“It’s rare but some of us have a secondary transition at twenty-one and we become dominant.” Lafayette shifted. “The doctor found possible tags in your blood so this isn’t completely unexpected. He didn’t want to alarm you so he and his staff just kept an eye on you when you retrieved your male essence.”
“What does this mean?” Another transition? Hadn’t he already started the transition?
Dom Tom sat forward. “Do you have any fantasies in terms of BDSM?”
“No.” Not really, he’d always tried not to have those fantasies. BDSM? Whips and chains? And why did the mere thought of those items make him pant? He turned away, but he couldn’t avoid the images of bondage and discipline flashing before his eyes. “Maybe.” He wasn’t going to share how Uli calling him “Master” turned him inside out.
Huffing, Master Thomas swiveled to share a stare with Lafayette, who cleared his throat. “Doesn’t matter. I didn’t, either, but after my secondary transition I needed to dominate Beau completely.”
“Needed to?”
“Without question.” He glanced up to catch Lafayette’s grin, which was laced with what appeared to be fond memories.
“But I can’t dominate anyone. Look at me.” Alex, confused by the recent spikes in his feelings, hoped he didn’t sound like a whining brat, but the situation wasn’t making sense.
“Alex, you wouldn’t know this from looking at me, but before my twenty-first birthday I was as slender as you.”
“What happened?”
“After the secondary transition, I woke up to find my body had doubled in size, and I became almost as muscular as I am now.”
“Overnight?” Alex choked out in disbelief.
“Yup.” The guy snickered. “Hell, after my secondary transition I was convinced I should just move into Behind The Red Door.” When confusion must have registered on Alex’s face, Dom Tom clarified. “The BDSM part of the club where guys go because they just need to submit or dominate.”
Lafayette chuckled. “Though, right now your mate takes up all your energy. I’ve rarely seen you out of your quarters.”
“Talon’s needy, and I’ve got a lot to give.” Dom Tom’s deep laughter joined Lafayette’s.
Worry weighed down on Alex. He shook his head. “I don’t know how to dominate anyone.” Though BDSM excited him to think about it, he didn’t have the knowledge to carry out what raced through his head. What he did with Uli was a fraction of what was possible. A shudder ran the length of his body as he imagined bending his mates to his will and satisfying them in ways they hadn’t considered.
Both men turned their attention back to him. “Some of it comes to you automatically at the secondary transition, and the other stuff we can teach you.”
Lafayette added, “Actually, I think we should start training you now since your birthday is coming up, isn’t it?”
“Yeah.” How in the world could he to train to become dominant? Alex felt as dominant as a field mouse; would he really become what he dreamed? At least one part of his body was ready for this new adventure. Even after all the donations this morning, his penis had become erect, seemed to have a heartbeat, and was very interested in the topic at hand.
He crossed his legs to hide his embarrassment, his mind made up. He would do this not only for himself, but for his mates as well. “What do I need to do?”
Chapter Six
Uli woke up feeling absolutely exhausted. Over the past week or two, he’d been feeling more and more drained. Kai told him not to worry about feeling tired, because after he ingested the medicine he’d feel incredible. His cousin still continued to refer to ejaculate as ‘
medicine’
. In a way, medicine was an accurate description, because without the fluid zombies would cease to function and would die.
Today his five-year transition into becoming a full zombie began. From now on he’d need male essence on a daily basis. Thankfully, he didn’t have to worry about the losing his ability to orgasm, because he’d found his mate before he turned twenty-three. Cutler Morgan. Ah, Cutter was his mate.
But Cutter wouldn’t be home until later tonight. Cutter and Storm planned to stop over and celebrate his birthday. Kai was completely opposed to Uli having the usual type of zombie party. So even though Cutter and Storm weren’t Kai’s favorite people, he’d gained permission for them to do a sleepover. Cutter and Storm could stay in their apartment but needed to stay behind a locked door until at least ten the next morning.
Lafayette had been clear this exception was an anomaly. Keeping out non-zombies might be the only rule he and Beau truly enforced. Non-zombies were kept out of the residential area to lessen the risk of exposure to the zombie world and to ensure everyone’s privacy.
Uli was excited to be with Cutter again. Cutter was sweet, funny, and had a vulnerability that made Uli want to protect him. He blocked out the image of a dark and sexy Storm as his heart raced at the thought of seeing him again too. He ignored his desire to drop to his knees and suck Alex off just to be the one to make him scream with pleasure.
Cutter, Uli wanted to savor Cutter’s essence. As another wave of confusion swept through him, Uli realized he wouldn’t be able to wait until Cut got back. He needed essence now.
Alex was right across the hall. Beautiful, innocent Alex, who was probably hard since they hadn’t been to the Extraction room yet, would have the essence Ulrich needed. How could the guy have never masturbated? He could walk into Alex’s bedroom, drop to his knees, and get what he required straight from the source.
Uli struggled to an upright position in bed and pushed off the covers. He was certain his eagerness would outshine the milking device. No. He wouldn’t cross that line, no matter how sensational the experience of drinking Alex would be; the guilt would spoil the pleasure. He should feel ashamed for wanting to do things to both Alex and Storm, but somehow the guilt was absent.
However, he felt no negative emotions about making out with Alex or letting him control the dials of pleasure the milking device doled out. Somehow being with Alex in this way felt right. Why did nothing make sense? His head was too muzzy to puzzle out the dilemma.
Uli skimmed a hand down his body to locate his semi-erect cock and cup the shaft. Nice, but his cock didn’t even harden fully. He definitely needed to get to the doctor’s. Dragging himself out of bed, he stumbled to his closet. He pulled out a pair of faded blue jeans and a red button-up shirt. He grabbed a pair of red cotton underwear and sat down to pull them on before he fell. Struggling, he got into his jeans. Damn, he wanted to lie down and sleep for a year. He pulled on his shirt and didn’t try to button it before heading out to find Alex.
Alex was already up, in the kitchen and making breakfast. When he spotted Uli, he started singing in a rich baritone. “Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you.” Alex’s voice became a bit breathy, which only added to its appeal. “Happppppy birthday! Dear Ulllllllll-rrrrrriiiiiiiiiicccccccchhhhhhhhhhhh!” He took a big inhale. “Happy birthday to you.”
Ulrich applauded his appreciation with a great deal of effort, then he grabbed the back of the chair. He must’ve appeared quite pitiful, holding onto the chair for support. Alex hurried over to him. “Here, let me.” Long, agile fingers buttoned the red buttons of his shirt, warm fingertips accidentally brushing against his chest. Uli’s body attempted to respond, but his exhaustion prevented the unwanted hard-on.
Alex helped him sit down before Uli hit the floor. “I thought you might be hungry.” Alex caressed Uli’s face. Uli couldn’t stop himself from leaning into the attention. Alex had grown into so much more than just his best friend. “Oh, I remember exactly how you feel.” Alex’s all-black clothing highlighted his pale skin and gave him a vampiric appearance. With a small frown he slid back in his chair. “After you eat, we’ll go to the doctor’s office.”
The doctor, right. Alex wasn’t his mate. Uli pulled back from the caress. “Yeah, okay.” He shouldn’t mourn the fact Alex hadn’t offered to give him what he needed. It was stupid to desire him to provide essence. Alex wasn’t his mate. Uli ate the lovely breakfast of pancakes and sausage without really tasting the buttery syrupy goodness. He decided his cravings would be more directed on his mate once Cutter got back. He’d be able to deal with his weird attachment to Alex, which seemed to only get stronger by the day.
After breakfast, Alex walked with Uli to the doctor’s office. Nurse Roberts greeted them and wished Uli a happy transition day. He handed each of them delicate champagne flutes. The spiral etching in the crystal sparkled in the sunlight.
His apartment-mate appeared to be blushing as he stared at his glass. “I guess he wanted to make your first time special.”
Uli smelled the aroma wafting from his flute, which sharpened his urgent need for what the fragile glass contained. He lifted his glass for a toast out of habit.
“May you have a very happy birthday, Uli. Thank you for brightening every one of my days. I’m very grateful you’re my best friend. I love you.”
Uli teared up. Drained, confused, and exhausted but Alex’s simple words touched his soul. He loved Alex, too, probably more than he should, but he couldn’t stop his feelings. He shifted forward. Alex met him halfway, pressing his lips against his, and within seconds the chaste, sweet kiss turned into passion. His coordination and balance were off, but he was ready for more of those wet kisses. Alex pulled back and clinked their glasses. “Drink.”
The scent pulled his focus to his craving to ingest the creamy substance. He tipped the flute back and swallowed the rich cream. “Mm mm,” he moaned. Energy zapped into him and made him feel alive. He felt invincible and his cock hardened as he finished the fluid. Only Alex’s chuckle made him pull his tongue out of the glass. He had gotten most of ejaculate, but some clung to the very bottom of the glass.
Shaking with pleasure and lust, he set the glass down. “I feel damned good.” He reached down and adjusted his erection. Alex’s elegantly arched eyebrow at his bold rearrangement of his pants made him shrug. “We should go to the Extraction room.”
Alex glanced away but nodded his agreement.
* * * *
Finally, Cutter’s treatment was deemed complete. Storm was thrilled to spring Cutter from the facility. Storm hoped like fuck his Cut was cured, though he’d watch him like a hawk to help derail any cutting behavior. He couldn’t lose Cutter, he just couldn’t.
He forced himself to think on the positive. He and Cutter were both invited to Uli’s birthday party. So instead of going home, he drove straight to Club Zombie. Apparently, Alex would be the only other guest. It would be just the four of them, which was fine by him. He needed no one else.
Once they arrived Cutter handed over the present Storm had picked up from both of them. He’d never seen anyone so thrilled by a present before. Ulrich didn’t shake it or try to guess what it was, none of that seemed to matter. The kid just hugged it tight and thanked them.
“Open it,” Cutter demanded.
“Oh, right.” Ulrich grinned and the wrapping paper and ribbons started flying.
Uli shrieked with delight and he ripped off his own shirt, revealing a nearly hairless torso. Storm guessed his body was lightly muscled from years of work on his family’s vineyard in Germany. Storm couldn’t help but compare it to Cutter’s. They had the same frame and sexy build. Did he like it a little rough like Cutter?
Shaking off those thoughts, Storm watched the strip tease in reverse as Uli covered up his goods by putting on the vintage concert shirt Storm and Cutter had gotten him for his birthday. “Thanks so much. I love it.”
Storm tried to ignore the delicious sensation of holding Uli in his arms as the sweet little German gave them both big hugs. He felt a stab of guilt as he once again thought about how it compared to Cutter’s hugs. He wished he didn’t have to choose between them because they each offered something different. Cutter’s hugs were desperate, clinging, and full of love. Uli’s hugs were playful, joyous, and honeyed.
Cutter’s voice drew him out of his own head. “It fits perfectly, Uli.” His fingers seemed to linger on Ulrich’s stomach by his waistband.
“Yeah, you are rocking it,” Storm muttered, hoping to break up the touch-fest in progress.
Uli grinned as he held out his hand, presenting a view of his new thumb ring. “Look what Alex made me.” He glanced over at the shy man to say for the hundredth time, “I really love it.”
Storm didn’t like that Alex gave Uli a hammered silver thumb ring. For some reason, he wished he and Cutter had thought of something better than the t-shirt, but there hadn’t been time.
He also wished the model-like Alex wasn’t so damned perfect. His heart-shaped face and bowed pink lips made Storm want to…well, slide between them. He was going straight to hell, because fuck if he didn’t want all three of them.
“He made it.” Uli beamed while he let Cutter have a closer look.
Shit!
No competing with a cool handmade gift.
Alex set out cups and filled them with sparkling apple cider.
“What the fuck? Is this a kiddie party?” Storm asked with a tad of snark, which earned him a scathing glare from Cut.
“It’s from his cousin, Kai,” Alex told him. The blond tossed his long, almost-white hair over his shoulder. A hand on Alex’s hip seemed to dare Storm to say something disparaging, but for some reason he didn’t. Oddly enough, he didn’t even want to say something stupid.
However, Storm walked over to where their coats hung to pull out a bottle of Jack Daniels from a coat pocket. He reached into Cutter’s coat and procured four shot glasses. “This is what’s served at a party.”
Uli clapped him on the back. “Thanks, man.”
Was it his imagination or did Ulrich leave his hands on him longer than necessary? What? Oh, he certainly did not imagine the palm of Ulrich’s hand brush across his ass. “Come on, let’s sit down.” He hadn’t conjured up the grope, because the guy actually squeezed his ass cheek before walking away.
Fuck me.
He smiled to himself. He’d never felt like a party favor before, but he rather liked being fondled by the birthday boy. Cutter had noticed and wasn’t smiling.
Damn.