****
“The book has been locked down and placed in the sub-basement containment area. It’s safe until you can transfer it to a more suitable location.” Silas informed the Master.
"Good work." He said, and then added. "Post an around the clock guard to watch over it. I don't want to take a chance on it starting to bleed."
“Yes, sir.”
"What is your take on Tarek Azar?" He handed Silas a whiskey and motioned for him to take a seat, and Louis sat across from him.
"Word is he's beloved of Cal Ashford, the guard who saved him," Silas commented.
"That is true, and he is also a Liminal.”
"That would come in handy in his line of work," Silas said, and the Master nodded.
“Relic hunters are not considered pillars of society by far, but I don’t get the ‘do anything for a buck’ impression from Tarek Azar. If that were true, he would not have risked his life to bring the Severine Codex to us.” Silas shook his head and took a sip of his whiskey. “I believe he is a man with limits and boundaries to his bad behaviors.” He smiled. “He could prove to be very useful for us in the future.”
“Yes, I agree his skills will come in handy, and I believe Cal will be a good influence," Louis stated.
“Beloveds always are. Just look at us.” He quipped and laughed. “Wolf, Ezra, and Easton have made us better men by far, and Cal will do the same for Tarek."
“Fate always has a plan.” They both agreed.
****
They'd enjoyed the night, having made love several times before exhaustion took them both out. Cal was in a state of pure joy, having his beloved marked and claimed and near ready to begin a life together. There were still a few points to iron out, but the mutual regard they held, which had become very clear throughout the night, would see them through anything.
Tarek lay with his head on his shoulder and his leg tossed across Cal's hips. They'd held each other throughout, notwanting to be too far apart, as their new bond snapped into place and their new awareness burned through them.
"Good morning," Cal said when Tarek opened his eyes and began to stretch.
"Good morning." He said and smiled the smile of someone who had been thoroughly fucked throughout the night. He then moved up onto one elbow and placed a heated kiss on Cal's lips. "I love the way you taste."
“It doesn’t compare to you, my love.” Cal shot back and he placed a kiss on the claiming scar which caused a sensual tremor to pass through Tarek.
"Speaking of that," Tarek began with a stern look. "When you fed from me, the experience was amazing, out of this world, off the charts, so to say." He paused for a moment. "I don't want you giving that experience to anyone but me." Cal started to laugh, but Tarek hurried on with his statement. "I don't know if this is a lot to ask, but it's very important to me."
Cal rolled, took Tarek full into his arms, and kissed him. "You have nothing to worry about, my love. Once a vampire finds their beloved, no other will suffice. I cannot feed from another because only you fulfill me." Tarek looked at him deeply, his mind working it out.
“We have to stay close; you’ll need me to be near.” His words possessed a touching concern.
"Always, but as far as feeding, I can go up to two weeks between feedings before I start to get weak. Everything will work out, trust me, my love." Cal kissed him again, and Tarek reciprocated eagerly.
"I'll need you to feed more than once every two weeks," Tarek said firmly and rolled his hips suggestively against Cal's thigh.
"It's just as thrilling for me, sweetheart, trust me, I'll be imbibing often. You make my blood burn and my heart race with every look and every touch and every taste." He took Tarek's lips in another hard, possessive kiss, devouring the moans and groans and eating away the perfect sweetness.
After several minutes, he pulled back. "How about a nice shower, and then we can pull together some breakfast." He asked while feeling his beloved's hardness riding his hip with an urgency he was also feeling.
"Sounds like a great idea," Tarek said and jumped from the bed, grabbed Cal's hand, and pulled him hurriedly toward the bathroom door. He loved how open and eager he was and how he did not second guess the relationship. Tarek was exactly who he presented himself to be; he didn't try to deceive Cal, and for that, he was very thankful.
Tarek instantly started regulating the water, but never let go of Cal's hand. The young man had a streak of possessiveness that Cal loved. Cal dropped a wet, open-mouth kiss to Tarek's shoulder and watched him tremble and sigh. "I cannot get enough of you, my love.” He whispered and kissed him again and reached over to cup his groin and massage his balls before gently stroking his hot, swollen cock.
“I’m going to come before we ever get in the shower.” Tarek panted out the words.
“Then you need to hurry.” Cal teased and tightened his grip.
CHAPTER FIVE
