Disclaimer: I do not own Vampire Knight, Hino Matsuri does.

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Playing hard to get!

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Chapter 14

''We've been driving for a very long time.'' Too long for Zero's comfort. Tucked into the soft seat of the low-slung sports car, the smell of leather only seemed to make him more aware of the scent of potent masculinity emanating from the driver's side. He had no idea where the pureblood was taking him. If they were going out for a drink they should have been there already but they were way out of town already. He wanted to hurry back in time to put Taki in bed.

''The......ah...it's just out of the city limits.'' Kaname replied. ''We'll soon be there.''

''But that's miles away from your house.'' Zero tried to sit up straighter but it was impossible, the seat was designed to make you sit back and relax. To lull you into a false sense of security. ''How will get back in time if we go that far?''

''Don't worry, I got everything under control.'' Kaname encouraged him.

Zero shook his head sharply. ''I'm not happy about this, Kaname. I would rather be more central.''

''The children are in good hands. There is a garden for them to play, fresh air and Izumi is there with them. I talked to her before we left. She's been taking care of Yuki since she was a baby. She knows what to do. Relax, will you?''

Zero made another futile attempt to straighten and assert himself. '' Are you taking me to an expensive place? You don't have to, you know.''

Kaname took his eyes off the road for a moment. ''Money is a problem for you?''

''No!'' Zero flushed, but the heat came only partly from the embarrassment of discussing such a personal subject. It was more the use of that name. How could one word transport him back in time so instantly? Make him want things that could never be part of his life? He didn't need this man. His life was wonderful as it was. He had a child. A home and a career. He had been—no, he was—perfectly happy. But his attempt to convince himself of that was completely undermined when Kaname's hand brushed his thigh. He changed gears at the same time, leaving the expressway they had been on to take a new road.

Zero actually had to stifle a tiny groan that tried to escape his lips. ''I'm not poor,'' he said stiffly, trying to distract himself from that touch. ''I inherited my parent's house and I still work part-time.'' He didn't want the pureblood to get the idea that he couldn't afford to raise his own child or give him the best of everything. ''I manage just fine—but that doesn't mean I can throw money away at some exclusive resort."

''You work only part-time? Why is that?''

Zero ignored the dangerous question. Luckily, the powerful engine of the car helped him out just then by roaring as it decelerated to turn towards huge iron gates, beyond which lay a dark, tree-lined driveway.

''Where are we? I don't see any sign of a club.''

Kaname had stopped the car. ''This is a private residence.''

''Whose residence?'' Zero stared at the pureblood and his silence answered his query. ''Oh my god! Is this yours?''

''Yes.''

''And why did you bring me here?'' Zero asked. Fear made his heart trip and then race—What was the pureblood up to. As if I've already not guessed. Was this his way of doing things? Bringing him to a secluded cabin?

''I have brought you here, Zero. And I suspect you know why.''

Zero might not have expected this but yes, he knew why the pureblood had brought him here. He had to look away from Kaname's intense, dark gaze. He couldn't afford to keep eye contact with him—the pureblood would see the feeling that was threatening to consume him. The shaft of pure desire that was coiled inside him, waiting, begging for release.

They had unfinished business, he and Kaname. It was undeniable.

The iron gates swung open silently and then closed behind them as they drove onto what had to be an enormous cabin. Zero tried to shake off the sensation of being trapped, caught in a current he couldn't fight. He reminded himself of how strong he was when he needed to be—he could still make the choices that needed to be made. There was no way he would allow himself to be seduced if he had a say in it.

Even by Kuran Kaname.

He stared through the windshield as the headlights illuminated an imposing old house with creepers growing up pale plaster walls and hard edges softened by time and neatly trimmed lavender hedging. Kaname took Zero away from the vast entrance watched over by marble statues and through a central courtyard into a side wing of the amazing house. The master bedroom and ensuite bathroom were decorated in cool shades of pale, moss green and cream in an elegant arrangement that could have graced a luxury hotel. But the most appealing feature was the huge bed. Zero gulped.

''You can have a shower, I'll use the other bathroom then we'll have dinner together.'' Kaname smiled then gave the ex-human a soft, towelling robe. Food would be ready when he was refreshed.

''What about Taki, will we make it in time before he goes to sleep?''

''We're not going back.'' Kaname said. ''Taki knows that I brought you here, so he's not expecting us back till tomorrow. I talked to him and Yuki earlier and they were okay with the idea of me bringing you here.''

''Why didn't you tell me before we left? I didn't even tell him a proper farewell.''

''If I would have told you it wouldn't be a surprise now, would it? You will see him tomorrow, dummy. It's not like we'll be gone for a month or something.''

Zero sighed. He wouldn't see his son until morning. He wasn't mad at the pureblood for bringing him here but this would be the first time he would be away from his son during the night. What if Taki needed him? He left Kaname standing there and went to have a shower. He took the time to relax, clear his head and gather strength. Zero was more than ready to face the pureblood again. The hot shower and scent of lavender on his skin and hair continued to soothe him.

Except when he opened the door, it was Kaname who stood there. Also freshly showered, his damp curls of black hair clung to his temples and his aftershave smelled of green forest and sunlight and......and Kaname. And here he was again, holding out his hand. Not smiling but with a depth of emotion in his eyes that was almost a plea. The pureblood was inviting him to his world. His life.

Wanting him.

It was a look any man or woman would drown in, and Zero was not immune to the current. He needed something to hang onto.

Kaname's hand was perfect.

He'd moved closer without realizing. He was standing so close he could feel Zero's heat. Close enough to see his eyes darken with the emotion and the memories—close enough to watch a tear form in his eyes and escape to fall down the side of his nose.

''This..'' Kaname's voice was raw. He pulled the ex-human into his arms. ''This is what I meant.'' He held Zero closer. He could feel the ex-human's heart beating against his own. He tilted Zero's head with the hand buried in a tumble of curls and surrendered to the astonishing desire he had to kiss this man. But Zero pulled clear of his embrace instantly, as though he was trying to avoid someone hitting him, looking as shocked as Kaname felt.

For a moment he thought he could see a flash of something in Zero's eyes that suggested he was just as aware as he was of the magnetic pull that existed between them. But then it morphed into something else. Fear? Surely not! He'd never done anything to harm the ex-human. If you don't count the bond. He never would. He watched Zero struggle to swallow, to find his voice.

''What the hell do you think you're doing?'' And judging by his words, Kaname was sure that the ex-human intended his words to come out far more sure and strong than they did.

Kaname raised his hands in a kind of shrug. But the gesture was far more casual than he felt. He had acted under a force he hadn't been able to resist. That never happened to him. Had he really been prepared to fall under this man's spell for a second time? Make himself vulnerable all over again? Only Zero could make him this vulnerable, only him.

The rational thing to do here was to simply apologize. It might be rational. It was what his head was telling him to do. But part of him—his heart?—was fighting. Refusing to comply. Maybe it was that wobble in Zero's voice that had been his undoing—that made him crave the ex-human even more. He needed a little longer. Time to clear his head.

Had the Kaname been about to kiss me?Instinct had made Zero jerk back as automatically as he would have pulled away from a naked flame. The power Kaname had to burn him—to hurt him—was as palpable as the incredible ability the pureblood still possessed to attract him. Heart thumping, the only defense he could summon was to move—to try and step back far enough to diminish the intensity of that magnetic pull.

Except it wasn't enough. Zero sucked in a steadying breath and tried to regain control. ''What the hell do you think you're doing?'' He tried again. His tone wavered, making his outrage unconvincing.

Kaname was frowning. He raised his hands, palms upwards, in an almost helpless gesture that suggested the question was unanswerable. Then his gaze became more focused. Almost calculating. ''You were crying,'' he said. ''I desire to comfort you''

Automatically, Zero put his hand to his cheek. It was damp. ''I'm not crying.'' He gave his face a hasty scrub to reinforce his declaration. ''I'll go make dinner.''

''I'll come with you.''

''No need.'' That was the last thing Zero wanted. He couldn't have the pureblood see him like this. At his weakest.

''Oh no, I insist.'' Kaname followed the ex-human to the kitchen. He watched as Zero removed his robe slowly and put on an apron. Kami! That sight alone was enough to make him rise to the occasion. '' What do you think you're doing?'' he asked, his eyes never leaving his lover's body. That hot bangin' body.

Zero smirked. ''I want to prepare dinner, what else?'' he smiled innocently.

''Am I allowed to touch you?'' Kaname moved closer to the ex-human but he backed away.

''No, you may not. You are allowed to look, though.'' Take that pureblood, if you can. I have to be strong. No sex this weekend, no sex. Zero recited.

Kaname wanted to help Zero prepare their meal but he decided to watch instead. And here I thought he had forgiven me. Is he punishing me because I bit him? Oh well, we will see who will have the last laugh. When dinner was ready, he helped the ex-human set the table. Zero put on his robe again, much to his disappointment.

The totally enclosed courtyard had to be the most romantic setting for a meal, Zero had ever seen. Fairy lights were strewn through the silvery leaves of the olive trees. Ornate, wrought-iron holders held glowing candles that gave off a subtle hint of vanilla. Water trickled musically out of a small fountain at the head of a rectangular pool. At the other end of the pool, a raft of floating candles shaped like flowers made the water sparkle.

The meal was as perfect as the setting. A rustic wooden table was laden with the kind of food you could eat without cutlery: soft ciabatta bread and cheeses, fruit and olives and spicy morsels of meat. Zero had no doubt that the bottle protruding from a white, linen napkin covering the ice-bucket belonged to a vintage champagne.

All part of the fairy-tale he had stepped back into so effortlessly. Never mind that he was wearing a robe rather than a tuxedo or that his hair hung in damp ringlets. Concern for his appearance—like the rest of his familiar world—was banished.

Like the best of dreams, part of Zero's brain was aware that everything in the real world was all right—his son was safe with Yuki and Izumi. So he could embrace the dream and believe that any consequences were irrelevant. When he woke up reality would be reinstated, but for now he could enjoy this lovely fantasy—especially the man at its center.

As the star in a dream that was becoming increasingly erotic, Kaname was playing his role to perfection. He murmured phrases that could only be words of appreciation. Love. Handing Zero a glass of champagne and then touching his arm, trailing his fingers along the ex-human's skin to his neck. Along his jaw line. So softly across his parted lips.

Feeding him tiny portions of food, Kaname thought Zero would enjoy like soft cheese and ham wrapped in a shred of fresh bread, a salty olive and a ripe, red strawberry. The meal was a kind of foreplay that was more delicious than any food could ever be.

When Kaname finally stood and came to Zero, the ex-human rose without hesitation and removed his robe letting it fall. Kaname gasped. He put his hand out as the ex-human came within his range. He touched Zero's arm. A courteous gesture, really, intended to indicate the direction they were about to take along the quiet, dimly lit corridor.

But that touch, bare fingers on his naked upper arm, was a brand.

Zero could feel the fire from each separate fingertip burning into his skin. Into his blood. Traveling through his entire body, sweeping sensation into cells that had been numb. Bringing his body back to life with painful intensity.

''You will come,'' Kaname commanded. ''With me.''

Zero had to suck in a steadying breath as his brain teased him with a rather different interpretation of Kaname's words. A different command, maybe, but one that he would be powerless not to obey. He lifted his face for a kiss as the pureblood's hands cupped his hips. His arms lifted to wrap around Kaname's neck and leaned in to the pureblood, his whole body desperate for his touch. Kaname bent his head and his lips came so close to his, that Zero could feel a curious buzzing sensation. It took a second to tune into the words.

''Tonight, Zero,'' he whispered. ''You will be mine, right?'' he asked, not sure if the ex-human was willing to give himself to him again. Today, he was unsure of a lot of things. He needed his lover's assurance. He wanted to know that Zero wanted, yearned his touch.

As if he could refuse. As if he could think of any reason not to have this night. This dream. This fairy-tale. Whatever happened to being strong? To notgiving in? ''Yes,'' Zero whispered. And then his feet were swept from beneath him. He clung to Kaname, only dimly aware of being carried from the candlelight, into a room as masculine as the powerful arms that held him.

Rich maroon drapes shut them away from the world, echoing the tones of the antique Persian rugs scattered on the tiled floor. The mahogany of the sleigh bed gleamed in the soft lighting. That bed was the only place Zero wanted to be. He wanted to be thrown in its center, to lose himself and rediscover the fiery passion he knew the pureblood was capable of sharing with him.

More than want. It was need. He'd been missed Kaname the whole day, it felt like a lifetime. A tiny whimper of that need escaped. Zero could see it affected Kaname as his eyes darkened to black pools and a shudder went through his body, revealing the strain on his control. But he regained his mastery quickly. Every move, every touch, every kiss and every lick was deliberate. Slow. So heartbreakingly tender Zero wanted to scream. To find the words that would convey the depth of his emotion. That would express how much he cared for this man.

Kaname trailed a path of fiery kisses and nipped down Zero's neck, pausing to nip and caress the bitemark, sending jolts of fire through the ex-human's body. His desire was so intense that a graze of the pureblood's fang on his mark left Zero shuddering. Kaname latched almost viciously onto one of his nipples, drawing the heated tip into his hot and hungry mouth with a growl. His fangs broke skin, and his mouth eagerly sucked at the blood till it coated his tongue and eased down his throat. At the mixture of pained pleasure, Zero groaned and his lustful moans became more intense and encouraging.

Kaname's hand found its way to his treasured nest, as the ex-human easily and eagerly opened himself to his explorations. As his fingers sought and found Zero's tight and writhing passage, he bucked hard into his hand driving the fingers into his core, hard and to the knuckles. At his growled groan of delight and the shudder that race through his body, Kaname drew back and slammed his fingers deep and hard, back into Zero's tight passage.

By now Zero was meeting his violent thrusts into his writhing depths, with hard thrusts of his own. To provide him some support in his passionate drive, Kaname wrapped his hand easily around Zero's waist and behind him, helping to steady the ex-human as he continued to slam his fingers deep into his wet core, and his mouth moved to devour his neglected nipples. He moved back down and took Zero's cock in his mouth.

''Ahhhhhhh......'' Zero moaned.

The pureblood sucked him, slowly and then faster, tormenting him. The coiled heat, burning, grew hotter and tighter with each thrust of Kaname's fingers into his writhing, hot, dripping passage. Zero stiffened and convulsed in heady release, his muscles clamping hard around Kaname's fingers, trying to pull them in deeper.

Giving him a moment to come down from the resulting high, the pureblood eagerly licked the sweet nectar from his fingers. His growl of lustful delight at the taste was answered by an equally lustful growl from his lover. Without hesitation, he pulled the desirable ex-human closer, lifting him up, allowing Zero to straddle him as he sat back on his heels. In one smooth, swift motion he had the ex-human in position over him, and rammed up as he slammed Zero down on his rock hard and pained arousal. Both could be heard letting out, hunger filled groans of delight.

Although they were so caught up in their passion to notice, just as on their previous night of lustful delights, the aura of the pureblood and that of the ex-human both coupled in a heated and fiery dance of their own. For those with the sight, the beautiful dance would have left the watcher in awe. Kaname set a hard and fast pace, and Zero eagerly begged for more. He shifted slightly. Not much, but enough to hit the ex-human's sweet spot with every pounding thrust, the heat of his writhing and dripping core, gripping him tightly. The fiery rush of ecstasy that raced through his body, drove him to almost unimaginable heights of desire.

The night was young, and they were only just getting started and he intended to conquer the ex-human as often as he possibly could in the time that they had. He felt Zero's next release rapidly approaching, his own drove him to increase the pace wanting to be there with him. As the rush started to grip him in heady bliss, he felt his fangs lengthen still further, and threw his head back roaring his claim into the night. As he felt himself spilling over, he brought Zero to him, and sank his fangs into his mark, the rush of blood over his mouth prolonging the mind blowing, body gripping rush.

His entire body tingled, as though on fire. His blood boiled, as his still hardened erection writhed and pulsed deep within Zero's core. Vaguely, he was aware of a stinging sensation on his own throat, where his shoulder and neck met. He had barely registered that his roar of passion had been answered by that of another, equally screaming out their claim to the night.

The tight writhing of his hot and still convulsing passage, was enough to bring Kaname to yet another release, much to his own delight and surprise. The tingling he could feel all over his body, intensified with the release to the point that he almost felt like he was being burned from the inside out. He welcomed the flood of fire that coursed through his veins, giving in to it freely and without question.

Zero clung to him with everything he had. His arms wrapped around his chest, holding the pureblood tightly. His legs were locked around his waist, keeping them locked together as the powerful rushing release held both of them convulsing in their pleasure as the two freely gave themselves to the sensations of their overwhelmed senses.

As he withdrew his fangs, and lapped up the blood slowly oozing from Zero's renewed mark, he felt a rush of heated desire burn through his body once more. At first it confused him, because the feeling accompanied that of the hot caress of a heated and hungry tongue along his pulse point on his neck.

He growled in complete acceptance and approval, and he heard an answering growl respond in kind. When another rush of desire raced through him, something in the back of his mind, a part of his rational self, registered that there was more to this feeling than he realized.

He drew back for a moment to look at the man he held in his arms. The ex-human looked up at him with those alluring, lust glazed and erotic, blood red eyes, the depths of which pulled at his soul as he looked deep into them. Zero reached up to run a finger along the pureblood's face. At the touch, Kaname leaned into it, almost purring at the caress. A warm and sexy smile graced Zero's lips, his eyes showing that he was spent, at least for the moment.

Kaname pulled him close to his chest and let the ex-human rest. He traced the line of Zero's cheek and the silken, flawless skin of his face. His finger then traced the ex-human's lips slowly. Almost immediately, Zero darted his tongue out and licked the offered appendage, and drew it into his mouth.

Allowing him to do so, Kaname groaned as he felt his body respond to the gentle sucking on his finger, the rush of passion's fire racing right to his loins. Involuntarily, his hips flexed, as he felt himself hardening again. His body's reaction pulled a corresponding reaction from the ex-human, as he groaned with the pleasure of the pureblood still being buried deep in his hot core, he flexed his own muscles returning the pleasure. Both were so sensitive to each others slightest motion or touch that even just the act of breathing caused their chests to rise and fall, contributed to their once again rising lust, as Zero's nipples brushed against Kaname's chest. Zero released the pureblood's finger. Kaname took one nipple in hand and pinched it.

''Ohhh......'' Zero moaned.

''You like that?'' Kaname asked. Zero only nodded. The pureblood was like a child who'd just been handed the one thing that was most precious to him and that he had desired above all else in the world. Kaname began to massage his breasts making him groan.

A light flick of his claw, pricked the skin of the areola, bringing blood seeping out. The action pulled another moan from the ex-human's lips as scent of blood filled the room again. Seeing the enticing jewel of blood forming on Zero's flesh, Kaname leaned his head towards the open invitation, and hungrily sucked in hard and deep into his hot and eager mouth. His own lustful growl, sending vibrations through Zero's breast and body, once again setting his own blood to boiling.

The taste of his passion heated blood on his tongue was the sweetest ambrosia. He savored every drop, letting it feed the hunger of his need, and the hunger of his lust.

He continued to let his fingers make their way along Zero's soft and supple skin, massaging random patterns as they went. The soft, silkiness of his skin, the sensual curve of his waist, the supple feel of his rear cheeks, the firm muscle of his thigh as it lay along his side. All were sensual delights to the pureblood.

Soon, his awareness returned with the lure of the sensual pleasures that the pureblood inflicted upon his welcoming body. Zero found his own means for returning the gift of his touch. His chest and sides rising and falling rapidly with the rapid panting of his breath. He flexed the muscles of his dripping passage, still sheathing Kaname's hot, pulsing arousal. His own hands found their own paths to teasing the pureblood, one running through his hair, to stop and trace the outer shell of his ears, while the other found delight in tracing random patterns on the heated flesh of his chest.

Kaname responded by hungrily suckling on his breast. His hand continued to stroke his supple rear cheek for a moment longer, before firmly grasping the warming flesh. Both groaned in delight, as he rolled them until Zero was situated beneath him, being careful to stay sheathed deep into the hot and welcoming passage.

Bracing his weight on his heels, Kaname kept Zero's hips elevated on his thighs, so that he could wrap his legs around his waist. He grabbed the neglect left breast in his right hand, and began massaging it just as he had the first one. He assaulted Zero's neck with his lips, tongue, and fangs. As he nuzzled into his mark, nipping and running his hot tongue over his skin, the ex-human moaned his own pleasure, lifting his chin to bare his throat more for his attention.

Each kiss was like fire, each stroke of his tongue sent shock waves of heated desire rushing through him. His blood felt like fire racing through his veins with each nip of his fangs. What pain there was fueled the hunger and the pleasure, meshing into one overwhelmingly sensual assault to the senses that was like taking an aphrodisiac and neither able to get enough. As their passion grew with the heated moment, so did their almost frantic lust for each other. All that matter the most to them, was that they were together, sharing in a heated embrace that both wanted equally, and that no one could stop.

Zero reached up and ran his own hot and hungry tongue over the shell of Kaname's ear. The shuddering rush of heat this caused, raced to his loins, and further hardened his painfully throbbing arousal, still deeply embedded in the ex-human's rippling, hot sheath. The ex-human made his own trails on his body, just as well, his fangs leaving marks on his flesh.

Kaname could not stop the flexing of his muscles that thrust him deeper into Zero's hot and writhing depths. Trying to stay in control of himself this once, he forced his motions to a slow, drawn out rhythm. He didn't know how long he could maintain this painfully slow pace, but just the attempt was challenge enough to try.

He was so caught in the heat of the moment, and trying to keep his pace steady that Zero's next action caught him off guard, and broke his determination to stay in control. From his ear, the ex-human grazed a path with his fangs and tongue down his neck. At the rush of sensual delight that coursed like fire through his veins, Kaname lunged forward with his hips, driving himself deeper into his passage, only to pull out and drive back in with all of his being.

Once again, his control on his beastly side, slipped his reins, and in the hedonistic bliss that was engulfing every sense that he had, he welcomed the loss of control. His roared his pleasure and freedom and began pounding into Zero's wet depths, reaching for that sweet spot that would send him rippling around his pulsing shaft.

Zero scratched the pureblood's back and grabbed his hips for support, as he met Kaname thrust for thrust, ramming himself harder and harder onto his aching arousal. Once again the sensations that he had only felt building when he was with him, coiled inside to the point of almost being painful. His heart raced, his pulse throbbed, his soul crying his need, his hunger, his desire, his passion for the pureblood.

''Ohhhhhh......ohhhhhh......ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!'' Zero screamed.

His body started to quiver in the now familiar feeling of his impending release. Growling in lust filled glee, the pureblood increased his already rapid pace. He leaned down again, and Zero took this chance to run his tongue and fangs over his neck. Eagerly with both hands, the pureblood grabbed and lifted his hips, shifting the angle just enough to hit his sweet spot. Kaname pounded deep into him and growled as Zero's muscles gripped him with vice like strength .

As he peaked the Zero buried his fangs into the pureblood's neck.

At the overwhelming rush of power and fire, Kaname also sank his fangs back into his own mark on Zero's neck. He pulled the ex-human tightly to him, rolling once more to bring them both on their sides, and allowing them both to breathe. Just as he had hoped, Zero's passion for him was almost insatiable, and his stamina was almost equal to his own.

As an ex-human, with nothing to enhance him in anyway, he would have long since been out cold from the exertions of the evening. As it was, he is not only conscious, but also still running his hands over my body, like he can't get enough of touching me. The innocence of the touch, the purity of his soul, the erotic sound of his feral growls, all seemed to just make him that much more desirable to a pureblood.

Their lovemaking was a dance of give and take—of touch and taste. The pain of tension was unbearable pleasure and tipped over the edge where it was simply not possible to control anything—where passion ignited and consumed them both. It might have lasted hours. They were in a place where time had no meaning. Zero lay in Kaname's arms, aware of nothing but his heartbeat. The puff of the pureblood's ragged breath on his neck.

Much of the night was still ahead of them and he was looking forward to enjoy the delicious treasures Zero had to offer.

Hope you like the lemon. Tell me what you think. Thanks to all my reviewers, I wouldn't have made it without you. Lots of love. Cheers....

Ebony-Knight.