Promises in Blood

Promises in Blood Madeleine Oh All rights reserved.

Copyright ©2006 Madeleine Oh

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ISBN(10) 1-59596-459-2

ISBN(13) 978-1-59596-459-5

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Chapter 1 “You’ll be leaving soon, won’t you?” They both knew the answer to that. “If we don’t take advantage of the next umbra, we’ll be here another three moon cycles.” “And that would be unwelcome.” Adlet’s hand stroked Rand’s cock. “I’m not here on planet leave. I made a commitment to Drake. We came on a mission. We accomplished it and now…” A shudder of pleasure rippled through him as Adlet brushed his lips over the tip of Rand’s cock. “… we have to…” He couldn’t gasp quite the same way he had when mortal but his arousal was building. Hard. “… move on. That’s what freighters do.” “And so you’ll leave me here?” Adlet’s words were a trifle muffled but Rand understood perfectly. He stroked the man’s light brown hair. “Would you prefer the life aboard a tramp freighter?” “Yes.” That was clear enough. Adlet sat up. A downright pity. Rand was just getting relaxed. “Do you mean it?” Did he? He’d fallen hard and fast for Adlet just days after they’d unloaded the cargo they’d brought to Praeden. The times since, whilst waiting to leave, had been some of the happiest and most carefree Rand could remember. Nutty really, given they were under siege and the planet could become a battle zone if the Wardens blinked their eyes and the galactic corporations moved in. “I’ll see what I can do,” Rand said, leaning back in the narrow bunk, all the better to enjoy what Adlet did so brilliantly. The warmth of mortal lips circling his cock had Rand smiling. It would be a shame to leave such talent behind, but would adding the lad to the crew be a wise choice? Why was he debating the point? Even to himself?

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Rand reached down and cupped Adlet’s head with his hands, easing his fingers through the lad’s soft curls. He would be worth bringing along for the ride and keeping. Rand leaned back against the cold metal of the bulkhead as sheer and delicious pleasure seeped into his bones. Yes! Adlet was most definitely coming with them. He’d worry about the logistics later. Right now… Rand closed his eyes and let Adlet do his best. And the lad’s best was damn near incredible. His warm, mortal tongue swept over the head of Rand’s cock with a smooth and delightfully persistent motion. Back and forth, around and back, as his lips eased up and down the length of Rand’s cock. It was like being assailed from both directions, and as far as Rand was concerned, Adlet could keep it up until dawn. Between the soft ruffle of Adlet’s thick curls and the sheer artistry of his tongue and mouth, Rand was inclined to hang on to the young man. As his climax neared, Rand dropped his head back, angling his hips to penetrate the lad’s mouth even deeper, and joy of all, he accommodated him, no gasping, no gagging, just a wondrous complete enclosure. As a mortal, Rand would have been in a mind fog by now, caught up in the building climax. As vampire, he smiled and let the sheer joy and the delight of expectation fill his mind as his body freely accepted his mortal lover’s homage. Adlet looked up, his eyes bright with delight and satisfaction. Rand ruffled his hair and tried to remember if he’d ever felt this pleasure and this tenderness for a lover during his mortal days. Hardly mattered really. Not now. He smiled down at the young, eager face. “My turn now, Adlet. You’ve savored my strength, now I need yours.” The lad never hesitated. Enthusiastic lover was an understatement. Adlet grinned as they shifted positions in the narrow bunk and spread his warm, mortal thighs. Between them, his cock was hard and ready. Hell, the lad even had the cheek to salute him with it. Delectable.

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Rand settled himself between Adlet’s warm legs. For a few moments he savored the heat of the living body before resting his head on the lad’s thigh to listen to the sweet pulse beneath the skin. Blood was life and so was Adlet’s living jism. Rand lusted for both. Lusting was fun enough but he needed sustenance. Licking a slow line from Adlet’s knee to his groin, Rand sensed both the lad’s horniness and his nervousness. Understandable. Wasn’t that long since Drake had taken Rand’s cock between his fangs for the first time. The heady mix of lust, trepidation and keyed up sexual need wasn’t a combination of emotions he was likely to forget any time soon. Rand heard Adlet’s heartbeat speed up as he pressed his lips to the crease of the lad’s thigh and gently bit. The young blood came sweet and warm as Rand drank, savoring the taste as the blood flowed over his tongue. Life. Eternal youth. Nourishment and the hard on of the century. And that was Adlet’s! Impressive for a mortal but Rand wasn’t here to admire the lad’s impressive erection. Holding both thighs steady, Rand moved slightly, and leaning in, took Adlet’s cock in his mouth. He sensed the boy tense, then go very, very still. That didn’t last long. Not once Rand started sucking. Every muscle and nerve ending in Adlet’s body responded, little whimpers of pleasure echoing against the low ceiling as Rand took what he needed. “God! That’s good! Incredible! Fantastic!” the lad muttered between gasps and moans. Nothing like an appreciative lover and donor. Rand aimed to make this last as long as he could, wanting Adlet to draw every last trace of pleasure from their encounter. As Adlet’s climax peaked, Rand nipped, taking blood with the lad’s jism. Life poured into Rand, a heady brew, piquant with the mortality he’d left behind. Adlet’s cries of joy penetrated the heat of Rand’s pleasure. As he drained the last of his lover’s semen, Rand licked the wounds to seal them, brushed his lips over the now softening cock in a lover’s caress and then shifted up the bed to take Adlet in his arms. “I’ll do everything I can to keep you with me.” “You really mean that?” Adlet asked. “Can you?”

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Could he? Maybe he couldn’t. Both Drake and Ferda had a say in this. “I’ll have to talk to the others. We’re a team.” “It’s your ship.” He had sussed things out. “Yes, it is, but Drake and Ferda are crew. I’ll not add a fourth member unless we’re sure we can sustain one.” The ship carried enough air and water for three mortals, no problem there, and adding a second mortal to the blood supply could only help. Rand still wasn’t one hundred percent convinced Ferda could provide for two vampires for long periods. But still… “I’ll put the idea to them.”

Their reaction was interesting. “What can he add, besides keeping you happy in bed?” Drake said. “He’s an engineer. With Ferda’s navigation skills and Adlet’s engineering we’ll be set to cover just about everything.” “Terran and Planetary engineer,” Ferda corrected, “and he has ten more months before receiving his preliminary license. He interrupted his studies when the crisis blew up on Praeden.” Rand knew better than to ask how she knew. He’d learned a lot about Ferda since their first meeting in the bar on Darien Station. “He wants to join us.” Drake seemed to think raising an eyebrow was enough comment. “And why do you want Adlet on the crew?” Ferda asked. As if she didn’t know? One of the many things he’d learned in the past few weeks was her old woman’s eyes missed nothing. As that thought came and went, it hit him that this was a test of a sort. “He’s a young man, and he’s companionable. I’m drawn to him,” he finished. Hell, he wasn’t quite up to looking her in the eye and saying Adlet was the ultimate in bedworthy. Especially now that she was looking at him the same way an imperial judge eyed a petitioner in the dock. “I see.” But the crease between her eyes convinced Rand she really didn’t, and never could.

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She met Drake’s eyes and he -- who should have been supporting Rand -- merely shrugged. “Your call, Ferda,” he said. “I’ll talk to his parents,” she said, standing. “But, Rand, I give you fair warning. He’s young and hardly versed in the ways of the world. Deal fairly and kindly with him or I’ll amputate your balls and cock one day while you are sleeping.” Rand stared after her departing form in horror. “Better take heed, lad,” Drake warned. “That’s one of the few body parts we can’t regenerate.” Suppressing the shudder was beyond him. “She damn well would, too!” Drake’s mouth twitched. “I would see no reason to doubt her. Take it as a friendly warning, lad. After all, abusing or ill-treating a mortal blood partner is bad practice.” “I’m not going to abuse him! He’s gorgeous!” What did Drake think he was? “He’s young, male, emotional, a bundle of mortal hormones and you are a vampire. It’s a set up for heartbreak if you don’t handle it carefully.” “You’re telling me I shouldn’t take him with us?” “Hell, no, I’m not! You’re right about needing an alternative blood source. Ferda is willing but providing for both of us long term will be a drain on her.” Oblivious to the pun, he went on, “But this Adlet is so young. Watch he doesn’t fall in love with you. That was what Ferda meant.” And that would be a mistake? Better not ask that. Drake and Ferda had made themselves clear. “I can’t control him falling in love!” Drake stood and smiled. “True, lad, but you can control how you deal with it. And while you worry about that, why don’t we go aft and enjoy each other one last time, before you cast me aside for a younger man?” Was that how it seemed to Drake? “I’m not casting you aside.” “Yes, you are, lad, and quite rightly so. You’re a vampire now. Blood and sex are intertwined for us, and we can’t share blood much any more. But there’s a couple of hours before Earth sunrise. How about a friendly fuck before our mortals return?” Rand didn’t waste breath agreeing, just grinned.

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“So, lad?” Drake said, resting his hand on Rand’s shoulder and pressing him back against the bulkhead. “You’re a vampire now, but you need a nice fresh mortal in your bed?” Damn! Why did he keep harping on about that? “You just said it was necessary…” Whatever he intended to say was cut off as Drake’s mouth took over Rand’s, obliterating thought with a wild rush of desire. His already hard cock burned with need and his gums tingled. His fangs began their descent as his mind whirled with need. He kissed back, brushing the tips of his fangs against Drake’s lips. Drake bit harder and Rand tasted blood. His or Drake’s, he had no idea. Didn’t matter. Lust surged in a great wave and Rand pushed back, flattening his hands against Drake’s chest and putting distance between them as he broke the kiss and muttered. “Fucking heavens, I’ll always want you!” “That, lad, is how it should be.” Rand’s new vamp strength was no match for Drake’s age. In seconds, Drake had him on his back in the narrow bunk with Rand’s zipsuit open to his navel. He hadn’t a breath in his body to gasp, nor a heartbeat to race, but his blood quickened in his veins as Drake looked him over and gently, at least at first, bit Rand’s left nipple. The need, the surge of desire hit Rand between thought and feeling. He reached up and grabbed Drake’s zipsuit. The sound of ripping nylo-fabric echoed in the small cabin. Rand pulled off the remains of what had once been Drake’s rather stylish black zipsuit and, angling his neck, bit Drake’s left shoulder. “Feeling your position are you, lad?” Drake lifted his mouth off Rand’s nipple, giving a moment of respite before he bit down on Rand’s shoulder. They were locked, tasting the other’s blood, not sucking or feeding but each reveling in the wild sensations of fang on skin. Drake broke the embrace, moving faster than Rand could, shifting until he held Rand beneath him, pinned the younger vampire to the floor by one splayed hand firmly planted between his already hard nipples.

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Hard? They went rigid as Rand looked up into Drake’s dark eyes. “Stay there, lad,” he whispered, “and I’ll fuck the living moonlight out of you.” “Is that a promise?” The slow smile that curved the corners of Drake’s mouth was reply enough for any vamp or man. Rand reached up and drew down the remnants of Drake’s zipsuit. For seduction purposes, slow and gentle would have been just right. Damn seduction! Rand needed hot, hard sex and wasn’t about to dally. He pulled the suit below Drake’s navel and was ready to rip it open low enough to release the cock pressing hard and clear against the thin nylo-fabric. As Rand moistened his lips in anticipation, Drake moved, stepping out of his suit and gravity boots in a movement that Rand could just follow with his enhanced vision. The prospect of Drake’s cock, hard, arrogant and ready as his own, almost had Rand spurting right there and then. So much for vamp control! He didn’t have it. Not yet. What the hell? Why worry when Drake was looming over him, his eyes glowing red with need and lust? Might as well help, by shrugging off the last tattered remnants of his own suit until they were both naked and satisfyingly hard and horny. “Oh, lad,” Drake shook his head. If he still breathed, Rand would have sworn he sighed. “I’ll miss that fine cock. It’s wasted on that mortal stripling, but he doesn’t have you yet.” Drake picked him up. Rand was head down, over Drake’s shoulder, getting a fine view of the gray, thermoplast flooring as Drake raced into Rand’s quarters. The floor moved, the room spun around and Rand was on his back in his bunk. Or rather half on, half off his bunk. Not for long. They rolled and turned, arms and legs entwined, both possessed by the same needs and passions -- an aching desire to feel mouth to skin and hand to cock. Neither was hesitant, grasping and pulling at each other while scraping fangs and tasting need. They were both vampire and freely unleashed their natures. Rand raked Drake’s chest

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with his fingernails until he drew blood. Drake closed his mouth over Rand’s balls and pressed his fangs against the sensitive sac until Rand moaned and grabbed Drake’s hair in his fist, pulling his mouth even closer. When Drake eased his hold, only to clamp his lips on Rand’s cock, the moans became screams of joy. Rand would have been happy to lie there until sunrise, Drake’s lips wrapped around his cock as he wrapped the vampire’s dark hair around his fingers. Trust Drake to have other ideas. Better ones. Lifting his head and giving Rand a perfectly vulpine smile, Drake gave Rand’s cock one last, soft flutter of his tongue and pulled his mouth away, leaving Rand bereft for all of five seconds. By then, Drake’s hands had grasped Rand’s ankles, bending his legs until his knees pressed his chest. He was open and vulnerable and welcomed the sensation. Anticipation set wild ideas racing and hopes high. “Ready, lad?” Rand chuckled. His laugh became a cry as Drake pressed the tip of his cock against Rand’s arse hole. His head fell back on the hard pillow. He rocked his hips gently as he pressed toward Drake, wanting, needing, Drake to thrust deep and hard inside him. Longing for their joining and the wild rush of possession that would precede their climaxes. “Impatient aren’t you?” Drake made no attempt to hide his amusement. And satisfaction. “Horny for me. In need of a hard cock eh, lad? Want a good hard frigging, do you?” “You damn well know I do!” He didn’t possess anywhere near Drake’s selfcontrol and Drake knew it, delighted in keeping him on the edge, relished the slow tease. Not any more! With a fast, hard thrust, Drake was deep and Rand screamed his delight to the ceiling. Rand eased his hips back before pressing forward on the hard cock that he longed for and needed and would miss.

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“That’s it, lad, show me how much you want me. Your mortal lad might give you what I can’t but he’ll never give you this.” Never! Not ever! But meanwhile, he had Drake in his bunk and they would make this last. Maybe. As Drake pumped and pistoned, Rand’s need burgeoned deep in his belly, mounting between his legs as his erection hardened until it burned. As if to drive the need higher, Drake paused every so often, pressing his cock deep into Rand as he stroked Rand’s erection with cool and teasing fingers. It was too much, never enough, and more wondrous than Rand’s wildest, oncemortal dreams ever envisioned. This was joy, vamp joy, vamp pleasure, vamp loving. In the wild beauty of their frantic, sexual farewell, Rand found his control far stronger than expected. His climax poised on the edge of the peak. Closer and higher than ever as Drake fucked with slow, fierce strokes, flicking the sides of Rand’s cock with his fingers, and leaning over him, until they were chest on chest, with Rand’s desperate erection pressed between their cool vamp bodies. Rand sensed Drake’s peaking climax, saw the heat burning behind his eyes, and felt every single one of the furious thrusts. His own climax burst, seconds ahead of Drake’s, but even as their wild union peaked and soared, Drake rolled Rand on top of him, and back around to pin him to the narrow mattress, before flipping him over and back again. It was frenzy, and need and beautiful loving as each spilled seed, and drove each other wild. Spent and sated, Rand would have been content to lie in Drake’s arms, letting this time last a little longer. Drake thought otherwise. He stood, taking Rand with him and carried him over to the shower. It was a tight fit, barely space for both of them to turn around but somehow they managed, letting the warm water rinse away the evidence of their last and lingering passion.

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Shit! He was getting maudlin. No time for that. With stamina and strength returning as they never had in his mortal days, Rand would have happily dragged (or at least tried to) Drake back to the bunk. However Rand felt the torpor of Earth sunrise touch his mind. “It’s late,” he said. “Indeed, lad, it is,” Drake replied, “but not too late and never will be for us.” Gently, as if he were a child, Drake lifted him, carrying him back to the bunk and its rumpled covers. “See you, lad.” “Night, Drake, lover,” Rand whispered as the blackness of day engulfed him.

Chapter 2 The mortals were there. Rand heard the heartbeats as he lay, slowly surfacing from the deep of day sleep. Adlet! Rand was up and pulling on a zipsuit and out the door in moments, almost tripping over a bulging kit bag, a pile of boots, and a fishing rod and reel. A fishing rod? Where the hell did Adlet think they were headed? To a relaxation station? For one sneaking moment Rand wondered why, in all the wide universe, he’d asked a mere stripling to join him, but then he heard Adlet’s definitely adult voice. Rand’s toes curled in anticipation. And what that smooth warm voice did to his cock was better than a mortal wet dream. “I didn’t mean to harm him. I wouldn’t!” Dear me! Adlet was het up over something. A tiff with a friend over parting? “Maybe not, but what you did was a threat none the less. You never, ever, encroach on a sleeping vampire’s territory. Not if you plan to live to be old enough to join a survey team.” Ferda sounded just like a scolding grandma -- not surprising really. “Now keep still!” Rand walked onto the quarterdeck, just in time to hear Adlet’s “Ouch!” as Ferda sprayed healant over his bleeding chest. “What the hell?” The sight of fresh blood on his firm chest had Rand fanging. “What happened?” Adlet jumped. Ferda grabbed his shoulder. “Keep still. That has to set or I’ll need to spray it all over again and we don’t have unlimited med supplies.” The sexiest pout scrunched up Adlet’s mouth, but he kept still, holding his arms out at his sides, as Ferda finished cleaning off his chest. “What the hell happened?”

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Rand repeated. He was close enough to smell the sweet warmth of Adlet’s fresh blood. Much more and his cock would rip his zipsuit apart. Ferda had already noticed. Her eyebrows went up and a funny, lopsided smile quirked her mouth. “Better explain, Adlet, before Drake does it for you.” “I doubt I could,” Drake announced from his perch in the navigator’s seat. “Adlet?” Rand closed his hand over Adlet’s upper arm, and watched the rich blood oozing from the deep scratches. Funny how long it took mortals to heal. Once he’d bled like that. No more. “What happened to you?” The blush was quite sweet but not much of an answer. “It wasn’t my fault!” “Yes it was!” Ferda would have done nicely as a break-in sergeant for green recruits. “It was altogether your fault! Stop whining and wingeing. You’re dealing with vamps now. Tell Rand what you did, and hope he doesn’t decide to leave you behind.” The threat took care of the blush. Adlet paled before Rand’s eyes. “For pity’s sake, Adlet, spit it out! What the hell did you do?” Adlet bit his lip and after a nervous glance at both Ferda and Drake said, “I was trying to find a place to stow my gear…” He took a deep breath and went on. “I opened the wrong door. I didn’t know…” “Stop making excuses!” Ferda snapped. “What did I warn you? Want to piss off both of them?” “What door did you open?” Not that he needed telling. “Drake Varna’s,” Adlet said with a gasp and a very nervous glance in Drake’s direction. “I didn’t mean any…” A glance at Ferda and he stopped his protest. “You walked into Drake’s quarters when he was sleeping?” What did Adlet have behind those beautiful blue eyes? Stardust? Sawdust? Adlet swallowed. “Yes.” This time he had enough sense to omit the protestations of innocence or harmless intentions. Rand grasped both Adlet’s upper arms and shook him. “Have you no goddamn sense? Do you want to die, you perforated asshole?”

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A stifled laugh from Ferda cut the tirade short. “I thought after eleven sons, I’d heard every possible male insult. That’s a new one.” Drake barked -- the only word for the sound he emitted -- and stood. “Sorry to damage him, lad,” he said, to Rand, “but he walked in just as I was rousing. He’ll heal. And still be pretty.” That Drake hadn’t marked his face seemed scant reassurance to Adlet. But at least he kept his mouth shut. Ferda wouldn’t. She gave his chest another spray of healant. “Better change before we cast off. And how about an abject, heartfelt apology.” “Apology?” Adlet whimpered, deliberately not looking in Drake’s direction. “Yes!” She did testy and irritated beautifully. “As in, grovel, lick his feet, abase yourself utterly. Get the idea?” “Right!” Adlet’s brain appeared to click into operational mode. He took a deep breath and turned to Drake, who now leaned on the console, a little twist in his mouth. Adlet swallowed. “I really, truly apologize. I’m sorry. Seems I have a lot to learn about life on a ship and about vampires.” A lot better than the whining. Seemed Drake agreed. “Accepted, lad. Just don’t forget.” “I won’t. Truly, I won’t!” Unlikely, with Ferda still giving him the evil eye. “I’ll accept that as your word,” Drake replied, “and to prove your sincerity, clear your belongings from the gangway.” “Oh yes, I will, but where should I…” “Stow your stuff?” Ferda asked, obviously taking a little pity on his total embarrassment. Adlet nodded, his eyes widening as she went on. “Come along. You’ll be sharing with me.” He followed her out, looking more than a little dumbstruck, but at least he wasn’t arguing. Drake made no effort to conceal his amusement. “Was drawing blood necessary?” Rand asked. Adlet had woken Drake, yes, but…

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“You’ve never been roused from sleep have you?” Come to think of it… “No.” Drake nodded and raised one dark eyebrow. “If he’d woken you, you’d probably have torn his throat out. It’s the closest thing to a reflex we still possess. Survival under attack.” “He wasn’t exactly attacking you.” “True, but do you think Bryn Gorlan and his ilk would sit by and wait for one of us to rouse ourselves and ask if his intentions were peaceful?” Point taken. “Think I should have a word with him?” He had brought him aboard after all. “Doubt it’s necessary.” Drake shook his head. “I’ll warrant Ferda is setting things straight there, as she’s no doubt also squashing any objections to having to share quarters with a guuuuurl.” Since he had made the same objections a few weeks earlier, Rand held his peace on that point. “She’s a force of nature, isn’t she?” “Strong women like Ferda Wallace appear from time to time and mortals are all the better for it.” “Curious that her offspring became farmers and pioneers.” “Farmers and pioneers who didn’t hesitate to take on a couple of galactic corporations and defy the Wardens.” “Speaking of the Wardens, how long do we have to get away?” Might as well get practical. “Ferda was constructing the coordinates when Adlet started bleeding all over the quarterdeck. I think she said two hours.” “That two hours was twenty minutes ago,” Ferda said, walking back into the quarterdeck, a rather chastened Adlet following a respectful two paces behind. “We’d best take off as soon as we can.” She spent a few more minutes at the console before turning to Rand. “She’s all yours, Captain.”

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And thanks to her expert calculations, the getaway was swift and easy -- apart from a couple of random shots from the drone ships that passed a little too close for comfort. “That last one singed the tail engine casing,” Drake said, eyes glued on the screen. “It’s our lucky day.” “Lucky to have the casing singed?” Adlet asked, disbelief in his voice. “Definitely! It could have shattered the casing and demolished the engine, then we’d have been thrown off balance, blipped on their radar and have faced a barrage of fire,” Ferda said. Poor Adlet went silent. A Terran hour or so later, the screens showed they were safe and unpursued. Rand pushed away from the console and looked at his crew. “We’re away. Any ideas where we head for a cargo?” “Hallidan,” Adlet blurted out. “Any special reason -- apart from the diversion and relaxation opportunities?” Drake asked. “I’ve never been there,” Adlet admitted a bit sheepishly. It was probably one of a thousand places he hadn’t been. “It might be an idea,” Ferda added. All three men stared at her. “Not Hallidan Colony, but the Hallidan Hub. Plenty of traffic and nicely distant from Gorlan’s bailiwick.” Good point that last one. Keeping across the galaxy from Gorlan ranked high on Rand’s priorities. Yes, the bounty had long expired, but rogue traders’ memories were long and there was still the little matter of the disappearance of Harel Larg and his posse. Yes, the Hallidan Hub sounded fine. “Brilliant, Ferda! Any objections? Drake?” “It’s your ship,” Drake replied, a little twist to his mouth. “We’ll need refueling.” He tapped the console. “Witten Three,” he said after several minutes of silence. “Almost half way. We can refuel there, and since it’s part of the Galactic monetary system, you can pay me the rest of what you owe.” Trust him not to forget. “Fair enough. Might even pick up a cargo there.”

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Ferda snapped open her seat straps and stood. “If that’s fixed then, I’ll leave you vamps to get us on the route safely and grab some sleep.” Adlet watched her leave, then looked at Rand, hope, and a tinge of lust, in his eyes. “Okay if I leave you for a little while, Drake?” Rand asked. “I need a few minutes with Adlet.” “Of course.” The sly smile and raised eyebrow supplied a lot more additional comment than warranted. Rand ignored it and headed for his quarters. Adlet followed.

Chapter 3 As the door slid closed behind them, Adlet rested a warm hand on Rand’s arm. “I’m so glad I’m here. Can we…” he hesitated, unsure. Rand wondered if he’d ever been that young. “Adlet, love. I’m not fucking you with your chest in that condition. Give it time. It will heal.” He frowned. “I still can’t believe that happened. He was like a wild thing.” “Drake’s a vampire, Adlet. Just like me.” Too blunt perhaps, but… “Ferda said if it had been you in that cabin, you’d have torn my throat out. Would you?” Rand could smell the man’s fear. A lie would ease that awful anxiety. But damn, he owed a lover better than that. “No one’s ever woken me from rest. I’m nowhere near as old as Drake and don’t have his strength and self-control.” There was a long and very pregnant silence as Adlet digested that and absorbed the realization that he was stuck in space with two bloodsuckers. “Look,” Rand went on, putting his arm around the other man’s shoulders. “You’re not on Praeden any more. Life in space is very different, and life in space with two vampires is beyond most people’s idea of relaxing and fun. Give yourself a chance. It takes some getting used to.” “Ferda has no problem.” “Ferda has been traveling the space lanes and dealing with vamps since before your parents were born. She’s got a few decades’ head start on you.” Adlet’s brow creased. “That’s another thing.” He shook his head. “I didn’t expect…” May the universe give him patience! “To be bunking with Ferda?” Adlet nodded. “Think! Didn’t that little incident earlier convince you that being around a sleeping vamp isn’t good for your health?”

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Now he paled. Had Drake been right in thinking Adlet would be a liability? “I know, but…” The ingenuous smile was enough to melt a statue. Good thing he was vampire and not a graven image. “You listen to me and understand. You need sleep. You have to be up and ready to take over before dawn.” Because he looked so downcast, Rand pulled Adlet close and kissed him, lips on lips, tongue to tongue with a rather tasty reminder of what lay in store. “Go. Sleep. And listen to anything Ferda has to tell you about life and survival in space.” He wasn’t too sure Adlet was quite prepared to do that. Foolish youth! But at least he toddled off to the mortal quarters. Rand went back to the navigation deck and took the copilot’s seat. “All set for Witten Three?” Drake nodded. “Got the boy tucked up nice and comfy?” Sarcastic bastard. “I left that and the bedtime story to Ferda.” The laugh was sharp and deep. “He’ll no doubt have nightmares.”

*** Adlet could hardly believe it was really happening. They’d stopped a day at Witten Three and now were moored at Five Dock on Hallidan Hub. He was walking down the ramp to the station. He’d spent five days in space. (And only been sick once. That potion of Ferda’s really worked.) And now he was heading for a bar. A real space bar. If the lads back on Praeden could see him now, strolling down the gleaming metal moving walkways, heading for a wide square under a dome roof that flooded the place with artificial sunshine. None of your raw atmosphere and natural light as they had on Praeden. He noticed Ferda, a few meters ahead on the walkway. She was striding purposely, obviously headed somewhere. Shopping? Funny old lady, but he’d still be harvesting helicon on Praeden and doing watch for droid attacks if it weren’t for her.

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She’d taught him more about vamps in the past few days than he’d known there was to learn. He owed her. He started running. “Ferda!” “Adlet? Need something?” “No. I wanted to buy you a drink.” He nodded toward a bar a few meters ahead. “Thank you.” Pity she was so ancient. And a woman. She had a neat smile. “I’m meeting someone. Canvassing for a possible cargo.” She paused. “Want to come with me? You must keep quiet and leave the negotiations to me but you might as well learn to haggle and deal if you want a career on a space freighter.” “Sure.” He fell into step beside her. “I’m bringing an associate with me. Another crew member,” she said into the comclip on her shoulder. “We’ll be there in a few minutes.” Wondering where “there” was, and who they were meeting, Adlet walked with her as she turned off the main thoroughfare, round another corner into a narrow alley and opened a door under an illuminated sign of a cross-eyed cat. At least that’s what the lettering claimed. Adlet had never actually seen a Terran feline, except in pictures. “I think you’ll be a great help,” she whispered as they stepped inside. “Having a handsome young man in tow can only add to my street cred.” Laughing aloud seemed rude. Adlet managed to stifle the snicker and looked around. If he’d thought a space bar was romantic and exciting, the Cross-eyed Cat changed his mind in an instant. The place was dark -- he could hardly see what was going on in the farthest corners -- and instinct told him he was better off that way. The bar smelled of cheap brew and the atmosphere suggested customers were unfamiliar with soap and hot water. Ferda didn’t seem to notice. She went right up to the wide, tarnished metal bar. Adlet followed. “Two unibrews,” she said to the one-eyed barman who appeared more interested in the glass washing machine than his customers. “And an order of bannets.” He did look up -- few people ignored Ferda -- and filled two not-exactly-spotless glasses and handed her a basket of some sort of fried substance.

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Ferda took one brew and indicated Adlet should pick up the other. “We’ll take a table over there,” she said nodding to a row of dark alcoves. “When Zadde Burrown comes in tell him I’m there.” “Who’s to say he’ll be in today, or this week?” the barkeep muttered with a scowl. Ferda just smiled at him and walked over to an empty table. “Drink slowly,” she advised Adlet. “It tastes even worse than it smells and has been known to remove stomach lining. Best to eat something with it.” She pushed the dish in his direction. “What are they?” he asked, not sure it was worth the risk. “Vegetable,” she replied. “Roots of a vine.” She picked one up, bit it in two, chewed and swallowed. “Go on,” she said, grinning. “I dare you. It’s not on every planet you get indigenous plants that are edible.” And tasted good. He ate two under her careful scrutiny. “I think my friend has arrived,” she said very quietly. “I meant what I said about keeping your lips zipped. And for heaven’s sake just sip this foul brew. I don’t want to have to carry you back. It’s a lot more potent than it tastes.” “You’re drinking it.” “I took a couple of ethanol suppressants before I left the ship. You didn’t.” She gave just a glimmer of a smile. “Don’t look around but I think the barkeep is busy trying to decide whether to pass on my message or not.” “What if he doesn’t?” “Zadde has eyes in his head and big hands. He’ll show the man the error of his ways.”

Big hands wasn’t the half. Two great, meaty hands with fingers like ships’ struts came palm down on the table. “Looking for me, my lovely Ferda?” “Zadde! You great galoot!” Ferda was up and hugging the bear of a man. Hell! They were locking lips. Adlet did not want to watch. “Have a seat.” She sat back down

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and scooted over. The man slid -- or rather squeezed -- in beside her. “This is Adlet,” she said, “a fellow crew member. Adlet, Zadde Burrown.” Zadde had large, dark eyes that studied Adlet carefully. “A bit young for you isn’t he, Ferda?” She shrugged. “Fancy him do you? Remember what happened the last time we got in a fight?” He gave a grimace and shifted in his seat. “You haven’t changed, have you?” Zadde looked across at Adlet. “Take care, young man. This is one tough woman.” “One tough navigator, too,” Adlet said. Zadde roared with laughter so loudly several patrons turned and stared. Remembering he was supposed to keep quiet, Adlet tipped his glass and sipped. Ferda was right. It was lousy brew. “So,” Zadde went on, “brew as awful as always?” “Worse. Let me buy you one.” Ferda signaled for the barkeep, who strolled over, a scowl on his face that relaxed marginally as Ferda handed him a credit and ordered Zadde’s brew and another dish of bannets. “How are things?” Zadde asked as he picked up three bannets and chewed them in one go. “Been anywhere interesting?” “Just visiting some of my grandchildren and their parents. On Praeden.” Zadde all but choked, grabbing his glass and swallowing deep to clear his throat. “Praeden? You must be joking.” “Not at all. We were there a full moon rotation. In fact Adlet joined us from there. Just as we were leaving.” Zadde did close scrutiny damn well. Adlet felt himself being assessed, ranked and pigeonholed. “Showing off, Ferda?” She shook her head. “Just assuring a potential client that our ship can get wherever you want and back again.”

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He paused to eat another handful of bannets. Adlet did the same. Anything other than ship’s rations was appetizing. “Who are you crewing for?” Ferda leaned back in the wooden bench. “Vampires.” “Heavens to the pit!” Zadde shook his head. “You always were one to live dangerously!” He stared at Adlet. “You’re not a vampire.” “He’s crew too. What’s your concern? We’ll get your cargo where it’s intended.” “For a price.” Ferda reached for a bannet and nodded. “For a fair price. Depends on the cargo.” She popped the morsel in her mouth and chewed, watching Zadde. “It’s going to be in sealed, temp controlled containers. All you have to do is accept the cargo and deliver it.” “All?” Ferda chuckled. “If it were that easy, you’d be sending it by public freight. What are you asking us to carry?” In the silence, Adlet was sure he could hear Zadde chew. “Calf embryos.” Adlet was glad he hadn’t been drinking. Spluttering brew all over the table was not exactly suave. Ferda raised both eyebrows. “Zadde, I know it’s been a long time, but did you forget I don’t deal with live cargoes?” “They’re frozen and containered.” She nodded. “Vacuum containered?” “No,” he conceded. “They’re on individual support systems. All automatic, and fully charged. No maintenance needed, just convey them and deliver.” “To a rejuvenation clinic on Vansan Station?” Zadde nodded. Adlet freely acknowledged to himself that he was lost and wandering. Who in their right mind paid to ship frozen calf fetuses? Frowning, Ferda lifted her glass to her lips, swallowed and licked her lips. “They’re here, on Hallidan?” Zadde nodded.

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“But you didn’t produce them here.”

“No,” he admitted, very reluctantly.

“Why can’t the ship that brought them here do the final delivery?”

“The captain has been incarcerated for carrying freight without a license, tax

evasion and failing to pay transit duties.” Ferda laughed. “Those were the charges, Zadde. What did he really do?” Zadde’s mouth twitched as he reached for another bannet. “He was caught in flagrante delicto with the wife of the assistant controller of the station.” “So,” Ferda said, exhaling. “You truly are stuck.” “Not at all! A good many freighters are looking for cargoes.” “Of course there are, but you approached me.” She sounded smug and very confident. “Could you accommodate me?” Zadde asked. “I’ll have to okay it with my captain, but I think we could.” She paused. “For twelve thousand credits.” “Twelve thousand!” Zadde’s surprise matched Adlet’s. It was a fantastic sum. “I paid two thousand to get it here all the way across the galaxy from Alden.” “And another couple, no doubt, to get your cargo released,” Ferda added. “Twelve thousand with guaranteed delivery, on time and in perfect condition, is a small price to pay. Storage here on Hub must be eating into your profits.” Zadde shook his head. “Twelve thousand! Ferda, you must be joking! Come on. Two! It’s the best I can do.” “I’ll do better carrying official cargo. We’ve a crew of four to split the profits among, and there’s always bribes to get through the transport hubs. It’s a bargain at twelve.” “Four and it’s extortion!”

“Make it ten and I’ll have an offer my captain won’t laugh at.”

“Five!”

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Now it was Ferda’s turn to shake her head. “You jest, old scoundrel. For nine, I’ll cover all loading and unloading charges.” “For six, I’ll load it myself!” “Make it eight and half and you’ve got a deal. If my captain accepts.” “If he doesn’t he’s a fool, and doesn’t deserve you. I don’t know anyone in the galaxy who strikes as hard a bargain as you, Ferda Wallace.” “Or is as reliable in delivering? I’ll talk to Rand. You’ll have his answer before morning.”

Chapter 4 “Eighty-five hundred?” Rand whistled in appreciation. “What did you do? Use electronic thumbscrews?” “He’s desperate,” Ferda replied. “I wonder why,” Drake mused. Ferda shrugged. “Could be the cargo is approaching its viability limit -- or there is something else among the frozen embryos. Knowing Zadde of old, I think the latter is entirely possible.” “You think he’s asking us to carry something illegal?” Adlet asked. Life was getting trickier by the day. “Drugs?” Rand asked. “Not actually illegal,” she replied. “More along the lines of close to the edge. And yes, I think it might well be drugs. Legal ones,” she added with a smile in Adlet’s direction, “probably being transported and sold illegally. This is going to a medical station after all.” “Do you trust him?” Rand asked. “I trust him to pay us. That’s what matters. And I believe there are embryos in the cargo. But I don’t think he’d have agreed to pay that much just for calf embryos.” “Why embryos?” Adlet asked. That had been puzzling him all along. “Certain rejuvenation procedures entail the use of animal placentas,” Ferda replied. “It’s a process frowned at on quite a few planets, so certain surgeons set up Vansan Station. It operates by its own laws. They are in constant need of supplies.” “You suggest we take the job?” Rand asked. Ferda nodded. “I think so. He will pay, half on delivery, the other half in escrow in an account we set up. He’s as honest as any unofficial trader and the money is good.”

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“Almost too good,” Drake said. “Almost,” Rand said, “but with the delays he’s had, and if the cargo is nearing its expiration date, he’s going to be willing to pay over the top to get it there. Better than losing his entire investment, which he will do if it molders in a warehouse.” “So.” Drake leaned back in his chair and looked around the table. “Are we taking the job?” “Let’s vote on it,” Rand replied. “Ferda, you’re for it?” “Yes. Zadde is a scoundrel and I’m convinced we’ll be carrying more than what’s on the manifest, but he has too much sense to try to double-cross vampires. I say take it.” “I’ll vote with Ferda,” Drake said. “Adlet?” Rand turned to him. “What about you?” He hadn’t expected to have a vote. His bottom of the pecking order position had been pretty clear. Besides, who in their right mind argued with a vampire and Ferda? On the other hand was Rand against it and asking for his support? Hell! They were all three waiting. “Yes, let’s take it.” It was his chance to see a bit of the universe after all. Rand smiled, most likely not just at Adlet, but it felt like it. “Good! And thank you, Ferda, for the contact. I never expected to get a cargo this fast.” “I’ll tell him we accept.” “Go ahead,” Rand said. Ferda spoke into her communicator. After back and forthing, she switched it off and looked up at the three of them, a thoughtful expression in her eyes. “We’d better hire a loading crew fast. He wants it on its way by noon tomorrow planet time.” Drake stood. “No need to hire anyone. Rand and I between us can load anything and you and Adlet can check and confirm the manifest. It never does any harm to remind mortals who they are dealing with.”

Drake hadn’t been kidding. Zadde arrived, a crew of burly loaders in tow. Drake and Rand took over and started loading while Ferda counted, measured and hefted,

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and Adlet found himself running back and forth with messages and chits. In no time at all, it was all stowed and secure and the first payment credited to Rand’s account. Ferda pressed her hands in the small of her back and arched her body. “Don’t know about the rest of you, but it’s four hours to Earth dawn and I’m on watch tomorrow. I’m taking what little sleep I can.” It was Drake’s turn to take night watch. They had a valuable cargo after all. Which meant… Adlet looked at Rand. Rand smiled. “Get a fast shower, and we’ll meet in fifteen minutes and take a stroll. There used to be a bar in the west quadrant that had quite a spectacular floor show. Can you be ready?” He showered and dressed in ten. Yes, his hair was still damp as he hadn’t even paused in the drying chamber, but the light in Rand’s eyes suggested damp hair wasn’t unattractive. Rand made him feel like a man! No more hiding his nature, of living with discretion as he had in Praeden for his parents’ sake. Now he was free, having adventures, and carrying freight across the galaxy. They left Ferda and Drake behind and set off down the walkways. It was almost as busy as hours earlier. Considering ships and their crews arrived at all hours and from every zone in the galaxy, that was hardly surprising. But it was fascinating. Adlet had dreamt about this during his months spent in the closed community of the Interplanetary University and the years on Praeden and now he was here. “Have you sampled the local brew?” Rand asked. “I tried one with Ferda at the Cross-eyed Cat. It was…” “Bad?” Rand finished for him. “That’s putting it mildly. Ferda warned me to just sip it if I valued my stomach lining.” Damn! He loved Rand’s sexy laugh! “She’s quite a character, isn’t she?” “You should have seen her haggle. And the way she went through that cargo, I swear there can’t be anything extra in it.”

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“We hope. There’s something about all this that feels wrong. Of course that could be me. I’m still looking over my shoulder.” Drake and Ferda had filled him in with the rough details of the bounty that Harel Larg had placed on Rand’s head. But that was ages back, way before Ferda joined them. Now he and Rand were strolling the walkways hand in hand, and Adlet had never been this happy or this elated. Rand stepped onto another walkway before transferring to yet a second, slower one. Adlet had to ask, “Where are we going?” “To a place I know, where the brew is drinkable, and they’d never let Ferda inside the door.” An illuminated sign over the doorway flashed on and off marking the Blue Tulip. Adlet was inclined to view the dwarf of a doorman as a joke until he came close and saw the creature’s bulk and stunner on his hip. His curt nod at Rand became a welcoming smile after he scanned the plastoID Rand handed over. “You bringing him in?” the dwarf asked, eyeing Adlet up and down. “I am, and keeping him. Two admissions. Food and drink credits.” The dwarf nodded, tapped a few keys and handed the card back to Rand. “That’s good for twenty-four hours. We have a new dancer tonight, straight from Jeenand. I hope you enjoy him.” When they walked through the revolving door and down a short flight of stairs, Adlet knew he truly wasn’t on Praeden any more. The Blue Tulip was a crowded basement with a domed ceiling that echoed the music of the autoband in the corner. Lights flashed, casting pools of dark and color on the crowd packed into the small space. In the center, on a small dais, a slim youth danced, twisting and gyrating to the steady beat. By the catcalls and offers from the crowd clustered around him, he was as big an attraction as the dwarf suggested. Adlet remembered, just in time, to pull up his jaw. He didn’t mind being a yokel but looking like one was another thing entirely. They were among galactic travelers here. He followed Rand to the bar, took the offered brew and sipped. It was more than

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drinkable. It slipped down like cool velvet. Rand grabbed a bowl of what looked like fruit balls and motioned Adlet over to a small table. For a while they sat, sipped the brew, nibbled on the ‘fruit’ balls that turned out to be some sort of formed protein -- very tasty -- and watched the show. All of it. The other patrons were as fascinating as the dancer, who was now stripped down to a leather crotch cover, tied at his hips with narrow thongs that he flicked as he entertained offers to undo them. “What do you think?” Rand asked. “It’s amazing.” Apart from the enthusiastic audience gathered around the dancer, groups of men sat at tables like theirs, leaned against the walls or lounged by the bar, watching -- the dancer, their companions, or the crowd at large. A few minutes’ observation made sense of Rand’s comment that he was bringing Adlet and keeping him. Couples met, formed and parted, some leaving, others finding quiet corners to put their heads together, and more than heads. Several couples were locked in enthusiastic embraces, or rubbing against each other. The dancer finished, taking off his loincloth and waving it in the air as he pranced off, wiggling an arse that left Adlet green with envy. “How did he get an arse that firm and round?” He was toned and firm from laboring in the fields and mines, but… “Body sculpting,” Rand replied. “In a good light, if you got close, you’d see the scars.” Adlet would be content to settle for less-than-perfect at that rate. With the floor show over, at least for the moment, the autoband struck up a slow dance tune. Rand stood. “Come on, lover. We have time for a few dances before we head back.” Jumping up so eagerly was no doubt very gauche but Adlet didn’t give a galactic damn. He’d dreamed about dancing in a dimly lit nightclub with a lover, and here he was, and with a vampire to boot! As Rand wrapped his arms around Adlet’s shoulders, Adlet let the music and Rand’s strength carry him. In no time at all, Adlet was hard and

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smiling. Rand’s erection pressed into him as they clung to each other. As the music changed, Rand spun him around, and crossed his arms over Adlet’s chest, holding him tight against him, so his erection nestled between Adlet’s arse cheeks and nothing between them but the thin fabric of their zipsuits. Naked would be so much better, but although some of the patrons were uninhibited, shedding vests and zipsuits, Adlet knew he wasn’t ready for that yet. He wanted Rand, yes, but to himself. He relaxed and wondered, not for the first time, what he had ever done to merit the boon of Rand as a lover. “Ready to leave?” Rand whispered in his ear. “I want time to fuck you soundly before dawn takes me.” Adlet wasn’t about to refuse that offer. “Let’s go.” The dwarf at the door bid them a good night, with a bit of a leer. “Come back tomorrow night,” he whispered to Adlet. “I get off early then.” Adlet smiled at the offer. Tomorrow night he’d be crossing the galaxy on his way to Vansan. “Interesting offer you got back there,” Rand said as they strolled toward the nearest walkway. Adlet had forgotten about vamp hearing. “I wasn’t interested.” “I’m relieved to hear that.” Rand put his arm around Adlet’s shoulders and drew him closer. “But you do know you passed up a chance with an Arrian Dwarf.” And Adlet had thought they were a myth, or a space legend. “He really was?” he paused. “Is it true?” Rand smiled. “That they are hermaphrodites? Yes. Want to change your mind? He’s waiting back there.” “No. I want you!” “Right answer!” Rand pulled him off the main path and into a cul-de-sac to the side. “It was my lucky day when I found you.”

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Adlet would have said the feeling was mutual but Rand’s mouth came down hard on his and words seemed a waste of breath. It was the cool touch of Rand’s lips that was always such a turn on. Adlet felt his cock harden once again. He leaned into Rand, his tongue brushing warm against Rand’s cool mouth. The passion between them was red-hot. Rand deepened the kiss, pulling Adlet closer. They were both hard and ready. A pity the ship was so far… “How touching!” They jumped apart. Three men blocked the opening to the cul-de-sac. Rand swore and pulled Adlet behind him.

Chapter 5 “One last goodbye kiss?” the speaker said. “I come to settle Bryn Gorlan’s debts.” He raised his stunner with a nasty chuckle. It was the last sound he ever made. Rand was on him in an instant, tearing out his throat. As he dropped the body to the ground, Rand turned to the other two assassins with a wide and bloody grin. One swore. The other pulled out a Laserblade and stepped toward Rand. It was a mistake. He fell to the ground in a crumpled heap. The third, taking due notice, turned and fled. Rand was after him in a blur of speed. Adlet followed, mortal speed enhanced by fear and worry. Around the corner, Rand had the final thug on the ground, struggling until he let out a hideous gurgle of pain and went dead still. Literally. It had all happened in seconds. “You all right?” Adlet asked as Rand turned around. One glance and Adlet knew he wasn’t. The Laserblade had sliced open his zipsuit and his belly. Blood welled across his stomach and even as Adlet watched was soaking down Rand’s legs. Rand’s wobble was sure proof vampires were not invincible. Adlet put his arm around his shoulders and took his weight. “Hold on. We need help.” “Call the ship,” Rand said and passed out. He was chalky white and limp as Adlet rested him on the ground, propping his back against a wall. The place was still deserted, apart from the dead bodies. They should get away, but… Call the ship. Right!

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Adlet flicked his comclip to life. Ferda responded almost immediately. “Yes?” “I need help! Rand’s hurt. Bleeding. Ferda, you have to…” He knew he was panicking, but he was unable to stop himself. Rand was dying! “Concentrate!” she snapped but it helped him focus. “What happened?” Adlet made himself stick to the salient points. “He took a Laserblade to the gut. He’s bleeding. Bad.” She muttered something that sounded like shit. “Where are you?” Good question. “We’re in a cul-de-sac about a hundred meters or so from the bar.” “Which bar? Where?” He had no idea where or which quadrant. He’d just gone along. “It’s called the Blue Tulip.” “That’s not usually that rowdy. Down past the monoliths right?” Yes, they had passed them on the way down. But how the heck did she know whether it was a rowdy bar or not? And did it matter right now? Rand was bleeding to death -- if death was the right word. “Adlet,” she went on. “You have to help us find you. What’s nearby?” He looked around. In the far distance was the glimmer of light on water. “I can see the edge of the lagoon.” “Okay. Listen. Drake will be on his way. Keep your comclip open so we can find you and Rand.” “Okay.” “Is he conscious at all?” Was he? When Adlet jostled his shoulder, Rand muttered. “Barely!” “See if he’ll take blood. That should keep him going until we get there.” Why hadn’t he thought of that? Adlet wanted to curse his stupidity, but why waste time and breath? He knelt beside Rand. Blood covered the entire lower half of his body. Adlet knew there was no point in looking for a pulse, but he wanted to. Needed reassurance that Rand wasn’t expiring before his eyes. He pulled Rand’s head toward

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him and held his wrist to his mouth. “Drink, Rand. Help’s on its way but you need blood until they get here.” Rand’s reply was a weak nod. He didn’t even open his eyes. Adlet refused to panic. Couldn’t. He was Rand’s only hope right now. He tried biting his own wrist to get it bleeding but his teeth were useless. Battering his fist on the ground gave him bloody knuckles that were no use except to make him wince with the pain. He had to do something. He couldn’t sit by and watch as Rand’s existence bled away on the ground. Hell, he was now sitting in a pool of blood. Adlet looked around. He spied the discarded Laserblade and ran over and picked it up. Vicious looking it was, with Rand’s blood drying on the blade. But it was a chance. A thumb on the activation switch and the blade glowed. Not permitting himself to hesitate, Adlet cut the back of his hand. The pain sliced through him but it was worth it. He was bleeding. Smiling, he held the back of his hand to Rand’s mouth, rubbing the blood on his lips. No response. Now two of them would end up bleeding to death in this damn cul-de-sac. Was there nothing more he could do? Hell! At least they were together, and Ferda and Drake were on their way. Rand’s lips moved. Just a flutter against Adlet’s skin. It was enough. He cried out as Rand’s fangs ripped into the skin, but once Rand started sucking, the wonderful, now-familiar pleasure took hold. He leaned next to Rand, his free arm holding him steady, and closed his eyes. Rand drank deep. Adlet knew, in the foggy recesses of his mind, that he was losing too much blood too fast, but he could no more stop Rand than fly. He wanted Rand to live. He needed him to… “Found them!” It was Drake talking into his comclip. “They’re a couple of alleys behind the Blue Tulip. Get here fast!”

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Drake knelt over them, rested his hand on Adlet’s head and said, “You can move away. He should be all right for a while.” “I don’t think I can take my hand away. He’s got it fast.” Without replying, Drake took hold of Rand’s head and wrenched his mouth open, tearing his fangs from Adlet’s flesh. The blood flowed on. “Here!” Drake handed Adlet a length of mediband. “Tie it off. No point in wasting blood.” Drake’s own fangs, fully descended, were an encouragement to grab the bandage. “Can you do it yourself? Then I can see to Rand.” It wasn’t easy one-handed, but Adlet got the mediband on by using his teeth to pull it tight until the bandage adhered to itself. The medication stung but the bleeding slowed. Adlet knelt down beside Drake. He’d torn the remains of Rand’s zipsuit down to his thighs and was wrapping mediband around Rand’s belly. “He’ll be okay?” Adlet asked. “We hope. What happened?” Adlet told him, as well as he could remember. “It happened so fast.” “I’ll bet.” Drake gave a grim smile. “They weren’t expecting a vamp. Serves them damn well right, pursuing a bounty beyond its expiration.” Adlet wanted to know more but now was not the time to ask. Besides, he was feeling lightheaded and woozy. A hover car came up behind them and stopped. Ferda stepped out. “He’s all right?” “With luck, thanks to Adlet’s fast action.” Drake stood. “The bleeding has stopped but he’s lost a lot and his guts got sliced open.” He looked around, taking in the blood on the ground and the lifeless bodies as he picked up Rand. “Can you walk?” he asked Adlet. Just. He wobbled and was only too grateful for Ferda’s arm. Ridiculous needing a grandmother’s help to move but he did and he thanked her for it.

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Drake made Rand as comfortable as he could in the back seat of the vehicle. “You get in,” he said to Adlet. “Ferda, you get them back. I’ll take care of these thugs and meet you at the ship.” “What’s he going to do with them?” Adlet asked as they took off and headed for the port. She gave a wry smile. “Adlet, he’s a vampire. With three fresh bodies, what do you think he’s going to do?” Oh! The thought bore no resemblance to the wild and rough lovemaking between him and Rand, but blood was blood after all. “He needs to hide them too,” Ferda pointed out. “No point in advertising what happened. Vamp kills are pretty distinctive.” Remembering the ripped out throats, Adlet agreed.

*** “Grab yourself a handful of protein meals,” Ferda said as they went up the entry ramp, pushing Rand on a loading dolly. “I can’t have you passing out on me. I need your help and Rand will need your strength.” She hooked Rand up to a blood machine and slung two blood bags into the slots. “I didn’t know we had that,” Adlet said. “They acquired it when it was just me to supply them. There’s only so much blood one of us can spare. Drake got it, just in case.” And the “just in case” had happened. “Rand’ll be okay, won’t he?” “That’s rather up to you,” she said. “He’s getting blood and I can work on his wounds, but what he really needs is what only you can give him.” What was she talking about? His confusion had to have shown on his face. Ferda shook her head just a little and smiled. “Son, I don’t have a cock and he needs warm, living jism. You are the only member of the crew who can supply that.” “You mean I need to…” Words failed him. The medi bay wasn’t exactly his choice for lovemaking but…

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“Yes, Adlet, you do,” she replied, “and you don’t have time to indulge in youthful modesty. Rand needs you just as much as he needs me to seal up his wounds. And I don’t fancy telling Drake that Rand expired a second and final time because you were too shy to unsnap your zipsuit.” As usual, Ferda was dead right. Adlet just wished to the wide arc of the universe that he could do this man to man, just him and Rand, however… Hell! The problem wasn’t unsnapping his zipsuit in front of her -- although it was hardly his idea of a comfort zone. The real problem was a cock as limp as overcooked spaghetti. And, of course, Ferda had to look up from mopping Rand’s wound just in time to witness his humiliation. She looked. Heck, he was lucky she didn’t reach for a magnifying glass. Adlet wanted to turn tail and flee but Rand lay bleeding on the narrow cot. Ferda smiled and reached out to grab Adlet’s wrist. “Don’t look so crestfallen. After what you’ve gone through the past hour, your John Thomas has been too busy worrying about Rand to get as upstanding as you’d like. Strip off and get over him. You’ll soon get things humming. Just give yourself time and treat yourself nicely.” That was one way to put it, he supposed. Stripping off was easier than he’d expected. She did have the tact to focus all her attention on Rand’s injuries and the roll of synthetic skin she was applying but Adlet still sensed she was watching. No doubt to make sure he did what he was told. Fat lot of good it did! Hell, he was naked and still nothing humming. He climbed on the narrow cot, kneeling astride Rand’s shoulders. Just looking at Rand usually had his cock hard as the ground in a Praeden winter but now… Damn. He could do this. Adlet closed his hand around his cock and began to pump. Felt good but did little for the infrastructure. Rand’s eyes flickered open. He winced. Then a faint light flickered in his eyes. One side of his mouth twitched in a tiny smile. Adlet worked himself harder. Damn, he had to get hard. Rand needed him.

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A warm hand caressed his ass. Rand loved to squeeze and stroke him there but Rand was limper and more lifeless than Adlet’s disobliging cock. “Stop worrying,” Ferda ordered. “It only makes it harder.” Shit! She was stroking his ass. Old Ferda was feeling him up, her fingers soft on his skin as two hands cupped his ass cheeks and then gently kneaded. Her fingers eased up his back, soft and gentle, then down, her nails scratching fine lines of sensation. Cripes! He wasn’t as impervious to women as he thought. He responded, or rather his cock did. Just a faint stirring but it was a start when her thumbs pressed into the base of his spine, making tiny circles just above his crack. Life returned. A little. It was her thumb pressing against the opening of his ass that set him humming and when her other hand dipped under and cupped his balls, damn, every cylinder fired! He was hard, rigid and ready. Rand’s eyes flickered open again. Adlet didn’t dare hesitate. He reached out and cupped the back of Rand’s head with both hands, lifting him closer as he angled his hips to bring his cock forward. As the tip brushed Rand’s lips, they parted and Adlet pressed forward. He was so intent on concentrating on Rand and worrying if he had the strength to suck, he didn’t at first realise that Ferda was right behind him, her body pressed against his, her arms around his hips and her fingers stroking his balls and just about everywhere she could reach. Hell! It worked and he was not about to complain. Her touch on his nipple might not have the strength of Rand’s but it kept his body ready for the task in hand and that was all that mattered. Seemed Ferda agreed. “Think about him,” she whispered in Adlet’s ear. “Think of how his lips feel on your cock, and his hands on your body. Think about how you’ll fuck once he recovers. He’s what you need. He’s the one you love. He’s your vamp and you’re his man. Show him, lad!” It was Rand who showed him, closing his lips over the head of Adlet’s cock in a grasp that made him wince. Adlet pressed forward so his cock was deep in Rand’s mouth. Then Rand began sucking in earnest. This was not love play. Not seduction. Not

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even teasing. It was need, wild unabashed need. It was a vampire drawing life to bring himself back from the rim of extinction. Lips clenched and fangs pierced and Rand drew blood and jism until Adlet came and came and came, pouring out his mortal energy to restore his wounded vampire lover. When Rand’s grasp eased, Adlet laid his lover’s head back on the hard pillow. Rand opened his eyes. Recognition glittered in their depths. “Thanks, lad,” he muttered and closed his eyes. Adlet was giddy, light-headed and ready to lie beside him and hold him close but Ferda had other ideas. “Let me help you down.” And to Adlet’s embarrassment she put her arms around him and steadied him as he wobbled off the cot and onto his feet. “Have a seat.” She shoved a bundle of protein bars into his hand. “Eat those and then get yourself a shower and be proud of yourself. It’s not every young man has the chance to pull a vampire from the brink of extinction.” He thought long and hard about her last words and the incidents that preceded them as he stood in the narrow shower and let the warm water wash away the dirt and the blood.

By the time Adlet emerged from the shower cabin, Drake had returned, his clothing even bloodier than Rand’s or Adlet’s, and with a very pink glow to his face. He was seated on the bridge, bent over the consoles, and looked up as Adlet entered. “Feel well enough to man the bridge?” “Thanks to Ferda’s nagging over protein packs.” “Good. We need to get out of here as fast as possible. Terran day is only a short time off.” “I’ll be fine. Are you sure Rand will be okay?” “He’ll be right as rain by the time he wakes. We don’t expire easily. But he owes you his existence.” Drake gave an almost lascivious grin. “He’ll be well enough to show you every appreciation. Meanwhile…” He tapped another few buttons and spoke to the

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port clearance. “Time you took over.” Drake stood. “Dawn comes. We’ve got early clearance. It’s over to you and Ferda. Get us out of here.” He was gone. Ferda took his seat. Adlet sat beside her. “All set?” she asked. He nodded. “I know vamps regenerate, but are you sure…” He hadn’t liked to question Drake, but Ferda surely understood. “From all I’ve ever seen of vamps -- and I’ve seen a good bit over the decades -when this evening comes, Rand will be fully recovered. And it’s three Terran day cycles until we arrive at Vansan. You will have plenty of time to assure yourself he’s well, but he’ll need to be gentle with that hand of yours. Laserblade cuts take time to heal.” They stung like hell too. “Three Terran day cycles, eh?” “That’s right!” She chuckled. “Three day cycles, with the ship on auto navigate. Three days for our vampire lovers to satisfy themselves and us. We should all be fighting fit when we get to Vansan.” He hoped she didn’t mean that literally…

Stay tuned for more exciting Adventures in Blood

Madeleine Oh More years ago than she cares to remember, Madeleine Oh left her native England to teach her way around the world. She didn’t get very far. In Turkey she met the love of her life, a handsome US Air Force captain from South Carolina. Since then, she’s raised three sons, taught regular and special education, worked as a tutor and educational assessor, moonlighted as a bookseller and somehow managed to get a master’s degree in her spare time. She now writes full time and shares an empty nest in German Village in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, George.