"Hey," he murmured as he looked up and closed the book. "'Bout time you woke up." "Sorry," Karl replied, walking into the room, "I wasn't aware we had a hot date tonight. Although," he murmured, looking down at Orlando's red silk shirt and tight black leather pants, "I don't mind the view." "Nope, just a night at home unless you want to go out," Orlando stated as he stood and stretched. "You like it?" Karl slid his hand along the shirt before pulling Orlando into his arms. "Very much," he said, lowering his head for a slow, teasing kiss. "Red looks good on you." "I'll remember to wear it more often." Orlando leaned in for another kiss, let his lips linger on Karl's before pulling back. He could kiss Karl for hours. Possibly days. "How're you feeling tonight?" "Better. Sean and I talked last night and we decided it might be best to give Harry the weekend to calm down before I go over and talk to him." "Ah, about that..." Shit. Orlando had been hoping to ease into that particular topic. No such luck. Dammit. He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, watched Karl through lowered lashes. "I...um...talked to Harry this afternoon, and he's, onhiswaytoBangkok." "He's what?" Karl held Orlando at arm's length. "What did you say?" "He's on his way to Bangkok. For at least ten days." Orlando waited for the explosion. This was definitely not how he'd wanted to start the conversation. "Oh." Karl's arms dropped entirely from Orlando's waist, and he sank into one of the leather chairs. He didn't look too good. Fuck. "I'm sorry," Orlando murmured as he perched on the arm of the chair, one hand moving to stroke Karl's hair. How much more to tell Karl? All of it, he knew, but...not just yet. "He...he'll probably be a lot calmer when he gets back." "You don't know Harry," Karl stated, smiling a little sadly. "Ten days... Fuck, I don't think I can take another ten days of this...silence. I should fly out there, talk to him." "I...do you really think that's a good idea?" Orlando chewed his bottom lip. Karl couldn't go to Bangkok. No. Just...no. "You said you were going to wait until Monday, so...a few more days will just give you extra time to think of what you want to say to him." Karl leaned his shoulder into Orlando's hip. "I need him back. I need to make him understand. I didn't mean it. Perhaps meeting him someplace neutral would help..." "You need to give him time," Orlando said, voice soft, hand gentle as it continued to move through Karl's hair. "This isn't something that's going to be fixed easily, and you know that." "I'm not going to be pleasant to be around, I can tell you that right now." "Well, I doubt you'll be any more pleasant if you fly all the way to Bangkok only to get thrown out of his room." Orlando bit his lip as soon as the words were out. Fuck. He hadn't meant to say that. "I'm sorry, Karl. I just...I don't think it's a good idea." "You're probably right," Karl sighed. "Fuck." Orlando slid to the floor, knelt in front of Karl. "So...stay here with me," he said, catching Karl's hands and bringing them up to his mouth, "and we'll work on things together." Karl nodded, slid his hand to cup Orlando's cheek. "I love you. I'm so sorry I got you into this mess." "I love you, too." Orlando closed his eyes, leaned into the caress. He was never going to get tired of Karl touching him. Ever. Not even if he lived a million years. "I kinda got myself into this mess, though. If I'd told you I was going over there..." "No, don't. We went over that last night." Karl slid down on the floor himself, wrapped Orlando in a strong embrace. "So, tell me about your day. How are you settling in?" "Well," Orlando said as he leaned back against Karl's chest, "I guess I'm doing okay. Dom came by this afternoon and we talked, then Harry called and, um..." He paused, bit his lip. "Out with it," Karl said, his breath warm against Orlando's neck. "I promise you'll feel better." Orlando tilted his head to the side, eyes closed, and smiled when he felt Karl's lips touch his neck. "I just don't want you to get upset again. Harry wants to take me out when he gets back. On a date." "Why would I get upset by that?" Lips moved from Orlando's neck to his collarbone as Karl pushed the shirt out of his way. "I want the two of you to get to know each other." "And, um, he said..." Damn, it was hard to think with Karl doing that. Orlando shifted, head falling back on Karl's shoulder. "Said he wished he could have taken me with him and...and...." "He did?" Karl lifted his head, and Orlando almost whimpered at the loss of contact. "He wanted to take you to Bangkok with him?" "I...yeah, I guess so," Orlando replied in a small voice, looking down at his hands. Damn it...why the hell had he said that? Shit. "I was teasing him and said he'd have to take me next time and he said, um, he wished he could have taken me this time." "Oh..." Karl turned Orlando's head to him, gave him a firm kiss. "That's different. I thought you meant he was asking you to go." "No, he never asked." Orlando twisted around enough to slide one arm around Karl's waist. "I have to assume the idea was a tempting one, or else you wouldn't have mentioned it." "Well..." Orlando sighed. He wasn't going to lie. Hell, he didn't think he could lie to Karl. "It would have been nice, but...anyway, he didn't ask." "I'm not accusing. And I don't blame you. Remember, I was the one wanting to hop on a plane to go talk to him," Karl said, once again nuzzling the soft skin of Orlando's neck. "True." Orlando smiled, wiggling as Karl hit a sensitive spot. "Wouldn't have gone without you, though." "Don't hold your breath." Karl slipped the top two buttons of Orlando's shirt free, ran his tongue along Orlando's shoulder. Damn, that felt good...okay, very good. "Anyway, my place is here with you," Orlando breathed, a soft gasp escaping him as Karl's tongue did something to his shoulder. "You're first, even if he did claim me, too." "What?!" Orlando jerked, blinked. "What what?" He wracked his brain, trying to figure out what he'd said to make Karl freak out like that. "He claimed you? Son of a bitch...he couldn't even tell me that." Oh. That 'what'. Fuck. Orlando looked down. "I didn't even realize it until this afternoon. Didn't think it was possible." "He didn't tell you what he was doing?" Karl sounded incredulous. "He made a vow to you? Without me there. Son of a fucking bitch." Orlando nodded, kept his head down. Christ, but he hadn't wanted to tell Karl like that. "He made the vow before you got there. 'All that I am is yours, my vow to you'...I even remember his exact words." He sighed softly, but didn't look at Karl. "Said he thought it was obvious what he was doing." "Well, it's done, I guess. Not quite the way I would have gone about it, but..." Karl stopped, lifted Orlando's chin. "Wait a minute, did you make a vow to him at all?" "I...I don't think so. I don't remember one...." Orlando trailed off, eyes locked with Karl's. "And he didn't bite you, right?" "No." Orlando searched Karl's eyes. This was important. He didn't know what it was, exactly, but he knew it was. Karl breathed a huge sigh of what sounded like relief, and his eyes lost that hard edge. "I understand what he did then. It's fine. Everything's fine." Well, that made one of them that understood. Orlando snuggled closer, burying his face in the crook of Karl's shoulder. "Mind telling me, then? And why you were so upset about it?" "I'll let him talk to you about it," Karl replied, once more gathering Orlando in his arms. Okay, much better. Funny how the world was a much better place when Karl was holding him. "That's over ten days away!" Orlando knew he was pouting, didn't care. He slid his hands under the bottom of Karl's shirt and splayed them across his lower back. "Why can't you tell me?" "Because it's his place to tell you, not mine," Karl said, kissing the end of Orlando's nose. "He's the one that claimed you." "Not even a hint?" Orlando gave Karl what he hoped was his most charming smile. "Please?" "I may be a sucker for those big eyes, but I'm not that much of one. Ask Harry." "Fine." Orlando muttered under his breath. Then he flashed Karl a sly smile. "Absolutely nothing I can do to convince you to tell me?" "Hmm." Karl stroked his chin thoughtfully. "You could always try to seduce it out of me." "You're just looking for an excuse to get laid and make me do all the work," Orlando laughed, shaking his head. Then he lowered his lashes and smiled...and almost cheered with delight at the expression that came over Karl's face. "Would it work?" Karl grinned, and it was the most delightful sight in the world. "No, but I would enjoy it if you tried anyway." "Well..." Orlando dragged the word out, one finger to his chin as he pretended to consider the idea. "I don't have anywhere I have to go tonight. And no one else to claim my attention. Plus I gave the staff the night off...." "Did you now?" Karl sounded intrigued. This was good. An intrigued, happy Karl was precisely what he wanted. "Yep." Orlando nodded, hands creeping back under Karl's shirt to stroke warm skin. "Thought it'd be nice to spend some time together. Just you and me, and the rest of the world can go fuck itself. We haven't spent a lot of time alone since the ceremony." "Not nearly enough," Karl agreed, sighing under Orlando's touch. "So I think we should rectify that, don't you?" Orlando leaned in to nuzzle Karl's neck, inhaling deeply and letting Karl's unique scent wash over his senses. "Tonight is all about you." "It is?" Karl sounded pleased at the concept. "Sounds nice." "Yeah, I figured you deserved it since you were such a good boy last night and talked to me." Orlando grinned at Karl's expression. File that away for future use. "Good boy?" Karl smoothed his hands under Orlando's shirt, flicked the small ring in his navel. Oh God...not again. //Want to try rephrasing that?// "Uhh...." Orlando shuddered, let his head fall back. Fuck. That ring was going to be the death of him. He was convinced of it. "Um, good...vampire?" he asked as Karl's fingers continued to toy with the small bit of gold. Another flick, and Karl's fangs lightly grazed over the side of Orlando's neck. //Guess again.// "Don't supposed you'd..." Another shiver. Christ, he wasn't going to be able to hold on to his control if Karl didn't stop messing with that damn ring. "You'd, um...I, uh, can't...think of anything else..." Karl tugged on the ring one last time before withdrawing his hands completely. "Thought this was supposed to be about me," he said, voice a low, heavy throb in Orlando's ear. "Well, fuck," Orlando grumbled, tugging his shirt back into place. "It was. But then your fingers decided they wanted to play with that damn ring and...I swear, I can't wait 'til it finishes healing and I can take it out." "Why would you want to do a silly thing like that?" "If I have to tell you, you wouldn't understand." Orlando chuckled and leaned back so he could see Karl's face. "You know...if you want to seduce me, you can. Tonight is all about what you want." Another soft graze of fangs on skin. "I want you to seduce me." "Alright then..." Orlando instinctively tilted his head to give Karl better access. "On the sofa with you." He lifted his head, captured Karl's lips in a thorough kiss. "Now." "Ordering me?" Karl asked, but gracefully got up and went to the sofa. "I like that." "You do, huh? I'll have to remember that." Orlando grinned and rolled to his hands and knees. Eyes locked with Karl's, he started to slowly crawl across the floor towards the vampire. "How 'bout we see what else you like, then..." Orlando on his hands and knees... Karl swallowed, resisted the urge to tug at his collar. The seducer was in full effect. "Well, I..." God, he couldn't even finish his sentence. Orlando took his time crawling across the floor, each movement slow and deliberate. "You what?" he asked, dropping his voice to a throaty purr. Silk flowed and leather molded as Orlando moved. Karl couldn't even form a thought. The sight was unbearably erotic. He was so fucking hard he was shaking. Amazing how all of the air in the room could evaporate like that. Reaching the sofa, Orlando stopped between Karl's legs and slithered up Karl's body. There was no other way to describe it. Hands on either side of Karl's hips, eyes still locked with Karl's...and that body sliding across Karl's crotch and chest. "Problems, love?" Orlando's mouth twisted in a devilish grin. "Something wrong?" "No -- nothing," Karl managed to say, hands itching with the need to throw his pet down and devour him from the inside out. Where the hell had all of this hunger come from? "You sure about that?" Orlando's voice was a whisper against Karl's lips. His hands brushed across Karl's chest, settling on the buttons of his shirt. "You're usually more...talkative..." He began to slip the buttons from their holes, lowering his head to place a soft kiss on each inch of skin as it was exposed. "You're usually not..." Karl's head fell back on the cushions, skin begging for more. This wasn't seduction; this was torture. "I'm usually not what?" Orlando freed the last button and pushed Karl's shirt open. He leaned forward again. "So..." Karl made a vague waving motion, couldn't articulate beyond a breathless moan. What good were words when what Orlando was doing with his tongue was beyond them anyway? Warm, firm...and so very fucking amazing. Orlando smiled and looked up at him through dark lashes. "So...?" He returned his attention to Karl's chest, using nothing but lips and tongue to explore warm skin. His hands shifted to rest lightly on Karl's hips, thumbs stroking the skin just above Karl's waistband. //Cat got your tongue?// //We don't have a...cat...// Karl could feel the slow slide happening in his body, in his mind, and let himself be seduced. It was so easy to sink into the lips on his body, the touches meant to tempt and tease. He wondered exactly when it was that he'd started to crave Orlando's touch with the same voracity as he craved Harry's. Only this was more refined, pure, all-consuming. He shuddered when Orlando brushed against a particularly sensitive spot, focused clouded eyes on the top of Orlando's head. Orlando slid just his fingertips beneath the waistband of Karl's pants, lifted his head, smiled. "You seem flustered. Are you sure you're enjoying this?" That was it...he couldn't take this. With a soft growl, Karl yanked Orlando to him, covered his lips, finally plundered that lush mouth with his tongue. Much better. And the lean silk-covered chest pressed against him was so far beyond much better than there should be a new word for it. //Dicha...// Orlando moaned into Karl's mouth, sliding his tongue over sharp fangs, twining it around Karl's tongue. //Dicha?// There was curiousity in his mental voice as his fingers danced over Karl's ribs, tickling sensitive skin. "Bliss," Karl moaned, diving back in for another taste, couldn't get enough. Several lifetimes wouldn't be enough. //Sounds wonderful.// Orlando melted against Karl, slid his hands down to rest at Karl's waist, pressed his body tighter against Karl's. "You have got just the most amazing mouth," Karl breathed, long minutes later, when Orlando finally lifted his head. "Is that so?" Orlando's hands moved to toy with the button on Karl's pants, easing it open. "What else would you like me to do with it?" he asked as he lowered his head and kissed a path down Karl's sternum. Truly the child was trying to kill him, but what a pleasant way to die. Karl ran his hands through soft curls, relaxed under whisper kisses across his skin. "Anything you'd like." Nimble fingers unzipped Karl's pants before returning to rest lightly on Karl's hips, thumbs once more stroking across smooth skin. "Hmm...that leaves me a lot of possibilities, doesn't it?" Orlando murmured. His lips traveled over the freshly exposed skin, tasting, teasing, brushing crisp curls, exploring every place his lips could touch without moving cloth aside. //Tease.// The word was laced with affection. //If you want more, all you have to do is ask.// Orlando worked his way back up Karl's body, his hands following. His nails grazed across smooth skin, brushed across nipples; his fingers sought and found the edges of Karl's shirt, slowly easing it off his shoulders and down his arms. A fleeting kiss brushed Karl's chin before Orlando lowered his head to lick at Karl's collarbone. Teeth delivered a gentle bite, then his lips traveled across a shoulder and down one arm, the touches light and teasing and slow, the kisses soft as they fell on a bicep, forearm, wrist, palm. Karl stretched, body purring in contentment at the loving treatment. The feel of Orlando's mouth on him had the low ache in his cock fast becoming a burning need racing across his nerves. He hadn't realized how much he'd needed this until Orlando showed him. So lovely to have all of this hazy focus on him, so arousing to sink into the pleasure of touches that burned, lips that claimed with butterfly softness, yet snared him all the same. His eyes swept over Orlando's body, the gesture intimate. "I would have you dance for me again." Orlando smiled, lashes sweeping down to hide his eyes. "If that's what you want," he murmured before lifting Karl's hand and closing his lips around a finger. He sucked on it, swirled his tongue around it, before letting it slip from his mouth. "Then that's what you'll get." In one graceful movement, Orlando stood, then moved to the small stereo in the corner. Seconds later, a low, steady beat filled the room, and he turned to face Karl, body already moving in time with the music, hips swaying and rolling, fingers shifting to the buttons of his shirt. Sex personified...and so fucking beautiful. Karl's heart simply stopped, breathing stopped, time stopped. There was only the music in the air, the notes dancing along Karl's bare skin, the sight of his lover swaying and turning, filling his mind until nothing else existed. Only this. Only them. Only beauty redefined in lean leather-clad hips, supple arms, and a smile that could rival shooting stars in their brilliance. Orlando licked his lips, lashes partly covering his eyes. His body continued to move and sway, graceful and enticing. His shirt dropped to the floor behind him, and his hands touched his chest, fingers moving provocatively down his ribs, over his stomach toying briefly with the ring before slowly drifting down to tease at the button of his pants. Karl's eyes stroked Orlando's body in a fiery caress, intense and loving. //Pleasure yourself for me.// //Your wish...// Orlando smiled and slowly eased the leather pants off, straightening up and continuing to dance. His hands drifted over his skin in light, teasing touches, one hand moving steadily lower as the other climbed. While Karl watched, Orlando slid one finger into his mouth and sucked on it, lips curving into a wicked smile around it. As his fingers curled around his cock, he removed the finger from his mouth and circled a nipple with the wet tip. //Is this what you want?// //Perfect.// Karl wanted nothing less than Orlando's total submersion into himself, to be both voyeur and participant, to be the eyes watching and the hands pleasuring. //Lose yourself.// Orlando smiled, ran his tongue along even, white teeth. Then he closed his eyes, let his head fall back as his hand started to move, stroking his length slowly, thumb sweeping over the head, using the slickness it gathered to ease his movements. His other hand continued to tease at his nipples and the ring, moving lower to cup his balls before sliding back up his stomach. The glide of his hand, the thrust of his hips, swept through his body in slowly intensifying waves, and Karl felt every movement right along with him. This was exactly what he wanted...Orlando's sole focus on himself, his body, his cock, his need. Just Orlando, moving just for himself, stroking his body to the edge of madness with a deft hand. Karl's mind burned with the feel, aching along with Orlando's, craving the release that was only moments away. Orlando bit his lip. Dancing was forgotten as his hips moved, thrust into his fist, the friction sending a sweet ache up his spine that echoed in Karl's mind. His other hand moved to toy with the ring, twisting and plucking at the gold until he stiffened, shuddered, breathed Karl's name as wet heat spilled over his fingers. "You're so beautiful when you come," Karl said, as he knelt before Orlando's still trembling body, drew sticky fingers into his mouth, licking them clean with slow swipes of his tongue. "Thank you." He breathed the words across Orlando's tattoo, traced it with his lips before standing, enclosing Orlando in his embrace. Orlando buried his face against Karl's neck. "This was supposed to be about you," he whispered, his arms creeping around Karl's waist. "Not me." "Ah, but it was about me. I got what I wanted. You." Orlando lifted his head and smiled, the expression soft and loving. "You had me from the first moment you spoke to me in the club." "Then I'd say we both got what we wanted." What a marvelous thought. Karl tugged Orlando easily in his arms, started to walk backward toward the bedroom. "And since tonight is still all about me, I think I'd like to make you moan this time myself. Unless you've other plans?" "No plans at all." Orlando wrapped his arms around Karl's neck and began to place tiny kisses along his jaw. "My body is completely yours tonight, to do with as you wish." Karl smiled. "Then that is what I wish." Onto Part Twelve
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