The solo shower helped. Honestly Merlin ached for the house with a bit more space. Still he couldn't quite talk himself into holding back. A quick wank in the shower did wonders to ease the tension that had built up, and Merlin crawled into bed feeling like he could keep himself together. He had to. It was as simple as that. The morning came with a dull sense of disappointment, of loss at what they couldn't have. But it was followed by a dawning hope that at least he had a life to look forward to, a life with Arthur even if it wasn't precisely the one he'd imagined. Merlin got dressed before moving over to the closet and knocking sharply. "Oi, it's night already. Some of us have places to be."

Arthur crawled out of the closet, his hunger threatening to consume him. After all the centuries of waking and feeling the need to drink human blood he thought he could control the urge by now. But, it only seemed to intensify the older he became. Thankfully, Merlin's protective spell was up and Arthur couldn't smell his intoxicating aroma... even if he did remember it with startling clarity. "Let me freshen up before you head out," he insisted, running a hand through his shaggy blond hair. "I don't trust what might be waiting out there in the night for you."

Normally Merlin would have scoffed at the concern, but after the previous night, he nodded instead. "Alright." Having Arthur walk him to work sounded like a good idea. Besides, it was a bit more time that they could spend together. "Get yourself decent, then. I'll eat something." Merlin let his gaze linger over the prince for just a second more before blushing and shuffling off to the kitchen. Staring like a lovesick schoolboy would do nothing for his resolve or Arthur's. A bowl of sugary cereal later, Merlin felt more awake and mostly ready to tackle the night no matter what it might bring with it.

Shutting his eyes as it block out the overpowering desire, Arthur finished bathing, dried himself off and started redressing. He realized that he only had one set of clothes with him, and something so mundane actually helped to distract him. It didn't exactly bother him, but he would have to find some new gear at some point. He stepped from the bathroom and his eyes filled with the sight of Merlin, looking utterly gorgeous and... edible. "Are you really wearing that?" he inquired. "Don't you have something a little less... revealing?"

Merlin blinked and looked down at himself only to blush. The jeans were tight. It wasn't really intentional, but they were a half size too small, but they'd looked alright, so he'd bought them anyway. And the shirt... well, it looked like something a teenager would go clubbing in. "They told me to dress like I was working at a club, okay? Just about got fired for wearing nothing but t-shirts when I started," Merlin muttered, running a hand over the see-through striped shirt and then shrugging into a jacket that would make it decent for the walk to work. "Least I don't have to dress like a rejected Transylvanian concubine like the vamps that work there."

"True," Arthur conceded, his expression still one of disapproval. "Still, looking like that, you might as well be wearing a sign that says Drink Me." Merlin was a walking, talking feast waiting to be pounced on and devoured. If it weren't for the sorcerer's cloaking spell, then Arthur didn't fancy his chances at all. Even with Merlin's scent hidden, the vampire had to summon up the last reserves of his will power not to lunge for him. The shirt was bad enough, but those jeans... They left very little to the imagination, and Arthur salivated. His fangs emerged unbidden, and the former ruler quickly covered his mouth. There was no doubt about it; he would have to feed again if he ever hoped to make it through the night. "We'd better get going," he murmured through his hand, looking decidedly less confident and more sheepish than he cared to.

"Yeah, right," Merlin agreed, wrapping his arms around himself as they stepped out into the night air. He hated that Arthur was looking at him exactly the way he'd always wanted the man to look at him but he was somehow supposed to not do anything about it. He had everything he wanted served up on a silver platter and he was supposed to behave. They both were. It was a cruel, sick joke. Merlin took a breath and tried to remind himself to be thankful for the not-so-small favor of having Arthur with him at all. That helped somewhat, and he even managed a smile for the other man. "Promise I'm just a tease. Last night was stupid. Won't be doing that again."

"I'm going to hold you to that," Arthur replied, managing to get a hold of himself with some effort. His fangs retracted and his brushed his hand away from his mouth. Again he feared that his living arrangement with Merlin simply would not work. He desired the other man far too much for his own good. His hunger threatened to overpower him, and instead of grabbing a random stranger off the street, Arthur wondered if he might find that rather delicious Gill again. At least with feeding he could keep himself in check far better than chugging a bottle of True Blood. "Promise me you'll be careful." He fixed his gaze firmly on Merlin as the club came into sight. "I hate the idea of leaving you here. I'll stay if you want me to?"

"I'll be fine. Honestly. Besides, you've got paperwork to go sign later. Don't want us losing out on the house just because you were hovering about becoming a bar fly." Merlin gave the other man a gentle shove and flashed him one last smile before disappearing into the club. It was hard to be separated, but they couldn't cling to each all the time or they'd go crazy. They had to keep some sort of separation and walls up if there was going to be any chance of their arrangement working.
***

Gill couldn't stop craning his neck to look at the door. He hadn't spotted Mike at all, and his heart pounded helplessly at the idea that the vampire might be inside. What if he met someone else? What if last night had just been a quick bit of fun? The mortal swallowed hard and watched as the line slowly dwindled and he got closer to the door.

Arthur finished signing the papers, and the house was officially his and Merlin's. Afterwards he took the time to shop for some furniture to be delivered to the property before his concern for Merlin became overwhelming and he returned to the bar. Desperately thirsty, Arthur sensed Gill's presence long before the mortal came into view. He smelled delicious, and the vampire's fangs threatened to emerge as he approached the boy. Arthur could barely control himself, which was nothing short of shocking considering how old he was. Merlin miraculously coming back into his life had been the catalyst for this new-found wildness. Even thinking about Merlin made him crazy, and Arthur was chatting Gill up before he even realized what was happening. "Do you mind some company?" he asked, hunger evident in his eyes and voice.

Gill glanced at the door again. He'd honestly expected to see Mike sooner. //Maybe he's not even coming. Just because he was nice doesn't mean he's your boyfriend.// The thought stung, and Gill nodded. "Yeah, sure," he agreed, stepping out of the line once again to fall into step beside Arthur instead. He didn't get a lot repeat customers, so to speak. That someone as hot as Arthur was hitting on him a second night in a row was something to be proud of... it just wasn't as exciting as the thought of Mike coming back had been. "Miss me?" he teased to cover up the sadness threatening to squeeze in. //This is why it's easier not to give a shit.// Maybe some fun with Arthur would remind him why he didn't worry about anything steady in the first place.

Arthur's intense hunger drowned out Gill's plea for more. The ancient vampire was too far gone to stop, and he clung to the mortal tighter as he feasted upon his blood. Merlin continued to fill his thoughts; the see-through shirt, the obscenely tight pants, his ethereal beauty. It proved all too much for Arthur. He began to grind against Gill, his moans of need muffled against the other man's throat. Gill tasted just as wonderful as he remembered, his blood rich and sweet and invigorating. Instead of being sated, Arthur found himself growing even more wildly desperate.

Instead of relaxing, Gill felt himself tensing as his head swam and his consciousness drifted. "S-stop..." It was the first time he'd ever said that when someone was feeding. Normally he would have been begging for something other than just being fed on, but Gill felt a thrill of fear instead. He didn't want to die. He didn't want to lose every chance of making things right, of knowing whether the night before had been the start of something or the end. When Arthur didn't budge, Gill tried to raise a hand and give the man a shove but it had no effect at all, mostly because he wasn't even able to lift his hand. Panic rose within the boy as he tried to speak again, to do anything that might convince Arthur to stop, but all he managed was a weak moan.

Arthur was deaf to the Gill's plea, heedless of the boy's attempt to get away from him. He sank his fangs in even harder and deeper, drawing more of the mortal's blood into his mouth. A red haze seemed to settle around Arthur, drowning him in warmth and seducing him into feeding with a hunger he had not known since he had first been turned. He drank and drank until there was nothing left, and the body in his arms went cold and limp. His blood-lust unsated, the crazed vampire discarded the boy without a thought and stalked off into the night, searching for another victim...

*****

Mike found himself arriving at the bar much later than he'd anticipated. He felt nervous and excited all at the same time over seeing Gill again. The mortal had plagued his thoughts from the moment he woke up, and Mike was saddened not to find him still in the apartment. Gill's scent, however, had lingered, and it stoked the vampire's desire to the point where he'd had to restrain himself from seeking the other man out from the start. He deflated when he didn't find Gill waiting outside The Last Drop. //Of course. He's probably inside.// Mike started forward, only to pause when he caught a familiar aroma nearby. It came from the shadowed alleyway between the buildings. Gill's need to be bitten must have gotten the better of him. He stepped into the darkness, only to feel the world crash around him. "Gill!" Mike was a blur of supernatural speed, gathering the fallen mortal in his arms and desperately searching for a sign of life. There was nothing. "No, no, no... Gill, please..." Tears of blood pooled around his eyes as instinct took over and Mike bit into his wrist. He held it to Gill's mouth to no avail. The boy was gone, dead. He cradled him in his arms, rocking back and forth, mourning for someone he barely knew that had touched his undead heart in a short amount of time. Everything Mike had feared had come true, and no amount of pleading with Gill to be careful had done any good...

*****

Arthur had encountered another fang-banger, this time a young woman in her early twenties. Short and slender, with dark hair and red streaks, wearing Gothic clothing. He was so blinded by his hunger that he didn't even waste time introducing himself. Instead, he grabbed her right off the street and dragged her behind one of the nearby buildings. She cried out in alarm at first, only to surrender herself when she realized it was a vampire. Arthur began to feed, drinking greedily until, finally, something in his mind clicked and he backed off when the girl's pulse began to slow. He released her with a shock, remembering what he had done to Gill in the alley. Arthur, taking care to make sure the woman was alright, rushed back to where he'd left Gill... only to find the alley strangely empty. He couldn't sense Gill at all, and yet there was no trace of him whatsoever. Arthur stumbled out toward the bar's entrance, reeling as he walked into the club, drenched with blood.

Merlin looked up at the sound of the door only to feel his jaw dropping. There was a growl from someone he couldn't identify, and Merlin all but launched himself over the bar, hurriedly shoving Arthur back out and then grabbing the man's arm to drag him over to the shadowy area most of the employees used for smoke breaks. "What in the hell happened?" he demanded, taking in the blood. He hoped to god it came from more than one person because if not... Merlin swallowed hard and tried not to get ahead of himself. His hand was shaking, but he didn't let go of Arthur's arm and met the man's gaze evenly. Whatever had happened, they could fix it. Somehow they could fix it. He repeated the words in his head until they began to sound true.

"I... I think I killed someone." Arthur, dazed, mouthed the words and registered the shock in his voice. He was trembling, glancing down at his hands and finding them stained, like his clothing, with the damning evidence of his actions. Unable to fully comprehend what he had done, the vampire turned pleading eyes to Merlin as if the other man was the only person in the world who could help him. "Merlin, I... I was out of control... I don't know how it happened." He glanced over his shoulder at the alley and shuddered. "When I went back, he... he was gone."

"Maybe... he was just hurt?" Merlin suggested, feeling a surge of hope at the last news. It wasn't like there was a vampire clean up crew running around picking up bodies off the streets. "I mean, had to be, yeah? Dead people don't just go walking around." He couldn't help staring at the blood. There was so much. So much. He licked his lips and finally ventured, "Was there... there anyone else?" God, he hoped so. One person couldn't lose that much blood without being dead. They just couldn't. Something else struck Merlin before Arthur could even answer, and his eyes widened. "We have to get you somewhere else. My place. Anywhere. Clean you up. The whole bar saw... there'll be questions, Arthur... so much blood..."

Arthur nodded dumbly, following Merlin as he led him away from the bar and back to his modest apartment. He felt as if he were having an out-of-body experience, staring down upon the scene but not really taking part in it. And yet it had all really happened. For the first time centuries Arthur Pendragon had lost complete control and taken a life in a blind feeding frenzy. "There was another... a girl, but... I stopped, she was alright," he finally admitted. Still shaking once they reached the safety of Merlin's home, Arthur couldn't remember ever feeling quite so guilt-ridden. "Do you see now, Merlin?" he exploded. "I am animal. That could just as easily have been you!"

"Still have ego the size of the castle," Merlin muttered before raising a hand. In seconds, Arther was surrounded with what felt like chain but looked like nothing more than a few delicate strands of light. "It couldn't. You don't have to be in control for me to be in control. I shouldn't have left you alone tonight." He'd texted a coworker quickly on the way home to explain that there was a "family emergency" and he wouldn't be back for a few nights at least. "Things are... it's... a big thing. This." //Whatever the hell this even is.// "So we both need some time to get hold of ourselves. I shouldn't've left you to do that alone." He held out a hand and swallowed hard because it was going to take sheer force of will to keep the next stage of the operation strictly friendly. "Let's get you cleaned up."

Arthur didn't understand how Merlin could be so calm about his detestable actions. He was far more dangerous than he realized, especially to lose control after all these years. "This hasn't happened since I was first turned," he heard himself explaining mutely. "I was wild for the first few years, traveling all over the world, killing without a second thought or a single care." Arthur, his face a mask of dried scarlet tears, finally met Merlin's gaze. "Half the stories you hear about vampires are probably because of me." He reached out and almost tentatively grasped the other man's wrist. "I'm so scared of hurting you. Tonight, I wanted to taste you so badly." His shaggy blond head drooped. "I can't even guarantee it won't happen again."

The words were frustrating and exciting all at the same time. Merlin cursed himself for not being able to keep himself in check. It wouldn't help Arthur if he was all worked up over it. Merlin covered Arthur's hand with his own and then reached out to tip Arthur's chin up. "I trust you. Even when you don't trust yourself. Isn't that what loving someone is?" He knew it was too intimate, but Arthur needed to re-learn how to be close without it being terrible. "Anyway, clean. You need to be that. Now. It's disgusting, frankly. Blood might be a thing for you, but... disgusting." Merlin stepped in and began jerking Arthur's jacket off, the act comforting and familiar even after not having done it for so many years. "Off with the rest or I'll take it off myself. We'll burn it or dump it or something, but AFTER you get a shower."

A wide range of emotions shadowed Arthur's face--everything from frustration to grief to anger--as he stripped off his shirt, kicked off his shoes, and peeled off his trousers. Everything was soaked in blood, even his skin, marking him with the shame of his actions. He didn't think twice about being naked in front of Merlin. After all, he had been hundreds of time before when his former servant would help him to dress. However, Arthur was far more muscular now than when he last saw Merlin. His undead status forever freezing his physique in time.

Merlin swallowed hard. The man was gorgeous. He had always been gorgeous, but... blood or no blood, he felt his heart thump at the visual of Arthur naked and on display in front of him. With an effort, he averted his gaze and put his hands on Arthur's shoulders, shoving him toward the bathroom. "Get clean. There's soap, washcloths, shampoo, whatever." There was no way he could keep his cool through helping with the process, so Merlin knew it was best that he stay behind. "Meanwhile, I'll get rid of these clothes and find something that might fit you." They were by no means the same size, but he felt sure he had some sweats or something stashed that would do well enough in a pinch.

Arthur obeyed with a sort of numb acceptance over what he had done. He showered, turning the water on the hottest setting and spending an inordinate amount of time scrubbing the blood stains from his body. The red-tinted spray puddled around his feet, swirling and disappearing down the drain. Arthur felt almost lost; wildly losing control was something he thought he would never have to deal with again. It was terrifying. Especially adding Merlin to the equation. //How can this ever work? I don't want to lose him again, but I don't want to hurt him...// Torn, the former ruler shut off the water and stepped out of the shower. Drying off, he wrapped a towel around his waist and rejoined Merlin in the other room. "I guess I should have followed my instincts and went shopping for clothes tonight," he murmured.

"Yeah, well, I'm playing hooky from work for a few days, so we can do it tomorrow." Merlin had ditched the clothes in a dumpster a few blocks away. Considering the muck already inside, he didn't picture anyone getting grabby - or wondering what the mystery stains were. "Right now we just need to lay low. Put some clothes on the bed." He prayed that they wouldn't be hearing any sirens soon. It would have been hard to explain the blood. It was frowned on for vamps to drink from humans at all, but it was outright illegal for them to kill any. He caught the look that Arthur was giving him, that worried, half-pitying look, and rose from his chair. "That's enough of that. Seriously. Do you have any idea how many times I have saved your life, Arthur Pendragon? You're awfully full of yourself if you think I'm going to let you do anything that I don't want you to do. In fact... try. Honestly, go on. Try."

Arthur knew what Merlin was trying to do. He didn't want to give into the goading, but the pushing got to him and the vampire was rushing forward in a blur of supernatural speed. Heedless of his towel falling away from his glistening body, Arthur grabbed Merlin's wrists and pinned him against the wall. He bared his fangs, growling, "I could kill you right now, Merlin! I could tear into your throat and drink you dry! What are you going to do to stop me?!" Tormented with guilt and anguish, what happened next was totally out of his control. Arthur lunged and covered Merlin's mouth with his own, kissing him with all the aching longing he'd felt over the centuries.

Merlin had intended to show the man just how well he could defended himself, but the magic he'd summoned faltered, flickered, and died at the sudden attack because the attack wasn't at all of the type he'd expected. Instead Merlin found himself kissing the man he'd been dying to touch for longer than he could remember. He could feel every inch of Arthur's damp skin even through the shirt and jeans he wore, and it was like a dream. He'd had the dream more than once, after all, had woken gasping as he touched himself and thought of the man he thought he would never see again.

The taste on his lips was minty - Arthur had apparently brushed his teeth - and sweet and perfect. The kiss was anything but sweet. It spoke of desperation, the same desperation he felt welling inside himself at the touch. The sorcerer was hard in seconds, his whole body straining to press in as tightly as possible against Arthur's as his lips parted to deepen the kiss.

Somewhere in the back of his mind Arthur knew he should have stopped, torn himself away, but he couldn't... Kissing Merlin was sweeter than his wildest dreams, his mouth even softer and silkier than they looked. It was everything he had ever hoped for and more. Bliss swept over the vampire and he groaned as Merlin's lips invited him inside. He accepted, snaking his tongue over perfect teeth and sampling the delights awaiting him. Arthur groaned, writhing against Merlin as his bruising grasp on the other man's wrists increased.

Merlin felt the grip, which had been exciting, tighten to the point of pain. He shifted his hands, and when it had no effect, Merlin's eyes glowed amber behind his closed eyelids. He gave Arthur a second more, and then a force pressed between their skin, parting Arthur's fingers and then seeming to slide around his wrists. They were drawn back and down, finally coming to a stop behind Arthur's back where they remained locked as if tied together. "Told you," Merlin muttered against the former king's lips as his now-freed hands rose to cup Arthur's face gently.

"Merlin," whispered Arthur, finding it impossible to untangle his arms. It should have startled him enough to wake him from his stupor of desire. Instead it only seemed to add fuel to flame. Merlin's touch was impossibly warm and achingly tender. Something akin to a whimper forced itself from his throat as he nuzzled the sorcerer's pillow-soft lips, desperate for more. "I believe you," Arthur whispered before recapturing Merlin's sweet mouth. He kissed him deeply, with enough passion to steal Merlin's breath away. Although he couldn't touch him, the vampire pressed himself forward and groaned at the renewed contact.

"Better," Merlin answered, finally pulling back and staring at Arthur with eyes gone a deep, inky blue with passion. "Bed. Now." He waited until Arthur stopped looking dazed and actually complied before he let the magic fall away and freed the man's hands again. Once Arthur was seated on the bed, Merlin allowed himself to smile faintly and slowly began to strip off his work clothes. "You liked the view with the clothing on..." He was obviously joking, but there was a flicker of nervous pleasure at the idea that Arthur probably would rather enjoy the show. It was a bit too hurried to count as a strip tease, but Merlin didn't care. He bared himself happily and never let his eyes leave Arthur's.

Arthur drank in Merlin's splendor, groaning softly as another surge of desire rushed through him. "Oh, Merlin," he whispered, reaching out and covering slender hips with his hands, drawing him in closer. His lips brushed the other man's abdomen, flowing over his warm skin and groaning at the taste of him. Overcome with his long-held passion for the sorcerer, he was too far-gone to stop now even if he wanted to. "Beautiful," Arthur murmured, urging Merlin forward until the other man was straddling his lap. He cradled the back of the mortal's head, drawing him into another meaningful kiss.

"Like you," Merlin murmured as he wriggled his hips against Arthur's. It felt like absolute heaven. Maybe this encounter wasn't turning out to be something hopelessly romantic, something like what they deserved after so long, but after everything they had both been through, it was enough. They'd suffered apart and together, and they deserved each other. They deserved to have one another completely under any circumstances they could manage. "Just a second." Merlin scrambled off the other man's lap only to return to the same position a few moments later with a half full bottle of lube clutched in his hand. "Want to do the honors?"

"Yes," Arthur heartily agreed. He wasted no time in pouring a generous amount of the viscous fluid on his fingers. Then, he reached out Merlin's body and eased one digit into the warm inviting space between the other man's magnificent ass. Arthur groaned as that tight ring of muscle clamped around him, and as he carefully pried Merlin open, he sought out that delicious mouth again. Instead of feeling out of control, the vampire found that kissing Merlin made him surprisingly calm and centered. Although he was wildly aroused, there was no bloodlust. "Want you," he murmured against those sweet lips, "need you..." His finger sank deeper into the furnace of Merlin's body, wriggling as it stretched those slick walls.

"Another," Merlin hissed out almost at once. He didn't have the patience for long, slow preparation, but it had been long enough that he knew at least something was necessary. Arthur wasn't exactly under-endowed. The thought drew a low groan from the sorcerer, and he couldn't help pushing back against Arthur's fingers. Thankfully his wanton need seemed to match Arthur's own. They both needed it badly. They were both desperate. And wrong as it was, it was also absolutely perfect. "Please, Arthur, more... just a little more..."

Arthur complied, taking great care in adding a second finger and moaning as he felt Merlin's body opening that much further to his tender ministrations. His own cock, swollen with borrowed blood, ached terribly. Knowing that he would soon be buried within the man he loved and had longed for nearly finished the vampire. His mouth roamed all over Merlin's heaving chest, kissing his way up and over his sensitive throat. Incredibly, his fangs remained in check, and again, Arthur marveled over how his fears of harming Merlin seemed unfounded. "Touch me," he begged the sorcerer. "Please?"

"Gladly," Merlin agreed, taking the other man in hand with a gasp as if he was being touched instead. After wanting Arthur for so long, after thinking that they could never be together, he couldn't imagine anything being more perfect. Seedy hotel rooms and unexpected beginnings meant absolutely nothing compared to the bliss of what they were sharing together. His fingers clutched tighter at Arthur's cock as the man's fingers brushed the exact right spot again. "There... right there," he assured, eyes fluttering closed and head thrown back.

Over the centuries Arthur had witnessed many wondrous things, but none of them compared to the awe of Merlin flushed and writhing with arousal. The tight walls of Merlin's tender passage clamped down around his fingers, and with a groan of effort, Arthur managed to wriggle them even deeper inside. Another graze of his digits across the swollen nut of Merlin's prostate, and the vampire reveled in the pleasurable shudders that quaked intensely through the other man's wondrous body. His eyes settled on the sorcerer's exposed throat, and again, Arthur marveled over how there was no urge to drink from him. Instead, he latched his mouth on Merlin's neck, nibbling and licking at the sensitive flesh.

Merlin groaned aloud at the touch. His hips were bucking, the excitement well beyond his control no matter how desperate he might appear. If it wasn't for the fact that it had been awhile and Arthur had plenty to offer below the waist, he would have insisted that they cut the foreplay short. Instead he panted, "Another. Arthur, another finger, please." It would have to be enough because Merlin was fairly certain if he went more than a few more minutes without feeling Arthur inside him, he would spontaneously combust. "Always knew you'd feel good, just never realized... I never knew..." He shuddered and wrapped his arms more tightly around Arthur's body.

Arthur eagerly accepted the invitation, moaning against Merlin's delicious throat. Despite the rising need, he took great care in easing another finger inside the slick heat of the other man's body. Those tender walls clamped around his invading digits, caressing them and making Arthur's swollen prick ache with desire. "You're beautiful, Merlin," he whispered, lavishing his neck in kisses. "You're everything... everything I've ever wanted..." Buried up to the knuckle, the vampire wriggled his questing fingers, then twisted them, holding onto Merlin with his free hand as tremors ripped through him. He hated that he couldn't smell the other man, even if it was for the best. Instead Arthur relished the feel of him, loving the sensation of Merlin's dripping arousal brushing against his skin.

"Oh... that's... that's enough, I'm... I can't wait anymore," Merlin confessed in a breathless whisper. He needed Arthur, and he needed him at once, needed to feel him. Merlin finally gave over and fell back onto the bed, wriggling up toward the pillows before reaching out to the other man. "C'mon, no teasing. We're way past teasing." He managed a flicker of a smile, but the lust was too strong for him to feel much more than sheer, raw desire that left him trembling with want. However soon Arthur was inside him it wouldn't be soon enough.

He leaned forward, fairly trembling with need. "Merlin," he whispered the other man's name reverently before brushing their lips together once more. Then, he was pressing forward and groaning as the tip of his aching cock breached the tight ring of Merlin's opening. Slowly he sank inside, gripped by the most incredible pleasure and the most wonderful heat.

"Oh, fuck, Arthur," he hissed. Romance was wonderful, but this wasn't the moment for it. Later he would make sure that they talked about issues, dealt with things, was as sweet about it all as their finally coming together really deserved, but for now, Merlin wanted nothing more than to feel. The sensation of Arthur driving inside of him left Merlin wanting more and yet needing it to last at the same time. They'd been going crazy for so long that it would be a disservice if they didn't enjoy every last second. "Perfect."

Beyond anything Arthur could have ever dreamed of, he groaned out his agreement. "Merlin, yes..." His lips, warmed from the vast amount of blood he'd taken, settled on the sorcerer's throat again, raining lavish kisses all over Merlin's neck. Pleasure sang through Arthur's undead frame, and when he finally buried himself completely within the tight sheath of the other man's body, it took a monumental effort to still himself and relish the sensation of being joined with the man he'd longed for. "Beautiful," he whispered, his tongue licking at Merlin's shoulder now. "So beautiful..."

Merlin shivered as Arthur's tongue dragged over his skin. He let his eyes close and simply relished the feeling of Arthur being inside him. After what felt like a few dozen lifetimes, they were together, and it was precisely where they'd always been meant to be. As Merlin's eyes finally opened, he found himself smiling up at the other man. Reaching down, his hands planted themselves firmly on Arthur's ass. Still smiling, Merlin's hips rose in silent encouragement. "Think we've both had enough time to adjust... also, pretty sure I'll lose it if you don't start moving."

Arthur felt the same way. Merlin's body was incredible, the sensation of being surrounded by him, of the other man's heated touch, and Arthur nearly came unraveled at the seams. "Got to take this slow," the vampire warned, licking at Merlin's grinning mouth. "Otherwise, I'm really not going to last very long." Then, he started to move, his hips rising and falling languidly. Arthur shuddered, overwhelmed by the intense pleasure of his swollen cock thrusting deeper and deeper into Merlin's tight passage. The slick heat was so amazing it was almost painful, and Arthur groaned helplessly.

"R-right... slow..." Merlin knew that Arthur was right, but the slow pace had him aching for more. He was all but panting as he thought about Arthur driving into him with abandon. He forced himself to focus on the feelings they were sharing now instead of what he wanted next, and Merlin felt himself relaxing at last. "I love the way you feel in me. Think I... mentioned that, but... bears repeating... and repeating again... I always knew... always knew..."

"Oh, Merlin, you... have no... idea... how perfect... you are," Arthur whispered, one large hand brushing through the sorcerer's hair. He was barely keeping control as his hips continued their tortuous rise and fall. His enormous cock drove deep, then made the slow slide back out. The pleasure was unlike anything Arthur had ever experienced in his many centuries walking the earth. "Wonderful... so, so wonderful..." Another crippling shudder as Merlin's slick walls tightened around him, and the vampire buried his face in the sorcerer's throat. "Need you," his heated words were muffled. "Never realized... how much..."

Merlin had. He'd known pretty quickly that the dragon was right even when he didn't want it to be the truth. They belonged together. They fit together. It was everything that Merlin had known it could be, and he breathed a sigh of happiness as the man moved inside him. More than once he had pretended that a lover was Arthur, had wished that they were really what he needed, but no one even came close. "I need you... want you..." After this, Merlin knew that he'd never convince himself to let go of the man again. "All yours, Arthur..."

Despite his firm assertion to take things slow, Arthur had started thrusting faster, more heatedly, without even realizing it. Merlin felt too good, and the vampire found himself overwhelmed by the pleasure singing through his body. "You have me, always," he promised raggedly. Another deep kiss of passion and Arthur's hips churned, his long, thick cock scrapping along the tender walls of Merlin's grasping channel. He shuddered, groaning against the other man's sweet mouth. Merlin surrounding him, his legs draped like velvet cord around him, his hot hands groping his pumping ass--it was almost too much to take in. Arthur reached between them, nearly scorching his palm on Merlin's arousal, which fairly leaped into his grasp. Rock hard and dripping wet, his stroked the sorcerer with each plunge of his own bloated length.

Merlin was soon gasping and murmuring words of encouragement with every thrust. He'd never been so turned on in his life, and it was making holding on at all an embarrassingly futile attempt. He couldn't help but relish the way it felt to finally have Arthur after wanting him and loving him in secret for so long. The touch of the man's hand and the hard heat of him inside soon had Merlin hovering on the edge of release. "I can't... god, I can't... can't hold on," he panted against Arthur's ear. "Want you to cum with me..."

"Yes, ohhhh... Merlin, yes..." The pleasure was so intense, so wonderful that it was almost painful. Hearing those sweet words whispered hotly in his ear nearly finished him. Merlin's swollen cock pulsed greedily against his stroking palm. and Arthur groaned at the abundant wetness which covered his fingers. His mouth watered; the urge to taste the sorcerer's tempting essence nearly overwhelming him. There would be plenty of time for that afterward... His hips rose and fell in rapid succession as his own bloated length plunged deeper and deeper, tearing relentlessly into Merlin. Finally, it was all too much, and sealing their lips together, Arthur came with a guttural roar, painting the walls of that flaring passage in undead seed.

The sorcerer was panting out his release seconds later, muscles clamping down around Arthur's pulsing cock. It felt better than he could ever have imagined. It felt absolutely perfect. The warm wetness of release spread between them, but Merlin couldn't let go of the other man. He clung to Arthur as if the vampire would disappear the moment he let up for a second. "Love you," he whispered into Arthur's ear. Though his voice was husky with desire, the words were crystal clear.

How Arthur had longed to hear those sweet words falling from Merlin's lips! After centuries of loneliness, the former ruler felt something old and disused unlocking deep within his chest. Was it really possible for a vampire to share genuine affection for another? Arthur wouldn't have thought it possible. But what he was feeling right now for the incredible man embracing him made him feel almost mortal again. "I love you too," he heard himself declare. "I always have." Gazing deeply into Merlin's eyes, the emotions exchanged between them overwhelmed the vampire. Arthur swooped in, kissing him with an aching tenderness that left his senses reeling.

That was certainly true for him as well. It had been evident from the start no matter how he tried to fight it that the dragon was right - they were bound together. Kilgarrah simply saw it before they did themselves. And yet they were barely acquaintances and he'd hardly even liked the prince the first time he saved the man's life. Not long after, Arthur returned the favor, risking himself and his father's anger to save Merlin from certain death from Nimueh's poison. They needed each other. When the kiss ended - he at least needed to breathe - Merlin grinned up at the other man. "You realize, of course, that I'm probably never letting you out of my sight again."

Arthur returned Merlin's smile, caressing his beautifully flushed cheek with elegant fingers. "I'm going to hold you to that," he replied, shifting sinuously against the other man's body. Still buried deep within the tight sheath of Merlin's embrace, and remaining achingly hard despite his explosive climax, Arthur marveled at the incredible feelings sweeping over him. "I never thought I'd be able to control myself with you." Nuzzling Merlin's throat, the vampire's hunger kept itself in check as he plied the sorcerer's neck with kisses. "I was certain I'd hurt you..." His voice segued into a groan as desire demanded he move again. Arthur trembled as his hips churned, and the intense pleasure of making love to Merlin overwhelmed him again.

"You wouldn't. Know you wouldn't." Unless, of course, he let his control slip. Merlin fought to keep the spells that protected them both in place as Arthur began to move again. By all rights it should have been too much, but instead of protesting, Merlin's body responded at once. Any blood that had escaped back to his brain was quickly throbbing downward. "Keep doing that," he murmured as Arthur's cock slid smoothly out and then in again. The control was hard, but it was worth it if it meant he could have this, if it meant he could have Arthur at last.

How could anything or anyone possibly feel this wonderful? It might have been easy to chalk the overwhelming sensations up to magic. But Arthur knew deep down it was all Merlin. Everything he had ever wanted and longed for was right here in his arms. And the reality of being with Merlin was more incredible than his most heated dreams. "Not gonna stop," he promised, still plying the sorcerer's throat with kisses. Arthur's hips thrust languidly, and with each stroke of his massive cock along Merlin's clenching channel, the vampire shuddered and groaned with passion.

"Good," Merlin answered, the word a bare exhalation as he focused all of his attention on moving along with the other man. Arthur's cock pressed into him. The length was long and thick and stroked against Merlin's prostate with delicious persistence. "Don't think anybody else could get me hard again so soon. Bloody disgusting how easy I am," he teased with a smirk. "Then again, you are the king. Perfectly understandable acting like a teenage groupie, yeah?"

"As long as you're easy for me, you can behave any way you see fit," Arthur chuckled lustily, nipping playfully at Merlin's mouth. By all that was sacred, he could not remember feeling this good... this alive! His hips churned, his cock pistoning into the sorcerer and staking its claim with every renewed thrust. "We were both fools," the vampire declared between groans of pleasure. "We should have told each other how we felt ages ago..." Fingers sinking into Merlin's hips, Arthur deftly rolled onto his back until the other man was effectively riding him... and all without losing contact. He wanted to watch him. To drink in the beautiful flush of his body, the ecstasy tearing at his lovely face, the way his swollen length twitched for him...

"Perfect now. Just the way it is," Merlin assured as he began to move, barely breaking the rhythm of his hips. "Just like this." He lost the thread of his own thoughts and wasn't sure if he was talking about the immediate moment or the whole situation, but it didn't really matter. All that mattered was the way it felt to move in time with Arthur and to find himself at last looking down at the other man while they were both lost in the throes of passion. "You've got no idea how badly... how long I've... oh, Arthur..." Merlin rose and then slammed himself down hard on the other man's cock, and his whole body spasmed with the rush of pleasure.

Arthur's groan of ecstasy bordered on primal. He arched and shuddered, throwing his shaggy blond head back against the pillows. His raging arousal devoured Merlin's writhing body, while digging his fingers into the sorcerer's phenomenal ass. "Unnhh!" the vampire gasped, his fangs abruptly glinting in the dim light of the room. Still in control of his baser instincts, Arthur pricked his tongue and then drew Merlin into another decadent kiss of passion. If he couldn't drink from the man he loved most in the world, then by God Merlin would taste him. His thrusts grew more intense, plowing into the other man as Merlin churned around him. He reached around filled his hand with Merlin's swollen length, the heat from which threatened to scorch his palm. Arthur stroked languidly, which was in sharp contrast to their wild lovemaking. He licked all around Merlin's sweet mouth, descending into muffled moans as he allowed his lover to drink his fill.

He'd never gotten so hot so quickly before after getting off, and Merlin was fairly certain that no one but Arthur could have done it. The sheer blissful relief of being with the man was almost enough, nevermind how fucking amazing it felt to have Arthur inside of him. Ever second and every touch drew another groan, another shudder, another twitch of Merlin's hips. He would have expected the coppery taste of the blood to be repulsive, but instead he found himself suddenly understanding why there were people clamoring for a taste. As the liquid trailed down his throat it felt as if liquid fire was surging through his body. Merlin broke the kiss with a gasp, his fingers clutching at Arthur's shoulders.

Arthur didn't think it was possible for their coupling to be any hotter, or for Merlin to be more beautiful. But the sight of his blood staining the sorcerer's mouth was so incredibly erotic. And the vampire nearly erupted again as Merlin continued to slam down on his aching length. Ecstasy swiftly transformed him into a quaking mass of need. There was really no way he could hole back. He wanted to make love in a slow, sensual rhythm, since they had both waited so long for this moment. And yet it quickly became a hot, frantic fury of wild fucking. Arthur murmured half-hysterically to Merlin, kneading, probing, rubbing, jabbing. "God, I love you... love you so much," he murmured, kissing every inch of Merlin he could reach.

"Love you too," Merlin panted as he continued to move. Finally he gripped the rickety headboard with one hand and used that as leverage. "Touch me, Arthur... please... so close..." He knew it wouldn't take much, a few strokes and he'd be finished, but he couldn't resist. He wanted to let go and share that ecstasy with Arthur again. They would have other nights, other times together. There wasn't any doubt in his mind now. They'd found each other, and whatever it took, Merlin had no intention of letting the man go ever again. "Please," he begged again, sweat dripping down his back as they both got closer and closer to the perfect moment of pleasure.

Arthur found himself yet again grateful for whatever power held his baser vampire instincts in check. If it hadn't been for the invisible leash, then he had no idea what he might have done when Merlin started to sweetly beg. "Yes, oh god... yes," he rasped, closing the fingers of one hand around a nipple, while the other stroked his lover in a blur of supernatural speed. Arthur grunted wildly, churning his hips, thrusting his pelvis up into Merlin's ass, whimpering deliriously. "Unnhh... ohhhh, Merlin... you're making me... fuck... cum again..." He erupted in a devastating uprush of ecstasy, nearly passing out from the intensity of it all. His body strained and arched even more violently than the first time. He clutched at Merlin's heaving chest, squeezing and twisting his nipple, while he shuddered frantically as the sweet, sharp spasms wrenched him apart.

It was too much in all the right ways, and Merlin came with a cry of absolute pleasure. He loved the feeling of Arthur's cock slamming up hard into his body, the sharp pleasure-pain of Arthur's fingers twisting his nipple, and both carried him over the edge for the second time that night. Torrents of white spattered out across Arthur's chest. "Fuck... fuck... Arthur..." Merlin groaned and managed to keep moving until they were both too spent for it to be possible. Legs trembling, Merlin fell to one side of the other man with a sigh. "God, that was.... wow."

It took what seemed like hours--when in reality it was only a few minutes--for Arthur to regain his senses. He groaned at the loss of contact with Merlin's body, but trailing his fingers through the steamy evidence of his lover's release more than made up for it. Lavishly licking and sucking his digits clean, the vampire groaned heartily at the rich taste of the sorcerer's essence. Hungry for more, Arthur lunged between Merlin's still quivering thighs and began to swipe his tongue over the other man's twitching length. "Always knew you'd be delicious," he murmured, his eyes shining up at Merlin.

Merlin's only reply was a low, shaky groan. "Stop. You have got to stop. Some of us can still have bloody heart attacks, alright?" The sight of Arthur licking his spent cock combined with the too-good, too-intense feeling of it was enough to drive Merlin thoroughly out of his mind. "May never walk again either. Can't say I mind. Walking's overrated if we can stay in bed and do this instead." He knew that morning was going to be coming too soon, and Merlin reached out for Arthur. "Know it's sappy, but I want to hold you just for a few moments, alright?"

Reluctant to cease exploring Merlin's body now that he finally had the opportunity to indulge himself, Arthur slithered back up the length of the sorcerer's body and tumbled into his embrace. "It's more than alright," the vampire purred. "But you'll have to forgive me if I find I'm unable to help myself when we're together." His lips brushed Merlin's throat, and once again, Arthur was stunned to find that he had no desire to feed from the other man. Of course he would love to drink from him. But the ravenous hunger that he thought he could not control remained at bay. Seeking out Merlin's beautifully swollen lips, he licked his way back inside of that delicious mouth.

Merlin couldn't muster a single protest at the hungry kiss. Spent or not, it still felt absolutely amazing. By the time he had to draw away to breathe again, Merlin's eyes were dark and his fingers tangled in Arthur's hair. "It's been said already tonight, but it bears repeating. I love you." The words were softer now, no longer breathless and rushed. The gravity of the moment did nothing to dampen the mood, and Merlin grinned up at the other man. "Hope you don't get tired of hearing it because you're going to be - and often."

"Oh, Merlin," Arthur sighed contentedly. "How could I ever possibly tire of hearing those words?" He gazed deeply, tenderly into Merlin's enchanting eyes. They fit together perfectly, and always had. It was fairly ridiculous to think of all the time wasted due to the fact of mutual stubbornness. Neither one of them had been brave enough to admit their feelings all those centuries ago. If they had, would things have turned out differently? It was fruitless to ponder. What mattered now was that they were finally together, and Arthur had no intention of ever letting Merlin go again. "I only hope I can maintain this level of control around you," he added soberly. "If I can't, I'd hate to think of harming someone like I did tonight."

"You won't be alone," Merlin answered at once. "You won't have the chance to do anything because I'll be there with you every second if I need to be." What had happened at the bar could have easily meant Arthur's death, and the idea terrified him. To be ripped apart so soon after they'd found one another would be grossly unfair. "Give it a little time. People will get bored and find someone else to whisper about and then it'll be done." Merlin kissed the other man gently. "You won't hurt me, and I won't let you hurt anyone else. It's fine, Arthur."

"Your faith in me means the world," Arthur said softly. "I only hope I can live up to it." The vampire closed his eyes and embraced Merlin even closer, relishing the feel of that lovely warm body pressed against him. Despite his renewed worries, Arthur managed a wicked little half-smile as an intriguing thought occurred to him. "Even if I do start to lose control again, you can always use that spell, right? Binding my arms?" His gaze flickered, and he focused on Merlin to drink in his reaction. "Being at your mercy? I rather fancied that."

"Yeah?" Merlin felt his pulse picking up again and knew that Arthur wouldn't miss the obvious sign of arousal. "Well, might have to every now and again. Wouldn't want you to forget who's boss around here," he teased. The power structure had remained between them in some strange, vestigial sense, but they were equals now in more ways than one. No one on the planet shared the same sort of history they did. "Sometimes I feel like it's not fair, me wanting you here, being glad you're here when it meant you being alone so long. Selfish."

"Nothing about what happened between us is fair," Arthur agreed, his body reacting to Merlin's renewed arousal. "But I don't mind you being selfish. I am, too. It's a trait I've never been able to rid myself of." His smiled was positively scorching as he leaned in closer to the sorcerer. Although the vampire still regretted not being able to drown in Merlin's scent, Arthur nuzzled his lips against Merlin's lovely throat. His fingers, itching with temptation, caressed the length of his lover's torso, wrapping themselves around his highly-sensitive cock. "Do you still think you can put with me?"

"Do you think any man's going to say no while you're jerking him off?" Merlin let out a shaky laugh that ended in a moan. He couldn't ever remember a touch feeling so intense. It didn't even feel good, exactly, and yet it made his breath catch and his overwrought muscles tremble. "Not sure if I should tell you to stop or keep going or... or if I'm even mentally qualified to make that decision right now... actually, don't think I am... What was I saying?"

Arthur gaze a lusty chuckle, withdrawing his touch before he could get carried away. "It's alright, I won't press you anymore tonight." He brushed his lips against Merlin's kiss-bruised mouth. "We've both waited so long for this, and there's no reason to rush through one night." His eyes flickered toward the little clock on the nightstand. "Not much time left, morning soon." Although he hated the thought of leaving the warmth of Merlin's bed, Arthur smiled at a sudden appealing idea. "We'll have to see about having those special windows installed at our new place. That way I won't have to sleep in a closet or a hole in the ground. I can stay with you."

The idea left Merlin grinning again. "Yeah... god, that would be perfect." He loved the idea. Even if Arthur was too deep in his death-like sleep to be reached, just having the man by his side instead of curled up somewhere would be amazing. "I expect you to have that priced out and underway before we move in," he added as imperiously as possible - which, as it turned out, wasn't very. "Gets lonely, y'know. All those hours of sleeping and nobody to hold onto."

"You won't have to be lonely anymore," Arthur assured him, embracing Merlin that much tighter. His lips scored across his lover's cheeks, down his jawline, and once again onto his throat. The vampire licked and kissed without the urge to pierce the spicy-sweet flesh and taste the warm blood rush beneath the surface. "And I truly wish I didn't have to leave you again now." Groaning, Arthur had to literally force himself away from Merlin and out of his bed. He leaned down and brushed their lips together one more time, whispering, "I love you." Then, with a longing glance, he retreated to the closet before the sun could rise.

It was difficult to get to sleep by himself when all Merlin wanted was a few more minutes together. He managed to content himself with burrowing his face into a pillow that still smelled like the other man and breathing deeply. Soon enough being tired did the work that active attempts to lose consciousness had failed to manage, and Merlin drifted off. He woke slowly and dragged himself to the bathroom to clean himself. He felt sticky and rather disgusting after having been far too tired to bother cleaning himself off the night before. Breakfast finally succeeded in waking him fully, and Merlin reluctantly left to start his shift. If he was gone too long, it would only make things more suspicious, so he knew he needed to do it whether he wanted to or not.

At first he felt too bleary to notice much, but soon glaringly white notices tacked to what seemed like every available surface caught the man's attention. His eyes widened and he stood stock still, staring at one of the flyers. //Arthur!// It was a police sketch, but the approximation of Arthur's face was far too telling to be coincidental. "Fuck... fuck... fuck," Merlin cursed under his breath as he turned and ran full tilt back to his room only to find the closet door ajar and Arthur nowhere in sight. "FUCK!"