Forever Young

Daniel

I took the train home; thankful I had my oyster card on me. My mum lived in Battersea and I took the overground train before changing to the underground. When I finally got back to my flat Elliot was thankfully not home, he was probably out with some of his friends or visiting his sister.

My mind drifted back to waking up kissing Darren. I had woken up hungry and had drained more energy from him than I had experienced before, and at the moment I was buzzing off the feed. I felt the most satisfied that I had been since.... ever. I felt alive, I felt strong, and I felt powerful. I raised a hand and pushed my energy out through my index finger. A single blue flame flickered out of my fingertip and I smiled. I now had my full powers at my disposal.

As much as I tried to avoid thinking about Darren my thoughts eventually led me there. He was as close to what I would define as perfection, his hazel eyes that seemed to glisten with dark intent, angular features, tall and broad shouldered with his black hair swept up perfectly over his head.

He was tall, dark but dead.

The mere sight of his fangs filled me with fear, yet despite that I still found myself inexplicably drawn to him, he had saved me when I was in danger. As much as the logical part of my mind feared Darren, my emotions were telling me to go to him, I wanted him, however much I may fear what he wanted from me.

I drifted lazily to my bed, staring up at the dark ceiling above me. I imagined the dark pools of Darren’s eyes staring out at me from them. Their intensity sent my heart racing, and my hand lazily trailed down my chest to my now hardening cock. I gripped my throbbing erection and moaned as I began to jerk myself, quickly grabbing a small bottle of lube from my bedside table. I hissed slightly as the cold liquid touched my cock, but I was determined.

My hands roamed over my body, pulling at my nipples as I continued to jerk my cock with increased fervour. I imagined Darren’s arms wrapping around me, his chest pressed against my body, those dark eyes boring into me as he held me closer to him. I heard the low groans in my ears as Darren had kissed me, my cock twitched at the memory and it responded to every stroke of my hand.

I imagined Darren's grunts and groans filling my ears, his hands roaming over my chest as I worked my cock. I pictured his tongue roaming down my chest, and his lips wrapping firmly around the head of my cock, his deep hazel eyes flashing up to meet mine and……

My orgasm came crashing through me, I felt white hot pleasure coursing through every part of me. My cock pulsed as my load sprayed forth, coating my belly and chest with lines of hot sticky cum. It was only afterwards that I realised I had been saying his name, over and over again.

I quickly extricated myself from my bed and proceeded to the bathroom. I jumped into the shower before the water had even had a chance to grow hot, and watched as the cum slid from my body and was whipped away in the water.

 I braced myself against the wall, savouring the afterglow of one of the best orgasms of my life. As much as I hated to admit it, I felt a deep desire building in the pit of my stomach, the desire to see those eyes staring down at me again.

I swiftly dried myself off and dressed in some comfortable jeans and a loose-fitting t-shirt and made myself a cup of tea. I mulled over how long I thought I could hold off seeing Darren, a week seemed like a good amount of time. Enough to let things settle between us. Yes, I could last a week.

I did however realise I had no way to contact Darren, I had never even asked for his number, so it seemed it was all up to him. A thought struck me quickly and I pulled out my phone quickly texting Elliott, I asked him to send me the number I had called him from yesterday, now at least I should be able to get a hold of Darren.

I wouldn't ask him to go out with me for a few days, but at least I knew that I could. I needed time to calm down, time to adjust, and also greatly desired not to seem needy to him.

Three days later

I had asked Darren if he would like to go out with me tonight, my original plans of waiting a week had crashed and burned. Elliott had gratefully gone out leaving me alone when Darren arrived. I opened the door when he knocked gently and he smiled slightly at me.

There they were, those deep hazel eyes I had imagined so many times late at night. Each time causing my cock to harden almost instantly.

“I am grateful that you asked me to go out with you tonight.”

Darren said with a smile playing on his lips.

He wore a pair of dark blue jeans, with a tight white shirt with his usual snug leather jacket on top. His hair swept back elegantly over his forehead and his hazel eyes seemed to glisten in the dim light.

“You look good,”

He said, his eyes scanning me up and down.

I was wearing a pair of beige chinos with a dark red short sleeved t-shirt, I smiled back at him and my arms crossed instinctively. Darren extended a hand to me, and I took his cool hand, as he tugged me forward and my arm extended, he froze. His eyes were downcast at my arm and I followed his eyes before freezing myself.

He was looking towards the crease of my elbow. The bite mark scars there still remained, unwilling to heal despite my incubus nature, his eyes seemed to glow slightly before he looked up at me, his eyes staring into mine. I tried to tug my hand away from him, suddenly conscious of the marks once more, very much wanting to hide them from his sight, or wishing I had worn a sweater to hide my arms.

“This is what they did to you?”

He asked his voice cool and evenly, his fingers trailed up my arm and his thumbs lightly ran over the scars.

I nodded slightly afraid of his reaction

“Come on.”  He said grinning slightly at me, obviously trying to salvage what he could.

“Let's go.” He continued tugging my hand towards the lift.

“So where are we going?” I asked, smiling at him.

“You suggested beforehand that we go to the cinema.”

Darren said a mischievous grin on his lips.

“Are you driving?” I asked, my eyebrows drawing up as my nerves hit me.

He nodded, grinning slightly.

“I spent yesterday reacquainting myself with how to drive a car, I haven't driven in decades. I much prefer to run.” He said ponderously.

I gulped slightly but Darren laughed as the lift door began to open.

“Don't worry Daniel, I am a fast learner and they haven't changed all that much.”

He quipped as he stepped inside the lift.

I followed him into the lift and pressed the ground floor button, I turned my head to Darren and noticed the tightness present in his jaw. He was angry and although I knew It wasn't directed at me, it still made me feel guilty that his anger was caused by me.

“Hey,” I said reaching out to tentatively take one of his hands as the lift descended.

“They hurt me, yes, but I’m fine now.” I said, lying through my teeth.

“Daniel, they scarred you, they assaulted you.”

He responded, the same tightness present in his jaw line.

I tried to think of how to calm him down, I could see the tension continuing to build in his jaw.

“But I'm fine now Darren.”

I said turning my body completely to him. Trying my very best to be seductive.

“They attacked you and fed from you, they wanted to kill you Daniel.”

Darren said as his eyes flashed black. That should have terrified me, but instead as I looked up at those black pools, I felt a shiver run down my body.

I reached out to him and placed my hand shakily against the side of his face, my thumb stroking his cheek bone. My plan worked, and he sighed and his hand came up to hold mine against his face, he blinked and his eyes returned to his natural hazel.

“I'm fine Darren.” I said grinning at him, trying my very best to be convincing.

The lift doors opened and Darren gripped my hand and led me out and into the street. A car was parked directly in front of the block of flats. Now, I may not know much about cars but by the look of it the car was expensive. Sleek, black with two seats in the front and a spoiler on the back, all in all it looked extremely out of place in this area of London.

“I thought you said you didn't drive?” I said looking at Darren.

“Things change.” Darren said, shrugging slightly.

“How much did this cost?” I asked as he pulled me towards the car.

“Enough.” Darren said mysteriously.

Darren opened the door for me in a display of courtesy that did not go unnoticed, and I slid down onto the leather seat. Darren walked around the car and slid into the seat to my right.

“So how much did this actually cost?” I asked as Darren reached for the ignition.

“I don't know much about cars but price is inconsequential.”

He said gently, turning the key as the engine purred to life.

“You know I'm going to keep on asking,”

I said grinning slightly at him. Trying to keep the conversation more mundane.

“I bought it for £345k from an old friend of mine.”

He said, motioning for me to fasten my seat belt as he did so.

“You bought this just to take me on a date?”

I asked slightly disbelieving, a sudden lump forming in my throat as a wave of guilt washed over me.

“It will be worth it if it means I can take you out on dates.”

Darren said as he gently pulled the car away from the pavement.

“Still, you didn't have to buy this.”

I said resting my head against the glass window as Darren drove.

“Money is inconsequential to me Daniel, at my age I have so many investments scattered around that money is almost no object to me.”

Darren said as he drove a little too quickly across London, pretty well for someone who hadn't driven since last century.

“You sound like my mum.” I said.

My mum was over 400 years old and had, over the centuries, accumulated more money than she knew what to do with. Well, she lived comfortably.

“I'm older than her however.”

Darren said, turning his head towards me and grinning.

I smiled slightly back and leaned my head back against the window and just stared as the lights whipped past us. I sat quietly for around twenty minutes or so until Darren announced we were almost there.

I knew the area at once, the O2, otherwise known as the Millennium dome. He parked and got out, and a moment later my door was opened and he extended a hand to help me out. I took it and squeezed his hand, a smile swiftly spread across his lips.

At least he seemed to have calmed down since earlier, although the fact that he seemed to care so much about me was heart-warming. Even though at the time he had wanted to kill the people who had hurt me. In a way it kind of made me feel.... safe, to know that he was willing to protect me.

The cinema was quiet and almost empty as we sat in our seats. Darren sat to my left and smiled at me as the trailers started, I groaned quietly as they dragged on until eventually the film started. It began with a lone man standing in a graveyard digging, yet from the shadows I could see red eyes glowed eerily.

I watched in fascination through most of the film, the film was about a war between the vampires and the werewolves and it seemed to me as if the vampires were going to win.

I spared a glance to my left and saw Darren's eyes flicker to me for a moment and he smiled, he reached out his hand to me and I took it, then turned back towards the front just as a fight broke out on screen.

It felt strangely comfortable here, the dark enveloping us like a blanket, with Darren sitting barely inches away from me. I half contemplated leaning towards him and resting my head on his shoulder, but decided against it.

After around two hours the film ended and I stood up and stretched quickly, my joints clicked in a most satisfying way and I yawned widely, Darren moved to his feet as well, and as we left, he asked me a few small questions about what I thought of the film.

“Shall we go somewhere to eat?”

He suggested, gazing down at me.

“If you'd like.”

I said knowing full well he had no intention of eating.

He led me out of the cinema by the hand and we ended up in some Italian restaurant at a two-person table. I grinned over at him. I noticed that I was beginning to feel more comfortable around him, I found myself not viewing him as a Vampire but more as a person, I ordered a simple pepperoni pizza and a glass of coke whilst Darren simply shook his head to the waiter.

“So, what should we talk about.”

I asked quietly as my drink arrived, biting my lip as I looked up at him.

“Anything, most of all I would simply like to learn more about you.” He said, his eyes lingering over me.

His black hair shone slightly in this light, perfectly styled above his head and his face showing a five o’clock shadow. I did also notice a patch of dark hairs creeping out above the neckline of his t-shirt. That drew my gaze for longer than I would have liked, the desire to reach out and run my fingers through them was evident. For an instant I thought Darren had noticed my lingering glance, and I blushed and turned my gaze down towards my drink.

And so, we talked, well mostly I did anyway, he just asked a lot of questions. By the time my food had arrived I felt as if this was the most we had ever talked. He had asked me about my job, my friendship with Elliot, my family (which I didn't talk about), my hobbies, my interests and so many other things I lost count.

It seemed as if he was simply assimilating as much information about me as he possibly could. Trying to learn as much about me as possible, finding out my likes, dislikes etc. Whereas I knew next to nothing about him. I didn't mind so much; I was never very good at asking people questions. I always felt as if I was prying into a part of their lives that I had no right to see. One question however I felt I had to ask, simply out of curiosity.

“Can I ask you something?”

I said taking a small bite of my pizza at the end.

“Certainly, I feel that I owe you answers.”

He said his hazel eyes flickering slightly.

“Can I ask, how old are you?”

I said, feeling a little embarrassed to ask.

“Are you sure you want to know?”

He asked as his lips twitched slightly, a tiny smile touching the edges of his lips.

I nodded at him.

“Well, I am around 1100 years old, give or take about a decade or two.”

He said, his eyes gauging my reaction.

“Ah.” was all I said, feeling myself blush.

“History must seem so annoying to you.”

I said quietly.

“And why is that?”

He asked, seeming genuinely interested in my answer.

“Because you can point out all the mistakes.”

I said coyly.

“That at least is true, I thought you would be more concerned about the fact my age is around 50 times that of your own.”

He replied, his eyes glittering in the light.

“Age isn't much of a problem if you're immortal.”

I said, he nodded in agreement and grinned at me showing his teeth.

“Can I ask one more?”

I added. curious as to how he would react.

“Your fangs.” I said in a hushed tone “Where are they?”

I asked quietly, conscious of the humans around us.

“You mean where are they hidden?”

He asked, a troubled look crossing his face for a moment.

I nodded and he grinned a little, before it quickly faded.

“When we become either hungry or aroused, they will usually descend from here,”

He said pointing to his lateral incisors.

“Descend?” I asked.

“They come down and replace the other teeth by exchanging positions from within the gums themselves.” Darren said quite nonchalantly.

“And how often do you normally need to....um...feed.”

I asked hesitantly, knowing this was a delicate topic.

“It depends.”

He said, he looked at my face for a moment but realized that I wasn't just taking that as an answer.

He continued;

“Depending on whether or not we need to heal, or have exerted ourselves will affect it. The more we do, the more often we need it.” He said referring to blood.

I shivered slightly when I thought of him feeding, the fact that he was forced to cause pain to someone as he fed from them made me wince slightly in a sense memory. My right hand lightly thumbed the scar in the crease of my elbow out of habit, Darren of course did not fail to notice this.

“Daniel, know this,” He began ominously.

“No matter how much I may wish for you to be mine, I will never take your blood without your complete consent.”

That made him sound slightly old fashioned but I shrugged internally, he was around when old fashioned was new. My thoughts quickly drifted away from dark themes and turned to thoughts of Darren. I had to admit, knowing that he found me attractive felt flattering, not trying to brag but I was used to getting a lot of attention.

Most of the attention was from horny guys just looking for a quick screw. Darren didn't want that from me, well not just that I hoped. He just wanted me, he wanted all of me and I had to admit that even though he still scared me, my Incubus side cried out in happiness.

I had to admit there were far worse guys than Darren out there. Darren may be a vampire, but still showed me more affection than any one of the others who had tried to date me, emphasis on tried, they had all been humans. Darren wasn't. In a way it was bad, but it was also good.

With a human if I had a lapse in concentration if we had sex, I could drain them dry, sapping them of every last drop of sexual energy until their bodies gave out. Although from what I heard they would be begging for more even as their life slipped away.

Darren wasn't human, he was an old vampire, with power coursing through his body like fire in his veins and that gave him strength. It meant that I couldn't hurt him, that I wouldn't have to fear killing him. That small thought gave me hope.

It seemed as if there was a fight going on inside my head, the Incubus side desired Darren in every carnal way possible but my more human side feared him for what he was. At the moment however the Incubus was winning.

The idea of kissing Darren again made my blood boil, when he looked down at me with those brilliant hazel eyes, I felt my knees go weak. Darren led me back to the car after he quietly paid for the meal despite my objections, and took my hand on the journey.

The drive back was quiet but not completely silent. We spoke occasionally, I asked a few more questions and so did he, I still felt as if he had a one up on me however. We arrived back at my flat quickly thanks to his manic driving skills and I stepped out onto the pavement.

I led the way to the door and placed my fob against the reader and the door clicked open and I led us inside and towards the lift. A thought struck me; how did he get to my door earlier this evening? I hadn’t buzzed him into the building. I suppose someone else could have let him in as they were leaving, but I dismissed that little mystery.

The lift opened as soon as I pushed the call button and I stepped inside with Darren standing beside me, I pressed for the 5th floor and the doors dinged closed. The short journey up was almost silent aside from my breathing. I glanced sideways at him, still shocked at the innate grace he held, I had no idea what he saw in me, but whatever he saw he seemed to like it a lot.

I stepped out on the fifth floor and Darren followed me, I moved to the door of my flat and turned to him smiling. A subtle smile played on his lips.

“I very much enjoyed our evening.” He said

“I hope we will do so again.” he finished nodding curtly to me. He was being very formal.

“Well, I think I had better get going.” I said quietly, half turning towards my front door.

I waited for a moment and began to turn towards my door.

“May I kiss you good night?” He asked gently, and I turned my face back towards him.

It surprised me that he asked for my permission, half of the guys I know would have tried to kiss me even if I hadn't wanted to. The fact that he asked for permission made me feel happy, even though he had asked no such permission when I had been unconscious.

I nodded slowly, a lump rising in my throat as I felt my breathing grow slightly laboured and he stepped closer to me. So close his face almost touched mine, as he looked down at me and he raised one of his hands and lightly rested it on my shoulder. I tilted my head back and looked up at his dazzling hazel eyes, slightly darker than normal but I didn't really notice, my whole being was focused on him, on his body so close to mine.

His hand on my shoulder moved to cup the side of my face while his other moved to rest on my hip. He bent down slowly and oh so gently pressed his lips to mine. His lips were not cold but not exactly warm, either way I really didn't care at that moment, his lips moved slowly on mine, his thumb lightly stroking my cheek bone, the movement causing a flush in the skin beneath.

I raised up my hands and placed them shakily on the lapels of his leather jacket as he kissed me. A slow trickle of his energy bled into me through the kiss. If I had wanted, I could have drained far more from him, his body felt so good against mine and I moved one of my hands to the back of his head in a moment of bravery, holding his face closer to mine.

All of this happened in around five seconds or so before I felt him begin to pull away. I groaned internally at the thought of him moving his lips off of mine, when his lips broke the contact his eyes opened to stare into mine.

The black pools of his eyes seemed to be swallowing me up, I couldn’t look away from them, and I leaned forward slowly, lightly pecking his lips with my own. I did this a few times before I left my lips where they were, pressed against his.

My hand at his lapel pulled his body closer against mine, and my back pressed against the door to my flat, his chest pressed against mine and I felt the hardness of his muscles brush against me. After a few more moments of kissing him I felt his tongue tap lightly against the seam of my lips, parted my lips and his tongue met mine.

He tasted so good as his tongue met mine, our lips crushed against one another and his body pressed even closer against me. I felt my libido surge at this and the kiss became more forceful. Gone was the soft fleeting kiss, now it was hard and long, his tongue coiling around my own and his hand on my hip moving to my spine to pull me closer.

My hand on the side of his face slid down slightly and rested against his neck, as the kiss became more heated my nails pressed into the side of his neck unconsciously. Darren shuddered and broke the kiss pulling away from me, he lowered his head slightly and his breathing was erratic.

“I apologize for my behaviour; I should not have kissed you.”

He said, still keeping his face downcast.

“I’m the one that should apologise, I didn’t want to make things more difficult for you.”

I asked, taking a step forward.

He raised a hand in warning and I stopped and he slowly raised his head. Then I realized why he had stopped kissing me. Before I had been afraid that he hadn't enjoyed it as much as I had. Now I knew that was not the case. I knew this because with his head raised, I could clearly see his fangs peeking out beneath his lips.

I shuddered slightly at the sight of them, my left hand moving to touch the crease of my elbow again. Darren's eyes saw it as well and his face softened.

“I think I need to go.”

He said his voice possessing a cold edge to it that cut me to the core.

“Wait, Darren,”

I said reaching out to touch his arm as he began to turn away.

His eyes met mine this time coal black as opposed to hazel, I stepped towards him and leaned up and planted a light kiss on his cheek. I felt him smile as my lips drew back from him and I grinned weakly at him.

“You are full of surprises Daniel.”

He said, his voice possessing a coldness to it. I began to associate that same coldness with Darren being formal, and as I watched with a slight twitch of his lips his fangs ascended again, the motion almost instantaneous.

He smiled back and bowed his head to me, a gesture that seemed extremely outdated. In seconds he was gone, flinging himself out of the window in the hallway and out and down into the night below. I immediately regretted that he had left, however I knew I would see him soon.

I raised up one of my hands and lightly rubbed my middle finger and my thumb together. Sparks formed where my fingers touched and when I parted them a single blue flame formed at the point of my middle finger.

I clenched my fist and the flame was extinguished. I flexed my fingers again and sparks flew out. I had a fair amount of power flowing through my veins at the moment. All thanks to him, at least I would be able to defend myself if anything happened, I turned and opened the door to my flat before running headlong into Elliot.

He seemed to be on his way out of the flat, probably on his way to some bar to meet someone, as I watched him leave, he grinned at me slightly. I smiled at him and moved to the side to allow him to pass and he moved past me. I stepped into the flat past him and closed the door leaning back slightly against it, I slumped down onto the sofa and tried to calm my breathing.

My mind seemed to be dwelling over Darren's true intentions. Part of me thought that he was like many of the people I met who knew I was an Incubus, solely interested in sex. Incubi were renowned as being the most unforgettable of encounters. On the other hand, part of me thought he might actually care for me, or at least be interested in more than just sex with me.

Darren for example was (as far as I could tell) a very old vampire, and as such was very powerful indeed. But as much as I knew he was powerful he had yet to attempt to force me into anything, he had in fact stopped himself when he believed that he was going too far.

I smiled at this and sat up on my sofa turning on the TV and getting myself a cup of tea from the kitchen before returning to my place on the sofa. I secretly wished that I wasn't alone in my flat but I knew that Elliott would not return till at least 2am, and that was if he didn't hook up with some random guy and not return at all.

I crossed my legs and sat on my sofa feeling slightly bored if I was honest. The television didn't seem to interest me much so I began to work on my teaching plans again. As I turned the page in the textbook, I was reviewing I felt my eyes begin to droop slightly. I decided to finish the section I was working on and then head to bed.

I quickly wrote out a few questions on the page in the textbook, tapping a few calculations into my calculator and copying the answer to each question into my own workbook. I had to admit that this was slightly boring work, nothing truly challenging. I was currently writing out a plan for a physics lesson, all involving specific heat capacity of objects and a few calculations for each.

I tried to think back to my days at University, in the UK you normally attended university for three years after finishing A levels. I had completed a teacher training course in three years at university to teach science at GCSE level, all the while completing a qualification that allowed me to teach A level science on the side.

Although my mother had not necessarily approved of me choosing to go into teaching, she had been more interested in my choice of sex partners. She did however accept that I had always wanted to help others understand, and teaching others always managed to make me happy.

I finished the page I was working on and switched the light off in the front room and walked towards my room. I shut the door behind me and quickly stripped down to my boxers, placing my dirty clothes into the hamper by my door and slid under the duvet and lay my head down on the pillow. Soon, after what seemed like an eternity I slipped into a restful sleep and felt all of my muscles relax.

Darren

What was it about Daniel that was drawing me in, every step I took closer to him just intensified every feeling I had for him? Every time I saw him, I just felt each nerve in my body feel like it was pulling me closer to him.

I had left his flat horny as hell, my body thrummed with sexual tension, the kiss from Daniel had driven me up another notch. I was grateful that I had managed to stop myself before anything had gone any further, my fangs had dropped whilst kissing Daniel which could have ended much worse than I believed. Daniel surprised me greatly when he leaned in towards me and kissed me even whilst my fangs were dropped.

I decided to busy myself for the next few hours and try to focus on things aside from the raging hard on that I had between my legs. If there was one thing that I definitely wanted, it was to have a single evening spent with Daniel at my own home. I was not hoping for anything sexual to happen, although if he elected to stay, I would happily share my bed with him even if it simply meant I held him.

It seemed that the effect Daniel was having me was moving me towards a general feeling of possessiveness towards him. Right now, what I was thinking was how to ensure that Daniel felt more comfortable around me, it seemed I needed to find some other way to spend time with him.

Hmmm a thought struck me, his roommate might prove to be an adequate source of information if I could get him alone. I was sure the task would prove easy if I could find him. As it turns out Daniel's roommate has quite a reputation among the club scene it seems. And as I soon discovered, even a few of my supernatural acquaintances had “experienced” Elliott. Apparently, he was almost insatiable, and as I learned he had a reputation for being easy which could work in my favour for making a first impression.

As I headed into the club, I noticed that Elliott had already started his nightly search and was speaking with someone who was partially obscured from my view. I sniffed the room, counting at least three other supernaturals in the room. They seemed to be a mermaid, a shifter and a vampire. As I quickly discovered as I strode further into the club the person to whom Elliott was speaking was the vampire. His eyes darted to mine and I saw him nod slightly.

I jerked my head to the side and within moments I heard him apologise to Elliott before leaving. I approached the bar and slid in next to Elliott and smiled widely at him, and based on the increase in Elliott’s heartbeat it seemed to be having the desired effect. Elliott did have some appeal to him, his skin was darkly tanned, with black hair and a number of beauty marks that I could see across his skin. By modern definitions he would be a twink, which in and of itself had its own appeal.

“Well, you seem to be enjoying your evening Elliott.”

I said smiling widely at him, noticing the small look of shock that crossed Elliott's face before I heard his heart rate climb again.

“How do you know my name?”

He asked as I saw his eyes glance quickly down to my crotch and then back up to my eyes. He really did seem to be insatiable.

“I saw you here a few nights ago with your friend Daniel, and after my date with him I thought I might ask for some advice.”

I said deliberately causing my blood to flow to the surface of my skin, an ability vampires tended to utilise to help us hide our presence.

“Oh, right yeah that makes sense, well I guess I can help, although a couple of shots might help me a little.”

He smiled slightly and I again saw his eyes flicked up and down my body.

I smiled and waved the bartender over and ordered him three shots of vodka and watched him down each and every one.

Although I was correct in my assumption that Elliot could prove to be useful as a font of information, his interest in me was far from hidden. The subtle glances downwards whenever he spoke to me were barely guarded, and the rush of blood to his cheeks indicated his arousal. But I managed to keep him on track long enough to learn some useful information regarding Daniel.

“So, Dan is a complicated one, he’s had it rough with his family, but he loves his job, enjoys being busy, oh and he loves chocolate.”

Elliot said a slight grin gracing his lips.

“Never get between Dan and his chocolate, damn near bit my head off when I finished off his bar in the fridge.”

He continued his eyes darting up to mine again.

My mind began taking notes of this, certainly something I could utilise in courting Daniel.

“You’re not the first guy to come chasing after Dan by the way.”

He said, leaning against the bar with a goofy smile on his lips.

“But they always end the same way, rebuffed, each and every one. But not you, so I’m hopeful.”

He said, before his face turned dark. He straightened himself up, wobbling slightly as he did so, and squared his shoulders at me.

“If you hurt Dan, I’m gonna hurt you.”

He said his eyes flashing up to meet mine, and his chin jutting out in obvious defiance. This act of protectiveness resonated with me, at least in some small part Elliot seemed to echo my own protective nature towards Daniel.

“Unless he asks for it, and to be honest with how repressed he is, that wouldn’t surprise me.”

Elliot said giggling as he looked up at me.

Over the course of the next few hours Elliot became less and less coherent as his intake of alcohol continued. I rapidly grew concerned of his ability to make it home in one piece, and based upon the way one of my brethren was eyeing him up I thought it almost certain he would find his way into their bed before the night was out.

I knew that he was one of the few friends that Daniel still had, and if anything were to happen to him it would adversely affect him. That was something that I found myself concerned over. Emotions, certainly an oddity after such a short time of knowing Daniel, but new experiences for an immortal were rare.

“Would you like me to drive you home Elliot?”

I asked, reaching out to rest a gentle but sure hand on his shoulder.

Elliot gulped visibly, his pulse climbing as he looked at me with unfocused eyes.

“I’m not gonna sleep with you...” He said, a gratifying tremor of fear running through him.

“I have no intention of sleeping with anyone besides Daniel, I merely wish to ensure you get home safely.”

I said, allowing some steel to slip into my voice, and fixing him with a glare I normally reserved for my enemies.

“Ok, just so we are on the same page.”

He said, gulping visibly and nodding to me.

The drive back to his flat was a swift one, and Elliot ended up falling asleep against the window, his breathing smooth and even. I delicately allowed my mind to probe his, wary of waking him from sleep. The process was safe for the most part, the main side effect Elliot would experience would be a slight headache, but given his drunken state he would likely attribute it to his hangover.

I searched his mind for any inappropriate feelings towards Daniel, and if I found them the result would prove most unpleasant for him.  Gratefully, however Elliot’s feelings towards Daniel were more fraternal than anything. Traversing his mind was not the most coherent of processes, but I sensed a deep history between them, and despite Elliot acknowledging Daniel’s attractiveness that was as far as his thoughts went.

Elliot did have suspicious around him however, such as how whenever Daniel was overly grumpy men seemed to find him all that much more attractive, even Elliot had noticed it. I rationalised this as the pheromones that Daniel gave off when hungry, designed to draw the eyes of their prey.

An Incubus hunting was a thing of beauty, like a carnivorous flower; enticing, but deadly. And from what I knew of Incubi when aroused every fluid their body produced induced lust in their prey, driving their body to greater heights of pleasure. At that particular thought my fangs dropped eagerly, an audible snick sounding in the confines of the car.

I relented my exploration of Elliot’s unconscious mind as we neared the flat he shared with Daniel. I parked and moved swiftly to the passenger side and extracted Elliot delicately, cradling him in my arms, and retrieving his keys as I did so. I hissed in pain as a burning sensation engulfed my palm and I rapidly dropped the keys to the pavement, narrowly avoiding dropping Elliot as I recoiled.

A small jade ornament hung from the keys, carved into the shape of a spiral, the same shape burned into my palm, although rapidly healing would remain for at least an hour. I grunted in frustration at the contact with the substance, something I should certainly have scented before blindly rifling through Elliot’s pockets.

Laying Elliot down carefully against my car, I retrieved the keys, wrapping the small jade ornament in a shred of cloth torn from my shirt. Grasping Elliot under his arms, I carried us both towards his building, pressing the fob against the reader for the door and moved us up to the fifth floor, standing outside of his flat.

I half contemplated opening the door myself and laying Elliot down in his bed, however the idea of Daniel finding me in his flat in the middle of the night did not sound like the appropriate next step in meeting him. Glancing at my watch and noting the time as being a little past two, I rapped on the door loudly, still supporting Elliot against me, his head lazing against my shoulder.

The sound of a sudden inhalation of breath issued forth from inside, followed by the sounds of fabric rustling against skin. A few moments later I heard the sound of the door lock rattle as it was opened.

“Elliot, seriously you need to remember to take your keys when you….”

Daniel trailed off as the door swung open.

A look of shock crossed his face as he took me in, and he visibly gulped and looked up at me with those beautiful green eyes of his……….