| Title: Cherished Authors: Jo & Brenda Series: Claimed Pairings: Karl Urban/Orlando Bloom/Harry Sinclair Rating: NC17 Summary: Vampires and pets and sex, oh my. Yeah, it's an AU. Disclaimer: As far as we know, vampires don't exist. Cha. Author's Notes: *Brenda points to Jo* It was all her fault. I just went along with it. *Jo points back at Brenda* Her Karl had designs on my Orli. She liked the idea so we let them play. This is what happened. *mwah* *Brenda & Jo look around, then whisper* But it's really *all* Harry's fault and if he says otherwise, it's a lie! For the other 1/2 of the Quartet. *mwah*
"Have I mentioned that I missed you?" Karl's lips drifted from Harry's mouth to his neck, fangs sinking into a vein to sample hot blood. Harry threw his head back, growled deep in his throat, grabbed fistfuls of Karl's hair to hold him in place. Karl had been waiting for him as soon as he'd gotten home, lounging in Harry's favorite chair in his study, wearing Harry's favorite black velvet shirt, black leather pants and a welcoming smile. It hadn't taken more than a handful of seconds before clothes started flying off...it had been far too long for the both of them. Karl lifted his head, licked lips stained with Harry's blood, let the earthy copper taste course through him. Hazel eyes locked with tawny ones, and they were back to kissing, feasting on each other with greedy tongues and slanting mouths. Harry slid Karl's pants off of him, coasted battle-scarred hands up Karl's thighs to a toned stomach and chest, his touch gentle, assured as he reclaimed Karl's body. "Shower," Karl muttered between kisses, his own hands busily divesting Harry of his slacks, anxious to have that beloved warrior's body naked and on him as soon as possible. "I could use a shower," Harry agreed. He grabbed Karl's ass in his hands, lifted him off the ground, and Karl wrapped his legs around Harry's waist, mouth back to devouring Harry's as Harry walked them up the stairs to his bedchamber and the spacious bathroom. Mouths were still fused together as Karl reached blindly to turn the taps of the shower on, steam immediately saturating the room. Karl bit Harry's shoulder, unwrapped his legs from Harry, stood. "Come on." He tugged Harry under the spray with him, pushed the shower door closed, shoved Harry to the tile walls. "God, I've missed this," he stated, running his hands over Harry's heavily muscled chest, water matting the sprinkling of dark hairs. "Missed you too, old man," Harry groaned, running his hands down Karl's wet back, stopping to massage the base of his spine before moving farther down, delving between Karl's cheeks. Karl relaxed into the gently probing fingers, pushed his hips back to meet the slow twists. Hot water cascaded around them, the spray misting over their slick bodies as they slid together, touching as many body parts as they could...calves, thighs, cocks, chests all pressed into each other's, so close they were one body. "Harry..." It was an entreaty and command all rolled into one breathless sigh. "You wanted something?" Harry's eyes flashed with pleased arousal. He shook his head to clear the water out of his eyes, dark brown hair clinging to his forehead in wet clumps as his fingers delved deeper, corkscrewing into the tight flesh. Karl's body quivered with need; he was over being teased. He wanted Harry's cock, large and thick and consuming, inside him. He wanted to come hard and fast, wanted the release that only Harry could give him. "Now." Karl gripped Harry's shoulders, demanding. "Ah, well, yes, we did promise, didn't we?" Harry smiled, withdrawing his fingers, reaching for the bottle of scented conditioner. Karl watched with narrowed, impatient eyes as Harry quickly lathered his cock, then reversed their positions, shoving Karl against the slick tiles and sliding inside his body with a slow, smooth thrust. Twin groans cut through the sounds of running water, echoed off the walls. Harry ran possessive hands down Karl's ribs, spanned his hips. "You have just got the best ass for fucking," Harry said, rotating his hips in small circles. "So fuck it already." Karl moved back into the thrusts, Harry's cock now completely buried inside him. He'd missed this, missed Harry's chest pressed into his back, missed Harry's hands firm on his hips, missed Harry's cock deep in his ass, moving in him, filling him. Karl sank into Harry's mind, let Harry inside of his, was rocked and slammed by the incomparable sensations...was Harry, all thrusting heat and rocking hips, was himself, writhing and slick and filled again and again by Harry's cock. Harry nudged Karl's head with his lips and Karl gladly bared his neck. The first pricks of fangs biting into his flesh had his hands scrambling for purchase on the wet tile, hips bucking against Harry's, patience forgotten, finesse forgotten, everything forgotten except the feel of Harry in his body, in his mind, in his blood, as violent orgasms ripped through them, feelings so knotted together it was impossible to tell who came first. Harry licked the wound closed with a soft tongue, wrapped his arms around Karl's chest, moving them both under the water. "Feel better?" he rasped, brushing his mouth against Karl's ear. "Much." Karl's head lolled back against Harry's chest, and he opened his mouth to catch a few drops of water, needing the moisture on his dry throat. "And how are things progressing with the young Orlando?" Harry asked, grabbing the soap again, lathering Karl's back. Karl's head now flopped forward, body pliant under Harry's expert fingers. "Good. He adapts well. Can't wait for you to meet him." "And I was thinking about that." Harry spent entirely too much time soaping Karl's ass, not that Karl minded -- he only shifted into the contact, the knowing hands. "Perhaps we should wait until after the ceremony." "Why?" Karl sighed the word, lost under Harry's touch as Harry knelt, washed Karl's thighs and calves, massaged tight muscles. "Lift your foot…thanks. Well, he might be more inclined to accept me, accept who we are, once he's totally bound to you, sees that I'm not a threat," Harry said, digging his thumbs between Karl's toes. Karl moaned, used the wall as leverage to hold him up. Absolutely no one could make him as boneless as Harry. "Might be a good idea," Karl replied. Harry moved to Karl's other foot, giving it the same thorough treatment. "So I'll meet him Friday. That is, if you're still intent on carrying through with this asinine plan of sending him to Tokyo next week." "Of course I am." Karl melted into the wall, melted under the warm water and capable hands on him, now on his stomach. Harry stood in one graceful motion, moved his hands to Karl's arms, scraping his nails along Karl's triceps. "Then we'll wait." He punctuated the words with a slow kiss, tongue running along Karl's lower lip. "Fine." Karl would have agreed to anything at this point; he just wanted Harry again, wanted Harry driving him into oblivion. "When does Orlando's store close?" Harry asked the question along Karl's mouth, pressing him back against the slick wall. "Not for another hour." Harry smiled, before nibbling along Karl's jaw. "Plenty of time." + + + "Orli, I think we've got a late customer." Orlando glanced at Sylvia and shrugged. "We're closed. He should have come 30 minutes ago if he wanted to buy -- " //What I want can't be bought with money, little one.// With a gasp, Orlando's head whipped around. "Karl! Fuck, Sylvia, let him in!" "So, this is the new boyfriend?" Sylvia was laughing, keys rattling as she unlocked the door. "Nice looking guy with a limo -- I'm impressed." Karl had barely stepped through the door, his presence filling the store, before Orlando was in his arms, capturing his lips in a kiss that left them both breathless. "I missed you." "I missed you as well." Karl claimed Orlando's mouth in another kiss, this one scorching, possessive. Orlando sighed softly, molded his body to Karl's lean strength, relished the exotic taste that flooded his mouth and overwhelmed his senses. Sharp fangs grazed his bottom lip and he shivered, awash with desire. "Why don't you go ahead and take off? I'll finish up and take the deposit," Sylvia offered, grinning. "Um, yeah, okay," Orlando stammered, giving his assistant a grateful look. She just grinned, watching Orlando follow Karl out of the store and into the limo. + + + "Orlando, that is the most hideous shirt I've ever seen." Karl eyed the garment with obvious distaste. "The pants are nice enough," he continued, glancing at the white cargo pants that rode low on Orlando's hips. "But the shirt is truly ugly. Take it off." "I...will you take yours off as well?" Orlando's voice was teasing, seductive, as his fingers moved to his buttons. He handed the garish blue and purple shirt to Karl, watched as strong hands shredded the material with ease. Karl chuckled. "Not just yet. I thought I'd let you do that later. After we get home." Home. Orlando savored the sound of that one word. Home. That beautiful house was his home now. And all that dark, seductive beauty across from him was his to touch and taste at will. He shivered at that thought. "You're cold." "No, I...." Orlando blinked, and Karl was beside him, firm thigh pressed against his, warm breath wafting across his bare shoulder, a single finger toying with the ring in his navel. "No? Are you sure?" Now it was Karl's voice that teased, enticed. "I...well, maybe. J-just a little." "I thought so," Karl murmured, pulling Orlando into his lap. Another shiver went through Orlando as he threaded his fingers in Karl's hair, his head falling back as the vampire licked at his throat. Long minutes later, they parted and Orlando trembled, his body humming to a tune of Karl's creation. "Karl," he breathed, leaning in for another kiss. Even white teeth gently nipped his bottom lip. "We're here." "Oh." Orlando slid from Karl's lap and climbed out of the vehicle when the driver opened the door. Belatedly, he realized that he was shirtless, and turned back to the limo. Karl settled one hand against the small of his back, urging him forward. //I rather like you like this -- half dressed, hair rumpled from my fingers, that just-been-kissed look in your eyes -- wanton and innocent and so very, very beautiful.// Orlando blushed, felt the color spread down from his face to his torso, as Karl flashed him a wicked grin and guided him into the building. "I believe you said the second floor, yes?" "R-right." Orlando fumbled with the keys, managed to get the right one in the lock, opened the door. Stepping inside, he pulled Karl with him and shut the door. "Cozy," Karl murmured. Orlando just smiled, and tossed his keys on an end table. "Lijah? You home, mate?" "Orli!" The excited shriek ripped through the small apartment, followed by the slap of bare feet on the wooden floor. Elijah tore into the living room and skidded to a halt, hitting the rug and sliding another three feet before fully stopping. Already big blue eyes grew even bigger and locked on Karl. From Elijah's perspective, the vampire -- and there was no doubt who stood before him -- was huge, his mere presence almost overpowering. Here was a creature straight out of legend, a being made for sin and seduction and killing. Standing there, Elijah felt small, insignificant, exposed -- and very, very mortal. "Lijah, this is Karl. He's -- " "I know," Elijah said, his eyes still on Karl. The vampire just watched him with a faint, amused smile. "Pleased to meet you." "Somehow I doubt that." Karl's voice surrounded Elijah, promising dark pleasures and forbidden desires in its depths. "But the pleasure is all mine. You must be an extraordinary person to have been given Orlando's friendship." "He is." Orlando hugged Elijah, then gestured Karl towards the couch. "Have a seat, love. This shouldn't take too long." Karl reminded Elijah of a black panther clad in velvet and leather as he sat down, lounging against the cushions, exuding quiet power and raw grace. "Come on. You can help me pack." Orlando tugged on Elijah's hand. "Pack?" "No shirts like the one in the limo." They both turned and looked at Karl in confusion. "Only solid colors." "That'll rule out most of his shirts," Elijah said with a snort. Orlando just looked dismayed. Karl shrugged, the gesture impossibly elegant. "Then I'll buy him new ones." Elijah shook his head when Orlando perked up at that offer. He could practically hear the cash register ringing in his friend's head. If there was one thing Orlando loved, it was shopping. "You have no idea what you just got yourself into," Elijah mumbled as Orlando pulled him down the hall. "Here." Orlando pulled a bag from his closet and thrust it at Elijah. "Put all my CDs in there." "All your...this isn't short-term, is it? You're moving out." Elijah slowly started to place CDs in the bag. Orlando paused, clothes in his hand. "I'm moving in with him." "Kinda soon, dontcha think?" "I'm going to be his pet. He wants me." A soft smile parted Orlando's lips. "I have to live with him." "You don't have to do anything." Elijah gripped his arms tightly, shook him -- and released him immediately when he thought he heard a low, rumbling growl from the living room. "You don't understand," Orlando said quietly, placing clothes in a suitcase, methodically emptying his dresser and closet. "I do have to do this. I can't live without him." "Orli -- " "I love him." Orlando's eyes shifted to the door. Elijah sighed and sat on the bed, watching as Orlando folded clothes and packed them away. "Are you happy?" Orlando dropped the last of his clothes in the suitcase and latched it before he looked at Elijah. "Happy? Happy is too tame a word for how Karl makes me feel. He completes me." Still a little apprehensive, Elijah studied Orlando's face for a moment and then nodded. "As long as you're happy, that's all that matters. So...you're going to be his pet now?" Grabbing a handful of books, Orlando smiled, nodded, and began to explain. By the time they were finished, Elijah knew what the future held for his best friend and all -- or rather, most -- of his misgivings were gone. Carrying half the bags, he followed Orlando back into the living room, dropping his load on the floor. He watched as Karl rose, moving languidly, and picked up the bags he had just discarded. Half of Orlando's bags wound up in Karl's possession as well. "Is this everything?" Orlando nodded, and Karl kissed his forehead. "Very well then. I'll take these down to the car while you --" "If you ever hurt him," Elijah said, voice soft and serious, hands clenched at his sides, "I'll hunt you down and kill you." Karl froze and Orlando whirled, eyes wide with horror. "Lij, what the fuck are you doing?" he hissed. Karl turned his head, sinful eyes pinning Elijah in place -- and he laughed. The clean, rich sound echoed through the apartment, rippled through the air. "You have a very brave friend, Orlando." "I was thinking very stupid," Orlando muttered. Elijah swallowed, started to pray. Karl laughed again. "He loves you in his own way, and he would protect you from harm. Two traits I can admire and respect." He turned to fully face Elijah, bowed slightly. "You have my word, Elijah, that Orlando will never come to harm at my hands. Nor will I allow anyone else to harm him." "Good." Elijah was determined to stand his ground, regardless of how every one of his instincts were screaming at him to run. "And in return for being such a faithful friend, I want you to feel free to visit him anytime you'd like. Consider our home yours." "Thank you," Elijah murmured. Karl simply inclined his head, and Elijah watched as Orlando smiled, waved, and then followed the vampire out of the apartment. He sank into the recently vacated sofa on shaking legs, letting out a short puff of air. Fucking hell. |