STORY EXCERPT

"You wanted to see me, sir?" Dietrich asked as he snapped to attention in front of Prince Nikolas Vaile's desk.

"Ah, yes, Dietrich." Prince Nikolas had a small pinch in the skin between his eyes as he glanced up from the papers on his desk. "You are currently assigned as Etienne's bodyguard. Is that correct?"

"Yes, sir."

"I have a new assignment for you."

"Sir—"

"I've already spoken with Louis so it will not be a problem. He is going to temporarily assign another sentry to watch over Etienne." Nikolas chuckled. "It'll probably do the sentry some good to learn how to deal with a human such as Etienne."

They'd never survive it.

Dietrich had learned many things since he was assigned to babysit the odd little human, the least of which was the fact that Etienne LeRuelle was unlike any human he'd ever met. Etienne didn't care that they were deadly vampires or that they were bigger than him. He seemed to think that made it easier to take them down.

Dietrich had hated being assigned babysitting duty when he was first ordered to watch over Etienne, but he had quickly learned that it was more of watching out for others than watching Etienne. The little human could take care of himself. Those that underestimated him could not.

"What is my assignment, sir?" He was almost afraid to ask.

"Dr. Nero Webster."

Dietrich had heard the name, but he'd never met the man.

"He runs a clinic in the neutral area between here and Prince Marcus's territory. Someone is following him, but we don't know if it's due to his work at his clinic, because he's a vampire, or because he's a rogue."

Dietrich's lip curled back in disgust. He hadn't known that part about the man. "A rogue, sir?"

He'd rather take the man's head than guard him.

"Yes." Prince Nikola's expression turned to stone. "Is that going to be a problem?"

Dietrich wasn't stupid. He clenched his jaw for a moment before saying, "No, sir."

Nikolas sighed before sitting back in his chair. "Look, Dietrich, I am only going to explain this to you because I want you to understand how important this man is to the vampire community."

"He's a rogue, sir."

How important could he be?

"Yes, he is. Marcus and I have both offered him a place in our tribes, but he feels that it would be seen as taking sides against those who are out in the cold because they are half breeds, or they are mated to humans, or a hundred other reasons a vampire would choose to go rogue. He provides them medical care, bagged blood, and safety."

Dietrich's shoulders slumped because he knew he wasn't going to get out of this assignment unless he argued with Nikolas and then he'd be dead, so... "Yes, sir."

Nikolas chuckled. "You don't have to talk to him, Dietrich, just keep him alive."

That would be preferable.

Dietrich would be the first to admit he wasn't the sociable type. He wasn't a fan of humans and he didn't like vampires that much either. People in general were stupid in his mind and they did stupid things all the damn time. How they had survived for generations, he'd never know.

Although he'd grown used to Etienne—his current babysitting assignment—he much preferred running into battle than watching over anyone, human or vampire. This was the worst possible assignment he could think of.

Babysitting a vampire rogue.

Hopefully, it would be over quickly.

Nikolas held out a piece of paper. "Here's the address for the clinic. If you have any trouble, give me or Louis a call."

"Yes, sir," Dietrich said as he took the paper and stared down at it. He memorized the address and then stuck the paper in his pocket. "Sir, if you don't mind my asking. Why does this doctor need a babysitter?"

Nikolas snickered. "I wouldn't let him hear you use that term."

"Yes, sir."

"Someone has been following Nero. There are a couple of working theories at the moment. One, someone is after the doctor. Two, someone is using the doctor to find us or to find out where he is getting his synthetic blood. It could also be some of the less...friendly members of the area where the clinic is located. Louis is currently looking into all of them. In the meantime, we need you to keep the doctor alive."

"I understand, sir."

"One more thing, Dietrich."

"Sir?"

"Nero discovered that several batches of the bagged blood we sent him were contaminated. I've replaced what was damaged, but it is something you need to be aware of."

"Contaminated blood, sir? Could that have anything to do with someone following the doctor?"

"Yes, it could, but it could also be a separate incident altogether. Nero is going to start testing all the batches of bagged blood we send him before giving it to any of his patients. I also have a team going over the blood at all the processing plants. I'm really hoping this isn't a bigger issue than a few contaminated batches of blood."

Dietrich could understand the prince's concern. Contaminated blood could be devastating to the vampire community, and the entire planet. Vaile Industries provided bagged blood to vampires everywhere. They also supplies bagged blood to medical facilities and blood banks around the world.

"Is that why you want me to babysit the doctor?"

"No, I want you to babysit him because he's a good man doing a job no one else would do. If his safety is in jeopardy, then it puts all of us in jeopardy."

Dietrich wasn't sure he believed that, but an order was an order and he'd never disobeyed an order, especially one given to him directly from the prince of his tribe.

"Do I need to report in, sir, or just watch the doctor?"

"Report to Louis at least one a day, more if there is an issue or if you have a concern. If you need more men, that can be arranged, too."

Dietrich bristled at the idea that he couldn't take care of one little vampire rogue, but nodded to Prince Nikolas out of respect. "Yes, sir."

ADULT EXCERPT

"I am your bodyguard!" the impressive vampire snarled.

Nero swallowed tightly. "Okay."

He realized his towel had dropped to the floor when Dietrich glanced down and his nostrils flared. He felt his face heat up and kind of wished he was anywhere else than where he was. And then he felt the stiff lead pipe hardening in Dietrich's pants and was pretty damn happy he was right where he was.

"Uh…"

Before Nero could say more, hard lips slammed down over his. Nero tried to inhale, to protest, but there didn't seem to be any air left in his lungs. Dietrich had sucked it all out with one simple touch of his lips.

Dietrich took his mouth with a savage intensity. Their tongues brushed together, each of them fighting for dominance. Nero finally groaned and leaned into the man's body, giving up control and letting Dietrich lead.

Nero thought it might have been the hardest thing he'd ever done, but the muscular body pressing him against the wall and the hands mapping out his body made his loss of control almost worth it.

When Dietrich's hand wrapped around his naked cock, Nero's thoughts fragmented and he couldn't think of anything else except the heat filling his body at each little touch.

He groaned and tilted his head back as Dietrich nibbled on his throat. He reached up and sank his hands into the man's neck, pulling him closer. It felt so damn good. Nero wasn't sure he'd ever felt so aroused in his entire life. His skin burned, ached for the feel of Dietrich's hands.

"I need—"

"I know what you need, rajaaka, " Dietrich said.

Nero wondered about that statement until Dietrich picked him up, the man's large hands squeezing his ass, and carried him into the bedroom. He was unceremoniously tossed onto the bed. By the time Nero rolled over, Dietrich had his shirt off and was reaching for the buttons of his pants. Nero could only lay there panting heavily.

The man was fucking breathtaking.

He started to wrap his hand around his cock as he watched the man drop the last item of clothing on the floor when Dietrich suddenly reached over and slapped his hand away. Nero's mouth dropped open in astonishment.

"No touching." Dietrich was gorgeous but it was clear to Nero the man was out of his ever loving mind. "Mine to touch, mine to pleasure."

Nero blinked. Okay then, maybe he could put off touching himself for a little longer, but not much. He ached so much he thought he might explode. He yelped, feeling like a ragdoll when Dietrich suddenly grabbed him and flipped him over onto his stomach.

Nero grunted then started to protest until he felt Dietrich's very large, very muscular body stretch out over the top of him. Dietrich started caressing him. The man's hands were thick with calluses. Dietrich's hand felt great against his skin. Nero moaned and pushed his body up into Dietrich's.

Nero started to protest when Dietrich scooted down his body. He really liked having the man lying over the top of him. It just felt so damn good. And then he felt his butt cheeks get pulled apart and something wet slid over his tight puckered hole.

Nero shuddered. He'd done a lot of things in his life, some of them pretty kinky. He'd never had someone lick his ass before. And Dietrich seemed to have a tongue made for licking. It was long and hard and wet.

With each swipe of Dietrich's tongue against his tender hole Nero could feel nerve endings in his ass coming to life, begging for more. Every few licks, Dietrich would rub his thumb across Nero's hole, stretching him little by little.

"Oh, fuck me," Nero groaned when Dietrich's tongue finally penetrated him. Every nerve in his body seemed to be connected to that small little hole and he was being stimulated from the top of his head to the tip of his toes.

"I will, rajaaka, but you need be ready first."

"I'm ready. I swear."

"No, rajaaka, you are not."

 Nero's eyes nearly crossed.

"Lube?"

"Nightstand drawer."

"Get it."

Nero didn't want to move from where he was, but he was more than willing to get the lube if it meant he was going to get laid all that much faster. He scooted up on his knees and reached over to the nightstand.

He shivered as Dietrich's hands continued to run over his body. It was hard to concentrate on opening the nightstand drawer and searching around for the lube when his body was going up in flames. There didn't seem to be an inch of skin that Dietrich didn't touch.

Nero went to lie back down on his stomach when he felt a sharp smack on his ass.

"On your hands and knees."

Nero was worried his arms and legs wouldn't hold him, but he did it anyway.

"Oh my god!" Nero groaned when he felt two slicked up fingers thrust into his ass. He immediately started pushing back, riding them, all thoughts of conversation and protesting leaving his mind in a heartbeat.

He felt incredibly full. Two of Dietrich's thick fingers were nearly the size of the biggest man Nero had ever been with. Not that there had been that many. His work seemed to take precedence over his love life.

Maybe that was about to change. "Do you like that?"

"Oh yes," Nero moaned. There was really no way to describe the feeling.

"You'll like this more."

Nero winced when another finger pushed into his ass along with the first two. He knew for a fact that he had never had anything in his ass that big. It took a few seconds and a couple of deep breathes before Nero became used to the feeling. Dietrich didn't move the entire time.

Dietrich started moving his fingers, thrusting them in and out of Nero's ass. Nero couldn't keep the small grunts from falling from his lips with each thrust.

"One more, rajaaka, and then you'll be ready for me."

"One more?" Nero cried out. He wasn't sure one more finger would fit in his ass. He was pretty damn full right now as it was. He was shocked when a little more lube and a lot more thrusting allowed Dietrich pushed a fourth finger into him.

Nero dropped his head down onto his hands. He felt a bit ridiculous having his head down on the bed and his ass pushed into the air, but his trembling arms wouldn't hold him up anymore.

"Dietrich."

Nero's body was full and caressed and going up in flames. And there seemed to be no end. Dietrich just continued to give Nero wave after wave of pleasure until it rolled into one big ball that had him senseless.

"Dietrich," Nero groaned again as he pushed back, impaling himself on the fingers in his ass, "Please." Nero bit his lip as soon as the word came out of his mouth. He couldn’t believe he was begging a total stranger to fuck him, even if the man was his rajaaka.

His pulse pounded in his throat. Small beads of sweat trickled down his temples. The air around Nero seemed to grow thicker, making his breathing come out in big rapid gasps. His legs started to tremble.

"Dietrich."

"Tell me, rajaaka, tell me what you want."

"Fuck me!"