"What?" Josh looked up as Karl dropped into the seat beside him. "Sorry." Karl took his hand. "Is everything alright?" "Yeah, sure," Josh said. Then he paused, glanced across the plane's cabin to where Orlando slept, curled at Harry's side. "He's going to be okay, isn't he?" "I hope so. I hope we'll all be alright." "Been a rough few weeks for you guys." "And you. Wouldn't surprise me if you decided to cut me loose and run for the hills as soon as we get back to L.A." "Nah." He slouched down in the seat and snagged the blanket he'd dumped on the floor during take-off. "Even without the formal ceremony, there's the bond to consider. Besides, life around you guys certainly won't be boring." "Good to know," Karl replied. He pulled Josh close, and Josh was happy enough to snuggle under the blanket and count every slow beat of Karl's heart. "Although I do imagine you probably have a few questions," Karl continued. "I know I haven't had much time for you the past few days, but I'm here now, and ready to answer them." "Dude, it's fine." He put his hand over Karl's mouth when Karl started to speak. "I'm serious. Until this is all settled and done, you need to focus on what you need to do to get ready for it. I'm a big boy, you know. I have a life of my own and I can amuse myself. It won't kill me if you're not attending to me every second." He allowed Karl to pull his hand down. "Josh, I..." Karl exhaled slowly, shook his head. "I don't know what to say. Most new pets are very jealous and unsure of their position –" "I'm not most people," Josh pointed out. "The only thing I ask is that you keep me up to date on what's going on and if I can help at all. Other than that, I've got my music and my own place, so I won't be underfoot all the time distracting you." "You're not a distraction. I don't ever want you to think that." "That's not what I –" "No, it's your turn to listen to me." Karl's voice carried a hint of steel in it. "I know we're still getting to know each other, and I'm glad of the time, because I want us to do this the right way. But you could never be a distraction. And I'm...I'm going to need you." Josh could hear how much the admission cost Karl to say, and was humbled by it. "I'll be there," he said, and brushed his lips across Karl's jaw. "For whatever and whenever you need me." A faint smile curved Karl's mouth. "You may regret that offer. I might end up being very needy." "Doubtful." Josh chuckled, shifting until his hand rested low on Karl's abdomen, his ear right over Karl's heart. "You forget you're a household name in the vampire world. Your reputation precedes you, my Lord." "Yes, but I might want you within reach all the time." "Planning on setting me up as your kept boy?" Josh asked, struggling to keep a straight face. "And what if I am?" Josh pretended to give it some thought. "I suppose I'd have to ask if you're planning on us all sharing a bed? Because, I gotta say, as much as I like Harry..." Karl laughed again. "No, I wouldn't insist on anything like that. I've gone that route once already. But the castle does have a very nice little carriage house on the grounds that is sadly going unused, if you were interested" "Little, huh?" Josh lifted his head to give Karl a mock-suspicious glare. "Because, you know, if you think you're going to hide me away in some shack..." "No, no, it's a proper house. Not a mansion, mind you, but easily four times as big as the place you're in now." "Now you're talking. I could make do with that." "I'll take you on a tour of it when we get back home, and you can figure out what you want to do with it," Karl promised. "You haven't seen the castle yet anyway." "So, wait..." Josh held up a finger. "The house where we were holed up when we first met...?" "That would be what Dave used to call the retreat," Karl replied, smile still evident in his voice. "It was my house. Harry lived in the castle." "I...wait a minute." He couldn't have heard that right. "You and Harry didn't live together?" "For a little while. It was an experiment we were trying out." Josh snorted in disbelief. He couldn't see it. "Yeah, I bet that was a total failure." Karl chuckled. "Actually, it did. It helped for the rare times we would take a companion. Of course, we still spent most of our nights together." "And how long did that last?" As connected as those two were, he could accept a few weeks apart, but it sounded as if Karl was talking years. "Until Orlando and Dave came along and pointed out that we were incredibly stupid to live apart." "I believe the phrase they both used," Harry said, not looking up from whatever it was he was reading, "was we were utter fucking morons." Josh laughed outright. "Now, that I can believe." He watched as Karl and Harry's gazes met, held, for a moment. "Yes, well, we were together so often it never seemed to matter where we spent our nights," Karl said. "It's still hard to believe you two could need anyone else," Josh replied, without a hint of jealousy. He knew Karl loved him, even though the words weren't between them, and that Karl would die for him. But, like Orlando, he also knew that what Karl and Harry had was something rare and precious. Gentle fingers caressed his chin and cheek as Karl turned Josh's face to him. "For long stretches of time, we didn't," Karl said. "But if there's one thing that having Harry has taught me, it's that the heart always has room for more love." "I'm glad you chose to share part of it with me," Josh replied. "All of you. I'm honored." "No," Karl said, voice soft, smile private and warm as he brushed a light kiss across Josh's lips. "It's I who am honored." "We gonna argue about this?" Sliding his tongue over his bottom lip to chase the lingering taste of Karl's mouth, Josh drifted his hand lower, fingers just dancing along Karl's inseam. "Could be our first." "Seems pretty weak for a first argument," Karl countered, voice husky and low as he brushed his lips over Josh's again, then deepened the kiss, capturing Josh's tongue. Josh moaned low in his throat, need sweeping through him. He didn't think he'd ever get tired of this, no matter how long he lived or how much time he had. As soft, warm lips trailed down his throat, Josh had to remind himself that they weren't alone in the cabin. Not that he cared, but it would be rude to...um. Then Karl's fangs grazed his skin, and he dropped his hand to cup Karl's groin, tracing the growing bulge. "We should stop," he whispered half-heartedly, but made no effort to move. "Or, um, y'know..." "Keep going?" Karl suggested, then tugged at Josh's t-shirt. "Uh...keeping...uh...going is, um...Oh God," Josh moaned as cool air kissed his skin and Karl claimed his mouth in a toe-curling kiss. "That's exactly what I intend to do." Clever, nimble fingers danced over his chest, down his stomach, and Josh was vaguely aware of his zipper being lowered. He pressed forward, grinding against Karl, and fisted Karl's hair, yanking him for another brutal kiss that had his heart slamming against his ribs. Nothing else existed outside this bubble of heat and need between them. It felt like it had been forever since they'd been together, feasting off each other's moans. //Gonna fuck you just like this.// Karl punctuated the statement by fisting Josh's cock, stroking upward hard and fast. //Want you riding me, open and debauched and full of my cock, right here.// //Oh God...// Even to himself, his mental voice sounded reedy and thin. He sucked hard on Karl's tongue, bucked into the fist enclosing him, and attacked Karl's zipper with a ferocity that would have scared him at any other time. "Need lube," Josh growled, managing to get Karl's pants undone. He slithered out of his own jeans and groaned at the skin on skin contact as Karl leaned forward, one arm tight around his waist, to fumble beneath the seat. "With the two I live with," Karl rasped, pressing a small bottle into Josh's hand and licking a long stripe up his neck, "you think I travel without it?" Josh didn't have time to formulate a response, let alone voice it, before slick fingers were pressing into him. //Just like this.// Karl's fingers twisted again as sharp fangs broke the skin of his neck. //Come for me just like this.// Josh's entire body shuddered as his orgasm swept through him, left him weak, pliable. He clawed at Karl's back, moan gurgling in his throat as Karl lifted his lips and kissed him again, copper coating his tongue. When Karl pulled back, Josh shivered at the dark arrogance of Karl's smile. He let Karl turn him so that his back was pressed against Karl's chest, thighs on either side of Karl's, as Karl slowly pushed him down. He hissed in pleasure and pain, both of them warring inside him, as Karl filled him, completed him. //Like this.// Karl's voice was a ribbon of sin unwinding inside him. //Move for me. Fuck yourself on my cock while Harry watches. Let him see how beautiful you look when you're full of me, mine to do with as I please.// "Yours," Josh whispered, and started to move. Each roll of his hips sent another shockwave of pleasure through him, intensified when Karl lifted his hips to press deeper into him. He could feel Harry's eyes on them, feel the heat licking through his blood, over his skin, as Karl shoved their bond open, and Josh knew that Harry could feel it as well. "Mine," Karl growled. He snaked a hand around Josh's hip, curled it tight around his cock and started to stroke. Josh shook at the possession and steel in Karl's voice, moaned deep in his throat as he opened his eyes to find Harry focused on them. "Gorgeous pet you've got there." "Yes, he is." Karl nuzzled at Josh's neck, nibbled his way along Josh's earlobe as his thighs bunched and flexed under Josh's, fist moving in time with Josh's strokes. "And you are," he murmured. "So gorgeous like this, so tight around me, like you don't want to let me go..." "I don't..." Each word was a struggle. All Josh could concentrate on was how thick and full Karl felt inside him. "Tell me." The command was softly spoken, but there was no denying the power behind it. "Tell me how much you love my cock. Tell Harry how much you love being mine, how much you love me inside you, owning every inch of you." "I do," Josh managed, proud that he was able to put the two words together. Then, even that was impossible, as Karl did something that made Josh's spine arch. His bond with Karl pulsed with something dark and more than a little dangerous. It just made Josh crave more. "Tell him," Karl said again, the points of his fangs grazing Josh's shoulder, leaving marks, and Josh's fingers tightened on the arms of the seat as his head fell back. "Yours," Josh said, voice breaking with need. "Just yours...owning me...claiming me..." Just managing to open his eyes, Josh locked gazes with Harry, shivered at the dark smile, and became aware of Orlando watching them as sharp fangs broke through his skin again. Bursts of light exploded behind his eyes as he came, the bond slammed with the force of his orgasm, then the echo of Karl's. He sagged against Karl, grateful for the arm around him, the gentle way Karl closed the tiny wounds in his neck. He didn't think he could move if the plane caught on fire. Hell, he didn't think he'd ever move again. He watched, still dizzy and trembling, as Harry's gaze raked over him and Karl. "You know, watching you in full alpha mode is kinda sweet." Josh could feel Karl's snarl thrumming through him. "Careful, puppy, or I might just be forced to do the same to you." Harry's smirk was nothing short of insulting. "Oh, I think you're too exhausted to take me on. Old man." "Old, am I?" Without a word, Orlando uncurled from beside Harry and moved across the cabin, gathering Josh's clothes as he went. "Come on," he said. Wrapping a steadying arm around Josh, he guided him to one of the nearby seats. "You're going to want to be out of the way of this." Josh swayed, still dizzy, as he pulled on his shirt and scrounged for his jeans. He wasn't sure what the hell was going on, but it looked like it was going to get bloody. He was pretty grateful that Orlando had managed to get him out of the line of fire, so to speak. He wasn't sure he'd have been able to move on his own. "Old," Harry repeated, raking his gaze over Karl's body. Karl slowly stood, all feline danger and grace, and stretched his arms to the ceiling. The energy in the cabin was dark, all-encompassing, frightening in its power. And, Josh had to admit, hot as hell. As he watched, Karl crooked a finger, beckoned Harry to him. Harry, he noted, took his time about standing and stripping out of his clothes. His every move was slow, methodical. Josh also noted that Harry didn't even bother to look at Karl. "Trying my patience on purpose?" Karl made a tsking sound. "That's so beneath you." Finally naked, Harry turned, made his own beckoning motion to Karl. "Just like you'll be when I'm through with you." "Mine, Harry. I own you." "Prove it." Without another word, Karl stalked across the cabin, radiating fury and heat, and grabbed Harry by the back of the neck. The ensuing kiss – if anything so untamed and wild could be called that – was the most violent thing Josh had ever seen. Harry's fingers gripped Karl's biceps tight enough to bruise, and Karl's grip on Harry's nape was crushing. The raw power and aggression flowing through them made Josh's skin pebble. He watched, half freaked right the hell out and half totally curious (he could admit it to himself) as Karl and Harry tumbled to the floor, both of them grappling for purchase. It was a pretty even match. Harry had more bulk, but Karl had a longer reach. There was something oddly poetic about it – almost like watching a really brutal ballet. He winced in sympathy at each elbow to the ribs and each kick, as they both tried to pin the other down. "Jesus..." Orlando looked a little pale. But Josh noticed he didn't look away. "Karl will win," Orlando finally whispered. His knuckles were white where he gripped the arms of the seat. "He always does when he's like this." Josh just nodded, but didn't say anything. There wasn't anything to say, nor any words to describe them like this, untamed and feral and beautiful. He thought he should find this whole thing weird, but he was too wrapped up in watching to really care. If he hadn't been paying such rapt attention, he would have missed the moment that Karl got the upper hand. One second, they were still engaged in battle, and the next, Karl had his fangs deep in Harry's neck and Harry's hands pinned to his sides. Josh watched with wide eyes as Harry just...surrendered. Let himself go limp, pliant. "Is...did...?" "Karl needs this," Orlando replied, his lips barely moving. "And Harry knows it." Right. Struggle enough to keep up the fight, but not so hard that the main objective was lost. Fucking Christ, but that took a lot of effort. And trust. Once again, Josh was floored by what Karl and Harry had. "Mine," Karl snarled, lifting bloody lips, as he rutted against Harry. Harry's reply was breathless, but clear. "Prove it." "Mine, puppy," Karl said again, the words guttural and fierce. He stretched to grab the lube, and Josh noticed that he was careful to keep his weight firmly on Harry. There was a click as the bottle was snapped open, and Josh couldn't quite see what Karl did. Not that it mattered, because fuck. Josh blinked, and that was it. Karl had shoved Harry's thighs apart and was buried deep in his ass. He started moving – each thrust hard, deep, vicious. Harry met each show of force with his own counter-thrust, slammed back every time Karl slammed forward. Josh was positive he shouldn't be watching this. This was nothing like the last time he'd seen them together. This was too violent, too private. But he couldn't bring himself to look away. Karl yanked back on Harry's hair, pulled until Harry was gasping for breath. He dug his other hand on Harry's hip, bruising the skin with each movement. //Mine.// Josh heard it through the bond as clearly as if Karl had shouted it. //Soul and body. Mine.// Just like before, if Josh hadn't been paying attention, he would have missed the second surrender. Between one thrust and the next, Harry stopped fighting and gave himself over completely to Karl. //Always...// It was like the word released something inside of Karl. The sex was still brutal, but the raw violence was gone. Josh found himself able to blink, but he still stared at them, breath catching every now and then at how right they looked together. Harry's back arched, head falling back in submission, and Josh could hear the note of glee in Karl's growl as he leaned forward to sink his fangs deep into Harry's skin again. He could feel the pull in his bond, but the low whimper came from Orlando. Josh managed to spare him a glance and swallowed hard at the sight of Orlando sitting there, incredibly pale, breathing shallow, sweat beading on his forehead. That double bond had to be a fucking bitch. Then he forgot all about Orlando as his own bond with Karl was hit with a wave of overwhelming and possessive completeness. He gasped, heart pounding in his chest as his skin prickled, and had to swallow the urge to stick his head between his knees and breathe. Jesus fucking... In front of him, Karl was slumped over Harry, draping him from head to toe, and Harry had his head tilted back as he and Karl traded kiss after slow kiss. Then the bond slammed shut with a dizzying speed. "What the...?" "We, um..." Orlando waved a limp hand, took a shuddering breath. "We're done being witnesses." "Oh. So, um, should we go? Somewhere?" Not that there were many places to go, considering they were about 30,000 feet in the air, but Josh thought he should ask. "You can if you want," Orlando said, as he leaned back and closed his eyes. "I'm not moving. If I keep still, he might forget I'm here." "Uh, dude, I, um..." Josh looked from Karl and Harry back to Orlando. "I don't want to burst your bubble or anything, but I don't think Karl would notice if you danced the naked hula in front of him right now." "You don't know him when he's like this." "I'm getting an idea." Boy, was he ever. "But I think you're safe. I'm pretty sure he wouldn't notice if a bomb went off right now as long as Harry doesn't move." Orlando's smile was small and strained. "I tell myself that every time this happens." "Dude –" "Josh, seriously. You don't know him like this. I'm not even sure I do." "I think I know when I'm being ignored and, brother, right now, we both are." He watched as Orlando looked Karl and Harry, then frowned. "Fuck it, c'mon. I need a drink." Orlando got to his feet and stepped around Josh, clearly intent on heading to the front of the cabin, and the small bar situated in the corner. Josh spared Harry and Karl another glance before following. They were both still trading lazy kisses, hands now roaming reverently on slick skin...and then Karl started moving inside Harry again, this time slow and easy. This was a total one-eighty from before. "Are they always like this after, um, that, y'know, thing. That they just did?" Josh asked, once he reached the bar. "You mean all lovey dovey after trying to fuck each other to death?" Orlando poured something that looked like bourbon or whiskey of some type in a glass and passed it to Josh. "Yeah." "Hell, no. Usually Karl leaves Harry in a boneless heap and turns on me. Now, though..." He shrugged and tossed back his own drink. "Always a first time for everything. Drink up, mate." "Maybe he got it all out of the way with me first?" Orlando just shook his head and poured them both another shot. "You may know a lot about vampires, but you have no idea what their stamina is like. When Karl gets like this – and it's pretty rare, I'll grant you – he doesn't stop." "Like you said, first time for everything. He looks pretty sated from here." "Looks like it," Orlando said. His carefully neutral tone brought Josh's head around to find Orlando studying Harry and Karl with an odd look on his face. It vanished the second Orlando realized Josh was watching him. He barely had time to wonder about it before Orlando smiled. "Guess we're stuck entertaining ourselves. They're going to be a while. Up for some cards?" "Sure." Not like he had anything else better to do. Orlando brought the bottle with them to the other set of chairs and tossed a pack of cards at him. Josh noticed that their chairs were facing away from Harry and Karl. "You pick," Orlando said. "Five card stud?" It was the only card game Josh really knew how to play. "Fine with me," Orlando replied, and took a long pull directly from the bottle. "You, um..." Shuffling the cards, Josh risked a quick peek at Orlando. "You okay?" "I'm fine." The words were soft, but curt, and Orlando looked directly at Josh as he held out the bottle. Josh shook his head, and Orlando just shrugged before taking another long swallow. "So how're we playing this? Jokers and deuces wild?" "How about deuces and eights," Josh suggested. Orlando barely glanced at his hand before sliding three cards back towards Josh. Josh took two cards for himself – two pair, 10 high, not bad, but certainly not great. They played in silence for awhile, both of them keeping pace with the other, neither one bothering to keep score. Orlando kept drinking, but Josh noticed he didn't look any more relaxed. He had no idea how much time had passed before his curiosity got the better of him. "Okay, look, I've got to ask. And you can be pissed or whatever, but." He put down his cards and looked directly at Orlando. "Are you upset that Karl didn't do the whole caveman thing with you?" At first, Josh wasn't sure that Orlando was even going to acknowledge the question. Then, he looked up and arched an eyebrow. "I learned a long time ago not to be jealous where either one of them is concerned. Waste of time and energy." "Which is a good thing, because it's pretty obvious they both would take a bullet for you, but that's not what I asked." For a long time, Orlando just looked at him. Two seconds before Josh started to tell him to forget it, Orlando's lips quirked in something that might have been a smile if it had held any humor. "I'm not jealous, so don't worry. You're safe." "What?" Josh blinked, more confused than anything else. "Why the fuck would you think I'd worry about being safe?" When Orlando just smirked again, Josh frowned. Seriously, what the fuck? Being safe implied that he might have been in danger at some point from Orlando, which was totally uncool. Try to be friendly and all that happened was you got bit in the ass for your trouble, and screw it, wasn't like it was important that they sing kumbaya around the campfire just because they were both fucking the same guy. "You know what, fuck it. You don't want to talk about it, that's fine, we'll sit here and you can get plowed for no reason and I can beat you at cards, but don't try to play games with me. It's not gonna work." With each word, Orlando's eyebrows rose a little higher. "You finished?" "Fuck you." "No, thanks," Orlando said, expression sliding back to neutral, but there was a hint of something ugly and raw in his voice. "And I didn't mean you were safe sexually, though you are. I've got less interest in you than I do in women." "What the hell are you talking about?" Josh was starting to think that either he was missing something in translation, or Orlando was. "You do realize I'm still a fledgling, right? And a very young one? Jealousy is a strong emotion, and it usually leads to anger. Another very strong emotion. Didn't your great-whatever aunt ever tell you that fledglings are notorious for being unable to control their emotions? It's one of the very first lessons I learned, even before I was turned." "So, what, I'm supposed to sit here and act all scared or something because, ooo-oooh, you're not in control of yourself because you're jealous or angry or whatever that Karl's not pinning you to the carpet and I had the temerity to ask you about it?" Fuck Orlando and his bullshit, anyway, and his jealousy, no matter what Orlando was calling it. "I don't give a good goddamn what you are or who you are. You wanna sit here and get drunk and be a condescending dickwad to the mere mortal because your panties are in a twist, that's your thing. But I'm through playing." He stood, tossing the cards on the chair, and gave Orlando a contemptuous look. "I feel sorry for you, man, I really do. Nothing either of them does is enough for you, is it? It can't be enough that you're in the inner sanctum, you've got to have all of the attention to yourself." Before Josh could take a step, Orlando moved. And fuck, he'd forgotten just how fast vampires were. His back slammed against the cabin wall, and Orlando was in his face, eyes black, fangs extended, one arm low against Josh's throat. "You don't know a god damn thing about me," Orlando hissed, "so don't you dare presume to judge what is enough for me. You come waltzing in to a bloody powder keg and sit back, observing everything when it blows up. Fuck you and your judgments, mate. Take your sympathy, and shove it up your bloody arse." The next time Josh blinked, Orlando was already several feet away from him, walking towards the back of the cabin. Fuck him. Let him rot, man, Josh thought. Karl and Harry were welcome to him and his diva bullshit. Onto Part Twenty-Five
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