Chapter 15

12 weeks later.

***

Mike stood up and hugged his son, Bobby, when his name was called to board the airliner. The last 12 weeks had been a whirlwind of activity of the sort that Mike had not witnessed before. Money and connections, he realized, made even more of a difference than he'd thought. Henry it
turned out, had both in abundance, and people could not wait to help him with his slightest "problem". Mike found himself sitting back and watching in awe.

Henry had been true to his word; a lawyer appeared at the condo, slick in his three thousand dollar suit and thousand dollar shoes, and Mike had confirmation within days that the boy who they had rescued, Bobby, was indeed Mike's biological son. That, along with the high priced law firm that the lawyer belonged to, greased the wheels and before the week was out Mike had custody of his son and took leave to be with him. The Captain was more than happy to get Mike out of her sight for a few days, not in the least because it made him unavailable for some troubling questions that kept being asked. After a whispered conference with Henry, the lawyer proved helpful in that regard as well. The questions Mike didn't want to answer, didn't know how to answer, disappeared like magic. Henry's condo was the safe haven his own apartment hadn't been. No one got past security and up to the penthouse suite without direct permission.


But, for Mike, the last 12 weeks had passed both agonizingly slowly and far too quickly; slowly because he did not have nearly enough time alone with Henry, too quickly in that he didn't have nearly enough time with his newly discovered son, he felt as if he needed the time with Bobby, needed to make up for missing out on what they could have had. Henry for his part was tolerant and supportive, brainstorming with the boy to come up with a new character for the graphic novels he wrote and giving the boy drawing lessons. At night Henry would hold Mike, asking nothing of him but his company.


Bobby had initially misunderstood why he'd been taken to the condo; the fear in his eyes, and the despair had nearly broken Mike's heart. The small boy had swallowed hard and begun undressing when he was shown to his room in Henry's flat. It hit Mike with the force of a runaway train that his son hadn't had the benefit of Elon's cleansing touch to free him from Maponus, the child thought he'd been purchased by a pervert and now was expecting to be forced to have sex with both Mike and Henry.

Mike had seen black spots, blood roared in his ears, so great was the fury he felt at what Maponus had done to his son. Assurances that the boy was virgin paled next to the fact he'd obviously been told what to expect, drilled to please his "owner". Henry had been the one to pull the child aside and to tell him why he was here in the frankest terms possible, Mike's heart was too fragile at that point. It had taken weeks for Bobby to believe the truth and for his eyes to lose the thousand-yard stare, and begin to look like the eyes of a child again.



Bobby had been with them three weeks when the subject of boarding school arose. It wasn't an easy subject to broach for Mike who worried that his son would feel abandoned or unwanted. He was surprised to learn that Bobby was actually excited once he understood it was for school and that there would be other kids his age around. Once he had extracted promises that Mike and Henry would visit, he jumped into the selection process with both small feet. He had definite likes and dislikes, and Mike found himself letting Bobby have all that he wanted.


They went on line for virtual tours to narrow down the choices and then, father and son, had taken trips to the top three to make a final decision. Bobby was stoic through it all until they arrived at a school in Arizona. The school's academic credentials were impeccable, but in addition they offered courses in horseback riding along with a program of rescue for abused dogs. Bobby lit up at the prospect and it was decided, on the spot, that that was the school for him.


In the car ride back to the airport, Bobby asked shyly if he could be an animal doctor some day. His tone was wistful. Mike had turned to him and taken his hand. He told him he could be anything that he wanted to be. Bobby had glowed at the prospect and talked excited of nothing else until they got home to Henry. Then he had to tell the vampire all over again. Mike had seen the love in Henry's dark brown eyes and felt his knees go weak as he watched his lover listening to his son. It wasn't possible but seeing them together, the boy and the vampire, Mike loved Henry more than ever.

Now the day when Bobby had to leave was here and Mike didn't want him to go.

"It's okay," Bobby said, when Mike didn't want to let him out of the hug. "I'm gonna miss you guys, too. You are going to come to see me next week right?" His eyes were suddenly uncertain, and Mike's heart lurched at the quaver in his child's voice, "Henry promised."

"Yes, we will be there, in the evening after sunset, just like we promised," Mike said fiercely, hugging Bobby with gentle arms, feeling him alive and solid. "Call us, call me, any time, day or night. All our numbers are programmed into the cell phone I gave you. I want you to be happy. You tell me if you aren't."

He pulled back and smoothed the dark blond hair back from the boy's forehead. His own eyes, uncertain and huge, stared back at him. He marveled that he couldn't see any aspect of the boy's mother in him. Bobby was so like Mike himself at that age. Reluctantly as the plane was announced for the second time, Mike let go.


"I'll be all right. I really want to see the animals. And Uncle Henry told me it will only take you guys a few hours to get to the school if I need you." Bobby said with a smile, clearly meaning to comfort Mike. He looked excited, brave, unsure, all expected, but he also looked determined, his small jaw squared, his eyes a little narrowed. "Henry said I can email, too, and that there will be lots of other boys there. He explained about..." Bobby looked up at his father for a long moment before he pushed on. "About no one being able to touch me like before."

Mike's knees wobbled. "And you understand that?" Mike asked after a long minute. He hated having to tell his child these kinds of things, having to because there was no place in the world that was entirely safe.

Bobby nodded his head. "Yes." He said simply.

Mike smiled drawing in a trembling breath. "Good."

The flight was announced again and a tall slim woman stepped up to them, smiling apologetically. "Mr. Celluci," the flight attendant said, her tone gentle, "I'm sorry to interrupt your good-bye but Bobby will have to board now. I assure you your son is in good hands, I'll be taking care of him, personally."


Her smile was warm and reassuring. It was the only reason Mike was able to let go of Bobby and stand there, watching him get ready to walk to the plane.


"Mr. Summers, from Bellingham Academy will be meeting him in Phoenix; you'll stay with him until then?" Mike asked, already knowing the answer but unable to stop himself from asking.


The flight attendant smiled, she was accustomed to dealing with nervous parents. "Of course, Mr. Celluci. I'll accompany Bobby to baggage claim and make sure Mr. Summers has him firmly in tow before I leave."


Bobby decided to take the initiative. "It's OK, Daddy, I'll call you as soon as I get to the school, just like I promised. Take good care of Uncle Henry, see you both in a week." He said, sounding so grown up; Mike felt tears start in his eyes. He blinked rapidly.


"Sure thing, sport." Mike said. "I love you."

Bobby beamed up at him.


The flight attendant put her arm around Bobby and they turned and walked away.

"That's my Dad," Mike heard Bobby tell the woman, his voice full of pride. It was the hardest thing Mike ever did to stand and watch them go.

***

Leaving the airport, after he'd watched Bobby's plane until it was only a dot in the sky, was tough. Riding back to the condo was no easier. He wanted to go back and fly after Bobby. He forced himself to keep going, gripping the wheel hard enough to make it creak.

Mike stormed off the elevator, startling the two security guards who now watched Henry's floor. He made himself nod at them, and they relaxed, their hands leaving their guns as he walked to the front door and let himself in. He closed the door quietly, turned and saw Henry waiting, his face concerned. Mike resisted for all of three seconds then he flung himself into Henry's arms. He was badly in need of comforting, and Henry held him, rubbing a strong hand soothingly up and down his back.



"He's such a good kid," Mike said at last, into the curve of Henry's neck, "and he's gone through so much, I didn't want to let him go. But he seems happy about this school."


"He is," Henry said. "I'd sense it if he wasn't." He stroked Mike's back again, long comforting movements. "Like I can sense your unhappiness. Let me help."



"Let you help.... Everything you've done for these kids…" Mike said, gazing lovingly into Henry's eyes. "I don't know how to thank you."


"I was once one of these children." Henry said, his eyes warm as they examined the handsome face he was so very, very fond of. It was his good luck that Mike was so good looking, but he knew it wouldn't have mattered if he weren’t. Celluci was his. And he was Mike's, too.



"Getting the Jensons to adopt a 10 year old Jane Doe was Vicki's doing," Henry added as he ran his hand through Mike's hair, enjoying the softness of the short strands, "and the lawyer told me he is looking into getting Lucy released for adoption."



"Vicki did her share, it's true," Mike said, relaxing into Henry's touch, stretching like a purring house cat, pushing into the touch, unsubtly demanding more of the same, "but setting up a scholarship fund for abducted children and paying the Jenson's legal fees for the adoption was all you. Not to mention the school for Bobby."



Henry lifted Mike's chin from his shoulder and looked into his eyes. "The money is nothing Mike. You've given me the opportunity to be a better man, and the chance to be a father, I believed that had been taken from me a long time ago, and for giving me that chance again I am very grateful."



They kissed then and Mike felt his cock respond as all the pent up need for Henry's touch burst over him. They hadn't been able to give full rein to their desires while Bobby was in the house. Mike had been paralyzed with the fear that accidentally hearing them might be traumatic for the boy and that Bobby might misunderstand what was going on. Besides which Bobby had been exposed to too much sex already. There had only been one day, more than a week ago, when Aunt Vicki and Aunt Coreen had come to take Bobby shopping for his school clothes, topped off by a trip to the movies, that Henry and Mike had been able to slake their thirst for each other.



The day had been a long session of sensual love, indulgences, and exhausted tears when it was over. Mike had splashed water on his face to try to diminish his kiss swollen lips and put on a turtleneck in an effort to hide the love bites on his neck. He'd grumbled to Henry affectionately that surely there was a less exposed place to leave marks. Henry's eyes had darkened at the possibilities, and it was all Mike could do, even sated as he was, not to fall back into Henry’s arms.


Now they stumbled into the bedroom taking off their clothes, ripping more than a few seams in the process and dropping them on the floor as they went. The bed was already turned down. Henry was nothing if not efficient, and the signs that he'd been planning for this, planning for Mike's return lit a fire in Mike's blood. He grabbed Henry and put the vampire beneath him.



They fell onto the bed hands wandering over each other's body in a desperate need to fill their senses with the touches and feel of heat and skin. Henry groaned and Mike felt all the hair on his body stand at attention at the sound.


"Oh, god." He raised a knee and ground himself into Henry's hip. "I'm going to lose it if you sound like that." He bit Henry's throat, a tiny nip that did not draw blood but drew another groan instead. Henry was beauty itself as he arched into the body above him. He spread his legs, wrapping them around Mike's hips. Mike shuddered, uttering his own moan, his pelvis jerking involuntarily, and his scalp tightening at the implication of the move. They hadn't done this. The need to have Henry take him warred with the incredible desire to feel Henry's body welcome him. He shook, sweat breaking out all over him, and rolled until it was he who was under the vampire, on his back looking up, panting. Henry smiled, understanding.


Mike lay back as Henry's hands ran over him and down his sides taking charge of their lovemaking. Mike moaned as Henry's lips touched at his earlobe and Henry's nimble fingers rolled his left nipple sending prickles of electricity through his body. The touch was light, sweet and rippled through him like warm honey. His moan was deeper this time. Their legs moved, changed position, Henry's working between Mike's, and Mike's opening for him, wide and inviting.

The head of Henry's cock pressed behind Mike's balls, sliding delicately back until it kissed the ring of muscle between the detective's buttocks. Mike went still, gasping. Henry's breath was silk against his earlobe, his wet tongue, liquid fire.

"This what you want, Mikey?" Henry moved so there was a faint increase in pressure and Mike felt himself almost open, almost pierced. Then the pressure eased. His body tried to follow the withdrawal, his hips moved and his neck arched as his protest rumbled deep in his chest.


"Yesssssssssssss," Mike hissed, and the pressure was back, careful and so perfectly placed, pushing, pushing teasing. Mike's knees rose higher, creeping up to Henry's sides, his core undefended, hot, and melting with the need for more. His pulse pounded, a lure to the vampire and Henry turned to rest his mouth against the throbbing vessels in his man's neck.


He licked the pulse, as he reached for the lube to ready his lover. They'd never tried this. Not like this, there were a thousand ways to make love, and Henry would never have demanded this, but Mike seemed to want to offer it. He growled long and harsh against the exposed throat that was under his mouth, feeling his control wane. He felt the shiver that raced through the strong body at the sound.

"Henry, please." Mike begged, one leg going over the back of the vampire, flexing hard. "Fucking ~do~ something.... please." It sounded suspiciously like a whine, desperate and needy, shivering with desire.

"Yes." Henry said, and Mike felt one slick finger enter him, pushing in past the tight ring of muscles. Mike arched up to it as he took a deep breath.

Henry pulled out his finger and then added a second, pushing in gently, stretching his lover and searching for the sweet spot. This time he went more slowly, it didn't matter how much Mike wanted this, Henry was not going to chance hurting him, not when preparing him was no hardship, and the clutch of Mike around his fingers was so arousing and sexy.

A gasp and a moan escaped from Mike when Henry found his target. He moved his fingers continuing to gently stretch his lover, curling the tips to rest on the organ inside that had taken Mike by surprise. Mike's skin was flushed with desire.

"Oh god, Henry, please," Mike begged, when he had all he could take of the teasing preparation, and when he teetered on the edge of coming without getting everything he was waiting for.

Henry gently removed his fingers and positioned himself over his lover, pressing the tip of his cock against Mike's opening, wriggling his hips, gaining less than a fraction of an inch as his erection pressed into Mike, moving forward, back, forward, more, gaining a tiny amount, losing it, regaining, Mike shaking underneath him, letting out sounds that made Henry understand madness, understand hunger, understand possession.


His fangs lowered, he couldn't have stopped then, his eyes bleeding to gold. And Mike arched up harder, opened wider, shivered, offering everything.


Henry felt the hunger descend over him.


What followed was pure, loving madness. Mike called out clutching the vampire to him as his orgasm shook him to the core. Henry felt the contraction around his cock; He bent his head and struck fast, piercing into Mike's neck, letting his fangs sink into
the firm male flesh. He took three mouthfuls of blood before his own climax descended on him and he lifted his head and howled. His breath came wild and harsh, hissing through his teeth with the power tearing its way through him.

Mike was shaking, trembling in his embrace, his arms out-flung, his legs loose around Henry, not an ounce of strength in him. Henry held him, careful, fierce, and protective. He looked down, into dazed eyes, seeing the panting mouth, scenting satiation, the fulfillment of desire, lust and love, all of it shown in his lover’s eyes. Mike tried to raise his head, and then his arm, giving up when Henry reached out and took his hand, twined their fingers, then kissed him gently, gratefully on the lips.

Mike fell asleep and Henry held him, listening to the song of his blood, not minding the soft snore in his ear. He watched, as he would always watcher over this man and his son... Forever.

The end.