Harder Than It Looks

Harder than It Looks

By Julia Talbot

"Baby, what in the name of hell are you doing?" Deke couldn't help but ask; the question just sorta burst out of him when he walked into the room and saw Kasey all bent in half. Backward. "What does it look like?" Kasey peered at him for a moment, blue eyes bright in his face, which would have been all flushed if he wasn't a vamp. A Torquere Press Sip - 1

Deke tilted his head to the left like a man examining modern art. "Well, whatever it is, it looks like you ought to be doing it naked, not in sweats." Kasey walked his feet out until that well-shaped ass hit the floor, body bending back in the direction it was supposed to. Then he glanced over again and rolled his eyes. "Yoga clothes, lover. They're yoga clothes." "Uh-huh." They'd been lovers for years now, and he'd never seen Kasey do yoga. "What brought this on?" "I was feeling tense. I learned yoga, oh, fifteen years ago? I bit this lovely little Indian man…" "You ass." Deke shook his head before heading to the kitchen. He ate when he had stress, which he had to admit they both had lately, thanks to the case they were working on. Jonny had them running in circles chasing whatever was chasing Jonny's cat's tail. The fact that Deke liked Luc didn't help with the stress at all. Deke was worried about the guy. "So how does bending over backward to kiss your own ass relieve stress?" "It’s harder than it looks, lover. It really works out the toxins." "So does a Ding Dong." He had a hugely successful metabolism. One sweet treat and he could clean out his colon for days. A Torquere Press Sip - 2

"That's disgusting." "No, it's disgusting when I burp my ABCs." He knew the bodily function thing grossed Kasey out. It had been too damned long since he'd been human. Good thing vamps could still come. They'd be boring as hell if they couldn't. "Too true." Now Kasey rolled to his feet and bent double, arms around the backs of his knees. "Isn't yoga for girly men?" "No. It's for people who like to believe they're evolved." "Yeah. Well, if you really wanted to blow off steam, I was available." "That's what I'm trying to say. I don't always think with my belly or my dick." Deke paused with the milk carton halfway to his mouth. "What does that mean?" "Oh, come on, lover. It's a scientific fact that vampires find it easier to control their primal urges as they age. Werewolves… struggle more." The milk carton crumpled in Deke's hand. Luckily, there wasn't much liquid left in it. "Right. I'm devolving." Kasey sneered. It was a bizarre thing to see upside down. "I'm just far more civilized." It wasn't the first time Kasey had teased him about this. Maybe it was the waxing moon. Maybe it was the stupid A Torquere Press Sip - 3

yoga shit. Maybe it was a butterfly flapping its wings in Peoria. Whatever it was, this time it pissed Deke off. "Well, you know what else is a scientific fact, baby?" he asked, slamming the milk carton into the very civilized recycle bin he'd had put in and mopping up milk with a towel. "What's that?" Kasey stretched one leg out and bent it at a right angle, arms going horizontal. "Vamps can't go out in the sun. I'm going to see Luc. Have fun with the yoga." He could see it, the moment Kasey registered that Deke was really mad. Deke was still on his way across the room. Kasey straightened, reached out, mouth opening. Deke put on a burst of speed and hit the road. Sometimes tapping into his primal instincts meant his soevolved vamp was left too flatfooted to catch him. Hallelujah. *** Luc wasn't much of a talker. Hell, he wasn't much for being human. Talk about someone in touch with his primal side. Deke spent a good three hours chasing Luc's tail, playing hard, and about an hour before sundown he headed home, bruises and all. Kasey was asleep on the couch, the metal blinds firmly closed against the dying sun. He looked fucking glorious, A Torquere Press Sip - 4

his long black hair trailing down to the floor, his skin all but glowing in the gloom. Pride alone kept Deke from going over there and touching. Instead he went to the shower. They had a fancy-assed bathroom with the surround shower. He could crank up the hot water, really get to relaxing. Maybe think a little more about how good Kasey looked lying there, eyelashes like little dark fans on his cheeks. The water felt just as good as he thought it would, the steam rising up almost immediately. Their building had really good plumbing, too. Hot water, and lots of it, poured down on him. Deke hummed, the feeling making him want to do the kickspot thing. Okay, maybe he was a little primal sometimes. He soaped up, washing his hair, behind his ears. He rubbed his hands down his chest, then up and down his arms, rinsing off a little. Then he got the different soap, the stuff that didn't sting. The stuff he used for whacking off. Rubbing some between his hands, Deke reached down and started rubbing his cock. It was only half hard, but that would change soon. A little pressure, a little friction, and yeah. He was feeling it now. Feeling good. His cock filled, lengthened, growing nice and stiff under his touch. Yeah.

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He'd been working it for a few minutes, one hand swinging up and down, the other braced against the wall, when the shower door opened. A very naked Kasey stood there, leaning against the metal frame. "What are you doing, lover?" "Keeping my primal urges to myself." He was panting, the sudden appearance of his fantasy almost too much for him. "Hmm. Having any luck?" "It's harder than it looks, baby." "It looks pretty hard from here." Kasey grinned, showing sharp, sharp fangs. Deke loved those fangs. They weren't aristocratic like Jonny's. No, his Kasey had some chompers. Animalistic, even. One dark eyebrow went up and down. "Well, you're welcome to come and get it." He wasn't gonna last much longer, really. He didn't want to fight. He just wanted to fuck. Maybe nap. Have a steak. "Mmm. I think I will." Kasey cut through the water like a knife, lean and pale and shiny. One long-fingered hand reached out, closing tight over his, and Deke moaned when Kasey pulled. "I never said I wanted you to be evolved, Deke. Burps notwithstanding." "Too much talking." He gasped it out, his hips punching the air. "Come on, baby. I'll let you fuck me after." "Let me? You'll fucking beg me, lover." Kasey's nails scraped lightly over the head of his cock. A Torquere Press Sip - 6

Deke's feet slipped on the wet tiles, his toes digging in to give him some balance. His balls drew up, and it took maybe two more strokes for him to come, his whole body bowing under the force of it. Kasey took his fucking breath away. "Christ, you're beautiful," Kasey murmured, washing his hand under the heavy spray. "Love how you touch me." Deke leaned against the shower wall, trying to get his heart rate back to normal. "Good. I intend to do a great deal more." Kasey rinsed off, getting that amazing hair good and wet. "Come on, lover. Let's go to bed." Deke nodded, reaching out to turn the water off. Kasey grabbed the towels, wrapping one around all that wet hair, the other sliding over Deke's body, especially his pubes. "You paying extra attention for a reason, baby?" Kasey nodded. "Want to make sure you get hard for me again, you know?" "When have I ever not? Well, except that time I was drugged." "That doesn't mean a little insurance isn't in order." The nap of the towel was far from rough, but Deke was so sensitive that it felt like sandpaper. Fucking A. His balls went on high alert, his dick shivering. A Torquere Press Sip - 7

"I like insurance." At this point he had no idea what Kasey was saying. All he heard was blah blah sex. Sex. Sex. Gonna have sex. Blah blah. Chuffing out a laugh, Kasey dropped the towels and took his hand, leading him off to their big bed. There were some good things about being civilized, and not just the shower. The bed was huge, soft, and smelled like them. That was the best part. It was like their den. When Deke wolfed out he could roll around in the pillows for hours, belly up, legs in the air, just smelling them together. Now, though, Kasey pushed him down on said pillows and straddled his hips. "Should I make you wear your collar?" "No." No way. That thing was for the tourists. He only wore it on a case. Kasey stroked his cheek, his neck. "Now on that I am only teasing, lover. You know I wouldn't ask." Deke relaxed. "Yeah. Yeah, I know." "Now, where were we?" "I think here." Deke yanked Kasey up on his chest, that long cock brushing his lips. He opened up and took Kasey in, tasting water and the unique flavor of his very own vamp. Yummy. He sucked hard, and Kasey moaned, humping his mouth. Damn. Just damn.

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His hands slid under Kasey's ass, fingers squeezing the muscles. He wanted to get Kasey good and wet, get that cock ready to take him hard. Very hard. Deke needed it bad. Kasey grabbed his hair, moving faster, fucking his face. Goddamn. "Don't make me come, lover." Kasey pulled back, sort of sitting on Deke's hands. "I want you." "I'm not begging, though." He said it against that amazing cock, right against the head. "Not yet." Kasey moved lightning fast, slipping down to spread Deke's legs. Then that hot mouth found him, Kasey's tongue sliding into his hole. Oh, fuck. Oh, Jesus fuck. The man was a fiend. Well, technically he thought all vampires were fiends, but Kasey was a tease, too. Rough, sweet, that tongue worked him, opened him, getting him ready for Kasey's cock. Deke thrashed a little, the feeling sending sparks all along his nerve endings. By the time Kasey had been at him for maybe two minutes, Deke was… Well, if he wasn't actually begging he was demanding. "Baby. Come on. Fuck me. Need it." "I know. I know, lover. I'll give you what you need."

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Kasey did, too, sliding up and lifting Deke's legs up so they bent double. Then still-damp cock and wet ass met, Kasey sliding against his hole over and over. Deke growled. "Now, baby. Fuck me now." "Good enough." Kasey grinned wildly, sliding inside him, filling him completely with one thrust. Thank fuck. Deke moaned, trying to spread wider and push up harder. He needed Kasey to move. Now. Right now. This? This was fucking primal. They rocked together, both of them panting, even though it was more habit for Kasey than a need. Deke thought it was funny as hell, when he thought about it. Right now the thought just went by like a bird past a window. Grunting, Deke unbent his legs and wrapped them around Kasey's waist, hauling the man smack up against his ass. "That might qualify as begging, lover." Kasey laughed, throwing his head back, hair trailing down to brush Deke's skin. "I don't fucking care. Goddamn it." He needed the slap of skin on skin. "Mmm. My beast." Kasey rumbled, finally moving faster, giving Deke the sounds and smells he craved. Together they were spice and earth, all musk and pepper.

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"Yours." Deke nodded, growling a little, his hips moving in short, sharp bursts. Christ. His fingers dropped to claw at the sheets. "Yeah." Bending, fangs dropping a little, Kasey struck, biting deep into Deke's skin, right where his neck met his shoulder. Deke wailed, the burning, pumping feel of his blood falling into Kasey's mouth all he needed to make him come again. His ass clamped down on Kasey's cock, squeezing hard. Deke shuddered, his whole body rippling. That made Kasey shudder, made an amazing moan come out of that pretty mouth. When Kasey pulled back to arch and shiver and come inside him, those amazing lips were stained with his blood. His. Deke snorted. Yeah, because all of Kasey's biting and shit was about being civilized. "You okay, lover?" "Uh-huh." Deke patted Kasey's back clumsily. "You?" "I'm good." "Mmm. That was a lot easier than it looks." Deke laughed, feeling better than he had all day. "Tell me about it." *** A Torquere Press Sip - 11

Jonny came up behind them, putting one hand on Deke's shoulder, the other on Kasey's. "Enjoying yourselves, lads?" Deke nodded. It was good to have the worst of the danger over. Luc wasn't healed, but he was on his way, and they'd gotten rid of the immediate threat. That meant that Deke and Kasey got to unwind at the Bloodrose. They'd gotten settled, Cady bringing them drinks, Duke stopping by to clap him on the shoulder and smile at Kasey. "We are," Kasey said, nudging Deke's foot with one of his. "Yeah, lover?" "Yeah." There had been a vamp and his werekitty that had put on a show, all unintentional, but hot as hell. Biting, sucking… Yeah. Kasey had touched Deke through his pants, rubbing just enough to keep his body singing. They'd pushed apart when Cady had offered them a private room, figuring they weren't ready to give up their evening out just yet. "Though I want to know why steak is not on the menu tonight." Jonny laughed, coming around to sit across from them, looking loose and easy on the low couch. "Luc got into the cooler. Did you know that a cat his size can eat seventy pounds of meat at a time?" That had Deke and Kasey both cracking up. "That doesn't surprise me, man. So are we looking into the rest of Luc's problems, buddy?"

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Nodding, face going stony, Jonny sighed. "We are. I suppose I will just have to keep you on retainer for a bit." "That works." Deke turned to Kasey, one eyebrow going up. They usually went for diversity in clients. "What? Jonny can afford to keep us in the style we've become accustomed to, and I imagine his background checks cost him a bundle. It's a good business move for both of us." "Hey, I'm good, baby." He was. He liked Jonny. A lot. Hell, he liked Jonny's new man, and his club manager. It would be a good move. Jonny seemed to agree. "Sounds like a great idea. Call next week and set up an appointment to do all of the legal rubbish." "We will." Smiling, Jonny stood, shaking Deke's hand and exchanging a cheek to cheek with Kasey. "Excellent. Have fun tonight. Anything you need, just ask Cady." "You got it." Jonny left them, and Kasey turned to him, the expression in those blue eyes a little worried. "I hope I didn't just step on your toes, lover."

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"Hey, it's always been your business." Deke had been a courier, once upon a time. He'd started working for Kasey as an investigator when he'd hooked up with the man. "No. No, lover. It's ours, now." Deke tried not to let the pleasure of that statement give him a happy, but hey, he was a slave to his primal urges, right? So he sprung one right up. "Well, I think it's a good idea, baby. You just surprised me." Some of their cases had turned dangerous lately, with more and more people learning that they specialized in the paranormal. "I like the idea of the stability, huh?" "Yeah. Yeah, I like it." "Well, then, we'll make that appointment and get the paperwork drawn up. We don't have to do a true exclusive, but that would mean we can pick and choose our cases a lot more." "Cool." Deke really did like it. He liked the whole "us" thing more, his body really jonesing on it. "Now, can we talk about something else for a minute?" "What's that?" Kasey moved closer on the lounge, smiling an evil little smile. "This." He took Kasey's hand in his and moved it to his crotch, needing to feel that touch.

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"Oh, that's a very interesting subject, lover." Kasey moved closer still, lips sliding against Deke's shoulder, then up to his neck where there was no cloth in the way. The tiny touch of those soft lips made him shiver, his nipples drawing tight, his cock throbbing. Goddamn. He loved it when Kasey bit on him in public. Sure, it was a teeny bit kinky, but he was living with a vamp, right? Kinky was on the menu as much as he was. "Want to bite you, lover," Kasey said against his skin, lips moving just enough to make Deke moan at the suggestion. "So bite me." Was that his voice? Jesus. Breathy and yet somehow very grr. "You sure? Club's pretty full." Those heavy fangs pricked his skin, barely breaking the surface. His hips arched right up off the couch, his hands coming up to clench in Kasey's hair. "Please, baby." "Mmmhmm." Kasey bit down, the rush of blood and the pounding of Deke's heart making it feel like fucking. Like they were flying. Deke humped air, Kasey sucked hard, and they both made these insane little noises. They were gonna make the couch collapse if they kept going. Deke felt someone opening his pants, someone else helping with Kasey's clothes, but it didn't bother him a bit. They had a lot of friends at Bloodrose, friends who didn't let friends come in their pants.

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Kasey drank deep, Deke rocked and rolled and listened to his heart pound in his ears. And someone started sucking his cock, making him scream out loud. Kasey cried out against his skin, so he knew someone was doing his lover, too, and he roared right toward the finish. He came so hard he kind of blacked out a little. When he regained consciousness, he was sitting back against the arm of the lounger with Kasey in his lap, leaning on his chest. "Hot towel?" Cady smiled down at them, offering them a tray. "Thanks." He croaked a little, feeling raw and exposed. "You two are so fucking hot, Deke. I swear. I hope it's okay that Jonas and Laurie helped out." Jonas was Cady's lover, and Laurie was a beautiful little boy who worked the sound booth. "Yeah. Yeah, it's good." "How do you two do it? I swear you're like the Energizer bunny." Kasey glanced up and met his eyes, and Deke shared a grin with his lover. When they spoke, it was like one person. "It's harder than it looks." end

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Harder than It Looks Copyright © 2009 by Julia Talbot All rights reserved. No part of this eBook may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information address Torquere Press, Inc., PO Box 2545, Round Rock, TX 78680 Printed in the United States of America. Torquere Press, Inc.: Sips electronic edition / September 2009 Torquere Press eBooks are published by Torquere Press, Inc., PO Box 2545, Round Rock, TX 78680

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