Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

A stark alarm clock shrieked in total darkness, and Zayne groaned as he shot a blast of ice at it in frustration. The plastic clock went silent as it toppled off of the nightstand encased in a thick cocoon of blue-tinted ice. Zayne dragged a hand down his face and released the ice to try to save the clock. It was only doing its job, and he really didn’t want to bother buying another one.

It felt as though he’d just fallen asleep. His body was sore and fatigued from the night before. He could have just slept at the hospital. Zayne’s eyes opened begrudgingly, knowing that if he closed them for too long, he’d simply fall asleep again. He forced himself to roll out of bed, and shook out his limbs.

Everything seemed like too much effort, and yet he propelled himself forward into the kitchen section of his efficiency unit to brew a pot of coffee while he dressed. He inspected his refrigerator and grabbed his last protein drink to chug down while the coffee pot began to beep at him.

Zayne checked his phone for his schedule as he poured his first cup, shoveling an obscene amount of sugar into the black coffee. What he really wanted was a creme brulee latte with three extra shots of espresso from the shop next door, but he shook his head at the thought. He needed to save money. He was out of food, and the offerings they gave to residents in Ahkso Teaching hospital were abysmal aside from lunch. He couldn’t just live on lunch forever.

He looked around at his shitty efficiency apartment. 300 square feet of space. Barely 28 meters. The size of a single-car garage. Zayne saw a skitter from the corner of his eye and pointed his finger at it with precision. Another mouse. He sighed, going to pick up the encapsulated rodent from the floor.

Management had been horrible with pest control. Zayne sipped his coffee and looked out of his window from the second floor, dropping the cube to the street when he saw no one walking the sidewalk. Eyeing it, he dispelled his Evol and the mouse moved again with a shrill squeak, unaware of where it was, and then scurried away. He’d have to write yet another note to management.

Zayne checked his watch and sighed, dashing out the door as soon as his sneakers were on his feet.

“You okay?” Greyson said at 4pm as he joined Zayne at the table in the cafeteria. Zayne flinched, straightening and blinking rapidly.

Zayne was trying to maintain his stoic demeanor and act like he could handle anything. What it amounted to was Zayne wolfing down a sandwich, a banana and a cup of yogurt before falling asleep on his folded arms at the table before he could finish his coffee.

“I’m fine.” Zayne said somewhat defensively, nodding to Greyson. Greyson was his junior, a first year under Zayne’s second year education. Greyson had been nothing but positive to him, and no matter how awkward Zayne had been with their interactions, he’d been insistent on becoming his friend. Asking Zayne for advice, running scenarios with him, quizzing him when Zayne asked him to, and becoming his defacto lunch partner when their schedules aligned.

Zayne eyed Greyson’s lunch suspiciously; takeout he’d run out to grab and scarf down here in the cafeteria in the event he was paged. He unwrapped artisan sushi, perfectly fresh. And set down a cardboard coffee cup that smelled suspiciously like a creme brulee latte. Furthermore, Greyson was peppy. Too peppy.

“What’s your secret?” Zayne said dismally. “What’s got you so together? Two months ago, you were miserable and living off of ramen.”

Greyson blushed, finishing a bite of sushi.

“I’ve been giving blood.” he said, breaking eye contact sheepishly. Zayne quirked an eyebrow.

“Plasma?” he asked curiously. Greyson shook his head and lowered his voice as if telling a secret.

“No, the other kind of blood donation.” he whispered. Zayne frowned. Oh.

“That’s dangerous, Greyson. They could kill you.” Zayne said, folding his arms in front of his chest.

“Listen, it pays the bills. If you get a contract with a high-roller, it’s worth the risk. You’d be surprised how good it can feel.” Greyson said defensively. “They’re not animals, Zayne.”

“But they’re not human either.” Zayne argued. “They’re predators, the next step in the food chain. Vampires.”

“And they enjoy throwing their money around.” Greyson said between bites of his lunch. “Can you really say you’re not curious?”

“I have no interest in selling my body.” Zayne huffed. Greyson rolled his eyes. He plucked a piece of sushi off of his plate and slid it onto Zayne’s plate with a click of his chopsticks.

“You make it sound so scandalous. It’s easy money. If you decide to stop being so judgmental about it, then come with me to a donor party. My patron knows a lot of the other fat cats looking for a donor, I can introduce you. Even if it’s just a one-time deal for you.” Greyson offered. Zayne’s stomach growled at the piece of sushi on his plate. He sighed, and popped it into his mouth.

___

Zayne adjusted his blue tie uncomfortably as he walked through the extravagantly manicured gardens towards the mansion. There had been a hole in his suit jacket, leaving him in a black button up with cuffs rolled to his forearm and tailored vest and slacks that seemed to only get looser as time went on. Residency would be the death of him if this monumentally bad idea of Greyson’s didn’t kill him first.

It was just a one-time occurrence. That’s what he told himself. Just enough credits to make rent and still have enough for groceries this week. The idea of being nothing more than a blood bag, an object to these creatures was harrowing. His pride was bruised already and he hadn’t even walked through the door.

Zayne paused to admire the huge mansion in front of him. In the dark of the night, a warm glow of romantic goldlighting beckoned him through the windows. That warm lighting contrasted with the polished, classic gothic aesthetic of the house itself. Zayne ascended the stone steps in the front to meet Greyson.

“I wondered if you were gonna bail on me.” Greyson said with a smile. Zayne shrugged.

“Let’s get this over with.” he muttered. “Tell me how this works.”

They walked through the open door and down the entrance hallway as Greyson chattered. If Zayne consented to a one-time feed, he’d be paid for tonight only. From there, if he liked the experience, he could exchange contact information with a patron to be a regular donor at a set price. Zayne felt as though he was auctioning himself off to the highest bidder, and nervousness pooled in his core right alongside the hunger.

The house was just as beautiful and haunting on the inside. A blend of modern clean lines mingled with classic touches of gold and deep red effortlessly. Classic art adorned the walls along with several antique weapons mounted between the frames. The owner of this house seemed to have an affinity for crows.

Greyson led him with experienced strides to a set of open double-doors and a grand ballroom. Music was playing seductively through the air over a large dance floor, and the lights were warm and low against the golden walls, decorated opulently with filigree moulding. Suddenly Zayne felt incredibly underdressed in front of the kaleidoscope of Lavish ballgowns both mysterious and tempting, fine suits in a blur of colors. He suddenly felt the weight of several pairs of eyes from the crowd looking at him.

From a distance, a vampire was hard to distinguish from a human. Up close and side by side with the living, Zayne could immediately gauge the difference. Everything from the way their eyes sparkled and followed movement to the way they held themselves was regal and proud. They moved fluidly like water in the crowd, dancing and mingling without a care in the world.

Zayne swallowed nervously.

“You gotta stay calm, they can hear your heartbeat.” Greyson said from beside him. Zayne gave him an incredulous look. How on earth was that supposed to be comforting? At the entrance was a table set with an array of bracelets, all the same design and in four different colors: bronze, silver, gold, and black.

“What are these?” Zayne asked, examining a black bracelet. Greyson slipped a silver bracelet on his own wrist, and Zayne noticed a human passing by on the arm of a vampire with one in black.

“Those are for us, each one means something different. Black, for example, means…” Greyson trailed off in the middle of his sentence. His grey eyes looked glassy, as if he was suddenly drunk, and a deep pink dusted his cheeks and the tips of his ears. For a moment, Zayne swore he saw a glimmer of gold cross his eyes, but it could have been a trick of the light.

“Are you alright?” Zayne said, leaning in to examine his eyes. Greyson turned his head to the dancefloor and Zayne followed his gaze to a very tall woman with deep skin and a stunning silk dress of midnight blue staring directly at Greyson with glowing silver eyes. Greyson walked towards her in a daze, leaving Zayne at the table alone.

Zayne rolled his eyes. One of the many skills in a vampire’s arsenal was the ability to thrall humans, a semi-hypnotic state meant to increase suggestibility and arousal. Perfect for luring someone into a trap. As Greyson approached the woman in blue, she pulled back the sleeve of his suit to check at a still-healing bite mark with a smile on her face. Zayne sighed. He was on his own.

He wasn’t sure which bracelet he should choose, so he took the black one he was holding with him to fiddle with between his fingers as he forced himself further into the room. He felt several people watching him, their eyes hunting him like prey. Zayne spotted a table set with a decadent spread of food; fine cheeses and oysters that must have cost a pretty penny were only the start of the decadent spread. Zayne popped a lobster puff into his mouth and sighed. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d had something so rich. Even if this evening was a waste, at least he’d go home fed.

“Well aren’t you a pretty thing?” said a voice at his ear. Zayne jumped, and felt a hand caress his waist. He looked over at a beautiful man with deathly pale skin and bright blue eyes. His lips curled into a smile to show off his fangs. Another hand reached to caress his cheek, Zayne turned to see a woman with red hair and a golden dress.

“Black bangle. How brave you are little human.” she teased him. Zayne felt his cheeks go red, and he would have been outraged if he wasn’t so panicked at the feeling of a third set of hands on him, running over his arm and groping at his backside.

“Hold on.” he said, voice wavering and face anxious as they pawed at him. Another set of hands joined the mix and he felt like he was drowning. Lips brushed over his neck, his hands were pressed against someone’s breast. He tried to walk forward, to push the man at his side away but he was held fast by an impressive strength. “There’s been a mistake.”

“Oh come on, won’t you play with us?” the first man said, and a gold glow streaked his eyes. Zayne felt his head go fuzzy and his limbs go slack. His face relaxed and a warmth filled his body. He tried to move his muscles, tried to scream and fight against the intoxicating feeling of the thrall, but he couldn’t seem to move his own body. A voice trickled into his mind as the hand on his waist began to guide him away against his will.

Be a good boy, and we’ll make sure you’re taken care of, little dove…

“What do you think you’re doing?” a deep velvet voice interrupted his thoughts. He felt the vampires around him stiffen and pause. Zayne glanced over to see the most attractive man he’d ever seen.

He was very tall, and clothed in a black suit with a deep red jacket that looked expensive enough to cover Zayne’s rent for a month. His angular jaw was tensed and his mouth was pulled into a slight frown. Silver hair dusted his strong brows, furrowed at the group. Deep red eyes stared at the vampires trying to lead Zayne away from the crowd, and they did not look happy.

“No problems here.” the man said with a flashy smile, tugging Zayne by the waist. Zayne’s expression was blank and his mind struggled to process the words being spoken around him. Please don’t let them take me. I need to get out of here, please help me he screamed silently.

“He’s got a black bracelet.” one of the women said with a nervous smile, cupping Zayne’s ass. “Just a little fun.”

“He’s holding it, not wearing it, you imbeciles.” the tall man said with an edge of warning in his dusky voice.

“Oh come on Sylus, what would you even do with him? You’re so picky it’s a wonder you haven’t starved.”

“Get out.” the man called Sylus said, nodding for the door. “He doesn’t look like he wants to go with you.”

“Doesn’t look like he’s protesting to me…” the blue-eyed vampire said with a sly smile, leaning over to place a kiss on Zayne’s jawline. Zayne tried to react, but the most he could do was squeeze his eyes shut.

Sylus hissed, face pulling into a ferocious threat; his strong noise went rigid, and his plush lips curled back over his teeth to show his fangs like a panther threatening its prey. His right eye glowed oppressively and his shoulders tensed as though he was going to pounce. He was terrifying, glaring at them with a wild, animal, authority.

Zayne felt his fog lift as the four sets of hands upon him suddenly let him go to slink away as fast as they could. He felt unsteady, and his head rushed, leading him to be clumsy on his feet. He felt himself trip and braced himself to fall when two large hands caught him around the waist before he could hit the ground. The fearsome red eyes captured Zaynes, and softened.

“Are you alright?” he asked gently.

Zayne was speechless, lost in his otherworldly features. He nodded slowly. He slowly helped Zayne back into a standing position and Zayne took a few deep breaths to calm himself down. He felt Sylus pluck something out of his hand and remembered he’d been holding a black bracelet.

“Is this your first time?” Sylus asked him. Zayne nodded again, fingers pinching the bridge of his nose to chase away the lingering haze. Sylus raised his hand and snapped his fingers. One of the waiters carrying a beverage tray full of glasses rushed over to offer Zayne a glass of water. “Of all the mistakes to make, this was not the one.”

“What is black?” Zayne asked between grateful sips of his water. Sylus chuckled.

“It means you’re open to group feeding.” he said. Zayne shuddered. “Did you really come alone for your first donor party? That’s like a rabbit walking right into a trap.”

“Of course I didn’t.” Zayne snapped defensively, motioning with his chin across the dance floor to Greyson, who was very clearly still thralled with his head thrown back as the woman in blue drank from his wrist. Sylus let out another velvet-toned laugh.

“My condolences, Annika is rather possessive when it comes to attention.” he grinned. He reached for Zayne’s wrist to slide on a bangle of silver. “Silver means “taken.” This way no one will bother you, Rabbit.”

Zayne cringed at the name.

“Why do I feel like you’ve just placed the snare on my ankle yourself?” Zayne asked him with a narrow look. Sylus offered him a smirk, and raised Zayne’s hand to his mouth to give a chaste kiss to his knuckles. His scarlet eyes locked on Zayne’s emerald ones before he pulled back and turned on his heel to disappear into the crowd.

Is anyone going to tell me what the other colors mean!? Zayne thought, exasperated. He turned back to the table of food with his water and took a breath. He people watched, taking in the way that vampires and humans interacted. Some led their humans away by the hand and into privacy, others fed brazenly on the dance floor. Others actually kissed each other, sweet and romantic. Zayne was finally feeling steady again, and true to Sylus’ word, no one bothered him.

After an hour on his own Zayne felt Sylus’ presence before he saw him, looming and dark, but not as threatening as he looked.

“Feeling better?” he asked. Zayne nodded.

“Yes. Thank you, for earlier. I’ve never been thralled before. I don’t enjoy it.” he said tersely. Sylus smirked.

“It feels pleasurable if you want it. To unwilling prey it’s similar to sleep paralysis.” Sylus explained. “Are you having fun now?”

“The music leaves much to be desired, and the lighting is a tad dim, but I think I’ve figured it out.” Zayne said, holding up his bracelet. “Gold means “looking for an arrangement” while bronze means “one transaction only.”

“Impressive, Rabbit.” Sylus said with a nod. “You’re a natural. I wonder what color you should have been wearing from the start.”

“Bronze.” Zayne said, but Sylus caught the faint hint of hesitancy in his voice. With a sharp smile, Sylus reached down to Zayne’s wrist and looped a long finger in the space of his silver bangle, leaning over to whisper in his ear.

“Personally, I think you look more radiant in silver.” he murmured. The hairs on the back of Zayne’s neck stood up and a chill ran through his muscles. Zayne swallowed, and a heat pooled in his stomach.

“Then what a shame it is that you’re apparently a picky eater.” Zayne murmured back, turning his head to look at Sylus head on. Their noses were almost touching, and Zayne was lost in the curl of Sylus’ long eyelashes. Sylus grinned at him and pulled away, drinking in the sight of Zayne looking away, flustered.

“I’m not picky, I simply appreciate flavor. Passion. At the very least, organic desire.” Sylus told him.

“And you hope to find that at one of these parties?”

“Only the ones I throw.” Sylus replied smugly, giving Zayne a pointed look. What Sylus expected to happen was a look of fear; he expected the human in front of him to apologize, look away and brace for the wrath of a scorned host who happened to have the power to drain him dry. Instead, Zayne’s pretty eyes widened slightly in recognition, and he nodded curtly.

“At least the food is good.” Zayne said, taking a bit out of a fresh fig. Sylus smiled wickedly. He liked this human.

“Aren’t you worried about offending your host in his own home?” Sylus teased him. Zayne shrugged and brought his thumb to his lips to lick off a remnant taste of the fruit.

“Would you rather I lied to you?” Zayne said. This time it was Sylus’ turn to feel a rush of excitement. He reached for Zayne’s hand again, and Zayne didn’t pull away.

“If you were meant to be wearing bronze, perhaps I can help you with your “one time transaction” as you so clinically put it.” Sylus crooned, eyeing Zayne up and down. Zayne returned his smirk.

“How do I know you won’t exsanguinate me, hmm?” Zayne said coyly, watching as Sylus brought his hand to his mouth as if to kiss it again. “You helped me before, what if it was all an act to lure me in?”

Sylus chuckled, shaking his head. He tightened his grip around Zayne’s wrist in a warning.

“Careful Rabbit. Don’t get cocky.” he purred.

Sylus opened his mouth, letting his fangs slide free and bit down on Zayne’s thumb. Just hard enough to draw blood. A pin prick. Zayne flinched in surprise, but Sylus held him fast as he sealed his lips around the drop of blood at Zayne’s thumb, lapping at the blood with a hot pass of his tongue. His eyes closed as if he was deep in thought, and squeezed the skin around the cut with his front teeth to taste him again.

Zayne stared at him, and shuddered at the sight. Another hot flush washed over him as Sylus appraised his taste. He felt his pants tighten when Sylus left out a soft sigh.

“So much potential.” Sylus said with a sigh, licking the corner of his lips. “But you’re running bitter. Too tense.”

“Then why wouldn’t you just thrall me like the others?” Zayne asked, more out of curiosity.

“Because you don’t want me to.” Sylus said simply. “Without letting go, you’ll taste bitter. Without your acceptance, you’re wasted in terms of flavor.”

Zayne realized that Sylus was still holding his hand. His hold was firm but light enough to allow Zayne to pull back if he wanted to.

“Want to get away from the crowd?” Sylus asked him.

Zayne nodded, heat in his cheeks, unsure of what to expect next. He let Sylus lead him out of the room and up the stairs to a bedroom, decorated in blacks and dark reds with impeccably classic taste. He felt himself tense up at the sight of silk sheets. What was he doing here?

“I can hear your heartbeat. Relax.” Sylus said, running his thumb over Zayne’s hand. “Nothing will happen here that you don’t desire. I’m a predator, not a monster.”

Sylus reached for Zayne’s face and came closer, brushing his lips over Zayne’s, just barely. Zayne swallowed, feeling himself twitch in his slacks.

“What about fear? Do you have an appreciation for fear?” he breathed, bringing a hand to Sylus’ chest and finding no heartbeat there. Unconsciously, he slipped his fingers inside of Sylus’ jacket.

“Mm. In some cases, yes.” Sylus purred, raising a hand to loosen Zayne’s tie. “But you’re not afraid, you’re worried.”

Zayne felt the buttons on his shirt being undone slowly, and his skin tingled wherever Sylus’ fingers happened to brush by. The tension was agonizing, electrifying between them. All Sylus was waiting for was for Zayne to make the first move. Zayne ran a hand up Sylus’ chest, fingers gliding up his throat to hold his face in his hand. His skin was cool to the touch, but he still felt alive underneath his fingers.

“And what would I possibly have to be worried about?” Zayne asked him, keeping his eye contact as Zayne opened the buttons on his vest. Sylus smirked, leaning to brush their noses together.

“You're worried…” Sylus whispered, pushing Zayne’s vest over his shoulders to let it fall to the ground. “...that you’re already under my spell.”

Zayne couldn’t wait anymore. He pulled Sylus forward, kissing him much harder than he’d meant to, crashing their lips together with heated ferocity. He smelled like amber and midnight, he tasted like sin. Money was the furthest thing from Zayne’s mind as he touched and let himself be touched.

Sylus felt his hunger flare and his mouth water. He liked this one. Fierce, captivating, cunning. His floral scent was enchanting, and the taste of chocolate on his tongue was even better. He let his hands rove over Zayne’s chest, pushing the material of his shirt away from his shoulder with graceful precision. He felt Zayne nip at his lip like a rabbit and he smirked.

Sylus traced the area on top of his shoulder as a first signal to Zayne of where he’d bite. He preferred the trap area unless he was looking to kill, and the primal satisfaction of leaving a mark near the head was delicious to him in a way he had no explanation for. He lowered his hands to Zayne’s waist and guided him gently into the wall of his bedroom to brace his back against. He tipped up Zayne’s chin with his hand to lay another hungry kiss on his lips.

Sylus didn’t know his Rabbit’s name, but he was entranced. The way his clothes draped half off of him, the way those exquisite green eyes dared him, the hair falling over his brow and the way he panted for him was engaging his primal side. Sylus’ eyes darkened at the idea that someone could have taken Zayne away and robbed him of this opportunity in the first place, but he leveled his breathing and whispered gently.

“Do you want it, Rabbit?” Sylus murmured, kissing his jaw and feathering his lips over the jugular vein that would shred like paper under his teeth. He felt Zayne tense with this knowledge, and he grinned as he placed a kiss in the area of muscle between his shoulder cap and neck. His voice lowered to a husky purr. “Do you want me to catch you?”

Zayne closed his eyes, panting underneath him wantonly. He raised a hand to cup the back of Sylus' neck to urge him forward, fingers reaching up to tangle in his soft silver hair.

“That’s doctor to you.” Zayne said in a hoarse voice, leaning his head to the left to give Sylus the access he needed.

Sylus let his fangs come forward, heavy in his mouth, and felt his eyes go entirely back except for the lone red glow of his right eye. A soft hiss came from his chest that made Zayne hold back a moan, and Sylus slid his fangs into his shoulder with one fluid motion. He felt Zayne tense with pain before going slack under the pleasure.

It only hurt for a moment, but then a cool calm pooled across Zayne’s awareness and he relaxed. A deep ripple of pleasure arced like light inside of him and burst onto his skin on fractal patterns of frost at the base of his neck and along his sides. He shuddered at the feeling of Sylus drinking; swallowing gulp after gulp of him with a drunken passion. It was flattering in a way he didn’t have words for.

Sylus was holding him securely; one arm wound softly over his waist and the other reaching to his left hand to twine their fingers together, hooking his thumb under the silver bracelet he’d slipped onto his wrist. It was warm, it was soft, and Zayne’s grip tightened on Sylus’ hair. It felt safe

Flavor bloomed over Sylus’s tongue like decadence, and the sensation of warmth hitting his mouth and sliding down his throat like silk had his eyes rolling back. The notes were so close to perfect for him like a fine vintage wine. Plum, spice, a hint of black pepper, something like cocoa…Sylus wanted more. He wanted to feel the flavor develop in him. He wanted to keep talking to him, to pushing him to his limits but cradle him if he fell. His perfect prey. His curious Rabbit.

Sylus forced himself off of Zayne with a light sucking noise, using his tongue to clean his shoulder as much as he could. He faced Zayne again; lips crimson with blood and eye glowing in delight. Zayne faced him with the same hunger, and the speed of their heavy breathing synched together.

In the moment, they both knew that the silver bracelet wouldn’t be changing to bronze anytime soon.

Chapter Text

Zayne pulled his earbuds from his ears to tuck them into a case and slip them into his bag. He rooted around for the key to the front door of the massive mansion he’d approached with such fear six months ago. A smile played on his face. It had been a good day; he’d been the lead on a minor heart surgery for the first time and to top it off, he got to end his night properly with the vampire he’d first been so taken by at a shady party. It seemed absurd to think of it that way now, but it didn’t bother Zayne no matter how many times Greyson teased him about it.

He entered the mansion, dimly lit in the entrance hallway, and he pulled out a silver bangle from his bag to secure around his wrist. There was no one to perform for or ward away, but Zayne knew that Sylus liked seeing it on him. Zayne abandoned his shoes along with his bag and stepped forward quietly, not bothering to announce his presence. Sylus knew he was here.

Zayne hadn’t even made it through the front hall when he felt hands on his body. Sylus stood behind him, appearing silently like a shadow. He grinned as he nosed at Zayne’s neck to catch his scent from the source and ran his hands over Zayne’s torso, long fingers teasing over his abs and chest.

“Skipping pleasantries tonight, Sylus?” Zayne said with an amused smile. Sylus turned his head to nip at his jawline.

“Never.” Sylus purred. “But you reek, Rabbit. You smell like someone else’s blood.”

“I came from work.” Zayne explained, turning to face Sylus with a small smile in victory. “I was the lead on a CABG today.”

“Impressive.” Sylus crooned, leaning forward to slot their lips together.

“You have no idea what a CABG is, do you?” Zayne murmured in between deep kisses.

“Not a clue.” Sylus whispered, running long fingers through Zayne’s hair while the doctor rolled his eyes. “Come. I’ll draw you a bath.”

Sylus was gone from the room faster than Zayne could blink, and he was left standing with his arms holding air and the ghost of sensation against his lips. He huffed, turning towards the stairs. Vampires and their dramatics. Zayne thought as he climbed the stairs to the second floor. He remembered the first time he came back to this house, how jumpy and skittish he was.

Sometimes they’d simply have dinner together. Sylus had pressed him for what he liked to eat and made a show of keeping Zayne well fed and hydrated. Sometimes it was more cerebral, and they played chess or simply talked. Other times, they had the most earth-shattering sex Zayne had ever experienced. He wasn’t sure how he was ever supposed to go back to human relations after this. Anything to put Zayne at ease. And when Zayne was at his most relaxed, completely at ease, Sylus would feed. That in itself was one of the most intimate and erotic experiences Zayne had ever felt.

Soon enough, they both wanted more. Sylus had insisted that he was getting hungry too soon after their last encounter, and it was safer for everyone if they met more frequently. Zayne didn’t know enough about vampire physiology to argue, so he agreed, they met biweekly instead of once per month.

Zayne noticed that the feeding wasn’t tiring him out or harming his health. If anything, he was more light on his feet, more energetic in the mornings and had truly never felt better. Furthermore, Zayne had grown to appreciate his company. His sarcasm, his dramatic nature and eccentric tastes. It seemed that Sylus felt the same way, because there was always an excuse to meet up in the weeks they weren’t scheduled to.

”I’ve been injured, I’m feeling weak from healing the wound. Won’t you come help me recover my strength?” said one text.

”I might need to travel on a business matter very soon. It’s best if I feed before I go if time allows.” said another. Oddly enough, Sylus’ trip was miraculously cancelled the next day.

At this point, Zayne told Sylus to stop paying him. There wasn’t a point, not when they were enjoying each other’s presence as much as they were. Sylus had simply chuckled, and paid his rent out of spite before depositing the amount he would have anyway into Zayne’s bank account. How was it possible for a vampire, a cunning, centuries-old predator to be such a brat?

Zayne felt his muscles already beginning to unwind when he stepped into the luxurious bathroom with a bathtub that was essentially a jacuzzi. As much as he wanted to roll his eyes at Sylus’ comment about how he smelled after work, Zayne could have cried in relief at the thought of a hot bath after a grueling day at the hospital.

The large space was aglow with candlelight and soft overhead lighting. Just enough for Zayne to be able to see what he was doing properly and dark enough for Sylus’ sensitive eyes to be comfortable. The tub itself was cozy, carved out of black marble and already held water hot enough to create a steam rising from the water’s edge. A broad shelf sat next to the bathtub outfitted with fresh towels, a vase of blood-red roses, and a large pitcher of water. Zayne smirked. Sylus always insisted on hydration. In a way, it told Zayne just what sort of night this would be.

Zayne slowly undressed. He took his time, slowly raking his fingers through his hair before his fingers unbuttoned every closure in his black shirt one by one. He knew Sylus was watching him. He could feel those hungry eyes even if he couldn’t see them. Zayne didn’t bother looking around for him as he unbuckled his belt softly and let his loose trousers fall away from his body. If Sylus didn’t want to be seen, he wouldn’t be seen. Simple as that.

Zayne left his pile of clothes in the middle of the floor and stepped forward, candlelight creating shadows on his abs and in the curves of his chest and biceps. He approached the tub to hook a leg over the edge and sink inside the heated water as if he was being reached for. Slowly, with a hiss of the warmth swallowing him whole, he sunk into the water and his mind rolled with the feeling of relaxation.

At first, sitting stationary after so long on his feet hurt. The muscles in his back, his arms, his legs ached to let go of the tension. Finally, he melted with a deep sigh as the hot water caressed his limbs. There was no perfume or scent to the bath aside from the fresh roses that sat in the vase. Sylus was consistently adamant that all he wanted was Zayne’s scent and flavor and this time was no exception.

Zayne reached up to pluck a fully fresh bloom of a rose off of its stem, gripping it tightly and crumbling it into the bath water with a decadent breath. He waited, eyes closed for a bit, bit still no sign of Sylus. Sighing, he reached for the full glass of water to drink from, finishing the glass and refilling it again. After the second glass, Zayne leaned his head back against the round lip of the marble tub and let his mind relax with his eyes closed.

Sylus watched from a shadow. His predator eyes wide with excitement. He could hear every heartbeat, feel every sigh, and his mouth watered at the sight of the young surgeon so tired after a victory on his own battlefield. He stilled himself, waiting until Zayne had taken two glasses of water in. Human never seemed to understand their own limits, especially Zayne. Sylus’ mouth watered and his chest leapt with excitement. As he watched the doctor lean back with his pretty lips parted, ready for the next step.

A soft sigh escaped Zayne lips when he felt long, slender fingers under his jawline, caressing his skin. His green eyes blinked open, and the light was hitting Sylus’ eyes in simply the right way to show a reflective glow in the low lighting. The touch was enough to coax him, and the sight enough to remind him that he was dealing with someone who was distinctly inhuman.

Sylus nodded to the opposite side of the tub, and Zayne made himself sit up to move, accommodating Sylus as long legs slipped into the tub, parting to make room for Zayne to lay between. Sylus finally touched him properly, slipping hand under the water to grip his waist and urge him back. Zayne shivered from the touch and Sylus couldn’t suppress a smirk.

His long fingers grazed up Zayne’s body following his hip, his ribs, the back of his bread shoulder, and up his neck.

“Lean back.” Sylus whispered to him, and Zayne did as he asked. Sylus flicked his wrist to summon a black-red mist and brought forth a bottle of unscented shampoo. He popped the cap with his thumb and began to lather it between his hands to swash Zayne’s hair, fingers massaging into his scalp. Zayne arched his back a little at the relieving pressure of his hands and Sylus smiled softly.

“It’s good.” Zayne breathed. Sylus watched his expression go slack underneath him, reaching for Sylus’ thigh under the water. Sylus gently guided him down again to rinse his hair before pushing him back up to a sitting position, leaving his hair in black strands fanned out across his face.

Zayne kept his eyes closed as a soft cloth with a lather of soap was introduced to the pale of his back. They’d barely spoken a word to each other, but it felt intimate, sensual. Sylus slowly brought the cloth across his muscles with one hand, while the other began to massage at his shoulders, pulling a yelp out of him at the tense bundle of muscles being prodded.

Sylus’s fingers stayed steady, unwinding the stiff knots in Zayne’s shoulder with his finger pads before leaning in to kiss where Zayne had recoiled from the discomfort.

“What a day you must have had, Rabbit.” Sylus murmured in that decadent velvet voice. Zayne hissed with another mix of pain-pleasure as Sylus put the cloth aside to use both hands on his back to run away his tension. He peppered Zayne’s shoulder with kisses and ran his tongue over the space on Zayne’s shoulder he knew he was going to partake from later. His mouth watered and he had to focus to keep his fangs from showing.

Sylus worked his cloth and soap over Zayne’s arms, and Zayne simply let him. He didn’t care if it made him prey. He didn’t care how stupid it was to trust a vampire. All he felt was the fingers of someone who wanted him in his most relaxed state, and for now, that was plenty good enough for him.

“It was a good day.” Zayne slurred. He heard Sylus set down his coth and felt the cool pressure of his hands on his shoulders snaking their way down both of his arms to wrap around both of his wrists. Sylus hooked his thumb possessively into the silver bangle he’d kept on and lifted his hands from the water. Zayne’s eyes opened to see his fingers intertwined in Sylus’.

“I imagine so. These hands saved a life today, darling Doctor.” Sylus purred. “Tell me what it felt like.”

Zayne swallowed at Sylus’ soft words and leaned his head back into Sylus’ broad chest.

“I felt a heart beating in my fingers.”’ Zayne murmured, curling his fingers around Sylus’ “The purpose of the heart is to pump blood into the body, but giving that back to someone in a moment of uncertainty was…powerful.”

“It made you wonder what decided to tell a heart that its purpose was to beat at all.” Sylus said, nuzzling against Zayne’s neck and jawline. Zayne could only nod. Sylus smiled. It reminded him of his own experiences. Not to heal, but to rip that heart out of a chest to end a life. To feel the life-giving purpose beat out of it out altogether.

Sylus’ hand’s left Zayne’s to dip into the water as if washing off a film of invisible blood. Zayne’s back arched as Sylus explored him with soft touches to his thighs, his ass, and finally his cock. Zayne swallowed as Sylus gripped him firmly and lifted a hand from the water to turn his chin inward to face sylus over his shoulder.

“Saving a life is infinitely more powerful than taking one. Never forget that.” Sylus murmured against Zayne’s temple before planting a deceptively sweet kiss there. Zayne moaned, feeling a languid strike to his cock. Sylus’ hand dropped back into the water to cup Zayne’s ass, and began to massage his hole.

Zayne tried to stay relaxed, unsure of what to do with his hands. Another moan escaped his lips, and he tried to buck his hips, but Sylus kept him there with the strength of a statue. He started to pant at the feeling of strong fingers working him open and felt the distinctive swell against his back of Sylus' arousal.

Sylus kissed at Zayne’s neck gently, and laid the flat of his tongue on the expanse of skin to drag long and firm across the band of muscles across his traps to mark his territory. Zayne shuddered in response and relaxed enough to allow Sylus to slip a second finger inside.

The rose petals on the surface of the water fluttered and rocked with Zayne’s body arching at the feeling. Moans spilled out of his mouth and all he could grab on to was Sylus’ right bicep that crossed him in the front to tug at his aching cock.

“You’re playing with me.” Zayne whispered in a low tone. “As if my body doesn’t know you.”

Sylus had to hold back his own moan, panting against Zayne’s shoulder, and he felt his cock jump at the words. He felt is fangs weighing in his mouth, jaw stuttering with the urge to drink of him right here.

“I’m ready now.” Zayne said with a breathy moan as Sylus’ fingers teased him, stretched him open to ecstasy.

Sylus wet his lips. Just a taste. Just to see. he convinced himself and buried his fangs shallowly into the trap of Zayne’s left shoulder from behind. A sharp cry of mixed pain and pleasure erupted from Zayne’s chest and Sylus felt him jump in his hands as a torrent of blood glossed over his tongue. Rich, full, spicy…but Sylus stopped himself. He felt his fangs reluctantly recede and used his lips to suck off the excess bleeding.

“Not quite.” he said, restraining his growl with the flood of warmth that dragged over his body. His right hand drifted away from Zayne's cock to rest on his hip instead. “Almost there.”

Zayne let out a strangled moan of frustration, tensing around Sylus’ fingers and lowering his hand into the water to touch himself. Instantly, Sylus pulled his fingers out of Zayne to place both hands on his hips to turn him around effortlessly and force Zayne to face him.

“So impatient.” Sylus mocked him, bringing Zayne’s hips down to hover right above his waiting cock in the warm water. Zayne shivered, and a small stream of blood from his shoulder dripped into the water around them, lacing through the water in soft lace-like patterns. “You wouldn’t drink a wine worth waiting for from the bottle. You have to let it breathe. Let it bloom”

Sylus guided Zayne’s hips lower, slowly easing him onto the head of his cock and stopping. Zayne shivered, half out of the water and leaning on the weight of Sylus’ hands cupped under his ass.

“Do you want it, Rabbit?” Sylus murmured. He asked the same question every tim, and it never failed to make Zayne shudder with anticipation. He tried to move his body, tried to pull, push, do something but Sylus held him in place, waiting for his answer. Zayne nodded furiously. “I need to hear it, Zayne.”

“Yes. I want you.” Zayne hissed through gritted teeth as his cheeks burned red. He didn’t care, he just wanted traction, friction, anything more than hovering half out of warmth and above the touch of a demon with a handsome smile.

The sharp keen was everything Sylus needed and more as he allowed Zayne to sink down onto his cock slowly. The burn around his hole as Zayne stretched to accommodate him was close to bliss at this point, and Zayne let go of a full moan at the sound of being filled. With every inch he sunk down, the water kissed his skin, and he was closer to Sylus. Zayne reached out with a weak hand to touch his cheek, trying to bring him closer for a kiss.

Sylus leaned in, hands carefully bracing Zayne down on his length as he delivered a soft kiss to his lips. His long arms wrapped again around Zayne’s torso, bringing him closer to allow Sylus to clean his bloody shoulder with his tongue in soft, smooth licks.

“You like it, don’t you?” Sylus whispered to him in a deep rapture through heavy breaths. “The feeling that you’re sustaining me, that I’m subsiding off of only you? You like it when I thirst for you like this, don’t you Zayne?”

Zayn fluttered around Sylus’ length, hissing in a wave of embarrassment. Sylus didn’t use his given name often, but when he did it only deepened that dark part of him that kept him coming back to Sylus over and over again. He felt his cock straining. He wanted to cum. He was so close. And his shoulders shook under the soft licks and kisses from Sylus.

“I’m close.” Zayne choked out, body burning for it, trembling with the ache of an orgasm so close and yet so far. Sylus kept him from moving, and he was going to lose his utter mind. He wrapped his arms around Sylus’ neck, burying his nails into his back to cling in desperation. Sylus had relaxed him into the perfect trap, and here he stayed, at his mercy.

“Shh…” Sylus teased in Zayne’s ear, bringing his lips back to Zayne’s softly. There was a smirk in his tone and Zayne’s deep breaths were nothing against Sylus’ shallow, stimulated movements. In a cruel twist, Sylus bucked his hips just enough to touch the spot he knew drove Zayne crazy and Zayne nearly came from that alone, but Sylus stopped instantly to deny him the pleasure.

Zayne collapsed into him, a ball of nerves and frustration, desperate for release. Sylus held him close and felt his irritable groans reverberate from his chest and back from being so close to the verge he could taste it. Sylus felt his mouth water. You are going to taste like Heaven. he thought wickedly.

Sylus brought a hand below the water, down to Zayne’s abdomen, and pressed fingertips into the soft skin of his groin where he was seated so comfortably inside of Zayne’s tight heat. Zayne cried out from the feeling of pressure, almost in pain with it and throwing his head back to moan.

“What are you doing?” Zayne panted, clawing at his shoulders. Sylus let out his own gasp, feeling Zayne clench around him helplessly. The only move he could make. Sylus nuzzled into his neck, enjoying his clean scent.

In another teasing movement, he brought up a hand to reach for the pitcher of water and slowly refilled Zayne’s glass. He positioned Zayne to lean back, unwinding his arms from his neck and bringing his palms to the top of Sylus’ chest.

“We have all night, my perfect prey.” he purred with a merciless smirk, bringing the glass of water to Zayne’s lips and force him to drink in small, reasonable sips. A trickle of water escaped the corner of his mouth and his hole continued to flutter around Sylus in desperate want. His pupils were blown, and he pleaded with his gaze as Sylus tipped the glass to his lips again. Sylus wet his lips at the sight of Zayne swallowing and curling his fingers against the muscles of his pecs.

“There’s no need to rush.”

Chapter Text

Zayne couldn’t tell if he was in Heaven or Hell. His back was pressed into silk sheets, and his limbs had lost the strength to hang onto Sylus as he pumped into him slow and deep. Reflex tears crawled down his cheeks and his lips quivered when he saw Sylus drag a thumb over his cheek to wipe it away. A deep-seated moan ghosted from his lips as Sylus brought it to his mouth to taste him, keeping his scarlet eyes trained right on him as if he could see something deeper.

Zayne let out a small gasp, close to cumming, and Sylus stopped immediately to drag Zayne back off the edge of the cliff again. It had been hours. Zayne’s hair was dry and his cock was angry and red, begging for release in a way that was actually painful. Sylus was shivering with anticipation too, setting his jaw with a hiss at the way Zayne’s hole fluttered around him.

Hours they had been edging, getting so close to the moment of impact and then backing up again and again. Sylus’ eyes kept drifting to his shoulder, and Zayne could tell that even if he wasn’t starving, he was hungry. In a tease, Sylus rolled his hips. Just enough to send a ripple through Zayne and coax out a frustrated scream from his throat.

“You are nothing short of a demon.” Zayne growled at him, bringing up a forearm to cover his eyes. Sylus leaned over him, prying his arm away to press his wrist into the mattress and crash their lips together aggressively with a sick smile.

“A complete fiend.” Sylus breathed in sarcastic agreement, nibbling along Zayne’s jawline cruelly. He pulled out of Zayne just enough to give him leverage to kiss down Zayne’s neck and collarbone.

Zayne shuddered and arched at every touch. Sylus massaged his chest, running his fingers over the soft peach of his nipples with his thumbs and leaned to slide his tongue along them. Zayne was beginning to go hoarse with the moans he was making, and Sylus suspected he was one gentle breeze away from cumming. Sylus slid hands along Zayne’s hips and sides as he traveled back up to meet his lips. Fractal frost patterns followed his touch in the dip of his hip and along his ribs, tinted just a slight blue. Sylus groaned at the sensation of cold against Zayne’s flushed skin.

This human was so remarkable, every scar and every color on his strong body was perfect to Sylus. So warm, so soft underneath his fingertips. The way every part of him responded to his worshipful touch and searing gaze. Human time meant very little to Sylus; he could have stayed here for days dancing on a razor’s edge between pain and pleasure with Zayne. His lips tingled in anticipation of how the young surgeon’s blood would taste flooding his senses, and how Zayne would beg to be placed in between the jaws of a killer.

“Your body tells such a compelling story, Rabbit. In a way that mine no longer can.” Sylus murmured, taking Zayne’s other nipple between his teeth before sitting up to sink his cock all the way back into Zayne’s desperate heat. Sylus could feel Zayne’s hole clamping down on the base of his cock in a silent plea. Sylus reached for the silver bangle around Zayne’s wrist, hooking a finger under the metal warmed by Zayne’s body heat, and pulled it towards his mouth to taste his skin.

Sylus kissed a particularly long scar near the elbow on Zayne’s forearm. Then another that darkened the soft underside near his wrist. He ran his tongue over another that gave a divoted texture to the back of his arm. Zayne shuddered underneath him, lips trembling.

“This is my favorite chapter.” Sylus murmured, eyes falling closed to nuzzle against his scars. “Proof of being warm and alive. A symbol of your devastating power.”

Zayne turned the wrist in Sylus’ hand to try to cup his face, and Sylus kissed his fingers, nipping at the pads of his soft fingertips.

“I like this chapter too.” He murmured, and Zayne felt Sylus’ cock twitch inside of him. “The power to save lives. So much brilliance in your hands, in your mind. Such radiance.”

Imagine what he could learn in one hundred years. Sylus thought. He narrowed his eyes, willing the thought away like rose petals in the wind. Zayne’s fingertips at Sylus’ face pulled at him, guiding him back down to a deep kiss that had Zayne rutting into Sylus’ cock and sliding their chests together.

“Why would you say such a thing?” He whispered between kisses. He keened, suddenly tensing as Sylus began to pump into him again softly. Sylus chuckled, kissing his lips, his cheeks, and his jaw.

“Perhaps I’m fond of you now.” Sylus purred, nosing at his neck and feeling excitement build in his muscles. He licked at the mark he’d made earlier on Zayne. Not too much longer now. “Perhaps you’re my most beloved chalice.”

Zayne moaned, wrapping his legs around Sylus’ torso as he picked up the pace, bracing his hands on the sheets and towering over Zayne. Every thrust brought out another punctuated cry from Zayne’s sore throat and he felt it building again. Zayne felt Sylus pause in a low growl, staring down at him with narrowed eyes, primal and hungry. It was only then did he realize he’d bitten his own lip, hard enough to break the skin.

Sylus thrust into him, trying to put his energy and focus into his hips instead of into the sweet scent coming from Zayne’s bleeding lip. He squeezed his eyes shut, looking away while he calmed himself, and Zayne decided to push his luck. With a fingertip, Zayne dabbed at the small cut on his lip. Shaking in a mix of arousal and nervousness, Zayne brought it to Sylus’ lips, lining the cheshire plush of his mouth in traces of his blood.

A switch flipped in Sylus, and a brutal hiss shattered out of him, eyes fading to a deep black and fangs on full display. Zayne tensed in a slight fear, the unconscious kind of alarm that was primal to a prey animal. He also felt his face flush and cock twitch and nearly came from the sight alone. Sylus growled over him, pistoning his hips at a brutal pace.

“Pushing the envelope, testing my limits…” Sylus drawled, voice deep and unhinged. He licked at his lips to taste of Zayne’s blood and snarled. “You taste bold, Rabbit. Aching for me no matter what the cost.”

He pulled out harshly, and Zayne yelped at the sensation of Sylus lifting him like he weighed nothing to lay on his stomach. Zayne felt the wind leave his lungs. Sylus descended on him again, his own breaths ragged and bestial to pull Zayne up to his knees by his arms and place his hands to grip at Sylus’ headboard.

“You tested mine first.” Zayne snarled at him, but quickly lost his bravado to loud moans when he felt Sylus slip back inside of him with a slap to his ass. The frost returned at his neck and hips and the warm sting against his buttock went right to his cock.

Sylus gripped at one of Zayne’s frost-covered hips and used the other to weave through his black hair and pull, delighting in the arch Zayne made with his back. The corners of Zayne’s lips upturned as another deep moan stuttered out of his chest. Sylus picked up the pace, driving into him over and over again until Zayne could hardly form words.

”Close…” Zayne sighed, barely above a whisper. Sylus grinned, pulling Zayne off of the headboard and pinning him flush to his chest upright on his knees. Sylus spread his knees underneath Zayne, giving him just enough leverage to give him sharp languid thrusts. Sylus inhaled Zayne’s excitement, his ecstasy and his anticipation like perfume on his skin. He licked the spot on Zayne’s shoulder, already marked for him and ready for his fangs to sink back in and take his prize.

“Cum for me.” Sylus ordered him in a slurred voice, fisting Zayne’s cock and rippling his long fingers up and down the shaft. “I want to feel your flavor change on my tongue.”

This was the only warning he got before Sylus sank his fangs back into his shoulder. Zayne came against the headboard, and felt the sharp pain and cool peace of Sylus’ bite.

Too much was happening at once; Sylus was driving so deeply inside of him, chasing his own release. Zayne was cumming, and couldn’t seem to stop. He felt the power in Sylus’ lips as he drank the life from him in perfect waves. His throat burned as if he was crying out, but he heard nothing. His vision went white as his body seized in pure, overwhelming pleasure. He loved it. He loved the pleasure that held hands with pain, the excitement, the drag of fear and the feeling of being at the mercy of the lion’s jaws.

That’s me…I’m sustaining you… Zayne thought wantonly through panting breaths. You can’t live without me.

Sylus was drunk on it all; the sounds, the decadent taste, the feeling of Zayne curling against him like he would burn from the sensations all around him. He heard Zayne’s heartbeat slamming in his chest and his hands scramble to hold onto Sylus’ strong arms. His flavor was perfect; the deep cocoa notes were blooming against the silk fire of spice and warmth. It had been worth waiting for. This was exactly what he’d wanted.

Zayne went limp against him, and Sylus took one final taste before forcing himself to unlock his jaw and let Zayne go. Zayne shuddered in the aftershocks and groaned when he felt Sylus finally tense and spill deep inside of him with a deep moan against his skin. Sylus rested his forehead on the back of Zayne’s shoulder for a moment, but couldn’t resist the small stream of blood trickling from Zayne’s wound and cleaned it softly in slow, soft licks.

Sylus gently placed Zayne down on his side, slipping out of him and hissing at the soft pressure to his aching cock. He smoothed a lock of damp hair from Zayne’s pretty face, and gave him a moment to come to from his blackout. What if I kept him? he thought to himself selfishly. What if tonight could last for centuries?

Sylus swallowed, and redirected his gaze. He used his Evol to whisk away the mess on his headboard and the blood on his face. Finally, those sea glass eyes fluttered open and Sylus took his place at his side to lay with him. He eyed Zayne intently; every glance, every breath and heartbeat was unique to him. Fascinating him the way other humans simply couldn't.

Zayne reached a hand softly to his face and pulled him in for a chaste kiss. Sylus gave him room to cuddle in, and held him in his arms to press a kiss to his temple. This was far beyond transactional now, and they both knew it. Neither had the words to describe what it was instead. Sylus kept still as Zayne fought sleep underneath him.

“You were perfect.” Sylus murmured. Zayne scoffed.

“You were a savage.” he headpanned hoarsely. Sylus grinned. Zayne tried to sit up, but Sylus held him there in his arms to stop him.

“Just sleep here tonight. It’s almost dawn anyway.” Sylus whispered.

Zayne thought for a moment. He thought of all the little tasks he’d promised to do on his day off, but quickly gave in, and relaxed back into the touch. He never spent the night. There was something intimate and unspoken about it, but right now all Zayne cared about was drifting off in the arms of a perfect predator. His hands against Sylus’ chest and the way he nuzzled in said the things that his mouth did not, and Sylus smiled fondly.

“Sweet dreams, Rabbit.”