The Van ride back to Cologne was spent in relative silence, Beth sniffing quietly into Mick's shoulder as Mick wrapped his arms around her and flashed apologetic looks to Josef.
"We're here folks" Ryder announced eventually, pulling into the parking space near his house.
"Come on" Mick said to Beth gently "let's get you inside". He waited until Josef had climbed out of the back of the Van first and then followed behind him, helping Beth out of the Van and leading her inside Ryder's house; as she leant against him and rested her head on his shoulder. Once they were inside, and Mick had sat Beth down on Ryder's couch, the floodgates burst open.
"Mick, oh my god Mick" Beth spluttered, throwing her arms around Mick's neck, "I was so scared" she pulled away from him and reached up to touch his face gently "You saved me"
"Shh, Beth it's ok" Mick soothed gently, drawing her in for another hug as he whispered to her softly, "I'm so sorry for what I said before, I didn't mean any of it" referring to their previous fight.
Beth held Mick at arms length and looked at him earnestly "I know Mick, I know" she said gently "It's ok, it's all ok now Mick. I'm here, you're here, it's all going to be ok" She held his gaze for a few moments, looking at him and smiling with deep affection, before she leant in closer and brushed her lips against his.
She felt Mick tense up and then push her away "What? Mick, what's wrong?" she asked him, her face clouded with confusion and frustration as her eyes followed the line of Mick's gaze; towards where Josef stood.
"Him" she roared furiously, stabbing her finger in Josef's direction then throwing her hands up in the air, "Mick, for god sake you cannot be serious"
"Beth" Mick said firmly, grabbing her wrists and holding her hands away from him as she tried to reach for him again "I know you haven't had fifty years to accept this, and I am truly, deeply sorry for that" he paused for a moment, allowing the words time to sink in, before he continued; speaking to her as gently but firmly as he possibly could, "but I am with Josef now and that is something you have to accept"
He looked over at Josef and smiled at him lovingly and in that moment Josef was almost certain he had never been surer of anything in his entire life. In that instant, that singular glance across a room, Josef had made a decision and he returned Mick's smile with equal amounts of warmth and affection.
"But Mick?" Beth started to say, struggling to break free from his grasp; certain that if she could just reach him; just kiss him again once, she could change his mind.
"No Beth" Mick told her firmly, increasing his grip on her wrists "No, ok?"
"No Mick, it's not ok" she snapped "this is ridiculous, you can't seriously tell me that you still want to be with Josef" adding in a plaintive little girlish voice, "not now that I'm back"
"Beth, No. Listen to me, ok" Mick continued to try and reason with her firmly "Josef was not and is not just an interim thing for me while I waited for you to wake up"
Still refusing to hear what Mick was trying to tell her, she continued to struggle desperately and opened her mouth again to protest the words he was speaking.
"Don't" he said, asking her to look at him and seeing the pain and confusion in her eyes "I love him Beth." he told her as gently as possible, almost pleading with her for her understanding "I know it's hard for you to accept that, but it's just the way it is. Ok? I love Josef, I am with Josef now and whatever we had in the past is over"
Beth stopped struggling, the expression on her face growing cold and distant "Fine then" she announced matter of factly, as she yanked her wrists out of Mick's grasp and stood up "well, if that's the way things are I guess there's nothing here for me then"
She turned away from Mick and headed for the door, but Ryder quickly stepped in front of her and blocked her exit.
"Sorry little lady" he told her with a firm smile "you're not going anywhere"
"Get out of my way Ryder" she snarled, flashing her Vampire face at him and baring her fangs.
"Can't do that" he replied and flashed his own Vampire visage back at her. Ryder rarely showed his full Vampire side and when he did, he could look absolutely terrifying. Beth stared at him, momentarily stunned, before she heard Mick speaking to her.
"Beth? You came to me for help, remember?" he started to say, as Beth looked around the room nervously "We want to help you" he continued gently "just come and sit back down and we can talk about it, ok?"
'What is this? She laughed nervously "an intervention?"
"Yeah that's exactly what it is" Josef glared at her "now sit down, shut up and listen before I start intervening on your arse"
"Shut up Josef" she snapped back at him as she folded her arms defensively across her chest "I'm not speaking to you".
Josef went to step forward and say something to challenge her in response, but Mick beat him to it.
"How dare you speak to him like that" he hissed at her, as he moved at Vamp speed to cover the distance between them and grabbed her roughly by the arm; yanking her around to face him "You ungrateful little bitch" he spat in her face, "do you have any idea what Josef did for you?" he saw the stunned look on Beth's face, as her eyes flew wide open and she let out a little gasp of surprise at the sheer strength of emotion that Mick was displaying. "Josef," Mick continued, his voice shaking with barely contained anger "paid five million deutschmark of his own money to try and save you Beth. It was Josef who planned and organised your rescue and it's Josef's contacts that are going to try and help you now" he paused to take a deep breath and then roared at her furiously "So sit down and Shut Up!"
Beth stood there, frozen for a moment, until she finally managed to stammer contritely "O-o-k, I'm s-s-s-orry J-j-osef" and slowly returned to her seat on the couch, looking up at Josef guiltily every so often.
Mick, now calm, sat back down beside her and nodded to Josef as Josef produced a small pamphlet from the pocket of his jacket and slowly walked over to Beth and squatted down on the floor beside her.
"What is this?" she asked, her hands trembling slightly as she took the proffered pamphlet from Josef's hand.
"It's the help you need" Josef told her gently, trying to be as understanding as possible despite her previous outburst towards him, as Mick looked on with equal amounts of sympathy and gratitude.
Beth looked down at the pamphlet in her hands and then glanced apprehensively around the room. "What sort of help?" she asked in a tiny voice.
"It's a program Beth" Mick told her gently, "a rehab program designed specifically for fledgling Vampires who have developed a problem with substance abuse"
"I'd have to stay at this place?" she asked quietly.
"For a while" Mick told her softly, as he reached over to take her hand and added "at least until you're better"
Beth flinched slightly and swallowed audibly as Mick's hand touched hers, before she relaxed a little and her fingers gradually closed around his. She grasped Mick's hand tightly, feeling the little reassuring squeeze that he gave her, and silently prayed that he wouldn't let go.
"So what happens here?" she asked, still a little uncertain. "What do they do?"
"You'll be given regular doses of pure child's blood to drink" Josef started to explain, quickly reassuring her that it was "all from perfectly legitimate donors who are not harmed in anyway" when he saw the look of disgust on her face.
"Child's blood that matches my specific blood type? How does that help me?" she began to question, looking perplexed, as Josef held up one hand and gestured for her to just be quiet and listen.
"Pure child's blood to replace all the impure blood you've been taking in lately" he explained carefully "it will help your body to heal from the addiction"
"Because the blood I take in becomes part of me? And if I take in bad blood then that becomes part of me too, until I replace it with cleaner blood? Is that right?" she asked expectantly, looking at Josef and waiting for some sort of clarification from him.
Josef looked at her and nodded "That's right"
"Ok" she nodded her head understandingly, although the tone of her voice was still hesitant "what else then?"
"It's a really good program Beth" Ryder piped up encouragingly "I know someone who went through it a few years ago. They have individual counselling and group sessions and all sorts of different activities, all designed to help you to come to terms with the transistion from human to vampire. Read the pamphlet"
She looked down and studied the pamphlet in her hand for a moment, then pulled her other hand away from Mick's and began to turn the pages over slowly, reading each section carefully; her brow furrowing with concentration.
"So when would I be going?" she asked, directing the question to noone in particular, after several minutes had elapsed.
"Right now" Josef responded "I have the plane on standby"
"What about my clothes? Toiletries? Things I'll need"
"We can arrange to have all that sent to you" Mick replied.
Beth fell silent for a few more moments before she spoke again, the sound of her voice barely audible; but not so that Josef, Ryder and Mick couldn't hear what she said
"OK then, let's go", she whispered, half with nervous anticipation and then heard Mick and Ryder let out a cheer before they both spontaneously reached over and enfolded her warmly in their arms.
Still sitting on his haunches beside them, Josef watched the three of them as they hugged; rolling his eyes and sighing deeply as he muttered under his breath.
"Oh, what the hell" and then allowed himself to be drawn into a group embrace.
"All's well that end's well, right?" Josef said several hours later, kissing Mick's hair softly as the two of them sat together on their couch back in Salzburg and Mick leant back against him; settling happily into his arms.
They had managed to get Beth on the plane, bound for Hagen where the Rehab centre was located, without too much hassle and although she looked crestfallen when she heard that it was Ryder and not Mick who would be accompanying her, on the short flight, overall she had seemed positive about what lay ahead; albeit a little apprehensive at the same time. Once they had seen Ryder and Beth safely off, they had returned to Ryder's; for Josef to collect his stuff; and then headed back home to Salzburg, together.
"Mmm hmmm" Mick replied, smiling to himself as he absentmindedly traced circles over Josef's arm with the tip of his fingers. Suddenly he sat up and turned around to face Josef, a wide grin spreading over his face as he looked at him and raised one eyebrow expectantly.
"What?" Josef asked a little suspiciously, a questioning smile twinkling in the corners of his eyes.
"Aren't you supposed to be taking me out on some dates?"
Josef laughed merrily and kissed Mick warmly on the mouth "Ok then, what did you have mind?"
"I don't know" Mick replied, turning around again and settling back into Josef's arms once more. "Remember you've always said you'd love to hire a Ferrari and go for a drive through the Alps?" he said after a few moments thought.
"Yeah?"
"Well, why don't we do that then?"
"Hire a Ferrari and go for a drive through the Alps?" Josef asked, clarifying Mick's suggestion.
"Yeah, why not" Mick responded happily "We could do it tomorrow night"
"OK then, why not" Josef replied as he drew his arms around Mick's chest and embraced him tightly, "tomorrow night a Ferrari ride through the Alps it is then. I just need to do something first though" he added, trying to keep the tone of his voice as nonchalant as possible.
"Oh yeah, like what?" Mick asked.
"Nothing important" Josef replied, still trying to sound very matter of fact, sensing Mick's growing interest in knowing exactly what "nothing important" actually was and quickly adding "it's a surprise ok".
"First things first though" he said then, before Mick had a chance to question him further, with a salacious smile "I want a proper welcome home"
And he bent his head towards Mick's lips and crushed his mouth against his in a passionate kiss.
"Are you coming?" Mick heard Josef calling out to him from the Ferrari parked just outside their house, as he gunned the engine impatiently.
"Yeah alright, keep your fangs in" Mick quipped as he stepped outside and quickly jumped into the passenger side seat.
"Wow, nice wheels"
"You like?" Josef said with a grin
"Yeah"
"Good, 'cause I just bought it"
Mick laughed and shook his head. "Hey did you get done what you needed to do?" he asked, looking at Josef with a sly smile "so where's my surprise".
"How do you know the surprise is for you?"
Mick looked at Josef and arched one eyebrow, as if to say "are you kidding, who else is it going to be for me"
Josef looked back at him a little sheepishly "Yes, well. You'll get your surprise when the time is right"
"Don't I even get a little hint" Mick asked, putting on a hound dog expression.
"Nope" Josef laughed and stepped on the accelerator, the Ferrari lurching forward with a screeching of rubber.
"So where are we headed then?" he asked Mick.
"I don't know, just drive I guess, head up through the Alps; we'll find something to do" Mick replied with a slightly wicked tone in his voice.
"Oh yeah?" Josef looked at him curiously "What are you up to Mick St John?"
"Oh nothing" he replied, all faux innocent like. He waited until they were winding around a road through the Alps and inserted a small coded computer chip into the dashboard of the car and pressed a series of buttons. Soon the refrains, played at full volume, of Roadhouse Blues by the Doors filled the air around them.
"Keep your eyes on the road, your hands upon the wheel" Jim Morrison's voice sang out.
"Just do what he says" Mick told Josef with a sly grin, as he lowered his head to his lap and quickly unzipped his pants, releasing his growing erection into his mouth.
"For fuck's sake Mick" Josef gasped as he felt Mick's lips wrap themselves around his cock "You'll make me crash the car, wait until I pull over somewhere"
"We're Vampires, we'll survive" Mick mumbled as he worked his lips and tongue around his shaft.
"Not if the car explodes in a ball of flame, Mick" he replied, tightening his grip on the steering wheel and trying to concentrate on the road in front of him.
"You want me to stop then?" Mick smiled as he looked up at him.
"I didn't say that" Josef responded, pushing Mick's head back towards his lap and looking for somewhere suitable to turn off at the same time.
After another half a kilometre or so, he suddenly swerved the car off the main road; tyres blowing up dust and gravel; and headed down a small dirt track until he was sure they were out of the sight of any curious onlookers that might be driving by.
As soon as he'd bought the car to a stop, Mick leapt out and stood by the front of the car, looking at Josef, challenging him to come and get him.
"Get back here you" Josef commanded with a laugh.
"You'll have to catch me first" Mick replied and turned to run, but Josef was too quick for him. Moving at Vamp speed he leapt out of the drivers seat and rounded the car in one swift fluid movement; grabbing Mick around the waist and flipping him down onto the bonnet of the car.
"You were saying?" he said with a salacious laugh, as he kicked Mick's legs open and reached around him to unzip his pants and release his erection into his hand; working his fingers lightly over the shaft, eliciting a hiss of appreciation from Mick.
Mick reached back and reached for Josef's cock, wanting to pleasure him at the same time, but Josef grabbed his hand and then pinned both of them above his head; he couldn't risk Mick feeling the small package he had in his pocket.
"No you don't" he whispered to him, as he rang his tongue along the back of his neck "I'm in control here"
He felt a shiver of anticipation run through Mick's body as he continued stroking his cock with one hand and swiftly pulled his pants down to his knees with the other.
"Josef?" Mick said, looking slightly confused as he felt Josef's hand run over his arse "we don't have any lubricant?"
"Mick, when are you going to learn" Josef said leaning down and whispering in his ear "there's always lubricant"
"Wait there" he commanded.
"Yeah ok Josef" Mick laughed "and where exactly do you think I'm going to go with my pants around my knees"
"Just for that" Josef told him with a sardonic smile, as he returned carrying a small bottle of engine oil he'd found in the trunk of the car "I'm going to fuck your brains loose. That'll teach you not to be so cheeky with me Mick St John"
"Promises promises" Mick started to say, and then noticed what Josef had in his hand.
"Josef, for fucksake we can't use that" he said, staring at the bottle of engine oil in wide eyed shock.
"Mick, it's perfectly alright, necessity is the mother of invention you know"
"Yeah but" Mick started to say, still eyeing the bottle in Josef's hand suspiciously "is that actually safe to use"
"Well you're a Vampire Mick, so it's not like it's going to kill you" Josef laughed and then saw the serious look of concern in Mick's eyes and reassured him "it's ok, it's perfectly safe to use. Ok?"
"Just trust me" he whispered to Mick, as he pushed him back down onto the bonnet of the car and reached around, once more, to grab hold of his cock and stroke it slowly; feeling it harden in his hand as began Mick to writhe beneath him.
"I do trust you, Josef" Mick half stammered through the increasing waves of desire that were moving through his body.
"Good" Josef whispered to him simply and poured some of the oil over his fingers, rubbing it carefully around Mick's entrance before he pressed the tip of his erection against his arse and slowly entered him.
Mick gasped and pushed himself back against Josef's hips, wanting even more of him inside him. Josef paused for a moment, allowing Mick's body time to adjust to being penetrated and then slowly withdrew and thrust back into him, smiling with satisfaction at Mick's snarls of pleasure as he did.
He kept the rhythm slow at first, almost teasing, gradually increasing the pace until he was slamming into Mick so hard Mick was having trouble keeping his balance and Josef had to wrap one arm around his waist to support him.
"Oh fuck" Mick growled as Josef continued to thrust into him, the pace of his movements becoming increasing frantic as he moaned Mick's name and nipped at the back of his neck with his fangs.
He reached down and began to pump Mick's cock with his hand as he continued to pound into him, thrusting himself as deep as he could go into Mick's body, as Mick began to snarl and growl almost incoherently with pleasure. Suddenly Josef's entire body tensed up and he threw back his head and roared with release as the first waves of orgasm began to wash over him and he bent his head to Mick's neck and sank his fangs hard into the soft flesh; snarling and almost convulsing as the pulsations of his orgasm tore through him.
The sharp, painful, but euphoric sensation of Josef's fangs penetrating his neck pushed Mick over the edge and sent him spiralling into his own climactic release, snarling and growling with pleasure as he grabbed for Josef's arm and bit sharply into his wrist.
Once the last pulses of their almost mutual orgasm had subsided, they both collapsed together, onto the ground just in front of the car Josef drew his arms around Mick's neck; holding him close as Mick nuzzled his head into Josef's shoulder and tried to catch his breath.
"Happy my beloved" Josef whispered to him, kissing the top of his head tenderly.
"Very" Mick replied softly as he closed his eyes and revelled in the feel and scent of the man he loved lying next to him.
Several hundred miles away, Beth Turner looked down at the glass of blood in front of her suspiciously.
"You're sure this child's blood is from willing donors who weren't harmed" she asked again for the third time that day.
The attendant that was assigned to look after her for the evening was new and completely unaware of the little white lie that Beth had been told in order to get her into the program.
"Willing donors?" he said, looking at her as if she was half mad.
"Yes, willing donors" Beth repeated with growing annoyance.
"Ma'am" the attendant began to explain to her slowly "no children are harmed but nor are they willing donors"
"Then just how exactly is the blood obtained then" Beth asked darkly, folding her arms over her chest and scowling at the attendant.
"Hospitals and Doctors around the country" he explained "we have a number of medical professionals on the payroll who take a little extra blood during routine blood tests and ship it to us"
"Great" Beth muttered under her breath, then pushed herself away from the table and rushed out of the room.
The attendant hurriedly pressed the automatic contact button on his radio and spoke to the director of the centre, quickly apprising him of the situation just as Beth stormed into his office.
"You lied to me" she shouted at him "I was told that the blood came from willing donors"
"Beth" he said gently, trying to calm her "I can assure you that the children we obtain the blood from are not harmed in anyway"
"That's not the point" Beth told him, throwing her hands in the air in complete exasperation "the point is, I am supposed to trust you to help me and how am I meant to do that when you lie to me"
"Maybe you're just looking for an excuse to leave" the director challenged her.
"Maybe I am" Beth replied, looking at him coldly before announcing "I can do this on my own, I don't need you or this place" and then turning and heading back to her room; quickly packing her bags and then walking out the door without so much as a backwards glance.
"Josef?" Mick said, raising himself up onto one shoulder and looking down at Josef's face "when are you going to let me know what my surprise is" he asked with a challenging little smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"Well if I tell you what the surprise is, Mick, and then it's not going to be a surprise anymore is it" Josef laughed and then added "when the time is right"
"Oh yeah? And when is that going to be?" Mick laughed back at him.
"When the time-" Josef began to say"
"-is right" Mick finished for him, rolling in his eyes in mock exasperation.
"Exactly. Come on" Josef said then "I'm starting to get uncomfortable lying on the ground here, we should get going"
"Josef?" Mick asked as they drove back to Salzburg.
"What Mick?"
"Did you miss me when you were gone?"
"What? What sort of a question is that?" Josef responded with some bemusement "of course I did"
"How often did you think of me?" Mick asked
"Every second of every minute of every hour of every day" Josef told him with a merry little laugh.
Mick thought of saying something witty and sarcastic for a moment, but instead he reached for Josef's hand and pressed it tenderly to his lips.
"Me too" he whispered to him sincerely and Josef smiled and stroked the back of Mick's hand with his forefinger.
"I love you Mick, you know that don't you"
"I'm starting to get that impression Josef" Mick replied cheekily.
"Hallelujah" Josef exclaimed sarcastically "it's about time" and then pretended to duck as Mick playfully pretended to hit him over the head.
When they finally arrived home, the first thing that greeted them as they walked in the door was the almost insistent ring of the telephone.
Mick took the phone off the receiver and spoke into it, as Josef wrapped his arms around him and kissed his neck.
"Hello?"
Seeing the expression on Mick's face darken, as he listened to what the mystery caller on the other end of the line as telling him, Josef halted his display of affection and regarded Mick with concern and questioning.
"I see" he heard Mick say "thanks for letting me know"
Replacing the handset back into it's cradle, Mick looked at Josef and let out a deep sigh "That was the Rehab Centre" he said sadly, shaking his head "Beth's just walked out"
"Oh Mick, I'm sorry" was all Josef could think of to say, as he wrapped his arms around Mick and held him tightly.
"Damn it" Josef thought to himself darkly as he tried to comfort Mick. He had planned on ending the night with a romantic session of more love making on the floor in front of their open fire place, followed by the presentation of his surprise; the timing definitely wasn't right now though.
"Damn it" he thought to himself again, with rising annoyance and frustration "that woman always ends up ruining everything"
"Mick?" Josef said gently the following evening, as Mick sat glumly on the couch and stared at the wall in front of him.
"Mmm" he replied monosyllabically.
"Look" Josef said, sitting down next to him and handing him a piece of paper "this came in the mail today. We've been invited to Ryder's place for a costume party tomorrow night. Could be fun?"
"Maybe" Mick shrugged.
"Mick" Josef took his hand in his and tried to speak to him as understandingly yet firmly as possible "I know you're worried about Beth, but at some point there comes a time when you have to let go. You can't save her from herself you know"
"I know" Mick whispered sadly.
"Come on then" Josef said, standing up and pulling Mick to his feet. "You can't sit around here all night moping, we're going out"
"Where?"
"There's an all night costume shop just near Wolf Dietrich Strasse, we can go find something to wear tomorrow night"
Mick shrugged nonchalantly and smiled wanly "Yeah ok, I guess so" he said, letting Josef lead him out the door.
"What about this one?" Josef asked, holding up a bikers costume for Mick to inspect.
"Josef" he replied, rolling his eyes, "I'd look like one of the Village People in that.
Josef laughed and went back to searching through the racks of costumes.
"Ooh look at this" he heard Mick exclaim excitedly "I've found the perfect costume for you" and with that he proudly displayed a perfect replica of a Priests cassock to Josef, with a wide smile.
It was the first time since the news about Beth, that Josef had seen Mick genuinely smile; even so he looked nervously at the costume in Mick's hand and instantly snapped the word "No" at him.
"Why not?" Mick asked looking a little bewildered "it's perfect for you, imagine the irony of you dressed as a Priest"
"yes, just imagine the irony" Josef thought to himself and mentally rolled his eyes.
"Oh come on" he heard Mick pleading with him "just try it on. Please. For me"
Josef hesitated for a moment and then sighed and reluctantly accepted the costume from Mick's outstretched arms. As loathe as he was to do this, the idea of it seemed to be making Mick happy at least.
He headed into the small curtained change room at the back of the shop, with Mick following closely behind.
"Do you mind?" Josef said almost haughtily "I'd like some privacy thank you"
"And I want to watch you get changed" Mick replied simply, folding his arms over his chest and smiling at Josef.
"Oh ok, suit yourself" he pulled the curtains drawn part way, leaving a small gap for Mick to peek through.
"What's up with you anyway, Josef?" Mick asked.
"Nothing, I'm fine. Now just let me get this blasted thing on alright"
"Alright, geez" Mick huffed.
He watched as Josef quickly shed his clothes and hurriedly pulled the costume on, looking at him curiously as he hesitated for a moment and then kissed the embroidered cross on the purple stole and muttered something that Mick couldn't understand, before he placed the stole around his neck.
"What did you do that for?" Mick questioned, looking at him a little bemused as Josef emerged from the change room "with the stole, I mean"
"I was praying for immortality in the afterlife" Josef replied simply "it's what a Priest does"
"Wow, you're really getting into this aren't you" Mick laughed "I told you the costume was perfect for you"
Josef continued standing there, shifting nervously from one foot to the other and picking imaginary strands of lint of the sleeves of the black cassock. Mick regarded him for a moment; there was something different about Josef in those robes. He looked almost...
"Holy Shit!" Mick exclaimed suddenly, his hand flying to his mouth in shock as the penny finally dropped. "You?" he mouthed, pointing at Josef.
Josef looked at the ground uncomfortable and then looked up at the ceiling, swallowed hard and then looked Mick directly in the eye. "Yes Mick, me. Surprised?"
"Surprised doesn't even begin to cover it, Josef" Mick replied "You. Were a Priest?
"Yes" Josef sighed
"You were a Priest?" Mick repeated.
"Yes" Josef replied with increasing exasperation.
"You"
"Were a Priest" Josef finished for him, rolling his eyes and sighing deeply. "Haven't we already established that?"
"Ok, I'm sorry...it's just..."
Josef flashed him a warning look and turned back towards the change room "I'm taking this off" he muttered, but Mick grabbed his arm to stop him.
"Don't, please. Leave it on" and with that he dragged Josef to the front counter and hurriedly payed the hire fee for the costume and then pulled him outside onto the street, before Josef had a chance to protest.
They walked together in silence for a moment, Mick glancing sideways at Josef before he finally asked.
"So what happened?"
"What do you mean what happened?" Josef replied.
"Why did you leave the church?"
"I found God" Josef replied sarcastically.
"Beg yours?" Mick looked at him with total confusion.
Josef took a deep breath and then began to explain the whole story to Mick. When he'd finished, Mick merely stood there and looked at him dumbfounded for a few moments.
"Gregor sired you?" he said finally, shaking his head almost in disbelief.
"Yes." he repeated "I was ordained to the Ordo Praedictorum; the Dominican Order" he quickly added "We were renowned as seekers of knowledge and mystical experience with God. Gregor knew that and he offered me the ultimate truth and knowledge of God."
"And what did you find out?" Mick asked; his attention completely focused on what Josef was telling him.
"That God does not exist" Josef replied matter of factly, then paused for a moment before trying his best to explain things further "You have to understand, I prayed for immortality every single day. I wholeheartedly believed in the righteousness and justice of a God who would grant me ever lasting life, so long as I obeyed his word. Then along come Gregor and all of a sudden I'm granted immortality, not in heaven but on earth, not by God but by a Vampire. I was an immortal creature of darkness, something the Church had always taught was unholy and evil and an abomination in God's eyes"
"Yet there was no lightning bolt from heaven to strike you down" Mick said
"Exactly. From that moment on I lost my faith completely and turned my back on the Church forever"
"Wow" was all Mick could say after he thought about what Josef had just told him.
"Yes, well" Josef replied, exhaling deeply "now you know"
"You never told me any of this before, Josef"
"I've never told anyone any of this, Mick" he replied "Only myself and Gregor knew about my past life. Oh except for that stupid little mortal prat Romano" he added venomously "Gregor must have let it slip to him"
They walked together in silence once more, making their way back home, through the streets of Salzburg, when Mick suddenly and impulsively blurted out.
"Do something Priestly"
"You what?" Josef replied, staring at Mick in disbelief.
"Go on, please. Do something a Priest would do?"
"Like what exactly?"
"I don't know? Bless me" Mick replied excitedly.
"I'll bless you in a minute Mick if you don't shut up" Josef half growled at him.
"Oh go on, please, for me" Mick pleaded.
"Oh for god sake. Alright then" Josef sighed and then traced the sign of the cross in the air "In nomine Patre, Et Fillias, Et Spiritus Sancti"
"Cool" Mick grinned "Do something else"
"Perhaps you'd like me to break into a local Cathedral and perform Mass for you?" he quipped, then saw the eager look on Mick's face.
"Oh for the love of..." he rolled his eyes in exasperation "Mick. No. Alright, just No."
"Ok" Mick smiled at him sheepishly, as they finally arrived home.
They walked inside and Josef took a seat on the couch, as Mick knelt down in front of him, looking up at him with a wicked grin on his face.
"Are you going to take my confession? Father"
"If you like. My son" Josef laughed, deciding to play along with Mick's little game. He was beginning to feel more relaxed about the whole situation, now that it was finally out in the open.
"Bless me Father" Mick began "for I am about to sin" and with that he slid in-between Josef's legs and pressed himself along his body until he reached his lips and pressed his mouth fervently against them.
"Mick" Josef exclaimed in a slightly shocked tone "what are you doing?" I'm a..." he trailed off and mentally kicked himself, wearing this costume was having more of an affect on him than he first realised.
"You're a what? Josef?" Mick whispered to him seductively then quickly added "it's ok, you can pretend I'm an Altar boy"
"Mick. That's not funny" Josef scoffed. 'I was very pious back then, I just didn't do things like...that"
"Oh I realise that, Josef" Mick started to say contritely, then whispered to him again alluringly "but I'm going to corrupt you"
"I don't think you could corrupt me anymore than I've already corrupted myself, Mick" Josef started to say, but was halted mid sentence as he gasped at the sensation of Mick's hand reaching under the cassock he as wearing and squeezing his growing erection through the material of his black trousers.
Mick smiled at him seductively and then ran the tip of his tongue like a knife, just under his jaw and down along his neck, as he continued teasing him; squeezing his cock rhythmically through his clothing.
"Let me get out of these clothes, Mick" Josef whispered to him.
"No, leave it on" Mick whispered back, his breath hot and inviting on Josef's neck.
He knelt back down between Josef's legs and slowly pushed the black skirt of his robe up to his waist and then unzipped the trousers he was wearing underneath, releasing his erection into his parted lips.
Josef let out a snarl of appreciation and run his fingers through Mick's hair, as Mick worked his lips and tongue over his shaft; slowly taking more and more of him into his mouth and down his throat, while he unzipped his own pants and worked his hand over his cock at the same time.
After a few minutes, Mick stopped what he was doing; eliciting a growl of disappointment from Josef, and swiftly headed over to the small cabinet just next to the fireplace to retrieve one of the small bottles of scented oil that was kept in there.
Hurriedly returning to Josef's side he grabbed his legs and pulled him off the couch onto the floor beneath them, then frantically removed his pants and underwear, following suit with his own.
"My my" Josef quipped as Mick almost tore his pants off him "someone's a little eager"
"It's that costume" Mick whispered to him in breathless tones "you have no idea how fucking hot you look in that"
He pushed Josef's legs apart and felt him shudder with anticipation, flashing his fangs at him and letting out a snarl of desire, as Mick quickly spread a little of the oil over the tip of his cock and then around the entrance to Josef's arse.
He pressed the head of his penis against Josef's hole and then thrust into him with one sudden movement, causing Josef to arch his back and cry out, biting into Mick's shoulder at the same time as his body adjusted itself to the sudden assault of being entered so forcefully.
Mick paused for a second, allowing Josef time to recover slightly and then began to fuck him, slowly; easing his hard cock in and out of his passage with measured strokes; adjusting the angle of his penetration slightly as he did to ensure maximum pressure against Josef's prostate.
He gradually quickened the pace of his movements, withdrawing almost the full length of his cock and then thrusting back up into Josef's body with increasing intensity. He could hear Josef whispering and moaning breathlessly in Latin as he continued to pick up the pace and fuck him harder and harder. He had absolutely no idea what Josef was saying; he could have been praying for all he knew, or cared, all he did know was the sound of the words and the way Josef was speaking them, was driving him absolutely wild.
Mick could feel Josef's body beginning to tremble beneath him, as he clung to his back and dug his nails into his flesh, his eyes red rimmed and ice blue and his fangs fully extended. He snarled with pleasure and continued moaning in Latin, the words running together and becoming increasingly incoherent, as Mick's hard cock pounded into him over and over again. Mick sensed Josef was nearing orgasm and reached down between them, grabbing Josef's cock with his hand and pumping him rapidly; in time with the pace of his own frenetic thrusts, as Josef hung on the precipice of release and then finally sailed off the edge.
The feel of Josef's fangs sinking into his flesh, as Josef growled with the pleasure of his climax and bit sharply into Mick's neck at the same time, pushed Mick over the brink with him. Shuddering and snarling with the bliss of his own climactic release, Mick sank his own fangs deep into Josef's shoulder and rode the heights of orgasm with hedonistic abandon.
Their coupling finally spent, they collapsed into each others arms and lay together for a moment, their ragged breathing finally slowing down to a more regular pace as Josef gently stroked the back of Mick's head with his hand.
"Feeling better my beloved" he whispered to him a few moments later.
"Yeah" Mick replied simply "I am"
"Good" Josef said, kissing his forehead tenderly before he carefully pushed Mick off of him and stood up "Come on, we need to get some sleep".
He reached out his hand to help Mick up. They hadn't made it more than a couple of steps across the room when they heard a sharp rat-a-tat-tat at the door. Looking at Josef questioningly, Mick quickly moved to answer it, wondering who the hell it could be at this hour of the night.
"Beth?" he said with surprise as he opened the door to find her standing there in front of him.
"Hi Mick" she said breezily "I hope I'm not interrupting anything"
"As a matter of fact you are, Beth" Josef said a little too sharply as he walked over and stood by Mick's side "we were just about to get some sleep"
Beth looked at Josef curiously then looked back at Mick.
"Why is he dressed like that" she mouthed and Josef looked at her and smiled, whilst Mick merely shrugged; not knowing what to say.
"Oh umm ok" Beth said, looking slightly embarrassed "look I don't want to interfere with...ermm...whatever it is you two are doing. I just came to let you know that I'm fine, really" she continued, trying her best to sound positive and confident "I'm going to get my own place and look for a suitable job and definitely stay off the drugs"
"That's great Beth" Mick told her, smiling happily "Really, that's great to hear"
"Ok well, I really just dropped by to let you know everything is ok now, that's all" she replied with smile that was just a little too forced "Goodnight Mick. Goodnight Josef"
"Goodnight Beth" Mick said gently, whilst Josef waved his hand dismissively and muttered
"Good night"
Mick watched Beth turn away and walk off up the street and then closed the door behind her and turned to Josef.
"Well she sounds positive, that's good. Isn't it?" he asked with a smile of relief.
"She's a junkie, Mick" Josef responded plainly "I wouldn't believe a word that came out of her mouth. Now are you coming to bed or not?"
And without waiting for a response, Josef turned and walked up the stairs.
"Who was that on the phone" Josef mumbled sleepily as he came downstairs the following evening, just as Mick was putting the receiver down.
"Ryder" he replied "he's been called into work, some sort of crisis with the computer system or something. The parties been cancelled"
"Oh, that's a pity" Josef yawned "I suppose we never did end up finding a costume for you though, and at least I don't have to wear that blasted Priest's outfit again" he quickly added
"But you look so..." Mick started to say with a cheeky grin as he reached for Josef and pulled him towards him
"Hot in it?" Josef finished for him "I did kind of get the impression you thought that last night, Mick" he said with a sleepy smile.
Mick laughed and kissed him on the forehead "Good evening sleepyhead, do you need some blood to wake you up"
"That would be lovely" Josef responded appreciatively, reaching up to give Mick a quick kiss before he walked over the couch and reclined back against the armrest.
Mick poured a glass of blood for the both of them and joined Josef on the couch, waiting until Josef had drained the last of the crimson liquid in his glass, before he shifted closer and wrapped his arms around his neck.
"You up for round two" he whispered to him seductively.
Despite the salacious tone, there was something in Mick's voice which told Josef that he wasn't looking for sex. He was looking for a distraction. He gently rebuked his advances and pushed him away.
"No, Mick. I'm not doing this with you again"
"Sorry. What?" Mick replied looking utterly shocked and confused
"I don't mean the sex, Mick" Josef quickly reassured him "I mean, this, what you're doing now"
"And what am I doing, Josef?" Mick interrupted "apart from wanting to show some affection to the man who is supposed to be my partner?"
"I am your partner, Mick" Josef said gently "I just mean..." he paused trying to find the right words "I just want us to make love because we want to be with one another, not because either one of is using the other to distract themselves from certain issues"
"What issues, Josef" Mick sulked, crossing his arms defensively.
"You know what I'm talking about Mick" Josef replied matter of factly.
"Beth"
"Yes"
"I thought we'd been through all this before Josef, are you still worried about this? I don't have feeling for Beth anymore, ok?" he confirmed.
"I know that Mick, but you're worried about her. I can tell...and you want me to distract your from that"
"So?" Mick replied, still looking slightly dazed and confused at the entire conversation that was taking place.
"So? Don't you think it makes me feel the slightest bit used, Mick?"
Mick looked over at Josef, contritely "I'm sorry, I guess I never thought of it like that"
"Yeah well, it does ok"
"So what do you want to do instead then? Mick asked with genuine interest.
"What we always used to do before, Mick. Talk things through"
"Before? You mean before Beth came back?"
Josef hesitated for a moment, then responded "Yes" and then hurriedly added "Mick, you have to let her go. She's tearing you apart. She's tearing us apart"
"I can't" Mick sighed, looking down at the ground sadly "I just can't, alright. She's still a friend, Josef and she needs help"
"Oh Mick" Josef whispered gently, as he took Mick's face in his hand's and rested his forehead against his. "What am I going to do with you?"
"Hey you're a pompous ass and I'm an over sentimental moody little shit, we make a great pair don't we" Mick laughed wanly.
"Yeah, yeah we do" Josef replied with a laugh and kissed Mick tenderly on the lips, just before he stood up and extended his hand out to him.
"Come on, do you still want that distraction or not?" he asked and then took Mick by the hand and lead him up to the bedroom.