Orlando's fingers twisted in Harry's hair, wet tongue sliding across his, and damned if it wasn't like kissing Karl, only twisted. Softer, but not. Tiny bursts of electricity snapped behind Harry's eyelids as he lowered Orlando to the sofa, and stretched on top of him. Orlando moaned, arching against Harry, placing kisses along his jaw, down his throat. His hands moved up and down Harry's back, coming to a halt on Harry's hips and pulling him closer. "Where...were we?" he managed to gasp. "Right about here, I think." Harry closed his mouth over the navel ring as he shoved Orlando's jeans past slim hips. "Yes, there...Jesus." //Do that again for me.// Harry flicked his tongue around Orlando's belly button, nipping with his teeth, sucking the gold between his teeth. And smiled when Orlando jumped beneath his touch, brokenly moaning. Christ, he was so fucking responsive. Orlando cried out, body bucking, his own hands reflexively clutching strands of hair as he writhed beneath Harry. "Fuck..." Harry wondered if he really could make Orlando come like this. Set about finding out, sucking and laving, rolling the bit of metal around on his tongue, lips caressing skin. //Come apart for me. Let me feel you.// Orlando moaned loudly, voice harsh and ragged. "Jesus..." His body moved, strained against Harry's, and then...Yes, there. A rush of white-hot sensation that tore through Orlando, echoing in Harry's mind as his tongue worked the ring. And fuck if Karl hadn't been right. Orlando was beautiful when he came. He soothed Orlando with hands and lips, easing him through the shudders that wracked his body. Snuggling against Harry, Orlando frowned. "Your pants are still on," he observed, cracking open one eye. Harry chuckled. "Was that an observation or an offer?" Orlando sighed. His hands snaked between their bodies to brush across Harry's zipper, fingers seeking the metal tab and slowly easing it down. "Why is it I'm the one who always ends up naked while everyone else keeps their clothes on?" "Didn't realize this was a pattern for you..." Harry's breath caught, hissed between his teeth. "Christ." Orlando flashed him an irritated look that managed to look sexy as fuck. "You can say that when you know who I'm bonded to?" He eased the zipper down, deliberately allowing his fingers to graze bare skin. Harry arched into the contact, breath hitching. Add talented fingers to the list. "Well, Karl and I are normally lucky if either of us is naked...ah...God..." "I like naked," Orlando murmured, licking Harry's jaw, closing his hand around hot flesh, stroking lightly. "Naked feels good. You feel good." "You feel..." Harry moaned, bit Orlando's shoulder, pumping his hips into the fingers enclosing him, "...pretty damn good yourself." "Do I now?" Orlando purred, as he pressed small kisses to Harry's jaw and throat, taking tiny bites every third kiss. "What would you like me to do? Would you like me to keep doing this until you come? Or maybe..." His tongue darted out to lick Harry's bottom lip. "Maybe you'd like me to slide down your body and taste you. Would you like that?" Harry captured Orlando's mouth in a bruising kiss that obliterated as much as it claimed, left him shaking, wanting. "I've heard about that talented mouth of yours." Another full-bodied kiss, tongues dueling, hands racing "Are you really as good as Karl says you are?" Orlando grinned, bit Harry's bottom lip, hand still moving in lazy strokes. "I can bring Karl to his knees." Child wanted to challenge him. How sweet. Well, Harry was certainly up for it. "I can make him forget he has knees, little one." He flicked his tongue out to trace Orlando's lips, running it along even teeth. "What can you do to me?" "My damn best, that's for sure." Orlando pushed Harry over to his back. Straddling his hips, he pulled Harry's wrists over his head. "Now...keep those there." Orlando lowered his head, lips brushing Harry's throat, slowly moving down across his chest. Harry anchored his hands to the cushion above his hands, stretched into the hands that were currently driving him wild. "Demanding. I like that." "So I've been told," Orlando grinned, sinking his teeth into Harry's stomach just above his navel. "I'm developing a talent for demanding." He slithered down, kissing a trail down Harry's chest and stomach until he was settled between firm thighs, tongue sweeping along the crease formed by thigh and hip. Harry groaned again, fingernails digging into the cushions, back arching in silent supplication. If Orlando wanted to be in control, who was Harry to deny him? Of course, it might kill him, but he could think of worse ways to go. Orlando laughed, sliding one hand up to brush against Harry's nipple, tongue darting to tease the head of his cock before drawing it slowly into his mouth. "Christ." Harry watched Orlando's every movement, lifting his hips to allow Orlando better access, fingers white with the strain of not moving. Orlando teased with lips and tongue, licking, sucking, kissing, worshipping, always teasing. He concentrated on the head for a moment before taking the full length back in, humming softly, swallowing, pulling back. Oh yeah...talented...and evil. //Karl never mentioned you were a cock tease.// Harry moved his legs over Orlando's sides, trapping him. Orlando grinned across the length of Harry's body, looking like some sort of demonic angel. "Yeah, Karl seems to forget to mention a lot. Got a good grip there?" He didn't wait for answer; instead, he took in Harry's full length again, sucking hard and fast, tongue swirling over silky skin. Veins now pulsed in Harry's arms, and his fingers tightened even more on the cushions, hips lifting, matching Orlando's rhythm, fucking Orlando's mouth, groaning his name over and over. Orlando hummed softly, and Harry could feel Orlando's focus, feel the determination to make him scream, to make him come apart, to make him come period, and the knowledge left him shaking. The soft tongue continued its lazy swirl and glide as Orlando sucked, fingers finding and touching the smooth, sensitive skin behind Harry's balls. Harry bucked, coming down Orlando's throat, Orlando's name a prayer on his lips, eyes still focused, watching, even as he lost himself. Orlando's lashes were dark smudges as he used his tongue to lazily clean Harry before crawling back up his body. He draped himself across Harry's chest, kissing him slowly. "You kept your hands there," he murmured, sounding surprised. Harry flexed his hands, his arms, loosening the muscles before draping them across Orlando's back. "You asked," he said simply. Another indolent kiss, tongue sweeping across Harry's bottom lip, and Harry tasted himself, tasted Orlando, loved the way they tasted together. "So am I as good as Karl says?" Orlando asked, slow smile curving his lips. Cheeky brat. "Yes, you are," Harry chuckled. "Thank you." Orlando placed his head on Harry's chest, pressed a kiss over his heart. "You're very welcome." "Suppose this is as good a place as any to rest." Harry tightened his grip on Orlando, shifting again so they were completely aligned. //Sleep. I'll be here when you awaken.// They'd talk more later. Harry would make sure of it. * * * Karl had no real concept of how long he drove, but somehow, he wasn't surprised when he wound up in Sean and Dom's driveway. Going home would be pointless; there was no one there. Going to Viggo's would try his patience, and while Karl was in the mood for a fight, he wasn't in the mood to take on Viggo's superior attitude. He had enough to deal with. He walked into the study, poured himself a drink, sank onto the sofa. And waited. It took less than two minutes for Sean to appear in the doorway. Clear, green eyes took in Karl, the drink, and the still open bottle on the bar. "I get the feeling that's not a celebratory drink." Karl noted Sean's rumpled hair, bare chest and low-riding cotton pajama bottoms. "Hope I'm not interrupting anything." He drained his drink, got up to pour another one. Fuck it, he should keep the bottle. Or two. Fuck. "Good thing I just restocked the bar," Sean commented, walking over and dropping into a chair. His eyes followed Karl's every move. "And no, you're not interrupting anything. Dom's asleep, and I was reading." "Good." The last thing Karl needed was to have Dom or Sean pissed at him. He had a feeling he'd be needing all the friends he could get...God fucking dammit. All his fault. Karl looked at his glass. Pouring was too much effort. He brought the bottle back with him to the sofa, slid onto the cushions. "Fucked up, Sean. Fucked it all up." Sean frowned. "I'm sure it can't be as bad as you think," he said with a glance at the door. "Where's Orlando? Home sleeping?" Karl rubbed his hand over his eyes, tried to ease the raging headache that pounded in his head. "He's probably getting one of Harry's world class blowjobs right about now." "Excuse me?" Sean blinked, stared at Karl. "Did you just say that Orlando is getting...? Karl, what the hell is going on here?" "I fucked up. Harry kicked me out, not that I blame him. Orli's pissed at me, and I can't hear Harry anymore." Karl tapped his temples, took another long sip from the bottle. "Should have trusted him." He opened bleary eyes, focused on his friend. "He's gone. Not fucking there." Sean opened his mouth, closed it again. "Harry kicked you out?" He paused long enough for Karl to nod. "I see. And Orlando's pissed at you?" Karl's short burst of laughter was ironic. "Yeah, you could say that." Sean shook his head. "By 'gone', please tell me you don't mean Harry?" "Can't hear him, blocked me." It was a groan that ended on a choked sob. "Should have listened to you, should have talked to him. Can't believe I was so fucking stupid." Karl eased his body down completely on the sofa, threw his arm up over his head. "Ah." Sean stood, moved to the bar. Pouring himself a drink, he downed it and then poured another before looking at Karl again. "Want to talk about it?" "What's to say?" Karl didn't move. It would have taken up too much energy. "Orli apparently went to Harry's to talk to him, and I rushed in, jumped to the wrong conclusions. Knew better. Supposed to be sharing him, should have known Harry'd be gentle. Stupid fuck. Shouldn't have hit him." "Sharing? You're sharing...Orlando went there by himself...you hit Harry?" He drained his second drink, poured a third. "What the fuck happened?" "Fucked if I know." Karl lowered his arm, bloodshot eyes focusing on everything except Sean. "Harry's been so raw lately, you know that. And you were there at the party...couldn't help it. Orlando was whimpering. Whimpering. Didn't stop to think...fuck." Karl knew he was babbling, couldn't really help it. The words were there, but they were jumbled, disjointed, raw. "I mean, we were both hoping he'd get over it, but we thought it would take more time, that we'd gradually get him used to Harry, to the idea of us..." Needed another bottle. Needed to talk to Harry. Needed to get this worked out. "Color me shocked," Sean muttered as he returned to his chair with a bottle. "Karl, you know you can't share Orlando, right? The bond doesn't allow it. It's sacrosanct." "Sean, you're talking to a vampire who's had a pet bond with another vampire for over 800 years without him being a pet. What the fuck did you think was going to happen when Harry and Orlando finally met? They'd be chess buddies?" "I never thought you'd find a pet. None of us did. Didn't think you were looking." Sean's eyes found Karl's, and he shrugged. "You and Harry seemed perfectly content with each other." "We weren't looking. But we'd discussed it." Sean lifted the bottle and studied the amber liquid inside. "Well, I certainly didn't think the two of you would be sharing a pet. That's fucked up even for you. Did Orlando know of yours and Harry's plans for him?" "We were waiting until he got settled in," Karl mumbled, sitting up as he swiped the bottle from the table for another swallow. "I see." Sean nodded. "So he was settled in when you unleashed Harry on him at the party? Because I'm a little confused here." He slumped down in his chair, eyes fixed on Karl. "You were planning on sharing him with Harry, you wanted him to get over being scared of Harry, which he obviously did, only a little sooner than you thought apparently, so you and Harry decide to fight about it?" Karl pressed his head to his knees, sighed. "Thought Harrywashurtinghim." Sean sat up straight, stared at Karl in disbelief. "Jesus, Karl! Even at the party, we all knew that Harry was just trying to scare the kid a little." "You didn't hear him. Whimpering in my head, sounding just like he did at the party. And nobody fucking told me Orli was going to Harry's. And I couldn't reach Harry, he was blocking me..." a slight laugh as Karl flopped back on the sofa again "...and I fucked up. I know that." "I assume the child wasn't whimpering because he was in fear of his life." Sean smiled a little. "I know Harry. And his effect on every living, breathing, thinking creature around him. Please tell me you didn't accuse him of hurting Orlando." "Okay, I won't." "Oh, bloody hell." Sean dropped his head into his hand. Karl smiled sadly over his drink. "I questioned his loyalty. And you know...you know what that means to him. Don't blame him for not wanting to come home. Fuck." "Orlando doesn't want to come home?" When Karl nodded, Sean moved to the sofa and sat beside him. "Now what makes you think that? He's your pet. He loves you." "Christ, what do you expect when I'm telling him he can trust Harry in one breath, then charging in with fists raised the next?" Karl asked harshly, then leaned into Sean's shoulder. Lost...he was so lost. Couldn't cope with the silence. "He'll come home. I know he will. It's just..." Karl exhaled slowly "...this is Harry we're talking about. Irresistible, beyond seductive, captured my soul the second I saw him Harry. Orlando might decide to stay. And I wouldn't blame him." "Orlando's bound to you," Sean pointed out as he wrapped his arms around Karl. "Harry may be all that and a box of chocolates, but he can't take your pet from you, regardless of the fact that you were planning on sharing him. You know that." "I know." And he did know, but this was so far beyond anything anyone had ever dealt with. This was certainly not in the rules. "But it might take awhile for him to come home. He's a lot like Harry." Karl lifted his head, smiled. "And you know what that means." "Means he's stubborn and pigheaded and contrary," Sean replied with a grin. "Also means that I wouldn't trade places with you for anything. I have enough to deal with just having Dom at times." "You're a lucky man." And Karl meant it with everything in him. What the two of them had was so easy, so rare. Karl wondered if he'd ever have that with Orlando, or if he'd fucked that up as well. So many questions, so many recriminations. His head was swimming. Although it could be the whiskey. "S'it okay if I stay here tonight?" he asked, voice mumbled as he dropped his head back on Sean's shoulder. "You know you don't have to ask," Sean said in a gentle voice. Then he paused, lifted his head. "However, I'm not explaining this to Dom for you." "You have got to be kidding," Karl groaned, slipping out of Sean's arms to sink back onto the sofa. "If you think I am, you're more delusional than I thought." The very last thing Karl needed tonight was an irate Dom on his hands. "Then I suggest you hide." Sean grinned, eyes twinkling as he looked at Karl. "I do believe he's awake and headed this way." "Fuck." "You've got maybe three minutes." Karl stood, placed a swift kiss on Sean's head, took the offer without shame. "You're a good friend, Sean. I'll be in the guest room." Sean snorted and looked up. "You are such a coward." "Like you haven't hidden from him at my house -- and Harry's -- more times than I can count?" Karl replied, and left the room on swift, silent feet. Thank God for Sean. Sean sat back and waited for Dom to arrive. It only took about a minute. He stumbled across the room to curl up next to Sean, then let out a contented sigh. "Who're you talking to?" he asked, mumbling the words against Sean's chest. Sean wrapped his arms around Dom to hold him close. "Karl." Dom lifted his head to look around, then dropped it back on Sean's shoulder. "No one here." The last word came out as a yawn. "That's because," Sean said with a chuckle, "Karl is the world's biggest coward right now. You frighten him, love." "Good." Dom snuggled into Sean's embrace, already mostly asleep again. Sean laughed again as he shifted Dom around until they were both comfortable. "I'll let him explain his latest fuck up to you later." "Mm'kay." //You can relax, Karl. He's not in a biting mood right now.// //Thank God for small favors.// Sean could only laugh as he kissed Dom's forehead. "What say we go back to bed?" Dom wrapped his arms around Sean's neck. "Soundslovely." //I'm still going to make you explain this to him.// Sean grinned at the growl that echoed in his head. Standing, he cradled Dom against his chest and started towards the door, determined to find his bed and pick up where he'd left off when the real world, in the form of Karl, had come crashing in. Onto Part Seven
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