The Thrill of the Chase Read online

  Cedric considered his offer. Geordie felt his pulse rush faster just watching him bow his head and crinkle that aristocratic brow in thought. After a few moments, he nodded.

  “Very well. I accept your offer. Come back tonight, right after sunset. I’ll leave word at the door that you’re to be admitted this time.” A dazzling smile caught hold of Cedric’s face, turning it even more beautiful than before. Geordie wished they had more time before the sun came up, or that Cedric would leave behind his vampire game for one morning. But he knew better than to ask at this early stage of their relationship, or connection, or whatever he was supposed to call it. “There you are. You have your invitation at last. Congratulations.”

  “Thanks. I’m glad we could work something out.” Geordie reluctantly got up and reached for his shirt, which he found in the corner where Cedric had flung it the night before during a spasm of passion. Cedric watched him put it on with a tense, hungry look.

  “I wish you didn’t have to go just yet,” he admitted. “I find you fascinating, Geordie Chase.”

  “When you put your hand on my throat I kind of got the message it was time to head out.”

  “Ah, that. Yes. My apologies.” Cedric looked down at his palm and spread his fingers, flexing them as though he didn’t quite recognize them. “An instinctive reaction. The fact that you didn’t flinch increased my respect for you quite a bit.”

  “I’ve been threatened and even beat up by plenty of tough guys. You’re not the first—though you’re the sexiest, by far.”

  “Glad to hear it. I’ll try to be more understanding. I see that you’re an open-minded man who can be reasoned with. That counts for a lot as far as I’m concerned. I’m counting on your discretion.” He got up, uncoiling those perfect limbs from the bed so gracefully that Geordie felt his crotch tighten. “Not just for Aaron and Thaddeus’ sake. You understand that, I trust.”

  “You have my word. Twenty-four hours.”

  Cedric smiled again and kissed him—a normal kiss, like any regular guy, not necessarily one who imagined himself a vampire. Yet as the kiss deepened, Geordie felt the brush of fangs through his lips. Cedric must have had them professionally filed, he figured. One day he’d ask if he could see them up close. Not just yet, however. He had enough to deal with for one day.

  “Sundown,” Cedric repeated. “And now I must take my daily rest.”

  He threw the robe off, unfurled his gorgeous body, and sank comfortably into his bed. He was hard again and playfully stroked himself as he drifted off into sleep. That was a bribe, Geordie knew, meant to remind him what he’d be returning to as long as he kept his promise.

  Like he could ever forget. This was going to be one long morning and afternoon, he could tell. Geordie finished dressing, swallowed back the surge of lust that momentarily inflamed his chest, and let himself out.

  Geordie spent the day, which turned out to be every bit as slow-moving and tedious as he had expected, doing paperwork and running background checks on Aaron and Pennington. Since he didn’t know Cedric’s last name, or if “Cedric” was really his name at all, he couldn’t do much with that. The same was true of Thaddeus.

  Finally, as the sun began to set, he made his way back to the club. Just like Cedric had assured him, the bouncer let him in without argument. Geordie noticed it was the same guy who had led him into the ambush the day before. This time, he seemed a lot friendlier.

  It was still early, so Geordie didn’t see Aaron around, or Cedric for that matter. The bouncer told him to go to the bar and wait. He ordered a gin and tonic since it was light and wouldn’t cloud his thinking. He reached for his wallet but the pale bartender shook his head.

  “No charge to members or their guests.”

  “Thanks.” So Cedric made his profits on membership fees. The place must have been pretty pricey, though he assumed they let twinks like Aaron in for nothing. Otherwise, the older rich guys would be stuck playing vampire with one another. And vampires didn’t bite one another as far as he remembered from the movies.

  He sipped at his drink, looking around the room. Soon three customers wandered in and took tables at some distance from Geordie and one another. They eyed him suspiciously, but he met their curious gazes straight-on, remembering that Cedric had respected his boldness.

  Suddenly two guys were sitting on the stools on either side of him. They seemed to appear out of nowhere, just like that. Geordie blinked and looked down at his gin and tonic. How strong had that sucker been?

  One of the guys, he was pleased to see, was Cedric. The other was Thaddeus—he recognized the short black beard, though he hadn’t gotten much of a look at his face the night before. He could see why Aaron would prefer him to Orville Pennington. He was younger and more handsome—but more importantly, he had that same intensity about him that Cedric had. It was an aphrodisiac for sure.

  “So?” Cedric said. “You kept your promise, I assume.”

  “You don’t need to ask me that. Of course I did. I told my client I’d get back to him after tonight. I told him I had some loose ends to tie up.”

  “Good,” Thaddeus said. His voice was rich and had an odd effect on Geordie. Somehow it seemed to squirm right inside his head. Thaddeus narrowed his dark eyes until they looked threatening. “Aaron’s safety is the main concern here.”

  “Geordie isn’t the enemy,” Cedric said. “Take it down a notch, Thaddeus.”

  “All right,” Thaddeus said, backing away both physically and metaphorically. He leaned away from Geordie and rested one arm on the bar.

  “Are you expecting Aaron tonight?” Geordie asked Cedric.

  “Yes. Thaddeus is going to talk to him about the matter, as you suggested.”

  “That’s a good idea. I hope you can work things out so everyone can move on without too much trouble.”

  “That’s the problem, Geordie. There’s no way to end this without trouble—lots of it.” Cedric shook his head. “You’re detached from what happens to Aaron because you say it isn’t your business. Look in Thaddeus’s face, and then see if you can give Pennington the information he can use to hurt Aaron.”

  “I love him. I want to protect him,” Thaddeus said, smashing a fist on the bar as volcanic anger rose in his face and turned his eyes black and cold. Geordie felt himself shudder. “I’m just waiting for him to give himself fully to me. As soon as he does, Pennington won’t be a problem. I can look after Aaron. But he must come to me on his own, and stay with me. So far, he won’t make that kind of commitment.”

  “But why doesn’t Aaron just leave him?” Geordie asked. “Walk out. Disappear. Guys do it all the time. Heck, a few of my exes have done it to me.”

  “Pennington doesn’t let people go easily. And Aaron cares about him at some level. A human failing.” Thaddeus scowled and bared his pointed teeth.

  “Okay.” Geordie could believe that. Rich guys like Pennington were used to having their own way. He would look at Aaron as an employee at best, a possession at worst. “I guess I see what you mean.”

  “We’ll wait upstairs to give Aaron and Thaddeus some privacy,” Cedric said, rising. “Thaddeus will let us know if he needs our input.”

  “I won’t. I’ve got this,” Thaddeus growled.

  Geordie didn’t object to Cedric’s idea in the least. He followed Cedric up the catwalk, marveling at his athleticism and grace as he bounded up the narrow metal steps without missing a beat. On the catwalk, he paused and took Geordie’s arm, turning him toward the rail.

  “Look.” He pointed down.

  Aaron had arrived, dutifully wearing his blue student backpack. It gave him a youthful, vulnerable look Geordie found endearing. Spotting him from his place at the bar, Thaddeus jumped up to meet him. They embraced with such eager passion that Geordie felt his heart twitch in sympathy. Aaron’s soft blond looks provided a mellowing contrast to Thaddeus’s harsh darkness and rugged body. They just fit together somehow.

  “They do make a nice couple,” Geordie said a
nd meant it. “What brought them together?”

  “They met on the street one evening. Aaron was taking pictures of the city after dark. Thaddeus was interested in his work and approached him.”

  “So he really is into photography. I thought that was just his cover so he could get away from the old man in the evenings.”

  “No. He does take pictures. Good ones, Thaddeus says. Thanks to digital methods, we can show up on film now. That wasn’t the case for about a hundred and fifty years.”

  “Vampire stuff again.” Geordie made a face.

  Cedric laughed. “I’ll convince you one day that all I say is true. It’s not just a game.”

  “It’s a dangerous one.” Geordie flashed him a smile. “To tell you the truth, that’s why I like it. Having a vampire lover seems to be all the rage these days. I’d hate to be left out.”

  “In that case, I’m glad I could oblige you. Pheromones are the key, you know. Vampires can sense them in others—and adapt their own to whatever the mark is looking for. It’s not even deliberate. We make people want us naturally.”

  “Pretty confident, aren’t you?”

  “Oh, yes.”

  They walked on until they found themselves back in Cedric’s room. Cedric fell upon him the moment they got inside, unbuttoning Geordie’s shirt and unbuckling his belt. Their mouths locked as Geordie stepped out of his pants and kicked them aside. He was nude except for his button-down shirt, which Cedric whisked away too after looking down at the sleeves.

  “Real cufflinks. I’m impressed.”

  “A gift from a satisfied client,” Geordie said. “I try to satisfy.”

  “Can I…?” he brushed his fingers over the soft spot at the top of Geordie’s collarbone, then licked it. Geordie shivered with lust.

  “Yes. Of course.”

  “I don’t want to compromise things. I know the situation is…ambiguous between us just now.”

  “It’s your thing, and I know it turns you on. I’m okay with that.”

  “Very well, then. Thank you.”

  Cedric bent his head to Geordie’s neck. Geordie gasped as sharp teeth penetrated his flesh. Then the rush of endorphins came. He was floating, happy. Cedric was drinking, sucking, then licking. Under the gentle strokes of his tongue, the wound closed up as though it had never existed. Geordie still couldn’t quite figure out how they did that.

  “What got you into all this vampire stuff?” he asked as he lay on the bed, waiting for Cedric to strip out of his clothes. Again he saw that bright flush of color in his cheeks, the fresh suppleness in his body. He’d attributed it to a sexual rush, but now he wasn’t so sure. Could Cedric really have taken his blood? He touched the supposed wound, but there was nothing but a little tenderness, like any spot.

  “It goes back almost two centuries,” Cedric said. “I’ve known Thaddeus since I first came to the city—and died here soon after my arrival. He’d been around a while and showed me how to adjust to my new life, and how to survive without killing. We were comrades in death, you might say. We’ve saved each other from heartache and destruction more times than I can count.”

  “You’re creeping me out, you know that?” Geordie’s laugh was only half-genuine this time. Cedric had to be a little crazy to take this stuff so seriously. He wondered how long it would be before they had their first argument over it.

  “Get used to it.” Finally naked, Cedric dropped down onto the bed and curled himself around Geordie. The feel of his body exiled Geordie’s doubts—for now. “When we’re done enjoying one another, I could wipe your memory, you know. You’ll go on, half-remembering the pleasure you felt with me, but my name and face will be erased from your mind. I could have done it the first night we met—but I held back.”

  Geordie didn’t really believe it. But he took nothing for granted. He remembered how he’d found himself out on the street, blank and lost. Cedric’s theory might explain that, since nothing else did. “Why didn’t you?”

  Cedric cupped his face in his hands. “I wanted you to remember me.”

  “No worries there. I didn’t. And I won’t, whatever happens.”

  Smiling, Cedric drew Geordie’s face close for a kiss.

  Chapter 5

  He left Cedric, reluctantly as ever, just before dawn. Aaron had gone home hours before, presumably to have it out with Pennington. Geordie hoped that if he didn’t want to leave things till morning, he had at least taken Thaddeus with him. For everyone’s sake, he hoped Aaron would wait until the next day, pick a neutral and hopefully public spot, and find a way to let Pennington down easy. On the other hand, years of sad experience told him that people didn’t always take the most logical and safest course.

  On his way home, he swung his car past the penthouse, pulled over, and looked up at Pennington’s windows. The lights were out, as were most people’s at this time of morning. With a fervent hope that Aaron had decided to play things cool, at least until morning, he hit the gas and went home.

  Just before lunchtime the next day, while he was still sleeping off his late night and somewhat athletic pursuits in Cedric’s bedroom, Geordie’s cell phone rang.

  “Pennington here,” the familiar voice barked. Geordie was surprised he’d made the call himself instead of having Rex do it. But he supposed this particular issue was personal enough to demand a one-on-one phone call.

  “Good morning, sir,” Geordie said in his most businesslike voice, hoping Pennington couldn’t tell he was still stretched out in bed, hung over from too much sex and not enough sleep. “Listen, I know I said I’d have some information for you tonight…”

  “Never mind that,” Pennington cut him off. “Come over this afternoon. Say in two hours? We need to talk. Face to face.”

  “Okay, sure. I’ll be there.”

  It didn’t sound good. Had Pennington decided to fire him? In a way, he hoped so, as long as he got paid for the work he’d done so far. Sometimes wealthy clients were the biggest cheapskates, though. He might even demand his down payment back. Well, Geordie was prepared to hand it over if asked. Rent was less important than doing the right thing sometimes. It had taken him a long time to realize that.

  Rex showed him in, looking more smug—and somehow more muscular—than ever. This time he showed Geordie to the pool.

  Pennington was stretched out on a chaise longue, his blue terrycloth robe open to the waist, watching a young dark-haired guy swim in the pool. A pitcher of well-iced reddish drink sat on a small table with a few glasses beside it. Pennington motioned for Geordie to take the chaise longue beside his. Uncomfortable as it was, Geordie perched sideways on it.

  “You need a drink?” Pennington asked. When Geordie shook his head, he shrugged. “Well, I do. Davey!” he shouted at the guy in the pool. “I need a refill!”

  Davey grinned as he climbed out, toweled off, and padded toward the table holding the pitcher. Geordie stared in wonder. Though he was wearing more than Aaron had been in that original photo, his mesh swim thong left nothing to the imagination.

  “Coming right up,” he said, winking as he poured Pennington a drink. As he handed it over he raised quizzical eyes to Geordie.

  “He doesn’t want one,” Pennington told him. “Go ahead, swim now. I’ll call you when I need you again.” As Davey turned to go, Pennington reached out and playfully slapped that undeniably fine, round ass. “Not bad, is he?”

  “Not at all,” Geordie admitted. Pennington seemed pleased that he approved.

  “And now down to business. Aaron didn’t come home last night.” Pennington waited for Geordie to register the appropriate look of surprise, which wasn’t difficult. It was more difficult for him to conceal his relief. Apparently the talk with Thaddeus had done some good. Geordie was glad he’d suggested it.

  “I…uh…see,” Geordie said.

  Pennington motioned toward the pool with his drink. “As you can see, I’ve decided to move on with Davey. He’s attractive, bright enough for my requirements, and is totally
submissive. I think he’ll be good for me. Better than Aaron was, though it pains me to admit it.”

  “Maybe that’s wise.” Geordie marveled how fast he’d replaced Aaron. Wealth talked, he reminded himself. Never a lonely day for guys like Pennington on one level—on another, they were probably the loneliest Geordie had ever seen. And he’d seen enough of them.

  “Therefore your services will no longer be required,” Pennington said. “Rex will cut you a check for the final balance. Just tell him the figure on your way out.”

  “Yes, sir.” Geordie offered no pleasantries, nor did Pennington. No lies, at least. Geordie could respect that.

  He stood in the office while Rex filled out a pre-signed check for the rest of what he was owed. Rex didn’t bother to make small talk, either, which was fine with Geordie. The sooner he could get out of there, the better. And from now on, he could visit Cedric’s club without the slightest conflict of interest.

  After tucking the check into his shirt pocket, he turned to leave the room. As he was about to slip through the door, he spotted something familiar in the corner behind the desk.

  Aaron’s blue backpack.

  “Uh…thanks for everything, Rex,” he said, struggling to keep his face neutral and his tone casual. Had Rex seen his reaction when his gaze fell on the backpack? “See you around sometime, maybe.”

  “Maybe,” Rex answered flatly. He followed Geordie to the front door of the penthouse and slammed it shut behind him.

  Back on the sidewalk, Geordie felt his entire body go clammy, and his legs felt numb as he hurried back to his car. He forced himself not to run just in case Rex and Pennington were watching from the penthouse windows.

  One image played over and over again in his mind as he hit the gas and raced over to Cedric’s club— Aaron, walking into the bar last night to greet Thaddeus, the blue backpack slung over his shoulders.