THE VAMPIRE'S DUTY
Vampire Chronicles 4
Aldrich was the head enforcer for his vampire tribe. He'd seen the worst of humanity, both vampire and human. When he finds a sweet man in need of protection, he knows he's up for the job. Mating is something all together different. Mating requires something he doesn't have. Gentleness. Understanding. Patience. Love.
Mateo has been looking for someone to see him for a very long time. He's been through his share of jerks because of it. When the head enforcer acknowledges him, Mateo can't help but hope for something more, but when Aldrich disappears without a word, he admits defeat.
All too soon, Aldrich realizes Mateo is his mate. He isn't quite sure what to do with the sexy little man until someone goes after Mateo, and then he knows exactly what to do. Death won't come easily to his enemies because Aldrich doesn't have an ounce of compassion in his soul for those who threaten what's his.
STORY EXCERPT
Aldrich watched with a growing sense of disgust as Mateo sucked off another vampire. After weeks of watching the man flit from one vampire to the next, dropping to his knees to service someone in the tribe, he knew what he would see next.
As Mateo wiped his hand over his mouth, removing all remnants of what he had just done, he looked up at the vampire he had just sucked off with a glint of hope and desperation in his eyes.
And just like every other time, the vampire merely patted Mateo on the head and walked away, forgetting Mateo even existed the moment he turned away. Mateo would stare after him, a shimmer of tears glittering in his eyes for a moment before he blinked them away and pretended like one more dream hadn't been shattered all over the floor.
Aldrich seriously doubted anyone except him ever saw that moment of weakness on Mateo's face. Why would they? They weren't looking at his face. They never did. Aldrich would bet his entire fortune that if he asked any member of the tribe what color Mateo's eyes were, they wouldn't know.
Aldrich knew.
Mateo's eyes were golden-amber brown.
He wasn't sure what exactly had drawn the little vampire to his attention, but something had. And he hadn't been able to stop watching him since. Aldrich had seen Mateo get dismissed time and time again over the last several weeks.
It was painful to watch.
Aldrich couldn't stand to watch one second more. With the way Mateo went from vampire to vampire looking for acceptance, someone was going to get pissed and get into a fight. As head enforcer and second in command under Louis Redgrave, the head of security for Vaile Industries, it was Aldrich's job to keep the peace. Someone needed to take Mateo in hand before things escalated and it looked like he was going to be that someone.
"Mateo!"
Hair the color of burnt copper flopped around Mateo's face as his head whipped up, his golden-amber eyes searching the darkness until they landed on Aldrich. For a moment, he looked stunned, his mouth hanging open as if he couldn't quite believe he had been called by the head enforcer of the tribe.
"I'm waiting, Mateo." Aldrich's voice dropped an octave, ensuring that the man knew he was serious. He was in no way surprised when Mateo jumped to his feet and raced across the marble floor. An order was an order and refusing one could get Mateo in serious trouble. Aldrich pointed to the spot on the floor next to him when Mateo reached his side. "Sit."
Mateo dropped to his knees so fast that Aldrich heard them smack on the hard marble floor and winced. Damn, that had to hurt. To give him credit, Mateo didn't even whimper. He just knelt there on the floor next to Aldrich's chair and waited.
After a few moments, his shoulders slowly started to slump.
"Sit up straight, Mateo." Aldrich's tone was a little harsher than he intended, but Mateo snapped up ramrod straight, so the desired effect was accomplished. "I do not like slumping. It is lazy."
"Yes, sir."
A low rumbling growl tangled up the air currents. Those two little words took Aldrich's intrigue and turned it into a physical awareness of Mateo that stole the very breath right out of his lungs.
Something pulled Aldrich's attention to Mateo, refusing to release him until he reached out and fisted a handful of the man's burnt-copper curls. There was a tingling in the pit of his stomach, a deep awareness that something in his life was about to take a major left turn.
Aldrich needed space before he started to hyperventilate or mauled Mateo right there in the great room, and he needed that space now. He pulled Mateo's head back until he could look down into the man's golden-amber eyes. "I don't like the smell of so many others on your skin. Go bathe."
Mateo gulped, his eyes straying to the darkened window. "Now, sir?"
Aldrich's brows pulled together in an angry frown. His silence had to speak for him because he wasn't about to repeat himself. He never repeated himself.
"But—" Mateo glanced back at Aldrich, his expression clearly saying he hoped Aldrich might change his mind. One look at Aldrich and Mateo's shoulders slumped, but just for a moment before straightening up once again. "Yes, sir."
It took all of Aldrich's control to loosen the grip he had on Mateo's hair and allow the man to stand. As much as he wanted Mateo as far away from him as possible, he wanted him close as well. He didn't understand these possessive feelings.
"Mateo."
"Yes, sir?"
"No one touches you but me."
Mateo's eyebrows were high and his eyes rounded as he nodded his head. "Yes, sir."
Aldrich had no idea what made him say that considering that nearly half the tribe had put their hands on Mateo at one point or another. But as Mateo walked away, carefully maneuvering between other tribe members to avoid touching them, Aldrich knew he had made the right choice.
Restlessly, Aldrich stroked the arm of his chair. He turned his attention to the vampires lounging about the great room. Being the enforcer for his tribe gave him a unique viewpoint where the members were concerned. He knew their secrets, things that they would rather never came to light.
He knew who had broken the rules and skirted along the edges of the traditions they were taught from birth to adhere to, and he knew who was in danger of betraying all that they believed in as a species.
He could see the blackness in their souls. That did not make him a very popular person. He was feared by his tribe members almost as much as their prince was.
Their enemies feared him more.
