Fallen - 9. Chapter 9 - Taz

Moments after I lose control and release into him Taz goes completely limp, his legs falling away from me so that for an instant before the full realisation hits I am confused. When I realise what I have done I withdraw from him and grip his thighs helplessly, willing him to somehow be immune to what I have done to him.

And then he makes a strange choking noise and his head slams back with such force that I am surprised he didn’t break his neck. His body is thrown into violent convulsions that I am afraid are going to snap his bones and tear muscle and sinew if not something worse.

I am utterly horrified by what happened, and utterly helpless. I have no idea what this is going to do to him and there is nothing I can do for him. I cannot take away what has been given. All that I can do is to give him more but that would be foolish in the extreme. And so all that can be done is to watch him ride it out and pray that he is strong enough not to die.

I scramble off the bed and kneel at his side as his body continues to convulse. I am afraid to take him into my arms because it is likely that would hurt both of us. He is breathing in choking bursts and I am afraid that the straining of his throat is cutting off his windpipe, but what can I do? What can I do? How long will this last? What will it do to him?

“What have I done? What have I done?”

I don’t even realise that I have cried out loud until I feel the bodies pressed against me. I glance down into Chancey’s frightened eyes but I can’t keep contact for more than a moment because that would mean taking my eyes away from Taz and I can’t do that. I owe him that much.

“My Lord...what’s happening to him?”

I ignore him, submerging myself in the wild energy of Taz’s fight. I take his hand and hold on even though, a dozen times it is almost torn from my grip. Finally the convulsions ease although he is still spasming and twisting his head rapidly from side to side, his eyes staring and unseeing.

“Taz... Ah Hel Taz... Taz... please hear me. Come back to me. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I swear I never meant to let it get this far. I can’t... I can’t help but lose control with you. I should never have thought that I could control it. I should never have let my senses become so divorced from my body. I pray to Hel that I have not harmed you. Do not leave me Taz. I beg of you do not leave me.”

I am hardly aware of the others but I know that they are gathered around and they are staring at Taz with fear and at me with shock and awe. It is rare that I cry and never over one of them but I cannot stop the tears that are flowing down my cheeks.

He has stilled now, his eyes still open and wide but his hand limp in mine. His lips are parted and his breathing is jerky and harsh. It seems to be hard for him to catch his breath and I am so helpless. There is nothing I can do to help him.

I am surprised, shocked and, I have to admit angry, when Mario knees beside me and gently nudges me out of the way. When I glare at him he looks me in the eye and says softly.

“I am almost a doctor My Lord. Perhaps I can help. What is wrong with him?”

“I... I don’t...” I have never been lost for words, never been hesitant with a pet, never. What the hell is happening to me? “When I release my seed into a human body I have to carefully control the venom that is released with it. I can’t just release it all. It is too much. He is... overdosed on it. I don’t know what will happen. I have never lost control like this before.”

I feel almost foolish speaking like this to Mario, as if he is the one in control. Part of me resents it even while the others are begging him to do something, anything. To save Taz.

“Do you know what your venom comprises of, My Lord, what chemicals it contains?”

“No. It differs depending what my intentions are. It can intoxicate, invigorate or sedate; kill or cure. It can bring feeling of joy, or pleasure, paralysis or sleep. The more I release the deeper the sleep but this is different. This is not controlled, this does not have direction. I don’t know the effect. I was not thinking, not intending.”

Mario looks thoughtful, no longer speaking to me at all. “The initial effect was extreme. It is clearly a neurotoxin but I have never heard of a reaction like that. It wasn't a seizure but there were elements in it that was similar so it seems there was an overwhelming release of energy with catastrophic effect on the brain - which is unsurprising. There may have been internal damage but I doubt it and I think that it is releasing him, if only in relation to the paralysing effect. He is breathing more easily and the tremors have stopped.”

Perhaps he is not a fully fledged doctor but he is certainly talking like one.

“Will he live?”

“I don’t know, My Lord. Just because the toxin is releasing its hold in some areas does not mean that it is releasing him altogether. It may just be moving on to another stage of its development.”

Mario takes Taz’s hand from mine and presses his fingers against the inside of his wrist. He frowns. “His pulse is strong but very erratic. That means that his heart is affected. It is beating strongly but wildly and that could cause a cardiac arrest at any time.” He leans forward to peer into Taz’s eyes. “The fact that his eyes are so fixed and the pupils non reactive is not a good sign either.”

“Mario. I don’t care about signs or symptoms. All I care about is having Taz back with us. Is he going to die?”

He lowers his head, masking his eyes. “I don’t know, My Lord. How can I tell you that when I know nothing of the venom that has gone into his body? I don’t know the dose; I don’t know the composition. I don’t know anything. If I had any idea of what was in it, if I had a lab to test it...”

“From what you can see what is your best guess?”

He looks up at me, his eyes bright and open. “The same as yours, My Lord”

“You think that he is going to die?”

“Yes, My Lord.”

I feel as if he has thrust a stake through my heart. I turn back to Taz and lift his hand, resting it against me cheek. It is cold and trembles slightly. A deep shudder runs through his body and his eyes flicker and then roll closed. I am startled and look to Mario, although I am perfectly capable of deciphering for myself that he still lives. Can I not hear his heart? Can I not smell the blood still flowing in his veins?

“He’s still alive, My Lord.” Mario says unnecessarily. “But I think he’s gone into a coma. I don’t know...”

Whatever it is that Mario doesn’t know is lost to me because at that moment Taz shudders again and grips my hand so hard it hurts.

“Taz. Taz can you hear me? Can you hear me? Are you alright?” Stupid questions I know but now I understand why they are asked at times like these. There simply isn’t anything else to say, anything else to do and there is a burning need in me to dosomething.

Taz takes a deep shuddering breath and his body starts to shake. I glance at Mario who is looking puzzled and very grave but I know, I can feel the strength flowing through him.

“Taz.” I call out again and with another great shuddering breath which rocks his body he opens his eyes and stares at me.

“Oh fuck Taz. I thought I’d lost you.”

I pull him roughly into my arms and hold him close. He throws his arms around me and hugs me closer still.

At last I release him and he lies back looking exhausted but alert. “Fuck” he says in a voice that is only shaking a little. “That was a wild ride.” He grins. “When can we do it again?”

“Never.” I say quickly. “I thought I had lost you and I will NEVER do that to you again.”

For a moment he looks as if he is going to tease me but he realises from the look on my face that I am serious. “It wasn't that bad My Lord. I feel a little...” he pauses and his eyes take on a thoughtful look, “battered, but I’ve felt worse after sex.”

“Do you really not know?”

“Know what, My Lord?”

“You’ve been unconscious for more than twenty minutes. For more than half that time your body was convulsing as if it was trying to tear itself apart bit by bit. Your heart almost stopped and I thought... I thought...”

His eyes widen for a moment and then he smiles, “It was one hell of a fuck... one hell of an orgasm: yours; mine?” He shrugs. “Who cares? I’d do it again.”

For a moment I stare at him, truly incredulous. I open my mouth to speak but before I can get a word out Chancey puts his hands on his hips and lets loose.

“How dare you. How dare you lie there and grin and say you would do it again. Do you have any idea how frightened we were? We thought you were going to die? My Lord thought he had killed you. He cried Taz... My Lord cried for you and you smile?”

“Hush Chancey.” I say kindly, strangely touched by his words but embarrassed too. I may be going soft but I don’t want everyone to know it.

When I turn back to Taz he is staring at me truly shocked. He raises a shaking hand to touch my face. “You cried? For me?”

Under the circumstances I ignore the fact that he does not use the proper form of address. I intend to scold but my voice comes out soft. “Yes, I cried for you, because I thought I had lost you, that I had killed you. I lost control and I never should have. I very nearly killed you and to watch you go through what you did because of me...”

“But I didn’t, not on the inside. I have no memory of pain or fear, only of... of...” His eyes glaze and he shivers. “The greatest high I have ever had, the most intense sexual experience. Nothing will ever compare to it.”

“You will never experience that again Taz, I promise you. No matter how much you may want it, I will not risk your life like that again.”

He looks up coquettishly from beneath lowered lashes. “I didn’t know you cared, My Lord.”

“I care about having someone I can fuck the brains out of when I feel like letting go... except I will never let go quite as much as that again.”

“Spoilsport.” He teases and I feel as if a huge weight is removed from my shoulders.

I am strangely reluctant to leave him even though my taste for sex has waned. He is not one to be fussed over and within minutes he is chafing at the fact everyone is looking at him. He is exhausted but apart from that he seems sound. Mario insists on examining him although he growls at first and threatens to bite off his hand. Fortunately a mere glance from me has him called to heel and he allows Mario to take his pulse, listen to his heart and peer into his eyes to pronounce what we already knew... that he was generally fine.

“Can I go now, My Lord? If I am not going to get satisfied here I thought I would find Serif and see if he’s feeling horny.”

“It would be better if you didn’t do anything strenuous for a couple of days Taz. You may feel okay but we still don’t know if the effects of the venom have completely released you. You might...” Mario tries while Taz stares at him, his eyes like gimlets until he loses interest.

“Oh well... I’ll get Serif to do most of the work.” He gets up off the bed and would have fallen back if I hadn’t caught him.

“Taz...”

“I know.” He says more soberly as he tries again to support his weight with a little more success although he has to grip my arm with a vicelike grip to keep himself there. “You don’t have to say another word, My Lord. I’ll wait until tomorrow.” He is slurring his words and looks intoxicated. I glance up at Mario sharply and he shrugs.

“It is a normal effect of your venom, My Lord. It is likely that the normal effects will assert themselves at some time and probably more strongly than normal.”

“Oh for fuck sake either shut up or stop talking like a text book.” The very fact that Taz is speaking so harshly is testament to the fact that he is not feeling himself. In fact he looks high as a kite and after he has spoken he giggles.

“Don’t worry My Lord I’m fi...” before he finishes he passes out cold. Mario informs me that he is probably going to be fine but he needs to rest so I tuck him into bed right there and instruct Mario not to leave his side until he wakes and he is sure he’s going to be alright.

Chancey is pale and Ara looks totally shocked. “Take Ara to your quarters Chancey. He looks cold and shocked. Take care of him in any way you think appropriate and have the staff deal with dinner. We only want something light.

“Yes, My Lord.” Chancey says gratefully. I know him well and the best way to reassure him is to give him something to do.

Apart from the seven who make up my ‘stable’ there are numerous staff who wander around the house like ghosts... some of them are. I don’t see them and that is by design. One of the things I like about Chancey is his ability to make things appear as if they have just happened.

I am eager to get back to my suite and into my bath. Sacha is out and Bridge still asleep. While the bath is filling I look down at him and smile. So beautiful and so sweet. My bath is huge and it is easy to submerge myself completely. Around the side there is a shelf which makes it possible for me to sit with my head above the water and relax. There is a tray beside the bath on which there is a bottle of fine red wine and three glasses. Sacha is a mind reader.

I pour myself a glass of wine, drink deeply and relax. My mind begins to drift and I slip towards sleep. I have no idea how I fail to hear anyone enter. My senses are acute and if nothing else I can feel the thoughts if not hear the footsteps. Nevertheless I am aware of nothing until the ripple in the water alerts me to the fact that someone else is entering it.

I open my eyes in surprise to find Bridge’s smiling face inches from mine. I jump. “Where did you come from?”

“The bedroom.” He smiles knowing exactly what I meant.

I can’t help but smile myself; especially when he leans over me, resting his body on mine. It is so small and fragile compared to Taz. I hold him gently and run my hands up and down his back. He kisses me sweetly and gently.

“You are so beautiful Bridge.”

“Not really but I like it when you say it.”

“Are you feeling better now?”

He considers. “I don’t know. I feel happy, I feel cherished, I feel lucky. But I don’t feel well. I am tired and weak.”

“That will pass. You’ve only had one treatment. In a week you will be a different person.”

“I already am.”

“Indeed you are.”

He sits on my lap and I hold him gently. He rests his head against my chest and goes to sleep. I sit and listen to his soft breathing as the water grows cold around us.

We are still there when Sacha returns. He pauses in the doorway and smiles. This time I both hear and feel his approach.

“Is he alright?”

“Not yet. He is still very weak and tired but in a few days that will improve. He is already better than he was. At least he is not dying any more, not so quickly anyway.”

“He’s so sweet. We spoke a little and I feel...” A dreamy expression comes into his eyes. “I can't explain it; I just know I want to take care of him.”

“I’m glad because that is what you are going to do, what we are all going to do.”

I look down fondly into his face and Sacha kneels on the edge of the bath and stares at him too. It’s so strange. In a way the feeling he evokes in me is filial and yet it isn't. There is such an overwhelming desire to protect and cherish. And yet, there is nothing remotely filial in the way I want to touch him and...

Unconsciously I am stroking his back and thigh. He stirs and looks up at me with sleepy eyes. “Oh. Did I fall asleep?”

“For a little while.”

His eyes flick up and he smiles delightedly. “Sacha. Are you going to come in the bath with us?”

“The bath’s a bit cold now.”

“Oh yes. I didn’t notice. We’d better get out,” he says seriously to me. “You’re going to catch cold.” I hug him tightly feeling... overwhelmed.

“I think it’s time we both get out.”

Still holding him in my arms I climb out of the bath and Sacha wraps a huge fluffy towel around him. I set him on his feet long enough to get my own towel and wrap it around my waist and then I scoop him up again. He giggles as I carry him into the bedroom. He kicks his legs and I practically drop him onto the bed.

Bridge moves ridiculously quickly when he wants to and before I know it he has whipped away my towel and flicked it at my buttocks. It stings and I stare at him in shock.

“You little minx.” Sacha laughs warmly and leaps for him, but Bridge is too quick and evades him leaping lightly off the bed and making a run for the door. He would have made it too if it hadn’t been for me. I catch him around the waist, swing him round and toss him onto the bed where Sacha is waiting and pounces on him.

Bridge squirms giggling but Sacha has him pinned down. After a while he subsides, panting and grinning. Sacha isn't grinning; he is staring at Bridge with a strange look on his face. Noticing, Bridge’s smile fades and he looks uncertain. I can practically see his mind working. He is wondering what he has done wrong. But I know the look on Sacha’s face very well. He has done nothing wrong, nothing at all.

After gazing at him for a long moment during which Bridge starts to squirm in a completely different way and his uncertain look turns into a frown, Sacha whispers his name and he finally gets the message. The frown disappears but he still looks uncertain, going still and looking up at him with wide eyes. Slowly Sacha lowers his head and kisses him, very gently. There is something about Bridge that makes you want to be gentle with him. In so many ways he is the complete opposite of Taz. For a moment my mind puts them together and then I shudder. That is something that is never going to happen.

Bridge’s arms have gone round Sacha and he is gently stroking his ribs. Sacha’s arms are trembling. In fact all of him is trembling and I know why. Bridge’s touch is light and soft but it wakes some powerful emotions. Most of the time it is hard to remember what he is... was, but he knows what he’s doing. It makes me smile to think that he is so completely not what he seems.

The stress that has been plaguing me since the incidents in the tower room, and which had eased slightly in the bath, now lifts from my shoulders and I relax completely.

As Bridge and Sacha continue to kiss, more deeply now, I climb onto the bed behind Sacha and press my body close to his. I wrap myself around him and lightly brush Bridge’s arms as they continue to stroke him. Bending forwards I lay my cheek against the soft skin of Sacha’s back and inhale deeply of his scent. He sighs and a soft moan escapes his lips which are still locked with Bridge’s.

Turning my head I kiss Sacha’s back and work my way up his spine while Bridge’s hand moves from his ribs to stroke his chest. Sacha’s breathing is quickening and I know that I am going to have some sweet, sweet fun.

When I reach his neck Bridge strokes down over his belly to take his already half hard shaft into his hand. Sacha whimpers and twitches. Very, very careful I release enzyme into his neck just behind the ear and he would have collapsed onto Bridge if I had not been holding him tightly around the waist. As it is his head falls forward to rest, heavy on Bridge’s shoulder.

“Is he...?” Bridge asks with anxious eyes.

“He’s fine.” I smile. “Better than fine, and he’s going to be even better with your help.”

I gently lower Sacha to one side. He isn't unconscious, just deeply relaxed. He smiles dreamily and reaches for me. That’s not what I have planned so I move away and manoeuvre Bridge into his arms instead. Sacha is not capable of sustaining a kiss so he contents himself with tangling his hands in Bridge’s hair while Bridge teases his lips and then moves down to his throat. Sacha sighs and moves his head to give him better access.

I smile to myself. Sacha is primed for the ride of his life and it has never pleased me more to be the one in the driving seat.

While Bridge continues to kiss his way down Sacha’s body I begin with his feet and work my way up, releasing tiny amounts of venom behind his knees and in the joint of his hips, heightening the sensation and essentially turning his legs into highly sensitive jelly.

By now he is panting hard and moaning and Bridge has reached his groin. With a slight nod to Bridge I watch him go to work on Sacha’s cock and am again totally, but pleasantly surprised by his skill. By the time he has licked and sucked it completely into his mouth Sacha is incoherent and shaking all over.

I notice that Bridge knows some tricks to stave off orgasm. So does Sacha but he is in no state to even think about them let alone practice them. While Bridge sucks him I gently toy with his balls and then let my finger wander lower to massage his entrance. His breath catches and his hips thrust up into Bridge’s mouth.

I don’t have to instruct Bridge to stop what he is doing, he simply does and Sacha moans, “Nooooo,” when Bridge lets him slide from his mouth and moves up to kiss him. Nevertheless his arms come up to embrace him and he tries with limited success to return the kiss only to abandon it again when I penetrate him with my fingertip.

He cries out and jerks, throwing his head back and tightening his arms. Bridge raises his head and looks down at him, his eyes wide. He is beautiful, they both are, in very different ways. Sacha is writhing and moaning from my attentions and Bridge surprises me by nudging me out of the way and taking my place. He expertly teases and massages Sacha’s hole occasionally slipping his finger in to make Sacha jump and moan.

I watch him for a while, idly toying with Sacha’s shaft, occasionally flicking my thumb across the sensitive head. Gradually we synchronise, alternating our assaults until Sacha is sobbing. Again Bridge surprises me, positioning himself between his knees and, after a quick look of enquiry to me which I acknowledge with a nod, he enters him. Sacha gasps and his eyes fly open. They widen ever further when he sees who it is. For some reason I had assumed that Bridge would be more comfortable in a passive role. I think Sacha did too.

Bridge has a rapt expression on his face which slowly spreads to Sacha’s, so they are both staring at each other, lost in wonder. Bridge reaches out and gently brushes Sacha’s cheek with his fingers. It is an incredibly tender and intimate gesture that makes my heart jump in my chest. The smile that slowly breaks over Sacha’s face is wondrous.

When the moment of wonder is over Bridge begins to move in and out slowly and Sacha hisses and closes his eyes, moaning. Bridge varies the speed and depth of penetration to prolong the experience and Sacha is soon feverish and shaking.

Sacha groans deeply as I rotate my thumb over his head, spreading precum as lubricant and adding my own enzymes to the mix, dragging a cry from him that is a mixture of pleasure and pain. He almost stops breathing as his whole body is swept by wave after wave of intense pleasure that is not yet about bringing him to release.

He is sobbing and begging as I send alternating pulses of intense pleasure and deep relaxation that has his eyes rolling and his mind so divorced from his body that for a few long moments he forgets to breathe.

I don’t need to prompt Bridge. It feels as if the boy can read my mind which is quite a feat considering I have no idea what’s on my mind at this point. Sacha is jerking his head from side to side and his eyes are rolling back. He is at the limit of what he can take and so I stop. As I take him into my mouth Bridge regulates his strokes making them long slow and deep. Together we smoothly bring Sacha to a literally screaming orgasm. Gasping he thrashes and convulses deeply.

Bridge withdraws without release and watches fondly as Sacha slowly comes down and lies quivering under him, panting and glowing. While he is still watching Sacha, kneeling between his legs I slide myself behind him, putting my arms around him. He feels so fragile and, at the moment he is, but I can feel the man he is going to be.

He sighs and leans back against me. “My turn?” he whispers dreamily into my neck and my response is to run my hands over his belly and chest, ending up making little circles around his nipples. He shivers but his only other reaction is to bury his nose in my hair, locate my ear with his tongue and suck my lobe into his mouth. It is unexpected and sends shivers through me making me gasp out loud.

“Do you like that?” He whispers and, without waiting for a response the little minx slips the tip of his extremely talented tongue into my ear so deeply he almost touches my brain. I shudder as he keeps going. Even though I am tweaking his nipples somewhat convulsively he is still attacking my ear; sucking, licking and thrusting until I feel shaky inside and out. It is almost unbearable. Why has no one ever done this to me before?

Unable to bear it any longer I turn my head and kiss him. I can feel him smile. Damn him, this is supposed to be about him.

By now Sacha has recovered and sits up so we are sandwiching Bridge between us. I release his lips and he turns his head to continue the kiss with Sacha who tenderly caresses his hair and shoulders while I try out Bridge’s techniques on his own ear. Whimpering he squirms but doesn’t break the kiss.

I can feel him trembling and it makes me smile. While not breaking the kiss I bend Bridge forwards, holding his waist until he is on all fours, still kissing Sacha who has lowered himself backwards, keeping his body pressed against Bridge’s so he is now lying against the pillows with Bridge in his arms while Bridge is still kneeling between his legs with his bottom up in the air. He deliberately arches his back, presenting to me, and spreading his buttocks, tantalising me with the rosebud between.

Parting him further I lean down and tease him with my tongue. He sighs and pushes back against me, giving me a face full of sweetness. I am good at what I do, very good and I soon have him squirming; thrusting and sucking as I lubricate him with my saliva.

When I consider that he is ready I sit up and slide a finger into him. He does not cry out or even moan aloud, he merely begins to shiver and his legs tremble. Slowly I work my finger in deeper and when I touch his prostate I let a tiny amount of venom to slip from my finger tip.

Now at last he cries out and jerks, making me smile. “Do you like that?” I murmur and despite everything he giggles. I can’t believe it. This boy astonishes me. I bend over and kiss his back, lost in the wonder of him.

When I rise I massage him again until I feel him relax and then I enter him, holding on to his hips to steady him. Grunting, he raises his head and throws it back, his red gold tumble of hair brushing his back which is arched. He reminds me of a cat and I hold him close against me, still within him.

He is breathing hard and I can feel him tremble. I am concerned about his health and so I don’t push him as I would have one of the others. Very carefully I slide out and even more carefully back in. Bridge pushes back into me, clearly wanting to play but his legs are trembling so much they can hardly support him and he is already breathless.

I tease him again with a slow stroke in and out, allowing Sacha to slide out from under him and turn so that he is lying the other way around; supporting Bridge’s shoulders with his knees and taking him into his mouth.

When he is stable and moaning from the attentions of Sacha’s talented mouth I start to move in and out smoothly and steadily. I have to hold tight to his hips or he would collapse. As I had with Sacha I let small pulses of venom through him at the culmination of every stroke making him shake but relax until his head falls forward and Sacha has to work harder to stop him from falling.

More gently than I have with anyone else for a very long time Sacha and I slowly raise him towards a release that, when it comes is powerful in is own way and totally unexpected as Bridge is incredibly contained in everything he does including sex. The only sign to me that he has fallen over the edge is that he suddenly throws up his head and grunts, thrusting back into me, his buttocks trembling.

Sacha, of course is privy to more obvious evidence and he slides out from under Bridge who promptly collapses, lying sprawled face down on the bed. Sacha gets to his knees and presses his lips against mine, opening his mouth to share Bridge’s sweetness and it shocks me. I have tasted many men and they all have their own distinct flavour. But this is... Sacha’s eyes are open when he moves his head back and I see that he knows too. Bridge is sweet and smoky and musky. Even this is beautiful.

Bridge sits up yawning. “That was good. I wish you wouldn’t make me so sleepy though.”

I lean forward and kiss him, letting himself taste his own sweetness. “When you are well my darling I will give you what you want. Until then I will give you what I think you need and are up to.”

“Oh really? You will, will you? That is what you will give me... but what about what I give you?”

For a moment I am confused and then he pounces me and knocks me backwards. Suddenly both he and Sacha are on me and, it seems, all over me. They are everywhere at the same time... licking, probing, tweaking, biting and sucking. They take it in turns to play me and I am happy to relax and let them get on with it. I never thought that it would be so truly wonderful.

By the time I climax I am higher than I have ever been before... well almost. I relax and let myself come down slowly, my eyes closed and my body tingling. Without even opening my eyes I feel Bridge and Sacha crawl into my arms on either side and I fall asleep listening to the sound of their soft breathing.

It is Serif who wakes me and I open my eyes to see the face of an angel hovering over me. His pale golden hair falls in deep waves around a sweet face dominated by huge baby blue eyes. He looks like and angel but Hel he is so far from it. The cupid’s bow lips curve upwards and he flutters his eyelashes at me.

“Dinner is served My Lord and you... er... guest is awaiting you along with his... companions.”

I chuckle. “Guards you mean?”

He smiles.

“Dismiss the companions Serif. Look after him yourself. We will be half an hour. Keep everything warm.”

“Look after him My Lord?”

“Don’t hurt him... in any way.”

The innocent blue eyes widen. “I would never hurt him My Lord.”

“You would never mean to... but I know you too well for those innocent eyes Serif. Stick to Taz for now, although I think perhaps today will have exhausted even him.”

“I think not My Lord.” He says with a look that makes it clear he is speaking from experience.

“One of these days one of you will go too far.”

“We go too far every day, My Lord.”

“One day you will kill each other.”

“Not deliberately, My Lord.”

The look in his eyes makes me briefly consider postponing lunch. “It is long past time you took blood Serif. Tell Chancey to set it up for ten o’clock tomorrow and have him come to me for further instructions.”

Serif smiles and licks his lips in a way that makes him look less like and angel and more like the demon he is. “As you wish, My Lord.” He stands and trails his fingers over my belly as he turns to leave. I can almost imagine that his touch burns. As I watch his leather clad hips sashay out of the room I have a moment of doubt about what I have doomed Aqua to but at this point he needs to be tamed and no one tames like Serif.

The exchange wakes Sacha who stretches and yawns. His stomach rumbles and he giggles. “I hope that was the call for dinner.” He comments. “Or I might have to eat one of you.”

I grin back and gently stroke Bridge’s hair, calling him softly. He stirs and snuggles closer into me. “Warm.” He murmurs and I tighten my arm around him, biting my lip. I glance up at Sacha and see from his eyes that he has had the same thought.

“It’s alright Bridge, I won’t let you get cold but you need to get up now to eat.”

“Mmm.” He murmurs again but makes no move.

“Bridge, it’s time to get up.” I shake him gently by the shoulder and he frowns and wrinkles his nose. “Bridge.” I can’t keep the laughter from my voice. He is like a kitten clinging to sleep and to me with stubborn resistance. If he’d had claws they would be breaking the skin by now.

Without preamble I get up tipping him off my arm earning and indignant curse. “What did you do that for?” He grumbles.

“Because we are hungry and if we had to sit here and watch you sleep any longer we would have had to eat you.”

“Mmmm. Yes please.” He purrs giving us both a blatantly lustful look from beneath demurely lowered lashes.

“You are such a slut Bridge.”

“I’m a whore.” He says brightly and doesn’t seem to notice when we both flinch. “Race you to the bathroom.”