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Dark Curiosity	By : PsionRat Category: A through F > Dark Series Views: 2862 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the Dark series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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A/N: I don't own anything in the world/s of Christine Feehan and don't presume to. I'm hoping to extend this quite a ways, or at least as many chapters as I can without hitting too big a wall. I've changed some things, namely Cole, I made him too 'calm' before, the story needed some fire. Enjoy!

Dark Curiosity

Cole sipped quietly at the tea he'd made. The warmth made him feel better even if the taste didn't really register. He was dressed in a clean pair of jeans and a dark blue T-shirt emblazoned with a local band name. His thoughts whirled frantically in his mind to a point that he finally looked up at the other occupants of his small apartment. He'd heard quite a lot in the last few hours.
Especially now that the 'yelling, screaming and throwing things' phase had passed and he had settled down to actually listen to what there was to be said.
The other man, a Carpathian male, for all the description was worth, stood staring intently at the painting Cole had just finished. It was an amazing likeness of him considering Cole had only seen him while terrified and Leodan himself had softened the memories to dull the pain and place it neatly into the realm of strange and frightening dreams.
While the shorter man seemed to search for answers in the other's back his eyes wandered. Leodan was taller than him by about a foot, putting him just over six feet since Cole himself was just barely above five. His hair was straight and long, somewhat wild looking even in it's barely restrained shoulder length. It was also black, nearly as black as his eyes which were still taking in the details of the painting.
After a moment, Cole's observations took a turn and he started to notice other things. His broad shoulders for one, not overbearing massive, but still high up in the realm of masculine features while his own still resembled that of a middle-teenager. A fact that somewhat irritated the twenty-two year old.
Leodan shifted and his eyes darted away, only to return when it was clear the taller man wasn't paying much attention. So Cole's eyes continued.
They strayed down the other's back, his shirt was of a material he wasn't sure of and it conformed ever so slightly to him, showing off just enough detail to realize the body underneath was solidly muscled. A fleeting impression returned of the man pressed behind him, strong and steady, made him flush a little.
He smirked a little as his eyes trailed further, resting on a very well shaped buttocks. Of course he flushed harder as he realized he was actually looking at it and using such polite language in his own head for thinking 'Leo', as his mind was quickly calling him, had a 'nice butt'.
Cole sat not blinking for a long moment then he sat up in alarm and shifted his eyes hastily, blood rushing hotly to his face. Leodan had just turned around, and it was very obvious that he was still quite aroused. Guilt crashed into him at that detail.. the other man had really done a good job on him, but he hadn't thought about returning the favor until that moment.
Leodan smirked and a low sort of laugh left him. It is more than fine. His voice rolled across Cole's mind like black silk, warm and smooth to the touch and so very welcoming. I am afraid to admit it, but, as much as I would like to make love to you and end my ache while furthering our bond. I am more than a little ignorant as of how to do that.
His need was bringing up the beast within, there was no doubt. But his fear of hurting Cole somehow while blundering about, literally a blind man in a dark room when it came to sex between men, was enough to stave him off, for now at least.
Cole just flushed harder. He hadn't exactly been explicitly thinking of letting Leodan have sex with him.. but now that he mentioned it. That didn't sound like a bad idea.
He nearly slapped himself for the thought. He'd just met this man, and he'd come unannounced into his apartment to fondle him, and he'd bit him, and he'd gone on to explain that they were Lifemates, or whatever and that he'd actually been attacked by a vampire before and that.. oh wow.. his head hurt.
Leodan chuckled again and just smiled. Cole was taking things quite well, better than some of the tales he'd heard of Lifemates found and turned from outside the expected bloodlines. And considering the paperweight he'd nearly been nailed in the head with, that was saying something. But still, this moment was tempered by the thought of what might come in the future when he had to introduce his Lifemate to his family and other Carpathians. He was slightly afraid of how this might be received among them, no matter how at peace with it he'd finally allowed himself to become.
“You really don't know how guys.. you know, do it?” Cole seemed extremely embarrassed by the string of conversation.
Leodan nodded. “I have for my whole life expected a woman to be my Lifemate. All of the information was given and searched for on the subject has followed due course.” He paused and shrugged a little.
“Oh.”
Immediately Leodan regretted his words. He could feel Cole's somewhat crushed emotions through their link. “That is not to say I wish you were a woman. Far from it.” The 'crushed' sensation lifted a little and he covered the ground between the, kneeling in front of a now startled looking Cole. “I could never find myself willing to ask for anyone but you, especially now that I have you. I have perhaps the most basic understanding, but not the details I would need to make sure I was doing things right for you.” He sounded apologetic.
He felt Cole's uncertainty.. and even more keenly his unconscious desire. The beast within rose sharply and he only restrained it after the hard kiss had begun, a fierce and dominating thing that the smaller man caught and held onto. Leodan pressed forward, desperately fighting the need to have his way.. he didn't know how to get what he wanted and didn't wish to hurt Cole. But the other man's soft hands were working against that need for focus, lifting the Carpathian's shirt and stroking hot skin underneath.
Cole shook as Leodan groaned into his mouth and pushed at him even more. He wasn't sure what was about to happen, and that scared him as much as thrilled him.
You work to rouse a beast you do not fully understand. Leodan warned, unable to pry his mouth from Cole's as the smaller man submitted further. I do not want to hurt you, but it demands.. and demands much.
The kiss finally broke, leaving Cole panting and Leodan not at all abated. A long moment passed and then the blond slapped the other hard across the face. “What the hell?” There was an edge of terror in his voice.
Leodan growled faintly in response, wondering much the same thing, especially since he hadn't even seen the blow coming enough to dodge it.
“Get off of me.” Cole's voice still shook, but he was now all fight and finally pulled himself up out of the chair and away from Leodan. “You can't just.. you can't.. don't kiss me like that!” His voice came out in stuttering breaths and he looked around frantically for a focal point. A part of him desperately wanted to go back and finish that kiss, another was in full flight mode, nearly making him bolt out the door.
“Why not?” Leodan stood and held out his hands wide to show he wouldn't harm the other to try and get him to relax again. “You belong to me, and I to you. Why should I not know the taste of you?” He wanted to go forward, but his years as a hunter told him that Cole was 'cornered' and would only fight him harder if pressed too fast. “Did you not like it?”
Cole had paced across the small kitchen area as the other spoke and stopped after a few feet just to turn around and sound frustrated. “Look, I didn't ask for this.”
“Neither did I.”
“I don't even know if this is real.” His voice was still upset, but less afraid.
“It is real.. fate has brought us together. You will take time, I can see that.” He still held his hands out and took that step forward. “We have all the time we need. Feel my mind, you know I speak the truth.”
Cole didn't move as the other advanced several more steps. “That's just a weird thing to say.” He held still as calming hands landed quietly on his shoulders, tugging him gently closer. He resisted briefly but slowly went into the hold, trying to ignore the voice that told him to kick Leodan in whatever place was most available and run out the door. He'd seen the man's fangs, and even though a part of him said he was safe.. the wild animal feel of him showed him quite clearly the potential for danger.
Leodan rested his chin on the top of Cole's head, trying hard to keep himself in line. In times before the beast had struggled, urging him to kill and enjoy it. It had been easy for him to control, he had a strong will and discipline had been instilled early when the colors faded from his sight sooner than most males his age experienced. Now though, it raged for other things, and all under the confusing whirl of hot emotions he could just barely remember how to control.
They had all thought he would turn before his first century was out. Even he had feared it would happen. But he'd proven stronger than the monster within, and he prayed he was still so strong in the face of such wild emotions and desires. “You must stay in today.” he finally said, inhaling the rich scent of his Lifemate.
“I can't, I need to get to the museum. I should have gone there already.” Cole was having a difficult time understanding the situation and even himself, the thought of normal activities was welcoming. “I at least have to pick up the works left over from the last show and check up on any sales for my prints or originals. And I've got to make sure there's enough new prints to last the rest of the month. And then..”
“No.”
Cole looked up, Leodan had lowered his head and stared at him with stern eyes.
“You must stay in. Your instincts have kept you indoors thus far and they should be trusted. I gave you so much blood before to keep you alive. There is no way of knowing what sunlight will do to you at this point.” He sounded final and in complete control, and he was finally feeling like the hunter he'd been for so long.
“Wait, you said it took more than one exchange.” Cole sat up straighter, sounding just as stern. “I have a life you know, fate or not, it has to be taken care of.”
“What I explained is in the usual circumstances, I've already told you I gave you more than the normal amount of blood. I admit I was panicking, but what's done is done. The sun will likely burn your skin now if exposed to it directly.”
Cole turned around, knocking Leodan back and pacing across the kitchen to the sink. “Leo, I have to do this, it's important.” He seemed unaware of the slight quirk Leodan gave at the shortening of his name. “It's my entire career.” He turned around and leaned against the sink, trying to look more dominant when he had a six foot tall vampire..
Carpathian. A quiet voice reminded him.
He sighed. Oh alright, a six foot tall Carpathian standing in his kitchen and crossing strong arms over an obviously powerful chest.
“Your life is more important to me than your career.” And once again he regretted words long after they were too late to take back. He could feel Cole's injury at the remark and his arms dropped to his side with a boiling sense of shame.
“My career is my life.” Cole replied in a hard tone. “It's all I've ever had. You can't take it.”
Leodan mentally searched for something to say to ease the anger in the other's eyes but was cut off by a dismissive gesture.
“You know what? Go. Go on. You said it was too near dawn. Go.. wherever it is and get in the damn ground.” The smaller man turned away, facing the sink again, a strange and unwelcome disappointment heating up his face. This was so.. stupid..
He felt Leodan behind him and half-heartedly tried to push him away as strong hands came back and tried to turn him. When those hands failed the first time they grabbed him and spun him, holding him firmly in place even while he struggled. “Sto..” he was cut off before he could even finish the word, locked instead in a deep kiss that he fought, at least for a little while.
Quickly he felt his muscles relax and his resolve soften as the other's mouth claimed his without restraint. Eventually he found himself drawn into it, giving back with his own force and wrapping one arm around to tangle his fingers into long hair. Very slowly the kiss parted, but not before stealing all of Cole's breath to leave him panting yet again.
This time, no shocked blows came.
“You're wrong.” Leodan whispered the words gently into Cole's ear, holding him tightly and stroking a hand down his back. “Your career is not your life, your art is. I know, I can see into your soul as well as you can see into mine.” He kissed just below the blond's ear and inhaled. “I will never take your art.. but the buying, the selling.. you no longer need it. And I beg.. I beg and plead.. that you stay inside while the sun is up.” Another kiss, lower on Cole's neck. “For your own safety.”
Cole didn't say anything immediately, but did nod. “I'll stay inside.”
A sigh of relief left the taller male. “Thank you. Now I really must go. I can feel the sun rising.” he started to let go of Cole, although quite reluctantly. He would like to take the man with him, he wasn't sure if the changes made so far were enough or if there was even room for the two of them in the small rooftop garden kept by one of the tenants of the building. The soil was not perfect, but it was certainly rich in life and thankfully, organically kept.
“Goodnight, or is it good day?” Cole seemed calmer, but still upset to some degree.
“I think 'good day' will do.” Leodan replied, trying to sooth away the last few upsetting notions from his Lifemate's mind. “I will return as soon as I can rise. We have much more to talk about.”
They parted at the window and as much as it hurt to separate from his Lifemate, the sky was lightening to a soon to be dangerous degree. Leodan rushed up to the roof and quickly made a place for himself in the back of the just barely well kept patch of dirt inside four raised wooden walls.
Once settled he took a moment to reach out to his brother. He should have done it earlier, but, obviously other things had been weighing on his mind. Kail?
Leodan! The reply came sharply and somewhat demandingly. Where have you been? We've been searching all over for you! You ran away so quickly, did the victim die? We're not sure what happened.
No, I, actually I've been away because.. I've found my Lifemate. He let the statement stand alone.
That's wonderful! His brother's mental voice took on a joyful tilt. What is she like? Is she there with you now? That certainly does explain your absence.. and why you went into hiding. But we've been trying to find you and warn you, another vampire has been spotted in the area. Ritter and Tolin are tracking him. If you have your Lifemate, your first priority is to her. Keep her safe until the matter has been dealt with.
Of course, thank you for the warning. Leodan paused, what should he say? But no, my Lifemate is not with me, there has not been enough of an exchange yet for that, at least I don't think there has. But.. Kail, I must ask. If my Lifemate were.. say.. different. Different from all the others that have been found among humans. Would they still find acceptance among us?
Now it was Kail's turn to pause. Of course she would.
Somehow that answer didn't help. Thank you.
Jenelle wants to know her name. Will you give it? Please? I don't think she'll forgive me if I can't tell her yet.
Leodan felt the sun rise higher and quietly replied. His name is Cole. And then he locked himself away again. Fearing what the next night might bring.
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Dark Curiosity