Precious Valentine

For Pira- by default





Fluttering hearts in red and silver showered the stage floor at the "Guilty Pleasures" where Damian the Vampire, once again, found himself standing with his wine glass by the bar, scanning the tables with suspicion in his gaze, to see if someone took more than usual interest in the wriggling werekitten up in the spotlight.

Swooning was normal, transfixed or burning gazes following his moves, the crossed legs, the forgotten drinks, all of that was normal. But after the run in with the master Tamlin a few months ago, Damian was very aware of anything out of the ordinary. Like people leaving their seats to get closer to the scene, hidden cameras in brief cases and bags, a sense of unknown power and obvious licking of lips...All of that made him alert and annoyed. For as proud as he was of his beautiful boyfriend, he'd rather not lose him to some stranger. Rather not lose him to anyone really...

He sipped his wine and finally lifted his gaze to seek out the lithe form dancing in the amorous confetti. It was a mistake, and he knew it. A mistake that he never seemed to be able to resist. Once there, his eyes were unable to let go again. Forgotten was his jealousy, the potential rapists and threats among the audience, for Nathaniel could dance...dance Damian's blood into a fury, his soul into a knot, and his cock into a raging, weeping, anxiously yearning whore of desire. Tonight...that hurt.

The kitten's thong was a pitiful excuse for a garment; a red velvet heart with sinful black lacings. Nathaniel was a small boy, but not *that* small. A wrong move and that carefully tucked in organ of his would spring free from the ridiculous confines. Damian thought he could spot the fine ridges of his scrotum when he lifted his leg impossibly high in the air and trailed the creamy length with his fingertips.

His long, auburn hair glittered with confetti. Silvery hearts, shiny reds. It fell off in a fine rain, tiny sparks of color, as the kitty spun around on the scene, teasing his audience with the sight of violet eyes and planes of pale skin, nipples pink and erect. His little tummy looked so soft and smooth; bathed in the soft blue and red lights of the stage.
He had candles up there with him tonight: Heavy chandeliers with pink candles; the flames moved with him, dancing back and forth. The scent of burning wax tickled in Damian's nostrils and he was suddenly attacked by unwanted images of himself, his cat and the candles...soft ropes and mewing sounds.

Damian had an advantage, and a curse, the audience didn't have: He knew how Nathaniel felt beneath him. Knew his scent. The taste of his fluids...Vanilla and honey. His insides so soft: a velvety heat that wrapped so tightly around him and pulled him under. The taste of sugar and salt on his skin. His little, clever tongue; so teasing and delicious...

The boy's soft voice: "Damian, please! Have me!"

A plea he never, ever would refuse. As he never could deny himself the pleasure. The sweetness that was his Nathaniel.

He spotted the discarded wings on stage; the silver feathers in a heap where his boy had left them, as the angel of love had stepped out of his disguise; thrown wings and halo to the ground along with the white satin robes to become flesh and blood: Passionate youth and beauty -- in the most ridiculous little thong he'd ever seen.

Was that heart supposed to be teasing? Well, it was beyond that; it was show off. His round buttocks were completely naked as far as Damian was concerned; that tiny red string between them meant nothing. And here came the pearls; long strings falling from the ceiling and into Nathaniel's waiting hands. He wrapped them around his body, between his legs; long, long strings of shiny, round pearls. Across his chest, into his mouth. He bound himself with them to the pole and let himself slide slowly down with his back against it; as if it was his lover. But it was not. Damian was...

The pearls were casually thrown to the audience after use. Plastic, no doubt, Jean-Claude wasn't *that* generous.

Damian watched the women fight to catch them, he had no illusion that it was the pearls they really wanted. It was the scent and taste and heat of his Nathaniel. A little, glowing ember in his own right. All passion and life up there.

Damian craved for him. Badly.

And it stung.

He sipped the rest of his wine. Today was...a difficult day. Valentine's Day. A day Damian was both uncomfortable and unfamiliar with, having never given the day much thought at all, why should he?
It was a modern invention, all about humanity celebrating their fleeting, never lasting love. A marketing trick if anything...Damian had been in this world for a while, personally he found shouting out prices on the street corners to be a better idea, at least more honest, if nothing else. This invention with its candles and heart shaped balloons, jewelry and boxes of chocolate, this feast of the merchants might appeal to Jean-Claude's refined taste for money, cleverly disguised as French passion, but it most certainly did nothing for Damian.

His eyes darted to the poor boy behind the bar, pouring pink "Be my Valentine" drinks into ice-rimmed glasses, dressed in a shiny red cat suit with heart shaped openings in many different places, including his chest; revealing his nipples and sweat slick skin. He scented of salt and blood -- of food.

Vampires dressed in red cloaks wandered around in the audience, under the heart shaped lanterns, offering "the kiss of passion" and "ever lasting love," for a minor fee. Damian thought it disgusting. He was very happy not to be among the chosen ones to be in this unholy parade.

He shrugged and focused on Nathaniel again. Nathaniel...who sort of, kind of, was the problem. The cat had reached the ending sequence of his act, throwing long-stemmed red roses to the audience from a heart shaped little basket.

It made Damian cringe.

He had never thought much of this day before he came into his life; lithe and soft and purring, yearning for love like a housecat for cream. Rubbed his silken fur against him and kept him warm, melting and mending his frozen heart. And Nathaniel cared about Valentine's Day. A lot...

Not that his kitten ever said anything. He knew his vampire well enough not to ask, and knew that suggesting a candle lit dinner for two was likely to lead nowhere with the stern and old-fashioned Viking whose loathing for the modern was deeply rooted and which mind was still very much European in his way of thinking.

So Nathaniel said nothing. And that had been Damian's undoing.

He'd stood by watching, as Nathaniel poured his soul into this new Valentine's act. Spoke lively of roses and halos and pearls.

His eyes would lit up when he saw the decorations in the shop windows; the red and pink candles, the giant heart shaped boxes of chocolate and the velvet underwear on display.
He spent hours picking out just the right thong for his act and spoke of how pretty "Guilty Pleasures" was on Valentine's Day; lanterns and roses and candles and all, and how he really wanted to make his performance perfect.
His purple eyes would glaze over with excitement and his voice become breathless, and beneath it all the old and jaded vampire couldn't help but sense the sweet yearning for love from a bruised and battered kitten.

And so he'd had to, although beneath him, reconsider the concept of Valentine's Day.

Damian finished his wine. He shrugged and put it down on the bar. Nathaniel would be done soon and he wanted to catch him backstage before he'd had a chance to dress. This particular part of the so-called "V-day", he hadn't minded at all. Watching Nathaniel on stage was always a pleasure. Said pearls and wings and thong, hadn't made it any less so either.

His kitten was always a teaser. Yanking this vampire's leash with just a look.

~*~

While walking the narrow corridor to the dancer's wardrobes, Damian thought of his surprise. He felt strangely nervous, wasn't at all sure it was what his kitten wanted, and then again, it might just be it.

He wouldn't give him flowers and chocolate, as he felt they meant little, if anything, empty symbols, on this day of all in the year. He'd wanted to make Nathaniel happy. Make an impression. Give him something that was only for him. Something no one had given him before.

He wanted him to remember their first Valentine's Day together as something special and out of the ordinary.
He also wanted to let him know that Damian saw him and knew him. Accepted who he was, without discussion. That he could see through the wereleopard's shields, and never flinched from anything he saw behind them.

Silly, he thought, what love could do...

Anything to make Nathaniel happy...

He turned the corner and caught sight of his kitten. He was cheerfully chatting to another stripper; a dark, leather-clad wererat, when Damian approached. He wore his midnight blue silk robe, a Christmas gift from Damian. The vampire saw it as one of his missions in life to improve, if not change, his boyfriend's wardrobe a tiny bit, as most of it consisted of well worn jeans and sweaters. Not that he minded! The cotton and washed out fabrics were doubtlessly Nathaniel, and so precious and sensual, just by being a part of his appearance. Still it was fun to dress him up. Wrap him in expensive and gorgeous materials. See his colors become more vivid and clear against the slick surface of silk and the soft texture of velvet.

And besides, Damian liked spoiling him. He was meant to be spoiled. Created for it. It was just that no one had bothered doing it before.

Now his lover pounced on him. His lips split into a wide grin and the purple eyes shiny with undisguised happiness.

"Damian!" he exclaimed and threw himself at him. Slender arms wrapped around the vampire's neck and vanilla scented hair tickled in his face. So soft that hair. Long and shiny.

"I have missed you," the wereleopard purred and rubbed his cheek against Damian's chin, scent marking him as his own.

Damian noticed the petty excuse for a underwear in his lover's hand, a little piece of red fabric and black laces dangling from the young boy's fingers. It meant that his boyfriend was likely to be naked under the silk and Damian had to take a long, steadying breath and close his eyes briefly before being able to greet him back:

"You were wonderful, kitten," he said hoarsely, his voice having to force its way through a tight, rough passage before reaching his lips.

The blood in his body still swirled with the memory of Nathaniel's dance. A soft humming and an aching want had been lingering in his loins. Having his arms full of the much desired flesh didn't help much. Did nothing but enflame him further.

"Nathaniel!" he burst out and lifted the cat off the ground. Clawed at the blue silk covering his back while greedily seeking out his lips.

Nathaniel, swooning from the display of passion, purred happily in his arms and wrapped his legs around the vampire's waist. It made his robe fall to the sides, his lycanthrope body heat to seep through the thin black linen of Damian's frilled shirt, he could feel every curve in the werekitty's little body, hotly pressed against his own, naked and not surprisingly; aroused.

It didn't take much to awaken Nathaniel's body. At least for him it didn't. Now the hardening sex pressed against Damian's stomach where Nathaniel grind it softly against the hard muscles.

Damian could never stop marveling it this animalistic naturalness of Nathaniel's sexuality. If he felt safe, he would never hold himself back, the expressions of desire were like those of hunger or thirst. Just there, and undeniable. Just natural, like smiling or crying, of which Nathaniel did a lot of both.

Nathaniel felt most safe with Damian, and so he did probably not even notice himself what he was doing when he was rubbing up against his lover. Seeking pleasure from his body without hesitating.

Damian noticed. Damian wanted. The flesh growing hard and firm against his stomach didn't help much. And it hurt.

He groaned from faint pain and arousal and plunged his tongue into Nathaniel's mouth. Claimed his soft, pink lips tasting faintly of apple flavored lip gloss, kissed them both dizzy and breathless.

"Damian?!" Nathaniel's voice sounded both amazed and concerned."Have you fed?"

"Yes," the vampire grinned. "But I'm not sated," he exclaimed and kissed the cat again. In an unusual bit of carelessness he let one of his hands slide down the slick material to curve around one of Nathaniel's buttocks, squeezing it not too gently with a broad palm.
Nathaniel giggled, his cheeks became flushed and he wriggled a bit, wrapped round the vampire's body. It didn't help. Not at all.

"Oh Nathaniel," Damian sighed. "If I could I would take you right here!" He buried his face in the warm curve of Nathaniel's neck, licked at his soft, creamy skin. Inhaled the scent of fur and sweet and lapped gently at his artery. Felt the red, hot blood running under the surface.

Nathaniel wasn't food though. Nathaniel was lust. Feeding from him to indulge in that lust. Let the essence of the lithe, adorable creature flood his senses.

He noticed that the wererat was gone, the corridor deserted, and so he pushed the other roughly up against the white painted wall. Both his hands were massaging Nathaniel's buttocks now. Holding his weight as the kitten was straddling his hips with his feet still dangling several inches off the floor. Damian lowered him a bit, gently, until their hips connected and Nathaniel's naked penis met Damian's equally aroused one through the fabric of his pants.

Nathaniel gasped and let his head fall to the side, gave Damian's exploring mouth a better access to his neck and now half-naked shoulder as the slippery material of his robe seemed to slip off his body on its own accord, leaving him semi-naked and breathless in the vampire's arms.

"God, you're so big," Nathaniel sighed. And Damian knew he meant all of him, not just that particular area.

"...So I can protect you better," Damian murmured to Nathaniel's neck. So smooth that skin, supple, soft...

"No," Nathaniel breathed passionately. "So you can have me better...fill me up!"

"That too," Damian grinned and recaptured the wereleopard's lips. Pushed himself roughly up against him and let one of his long fingers travel his cleft through the silk. "Do you want to ride with your master tonight?" He whispered and let his tongue lavish the other's full lips.

"No, I want my master to ride me," Nathaniel's voice had become an unusually deep murmur, laden with passion. His purple eyes were hooded by the thick fans of deep brown lashes, brushing Damian's skin briefly: Like silk those too. Fluttering butterfly kisses.

"Let's go home," Damian's nostrils flared and his whole body felt tight with pent up desire. He wanted to have his boy *now*. Sink his fangs into the pale flesh of his inner thighs, lap at the pink rosebud nipples and claim his body with slow thrusts, feel him quiver and break beneath him, the waves of pleasure overpower him and make him make those purring sounds. Those impossible sounds, from a human throat.

"Yes," Nathaniel's lips shivered slightly when he spoke. He steadied himself on Damian's chest when he was lowered to the ground. "I wished we were home now," he breathed heartfelt and beamed up at his taller boyfriend.

"So do I kitten," Damian said in a voice that wouldn't quite hold. "This is what happens when you dance like that," he excused himself and winked teasingly at the other, gave him a wicked grin.

"Only for you," Nathaniel smiled softly.

"Liar," Damian teased.

Nathaniel bit in his lower lip, with a mischievous smile he took the other's hand and placed it over his hot pounding erection, under the silk so his fingers touched the bare, heated skin.

"This," he said coyly. "Is for you."

"Yeah," it was Damian's turn to be breathless. He fondled the delicate parts of his lover slowly, cuddled his sac and stroke his length with firm, gentle motions, to be rewarded with suppressed moans and another flush of pink in the other's cheeks.

"Let's go home," he whispered to the top of Nathaniel's head. "I want to be inside of you now."

"Yes," Nathaniel withdrew with a sobbing sound and smiled at him, his gaze not entirely focused. His eyes were dilated and his moist lips parted. Just as Damian wanted him: Soft and luscious. Wanton.

The wereleopard gave a lazy smile and turned to the door of the dressingroom. "I'll be right back," his voice was slurred. "Just wait for me, will you?"

"Of course," Damian assured him, marveled briefly at the fact that his kitten still was insecure enough to ask. Of course he would wait, till the end of time if needed be.

He still hadn't mentioned Valentine's Day. Neither had his lover.

~*~

When Nathaniel reappeared it was with a somewhat unpleasant surprise which left no doubt which day it was. The young man's arms were filled with roses in different shades of red and pink. He had a plastic bag too, hanging from his wrist, Damian could spot heart shapes and glossed wrappings. Chocolates, most of it, he supposed. Unfortunately Nathaniel loved chocolates.

"Do you need help," he offered. It was stupid to get jealous. He knew Nathaniel had admirers, of course they would use this day to show their appreciation of his kitten.

"Thank you," Nathaniel reached forth his arms and allowed Damian to pick several bouquets out of his embrace.

"How nice of...them... to think of you," he tried, but his earlier so wonderful mood seemed to seep from him by each step down the corridor. But Nathaniel wasn't fooled.

"Yes, they love me," he teased mercilessly. "Look at all these roses!" He beamed happily and paused and waited when Damian stepped inside the office to get his thick velvet coat. Green of course, as his eyes. Nathaniel had helped him pick the color.

He found it wisest not to speak right now. The roses seemed a mockery somehow, although he should have expected it. Still he wished Nathaniel wouldn't be quite so thrilled about receiving gifts and flowers from strangers. The occasional bouquet he could handle...even the letters from lovesick women which Nathaniel took great delight in reading out aloud in their bed before sunrise. But this...this was just a tiny bit too much...How many bouquets were there? Ten? Twenty?

The chill outside helped him calm a bit though. It wasn't like it meant anything. Nathaniel liked gifts, that was all. Liked them, like a child does, eagerly peeling the wraps from its new toys. And he liked flowers, and chocolate...Damian was certainly not going to deny him that. Actually, watching Nathaniel eat chocolate was an erotic adventure of its own. All that sugary sweetness, the creamy fillings and tempting scents...the dark chocolate melting in the cave of his lover's mouth; flavoring it, smearing his tongue with sinful taste. Sweet and warm. It stirred in Damian's crotch again.

He only wished all this chocolate was from *him*. Not some drooling idiot in the audience. Someone who could never treat this treasure right. Never understand the subtle layers of sensitivity and compassion. The nature of his natural submissiveness and how to handle it. The unconditional love that floated freely from Nathaniel's soul. No, he didn't trust anyone but himself to treat Nathaniel right. To love him as he should be loved.

With his ever present awareness of Damian's mood, Nathaniel suddenly stopped in the parking lot. His gaze sought Damian's in the dark.

"I love you," he said simply and shifted his grip of the flowers. "You are my only love," he assured him. Damian gave him a grateful smile, felt the warmth of his words melt the cold edge of anger inside.

"Thank you," he said honestly. And they kept walking till they reached the car.

Nathaniel stuffed his flowers and the plastic bag in the back seat while Damian kept his in his lap. While they drove towards the circus he picked up a random card from the sea of red roses. His other hand absentmindedly petting Nathaniel's' hair in the form of a thick braid that lay coiled up on the seat beside him.

" ’To my dear wereboy! Happy valentine's Day. Love, your Kylie’....Who is Kylie?"

"I have no idea," Nathaniel smiled slightly. Damian picked up another card.

" ’Have a lovely Valentine's Day, dearest Nathaniel. I'm only sad you won't be spending it with me. Love, Oscar’...Who is Oscar?"

"I don't know any Oscar..."

"You better not..." Damian gave his lover a not completely serious look. Nathaniel laughed quietly and focused on the road.

"I can throw away the cards if you like...But I want to keep the flowers," he said.

"Of course..." Damian's voice was warm. He didn't feel threatened. Not really. They shared too much now. Their bonds weren't that easy to break. He still didn't like his boyfriend being wooed though. But it was his problem. Not Nathaniel's.

As they pulled up in front of the "Circus of the Damned" Nathaniel turned to him and flashed him a wide grin:

"We're home, lover...are you ready to make me a happy cat?"

"Of course," Damian purred from behind the roses."I'll remind you why you're sleeping with me...and not Kylie," he smiled.

"Oh good," Nathaniel gave a delightful shudder as the engine died. He still hadn't mentioned Valentine's Day. Damian admired him for that.

He thought about his secret and smiled to himself as Nathaniel paused to chat with the guards at the backdoor. Always friendly and cheerful, that one, Damian thought. He admired him for that as well.

Nathaniel gave both guards a handful of roses and threw the cards in a bin, unread. He kept his promises too...Damian suddenly felt guilty for tormenting him, making him believe there would be no celebration of their love tonight.

If it was, in fact a celebration it would become, and not some horrible, destructive mistake. He'd taken a chance, acted on instinct, and just hoped that he hadn't been wrong.

Once in his rooms in the dungeons he dropped his share of roses on the cushion and saw with a bit of relief that Nathaniel did the same. Hopefully, there would be no more fuss about the flowers tonight.

"Are you hungry?" he asked his kitten.

"No, are you?" he replied and threw his jacket and scarf in a chair.

"Only for you," Damian glided across the floor and captured the lithe kitty in his embrace. His nose was still red from the cold outside and Damian kissed it warmer. Nathaniel stretched his body in his arms, draped his hands over his shoulders and pressed every inch of slender body against him. Damian quickly changed his grip and snuck his hands under the soft, purple sweater Nathaniel wore, held him by the waist and caressed his smooth tummy with his thumbs.
He lifted the other up in the air and kissed him deeply. Felt Nathaniel's arms curl around his neck, under his hair.

"I love you, Damian," the soft voice was serious.

"I love you too, Nathaniel," Damian replied equally serious.

"Really?" Nathaniel beamed at him.

"Really, precious. Always."

Nathaniel smiled sweetly but his gaze flickered and he wet his lips nervously.

"Put me down," he said quickly. "I have...it's something. I got a gift," he said without breathing.

Damian had expected as much. Nathaniel wouldn't let Valentine's Day pass without *him* making some kind of statement of it. Even if he had an ancient, stubborn, European boyfriend. If he knew his lover right though, not a word would be said about Valentine's Day.

"All right," he said and lowered the other. Watched expectantly while the other searched through the plastic bag, admired the way his rear pressed against the tight jeans.
"Hurry up, lover," he said purringly. "I can't bear the sight much longer."

Nathaniel laughed, a thrilling sound that made Damian's heart skip a beat. He was just hoping he'd done the right thing. That this wouldn't turn out a catastrophe...

Nathaniel reappeared with an oddly shaped gift in his hand; the wrapping was silver and kept together with a giant red bow. It reeked of Valentine's Day. There was nothing every-day about it, at all. When he received it, Damian could see that the paper had small heart shaped imprints all over it. His kitten was subtle *enough*, nothing more.

"Thank you," he grinned and flashed some fangs. "That's very sweet of you,” he said, somehow at loss of words. Not really knowing how to properly thank him for this token of affection.

He wanted to wait till the right moment before revealing his own little surprise, but the longer it took, the further the moon traveled the sky, the crueler it seemed to let Nathaniel wait. But then again it was this uncertainty...well, it couldn't be helped. It had been done, there was no going back now...

He fumbled with the gift wrapping and Nathaniel busied himself lighting the vanilla and cinnamon scented candles on the table. His cheeks were flushed again, his gaze darted expectantly towards Damian's lap. Whatever it was in there, Nathaniel was obviously curious to see his reaction.

Damian smiled a little. if there was one thing he'd learned about the wereleopard it was that he took gifts very seriously.

"Soft," he said and squeezed it carefully.

"Open it," Nathaniel urged him on while climbing into the chair, placing himself in the vampire's lap with the present.

The silvery wrapping fell from the contents between Damian's fingers, revealing something furry. And spotty... Damian laughed, stunned and amazed as he lifted the stuffed animal out of its wrappings. It was a plush leopard; a little kitten really. The fur was a mess and one of his legs a little crooked. The green glass eyes looked up at them with a peculiar expression of innocence and surprise. He had a red bow around his neck and his tail was of the bendable kind; currently curling around one of the leopard's legs.

"In case you miss me," Nathaniel explained breathlessly, curled up in Damian's lap. The way only he could: Casual elegance and soft affection in one little bundle of delicate boy.
"When I'm out," he added. Doubtlessly referring to the full-moon as that was almost the only nights the two of them spent separated. "Do you like him?"

Damian was torn. it was silly, it was cute. Nathaniel was cute. He would never ever have bought something like it himself, then again the gesture was so romantic he felt his throat tighten. Nathaniel was so refreshing...After all these years of court politics and swords and power play. Something modern, and quite different. So honest in all he did, pouring gentle light on Damian's soul.

He hugged his boy close to him. Breathed in the scent of his hair; enjoyed the feel of his rapid breathing:

"It's adorable, Nathaniel," he said honestly. "I love it...I love you," he added. The sweet face in front of him broke into a wide, happy smile. His shy eyes softened and shone brightly. Damian trailed his smooth cheek with a finger; the boy was pure bliss.
And yet behind all the innocence, the affection, so much shadow, so much pain...And a big, spotted cat lurking. Guiding his every action.

It was his shadows Damian wanted to conquer and keep tonight. Explore and get to know, as they too, were his Nathaniel.

"I know which day it is," he said softly. "I haven't forgotten you, Nathaniel."

The surprised expression glided across the boy's features and was gone. In his eyes Damian could see a fight going on: Not to expect something. Not to believe what Damian's words implied. Caution...

"I know you don't like Valentine's Day," he breathed quickly. "I didn't expect anything from you. Honestly!"

"Why not?" Damian sought out his gaze with his own. "I am your lover..."

Nathaniel didn't answer. He moved uneasy, half-way curled up in Damian's lap, half-way on the stuffed chair. His gaze trailed the stoned ceiling, the mantle piece. The pictures of himself; the elegant dancer and the werecat.

Damian moved his hand to Nathaniel's thigh, brushed it softly to regain his attention.

"You have every right to expect something from me...Even if I'm too old to properly cherish this day, doesn't mean I won't share it with you..."

He wondered briefly why Nathaniel could receive gifts from strangers without blinking, but became uneasy when it was from him. Then, to his utter astonishment he saw tears gather in Nathaniel's eyes. He hugged his own torso tightly, obviously trying to fight them off. It did indeed mean something to him, this day. Meant quite a lot in fact , and he was utterly unable to hide it.

"Hush" Damian soothed him, once again guilt-ridden that he hadn't said anything before. Now, he just hoped that his gifts would be welcome. "Don't cry, Nathaniel...I should have said something before,"he admitted.

"I'm sorry," Nathaniel spoke quietly. "I didn't think you would...but maybe I was hoping, and then I thought I was stupid to that and..." he trailed off, didn't complete the sentence.
Damian leaned into him and embraced him, kissed him softly on the cheek. Remembered that Nathaniel had never had a real boyfriend before, and that it was his first Valentine's Day as such. As it was for Damian.

"Come on," he cooed in the fine shell of Nathaniel's receptive ear. "Let us bring some wine and go to bed," he tempted. "I got something for you there." He kissed the tear that ran down Nathaniel's cheek away with a gentle press of lips. The scent of vanilla and cinnamon spread in the room was just right. Just perfect. Was them.

"Ok," Nathaniel smiled through the tears. Even gave a startled little laugh when Damian quickly rose with him in his arms and carried him like a child into the bedroom to drop him off on the big, stuffed bed, on top of all the red and green pillows. He flashed his fangs at his lover and went back to the living room, expectation building in his own gut now, as he collected glasses and a dusty bottle of red wine, a box of chocolates from Nathaniel's bag and the plush kitty from the chair. It was...simply adorable. Damian laughed quietly to himself. Felt suddenly bold and adventurous. Also a side-effect of Nathaniel's' presence in his life. He felt young again. Alive...

Nathaniel had begun stripping when he came back to the bed. That was usual, as he was definitely most comfortable nude, and who was Damian to complain about that? He threw himself down beside him, dropped the chocolates by the side of the bed, but brought the weird looking leopard and the wine with him up on the forest green bed spread. He opened the bottle with practiced hands, his gaze never leaving Nathaniel's form as the wereleopard quickly got rid of his garments and came snuggling up beside him lycanthrope-warm and soft.

"You are beautiful," Damian stated and poured the wine. "You really have no idea how beautiful you are, Nathaniel..."

"Thank you, "the kitten purred. Slid one leg across Damian's black-clad ones and received his wine glass. "But I'm not big and broad and sexy like you," he flirted, tears long forgotten now, the kitty was playful and sweet. "And I don't have hair like yours...and eyes." He snuggled a bit closer, moving against Damian's pants. Too much naked cat, too close...

"No," Damian laughed," but you have your own hair and eyes, and they are beautiful." He lifted his glass to his love and had the other do it inreturn. The wine was nice, rich and spicy. It made the vampire relax and feel comfortable.

Nathaniel wriggled a bit beside him, began rubbing his crotch gently against his thigh while watching the ruby red liquid through the glass, a happy smile played on his lips now. Yet again he was doing it without thinking. On pure instinct. To be secure, feel good.

Damian watched him silently. He really wanted to dip his tongue in that navel and lick the skin of his thighs. Claim his lips and cover the slender limbs with his own...

He noticed with a start that his hand was busy caressing his new, furry pet, while he was watching Nathaniel. He smiled sheepishly and let the little creature go, placed it above the pillows so the green eyes looked down at them, hopefully enjoying the sight.

Damian sighed, it was time. No putting this off anymore. It couldn't be hidden much longer anyway, and Nathaniel, although seemingly calm, was waiting for him to make his move.

Nathaniel; once broken. Not as healed as he wished, always waiting for the boot to come kicking. Accepting it, as a part of life. Not this time.

There was a ghost in Nathaniel's eyes sometimes and Damian knew who it was, it had a name. How many hours, how many days had it taken him to maybe figure out the answer to the riddle. The simple question of *why* it was impossible for Nathaniel to hate his former master.

Gabriel...

Of course *hating*, was not one of Nathaniel's strong traits. But it had become apparent, that there was guilt too, in the kitten’s eyes every time those days of horror were brought up.

At first he had thought it to be Nathaniel's guilt for giving in to the late Nimir-Raj's whims. For perhaps, enjoying his company, or at least parts of it...

Such a fine line that...Nathaniel's desire to be dominated but not abused as it broke him down. Be forced to feel, be manhandled and powerless in a lover's embrace, but not slashed open and serial raped. Pain yes, but not slaughter, which was what Gabriel had provided. Yet, there seemed to be something, a lingering doubt in Nathaniel. Like a fond, cherished memory or a lingering warmth. There was something about Gabriel Nathaniel couldn't let go of...

Of course it annoyed him, annoyed him no end. But he was curious too, for what was it that this unworthy creature had given him, that Damian could not...?

He had carefully circled the subject, been afraid to break the spell and overstep the lines. When the answer finally was there, it had almost been too simple to be true. He was still just hoping though, that he wasn't mistaken, and that...his reconstruction for erasing purposes, wouldn't turn out a nightmare.

Nathaniel had suffered unspeakable torture in Gabriel's hands. *His* job was to mend him, not to break him...

He was taking a chance with this experiment of his, and he hoped by God, that it wouldn't go wrong!

The answer, so simple...so shiny and cruel.

Damian rolled over to his side and reached for the bed-stand drawer. It was now or never. Damian would severe the ties, exorcise the ghost and the guilt, or lose his most precious in the attempt.

He found the little gift, wrapped in shiny blue and with a silvery bow, and gave it to Nathaniel.

"Here kitten," he murmured affectionately. "I hope you like it..."

"Thanks!" Nathaniel was utter gratefulness and shiny purple beside him. His small, clever fingers received the gift and eagerly began ripping the glossed paper from the black box inside.

"Oh," he beamed when he saw the black velvet of the box, it tasted of jewelry, which it was. Nathaniel found the little, golden hook and opened it up. His expression widened to amazement when he saw its content and carefully lifted it out.

"Oh Damian! It's beautiful!" He exclaimed and held the midnight-blue collar with the little gold heart attached, high up in the air.

It was a beautiful piece. The collar was a thin strap soft leather covered in smooth velvet, the heart polished and rounded, a heavy shiny piece of solid gold. Small, but exquisite.
He had it made especially. The heart had originally hung from a golden ring and he had gotten the idea, for several reasons, when he saw it in the store. He had spent the rest of the night searching for the perfect collar, and finally found in a pet shop. Even the clasp at the backside was hidden in velvet, so it wouldn't hurt Nathaniel's sensitive skin.
Then he had a goldsmith attach the heart to the collar with a couple of tiny golden rings. As it was now; it was a perfect fit for his Nathaniel.
Nathaniel, seemed to agree. He stood up in the bed and unbraided his hair in front of the mirror. His hands appeared a little shaky as he quickly undid his ankle length hair with experienced fingers. The collar was in place around his neck, the polished heart dangled happily against his skin.

"I'm so pretty!" he beamed and posed in front of the mirror. Caressed the heart with his fingers. "It suits me!" he exclaimed and was absolutely right.

"Thank you!" Nathaniel's voice was thick with emotion. "Oh thank you, Damian!" The wereleopard dived down on top of him, covered them both in a thick veil of auburn hair. "I love you!" The kitten beamed at him and made Damian laugh with his enthusiasm. Nathaniel kissed him then, deep and affectionate. He even closed his eyes a bit, fluttering lashes hid the violet gems from view. But only briefly.

"It's so beautiful," he whispered. "I will always be your cat," he swore and kissed him again; motioned for them both to roll over so Damian lay on top. "Fuck me!" he begged softly, in unusually crude words to be him. "Fuck me, Damian, for the rest of the night..." his voice trailed off to nothing as his body took on the sensual laziness that always seemed to come and overpower him when he was aroused.

Damian couldn't help but groan deeply in his throat. His hand snuck in between them and caught the small, erect organ of his lover. He squeezed it gently. Felt it twitch. He lapped at Nathaniel's neck with his tongue, pierced the skin briefly to taste flavor of his blood, careful not to stain the collar. He felt Nathaniel's tiny hands tug at his shirt, his fingers travel beneath it to stroke his chest while small whimpering sounds poured from his throat.

"Please...now," he begged in a whisper. His hips ground feverishly up against Damian's. Naked skin and rough fabric met and caressed to bring their organs together.
Damian briefly detangled from the pliant body beneath him to quickly get rid of his shirt, toss it to the floor and moan loudly when Nathaniel's hands came to reclaim him; caress his nipples into erected buds of dark red skin. Trail his muscles, brush his stomach with his fingertips.

Such love and harmony in this. Such fragility. In danger, right now, their love... Nathaniel motioned for him to lie back on the bed instead of covering him again. Damian had expected it. It was a token of gratefulness this. He was such a coward not to say anything...prepare him.

He let himself be pushed backwards and landed half-naked sprawled on the bed. Nathaniel came climbing after him; slid across his body. Feline and graceful in this moment, his eyes had narrowed to slits of burning purple; amethysts crushed and sprinkled with ice.

He made a mewing sound of want as he moved on his fours on top of Damian's body, began to lick the skin of his chest with long, warm strokes. Arousing no end; and then he pounced; he ripped the vampire's belt open in one move and took a hold of each side of the flyer, forcing the fabric apart. Then stopped.

Damian didn't breathe. He realized he shook slightly, both from anticipation and the unbearable want the wereleopard had inflicted upon him.

"When did you do that?" Nathaniel's voice had nothing of the cat's passion in it. It sounded small and fragile, a hard knot formed in Damian's gut...

"Last night," he forced the words through hard clenched jaws.

"Is that why I couldn't stay here?" the voice was empty sounding. Shocked.

"Yes..." he didn't dare to move. Didn't want to see the blackness he imagined in Nathaniel's eyes. He had failed. His clever plan had backfired...

Gabriel with his rings and chains. Burning silver on lycanthrope skin.

"Must have hurt," Nathaniel stated calmly. "Even for you...Humans spend ages to heal..."

"Well, I'm not human," he quite honestly couldn't think of anything else to say. He avoided Nathaniel with his gaze. Felt more than saw that his fingers went to the collar to cuddle the heart.

"It's a match," his voice spoke without emotion.

"Yes, "Damian confirmed. "I don't know if my flesh will accept it though, even if it's gold and goes deep..." he was babbling and couldn't help it. With a sinking feeling he cursed himself over again for his sheer stupidity.

"It's beautiful," Nathaniel's voice still gave nothing away. A finger came to tentatively touch the thick golden ring with the captive, polished heart that was pierced through the glans of Damian's cock.

It was big, as Damian was no small man. Too late he realized how scary it must appear for his kitten.

"I found the heart in the same shop. It's from the same collection..." useless information. Useless, needless. - Lost!

He swallowed hard and bit in his lips. He would offer to take it away, he thought. Maybe things were mendable after all...Although, if he had raised this corpse and with it the pain, it was not likely it would go back to rest...ever...

He gathered all his strength to lift his gaze from the surface of a green pillow to Nathaniel. The wereleopard looked pale. His gaze was transfixed on the still annoyingly erected flesh before him. The jewelry there. The polished piece of gold that replaced the usual bead. Smooth angles, it wouldn't hurt him...but now, he'd never know.

"Nathaniel," his broken voice filled the silent air like a shriek. The wereleopard startled visibly and looked up at him. Then, to his amazement, Nathaniel's shoulders seemed to relax.

He was sitting on his knees, his legs were shaking visibly. Tremors ran through his body and when he met Damian's gaze there were fear in the violet depths, but also hunger.

"Damian," Nathaniel's voice had dropped, become darker. It was strained and laden. His nostrils flared. "Damian," he repeated and steadied his hands on the other's thighs. His whole body shook and his lips were parted. Moistened by his pink tongue. The fire was back in his eyes now, black yes, but smoldering so.

"Damian," he said again. Moaned his name and let his head fall back. He finally lifted his hands from Damian's thigh and let them travel down him own torso. His nipples were puckered nubs of pink and as his hands traveled further down, to his hips, Damian saw that his cock was still firm and erect, glistening with pre-cum in the candle light.

"Have me," Nathaniel's dark voice spoke. "Please," he sighed and took a hold of his own member, moved his hand slowly up and down the shaft. He whimpered without obvious reason and lazily turned his back to the other. With Damian as an amazed audience he went down on his fours and lowered his upper head and body to the mattress. He spread his legs widely, offering his rear up to Damian. His pink little entrance was clearly exposed, set between the creamy buttocks. His sack had crawled up to a hard, firm ball between his legs. With a faint shock Damian realized that Nathaniel was close to coming.
He hesitated no longer but rose in one fluid motions and let his palms roam Nathaniel's back, brushing his hair aside.

"Are you sure?" He asked hoarsely. Desire unleashed, coursing through him in mighty waves.

"Yes," Nathaniel's voice was equally hoarse, he pushed his behind up against Damian's body, pressed the jeweled cock to his open cleft. rubbed against it, up and down. He began panting beneath the vampire. Loud and ragged.
Damian reached for the vial of oil on the bed stand with hands that shook. Didn't waste time but poured the oil directly on to Nathaniel's moving ass and his own, already leaking, organ. The gold shone and glittered in the oil, illuminated by the candle lights. Appeared liquid, hot.

He took a chance. One eagerly approved by his lover beneath him, and pushed his gold enlarged cock against the unprepared opening. It slowly yielded and the cat mewed. Basking in the pleasure of the tightness inside and the clenching of the violated muscle Damian tried to gather himself, but it was hard. The slippery cock wanted in, in, in...and the eagerly moving leopard did nothing but encourage the intrusion.
There was nothing to do but let go. Forget everything else but the coupling. The pleasure and the ring. The shivering form beneath him.

With a deep-felt moan Damian began moving. He shoved his cock as far inside as he could go. Nathaniel moaned his name.

He withdrew and moved inside again, harder this time.

Nathaniel squirmed and purred loudly. A deep, ragged sound deep in his throat. He pushed himself inside again. Held the kitten by his hips while he moved, all the time harder and faster. His flesh and the gold heart rubbed Nathaniel's small prostate over and over and forced increasingly louder outbursts from the cat. It was a rhythm now, like electricity pounding. Pulsing through Damian's veins.

"There is nothing he could give you that I can't!" he exclaimed in a harsh voice. Hardly aware that he spoke.

"No," Nathaniel's soft one answered. Breathless and slurred. "Nothing..."

He leaned over with a snarl and sank his fangs into Nathaniel's shoulder, let the stream of red color his vision, his mind, as he forced his organ in and out of the slippery opening of Nathaniel's body. Moist and hot. Blood and sex....Nathaniel...

He let one of his hands slip from the boy's sweat slick hip to caress his cock under his belly. It was slippery with juices and twitched in his hand. Damian licked his wounds close and breathed, whispered, in his ear, "Come for me Nathaniel. Come for me now!"

"Yes!" the leopard screamed and tossed with his head as warm fluid pumped out in Damian's hand. Long strands of heat and liquid...Salty cat cream, sugar for the soul. Damian threw his own head back as the muscles of Nathaniel's body spasmed and clenched around him. Kept him inside with a grip of steel as the waves coursed through his kitten and ripped a scream from Damian's throat as he too lost his last remains of control.
With the delicious feel of Nathaniel's' blood still flooding his senses he flooded the cat; buried to the base of his shaft he let his semen fill the velvet inside of his kitten. Heard the mewing whimpers from the other as a wonderful back-drop to his own hoarse exclamations.

The spell was broken. The ghost was hopefully gone. Nothing more would be said about Gabriel in this bed.

Shivering and warm, still whimpering softly; Nathaniel curled up in his arms. His eyes were closed but his body relaxed. He seemed content.

Damian was still shivering slightly. Still not completely done with the aftershocks from their rough lovemaking. He still cuddled his boyfriend closely though. Made soothing sounds and kissed his hair. Stroked his back comfortingly.

A glistening tear escaped one of Nathaniel's eye-lids, ran slowly down to his temple. Damian was instantly alert. "What is wrong Nathaniel?" he asked with worry. "Why are you crying? Was it too much?" The hard knot of fear threatened to gather up again.

"No..." Nathaniel blinked with with moist, shiny eyes. "It's just...that I love you, and you love me and...It's just so nice!" He whispered with a soft smile.

Damian sighed with relief. His tensed muscles relaxed again.

"Silly cat!" He laughed tired but affectionately."My precious, precious valentine."

The End


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