March 1919

The winter was lengthy during Edward's first year as a vampire, almost as though Mother Nature was mourning the dead. It wasn't until the last week of March that signs of spring began to show. In that final week of quiet safety, Carlisle began to think about uprooting Edward from the dingy cabin they called home, in search of a place where he could live out the remainder of his newborn phase without being a danger to humans.

Edward's eyes were beginning to take on a burnt orange color, like the autumnal sunset, but his control was as yet untested. And the newborn was beginning to grow bored and frustrated, cooped up in the farmhouse under the tight reins of his sire. They were too close to the city for Carlisle to let the boy run free, and he knew, once spring came and the humans spent more time outdoors, it would be near impossible to keep his hold on the young vampire.

It was time to move on, but where? The south was out—too much sunshine to be safe. The northeast was also not an option—too heavily populated. The west was risky, now that more and more people were migrating out there. The best option was due north, and it would have to be somewhere largely unsettled. The northern parts of Wisconsin were not too far and had plenty of wilderness. North Dakota and Montana had thick forests to hunt and hide in, as well as vast, open flatlands to run and enjoy the sunlight. And there was always Canada.

Carlisle absently mulled over possible locations as he lazily ran his hand up and down the spine of the boy curled around him. Edward scratched his long fingers through the light sprinkling of blond hair across Carlisle's chest, occasionally grazing a dusky nipple, making his sire's breath catch.

Edward had been insatiable since his sexual awakening. Carlisle did not mind; after all, he had centuries to make up for as well. He was more than happy to indulge the desires of his young lover—their endless days and nights were certainly kept busy, exploring one another's bodies. This was a good thing for Carlisle; it left little time to dwell on the fact that he was not working for the first time in hundreds of years.

A quiet whisper broke into Carlisle's thoughts. "You miss it, don't you? You should go back to doing what makes you happy." Although Edward was trying to sound upbeat, there was dejection in his voice.

Carlisle sought to reassure him. "I am doing what makes me happy, dear one," he said, stroking his fingers through the boy's silky copper hair.

Carlisle felt Edward's lips stretch into a smile against his skin in response to the endearment, and he was rewarded further when Edward tilted his face up to press a soft kiss behind Carlisle's ear. Capturing Edward's chin with two fingers, Carlisle brought their faces level, nuzzling Edward's nose with his own, breathing in the fresh, cinnamon scent of his boy. They shared a few gentle kisses, full of affection, feeling no need to deepen them.

Drawing back, Carlisle met Edward's gaze. They were glazed with infatuation, and Carlisle wondered what emotions his own eyes belied to Edward. Not that it mattered; Carlisle's every thought was laid bare to the boy—he had little need to read body language.

"Besides, my boy, you aren't ready for me to leave you. It would be too dangerous. We will see where we are in a year or so; then I will reconsider a return to work."

Edward smiled Carlisle's favorite crooked grin. "More like you aren't ready to leave me."

"You may have something there." Their lips met again with more fervor, joined by tongues and amorous caresses. Just as Carlisle was beginning to lose control, Edward abruptly pulled away, sitting up on the mattress with a far off look in his eye. After a moment, he returned his excited gaze to Carlisle, who was more than a little bit frustrated. Damn the short newborn attention span.

"Let's go to North Dakota. I quite like the idea of roaming free in the plains and hunting big game in the forests. It would be a nice change from all the deer around here," Edward said, his nose crinkling in disgust.

Carlisle laughed. "Well, there are a few things I need to take care of before we go. It is time to leave anyway; we can go tomorrow. There is nothing to keep us here, and spring is around the corner."

Edward nodded eagerly in reply.

Sitting up properly beside Edward, Carlisle stroked his fingers across the boy's chiseled cheek. "If you're a good boy and stay inside the cabin, I'll make you glad you did."

Edward drew his lip between his teeth and let out a groan. "Will you punish me if I don't?"

Smirking, Carlisle thought, Not in the way you'd like me to.

Edward stuck out his plump lower lip in a dramatic pout while giving his sire puppy-dog eyes. Chuckling at the boy's impish behavior, Carlisle captured the newborn's mouth with his own, drawing that protruding lip into his mouth and running his tongue over it. He kissed him with a fervor barely restrained, his mind making promises of more to come when he returned. Tearing himself away, Carlisle rose from the bed as Edward lay back down and let out a soft sigh, watching his sire dress with unguarded affection in his eyes. The look warmed Carlisle's dead heart, and he vowed to return swiftly.

Confident that Edward would stay put for a couple of hours, Carlisle stole into the city under cover of night, stopping by his old apartment to pack up the few belongings he could not bear to part with—namely, his father's wooden cross. While there, Carlisle composed a letter to the executor of the Masen estate, masquerading as the young man, stating that he had survived the plague, but had left Chicago, as it was too painful to remain where so much that he knew and loved was lost. Carlisle requested that the Masen home be kept in Edward Masen Junior's name, so that he might return at some point in the future.

Carlisle left the apartment, the cross tucked safely in a large duffel over his shoulder. He set off to deliver his letter to post, before breaking into a menswear shop to take some fresh clothing for himself and his charge, wrapping his findings in brown parcel paper, and leaving money on the counter to cover the cost of the items he took. Checking his pocket watch, Carlisle found that he'd only been gone the better part of an hour and a half. Pleased with his speed, he headed back to the farmhouse, ready to leave for a fresh start with Edward at twilight the following night.

When he arrived home, he was greeted by Edward, still naked and waiting for him. But he was no longer lying in repose; instead, he was on hands and knees, his back arched, rump high in the air, one hand leisurely stroking his rock hard cock which was beaded with fluid, ready to be licked. The boy had a hungry look in his eye, and he licked his lips as Carlisle's eyes raked over his body.

You're never satisfied, are you? Carlisle chastised in his mind, although it was apparent to Edward that he was not truly upset. "I brought you some new clothes," Carlisle said, ignoring the tent in his pants, and indicating the parcel he held in one hand. He liked to pretend he wasn't interested, even if Edward could see through his charade.

"What do I need clothes for?" Edward stated coyly.

Stalking toward his sire on all fours, his heavy, rigid cock bobbing between his legs, Edward used his velvety singing voice to his advantage yet again:

"Just give me sex whenever I want it

'Cause all I ask for is instant pleasure

Instant pleasure, instant pleasure"

Carlisle couldn't help but grin, his cock twitching within the confines of his suddenly too-tight trousers. His newborn was a feisty one. Dropping his duffle and the parcel unceremoniously, Carlisle swiftly shed his own clothes and lowered himself to Edward's level, taking him in his arms and giving them both what they wanted.

After all, there were plenty of daylight hours to kill before they would depart.


A/N: Song is "Instant Pleasure" by Rufus Wainwright.

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