Round Two

Two's Company

I return to my spot by the fire with a big grin on my face, having been disturbed by the phone ringing about half an hour ago. Still in my pyjama bottoms and onto the next issue, before I hear a sound at the front door – given that now the children are away all night, there’s only one possibility left. Happily I grab the magazine and plop it back into the rack, before going to meet my fiancé as he comes through the door.
“Buena sera, bello!” I greet cheerfully as I approach, scooping his bulky form into my arms. My mirth dwindles as he gives but a weak smile in return.
“Hey,” he replies meekly.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, noticing bloodstains upon his cheeks. “Has something happened?”
He gives a heavy sigh as his red eyes lock onto my brown. “How long have you got?” he asks dryly.
“All night,” I grin fondly, “The kids are sleeping over, so just for a change we have the place to ourselves.”
“Really?” he checks, a smile creeping across his face.
“Yep,” I confirm, “Tell you what, how about I get us some wine, we curl up in front of the fire and you can tell me in your own sweet time, hmm?”
“That sounds great,” he agrees, his lips now stretching wider. Determined to lighten his mood, I peer at his mouth expectantly.
“Still can’t see them,” I remark, at which he chuckles briefly. Enough for me to catch a glimpse of his little fangs, which is all I was waiting for.
“That’s more like it,” I grin, laying my fingers upon his jaw before lightly kissing his lips. “I’ll get some clothes on then I’ll be right with you.”

“So, just tell me one thing,” I ask, “Has she accepted our engagement?”
He wears a sad yet knowing smile as he shakes his head. Mine drops in despair as I curse under my breath.
“I know,” he utters, eyeing me with a sorry stare.
“What is it with that woman?!” I complain, “You’d think after all we’ve been through…”
“I know,” he repeats, “but this time it gets better.”
I scoff as I look back at him. “Could it get any worse?!” I ask, almost wishing I hadn’t.
“She’s preggers.”
I stare back at him in disbelief for a moment.
“I beg your pardon?!”
“Given how they bicker I’m surprised they managed it,” he muses, “but yeah, she’s running on a hormone overdose.”
“Nice,” I remark, trying valiantly to ignore the increasing pains in my stomach.
“Are you okay?” he asks, maybe sensing my condition.
“Yeah,” I lie, “I’m fine.”
“Have you eaten?”
I sigh in resignation at possibly my least favourite question. I hate my diet and I hate eating, so I’m thankful I don’t need to do it often.
“Is that a no?”
I briskly shake my head as a particularly sharp pang in my stomach makes me wince. I can feel myself shaking, but even with not enjoying my food, my appetite is at an all-time low.
“Here, take some of mine.”
“It’s fine, really…”
“Yeah, looks like it,” he remarks sardonically, “You can’t keep doing this to yourself.”
“I just don’t feel like it…”
“You need to eat something,” he tells me, offering his open wrist, “Come on, take some of mine, then we’ll get something to eat, huh?”
I relent in the end, more due to the smell of blood in the air. That always gets me eventually, no matter how much I dislike the idea of feeding.
After I’ve lapped at his blood for a while, he pulls his wrist away and rises to his feet.
“Come on,” he coaxes with a smile, “I’ve got an idea that’ll make it more enjoyable.”

If there’s one thing I love about the city, it’s being able to walk down the street with my hand in his, and generally indulge in the public displays of affection we just can’t do in our small town – not because of a fear of homophobes, but because we all know each other. People in the city either don’t know or don’t care enough to say anything, although what some may take offense to is the fact that we’re both men. On this particular night however, that is a driving force behind our actions, although how much of Chris’s amorous mood is down to that I’m not sure. Not that I’m in any position to complain though, in fact I savour the time we spend now snuggled into each other’s arms as we walk.
“Ooh, there’s one.”
I look up at him as I hear his mental racings, then follow his gaze as I realise they were directed at me.
“How many do you think…” I begin, knowing I don’t need to finish.
“Two or three, I reckon,” he muses, “Still, let’s not think about that for now, eh?” he finishes, planting a kiss on my temple as we approach the opening to what definitely looks like a back alley.
Knowing exactly what he means, an excited smile stretches across my face as I clutch his jaw in my hand, my eyes closing as I feel his lips upon mine. Our steps decelerate into a halt as we embrace, our grip round each other tightening as our mouths lock together in a passionate kiss, only breaking away to let him lead me down the alleyway, into what appears to be a blind spot. Already kept warm now by the flame inside, I barely notice the icy wall as he presses me against it, and allow him to unzip my jacket before our lips meet again, our fire now blazing with a heat that threatens to melt the snow around us.

My hunger is forgotten, to the point where we very nearly go at it for real, before our sensitive ears pick up the sound of footsteps. We pretend not to notice until they get louder, whereupon we calmly break away and turn to the source of the sound. Two, not three, but still, the looks of menace on their faces is enough to stir my appetite once more.
“Got a problem guys?” Chris challenges casually. I envy him with his practised demeanour in these situations; even in school he was the one protecting me. I’m just not the fighting type.
“Oh, don’t think we didn’t see you earlier,” one of them sneers, “Don’t you guys ever learn?! No room for your kind here.”
So saying, they approach with deadly intent, while I battle to still my pounding heart. Chris however just gives a little laugh as he leaves my side to confront the man.
“We don’t learn?” he queries, before fixing his eyes with a cold gaze. He speaks again but in a hushed, equally threatening tone as a smirk plays upon my face. “What colour are my eyes?!”
“I couldn’t care less what colour your eyes are!” comes the reply, “They’ll be black by the time…”
“I don’t think so,” he interrupts, before a cat-like snarl escapes his throat as he bares his fangs. Before the man can move Chris has a hold of his neck, and the other man is so busy trying to help he doesn’t notice me, or the raw hunger now burning in my eyes as I lunge forward, clutching hold of his jaw and pulling him into my waiting arms while I bite into his now exposed throat.

I had no idea how hungry I’d let myself go – I must have sucked him dry, something I never usually do. After disposing of the bodies however, Chris moves towards me, again slipping his arms round my waist as he gazes at me.
“Feel better now?”
I briskly nod, my tongue darting out to mop up the traces of blood upon my lips, but his fingers run along my jaw as he shakes his head, a sly smile taking hold of his mouth.
“Allow me,” he purrs, leaning forward to kiss me, his lips beginning to caress mine as I feel the familiar blaze becoming stoked once more, which now rages out of control as we cling to each other.

The sense of cold gradually returns as the last of the heat evaporates from my body, my chest heaving as I look back at him with a happy smile.
“Never let it be said that we can’t enjoy a romantic meal,” he grins, sweeping stray, sweat-dampened strands of hair from my face.
I chuckle a little as I run a hand up his chest.
“This was a great idea,” I tell him, “Thanks.”
“Oh, I’m not done yet,” he grins, holding out his hand.
“Are we going somewhere?”
“Certainly are!” comes the reply, “Come on!”

“You’re kidding me,” I utter, looking down at the shimmering, steaming water, before back at him, “How did you wangle this?”
“Yours is not to reason why,” he replies with a sparkle in his eye, beginning to strip, “Merely to enjoy the ride!”
I break into a fit of giggles as I follow suit. “Hey you,” I tease, “Poetry’s my job!”
“I can be poetic too!” he counters, chuckling. As I cast aside my jeans and jumper, my body reacts violently to the cold air that now antagonises my bare skin.
“Daaaamn, it’s cold!”
“Is it?” comes the innocent reply.
I glare teasingly across at Chris as I fling my shorts at him.
“Hey, I don’t want them!” he laughs, tossing them at the rest of my bundle of clothes. “Come on, you ready?”
He takes my hand, before speaking again.
“On the count of three; one… two… three!”
Splash!

Ah, this is more like it. Swimming pools do have heaters, and he’s even included the salt! To add to that, this time I’m not alone – in fact I couldn’t ask for better company than the man I aim to spend the rest of eternity with. Time flies when you’re enjoying yourself, however, and all too soon it appears we need to be out of the water and heading home. No sign of the sun yet, but Chris’s fingertips are beginning to resemble raisins.
“Come on you,” he smiles as he hoists my now crippled body from the water, “let’s get your sexy legs back so we can get home, eh?”
I giggle a little as he lowers me onto the icy ground, whereupon I shudder involuntarily as he grabs a towel and wraps it about himself, while I reach for another and scrub vigorously at my scales. He finds another going spare and comes to my aid, although he protests at the flapping of my tail against the frosty tiles.
“I can’t help it!” I tell him, “You ever seen a fish out of water?”
“That’s because they can’t breathe,” he counters, “You’re just being awkward, now hold still!”
Wearing an indignant expression at first, my mouth shifts in shape until it becomes a devilish smirk. Supporting myself on the ground, I deliberately flip my tail fin at his face.
“Hey!” he complains, “I’ll stand on it!”
“You’d better not!” I exclaim, “That’s fragile, you know! Imagine my boot pressed right into your…” I trail off as I notice the nature of the smile playing upon his lips. “Never mind,” I finish, “Just promise me you won’t stand on it!”
He compromises by resting his knee on it while continuing to work. I flinch a little at the discomfort, but decide it’s best to grit my teeth and look forward to getting dressed.

Finally we get back home, still with enough time before the sun awakes to hold the vampires at bay. With the fire extinguished before we left, the chill as we enter is bracing enough for me to head for the hearth again. Chris has other ideas though, and pulls me into his arms.
“You cold?” he quizzes, his eyes glinting.
I laugh as I allow him to bring me in closer. “As it happens,” I reply, “Did you not get enough earlier?”
“Oh, this is dessert,” he purrs, pressing his tender lips against mine.

In an otherwise empty house, it is a dish I find impossible to resist.