Part 6 (2/2)

”They do?” Julian sounded worried. ”He seemed fine before. Many decades ago, I set the half-pint limit when I determined it was all I needed. Before that, when I drank, I drained my victims dry. I am not accustomed to this halfway mark. Why did it not affect him until now?”

”Runnin' on that changeover high, is my guess. Now that he's calmed down, his body's yellin' for some seeing to. Yeah, yeah, I can see he's h.o.r.n.y, and that's not what I'm talkin' about. Here.” Tom pulled down a short gla.s.s, bent underneath the bar, and came up with a pitcher of orange juice. He poured the gla.s.s brim-full and shoved it over to Bree. ”Get him to drink that up if you want he should make it to your rooms without pa.s.sing out.”

”He might faint?”

”Like my kids say, duh. Hey, you.” Tom poked Bree in the shoulder. ”Chug-a-lug.”

Bree stared at the juice. It looked off to him, like it had turned. He glanced up at Julian to find his face furrowed in thought.

”Yes,” the man said. ”Drink, Bree. Perhaps not all of it, but as much as you can swallow. I know it looks dreadful, but you must, for your own good.”

Bree slumped. Well, s.h.i.+t. I thought we were heading for s.e.x when we left that smoking porch. Do not pa.s.s Go, do not collect $200, you know? Now I'm being told I have to drink all this juice? f.u.c.k that. Don't want it.

He frowned. I do want something, though. Something besides s.e.x. Weird. What is it, though? Can't put my finger on ...

”Bree,” Julian said, gentle but firm. ”Drink.”

Bree shut his eyes. He lifted the gla.s.s to his mouth, took a swig, and swallowed, trying not to taste it. Didn't quite work. He still got a blast of citrus across the tongue. But the stuff had definitely gone off. It tasted like decay. He made a face despite himself, but to please Julian, which kind of seemed to be all that mattered now, he kept on drinking.

”Good,” Julian murmured. ”Very well done.”

”Not bad. I figure it must taste like p.i.s.s to him right about now. You picked a good one after all, Jule, gotta hand it to you.

Enough of a h.e.l.lcat to ride the blood l.u.s.t and beat the s.h.i.+t out of an enemy, but then he follows your orders like a lambie pie. Not bad. Thrall?”

”A small one.”

”Figured. You gonna take it off before you, eh ...” Tom paused meaningfully.

”I think so.”

”He'll be scared. Might try to fight.”

”I gave my word that he would understand what was happening to him. I can bear a bruise or two if he chooses to struggle.” ”Guess you're a tough old bird after all this time, yeah. Oh! One more thing, just to be sure.” Curious, Bree opened his eyes and took a peek, just to see Tom rummage under his bar again and come out with a box of chocolate-chip cookies. ”Make him eat at least one. Two, if he can choke them down. It'll help.”

Bree groaned.

”Hush, now,” Julian chided. ”Eat.” He picked up a cookie and held it to Bree's lips. ”Open for me, now. Open wide.”

Bree found his lips parting. Julian slipped the cookie between his teeth. Automatically, he snapped off a bite and chewed.

Then gagged.

”Tastes like cardboard, huh?” Tom asked sympathetically. ”Or sand, maybe.”

Julian hung over Bree like a hawk until he'd choked one cookie down. ”Enough,” he decided. ”I can feel what he has consumed making a difference in his blood. It will do. I thank you for your help, Tom.”

”Eh. It's my job. You want anything else? Kinda figure you got take-away tonight, but I could let you have a free sip of any type you want. Get the motors revved up.”

Julian chuckled. ”Always looking to make a sale, Tom? No, I don't require anything else from your bar, and though you meant Bree's nourishment as a gift, I will see that you're paid for it. I must ask you for one more favor. I grow impatient, and it is difficult for one even as powerful as I to maintain a thrall for so long. May we use the dimensional doorway behind your bar tonight?”

Tom frowned. ”Silas, he don't like me doin' that. Got into a s.h.i.+tload of trouble last time I let someone borrow my ride.”

”Very well. I'll barter a future pledge against this favor. Whatever you please, so long as it harms neither Bree nor myself.

You may use it yourself, or give it to Silas.”

Tom eyed them up and down. ”Yeah,” he said. ”That's worth the risk. Come on back.”

”Bree.” Julian tugged at Bree's arm. Curious, but keeping his mouth shut, Bree followed Julian as Tom lifted up a section of the bar top and let them inside. The little man led them around to an even darker corner. Not just regular dark. This little patch swallowed up the light. He stared, fascinated.

Tom jerked his head. ”Just step on in,” he said. ”It'll take you wherever you wanna go. Like Dorothy in Oz. Just think about home, my friend. You'll be right there.”

”My thanks, Tom.” Julian bent and brushed a kiss across Bree's cheek. ”Close your eyes. Walk forward until I tell you to stop.”

This is weird. But ... I'm not scared. Not at all. I can trust Julian.

Obedient as a child, Bree screwed his eyes shut and stepped forward. He felt a brief lurch, as if his stomach were dropping out, then a light thump. He fell a little, losing his balance for some reason. No biggie. Julian was right there to catch him.

He tilted Bree's head to the dim light. ”You did that well,” he said, voice hoa.r.s.e. ”I must be strong enough to wait a little longer, but for now ...” Letting out a small hiss, Julian dipped his head and hungrily kissed Bree's mouth. Rougher than before, much more eagerly, Julian's tongue thrust in and out in imitation of the f.u.c.king to come. Bree felt sharp pains as Julian bit down on his lips and lapped off the welling blood, but h.e.l.l if he cared.

He just wanted the kiss to last forever. And even if they were in public, he wanted Julian's hand on his c.o.c.k. Now. Five seconds ago would have been better. Moaning into the kiss, Bree thrust his hips into Julian's and ground against him.

”Bree,” Julian whispered between sips of his mouth. ”Are you so eager? Speak.”

”h.e.l.l, yeah.” Bree reached between them and rubbed the heel of his palm against Julian's c.o.c.k, as hard as his own. ”I want you. You want me. Come on, Julian. f.u.c.k me. Make me see stars.”

Julian dropped his head onto Bree's shoulder and let out a groan. ”Bree, you tempt me too far ... my control ...”

”Yeah,” Bree breathed, stroking Julian with all the skills he possessed. ”You like it, huh? Want me?”

”More than you could know. I have waited centuries for you.”

”Yeah? I've waited a couple hours. Long enough, don't you think?” Bree let his fingers wander to the fastening on Julian's pants, starting to pull them open. ”No more wasting time.”

Julian clutched at him. ”Bree ... Bree ...”

Bree blinked. The weirdest sensation crawled over his skin. Kind of like it was being peeled off. ”What the f.u.c.k ...?” he blurted. ”Julian, did you feel that?”

”I did.” Julian's voice was bleak. ”My thrall has broken, and you are powerful enough now to see past Amour Magique's s.h.i.+elds.”

”And what's that mean in English?” ”It means your eyes are open now.” Julian stroked Bree's arm. ”I wonder if Liam knew this would happen. More than likely, he did. Cunning b.a.s.t.a.r.d of an incubus! He knew I would be forced to this.”

”Forced to what? Julian, you're not making much sense here. Look at me. C'mon, look at me. What's up?”

”You'll know as soon as I do look at you,” Julian whispered. ”Promise that you will not run away before I can explain.”

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