It wasn’t until I was sitting down and had eaten half the lasagna that I realized that the self doubt was slowly manifesting. It was feeling its way through me the way thorny weeds would envelop plant life. I let out a slow even breath, effectively hiding my sigh. Putting my fork down on the plate, I happened to glance up. Lucas was staring at me.

His eyes were still dangerously green.

Just by his facial features I knew then that he had been reading me. Dammit.

Forcing myself not to frown, I stared right back. I knew that my eyes were half lidded, a defense I had learned long ago to keep the big boys from knowing that I was scared. Whenever I felt myself knocked asunder, my body seemed to work of its own accord. Allowing myself to breathe in deeply, I steepled my hands so that they were just barely touching my lips. It was then that he stood up, jerking his head to indicate that he wanted me to join him.

I slowly got up myself. Dinner seemed to be over for the others, and I knew that the tab would be paid for, they usually were at these types of functions. Dropping my eyes so that they started at Lucas’ feet, I slowly brought them. I took in his perfectly creased grey suit, how the pants were let out an inch more in length than ought to be, to his perfectly polished dress shoes. I raised my eyes and saw the indiscriminate slightly fuzzy hair on the back of his hands, which always gave someone away once you knew what to look for, to the way the jacket was let out an inch more in length than it out to be in the arm in order to better hide the fact. Continuing upwards his body I noticed just how well he fitted the shirt, and it was all I could to imagine just how he looked underneath and I stifled a moan by biting the inside of my lip. When I locked eyes with him again, I knew that he knew that I was lost.

Those beautiful dangerous eyes winked at me.

“Ira Burr.” The words were spoken softly. Lucas turned around and walked away, once again not waiting to see if I followed.

And once again, I found myself in the maze-like hallway. He was to quick, or was it that I took my time even though I was excited. I kept telling myself that I didn’t know what I would find in the darkened hallway, and when he disappeared around one of the many corners I thought he would meet me in the restrooms.
Turning the same corner, then another one I was quiet surprised to have his hands grab my shoulders, spin me around, only to have him throw my body up against the wall. I gasped out loud even as I felt him pin me. The heat emanating from us both was instant, and Lucas let out a long, low growl that sent more than shivers up and down the length of my body. I felt one leg go between mine, rubbing along the length of me. Allowing my head to rest against the wall, I watched in utter fascination as he licked his lips. He smiled at me. It was almost cruel, but I fell further into the madness that was driving us both. My leg muscles twitched violently and if he hadn’t been propping me up the way he was, I think I would have collapsed.
“I can’t believe I withheld this long. Watching you eat was torturing me.” Lucas dipped his head down like he was going to kiss me. Closing my eyes was automatic. I felt him lean in close and raised my arms to wrap them around his neck. Once again I smelled his cologne and it sent my head reeling. My heart started pumping faster because of the sudden adrenaline I felt. It was then that the scent of wet foilage hit me, and like it or not, I knew that the ancient Goddess had brought us together.

Lucas sighed and I felt him shiver slightly as he tightened his grip on me. His hand found my hip again, the thumb going around in circle again. It felt so comforting and erotic at the same time. He touched foreheads with me and I heard him take in a shuddering breath. “Oh Ira.” The longing in his voice was clear. “I have waited for so damn long…” He trailed off. Lucas hugged me closer and licked my lower lip. That one act sent a powerful surge straight to my loins, and I did let out a moan then.

The others, the older boys, had always told me what it would be like once I found my true mate. Sure, they had made crude jokes and even more lewd gestures while describing it to me. They described the feeling of intensity, the subtle fragrances of the jungle just after a refreshing rain, the way the ancient Goddess Isis would pull at your heart strings to let you know that yes, this is The One. It was said that she had never failed to lead two people into a perfect match. The gang that I grew to learn to depend on, and later love as a family, had told me that for those of my particular persuasion seemed to be even more driven to complete the Ritual. By default the Goddess favoured us. She gifted us with unique powers and we were revered for it. Unlike today’s society.

Knowing that, I knew that there was no going back. I had complete faith in Isis. I needed to do the complete Ritual. Opening my eyes I saw that the man before me had on the most serene look on his face. It made me all the more lustful towards me. Growling myself, I flung myself forward. Slamming him into the other wall and pinning him, I grabbed onto him like I was drowning.

Lucas groaned. “Do it.” He gave me a pleading look. “Do it now!”

I waited a few moments making him squirm with need. His eyes rolled up into his head and he moaned again. I kissed him and then I went for his neck. I bit him hard and felt the blood course down my neck. Goddesses, he tasted good! It seemed that he waited for me to grab unto one of his hips and place my hand up against the wall before he latched onto my neck. His sharp teeth sank into my neck and it almost sent me over the edge. My hips twitched of their own accord. We both groaned into each other’s neck
Lucas then came up for air and he breathed slightly more than heavily. “I got to have you now, Ira.”
I knew that I had taken enough of his blood that the ritualistic bonding would take, but there was there was the second part of the Ceremony that needed to be done. I licked his neck so that there would be no blood drips to mess up his dress shirt, I knew that there’d be a very faint bite mark. I knew that he wanted us to finish the Mark. His eyes were now a lot darker, almost blue. He smiled at me.

I winked at him. “Ready?”

He nodded.

I dropped to my knees, not caring about the pain that shot through my knees. Nuzzling that special part of him, I took in his musky scent. Glancing up, I saw that he had thrown his head back so that it rested against the wall. I lightly used my teeth to unbutton his trousers. His leg muscle twitched.

It was quick work. I slowly took him in my mouth as he made a point to look down at me. The look on his face literally took my breath away and I had to pause. We were both so into each other that we had forgotten where we were, who we were with.

“What the hell?” A voice said, completely shocked.

I jumped up, and spun around and unconsciously ensured that certain parts of Lucas were well hidden. I saw Aaron standing there, disbelieve etched all over his face. Lucas pressed himself up against me, and I felt him stiffen even more, as he brushed his lips against my neck. I couldn’t help but let out a sigh and I felt my eyes roll up into my head intermittently.

Aaron paled slightly. “I didn’t know either of you swung that way. Not that I care, but it’s coming up as a bit of a shock, as you can certainly see.” The poor man was babbling, and neither of us had the heart to tell him to shut it. I found it strangely cute, that a gay man would be shocked to find other gay men.

“Aaron, it’s okay.” Lucas spoke softly.

“I just needed to go take a piss.” He stated, squirming slightly.

Trying to move so that Aaron could pass us, I felt Lucas thrust his hips forward into me. Still very excited, I let out an audible moan. Lucas growled and bit my neck a lot harder than he should have. I was forced to grab at the wall for support.

“Lucas.” I stated, warningly.

But it was too late. From the look on Aaron’s face, I knew that he had seen Lucas’ elongated teeth.
“What the fuck are you guys?” He sounded truly shocked.

I sighed. “We’re not what you think.” How in Hades hell was I supposed to explain it?

“Vampires.” Aaron choked out, slowly backing away. “You’re fucking vampires.”