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Reckless Abandonment	By : bsoffia Category: Anita Blake > Slash Views: 3414 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the Anita Blake series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
Richard stuck his head into the refrigerator and gaped at the wide variety of food stashed there. He reached for the frozen pizza, and then changed his mind. Microwaving was such a chore and the events of the evening had left him drained and depressed. He still couldn’t believe Jean-Claude left him and went off with Jason.
He sighed. His head was pounding and it was impossible to think about anything except what Jean-Claude and Jason were doing right this minute. The vampire had shut down the marks as soon as he left his office, and that only confirmed they were up to no good.
Richard rummaged through the industrial-sized fridge and realized he was parched. He didn’t need food. He needed a drink. A large, stiff one. But he could find nothing that had even a smidgen of alcoholic content in it. He sighed and began searching shelves and pulling open cupboard doors.
He eventually found a bottle of ancient red wine tucked into discreet corner behind the tea kettle. He smiled gleefully as he grasped the bottle and carefully extricated it from its hiding place. The Ulfric licked his lips in anticipation. Wine was not normally his thing; he preferred whisky or vodka, but would serve its purpose.
Richard deposited his butt on a high-stool and stared at his salvation. He didn’t know squat about fine wine, but he could tell it was old and very expensive. Someone would not be happy to find it missing. He giggled hysterically at the thought. Well… it was just too bad. Finder’s keepers.
Richard popped the cork and took a long pull. The thick red liquid went down smoothly and he sighed appreciatively. There was no burning sensation in his throat for a change, and the wine was doing amazing things to his stomach. It made his blood tingle in his veins and also warmed his body. A slight buzz started in his head and he swayed on the tiny stool. It was all good.
He paused to take a breath and the bad feelings came flooding back. He couldn’t stop his mind from imagining Jean-Claude’s soft lips on Jason’s taut body, Jean-Claude inside Jason; his beautiful face slack with need as he pounded and climaxed into the young wolf. This was something Richard had yet to experience himself and it made him mad. He made a fist with his free hand and slammed it down on the kitchen counter.
He yelped in pain, and realized he was nowhere near as drunk as he needed to be. At the rate he was going, one mere bottle of old wine would not be enough to knock him out. And he needed to sleep. Tomorrow promised to be long enough as it is. He couldn’t possibly survive it without sufficient rest.
He chugged down another mouthful of wine, and was delighted when his head went blank and the buzzing returned. He chucked and took another swig. And another… Before he knew it, half the bottle of wine resided inside him.
Richard thought he heard someone at the door and swiveled around. He was instantly giddy and almost tumbled off the stool. Lucky for him, there was no one there to watch him careen into oblivion. He snorted rudely. Lucky for them, he thought. There was no way in hell he would give up that bottle. He would fight for it, to the death if necessary.
To. The. Death.
Those three words made him pause. Why would he think that? Was he truly an alcoholic now, ready and willing to kill for a miserable bottle of wine? He examined his now fuzzy thoughts and didn’t like what he saw. He shook his head slowly and ignored his vision blurring. No. That was not him. He wasn’t that far gone he would kill someone over a bottle, but then again… better to continue his binge in private, just to be safe.
Richard stood up on unsteady legs and hugged the bottle tightly to his chest; he had the absurd urge to protect his prize it like it was the most precious thing in the world to him…
He stumbled blindly through the dark hallways and up the uneven staircase. Before long, he was out in the open, breathing in the warm night air. He noted it was still dark, but dawn would be here soon and Jean-Claude would be dead to the world. Only then could he could stop torturing himself with mental pictures of his vampire with another man.
The Ulfric squinted into the night. He couldn’t remember where he parked his car and had no idea where he was headed. He just knew he had to leave the Circus of the Damned and get as far away from Jean-Claude and his harem as he could. He would go home… back to his disaster of an apartment. That was his only refuge. He trudged to parking lots behind the Circus.
“Where are you going, Richard?” Jean-Claude was standing at the entrance of his home, dressed in nothing but his silk robe. He looked good enough to eat and the Ulfric found himself drifting towards the vampire. He made himself stop, and glared at the Master of the City.
“You don’t need me here.” He grumbled childishly. “You have enough boy toys to keep you happy.” He took another swig of wine and ignored the disappointment in his lover’s eyes. He knew Jean-Claude was hurt by his words, but he was drunk enough not to care.
“I should never have come here. It was a mistake… all of it.” He rambled, and swayed dangerously on his feet. There was a slight rustle of wind, and then his bottle was in the vampire’s pale hand. He grabbed at it, but Jean-Claude twisted out of his way. The wolf stumbled and fell on his butt. Red-faced, he struggled to his feet and narrowed his eyes.
“Give me that!” He yelled, and growled when Jean-Claude dropped the bottle. Richard freaked when it shattered and the wine spilled on the ground beneath him. He gave the vampire a murderous look and prepared to attack him.
“Do not do anything foolish, Richard.” Jean-Claude’s voice was cold and distant and it scared the wolf more than he would ever admit. “I am losing patience with you.” Richard snorted rudely.
“Shouldn’t you be getting back to your boys?” He asked defiantly. Richard could smell Jason on his vampire, and he knew that more than a striptease had occurred in Jean-Claude’s rooms. The only consolation was that there was no scent of sex on his lover. They apparently didn’t finish. Richard’s heart leapt, but he held back the smile. He was sure Jean-Claude would not be impressed by such pettiness.
“It appears that I have to baby sit you.” Jean-Claude was clearly frustrated with the situation and it grated on the wolf. He was not a child and he didn’t appreciate being treated as one. The vampire’s next words offended him even more.
“I ordered all the alcohol in the Circus be disposed of, but it seems somebody was careless... “ Jean-Claude stared distastefully at the broken bottle at his feet and gave a long sigh.
“All the alcohol is gone because of me?” Richard asked incredulously, angry and glad at the same time. On the one hand, he was mad the vampire thought he was a helpless drunk; on the other, he was glad Jean-Claude was willing to go to such lengths to keep him sober. The Master of the City really cared about him and the Ulfric felt bad for disappointing him. Richard’s shoulders sank in defeat, and he allowed the depression to overwhelm him.
“Can you blame me?” Jean-Claude asked softly. He gently lifted Richard’s head and stared into his wolf’s brown eyes. “Do not do this, mon loup,” he whispered, and then he kissed him. Richard melted in the vampire’s arms. He could spend his life kissing Jean-Claude and never get sick of it.
“I must go inside, my love. Dawn is approaching. You are welcome in my bed, but I am told it can be unsettling…” Jean-Claude smiled sadly and his face shut down; he obviously didn’t think Richard would want to stay with him. The wolf’s heart clenched. He knew Anita never hung around after Jean-Claude died for the day; he just never knew how much that pained the master vampire. The hurt in Jean-Claude’s eyes broke his heart. He would fix that. The Master of the City would never have to sleep alone again.
“I am kinda tired,” The wine had worked its magic and the wolf was dead on his feet. Jean-Claude took his hand and led him back to his room. Richard made himself useful when his lover was in the bathroom. He turned down the bed, fluffed the pillows and crawled under the sheets naked.
He opened his eyes when he heard Jean-Claude gasp. The vampire stood at the side of the bed with tears in his eyes.
“What is it? What’s wrong?” Richard was so worried he bolted out of the bed and almost landed on the floor. Jean-Claude laughed softly and gathered him into a tight hug.
“Nothing is wrong, mon amour. You are perfect.” The vampire’s voice was thick with emotion as he clung to the wolf. “I never thought…” Jean-Claude stopped thinking when Richard kissed him. It was a hungry kiss, and the wolf used it to show the Master of the City how much he loved and needed him.
“You wanna know what I think?” Richard asked breathlessly when they finally broke apart. Jean-Claude raised his eyebrows.
“I think… you are wearing too many clothes.” He said playfully, and proceeded to remove his lover’s robe. He couldn’t resist running his hands all over that marvelous body, and Jean-Claude encouraged him by making the most delicious noises.
“I regret we will not have time to finish this.” Jean-Claude sighed. “Dawn is only minutes away.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” Richard declared recklessly, but the dazzling smile he got in return more than made up for that brief moment of panic when he realized what he’d said.
“Now, get into bed, lover!” He pushed Jean-Claude down on the bed and tucked him in. He climbed in on the other side and cuddled the vampire in his arms. “Sleep now, Jean-Claude. I will be here when you wake up. I promise.” One chaste kiss later and the vampire was gone.
Richard stared at Jean-Claude for the longest time, and his chest hurt. He missed the vampire already; and the depression that Jean-Claude so successfully chased away earlier threatened to overcome him once again. He was truly addicted.
He stroked the vampire’s perfect cheek and it was like touching marble. He knew Jean-Claude’s lips would be cold as well, but he didn’t care. He leaned forward and kissed him before he got out of bed. It was time to deal with Jason.
Richard thought about what he would say to the young wolf as he headed to Jason’s room, but everything he came up with sounded lame and possessive. He decided to wing it. It didn’t really matter what he said or how he said it, he just wanted Jason to leave. No more private striptease sessions for Jean-Claude, no more flirting, no more baths together, and definitely no more sex. In fact, he hoped Jason would get the message and move out of the Circus. That would be the best thing for everyone.
Richard sighed. There was nothing he could do about the young wolf’s duties as pomme de sang, even though the mere thought of Jean-Claude taking blood from anyone else made his face burn. He knew feeding for a vampire was as intimate as sex; that was why he never donated without a fight.
Richard sighed again when he realized he would have to compromise on this point, but he would work on Jean-Claude. His blood was more powerful, and if he were more forthcoming with sharing, his vampire would soon forget about the younger man. Yes. That was a plan.
He took a deep breath and walked into Jason’s room. He found the wolf sitting up in his bed with a book in his hands. He was reading to Nathaniel, who was curled up against his body like a cat. The leopard’s eyes were closed and he had a dreamy smile on his face. It looked like he was imagining the characters in the book.
Richard stood at the foot of the bed and waited for Jason to finish. The young man read a little longer, seemingly unaware of his King’s presence, but Richard knew he was pretending. He saw the tension in Jason’s shoulders and heard it in his voice. Plus his hands were trembling.
The minutes ticked by and Richard tapped his foot impatiently. He almost reached over and grabbed the book many times, but kept his temper in check. It wouldn’t do anyone good if he flew off the handle and hurt Jason, even though he wanted nothing more than to wring that youngster’s neck.
Jason finally stopped reading. He set the book aside and turned to Richard. He glared at his King and growled softly. The Ulfric replied with a growl of his own. He would not tolerate disrespect from anyone, especially the one person who threatened his relationship with Jean-Claude.
“Do you know why I’m here?” Richard demanded, staring daggers at the younger man. Jason was unperturbed; he was far more interested in picking out the invisible lint from Nathaniel’s long auburn hair.
“No, but I suppose you’re going to tell me,” Jason replied dismissively, and that tested Richard’s temper even more. The young wolf continued playing with Nathaniel’s hair and refused to meet his Ulfric’s eyes.
“I think you know better than to speak to me in that tone.” Richard replied dangerously. “Don’t you have any respect for your King?” He frowned when Jason laughed bitterly and finally met his eyes.
“You may be my King, but I decide who I respect. And I choose not to respect a leader who vanished for six months, and allowed his pack to fall apart.”
“How dare you speak to me like that!” He yelled as Jason backed away. But the young man wasn’t quick enough. Richard moved in a blur of motion, and before Jason knew it, he was yanked from the bed and his naked body was slammed against the wall. His feet dangled in the air and he found himself at eye level with his Ulfric.

“Please…” The young wolf was terrified. His hands grasped the arm that held him up. “You’re hurting me.”
Richard slowly let the wolf down until his feet touched the ground, but he kept Jason pinned to wall with an iron grip around his throat.
“What do you want from me?” Jason whispered after he caught his breath. His eyes brimmed with tears, but Richard was unrepentant. Jason deserved to be punished for his rudeness.
“I want you to stop your relationship with Jean-Claude. Do not kiss him or touch him in a sexual manner ever again. Do not go to him or feed him. Consider yourself relieved of your duties. I will take care of him from now on.” Richard shut his mouth. That wasn’t part of the plan. Jean-Claude would be angry, but he’d deal with it.
Jason looked at Richard as if he were completely crazy. “Are you serious? You can’t ask me to…” Richard responded by tightening his grip on the young man’s throat and choking him.
“I am not asking you. I’m telling you. Keep your paws off Jean-Claude or you will regret it. The same goes for you too.” Richard jerked his head back at Nathaniel, and was gratified to see him trembling and clutching a pillow in his arms. At least someone took his threats seriously.
“I knew you would do this,” Jason squeaked. “As soon as I saw you with Jean-Claude, I knew you would try to take him away from the rest of us.” Tears streamed down his face and fell on Richard’s hand. The Ulfric felt nothing but contempt for the weaker man. The tears didn’t move him, but he released Jason. The young wolf sank to the floor sobbing as he rubbed his sore throat and dried his eyes.
“Jean-Claude does not need you anymore Jason, he has me now. I’m much better for him than you can ever be. Surely you can see that.” Richard looked dispassionately at the other man and willed him to understand, but Jason remained silent. Richard sighed and continued.
“I can respect the fact that you wanted to comfort him when he needed it, but things have changed. From now on, if he needs any comfort, I will provide it.”
“It that all you think my relationship with Jean-Claude is?” Jason asked sadly. “I love him more than anything in the world. You want to take him from me? You may as well kill me.”
Jason words hit Richard hard. He was a cruel bastard who had just betrayed one of his pack members. He was going to hell for this, but he couldn’t bring himself to care. All he could see was the prize that awaited him. It was so close and it was time to close the deal. He took a softer tone.
“You will fall in love again,” Richard assured the young wolf. It made perfect sense. Jason was young and full of life. He could find someone else tomorrow if he wanted to. The club was full of eager young men and women who would give almost anything to spend time with a sexy stripper. Richard was sure of it. So why did he feel so lousy?
Jason choked on a sob and shuffled to the bathroom. His head was lowered and his shoulders were slumped in defeat. He turned and looked at his King before he went into the bathroom. The young wolf looked awful. His face was blotchy and his eyes were swollen.
“Congratulations, my King. He’s all yours.” Jason sounded so lost and Richard couldn’t bear to look at him. Guilt was an emotion he didn’t handle well and he didn’t want to see the pain on Jason’s face; the pain he had caused. He looked up only after the bathroom door slammed shut and muffled the rest of Jason’s sobs.
So that was it. He’d won. There would be no more trouble from the little wolf. One down, one more to go. Richard was relieved Jason didn’t put up much of a fight. He wasn’t prepared to hurt the young man, but he would have if Jason hadn’t back down. That would have caused major problems when Jean-Claude found out, and he didn’t want that.
“Just go away.” Nathaniel’s soft, but firm voice interrupted his thoughts. “You’ve done enough damage here tonight.” The leopard’s lilac eyes blazed with anger, but Richard wasn’t worried about him. Nathaniel was still hiding behind the pillow and a glare was all the kitten was capable of. The Ulfric gave a long exasperated sigh and exited the room.
He headed back to Jean-Claude’s chambers, but a wave of guilt made him pause in the hallway. His actions tonight were deplorable. He couldn’t believe he intimidated Jason into leaving Jean-Claude. Jason… a person he had sworn to care for and protect.
He was a bad King; plain and simple. He was shallow and irresponsible. Jason was right, he didn’t deserve any respect. He’d sold out his pack member for a roll in the hay. He decided he would try to make things right with the lesser wolf; Jason could remain as Jean-Claude’s pomme de sang. It would kill him to imagine them entwined together, but he could live with it. He slipped into the Master vampire’s bedroom feeling better about himself.
His eyes were glued on Jean-Claude’s amazing form as he removed his clothes. His vampire lover was truly beautiful, almost angelic. Even sleeping, he was the sexiest man Richard had ever laid his eyes on.
The Ulfric climbed into bed and wrapped his arms around the Master of the City. Jean-Claude was cold and hard, but Richard didn’t notice. He loved this man, and nothing else mattered. Nobody else mattered.
Richard sighed. Jean-Claude was almost all his.
One down… one to go.
- 7
- 8
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Reckless Abandonment