The Ripper

William Jack Holloway

It was perhaps one of the hardest things to see a vampire asleep. It was even harder for William to see Sebastian asleep. He had once before seen Sebastian without breath on those London alleyways, and the corpse in the bed beside him only brought back those horrid memories that had given the Hunter centuries of nightmares. Even though it wouldn't draw the breath back into the vampire, there was something so comforting about reaching out to run his long fingers through Sebastian's hair. As the Hunter finally spoke, he was pleased to watch his best friend's brows furrow and some - if even just a tiny bit - of life return to him. William knew that Sebastian would return to his breathing state as the sun went down, and yet he couldn't deny that flutter of worry that so found him as he considered what it would be like to lose him again. It was that tiny glimpse of life that had that devilish grin appearing on his features as he reached out to smear his blood across Sebastian's lower lip. It was a cruel thing to do, William supposed, though one that he couldn't deny doing to the vampire. After all, it would be a shame for his blood to go to waste.

William's impish grin only grew as Sebastian's tongue so flicked across his lips and those eyes opened. For a moment, William was so entirely taken aback by the deep indigo hue of them. He had never known Sebastian to have that color of eyes, and yet even William knew enough of vampires to understand that he was hungry. "Morning," The Duke grinned, moving to kick his shoes off before he climbed entirely into the bed with Sebastian. He reached out gently as Sebastian sat up beside him, his fingertips smoothing his hair down in an entirely gentle gesture. "Hi Seb," William murmured as the vampire scooted in closer to him, his eyes falling entirely to the bare skin of his chest. How he longed to touch and hold him and do all the things that were reserved entirely for the mysterious person that Sebastian had so given his heart to. William could not blame the man for falling in love - Sebastian was always the type to seek out that kind of companionship - and yet William couldn't deny himself the jealousy that burned at his very being at the idea that Sebastian was, in fact, not his alone.

He could feel Sebastian's breath on his cheek, and that enough was enough to steal William's breath entirely. "Take it," He urged, his hand once again moving to stroke the vampire's hair in an effort to encourage him closer. The Duke had been nothing but sincere in his offer of giving the blood to him. He'd already given his heart to the vampire, he might as well have every bit of him. He had failed entirely to see where Sebastian's concern might have rested so wholly on whether or not William was okay, but the words that fell from Sebastian caused a breathless chuckle to leave William's lips. "I'm perfectly okay Sebastian I just..." His words were cut off quite effectively by the feeling of the man's tongue sliding along that cut on his cheek, the magic within his saliva already working to coax the wound closed and halt the bleeding. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't disappointed. How he wanted that feeling of Sebastian's tongue on him. His lips, his hands, his everything. It was forbidden now. But it had been forbidden then as well and that had hardly failed to halt them in their touches, right?

"Sebastian," William murmured as his companion's tongue dipped lower to his neck. Instinctively, William tilted his head to the side to allow him access to the skin there, and more importantly, the vein that lay beneath. His body ached for that bite that the vampire might give him. It was forbidden. Not just because of Sebastian's lover but by the very species that differentiated them. And yet, if it was so forbidden, why did Sebastian's touches feel so good? And Sebastian was barely touching him. William couldn't imagine what his body might do if Sebastian's touches got any further than the chaste ones he'd had even then.

But too soon, Sebastian was pulling away and meeting William's gaze. Breathlessly, he nodded as he reached out to trace his fingertips along the vampire's cheek. "They've found me, but of course we both knew they would." He had still failed to explain what it was exactly that they were after him for. No, William still remained assured that if Sebastian knew how truly dangerous the Duke could become, there would be no hope for the forever that they had been promised. "It's okay. He's gone. He won't find me. I took... care of it." He shook his head and looked up at the man, his eyes trailing those blood stained lips of his. "Sebastian I want..." He started, though he trailed off and let his lips drop down to the sheets. He wanted to kiss him, he wanted the touches. He wanted, he wanted, he wanted. And yet none of it he could have. Instead, he took several moments to compose himself before he looked up once more. "You're hungry. I... thought I could help."

But darling -- it's only human nature.