naked skin where it peeked through between the leather straps.

" Do you know how to get rid of this," he murmured.

" No," Nathaniel breathed back.

Damian reached over the boy and scrambled around in his bed stand drawer, he returned with a bronze knife in his hand. It was a pretty piece of work set with glimmering rubies and emeralds.

" Oh..." Nathaniel muttered.

" A present from my old mistress," Damian explained. "One of the few things I kept when I left...It's very pretty, and sharp," he grinned with fangs. "Now, let's open this present, shall we?"

Nathaniel smiled and nodded, lay utterly still on his back when the knife first touched the thin, sensitive skin of his stomach. Damian cut through the first strap with his gaze locked in Nathaniel's. His movements sure and experienced.

" I have done less...pleasant things with this knife," he explained seriously. "I wont hurt you," he said.

" That's ok, I'm not afraid of blood," Nathaniel said calmly. His chest rose and fell heavily.

" Save your blood now Nathaniel," Damian replied. "I need it..." he grinned wickedly. "Besides, think of the bed spread..." He arched his eye-brow.

Nathaniel giggled again and squirmed when the cool metal touched his skin, another strap fell from his body, exposed his soft, cream colored belly. The next strap that fell freed half of his thigh, high up right beneath the crotch. Damian teased his inner thigh with the tip of the knife and Nathaniel gave a long, loud moan.
The vampire's expert hands cut his whole leg free strap by strap, pulled off Nathaniel's boot and tossed it off the bed. Then he did the arms, tickled the sensitive spot inside the elbows with the sharp metal. Cream colored leather fell from the wereleopards body and down on the bed. Strap by strap he uncovered smooth, flawless skin, his blade all the time only a light pressure away from penetrating the thin surface. Still Nathaniel couldn't hold still. He tossed and squirmed, met the knife half-way with his limbs. His cheeks were rosy red, his nipples hard pebbles of dark pink flesh between the leather straps.

" My kitten likes it dangerous," Damian's voice was a low purr at the back of his throat. "Taste this," he whispered and lifted the boy's hand off the bed, bit into his wrist and closed his eyes. Let the red, warm blood fill the cave of his mouth, spread like electric tendrils in his body. He opened his eyes again, watched the leopard through a sensual blood drugged haze.
Nathaniel made guttural sounds, arched his neck off the mattress. Most of his suit lay draped in tresses around his body. He had coiled his partly naked legs around Damian's thigh and grind his mostly leather-clad hips roughly against the slick material that covered Damian's body. Damian dropped his wrist.

" Let's finish this," he said in a dark, hoarse voice and attacked the cat again. Stripped him off cream colored leather one strap at the time, lifted him off the bed and over his shoulder to get access to those on the back. The thin strap between his buttocks...He growled and roamed the delicious behind with his free palm, spread the cheeks slightly to let one finger trail the cleft, push against his entrance, slip inside deep and probing...

Nathaniel's body became loose as a rag doll, but his member, pressing against Damian's belly, was firm and erect.

Damian tossed him back down on the bed. Continued to free his lover's body with the knife, soon there was only the crotch left, two small straps holding the little piece of leather in place. Damian cut them off without further hesitation, lifted the useless material from Nathaniel's most tempting parts and moaned out loudly when he saw the weeping arousal beneath.

The knife hit the stoned floor with a clattering sound.

" Nathaniel," the vampire breathed with glazed eyes. Bent down and licked the pre-cum from the firm shaft, slid it down his throat, caressed it gently with his tongue. His fangs scratched the skin gently and Nathaniel's hips jerked violently. The boy's body was trembling under Damian's hands, the musk and vanilla scent rose from his heated skin in heavy waves. Damian punctured his skin lightly at the base of the pounding arousal that filled his mouth like precious candy. He didn't sink his fangs in, but let the blood trickle sweet and rich into his mouth as he moved his mouth on the youth. He licked them clean and closed them before moving on, hovered above Nathaniel on his fours while his red hair brushed the naked torso.
Nathaniel tugged at his clothes and Damian complied. Threw his shirt off the bed and opened his pants, felt Nathaniel's small hands on his chest. Gentle fingers brushed his nipples. Dipped down to stroke his arousal, accompanied by panting, whimpering sounds from the boy.

Damian swiftly rose from the bed and removed his pants without further ado, took a hold of a couple of ripped leather straps under Nathaniel's body and pulled quickly, made the leopard roll off the ruined leather and down on the green bed, all naked and aroused. Damian threw the useless suit in a corner and returned to the bed again. Desire in his gaze, lust in every powerful movement as he crawled towards the youth. Marble hardness peeking out between his thighs.

Nathaniel's arms and soft, yielding body welcomed him. His lips were parted, invited to more kisses. He hooked his legs around Damian's hips, lifted himself off the bed to grind wildly against him. Their erections crossed and caressed. Blood red curls nestled with auburns as Nathaniel held on to his shoulders and matched the passion with his mouth. Ravaged the vampire's mouth with his tongue, didn't seem to notice the fangs scratching it, the small ruby drops of blood escaping his body. The purple gaze held specks of gold when Damian's pale hands parted his legs and took hold of his hips, lifted him off the forest green velvet. Damian sat back on his knees and pulled Nathaniel's crotch into his lap, positioned himself over that impossibly tight entrance to bliss.

They gazes met then, a moment of peace in the middle of the sensual fury.

" Do it," Nathaniel breathed heavily. "please," he added in a strangled voice. Something desperate fluttered in his eyes and Damian pushed himself inside his body. Not very gently, not even considerate -but roughly and too fast, craving the feel of the other body - the heat of his cat embracing him. The clenching muscles, the surging feel, the pleasure of it all - Nathaniel's scream of pain and excitement. His spine arched and lifted his torso off the mattress. Damian's head dipped down and caught a nipple in his mouth, flickered his tongue across it, licked and sucked at it, forced Nathaniel to hold the position. Damian licked his chest as well, while his sex pounded heavily inside Nathaniel's tightness, he bit his stomach, penetrated the smooth surface. He didn't drink much, just a taste, fuel and spice for both of them as Damian gently rolled Nathaniel's mind, heightened his sensitivity.

He began rocking in and out of his body, felt the muscles and tissue adjust and give space: He bent over the cat again, forced his chest back to lie flat on the bed as he added his own weight, lay over him as a lover should. Lifted Nathaniel's leg in up the air and felt the limber kitten slide it over his shoulder as he continued to fuck him with hard, sure strokes. Deep moans from Nathaniel, lust filled groans from Damian as his hips flexed and built a rhythm, rocking them both to oblivion.

He found Nathaniel's neck and licked the salty perspiration from his skin, damp tresses of hair, lay around his beautiful face in softly shimmering coils. Damian took time to press kisses to the pounding artery before sinking fangs. And this time he drank for real. Lost himself in the passion and the liquid kiss. The steady rhythmical pleasure, the writhing, grinding body beneath...

He startled and came to his senses when scalding hot moisture hit his stomach, Strands of thick, white fluid came pumping out of his mewing, clawing bed partner. Damian's mouth left his neck to kiss his lips. Held him through the worst of it before he gave a couple of hard thrusts and allowed himself to come inside his body. He bucked and arched his back, let the orgasmic lightning mingle with the blood haze in his system. Bring him to heaven and back, on heavy, rolling, Nathaniel flavored waves.

At last he fell down on top of the cat. Rolled himself quickly off the fragile form and gathered the burning kitten in his arms. Held him close to his chest, close to his heart , before submitting to the aftershocks, the last lingering waves of pleasure.

A purple eye opened, then another one...

" Damian..." Nathaniel stretched with a smile.

" Are you ok?" Concerned green eyes searched his face.

" Yeah..." Nathaniel snuggled closer.

" You're a wild thing," Damian chuckled and tightened his grip on the boy. Their naked limbs caressed each other, laced and locked, searched for as much closeness as possible.

" Is that a good or a bad thing?" Nathaniel asked but didn't sound concerned, rather smug actually...

" I think you know the answer to that..." Damian kissed the top of his head, brushed his hand through the heavy fall of hair. "We should do this more often," he joked lovingly.

" Yes..." Nathaniel sat up in the bed with slow, reluctant movements, he lifted his hair of his neck and sighed. "Guess I should be heading back to Anita's tonight though...she'll worry about me...and she needs to feed."

Damian looked at the rare treasure sitting in his bed.

" Will you be back?" He asked seriously.

" For this," Nathaniel bent forward and trailed Damian's profile with his forefinger," "I'll always be back!" He exclaimed.

************************


Epilogue:

The cat must be hungry, Damian figures and rises from the bed, climbs over the sleeping form of his lover.

He puts on a richly ornamented robe and walks off to the storage room. With so much food running around the corridors they have to keep something to feed *them* with, so Jean-Claude has arranged for fresh fruits delivered on the doorstep, raw meat in the fridge...Wine in the cellar. Good food, healthy food. Food that makes the blood run rich and plentiful.

He finds himself a fake silver tray and fills it with assorted fruits and a bowl of meat. Nathaniel prefers it raw after his nights 'out'. He returns to his rooms and passes Asher on the way. The blond vampire dips his finger in the bowl and licks it clean, shudders from the taste of the dead animal.

" Your kitty is hungry I presume," he says teasingly.

" He usually is after full moons," Damian replies with a smile and maneuvers around him, eager to get back to the sleeping boy.

" Nathaniel," he calls softly and puts the tray down by the bed. Lifts the bowl of meat off it and puts it close to Nathaniel's nostrils. The little nose wriggles a bit, as if it had another shape and texture. Then his eyes pops open and his mouth curls into a grin when he sees Damian above him.

" Food," he beams gratefully and takes the little bowl out of Damian's hand.

" Hello, lover," Damian arches his eye-brow.

" Oh sorry!" Nathaniel stretches his neck and receives a kiss from his vampire before attacking the meat with his fingers. Damian leans back on the bed, just watching him. The undisguised hunger, the way his motions seem somehow awkward, as if his body hasn't fully adjusted to his human form yet.

" You weren't here at dawn, did you run into trouble?" Damian asks.

" No, not at dawn," Nathaniel says. " But I was far away," he adds while chewing at the red meat.

" I guess one can't expect a wereleopard to call," Damian teases.

" You never forget anything do you?" Nathaniel says mock angry and throws the forgotten remote control at him. "Been up all night watching TV?" The youth arches his brow at the vampire.

" I missed you," Damian defends himself and Nathaniel smiles satisfied.

Damian rolls himself over and up on the bed. He reaches a hand to the floor and lifts a peach and a little knife to the bed. Cuts a big slice of ripe fruit.

" Eat," he urges the leopard and holds the fruit to his lips. Nathaniel obeys and part his lips. They're doing it in silence for a while. The vampire feeds the cat grapes and peaches from the tray. The meat bowl is quickly emptied, so is the red wine.

Damian arches up the bed to rest behind the boy's body. His lips are searching his neck. The fur scent is overwhelming there, so close to the skin.

" Shower later," he mumbles and Nathaniel smirks knowingly.

" Yeah," he says. "I suppose."

He almost doesn't startle at all when Damian's fangs sinks into his neck, just lies there with half-closed lids, clawing softly at the sheets. Curling his toes, small sighs escapes his lips.
Damian's erection grows as his body fills with blood. He pulls the fabric of his robe aside to let the boy know what's pressing against his back. The cat moans low and parts his legs unconsciously. Lifts one of them up in the air for Damian to catch.

He reaches to the bed stand and lifts down a small vial of oil and soon the scent of sweet herbs mingles with that of fur in the room. Damian pushes into him while letting his neck go. He reaches across Nathaniel's body and closes his palm around the boy's erection. Pumping it in time with his deep thrusts into his body.

" Nice?" He asks the other.

" Yes," Nathaniel breathes and closes his eyes.

Damian is losing himself again. The luscious body, the lovely spirit...He sighs deeply and increases the speed, the force of his rapid thrusting. Oh yes, he thinks while the waves shower over him again .The cat has him collared. Collared and chained by his heart.

The End




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