A/N Hi everyone!! I know, it's been forever since I've updated this story!! Major writers block, friends in trouble, and I'm moving...Doesn't help the creativity levels if you know what I mean...

Anyway, let me know what you think, okay! Lots of reviews!!

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Chapter Fourteen

It was a wonderful feeling, waking up next to the man, surrounded by the warmth of his arms, and knowing that he didn’t have to come up with some excuse as to why he was there and not on his own side of the bed. He didn’t even bother to open his eyes. He just sighed and grinned a bit, snuggling in further, only to gasp a bit as the man hugged him tighter and kissed his forehead gently.

“I was wondering when you were going to wake up. I’ve been lying here for hours but I didn’t want to move. You just looked so peaceful,” he said, nuzzling the shimmering blonde locks affectionately.

Alic blushed. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled against Gareth’s chest.

Gareth chuckled lightly. “Don’t be, beloved. It’s just simple time if I get to spend it with you,” he answered smoothly, running a hand up the boy’s back and down again, resting it on the small, wanting desperately to pull up his shirt and feel the soft skin.

Alic shivered at the fleeting touches and crooned. “You’re much too nice to me,” he said.

“Too nice! How could I be too nice to you, my darling?” he asked, rolling them over so that he could stare down at the beautiful boy.

Alic giggled. “You use way too many pet names as well,” he said smartly.

Gareth grinned and blushed a bit. “I’m trying to pick the one that fits best,” he said innocently.

Alic smiled and reached up, running his fingers through Gareth’s loose brown hair. It was soft, silky, but proved that Alic had taken most of the man’s bathing time from him. “Which ones sound the best, do you think?” he asked.

Gareth grinned. At first he’d thought Alic was going to tell him not to use pet names, but he was relieved to hear that he was allowed. “I dunno for sure. I like love I suppose. Beloved,” he said, sliding back to lying next to the boy, delighted as Alic’s fingers continued to slide through his hair. “What about you? What do you like?” he asked.

Alic hummed thoughtfully and stared at him. Gareth shivered as he stared back, deep into the crystal blue lakes that were before him, so stunning in color that he threatened to lose himself there, give himself over completely. He was so enwrapped that he barely heard Alic’s answer.

“I think I like… pet,” he said.

Gareth eyes widened. Had he heard correctly? “Pardon?”

Alic grinned. “I like pet. I like feeling… owned…by you. I mean, so long as you don’t try anything fresh,” he said as Gareth gave him the most incredulous look.

The man shook his head quickly at hearing the concerned tone. “No! Never, I wouldn’t, not without your permission,” he said, reaching out and caressing the boy’s smooth face gently.

Alic smiled again. “So ‘pet’ and ‘love’ then?” he asked.

Gareth smiled. “Pet and love, my beautiful, beautiful pet,” he crooned, leaning in and kissing him gently upon the lips.

Alic giggled and snuggled into him again. Almost as soon as he did however Gareth pulled away and quickly stood from the bed. “Gareth? Gareth, what’s wrong, why are—”

“Hush, love, it’s not you. I just… I need to eat something,” he said. He’d just eaten a few hours ago, but in truth the blood fed more than his weakness. It also fed his carnal urges and kept him from throwing the boy down and taking him wherever they had been standing. He couldn’t bear to do that to the boy. It would kill him in more ways than one. He walked to the wall and pulled the cord, leaning against the cool stone of the wall and letting out an exasperated sigh.

Alic sat up and stared at him, feeling rather lost since the man had torn from him so quickly. “Are you sure… that I didn’t—”

“Never! Alic, believe me, it wasn’t you I just… I have to get used to these new feelings I’m still having, until then… It’s not your fault,” he said, walking over and grabbing the boy’s face gently. He smiled down at him and leaned in for a kiss, but pulled away quickly as the door opened and his butler walked in carrying a tray with a steaming goblet and a pile of mixed fruit. Alic stared at the fruit, while Gareth stared at the goblet. The butler barely had time to put the tray down before the man snatched it and downed its contents, almost buckling in the delight of the drink.

“Is everything in order, sir?” he asked.

“Perfect. Have hot water sent up for a bath. Alic’s knees need cleaned daily and he might as well get the full effect,” he said, handing the man the empty cup.

“Very well, sir. Is there anything else you or the young master would like?” he asked.

Gareth sighed and looked back at the beautiful boy. He furrowed his brow for a moment and leaned in, whispering something quickly into the man’s ear. His old, father-like butler laughed and nodded. “Very well, sir, very well. I’ll inform you as to when it’s ready,” he said and he left. Gareth grinned and stared at Alic mischievously.

“What?” asked Alic, staring at him.

“You’ll see, my pet. In the mean time, I think I should get you fed,” he said, grabbing the small tray and bringing it over to the bed. When he got close enough Alic reached out to snatch a grape, but Gareth pulled the tray away. “Nuh-uhn, sit on your hands,” he commanded playfully. Alic flushed and sat on his hands as told. Gareth grinned again and sat down on the bed, putting the plate down and staring at the contents. “Now what did we go for first? Hmm? Ah, a grape.” He snatched a large purple grape off of the tray and held it up, brushing it lightly across Alic’s bottom lip. The boy shivered and parted them, awaiting the fruit. Gareth teased by pulling it away and Alic only whimpered.

“Oh, hungry are we?” he teased. Alic pouted and gave him the most adorable look he’d ever seen. He gave in and popped the piece into his mouth, watching as the boy chewed delicately. “Want more?” he asked.

Alic swallowed and blushed. “Yes please,” he said, his voice so very light. Gareth couldn’t help himself. He grabbed another grape and sat up, moving closer to the boy and using his thumb to park the full pink lips. He slipped it in gently and Alic crooned at the taste. Gareth was almost beside himself. He grabbed another and held it between his own teeth. Alic flushed heavily at this and leaned in a bit. He was delicate, as he pinched the berry with his own teeth, his lips just brushing Gareth’s and he took the fruit quickly, chewing it with a nervous jaw, Gareth still only inches from him. As soon as he swallowed the fruit Gareth’s mouth had his locked in a fierce kiss and he gave in instantly, not caring this time as the man pinned him to the bed. He trusted him.

Their kiss went deep and in minutes it had them both heated and rather uncomfortable in their pants. Gareth was holding back with every fiber in his being and Alic was getting frightened. He wanted it, but he wasn’t ready for it yet. Not yet. He reluctantly pushed the man off of him and rolled to the side, panting heavily and curling into a ball as he willed his body to relax. Gareth hadn’t denied the boy and rolled to the side as well, panting just as heavily as he forced the ache in his groin to subside.

“I’m sorry,” he huffed after moment.

“It’s okay. I did it too,” mumbled Alic, both ashamed and embarrassed.

“I didn’t frighten you any, did I?” he cooed, still facing away from the boy as they lie on the bed.

“A little. But it’s okay now,” said Alic.

Gareth sighed. “I’m sorry, it’s just… I want you so much. My body just…”

“I said it was all right. I did it too,” said Alic again, a bit more forceful with his words. He wanted to end the embarrassing conversation.

Gareth stopped his apologizing and sat up a bit. “Um… are you still hungry?” he asked gently. Alic shrugged. “You aren’t… mad at me… are you?”

The boy sighed and sat up. “No. I’m… embarrassed,” he said, his cheeks flushing.

“Why?” asked Gareth. What he’d felt was nothing to be embarrassed over and thinking such a think earned his cheeks a heavy blush.

Alic sighed again and pulled his knees to his chest. “I’m… I’m um…not wholly a man,” he mumbled.

Gareth furrowed his brow. “What do you mean?” Alic was blushing like mad, so bad in fact that he was making himself dizzy. Gareth crooned a bit and reached out, running a gently hand over his head. “It’s all right, love. What is it?” he asked.

Alic snuffed a bit. Gawd was this embarrassing and he was going to make it worse by crying. He needn’t have worried about it since Gareth moved closer and wrapped him tightly in his arms. He buried himself in him. “Promise it won’t change anything?” he asked.

“I promise. My love is too deep for anything you’re about to say to affect it in a bad way,” he said.

Alic snuffed again and shuddered. “I’m… untainted,” he said.

“Untainted?”

“A virgin!” He almost passed out he was blushing so hard and he groaned with dizziness. Gareth gasped and squeezed him tightly; more concerned for the sudden symptoms then of what the boy had told him.

“Love, relax. You’re going to make yourself sick with this. Lie down for a moment, let yourself relax,” he said, pulling the boy back until both of them were resting on the soft blankets yet again.

Alic sighed, his cheeks still red. “So… does it change anything?” he asked.

Gareth smiled and chuckled a bit. “Only that when the time comes I’m going to have to be extremely gentle with you,” he said lightheartedly, caressing Alic’s face softly.

Alic blushed again. “I’m sorry. I just… never… the girls in the village thought I was more like a puppy than a boy or a man. They just wanted to uh… pet me,” he said.

Gareth laughed and kissed the boy sweetly. “You are like a puppy and I’ll pet you senseless once you’re ready for it,” he teased.

“Gareth!” shrieked Alic, completely embarrassed. Gareth only chuckled and placed soft, sultry kisses along the boy’s neck and jaw.

“I won’t do anything you won’t like,” he said.

Alic was flushed scarlet. “You’re insatiable. Get off of me. Gareth, get off!” he shrieked as the man found a tender spot on his neck. He giggled insanely and pushed at the man, wriggling in his arms and trying desperately to get away as the man continued to tickle at him. Gareth was beside himself. Alic was absolutely adorable and so ticklish it was hard to stop. But when the door opened with the hot water they both gasped and parted quickly, Alic lying face down on the bed, quivering with continued giggles, while Gareth sat next to him looking completely innocent.

The men that were responsible for hauling the steaming buckets of water paid no attention to them as they walked quickly to the bathroom to empty the hot water into the basin. One bucket was left on the stool, as usual, and they all left, shutting the door behind them. Gareth looked down at the boy next to him, recovering from his fit and glaring lovingly at Gareth through watery eyes.

“Don’t do that ever again,” he said, sitting up, his cheeks still red.

Gareth smiled. “What? This?” he lunged at him and tried to tickle him again, but the boy shrieked and jumped out of the way, letting Gareth land flat on his belly as he ran to the bathroom giggling. Gareth grinned slyly and used his speed as a vampire to run up behind the boy and grab him around the middle, hefting him into his arms as he giggled and flailed playfully.

“Put me down,” giggled Alic, squirming around a bit.

Gareth giggled. “No, you’re mine, my little pet, and it’s time for a bath,” he said, walking into the semi-lit room and placing the boy on his feet. Alic smiled and Gareth couldn’t help but steal another kiss. “So… do you want to bathe alone?” he asked.

Alic sighed and stared at him, reaching up and running his fingers through the man’s hair gently. “You could use one,” he said.

Gareth chuckled. “I’ll live. You need to keep your knees clean, so you might as well indulge, hmm,” he said.

Alic blushed. “Y-you know… I wouldn’t mind much if you… you know… came in with me,” he said. Gareth’s eyes widened and Alic quickly looked away, completely embarrassed. “No…wait… was that not right? I’m sorry, I…”

“It’s fine, Alic, I just… are you sure that wouldn’t make you uncomfortable?” he asked, caressing the boy’s cheek gently with the back of his hand.

Alic’s blush lessened a bit and he relaxed at the gentle touch. “Well… so long as you don’t… you know… I won’t mind,” he said. Gareth smiled and leaned in to kiss him on the cheek.

“You’re adorable. Very well then. Go ahead, and get in,” said Gareth, beginning to strip off what was left of his clothing since he’d taken most of it off to sleep. He heard the rustling of clothes as Alic moved about and undressed himself before there was a splash and the sound of skin sliding against the cool metal. He turned around and couldn’t help but smile at the innocence before him.

Alic had stripped quickly, his back to the man, listening to him undress being enough to make him nervous. He folded his clothes and placed them out of the way, and when he turned around he quickly closed his eyes. He’d caught an eyeful of Gareth’s smooth back and derriere and it was enough to send a blush over his entire body. And then, eyes still closed, he managed to lower himself into the large washbasin. What was he getting himself into? He quickly curled up against the end of the tub and shook as he listened to the slap of feet against the floor. He felt the water ripple and surge a bit and Gareth plopped down on the other end.

The man couldn’t stop smiling. Alic was the most adorable little angel in the world. He was completely blushed, his knees pulled tight to his chest to shield himself from Gareth’s eyes, his eyes closed tight to keep from seeing something he didn’t want to see. Gareth himself had pulled his knees to his chest to keep the modesty fresh, though there really was no need since he’d already seen Alic bare.

They sat in silence, Gareth staring at Alic, and Alic staring at the back of his eyelids, until Gareth reached out and caressed his face gently. “Alic, love, you can open your eyes,” he said sweetly.

“I don’t… umm…” he faltered. He really didn’t?

Gareth chuckled again. “Pet, I’m sitting just as you are. There’s no need to have your eyes closed,” he said, ruffling his hair. Alic groaned a bit and slowly he opened his eyes, staring at the childish looking man before him.

“You didn’t… see anything did you?” he asked.

Gareth grinned. “Not recently, but I had to when you fell asleep in the bath the first time I gave you one,” he said. Alic’s face flushed terribly and Gareth grinned mischievously. “Don’t worry, love, I’m not going to laugh at you.”

Alic blushed even more. “That’s not fair,” he mumbled.

Gareth’s eyebrows rose at the statement. “Really! Shall I uncurl then and make it fair?”

“That’s not what I meant—Gareth stop it!” cried Alic, squeezing his eyes shut as the man made to straighten his legs. Gareth hadn’t intended to straighten them at all, just move them enough to make the boy squeal in alarm. He giggled and Alic groaned. “You bastard.”

“I’m not going to do anything, Alic, c’mon, let’s get washed up,” he said, grabbing the soap and the cup off of the stool. He filled the cup and dumped the contents over his head before rubbing the gritty bar over his scalp to let it lather. He held it out to Alic, who had opened his eyes at the sound of splashing water, and the boy did the same, both rubbing briskly at their hair to free any dirt. Gareth went on to do the rest of his body and they both closed their eyes, even as he was finished and passed it off to Alic so he could do the same. Then was the rinsing, closed eye again, until Gareth helped him rinse his hair then gently washed his knees.

They sat back in the lukewarm water, staring at each other, still modestly protected by their legs, Gareth trying to figure out what to do next. “So… one at a time. You curl up and close your eyes, I’ll get out and dry then leave or something and you can get out and dry,” he said.

Alic shrugged. “I dunno. I guess. I mean… how else would we do it?” he asked innocently.

Gareth grinned. “Well… we could simply get out at the same time, but that would scar your little mind for life, wouldn’t it,” he teased. Alic glared and splashed water at him. “You know I’m right. You’re being very prudish.”

“It’s modesty!” he whined.

Gareth grinned. “Fine, modesty. Close your eyes,” he chuckled. Alic sighed and did as told, listening as Gareth moved from the water and his feet slapped against the floor. He heard the shuffle of fabric as the man dried and then the slap of feet and the click of a door. He peered out and Gareth was gone. Alic, not wanting to be away from him for too long, jumped out of the tub and dried quickly, rubbing vigorously at his hair to dry it, before he tied it around his waist and hurried out of the room.

Gareth was sitting on one of the divans in a pair of simple pants, fiddling with what he needed to fix Alic’s knees. Alic stared at him a minute before the man looked up and smiled, motioning him closer. He did as told and walked over, still practically naked, and sat down next to Gareth.

“How do they feel?” he asked.

“All right,” said Alic, staring at his healing knees. They looked much better than they had before. Gareth moved and knelt before him, examining them closely.

“I think they’ll finish healing without a problem, love. Here, let’s get them bandaged,” he said. He put a bit more of the ointment on them then quickly wrapped them in fresh linen. Alic noticed that it was warm and he wondered it Gareth had placed them by the fire. It was very soothing and something the man would have done to make him feel better. Gareth tied them off then looked up into Alic’s glowing blue eyes. “Better?”

Alic smiled. “Much,” he said. Gareth grinned and leaned up a little more, his lips brushing Alic’s in a tender kiss. Alic grinned against the kiss a bit and almost whimpered as the man pulled away. Gareth chuckled as well and he would never keep his Alic wanting so he moved in and grabbed the boy’s mouth in a deep but gentle kiss, moving his arms and wrapping them around him, his fingers pressingly into the sinfully soft flesh of the boy’s back. Alic shivered at the touch and his own hands found their way to Gareth’s bare skin where they touched and caressed happily.

Gareth gave a small groan of delight and moved in a bit more, sliding between Alic’s knees and pressing their chests together. He was surprised the boy didn’t pull away. Especially since the towel had slipped away due to the motion of his legs. But Alic seemed much too content in the kiss and the light caressing to care or even notice. Gareth let his want get the better of him and his hand slid slowly down Alic’s back, his fingers grazing the sensitive skin above his rear.

Alic gasped at the touch and was immediately snapped from his ecstasy. He screamed a bit and pushed Gareth away, harder than he’d meant to, before he grabbed the towel and wrapped it tightly around his waist. He darted from the couch to the bed and submersed himself in the large blankets, his body shaking. He was terrified and confused and then extremely embarrassed for pulling away like a little girl. He snuffed and bit his lip to keep from crying.

Gareth was unfazed by the powerful shove and the quick escape. He’d been expecting it. He’d gone too far and he knew it. Slowly he stood and walked over, sitting on the edge of the bed and running a gentle hand over the shivering lump. “I’m sorry, love. That was wrong,” he said.

“Gareth… I can’t… it’s not…” Alic mumbled between sobs under the blankets. Gareth sighed and lay down next to him, finding what felt like a shoulder and rubbing it over the blanket.

“Hush, pet, it’s all right. I’ll not do it again, all right? C’mon, before you suffocate, pull this bloody thing down,” he said, tugging at the blanket. It slipped off of Alic’s head and Gareth was subject to the boy’s puffy eyes and teary cheeks as he stared at anything but the regal man before him. “I’m sorry.”

Alic snuffed. “I just… not yet, Gareth. My brother…” he couldn’t bring himself to say anymore and he just sobbed a bit. Gareth crooned and wiped the tears away gently, placing a soft kiss to his cheek. “I love you,” the boy mumbled.

Gareth smiled. “I love you, too.” There was a tap on the door. “Enter.”

The butler walked in and bowed. “It’s ready, sir. Whenever you are,” he said.

Gareth nodded. “Thank you, you may go,” he said. The man bowed again then left the room, shutting the door behind him. Gareth turned back to the boy on the bed and kissed him again. “C’mon, I have something for you. Do you want to go see it?” he asked.

Alic snuffed and stared at him. “What is it?” he asked.

Gareth smiled. “You’ll have to come and see. C’mon, you’ll like it,” he said, poking at him playfully.

Alic grinned and wiped his cheeks. “Okay. Let me get dressed and wipe my face a bit,” he said.

Gareth chuckled and kissed him gently. “All right. I’ll close my eyes and everything. See? You go ahead,” he said, shoving his head beneath a pillow and pressing down the ends. Alic giggled and jumped out of bed, grabbing another set of clothes and dressing. He rushed to the bathroom to wash his face off and when he walked out again Gareth was up and completely dressed.

The man smiled. “Ready?”

Alic grinned and his cheeks flushed a bit. “Yes.” Gareth’s smile broadened and he held out his arm. Alic took it sheepishly and together they left the room.