I don't own them, I'm not making any money at this, and I put them back clean when I'm done.

Originally posted on Senad as an Obsenad. Not beta'd, all mistakes are my own. Thanks to everyone for their encouragement!

There is a hint of non-con, but it's mostly James being arrogant and self-assured.

Blair kept hearing about this guy from his friends. He paid for company. The first time Blair heard about it, and Nero said, "Dude, you should go check it out", he had said no quite firmly. He didn't do tricks for money. If he had to starve, he starved. But he wasn't prostituting himself.

Mikey assured him there was no sex involved. Sure, some times he touched you, but nothing below the belt. No fondling the 'dangly bits'. Blair didn't believe him, and shrugged it off. If some guys wanted to do that, fine. He knew Nero had done it a few times between scholarships. That was fine, that was Nero's business. But Blair Sandburg did not sell his body for money.

The next time he heard about that guy, they were at lunch at Kenny's. Kenny's was a favorite grad student hangout at Rainier. This restaurant with a fully stocked bar, big tables, and nice bathrooms was truly a student's dream. Blair knew some guys did everything but slept there. And he meant sleep sleep not having sex 'sleep'. Because he knew they had sex in the bathroom stalls. The bouncers checked on both gender's bathrooms on a regular basis, and quite often, people got caught and thrown out.

"You should check it out, Blair." Nero had nudged him with an elbow. "$50 for two hours of sitting around some weird guy's apartment ain't bad dough."

"Oh, you mean the guy that pays for you to watch tv with him?" Malie Jones asked between sips of beer. She was considered one of the guys for several reasons. One, she and Blair had known each other since their first day as freshmen. The second reason was she could beat any of them up, and they all knew it.

"Yeah." Mikey nodded, working on his plate of ranch fries. "He just likes having somebody around for a few hours. No strings attached. He's pretty nice. Weird, but nice."

"And you honestly expect me to believe that there is no sex involved?" Blair shook his head.

"You think I'd do that!" Mikey yelped. "My uncle would kick my ass so fast..." He flung a fry at Blair, slinging ranch dressing everywhere.

"Oh come off it! $50 for watching tv and no touching?" Blair just couldn't believe it.

"I didn't say he never touched me." Mikey growled. "All he ever does is hold my hand or touch my face."

"He is eccentric, Blair." Malie yanked on a long strand of brunette curl. "All the ones I know who've got $50 from him said that there was no sex. Sometimes you watch tv, sometimes he has the stereo on and you listen to music. Or read. Cary Burlington -you know, BooBoo- said that she read out loud to him from some book of poetry. He stood looking out the window the whole time listening, and never said a word."

Blair frowned at Malie. She wouldn't lie, and as far as he knew, she never had. To the point of being bluntly honest.

"He doesn't accept just anybody. I heard some jock tried to do it, he was going to have some fun with the guy, but he didn't pass." Mikey said between gooey bites of soggy fries.

Nero nudged Blair again, and Blair shot him a dirty look.

"I'm telling you, bro, you should check it out."

"Fuck you." Blair grumbled, but his interest had been piqued.

"Yeah, you have. So? Wanna go again? Think the bathroom is empty." Nero smirked at him.

Blair just shook his head and headed off to his TA hours.

A month later, the world had changed for Blair. The grant he was counting on for his work with Larry had not come through. Nero had moved in with his newest catch, and didn't have money to lend Blair for rent. Malie couldn't spare a dime either.

A hundred bucks was all he needed. A lousy hundred. There was nothing he had left to sell. No books, no cd's, nothing. His clothing was down to two pair of threadbare jeans, and a raggedy collection of t-shirts and flannel shirts. He had even sold his winter coat, and he was going to need a replacement any day now.

"Shit, shit, shit!" He fumed, pounding his head against the wall. He couldn't even sell his car, the Volvo having been inoperable for weeks now. The transmission had gone out, and there was no way he could get it fixed.

He had even called his mom, going against one of his steadfast rules about borrowing money from her. But she was off on some retreat, and wouldn't be back for two weeks. By then, he'd be out on the street. If it came to that, he was hoping Malie could take Larry for a while.

So when Mikey called and said, "I had an appointment with him tonight, but I had to cancel. Prof. Green wants me to get these papers graded tonight. If I don't, my ass if grass, man."

"No sex?" Blair had asked with a sigh.

"No sex. I swear." Mikey assured him.

"Okay." Blair rested his head against the back of his well-worn couch.

"Let me call and make the switch with him. Then I call you back and give you instructions."

"Instructions?" A tingle of trepidation slithered down Blair's spine.

"Yeah, just general stuff. Like, you know, his address." Mikey spoke as if he were talking to a 5 year old.

"Oh."

"Yeah. I call you back in a few." <click>

//It wasn't prostitution if you didn't have sex, right? There's nothing wrong with sitting and watching tv with some guy, to keep him company. I wonder what he looks like. No one has ever said. Maybe he's old.// Blair waited for Mikey to call back. There wasn't anything else for him to do right now.

"Okay, you're on. He was a little disappointed, so you'll have to really make it up to him."

"Mike."

"Be nice, Blair. Smile. You know, you got a great smile. Wear the tight jeans. Oh, and shower really good. No cologne, no deodorant, no aftershave. He's got a very sensitive nose." Then Mikey rattled off the rest of the instructions. How to get to the guy's loft. How to stand in front of the security camera so he could see you real good. How he puts the $50 on the table by the door so you can pick it up when you leave.

"Got it." Blair rubbed his aching forehead. He could do this.

"So you got to be there by 6:30. You can borrow my car if you want. But you got to put in $10 for gas."

"Sure." Blair shrugged. $40 was still $40 he didn't have.

"Good luck, man. You'll like this gig. His place is packed with books and shit." Then Mike was gone, and Blair had to watch the clock tick around. At 5, he got up and showered. It was a cold shower since the heat had been turned off, but he was used to it by now. Brushed his hair, shaved, brushed his teeth. It was everything that he would have done for a date, except that he didn't put on any aftershave or cologne. Or deodorant.

At 6, he walked over to Mikey's apartment complex and got the Honda. Mikey always left the keys in the ignition. A fool would be the only one interested in stealing it. It looked worse than the Volvo, had a worse temperament, and was only marginally more reliable.

He made it to the ritzy neighborhood where old buildings had been renovated into loft-style apartments. He parked, hiked up the sidewalk to the right building. He found the security camera and smiled up at it brightly.

He pressed the number for the guy's apartment.

"Yes?" A deep male voice replied to the buzzer.

"Hi. It's Blair. Mike sent me." He turned and smiled up at the camera. //look unassuming, look like you aren't starving and you don't need $50//

"Ah, yes." The voice murmured. "Turn around, please."

Swallowing nervously, Blair turned around in a circle.

"You'll do. Come on up."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome." The man chuckled in amusement.

Blair glanced up at the camera. //He doesn't sound old. I wonder if he's ugly?//

"The door, Blair."

"Oh, yeah. Sorry." Blair hurried up and grabbed the door. The camera missed his blush, but sensitive ears heard his mutterings.

The door was open when Blair walked off the elevator. He could hear a television playing, the sound down very low. He stopped in the doorway, and knocked on the large, hand-carved door.

He was going to say hello or something, but he lost the ability to speak once he got a look inside. Mikey's claim that there were "books and shit" came no where near describing this slice of heaven.

Walls were covered with bookshelves packed with books. Walls that were bare were decorated with masks, ancient weaponry, black and white photographs, and paintings. He walked right over to one painting and just stared, slack jawed.

A presence penetrated down into Blair's mind. He pointed up at the young woman dressed in a gauzy bit of silk and nothing else.

"That's- that's-" He stammered.

"The Blue Virgin by Anthony Westley." The man standing behind Blair clarified.

"Yeah!" Blair leaned to look closely at the painting. It wasn't a lithograph. It wasn't a photograph. "Is it the original?"

He finally turned around and looked at the weird guy. Obviously, this wasn't going to be one his impressive nights. This was going to be one of those "I stood around and drooled" nights.

The weird guy wasn't ugly. Just the opposite. He was a stunning achievement of flesh and bone put together supremely. He was built like a god. Short brown hair, vivid blue eyes, broad shoulders, and an incredible chest...

"Could be." The weird guy said with a slight smile. He was sipping a cup of coffee.

The scent of the coffee hit Blair, and he paled a little. It had been days since his last cup of coffee. And all he had eaten today was the last five soda crackers. Larry had eaten; he always made sure Larry had food. But he didn't always have that option for himself.

The weird guy frowned slightly, brow furrowing. "Would you like a cup?" He asked. "And something to eat, I think. I certainly don't need you fainting on me."

"I'm sorry-" Blair began to apologize, but it was waved off by a strong, well-manicured hand.

"What do you like? Chinese? Pizza?" The weird guy picked up his black cordless phone. He looked back at an uncertain Blair. "Come now, if we are to have a pleasant time together, I can't have you drooling over a cup of coffee. I have bought dinner for Michael before."

"Well, it just- it just doesn't seem right." Blair shrugged. "Chinese, I guess."

The weird guy dialed some number, and then ordered a wide selection of food. Then he put the phone down, and got Blair a cup of coffee from his black and stainless steel kitchen. To Blair, it looked like he rarely used it except for making coffee.

"Sit down, be comfortable." The man waved at a black suede couch. He brought the coffee cup over to Blair, and then sat down on the same couch an arm length away. "I assume Michael knows you from Rainier. What are you studying?"

"Yes, we've known each other a few years." Blair nodded, sipping the best cup of coffee he had ever tasted. //Probably a hundred dollars a can// "Anthropology. I'm working on my doctorate."

"Interesting." The man nodded. Blair tried not to stare at him, but it was hard. He was wearing a black turtleneck, grey slacks, black loafers. Muscles rippled under the clothing, and it made Blair think of a cat. A panther, all muscle and sinew and grace. The man turned and looked at him. "Did Michael tell you my name?"

"No, sir. He didn't." At that, Blair frowned. They had always referred to him as the "weird guy" or the "lonely guy".

"That's good." The man nodded again, leaning back into the couch, relaxed. He stretched his long legs out in front of him. "I always instruct my visitors to not repeat my name."

"Sure, man." Blair shrugged. "Keeps up the mystique."

The man laughed. "I prefer to think of it as security." He leaned forward, setting his empty cup on the glass topped coffee table. Blair glanced at it and then looked again. The top, the part protected by the glass, was an intricate carving of an Indonesian village scene.

There was a long silence, and he finally looked up, blushing. "I'm sorry. I was just-"

"No problem, Blair." The man smiled, and Blair's heart melted. "You can call me James."

"Nice to meet you, James." Blair smiled back at him, ignoring the fact that he was probably blushing neon red. James took his hand, and held it. An electrical current crackled up Blair's nerves and exploded in his chest.

"I'm afraid you have to let go of my hand." James said with a chuckle. Blair frowned, blinking at him. He looked down at their hands, seeing his tight grasp on James' hand. "The food is here, and I need to answer the door."

"Oh." Blair let go, jerking his hand back. James stood, and walked to the door. He moved with such grace.

//two sleek, naked bodies moved on the sheets. Blair's legs hooked over James' shoulders. James moved rhythmically into Blair...//

"Blair?" James called to him again.

Blair shook his head, standing up quickly. //Wow! Where did that come from!//

"You don't mind eating at the table, do you?" James asked him, watching him.

"No, of course not." Blair walked towards the huge table that was placed in front of the long bay of windows. It could have easily served 30. The wood looked old, well worn, well cared for. It took Blair a moment to realize only one place was set. "You won't eat with me?"

"No, I'm afraid not. I will, however, sit and keep you company." James smiled at him, holding out a chair. "What would you like to drink with your food? Beer? Milk? Wine?"

"Milk would be great." It had been ages since he'd had a glass of milk. "Maybe a beer later?" Blair sat, and James casually draped a cloth napkin over his lap.

"Certainly." James murmured, and he went to fetch the milk from his gleaming, stainless steel refrigerator. Blair could see him the whole time. The entire lower floor was one huge open space. He didn't think the man could make an awkward move, his muscles flowed so smoothly. He adjusted the napkin in his lap. //Concentrate, Sandburg. Concentrate.//

James sat directly across from Blair, and sipped a single glass of red wine. He watched Blair eat, and Blair tried to eat with a modicum of manners. It didn't help that the food was incredible or that it had been a long time since he had had Chinese food this good.

"What restaurant is this from?" Blair asked around a mouthful of noodles. "Can I ask that?"

"Of course you can." James cocked his head, studying Blair. "Red Rose."

Blair choked on his noodles. "Red Rose?" Only the best Chinese restaurant in all Cascade. He heard that people traveled here from Seattle and Portland to eat at the Red Rose. "Shit." He wiped his mouth with the napkin. "Excuse me. I've never eaten there, but I hear the food is fantastic."

"And now you know for yourself." James saluted him with the glass of wine.

"Thank you, James." Blair saluted him back with his glass of milk. "Do you mind if I have some more milk? I can get it myself."

"Go right ahead." James waved him towards the refrigerator.

Blair opened the stainless steel door that gleamed his reflection back at him, and grabbed the carton of milk. There was nothing more in the fridge than a six-pack of Corona bottles.

"This is an amazing place you have, James. Have you read all these books?" Blair pointed at the far wall of books with the carton of milk.

"A great many of them." He inclined his head. "Not all of them." Sip of wine.

"The art collection alone..." Blair whistled as he sat back down. "My mom took me to the Louvre once, when I was about nine? She had been doing some humanitarian work in Africa, and then on our way back to the States, we stayed in Paris for the summer. I loved it. I spent days wandering around in there. Paris itself is an interesting place. All that history, all that culture."

He didn't mention his mother's boyfriend or the fact that he spent most of his time on the street hiding from said boyfriend. Said boyfriend was just a little too friendly with little boys for Blair's taste.

James stared at him, quietly watching. Blair glanced up mid-bite.

"What? Oh, I'm talking too much. I'm sorry. I have a tendency to run at the mouth." He grimaced.

"No, I like the sound of your voice. I was just thinking about what you didn't say. A nine year old boy running around Paris on his own. Where was your mother? Didn't she worry about you?" James sighed, looking down into his empty glass. "Mothers can be quite careless with their little boys, sometimes."

"My mother took really good care of me." Blair said a bit defensively.

"Now I have insulted you." James looked back up at him, and their gazes met.

//naked male bodies, the larger one on top, curved over the kneeling man below him. Their bodies moved as one. They panted as one. Their bodies glistened with sweat. Their hands clasped together, curled into fists.//

Blair blinked, trying to dispel the image.

"N-no." He stammered. "People are always making fun of my mom. If you knew Naomi, you'd know why. She- she was a good mother when I needed one. Now she's a good friend." He forced himself to look back down at his plate.

//What is going on!// He hadn't felt this horny, this aroused in ages... if ever before. Why was he so turned on? If Mikey hadn't had sex with this guy, then maybe Mikey was over his "gay" period.

Blair definitely wasn't. He wanted the guy so bad, his skin itched. If he had to stand right now, he would be totally embarrassed.

"Perhaps you would like that beer now?" James said from beside Blair. He had made no sound leaving his chair. He rested a hand lightly on Blair's shoulder.

"Yes." Blair nodded dumbly. "Please." When the hand was removed, he shivered at the loss of contact.

Blair lingered over the food to give himself time to calm down. James refilled his glass of wine, and sat back down at the table. They did not chatter to fill up the silence. It was a comfortable silence, though somewhat unnerving. James' gaze never left his face. He managed to look around a little, but always, his eyes went back to the man seated across from him.

"Shall we adjourn?" James asked when Blair put down his fork.

"Uhm, sure." Blair nodded, wiping his mouth and setting the napkin on the table. "Do you want me-"

"No, Blair. I'll take care of the dishes later." James assured him. Blair picked up his beer and followed James back to the couch. He looked every where but at James' well defined posterior.

"Do you mind if I sit by you?" James asked, picking up the large remote control.

"N-no." Blair stuttered at first. //Sit by me? How about sit on me?// "No, of course not." He scooted over a little as if making room.

James sat down beside him leaving a hand's width between them. Blair's left leg started twitching, he was so nervous about being so close to this very desirable man. James pressed a few buttons on the remote. The television screen, large and high definition, went black and then flickered back to life. On the screen, it listed his inventory. Down at the bottom right, was an icon arrow to page forward.

"What do you feel like watching tonight, Blair? Movie? Documentary? Concert? I have an extensive collect." James leaned back. He looked over at Blair's twitching leg, the toe of his sneaker tapping on the floor. "Do you have to urinate?"

"No." Blair shook his head. "Sorry. Nervous habit."

"Do you have something to be nervous about?" James arched an eyebrow at him.

"Just don't want to piss you off, man." He smiled sheepishly.

James reached over, resting his large hand on Blair's left thigh and he pressed down. Blair's breath caught in his throat, and his leg stopped jumping. James' shoulder pressed into his, his elbow brushing over his crotch.

"You won't piss me off." James whispered inches from Blair's face.

Blair couldn't speak, his voice failed him. He just nodded.

"Now, what would you like to watch?" James asked again.

"W-whatever you w-want, J-James." He squeaked.

James let go of Blair's leg, which did not start up again, but he did not take his arm away.

"I have a rare Santana concert that I like to watch every once again." He pointed the remote in the general direction of his entertainment set-up, and his index finger pressed a couple buttons. Within seconds, the Santana dvd was cued up, and the music began to fill the loft. Not loudly, gently. Hauntingly.

"How's this?" James asked him after a few minutes.

"Perfect." He managed in a more normal tone of voice.

"Good." James nodded. He settled back, his arm still in Blair's lap, and listened to the music.

Blair closed his eyes, trying to concentrate on the music. His stomach was full, he was warm, and delicious tingles danced through his body. All his problems drifted away. Here he was safe. Here he was taken care of. Nothing bad could touch him in James' company. In time he grew relaxed, his heart rate steadied. It was a very amused James who listened to Blair, his companion for the evening, fall asleep.

He had set the remote aside, and now, he drew the young man into his arms, cradling him. With his left hand, he stroked the mass of silky, curly hair. The young man's scent was clean and fresh, but his clothes stank. Washing clothes probably wasn't high on a grad student's necessity list.

Blair shivered, frowning in his sleep. Jim stroked his forehead, whispering to him.

//sleep, my precious, sleep. Darkness shall not touch you here.//

The pulsing vein in the young man's neck taunted him, but James forced the blood desire down. He would not taint this one with his disease, and by his word, he would never draw another across again. No matter the situation, no matter the need.

It was hard words to live by, leaving him to live eternity alone. But all he ever had to do was think back to those last days with his crche. He could still hear the screaming, he could still see the fear and disbelief their eyes. His ears had rung for years with the sound of Brynne's screams as she had burned to death. Sometimes when he looked in the mirror, he could see Antonio's turquoise eyes full of fear instead of his own.

All of his children had died in agony, and he was the only one that Eirene had allowed to live. It had been his punishment for crossing her, for leaving their sire's fate to the Council, and letting him die.

It was something he faced every day he woke up, every night he faced alone.

He allowed these little distractions... paying fifty bucks for some college kid to come babysit him. It wasn't his only pleasure left in life, but it was the only one that brought him back to the old days. He and the children of his crche had had a great deal of enjoyment during their day -or should that be night?

James rested his head back against the couch, listening to Blair's heartbeat, staring up at his ceiling. Antonio would be so pleased that his paintings were still appreciated today. He knew Blair was special the first moment he had laid eyes on him, but when he recognized The Blue Virgin, that had sealed it.

He grimaced slightly. After tonight, he would have to move. He would not allow himself to see Blair again. It was too dangerous for the young mortal man. Eirene's goons followed him everywhere, knew everything he did. Then they would know if he favored Blair above the others.

//Just a little bit of time. Let me savor him for a moment.// He spoke silently to the night.

He lowered his head and sniffed Blair's hair. //Such a rich scent, so vibrant. You would have enjoyed my children, Blair. We would have had great times together. I would have seduced you, made love to you, like you had never experienced before.//

One kiss, his body ached for one kiss. So he allowed it, his control slipping slightly. His lips played over Blair's, his tongue stroking into the deep, luscious mouth...

//Blair, wake up!//

Blair jerked awake, glancing around to see who was yelling at him. Where was James? He had been on the couch with James a second ago.

He jumped again as he realized that he was sitting in the Honda, the motor running. He had no memory of leaving James, he had no idea how he had gotten back to the car.

His heart sank. //Shit, shit, shit! I must have really pissed him off!//

He started to get out of the car, and head back to the loft. But then something made him stop.

//You were there to be paid, to be company. Just because you felt something with him, doesn't mean he felt it.//

A wave of depression surged over him. He settled back into the car's seat, clicked on the seat belt, and put it into drive. He drove back to Mikey's apartment complex slowly. He felt as if some golden opportunity had been taken away from him, never to be found again.

He parked the car, turned off the engine and got out of the car. It was then that he noticed the bulge in his pants pocket. He stuck in his hand, afraid of what he'd fine.

What he found was a roll of bills. They were hundreds, and there had to be twenty of them. And in amongst the bills was a single, silver coin. It was old, the edges worn, the picture rubbed down. It was hard to decipher the faded writing in the bad light of the parking lot.

His head snapped up and he looked around. Had he heard footsteps? The faint sound of laughter?

He shoved the wad of money back into his pocket, but he kept hold of the coin in his hand. He half ran all the way back to his apartment, and didn't stop until he was inside. Heart hammering in his chest, his slid down the door until his butt hit the floor.

Why would James give him all that money? Well, it didn't matter. He would take it back in the morning. All he wanted was his fifty.

All he wanted... was James.

In the morning, Blair skipped his first class, and caught the bus instead. He headed back to James' place. The bus dropped him off a block away, and so he had a bit of a hike. When he got there, the first thing he saw was a huge moving van. His heart lurched in his chest.

Resting one hand against the brick of the building, Blair closed his eyes. //No. Don't let him be gone.//

When one of the moving men appeared, Blair stepped forward.

"Excuse me, sir?" He asked in his best friendly voice. He smiled brightly, allowing a bit of curiosity to show on his face. The man, big and burly, looked at Blair.

"Yeah, what is it?" The guy grunted at him.

"The rig, man, she's beautiful. You drive?" His gaydar ping assured him that the guy was as straight as two-by-four.

"Sometimes." He frowned and shrugged.

"Who's moving?" He turned and glanced at the building.

"Some rich dude. Got a shitload of books and crap. My partner estimates as least two thousand cd's. What the fuck do you do with two thousand cd's? Ain't enough music in the world for that." He glanced down at his clipboard, back up at Blair. "James Mercier." He slaughtered the pronunciation of the last name, saying Mer-cer-er instead. "What's it to you, hairboy?"

"N-nothing." Blair tried to keep up the charade, but it hurt. Deeply. "Just curious." He shrugged, and continued walking up the street. He didn't look back.

He made it to his eleven o'clock class, stared at the professor but did not hear one word the man said. He skipped lunch and went to the closet that served as his office. He shut the door, dropped his backpack, sat down at his desk and cried.

He cried for what he had lost. There had been such potential! He knew he had felt something sparkle between James and himself. He knew it hadn't been stress or lack of sleep. The guy had oozed sex, and he had been mesmerized by it.

He knew, though, that he couldn't tell his friends. He'd been such a bitch about there not being any sex. He couldn't just turn around and say how much he had wanted James to fuck him through the mattress. So after a good hard cry, he wiped his face, blew his nose, and gathered his resolve.

Whatever he had done to drive James away... he couldn't fix. He wasn't about to go chasing after the guy after he made it so plain that he didn't want Blair. What he was left with was a heart ache a mild wide, and a fistful of hundred dollar bills.

Blair went down the hall to the men's bathroom and washed his face. He looked at himself in the mirror.

"Get a grip." He growled at himself. "You knew if for barely two hours. He wants to run off in the middle of the night, fine. I'll use the money, too."

He paid his rent, he bought himself a few new clothes (used, of course), and a new (used) winter coat. He got the Volvo fixed, too. He put a couple hundred into a savings account for another emergency which, knowing his luck would come around soon enough.

The rest of the money he gave to his favorite charities. The Rape Crisis Center, the Women's Shelter, and the Northern Cascade Homeless Shelter.

Mikey questioned him about his appointment with James after he heard about James leaving town. But Blair just shrugged and said he didn't know anything. Because really, he didn't. When he refused to go dancing with Nero, his friends got worried. But he shrugged them off. He was busy, he had to work on his dissertation.

He stopped driving by James' apartment building after a few months. But he still had the coin, and every so often, he'd pull it out and hold it. Some times he would fall asleep holding the coin tightly in his hand, and he would dream. Some times he would have nightmares, and he'd wake up screaming.

Eventually, things got back to normal -as normal as it got for him. Nero moved back in with him. Malie got an internship at the Cascade Chronicle.

Mikey didn't get over his gay period. He met a mechanical engineering grad student, they fell in love, and moved in together. In time, they had a confirmation ceremony.

Blair met a guy after a year or so. A visiting professor from Australia that distracted him for a while. He and Simon kept their separate residences, but they took turns staying the night. They never said "I love you" and they never discussed a deeper commitment.

Everyone teased them about getting "married", but both of them would just laugh it off. Blair would say he was already married, to his dissertation. In the summer, he was going down to Peru with his advisor. Simon would be heading back to Sydney in the fall.

"You could come for a visit." Simon told him one night when they were laying in bed. He was spooned up behind Blair, both sated and sleepy.

"Next summer, maybe. After I graduate." Blair suggested, yawning.

"Yeah." Simon whispered, holding Blair a little tighter. After Blair was asleep, Simon shifted up so he could see Blair's face. "Whoever he was, mate. He hurt you bad."

The summer passed quickly. He enjoyed himself in Peru, thoroughly immersing himself in the life of a Chopec tribe. The material he gathered would fill out his dissertation beautifully.

Blair got back in time for Simon's going away party. He drove Simon to the airport the next day, and they kissed good-bye in front of everyone. And Blair drove home alone.

That night, after getting into bed, he pulled out the silver coin. He stared at it, turning it over and over, contemplating. Then he turned off the light, grasped the coin tightly in his right hand, and closed his eyes.

"I'm going to dream about James tonight." He whispered, concentrating on his breathing. He slipped easily into a meditation exercise, and within minutes, he was a sound asleep.

He drifted, his soul buoyant, floating... floating...

He saw the last look on Simon's face before he turned to walk down the corridor to his plane. Mikey's face when Robert graduated from Rainier. His mother, Naomi, at Hanukkah. She had been so worried about him, quizzing him endlessly.

James. Standing in front of the brown suede couch, a glass of red wine in his right hand. Smiling at him, watching him.

He heard voices, swirling around him, music -a waltz... violins wafting down from the gallery...

"Julian!" He heard someone calling his name, but all he could do was stare up at James. They were waltzing, together. Two men, in evening dress, waltzing together in the middle of a great ballroom. People were stopping, staring at them. Mothers were horrified, young women blushed.

"Julian!" His grandfather shouted, pounding his cane on the ballroom floor. "You will stop that this instant!"

He and James had gone on dancing, right out onto the balcony. James whirled him around fast, and Julian laughed, leaning his head back.

"I'm free, James, I'm free!"

"Blair! Pick up the phone, damnit!" Mikey's voice shouted into the answering machine. "Blair! Wake up! Blair!"

He was out of bed, scrambling for the phone in a blur. Still half asleep, the sound of the violins echoed in his ears. He could smell James' cologne.

"Yeah, I'm here! What is it!" Blair growled into the receiver.

"It's Nero, Blair! The hospital called me cause they couldn't reach you. He's been beat up. I think he might be... I think he's dead..."

Nero died two days later. He had been badly beaten and left for dead in an alley. The doctors said he had lost too much blood. His body had been drained somehow, though little blood had been found in the alley. He never woke up.

"He looks just like Julian." The one shadow whispered as they watched the curly hair mortal driving off into the night.

"Eirene will be pleased." The other shadow responded.

"Now all we have to do is track down Master James..."

He watched the young man walk across the campus, and marveled at his likeness to Julian. No wonder James had been drawn to him. No wonder James had run from him as quickly as possible.

Early evening and already the shadows were deep. He sensed others of his kind about, and knew that they were following the young man. Henchman in control of, who he liked to refer to as 'Queen of the Damned' -a joke only he seemed to appreciate- Eirene.

Her hatred of James ran deep. She would never admit that their sire had flaunted the will of the Council. She would defend Badru to the end of time, of that he did not doubt. That James had betrayed Badru to the Council was an unforgivable sin in her eyes. She was determined that he would suffer all the days of his life.

He was determined to put an end to the madness. If he had anything to do about it, James' suffering would end soon. His companion agreed, though she had different reasons for helping him. She had her own blood feud with Eirene. She would do just about anything to cause her enemy pain.

"Come on." Megan hissed at him, walking off towards the flesh and blood image of the late Julian Bourchand.

"Yes, dear." Rafe sighed, solidifying into human form nicely as he followed the woman. "Feet, Megan." He called out to her.

Her feet were still the dark mist of shadow. She waved her hand, annoyed, and her feet took their rightful shape.

"Excuse me, Professor Sandburg?" Megan spoke as she caught up to the young man. "Blair, isn't it?"

"Uhm, yeah, hi." Blair turned around mid-step, arm full of books. His eyes flickered over her. //Not a student. Maybe a parent, but doubtful.// "Can I help you?"

"Yes, I certain that you can." She smiled at him warmly, giving him a thorough once over. "Too bad you're gay."

"I'm sorry, what?" He frowned, still smiling.

"Megan, behave." A man came up beside the woman, and smiled at Blair. "Please forgive her. She only believes that men serve two reasons in life."

"Right." Blair nodded. "Look, I really have to get back to my office..."

"Would you like to see James again?" Megan asked him, cutting to the chase. "Perhaps talk to him? Maybe even spend time with him?"

Blair stared at her, his mouth open, stunned.

"She also has the tact of snail." Rafe stepped forward, took the books out of Blair's arms and set them on a nearby bench. "I am a friend of James'. Because of your connection to him, your life is now in jeopardy."

"Connection?" Blair laughed humorlessly. "I spent barely two hours with him one evening almost two years ago."

"You still dream about him." Megan cocked her head, staring at him. "You still have the coin. You've got it on you."

Blair blanched, stepping back from them. "I don't know who you people are, but-"

"How about James is in danger?" Rafe knew it had been wrong to bring Megan with him, but he had needed her help. Though, right now, he couldn't remember why. "He left to protect you. Your friend Nero died by Eirene's orders. You interviewed a young man today to be your new room-mate. He's one of her daywalkers. A not fully changed immortal."

Blair's head spun. Nero? Eirene? David had seemed very accommodating, but... daywalkers? Immortals?

"Okay, this is really funny, but I got to get back to my office for a meeting. I suggest you two lay off the vampire movies for a while okay?" Blair backed over towards the bench and his pile of books.

"Vampire movies!" Megan growled. Her eyes glowed.

"Megan!" That was the last thing that Blair heard. Everything went kind of black and warm and soft after that. There was no sense of the movement of time. No sense of movement at all. One moment he was standing on the sidewalk half a block from Hargrove Hall, and the next moment he was waking up in a strange bed.

"Good, Sandburg, real good." He muttered, trying to sit up and finding out that he was tied. Hands and feet bound together with silk scarves. "Okay, not good."

The worst part was that he had to pee. Badly.

"Hello! Tied up guy needs help!" He shouted at the top of his lungs. "Tied up guy needs to pee! Really bad!"

He heard footsteps heading his way. The door opened to reveal the guy from earlier. He was nice looking, dressed in expensive casual clothes.

"Sorry, we have to be careful that you don't try to nip off." The man smiled, shutting the door behind him. "My name is Rafael De La Rosa. My friends simply call me Rafe."

"Well, Simply Rafe, you gotta untie me. I have to pee. All I've had today is coffee." Blair replied. To his horror, Rafe did not untie him. He scooped Blair up as if he weighed nothing and carried him into the bathroom. A bathroom, Blair realized, that was larger than most apartments he'd ever lived in.

"Here we go." Rafe said with much perky cheerfulness. "Just relax, I'll do all the work." He stood Blair in front of gleaming white toilet, and lifted the lid. His hands went to unzip Blair's jeans.

"No you don't!" Blair shrieked, trying to step back, jerking his groin away, and succeeding in only losing his balance. Rafe caught him and straightened him up. "No, no! I do this myself!"

"Oh, please. I've seen more penises that you ever have." Rafe clucked his tongue. He loosened Blair's pants a bit, and his hand dove into to locate Blair's penis. "This is an every day act of nature." He arched an eyebrow at Blair. "And it isn't like you've never had a man handling your penis before."

"That's different!" Blair gasped as the warm hand got a hold of him, and pulled his penis out. Rafe aimed said penis at the toilet water. "I wasn't tied up! It was consensual!"

"Pee, Mr. Sandburg." Rafe patted Blair's shoulder with his free hand. Blair glared at him. "All right, then." He leaned over and flushed the toilet. The sound of running water made Blair pale. He had to go so badly. He struggled to retain control of his body. Rafe clucked his tongue again, and to Blair's absolute horror, began to rub his lower abdomen, just under his navel, pressing just slightly. He started urinating into the toilet in half a second. "There we go."

"Fuck you." Blair growled, eyes clenched shut.

"Thank you for the offer, but I shall decline." Humor vibrated in Rafe's voice. "Really, you have much more personality than Julian. I found him rather boring."

Blair's blue eyes shot open and he stared up at Rafe.

"How do you know that name?" His voice hard and cold.

"Please, dear. I was there. James and I have been friends for ages." When Blair was finished, Rafe wiped him off and tucked him back in. Then he carefully did up the zipper. He walked over the sink and washed his hands. Blair teetered precariously, shifting around to watch Rafe.

Rafe turned around, leaning a hip against the sink counter. He wiped his hands on a fluffy white towel.

"You are going to have to learn quickly tonight, Blair. Vampires do exist, although we prefer to be called 'immortals'. Different clans have different names, of course. Not all immortals are consigned to the night, drinking blood, etc... Some are shape shifters. Some drink souls instead of blood. A great many variations on the Children of Lilith."

Lilith? Blair had heard stories about Adam's first wife since his early teens. Many stories were similar, telling how she had been banished from Eden, and taken up with the Fallen Angels, giving birth to all manner of demons.

"This is some game." Blair shook his head. "I've heard a lot of strange stories in my time..."

"Julian danced with James the last night of his life." Rafe tossed the towel aside, and all signs of the friendly man were gone. His dark eyes drilled into Blair. "A waltz, in the middle of his grandfather's ballroom. Julian's grandfather was going to announce his engagement that night. Only Julian didn't want to marry some simpering, pimply faced schoolgirl. He wanted James."

Rafe stopped inches from Blair. "Can you still hear the violins?"

"Yes." Blair/Julian whispered.

"And James... Do you still feel his hands upon you?"

"Yes." Blair/Julian's voice trembled. "Grandfather..."

"What did he do? Do you remember?"

"Disowned me, in front of everyone. Called me a filthy- a filthy-"

"Catamite?"

"Yes." Blair/Julian nodded. "James drew me away... He led me down to his carriage..."

"What happened next?"

"My cousin George... Just before we got to James' carriage. George called out to me. I turned back to see, and there was a loud noise..."

Rafe caught Blair as he crumpled to the bathroom floor. He brushed the wild mane of hair out of the young man's face.

"He shot me. I bled to death before James could do anything..."

"Oh, he did do something, but by then, you were gone." Rafe held him gently, and then after Blair's eyes closed, he carried the young man back to bed. He took off Blair's shoes, and drew a blanket over him. "Rest, my dear. Rest."

*

"How soon can you be here?" Rafe spoke into the phone. He still found this invention the most unnerving.

"I told you, Rafael..."

"I have a nice young man tied up in a guest bedroom. He has curly dark brown hair, lovely blue eyes."

"So help me, Rafael, if you hurt one hair-"

"Threats, dear brother, will not work with me. Either you come back here and help me settle this problem or I will hand him over to Eirene myself." He inspected the fingernails of his left hand. Time for another manicure.

There was a growl rattling through the phone lines.

"She has known about him for some time. Her minions have been watching him day and night. She even had a friend of his killed so that she could provide him with a new room-mate. I assume all she is waiting for is locating your sorry, though well-formed, ass."

"What do you have planned?"

"A little visit to the Council. They are adjourning in Seattle in two nights."

"I'll meet you there."

"No. You will meet me here. Before dawn."

"I'm nearly a thousand miles away, Rafael." James hissed with frustration.

"Then I suggest you get moving. Airport security can be such a bitch these days." And with that, he hung up.

Megan smiled at him, saluting him with a goblet of a fine, red wine.

"Come, Cousin." George smiled at Julian, laying an arm across his shoulders and giving him a shake. "We are off tonight to indulge our sinful nature, causing grandfather a great deal of torment."

"Not for our souls, mind you." Laughed Marcel, yet another cousin. "But for his money we'll be spending."

"Indeed!" George laughed, slapping Julian's back and nearly knocking him over.

"I shall pass on the adventure..." He started to sidle off, startled for a moment at being included. He had been too young to go out with his brother. He had never gone out with his cousins as grandfather had never allowed it. Truthfully, he had never wanted it for himself. He wasn't good at gambling, he couldn't hold his drink, and- well- there were other considerations.

George clamped a heavy hand on his shoulder. "Ah, not so fast, Master Julian!"

"Oh no, little rabbit!" Marcel chuckled, leading the way out of the Green Parlor. "Grandfather has given his approval for you to join us tonight. He said you had mourned long enough for Henry."

//more like he felt it was time for me to have "manly" pursuits.// Julian allowed him self to be propelled along, trying not to remember the sketch pad grandfather had confiscated yesterday.

Julian was at least half a head shorter than either of his cousins. He had broad shoulders and large hands, but otherwise, quite slender in build compared to them. With any luck, he would be able to disappear into the crowd, and make an easy escape.

He arched an eyebrow at Banks, his grandfather's butler, as he slipped into his coat. Banks expression revealed nothing, but Julian thought he saw a slight dipping of the dark eyebrows. Banks didn't approve of Julian going out with George or Marcel, but there was nothing he could do about it.

"Who is he?" James asked the man standing behind him. He didn't look up from his hand, he didn't have to. He knew Sebastien stood behind him; he felt him, smelled him, sensed him. Neither did he have to explain whom he meant.

"Julian Bourchand." Came the prompt reply. "Grandson of the Duke of Inveray. And now also heir, since the death of his older brother, Henry."

//his sexual preference leans in your favor, James.// Sebastien added silently. //apparently the old man found a sketch pad containing only male nudes.//

James concentrated on his hand for the moment, but he always knew the location of the young lordling. Once he had finished fleecing Beaumont, he stood. There was conjecture whether he would head upstairs to the private rooms or if he would join a private game in the back rooms.

//he seems to be working towards a door.// Sebastien alerted him. //What is your pleasure, Eleutherios?// He asked, using James' first name from times long past into dust.

//I shall collect him myself.// James replied, barely hiding his annoyance at the use of his name. //have my carriage brought around.//

Julian had noticed the man sitting at the table playing cards from the moment he entered the room. He was the most handsome man Julian had ever seen. Short, neatly cut brown hair. Broad shoulders beautifully accentuated in a midnight blue coat. His long, nimble fingers easily manipulated the cards in his hands. Only once did those smoldering blue eyes lift towards him, but it was enough. He felt quite undone by the simple exchange.

Marcel, taking pity upon him, drew him to an empty table and began teaching him a little about cards. It went well until Marcel caught sight of a delectable beauty -or so he said- and grew bored with Julian. Julian didn't mind, he was more interested in watching the god than learning the drivel Marcel was trying to teach him.

After Marcel's departure, Julian had remained at the table alone fiddling with the cards. He knew it was foolish to stay and yet he remained. The god mesmerized him, causing him to linger when escape was at hand. He was not so befuddled that he would consider an assignation. He knew he was naive about such things -there were books on the subject, he was quite certain, but grandfather would never allow them into his house. He might have learned something at school save for the fact that grandfather had had him educated at home.

Henry -and his heart lurched at the memory of his older brother- had been the only one to speak to him of his particular tastes. He had not been upset about it, but he had spoken frankly to Julian. "Watch yourself," he had said, sitting beside Julian on a park bench, "for there are those that do not approve of such things as a man loving a man. I do not want you to be hurt. You are my brother, and I will always love you and wish to protect you. We must wait for grandfather's passing before we can pursue our own interests."

So here he sat, playing a solitary game of cards with himself, in a place catering to lusty, normal men and himself lusting after one of them. //such a thing would only happen to me// Julian surmised with a twist of his lips. //and if he did favor me, I wouldn't have a clue at how to behave.//

An older woman came over and sat with him awhile, interrupting his silent conversation. She chatted amicably, teaching him a simple game and making jokes at her expense. He relaxed marginally, smiling, admiring her confidence. He only had such confidence when discussing history or literature with his tutor.

The woman was called off, and she left him, smiling apologetically. Julian decided it was time to make good his escape, and stood up. He wandered a bit into the great hall that divided the lower floor. The large rooms were sectioned into different types of card games to be played. One of the larger rooms, towards the back, had a stage. He could hear some woman singing now in French, and he blushed at what she was singing about.

//time to go, methinks.// Julian turned and calmly headed for the huge double doors at the front of the establishment. He did not steal one last glance at the god. He had him firmly affixed in his mind, and would begin a sketch of him as soon as he returned home. //thanks to Banks hiding the rest of my supplies.//

The night air had a brisk edge to it. Julian steeled himself against him, regretting the loss of his coat. He would hail a cab after getting down the street a bit, and would soon be warm, safe and sound, at home.

He paid only mild attention to the carriages passing up and down the street. George would probably not even notice him missing for a couple hours. He sighed, wrapping his arms around himself, missing Henry and his previously simple existence.

He never noticed the black carriage coming up alongside of him, nor the opening of the door or the arm that reached out. The next thing he knew, he was sprawled at the feet of the god.

The inside of the carriage with softly lit by lantern light. He could see the god quite clearly staring down at him. The seats were richly appointed leather, the curtains covering the glass windows were heavy black velvet. Those blue eyes considered him quietly for a moment before Julian was hauled up onto the seat beside the god.

"You left rather abruptly, Julian." The god spoke, laying an arm along the back of the seat. "I was insulted that you did not deign to bid me good-bye."

"Y-you..." Julian fumbled for words. "You were busy."

"I was having a room prepared for us upstairs." A warm hand stroked the back of Julian's neck. He shivered, confused.

"B-but you- and..." He stammering continued as his brain seemed to have ceased to function properly.

"I hope this is not a permanent condition." The god caressed Julian's bottom lip with his thumb. "I have long since given up stuttering maidens."

"I am not s-stuttering!" Julian shivered again, but it wasn't with cold. "Nor am I a maiden."

"Oh, of that I am quite happy." The god grinned slowly. His gaze raked over Julian's compact form before returning once again to his eyes. "However, I will wager you are still a virgin."

"Now see here!" Despite it being the truth, for the most part, Julian bristled. He wasn't a Bourchand for nothing!

A hard, warm mouth descended upon his, stealing any further words directly from him. The hand stroking his neck and alternately massaging his shoulders continued. The other hand cupped his chin, holding him captive.

He was, after a moment's hesitation, a very willing captive.

His first word after his god released him was, "Oh."

"I thought perhaps we could go for a carriage ride about the city before I return you to your grandfather in a few hours..." The god began unbuttoning Julian's shirt. His cravat was already a puddle of silk on the opposite seat.

"I take it this means that you h-haven't given up on v-virgins?" Julian asked with a bit of an airy sigh.

"Only if the virgins are named Julian Bourchand." The god smiled, and leaned in for another kiss.

*

Blair shifted under the covers, unconsciously moving closer towards the hand that stroked his hair. The strange dreams had slipped away, replaced now with only warm contentment. He wanted to curl up around his partner's body, but he couldn't quite seem to find it.

"Remarkable, isn't it?" Rafe commented from the end of the bed. The windows were sealed against the rising sun, but morning was still upon them.

"He isn't Julian." James replied stubbornly. "There is a vague resemblance, nothing else."

"So then he's just another mortal." Rafe nodded and reached down to yank the covers off the young man. "Then we are bothering ourselves for nothing."

James' hand held Rafe's wrist in a steel-like grip. Blue eyes shimmered with an inner fire.

"Leave him." James purred softly, dangerously. "No one touches him but me."

"I think I have a say in the matter." Blair said around a big yawn. He stretched, and at the same time, realized his hands and feet had been cut free. But then, so had his clothing... He yelped, grabbing the covers.

"You let Megan undress him?" James purred the question. It made the hair on the back of Blair's neck bristle. The guy was pissed.

"No." Rafe straightened, surreptitiously shaking out his wrist. "There is always more than one way to secure a 'guest'. I removed his clothing myself, and have them safely held elsewhere. After having them washed and dried, of course."

"Of course." James gave a curt nod of his head.

"I want 'em back." Blair commented, only his eyes visible over the top of the cream coverlet. "And a cup of coffee."

"Leave us." James dismissed Rafe.

"We need to talk." Rafe sighed the sigh of the long suffering. He was already walking to the bedroom door.

"Later." James waited until Rafe was gone before he began to undress. Blair's eyes nearly popped out of his head.

"Now just wait one damned minute!" He dropped the covers as he moved to sit up. That exposed quite a bit of skin, which he noticed James noticing. "Stop that!" He grabbed the covers again, hauling them up his chest. "You dump me two years ago, just because I fell asleep in the middle of a date-"

"I didn't 'dump' you. I released you." James toed off his boots, and stood to remove his black jeans. He wasn't wearing any underwear, just white socks.

Blair stared at James -the muscles, the perfection of form, the impressive cock. //that thing is going no where near my ass.//

//not without you being properly prepared, certainly.// James replied telepathically, having clearly heard Blair's thought. //I imagine Rafael has stocked the drawers appropriately.//

James pulled out a drawer and located a bottle of lubricant. There was also a box of condoms, among other items. //Really, Rafael.//

//Hush.// The disembodied voice floated to him.

"That's not what I meant!" Blair snapped. "And don't be reading my mind! My thoughts are private."

"Your thoughts were about my genitals." James grabbed the edge of the covers and yanked them out of Blair's hands. He slipped into bed and Blair tried to lunge out the other side. James caught him easily, pulling him back into bed, and tucking him neatly up against his body. They laid there, spooned together, Blair's back against James' front. Blair was as stiff as a board while James' rather well endowed penis became stiff.

"We weren't really having a date." Blair said after a moment of silent struggle. Obviously his strength was no match for James'. "You hired me to watch tv with you. I haven't romanticized it, it's just that it seemed like more to me. I felt like I really connected with you. That doesn't happen with me."

"Not even with Simon?" James asked, annoyed with his body. You would think he was some knock-kneed, wet-behind-the-ears schoolboy.

"Simon? How did-" Blair sighed. "Oh never mind."

"I had to leave you, it was the only way to protect you." James spoke, tucking a wild curl behind Blair's right ear. "You aren't Julian, though you do look very much like him. You are older than he was... when he died. There is something about your smile that reminds me of him."

"I've been having these weird dreams." Blair whispered, his body beginning to respond to the one behind him.

"They are giving them to you." He said with certainty and a hint of anger.

"I don't know, man. I've never dreamed like this. One time, I went with my mom to one of her spiritual retreats, and there was this lady that kept calling me Julian. Kind of freaky, I think." He screwed up his courage. "Can you, like, check out my dreams? You know, since you're telepathic, can you-"

"Blair, I'm immortal not a Vulcan. I don't do mind melds." James wanted to nuzzle Blair's neck so badly, his teeth ached.

"Yeah, well, learn." Blair grumbled, frustrated. There was no way he was going to have sex with James after everything, but he wanted to rub his ass against James so badly. "I gotta pee, man, let me up."

James shifted Blair over onto his back easily. He slung a leg over Blair's, shoved the wild mass of hair out of Blair's face and stared down at him. His throbbing, leaking cock pressed into Blair's abdomen.

//Dream// James commanded him. //Show me//

And Blair dreamed.

The god pulled back from the kiss, shoving Julian's jacket and shirt off his shoulders. He smiled down at the hairy torso. Julian blushed again.

"How delightful." The god ran his fingers across the hairy chest. He fingered a nipple, it quickly becoming a hard nub. Julian's heart was racing.

"Am I- Am I to be the only one naked?" He forced himself to ask.

The god's eyes met his gaze and smiled. He pulled off clothing as Julian watched, blushing more deeply than ever before. The seat opposite them was quickly piled with a variety of clothing. Julian's eyes glanced down the magnificent form and latched on to the very male part of his lover.

"Oh, good heavens." Julian blinked, stunned. He had seen naked men before though not as many as his grandfather assumed, and few of them had been aware of his presence.

The god took up one of Julian's hands and cupped it around his semi-erect penis.

"Don't be afraid." The god urged him.

His head tipped back as he stroked himself with Julian's warm hand. After a moment or two, Julian was doing the stroking by himself. Then suddenly, the god stopped the activity.

"You're distracting me." The god clucked his tongue at Julian. "Now I am naked, and you are not."

Julian squeaked as the god busied himself with removing the last of his clothing. The only people he had ever been completely naked around had been his nanny as a child, Banks who occasionally filled in as his valet, and his brother Henry. He had a feeling that if the god touched him as intimately as Julian had touched, he would lose control. He wasn't sure what would happen, but he felt the trembling in the tips of his toes.

"How often do you pleasure yourself, Julian?" The god asked as he arranged Julian over his lap.

"P-p-p..." Was all Julian got out before the trembling took over. His penis touched his lover's, and he lost all conscious thought. He arched up, holding on tightly, and felt as if his very soul was erupting from his body.

"That answers that question." The god commented with a touch of wry humor in his voice.

Julian gasped, lying on his chest, his face buried against the man's neck. He had a very certain feeling that he was going to spend the rest of his life a very brilliant red.

"I-I am so very, so v-very..." Strong arms held him, hands gently rubbed his back.

"Hush, my love." The god chided him. "There is still time and youth recovers quickly."

A hand slid down over his ass, kneading, stroking. Fingers delved into the cleft, stroking, stroking... A finger nudged and rubbed at his body's entrance. He was afraid at first, until the tingling shivers went up his spine and down to his toes.

"Oh." He gasped, rising up a little to offer better access.

"Relax, Julian. We won't go so far this time, but I want you to see what pleasure your body can give you." The god adjusted his body, resting one foot against the far seat. He took hold of Julian's left hand and wrapped it around his slightly faded cock. "Do this for me. Rub here with your thumb, stroke downward, and when you bring your hand back up, tighten it a little, and pull..." The god took a long, shaky breath. He placed a kiss on Julian's shoulder. "Yes, just like that."

After a while -Julian lost all track of time- the god's erection returned in full force. He had Julian suck on a finger, and then he gently inserted it inside of Julian's body. The trembling in his toes started to uncoil again.

A hand took a firm hold of Julian's cock and pulled. Julian arched again, his mouth pressed to a muscular shoulder, but it still did not muffle his cry. This time, however, he did not erupt alone. His god cried out as well, saying his name over and over. Their bodies arched together, and then collapsed as one.

The god sank his fingers into Julian's hair, yanked his head up and brought their mouths together. Julian felt as if his soul had taken flight, leaving his body behind. He wasn't alone, his god was right there with him.

Blair blinked, his eyes focusing on James' face above his. It hardly took him a second to realize that James was fully imbedded inside of him. His legs were spread wide, his heels digging into James' ass.

"Say my name." Blair held James' face between his hands. "Tell me I'm not Julian."

"Your name is Blair." James rolled his hips. Blair hissed, sucking in breath.

"That's cheating!" He slapped a well-muscled shoulder. "You were there, you felt what I felt. Tell me I'm not Julian." And then since two can play dirty, his clenched internal muscles, drawing a healthy gasp from James.

"Even though it would cause me pain, I would rather say you were not." James leaned up only so that he could gaze down at his beloved. "You are Julian. I do not understand how this can be, but then... who am I to question such things?"

"I remembered..." Blair swallowed nervously, closing his eyes, turning his head to the side. A hand cupped his chin, turning his face back and lips gently touched his own. "I remembered before, with Rafe... I remember George shooting me... shooting Julian."

"Yes." James nodded, waiting for the blue eyes to open again. "I was going to take you away with me, and in time, making you immortal so we could be together forever. Only fate stepped in the way."

"You killed him." It wasn't a question so much as it was a statement of fact.

"Yes." He nodded. The blue eyes were open now and he would not lie. "By the time I was done with them, there were no Bourchands left. If you could not live, so neither could any of them."

"Well, I'm not some nave young boy this time." Blair smiled tentatively. "No virgin to deflower this time."

"No." James shook his head, snitching a kiss. "Only love to make and love to give."

Blair made some retching noises and then chuckled. "God, what a sap. It's okay, though."

James frowned at him.

"I love you anyway." And Blair clenched muscles again, causing James to roll his hips in a most delicious way. "Give me what you got, baby. Time enough for chitchat later."

*

By the time Julian was dropped off at the backdoor of his grandfather's mansion, more than two hours had gone by. His legs felt rubbery, he was exhausted, and he had a hard time thinking clearly. Banks took one look at him, clucked his tongue, and led his young master up to bed.

His Grace was furious, and stomped into Julian's bedchamber as Banks was undressing him. The red rouge was still smeared across his lips, and he reeked of cheap female cologne. Numbly, Julian stared up at the man glowering at him.

"Where have you been!" The old man shouted loud enough to wake the dead. Julian flinched, grinned and did a very bad wink.

"These ladies picked me up in their carriage..." He sighed happily. He was naked for a moment before Banks slipped the dressing gown on. There was more rouge down further, and little bruises about his torso, down his white thighs. Banks made certain that His Grace got a good look.

"Wash him thoroughly, Banks! You never know what diseases those whores may have!" And with that he stomped off, slamming the door shut behind him.

Banks led Julian into the bathing room where hot bath water awaited him. As Julian sank down into the luxurious water, he missed the slight smile crossing Banks' lips. He didn't know how Julian had managed it, but he had done splendidly. The duke would be satisfied for a while now, and with any luck, would leave his young charge alone.

Until the subject of marriage arose...

James came awake instantly, and knew that Blair was no where near him. He was up and out of bed in one fluid movement. There was no bothering with clothing. He located Blair's heartbeat and went directly to it, which was at the kitchen table, a coffee mug between his hands. He was draped in a creamy white sheet and matching chenille blanket.

"Good morning." Blair greeted him brightly.

"Good afternoon." Megan corrected, sipping her own cup of coffee.

"Actually, I believe-" Rafe considered his watch.

"Whatever." James growled, going over to Blair. He hoisted the young man up, sat down in the chair and arranged Blair and blankets on his lap.

"Possessive, isn't he?" Blair commented, leaning back against the sturdy chest.

"Terribly." Rafe nodded, agreeing.

"Conceited sonofabitch with delusions of grandeur. But hey, that's just my opinion." Megan arched at eyebrow, challenging James to reply.

James simply cupped his hands around Blair's and took a good drink of his coffee. It made his toes curl.

"Gack." James shook his head, waggling his tongue.

Blair laughed, a rich and vibrant sound. "People only steal a drink of my coffee once."

"You could melt metal in that." James wiped his lips off on Blair's neck.

"Can we talk now?" Rafe asked, knowing their time was limited for preparation.

"Yes." Blair nodded. When James stiffened, Blair turned so he could look at the man face to face. "My fate is wrapped up in this. You aren't sticking me in a closet and coming back for me after everything is done."

"You'll do as I say, without question?" James parried, eyebrows raised questioningly.

"I'll do what you say, but I doubt I won't question." Blair shrugged. "Live with it."

Or not.

He chose to live with it. He had tried the other option and it had been too painful.

"I shall." James gave him one swift, curt nod.

"You know she will call for a trial." Megan tapped her cup on the table. "As far as she's concerned you caused her sire's death. There are those on the Council who do not hold well with children killing their parents."

"The Council wanted him, I only did what they asked." James growled at her.

"Another child would have alerted him. Sacrificed themselves for their sire's safety." Megan countered, unimpressed with James temper.

"He knew where I stood on the subject of the Council. So did Eirene." Despite the seriousness of the conversation, James slipped a hand under the covers wrapped around Blair until he found bare skin.

"I have asked for a private audience with Sharran this evening." Rafe watched Blair blush, knowing very well what James was up to. "Megan will stay with Blair."

"No, I won't."

"No, she won't."

"No, she won't."

"Blair can't come with us." Rafe sighed, pinched the bridge of his nose. He might be immortal, but he was still subjected to headaches.

"I can stay by myself. I don't need a babysitter."

"James can stay with him."

"He is not staying by himself."

"Why can't I come with you?" Blair asked, reaching down and grabbing the hand that was massaging his left thigh. The knuckles of said hand rubbing accidentally against his cock.

"Sharran is of the old school. A mortal does not come into his presence unless an offering." Rafe explained, and Blair frowned.

"That's fucked up."

"The Council needs to be upgraded." Megan commented darkly. Blair was certain her idea of upgrading was rather painful.

"I'm not leaving Blair alone, and if I'm not with him, he's alone. He comes with us as my attendant." James pushed Blair's coffee mug away, and stood -with an armful of Blair. "What time do we go?"

"Not for several hours. We should arrive there by ten o'clock." Rafe leaned backing his chair, shaking his head. "She is going to use Blair against you just as she did your children."

James hesitated in the doorway. Blair had started to complain but stopped when he saw the expression cross James' face, and felt a current of emotion from him.

"She can try." James purred. "She will fail."

Back in their bedroom, James proceeded to peel the blankets off Blair. His intention was obvious, but Blair was just as determined.

"Who is Eirene?" He asked clutching a bit of blanket to his groin. "Ignorance in this situation could be deadly."

James was leaning over him, one hand trying to pry the blanket from Blair's fingers while the other hand tossed pillows off the bed. He froze, staring down at Blair.

"There are some things you do not need to know." James growled, his eyes flashing gold.

"So what you're saying then is that I'm a good fuck, but I'm not your equal. Mentally or societal..."

With a roar of frustration, James stood up from the bed. Lusty James was a breath-taking sight. Angry James was a frightful thing to behold.

"You push too far!" James growled at him, his canine fangs long and his eyes a simmering gold. "That I came back-"

"Oh, so, what am I supposed to do? Get down on my knees and kiss your feet?" It wasn't that Blair wasn't angry, too. But he knew that calmness was the answer here. He wasn't going to win a fighting match with someone who had immortal strength and abilities.

Blair tossed the blankets away, got out of bed and knelt at James' feet. He held out his hands in supplication, touching his forehead to the floor.

"I'm sorry, Master! Please forgive me!"

You could hear the change in James as if someone had opened a window and let in a blizzard.

"Get. Up." He purred very softly.

"No, Master, please. I had no right to question you."

And Blair found himself lifted up to his feet by a handful of hair.

"Do not mock me, little one."

Blair blinked up at James, saw how the fangs had retracted and the gold light was gone from the blue eyes.

"Mock mock?" Blair grinned hopefully.

James' brow furrowed. "This is not a joking matter. You know not-"

"So teach me already!" Blair yelled back at him. "I can't be your concubine. I can't be just some pet you keep to fuck when you're lonely. Either I'm your companion and equal in all things or forget it. Hand me over Arianne now and get it over with."

"Eirene." James corrected him automatically. His hand released Blair's hair to cup his face. "You try my very soul."

"You have a soul?" Blair asked and saw James' brow furrow again. "Well, it's just that..."

"Please tell me you do not watch that senseless, idiotic, juvenile..."

"Buffy is not senseless!" Blair laughed. "It relaxes me. I like the dialog."

"Yes, and you buy Playboy for the articles." James snorted.

"Playgirl, and yeah. They have some..." Blair chuckled, eyes sparkling. "Well, a guy has to have his amusements."

"I shall keep you occupied from now on." James sighed, leaning forward to place a kiss on Blair's lips. "Settle yourself on the bed."

"Cool." Blair bounced onto the bed, gathering up the blankets. "Pillows." He waved his hand at the floor. James shook his head.

"I am the only pillow you need." And with that he stretched out on the bed, pulling Blair into his arms. "Listen, and do not interrupt me. I am only going to tell you this story once."

"Yes, dear." Blair patted James' chest happily. "Ready."

*

"I met Badru the summer of my twenty-fifth year. By that time, I was already a seasoned soldier. My father was quite wealthy, and I could have had a life of ease, but it did not suit me. My younger brother was the scholar, not I." James began his story slowly, one hand absently stroking Blair's back.

"Badru's the guy that made you a vamp-an immortal?" Blair asked and James grumbled. "Sorry, sorry." He dragged James' right hand close, sucking his thumb into his mouth. He didn't miss the shudder that ran through the big body.

"I-" His voice trembled slightly. "I was called Eleutherios then. The name my father gave me. That was my last summer as a mortal. After having returned from a campaign, I attended a festival in honor of Dionysos. I argued with my father about attending, but I went anyway."

"Wapfffhe?" Blair asked around the thumb in his mouth.

"Yes, Rafe was there as well. In fact, it is entirely his fault that I knew of the festivities. He was quite debauched in those days." James allowed himself to smile slightly.

//I was debauched?// Rafe protested mentally. //As I recall...//

//Hush, I'm speaking to Blair.//

"Wine flowed like water. Food was piled on trays every where. Any kind of sex you could imagine was offered. Children, boys, women, men, animals..."

"Wwanmuls?" Blair's eyes blinked widely at James.

"Do you wish to hear this or not?" James scowled at him.

Blair nipped the thumb in his mouth and then licked it thoroughly before resuming his sucking.

"Toys of every variety."

Blair's eyebrows wiggled.

"Dildos are not a new invention." James sighed patiently. Blair patted his chest.

"There was a man there that drew my attention immediately. I knew upon seeing him that I must have him." James' eyes fluttered shut as he remembered. His memories seeped into Blair and suddenly Blair was there with him, an invisible attendant.

An arrogant, over-confident Eleutherios swaggered up to the tall, dark-haired man with smoky eyes. "I must have you."

"Then I must be had." The man had laughed in reply. He set his goblet aside, and took Eleutherios' hand. He led the young man to the side of the room where gauzy curtains made see-through walls around beds of pillows.

Blair followed, though he took a chance at glancing around. He saw a woman with dark, fiery red hair ignoring the man fondling her breasts as she watched Eleutherios and his companion kneel on the bed. Her eyes flashed golden for a moment.

The two men fucked and pleasured each other for hours, trying many positions and using whatever was hand to add to their game. People watched them, some were inspired by them, and still others were enthralled.

Blair was impressed with Eleutherios' stamina. //If he was like this as a mortal...//

The image shifted around Blair and changed. It was early morning, the sun not yet having risen. The place was littered with unconscious bodies. Most of the slaves and whores had slipped off some time ago.

The man that Eleutherios had enjoyed stood up from the disheveled bed, wiping a hand down his belly. He shoved the curtain aside. Others moved, dislodging themselves from their companions. They looked to him silently.

"Bring him. The others are not worthy of our attention." He waved a hand at the sleeping Eleutherios.

The unknowing soldier was gathered up by two men, dragged between them down a long passageway and down secret stairs to a hidden, cavernous room.

"Keep him as a toy, master." The woman with the dark auburn hair murmured to Eleutherios' lover. "Surely he is not worthy of immortality."

A strong hand settled on her throat.

"Do you tell me who I can take as companion, my dear? Who is the master here and who is the child?"

She dropped her eyes. "I beg forgiveness, master. I mean only to protect you."

"I protect myself." The man laughed, shoving her away. "Arrange him on the stone."

Eleutherios was beginning to stir as he was set up on a stone altar. His wrists were manacled above his head, his legs spread and his ankles manacled as well.

"Will you share him, master?" A pale skinned, shaven acolyte stroked Eleutherios' thigh. "He is magnificent."

"What madness is this!" Eleutherios demanded, straining against the shackles.

"This is the most important moment of your life for all eternity." The master came to stand beside the stone altar. He waved a hand at the shaved interloper, and the fellow scurried out of sight.

"My name is Badru, and I offer you eternal life."

James cut off the sharing of memories then. He did not want Blair to know what pain he went through, and what madness followed those first few years of his change.

"Badru became my master. My father, my lover, my everything. For many years, I did not have a thought in my head that did not originate in his first. In time, I began to recover myself. To think and feel independently. We began to clash wills, and the rivalry with Eirene intensified."

//Intensified.// Rafe snorted.

James spoke to Rafe through the telepathic bond in a language that Blair did not understand. The end result being that Rafe did not interrupt them again.

"The Council of Elders was developed as a way to bring order to chaos." James shifted so that Blair was lying on his back, and James had his head propped up on a hand. He traced the lines of Blair's face with the index finger of his right hand. "The world was changing, we were becoming endangered. We needed a way to protect ourselves and to protect those we cared for." He brushed curls off of Blair's forehead.

"There were laws that had been passed down from the First Ones, but many ignored them. Like Badru. He went where he wanted, took what he wanted, changed those that intrigued him. He killed indiscriminately. Eirene and I questioned nothing. We did as we were told, as we were taught."

"What made you change?" Blair didn't have the thumb in his mouth any more.

"I don't know." James frowned, gazing at some middle location past Blair's head. He cocked his head, thinking. "I just remember one day waking up covered in dried blood, the sound of a child sobbing somewhere... thinking... 'enough, enough'. After that day, my break from him began."

James' gaze returned to Blair's face. He was silent for a while, staring down at the young man.

"He fought against the Council, flaunted their laws and their requests for him to face them. Then there came a day when they asked for my assistance. I felt that he had betrayed my loyalty more than once, I owed him nothing more. By holding back information and giving false information to another, Badru was taken and held before the Council. They ruled that he could not continue as he had. They knew he would not change, so he was executed. His children were freed from service to him."

The hand on Blair's chest stilled.

"I have suffered such pain as none should feel. Mortal parents have a saying that 'a parent should never outlive their children'." James eyes flickered back to Blair's face again, and Blair could clearly see -and feel- the pain. It made him choke, tears welled up in his eyes.

"She burned them alive, the bitch." He growled softly.

James rested his head on Blair's chest. "I could hear their cries, and I could not go to them. I have not taken another child since that time."

"Okay." Blair said after a long silence. "Eirene blames you for Badru's death. She killed your children." He held James tightly. "It's time to face her, man. Time to settle this thing. You can't run for ever. If we are going to have any sort of a life together, any peace, she has to be dealt with."

James' head came back up as he contemplated Blair's words. "You will stay with me?"

"Well, duh." Blair shook his head. "Don't you want me to stay with you?"

"I-" James opened and closed his mouth. He kissed Blair's chest. "Yes, I want you to stay, Blair. Of your own free will. I shall not change you. We will enjoy what time you have on this plane together."

"We'll argue about that later." He patted James' well-rounded ass. "Do you really think she had Nero killed?"

"Undoubtedly. Rafe's information is quite reliable." His heart was sore, but he was infinitely glad he had shared his beginnings with Blair. He nuzzled the chest, finding a nipple amongst the chest hair to suckle.

"Gawd!" Blair jumped as the nerves in his nipple tingled straight to his dick. He grabbed a handful of the short brown hair, and yanked the head up. "The bitch has to pay for that. Nero was a good friend of mine. He didn't deserve to die."

"None of them did, beloved." James whispered. "None of them did."

"Revenge is a dish best served cold." Blair's brow furrowed as he stared up at the ceiling. "I hope Eirene has a fur coat."

"Not as nice as the one I have." James rubbed his face in Blair's chest hair.

"You are like terminally horny, aren't you?" Blair opened his legs to the questing hand. "We have to plan strategy and you want to fuck."

"I need reassuring." James mumbled as he worked his way down Blair's abdomen.

"I need to call my friends. Shit, I have to call the school..." He gasped, but no further sound came out. A warm mouth with an incredible talented tongue latched onto his cock. "A..."

//hush, beloved.// James whispered to him mentally. //let me love you. After tonight there might not be time for a while.//

*

"You must understand that this is for your own good." Rafe shook a finger at Blair. "We have enough to contend with, we don't need them getting insulted by you misbehaving."

"Yeah, yeah." Blair muttered grumpily. "Keep my eyes on the floor, stay beside James, don't talk, if you or James sit down, then I have to sit on the floor." He glowered at James. "I'm going to need reassuring when this is done."

"Gladly." James nodded, a grin curving his lips despite the seriousness of the situation.

//Come// A voice imperiously called them into the house.

Blair was quite surprised when he saw the young man sitting in the high-backed chair by the fireplace.

"Professor Sandburg." The young looking man smiled at him happily. "It's great to see you again."

"David?" Blair stared in confusion at a former student of his. "But..."

"IDIC, prof." David Sharran chuckled. "Infinite diversity in infinite combinations. Besides, you did say I was mature for my age."

"Yeah, I just had no idea." Blair scratched his head, avoiding looking at James.

"You're here about Eirene?" David said to the immortals. "James, are you prepared to finally take care of this problem? I'm tired of this game you've been playing with her. Be a man, will you? Suck it up and face her."

"Yes, we're here..." Rafe glanced at James and then at Megan. Well, this was disconcerting.

"Yes, I wish to face Eirene." James spoke over Rafe. "She has also killed a friend of-"

"Nero? I never got what you saw in him, prof. He was such a jerk, and he used you." David clucked his tongue at Blair.

"He was my friend." Blair answered simply.

"One can't fault your sense of loyalty." David shrugged. "Okay."

"Okay?" Megan waved her hands. "That's it? Okay? I've been..."

"Look, your feud with Eirene is another thing entirely. I'm sure as hell not going to get caught up in the middle of a catfight. You want to settle your dish with her, you must apply for an audience with Mamitu." David cut her off with a wave of his hand. He stood up. "James can face Eirene tomorrow night in front of the Council. I will also support him as Blair's champion over Nero's death."

"Thank you." James nodded, inclining his head slightly.

"Thanks, man." Blair hadn't managed to stare at the floor much.

"Anytime, prof." David smiled at him. "Are you staying with James? Or are you going back to Rainier?"

"We haven't-"

"I'm staying with James." Blair elbowed James.

"Then I'll see that everything is taken care of. I'll have his stuff sent to Rafe's." He glanced up at James. "Let me warn you now, Eleutherios. I will be watching over Blair no matter where you go and what you do. See that he is well cared for and wants for nothing. For if you hurt him, I will find you. And you will pay."

He paused for a moment.

"Any questions?"

"No, sir." Echoed all around.

"Good, then." He nodded, pleased for the moment. "Go home; rest. I will send a car for you tomorrow night."

Silence reigned on the way back to Rafe's. Whenever the car stopped at a light, it seemed as if the shadows were always deepest near them. Blair felt the hair on the back of his neck bristle more than once. James' soft purring growl caused goose bumps to break out over his skin.

Food had been cooked for Blair, and he sat at the dining room table by himself. Megan and Rafe went off, arguing. James stood by a window in thought for a long moment. He joined Blair at the table eventually, sitting beside him.

"You had no idea who he was." James spoke softly, conversationally.

"No, not at all." Blair shook his head. "I knew he was smart, mature, a great student." He waved his fork in the air. "He did a terrific paper on the comparative legends of Atlantis..." Blair frowned, looking around at James. "He's not, is he?"

"From Atlantis?" James smiled and shrugged. "You'll have to ask him sometime, won't you?"

"Wow." Blair leaned back in the chair. "You know, I was expecting some hideously ugly ancient man... not a young kid like David."

"That 'young kid' is older than I am by some three thousand years." James chuckled, reaching over to brush his hand through Blair's curls. "I think if I didn't have a prior claim to you, he would have tried seducing you for himself."

"That would have been freaky." Blair smiled, leaning into the hand. "Besides, I'm into the strong, silent, mysterious type with an incredible sex drive."

"Speaking of which." James stood, pushing his chair back. "You said something about needing reassurance?"

"Uhm, yeah." Blair dropped his fork.

James held out his hand to Blair, and Blair took hold of it. He trembled, seeing that smoldering gaze in his lover's eyes. James led him off to their bedroom.

It was as if James had taken Sharran's words to heart. He cared for Blair tenderly, lovingly. They bathed in the huge bath together. He wouldn't let Blair do anything for himself. Then he laid Blair on the big bed, and massaged lotion into every inch of skin. When Blair could think straight again, James offered himself to his beloved.

"Y-you mean..." Blair blinked at James, the big man all spread out before him.

"If you want me." James smiled at him trustingly. He reached down and withdrew the dildo from his body.

"You-you..." Blair bit his lip, and gave himself a mental shake. "You prepared yourself for me." //When'd he do that?//

"Yes, my love." James waited, lying there with the most intimate parts of his body exposed. //When you were incapacitated after the bath//

When Blair didn't move, James thought perhaps he had done something wrong. He moved to sit up, but Blair held out a hand.

"I have displeased you?" James asked him.

"No." Blair whispered fiercely. "I've just never... I've always been the bottom. I've never been with a guy that was willing to bottom for me. So, I just..."

"There is a bit of a virgin in you after all." He smiled indulgently. "Then let this be a new beginning for you." James lay back down. "For us."

"Yeah." Blair nodded shakily. He eased up between James' thighs. "Did uhm... did uhm..."

"Yes, I had anal sex with Julian. It was what we did together our last night."

"Oh." Blair gulped. "This isn't our last night."

"I know." James nodded, smiling again. "Are you going to take all night or what? I want you in me, prof."

Blair slapped his thigh. "Don't get cocky with me, Jimmy."

"Excuse-" James started to protest but Blair distracted him by sliding in completely, first time, to the hilt. "Oh."

"Yeah." Blair shivered from head to toe. "Wow."

"Wow." James panted.

Much later, they lay entwined. Blair half on James, a powerful thigh between Blair's legs. He was drawing intricate patterns on James smooth, broad chest.

"The coin that you gave me- where'd that come from?" Blair asked him, his voice a bit hoarse. They had done a bit of shouting during climax.

"My grandfather gave it to me as a child. I have carried it with me all these years. It is the only thing I have left from my mortal days." He still felt a bit shaky. He had not had such overwhelming feelings during sex since... since Julian. He kissed Blair's forehead. "Sleep, beloved. We need our rest."

"You know that bath." Blair waved his hand tiredly in the direction of the bathroom.

"Yes?"

"Where-ever we end up living; we need a bath like that. And you can bathe me any damn time you want."

"Thank you." The chuckle rumbled in the deep chest.

"Anytime."

When Blair woke up several hours later, he was alone. A set of sweats were laid out on the end of the bed for him. He showered, shaved and then went in search of food and James. He found the food in the kitchen. James, he discovered after a little searching, was down in something of a gymnasium that Rafe had built in his basement.

So Blair sat on the steps with his sandwich and carton of milk, and watched James work out. In the nude.

"Greeks." He muttered to himself. "Gotta love them Greeks."

*

Eirene was incredibly beautiful. Blair had never seen a woman so astonishingly perfect before. She was tall and slim, well-muscled but unlike a weight lifter. She moved fluidly, with a cat-like grace second only to James. She had long dark auburn hair that was held back from her face in a simple black leather band.

As an anthropologist, he was having the time of his life. The paper he could write on this!

He realized right away that the vamps- er- immortals were grouped by affiliation. Each clan and even subgroup of a clan wore a specific color. No two clans repeated the exact color. Some wore flowers in their lapels. Some had silver stick pins. He was so fascinated by all of it, craning his neck around to see as much as he could, until James brought him back to reality.

James stopped walking and Blair thumped into his side. He was immediately alert to the sudden stiffening of and the low growl emanating from his lover. He looked around and that was when he saw her.

Megan growled too, and Blair saw her face change. The fangs descended, the eyes glowing red, the ears shifting and becoming pointed. He noticed, too, the lengthening of her nails.

"It is Eirene." Rafe spoke softly for Blair.

"Wow." Blair muttered, stunned.

He had never seen her before, but on a deeper level -equal perhaps to that of his memories of Julian- he recognized her. In another life, another time, he had known her. He had a very good idea that he had also died at her hands.

While she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, there was nothing delicate or gentle about her. She was cold fury, hard as steel. She looked up at them from the floor of the natural amphitheater and even Blair could hear her responding growl.

Blair- he that was always up for adventure, never one to back down from a challenge- knew when to be afraid, and accepted his inner coward. He took a step closer to James, his left hand gripping a handful of James' jacket tightly.

"She will not touch you." James assured him, looking down at him. His eyes were still glowing red, and his fangs had not retracted. He was still James, though. He stroked Blair's back. "You are protected here."

"Yeah, well." Blair frowned, glancing at James. "I don't particularly want her touching you either."

"It is hard to fight and not touch." Rafe commented. "Besides, it's been ages since they had sex. Fighting is nothing."

"Sex?" Blair stammered. His eyes going wide, he looked at Rafe and then around at James. "You had sex with her?"

Rafe chuckled, continuing to walk down the steps of the amphitheater. Megan moved silently at his side.

"A long time ago." James looked very displeased. //You shall pay for this!// He shouted mentally at Rafe.

//One debt at a time, dear boy. One at a time.// Rafe replied back, wiggling fingers at him.

"But, she- but, but-"

"Hush."

A gong sounded. All conversations -verbally, anyway- stopped and people hurried to take their places. James and Blair followed Rafe and Megan down to the first level.

James settled his hand on Blair's back. At first Blair found it irritating, as if James was proclaiming ownership and that insulted him. But on second thought, Blair decided he found it reassuring. The warmth of the hand seeping through his shirt, under the jacket, sent a delicious shiver up his spine.

//ari meth...// The words were spoken mentally, and broadcast to everyone in the amphitheater. Blair didn't understand the language and could not place the dialect, but he had James.

//This meeting has been called forth by...//

James translated for him and Blair got the idea that his touch kept the translation private.

//the High Council of Elders...//

A group of nine people walked out onto the stage and stood facing the crowd. They all wore long jet-black robes.

//...to settle matters that have been brought to Our attention...//

There was a long list -Blair assumed it was a list- of grievances. James did not translate all of it. Some clan was claiming that another clan was encroaching upon their territory. A subgroup of one clan wanted to be acknowledged, as its own clan.

Then Sharran stepped forward.

Again James translated.

//The time has come to end the feud between Badru's Children - Eirene, step forth. James, step forth.//

Without a backward glance, James stepped down to the floor of the amphitheater and walked to stand before the stage. Eirene did the same, coming to stand a few yards apart from James. She stared at him, and her hatred was nearly a palatable thing.

Two large men in black suits took up position on either side of Blair. He looked nervously at them and around at Rafe.

//Blair, be at ease. These men are my own. They are for your protection.// Sharran spoke to him.

Blair swallowed nervously, giving him a slight nod in reply.

//This shall be a fight to the death. The one that falls and does not stand up again shall be tossed to the flames, their ashes scattered to the wind. Do you agree to this judgment?//

//The one that survives claims the other's worldly possessions.// Eirene lifted her chin defiantly, staring up at Sharran without fear.

//This is an old tradition, passed down into Law.// Sharran frowned at her. //James isn't dead yet, Eirene. Should he be the one to lose, two things will happen.//

James had stopped translating for Blair, but he still understood what was being said. He realized that it was Sharran, not so much translating but giving him the language. Wow Blair blinked as he watched the scene before him, Immortals have cool abilities

//One- his mortal lover will come under my protection. Two- if you have the audacity to survive, I shall kill you myself.//

Blair did not meet the gasp that rippled through the audience.

//You dare protest a ruling of the Council. You dare judge our ruling over Badru!// Sharran growled.

Eirene frowned, her chin lowered only a notch but she suddenly had an idea that she was in trouble.

//Do you so agree to this judgement?//

//Aye!// Eirene snarled.

//Aye!// James bowed.

//We should have stopped you ages ago, but James did not come to us for help. So be it. It's time now to settle this matter. Let the fight begin.//

That was it. The fight began. No gong, no adjusting of clothing. One second they were standing there facing Sharran, and the next thing Blair knew, James and Eirene were fighting.

He could hardly watch what happened as they moved far too fast for human eyes. There were spins and kicks that would have put Keanu Reeves in Matrix to shame. James gave Eirene no quarter for being female. She gave as good as she got. More than once, Blair was stunned to see James still moving. If there had been a chair to sit in, Blair would have fainted into it.

How could he survive this? Surely she would kill him.

Then just when Blair thought Eirene would collapse, she pulled a knife. A gleaming, wickedly long knife. She slashed at James once, twice... James grabbed her arm, twisted and the blade sunk deep into Eirene's chest. He stepped back from her, and only Blair saw that his step was unsteady.

In slow motion, Eirene fell forward.

Blair's eyes were on James, and the immortal slowly raised his gaze to his lover. Without hesitation, Blair rushed down to James and caught him as the immortal sunk down to the ground.

"Blair, Blair..." James whispered, bruised and battered.

"Hush, love." Blair held him tightly. "It's over now."

//Take the body. Prepare it for the fire.// Sharran ordered as he lithely jumped down from the stage. He walked over to James and Blair. //James, do you claim Eirene's worldly possessions?//

//No.// James curtly shook his head. //I want nothing of hers.//

//Then ownership reverts to the Council.// He leveled his gaze at a small group of nervous looking punks. Sharran flicked his wrist. //Take them into holding.//

Sharran's men in black suits escorted Eirene's followers out of the amphitheater.

"Will you take Blair as your lifemate?" Sharran asked, a bit of David the Student showing through.

"If he will have me." James replied, looking up at Blair.

"Blair? It is not a decision to make lightly." Sharran smiled at his former professor.

"I made it centuries ago. I want to be with James forever." Blair smiled back at him, and then to James. "We are so going to discuss your high-handed behavior though. I'm not playing your wifey. Either we are equal in this union or..."

"Wifey?" James blinked. "You will explain this to me."

"Gentlemen." Sharran laughed. "Later."

*

Epilogue

The young man was stretched out on the huge king size plus bed. The sheets and covers had been tossed to the floor hours ago. He was nude, lying on his stomach. His curly brunette locks were a wild mane around his head and down his back.

Moonlight streamed into the bedroom through the west floor to ceiling glass wall. The moon was full tonight and illuminated the desert spectacularly. If James focused his sight, he could see coyotes chasing a rabbit across the valley floor.

He turned to his sleeping companion and smiled. They had been together for over a year now. There had not been one day or night that they had been apart. That wasn't to say they got along a 100% of the time. Blair was not one to sit by idly and let others guide his life. So, they butt heads from time to time. They argued, they discussed, they worked things out and moved on.

The make-up sex, James had to admit, was unbelievable.

Which was hard to believe that it could be any better than regular sex.

Regular sex? He laughed at the thought. Blair's intense personality colored all aspects of his life. He never held back for James.

Rafe had made comments in the beginning that James could not survive a monogamous relationship. He wasn't surviving.

He was thriving.

He walked over to the edge of the bed. It was almost as if he hadn't really started to exist until he and Blair had bonded.

//Beloved, are you going to sleep all night?//

Blair grumbled, hiding his face in the pillow.

//I started a bath.//

"Hot?" Blair mumbled verbally, shifting around a bit.

//Just the way you like it.//

"Bubbles?"

//A man of my advanced years should not be...//

"Bubbles?" The face appeared under strands of dark curls, the lips curved into a sensual smile.

"Yes, bubbles." James sighed.

"You love the bubbles." Blair laughed, sitting up and shoving the hair out of his face.

"No." James shook his head, holding out a hand. "I love you. I tolerate the bubbles."

"I'll make it worth your while." He promised as he took James' hand and letting the bigger man pull him up off the bed.

"Promise?" James purred, leaning down to nibble delicately on Blair's neck just below his ear. Blair's body pressed up against him and he moaned.

"Oh, yeah, man." Blair panted. "Promise."

"Then I suggest you bring the lube to the bathroom..." James stepped away from Blair, walking backwards towards the bathroom.

"We had one in there-"

"We finished that one yesterday."

"Okay, okay."

With lube in hand, and only pausing a moment, Blair hurried into the bathroom. The entire house amazed him. He didn't care how long he lived here it still left him stunned. Most apartments that he had lived in as a student had been smaller than the master bathroom. Hell, most houses he had lived in with his mom and eight other free spirits had been smaller than the bathroom.

Every candle in this bathroom -and there were close to 100- was lit. James was already in the bathtub, sipping from a goblet with a ruby red wine.

Blair walked seductively to the tub, setting the lube down on the side, and stepped in. He gave a delicious shiver at the heat. James held up a hand to him and Blair used it to balance himself as he sat down over the bubble-hidden lap. The younger man leaned close and kissed his partner.

"Have I told you I love you lately?"

"Not since sundown. I was beginning to feel unwanted." James' eyes closed as Blair teased his cock with his own. Sliding against each other in the hot water, it felt as if they hadn't made love for days.

"James." Blair purred as he nipped James' bottom lip. "I love you."

//And I, you.// James replied as he set the goblet aside.

"Forever? It's a long time. Can you do forever? Especially with me. I can be overwhelming." The former anthropology student rolled his hips over James' groin. His hands weren't idle- his fingers were gently working James' nipples.

//Forever!// James growled, reaching to grab the lube on the side of the tub only to have it fall down into the water.

Blair laughed at the man's frustration, holding on to him as James practically dove under the water to find the errant tube.

"Man, I love you!" Then he whispered to James, //I already did it. I'm ready.//

James straightened up immediately, water sloshing out onto the floor. He saw the look on Blair's face and smiled, slowly.

"I can live with loving you forever, Blair. If you hadn't wanted to stay with me... I would have died."

"Silly man." Blair gave him a quick, light kiss. "Like I would ever leave you!"

"I'm glad you didn't." James smiled then. A bright, full smile the likes of which only Blair ever saw. "Now, what of this promise?"

"All you ever think about is sex!" He rose up a little, flexing those magnificent thigh muscles, and waited for James to position himself. Then with incredible control, he slowly lowered himself onto his lover's penis. It didn't matter how many times they did this, they both always reacted the same. James growled low in his throat and Blair moaned.

James gazed up at Blair, leaning back against the tub. "Oh, no. I think of other things. I think about traveling with you. I have been around the world a dozen times, but not with you. There are paintings in the Louvre that I want to show you. I worry about you regretting leaving Rainier; leaving your life behind to stay with me."

"James." Blair shook his head.

"Yes, Blair?"

"You think too much. Just think about sex. Sex is good." Blair chuckled as he rolled his hips again. James gasped and arched up.

"Sex with you, my love, is not good." James arched an eyebrow. "Sex with you is amazing."

"Why, thank you."

"You are most..." His eyelids fluttered shut again. "...most welcome."

"Man, I'm good." He kept his promise. He always kept his promises. "It's a good thing we are immortal."

James managed to choke out a, "Why?"

"Brain cells, baby! All the brain cells we kill doing this!"

"Ah." And that was the last coherent thing James said for several hours.

The lonely heart, you see, wasn't lonely anymore.

End The Lonely Heart by Mererid: mereridkat@aol.com

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