Undying Hunger

Ch. 8: Dead or alive?

Dante pulled the trigger and the bullet split right through the vampire's head, causing splashes of blood to spatter across the grass and Reid's shoulder. The blood sprayed like gruesome fireworks and Dante's chest squeezed as he hoped Reid reacted in the way he wanted, the way he needed him to react. The surprise burned from Reid's eyes like a match to paper. Something shifted inside of him as he narrowed his brow and pushed the vampire off the edge.

The coil in Dante's chest loosened. Sighing, Dante let the relief wash over him as Reid exceeded expectations again. Dante dropped his arm, flicking the safety of his gun back on. Quickly, Dante hid the gun back into his glove compartment and hurried over to the edge of the cliff to stand with Reid while he was staring at the edge.

Gently, Dante touched the small of Reid's back and didn't speak above a whisper. Dante's mind held only one thing. He asked, "Are you alright? He didn't touch you, did he?"

"No," Reid said, shaking his head. His attention was still on the rocks and the ocean over below them. "You were on time, for once." He joked, but Dante didn't laugh. The blood on Reid bothered him. Every little thing pinched Dante's already wrecked nerves. Reid's ruffled suit. The wind in his hair. He still clutched the gold bag holding the ring inside his hand.

Dante's eyes stared at the top of his ginger head, down his brow, the length of his nose, his lips, and the length of his neck. Dante first saw this familiar silhouette at the smokey bar. Frozen in time. Stuck in the most beautiful version of himself forever.

Reid Harper.

Like before, Reid felt the silence, sensed Dante's stare, and glanced up. A similar feeling fluttered inside Dante again.

"What is it?" Reid asked.

"I can't believe you're here," Dante admitted, what has been plaguing him this entire time. Ever since, Dante picked Reid up from his ruined wedding. It didn't make sense, so Dante couldn't help himself and had to tell Reid, so maybe Reid could help it all make sense and make all his worries disappear.

"I've been here." Reid smiled in confusion. "You brought me here."

"No, I mean..." Dante took another step closer, bringing Reid closer too. "I can't believe you're here. You. I honestly thought I'd never see you again, but here you are."

As Reid registered it, his confusion softened into recognition. He fell into Dante's touch. A thrill fluttered through him all because he held Reid in his hands. Butterflies Dante had thought were long dried up, shook off their dust and fluttered their wings once again.

"And what are you going to do while you have me?" Reid asked, his voice so soft as if to keep it a secret.

While, he said, as a reminder of the temporary. That once again, Reid would vanish from Dante's life and, who knows, maybe it'll be the final disappearing act. Dante followed the sparks to the fire in Reid's lips, burning his mouth on the touch. Old habits seemed to die hard. He kissed Reid, pressing into him as Reid stretched to wrap his arms around Dante's neck. Dante reached down, hiking Reid up, who gasped out of surprise that seemed to delight him.

It was nice, the sound of Reid's laughter. Much softer and sweeter than the way he yelled, as if Dante had fought all the thorns necessary to reach the soft petals of a rose. Dante carried Reid towards the car, dropping him at the back door, letting his body slide down the metal.

"Outside or in?" Dante asked, but he really wanted to know how far he could take this. Dante wanted him. Wanted him now. Dante wanted to rip the clothes off Reid's body and sink his teeth into his peachy skin. He wanted to delve into Reid and make him writhe in pleasure until he reached his breaking point. He wanted to make him cum first, like it was his way of winning their constant arguing.