Consume (Hellish Book 1) Read online

  Table of Contents

  Introduction

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  About the Author

  Consume

  Hellish 1

  Charity Parkerson

  Without limiting the rights under copyright(s) reserved above and below, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior permission of the copyright owner.

  The scanning, uploading, and distributing of this book via the internet or via any other means without the permission of the copyright owner is illegal and punishable by law. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Brief passages may be quoted for review purposes if credit is given to the copyright holder. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated. Any resemblances to person(s) living or dead, is completely coincidental. All items contained within this novel are products of the author’s imagination.

  --Warning: This book is intended for readers over the age of 18.

  Copyright © 2017 Charity Parkerson

  Editor: Hercules Editing and Consultants

  Cover Art: Q Designs

  ISBN: 978-1-946099-16-7

  All rights reserved.

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  Introduction

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  About the Author

  Introduction

  Jonathan thinks Cin is too perfect to be real. He’s right.

  As the top investigative reporter for Global Daily, Jonathan travels all over the world. Three weeks in Tortola, covering the story of the disappearance of twelve women, sounds like heaven. After all, the island is one of the most beautiful in the world. He doesn’t have many leads. The women only have one thing in common. They all went missing from the same club—Consume. Fifteen minutes into visiting the club, Jonathan sees him, and the world slips away.

  Cinaed, better known as Cin, spots Jonathan the moment he walks through the club’s door. It’s obvious the man is out of place. Cin slips into Jonathan’s mind, catching visions he can’t shake. He’s never wanted a human for anything other than blood and sex, but Jonathan is different. That’s why Cin has to keep the man addicted to being in his bed and send him home safely. There’s nothing in Tortola for Jonathan except death.

  Once Jonathan’s three weeks are at an end, it doesn’t take long for him to realize something is wrong. His trip has been—at best—a hazy memory of steamy nights, and he never spent a moment researching his story. No matter how deep he digs into the recesses of his brain, there’s nothing except the sexy Scot he met at Consume. With a burning need to know everything, and a deep fear he’s been drugged to keep him from his investigation, Jonathan cashes in his extensive vacation time before setting out to break this story. This time, he’s determined he won’t let anything keep him from the truth, even if it means finding out Cin is the man behind everything.

  Author note: This is a short introduction into my new M/M vampire series, Hellish. It was first published in the anthology Vampires of the Caribbean.

  1

  They met in the most cliché of ways—in a bar. In a club named Consume, no less. Jonathan hated to say their eyes had met across a crowded room. Mostly because the lights were cast low and dozens of gyrating bodies separated them, but their eyes had met across a crowded room. As he’d scanned the crowd, hoping he didn’t look as bored as he was, a glimmer of something had snagged his attention. It was the man’s eyes. They seemed almost iridescent, reminding him of a wolf. The moment passed as quickly as it happened, making Jonathan wonder if he’d seen anything at all. Still, his gaze lingered for longer than he intended. As if the first time he saw him wasn’t like the beginning of a thousand stories, the dude was also tall, dark, and handsome. At the thought, Jonathan turned away. Thirty-two was too old to be so ridiculous.

  This trip also wasn’t about meeting anyone. Three weeks in Tortola sounded like a dream vacation. For some, it was. For the families of twelve different college-age girls who’d mysteriously disappeared in the last two years, it was a nightmare. That was why Jonathan was there. As an investigative reporter for Global Daily, he’d broken more major stories than anyone. Without that stat on his side, Jonathan wouldn’t be there, because he had nothing to go on but a location. All twelve women except for one had gone missing from this club. He didn’t need this story to make his career, but Jonathan wanted it.

  Against his will, Jonathan’s gaze slid back to where the sexy man had been standing moments earlier. He was gone. Jonathan swallowed the bitter taste of disappointment filling his mouth. Yeah, he didn’t need this story, but he craved the success so he could rub it in his boss’s face. A boss who also happened to be Jonathan’s ex. The sour flavor of life still coated his tongue. He waved for another shot. The tequila appeared and disappeared in a span of thirty seconds.

  As he set the empty shot glass on the bar, a large body collided with his. Before Jonathan had time to turn, warm breath caressed the shell of his ear.

  “Dance with me.”

  He knew. Before turning his head and meeting the sexiest light blue eyes he’d ever seen in his life, Jonathan knew it was his stranger from across the room. The gaze that held his was steady. The man’s lips were perfect. Hell, even the dude’s eyebrows were flawless. In all his days, Jonathan had never seen anyone as goddamn out-of-this-world as the man awaiting Jonathan’s answer.

  He took note of the hardcore grunge music blaring through the speakers. “To this?” The instant the words left his lips, the music slowed and the lighting dimmed.

  The stranger’s lips twisted into a smirk. Jonathan’s mouth went dry. The man’s fingers linked with Jonathan’s. He tugged. “Aye. To this.”

  Jonathan’s knees stiffened, keeping him upright at the sound of the man’s sexy as sin Scottish accent. Without his permission, Jonathan’s feet moved. He allowed the man to lead him onto the dance floor. Their gazes never wavered from each other, as the dude walked backward through the gyrating bodies. The crowd parted, making room for them on the floor. When the man’s arms finally surrounded Jonathan, he was forced to draw a deep breath slowly though his nose to keep from passing out. It was a mistake. The dude smelled like some delicious spice Jonathan had never tried, but he wanted to. God only knew how badly he wanted to open his mouth over the cords of the man’s neck and taste him. Jonathan shook his head, trying to dispel the odd thought.

  “What’s your name?”

  “Cinaed.”

  Jesus. Even his name was hot. It sounded a bit like Kenny, but with a Scottish lilt that Jonathan wanted to taste on his tongue. “Jonathan,” Jonathan said, hoping that by talking he would stop himself from doing something stupid—like capturing a complete stranger’s mouth just to feel the man’s accent vibrating on his tongue.

  Cinaed’s hand slid down Jonathan’s back, finding the curve of Jonathan’s ass. “What brings a man like you to a place like this, Jonathan?”

  This. Jonathan bit back the answer. Instead, he picked apart Cinaed’s question, as he did everyone’s words when they spoke. “What do you mean ‘a man like me’?”

  The pressure of Cinaed’s hand increased on Jonathan’s ass as the man drew him closer. “Look around, Jonathan. Do you se
e anyone else like us here?”

  Damn, the way the man kept saying Jonathan’s name had him ready to do some naughty shit—like forget why he was there in the first place. He didn’t bother looking as Cinaed demanded. Jonathan already knew they were the only two men dancing together. This wasn’t their type of club.

  “I could ask you the same.”

  A low chuckle caressed Jonathan’s ear. His dick went hard. “I work here. Your turn.”

  Jonathan’s fingers found the soft hairs at Cinaed’s nape. His mind went blank. “It’s the closest bar to my hotel,” Jonathan said, dodging.

  “Lucky me.” The words brushed Jonathan’s neck a split second before Cinaed’s lips touched the same spot. Chill bumps rose on his skin. He swore the tiny hairs on the back of his neck stood at attention beneath the man’s touch. They didn’t know each other. Jonathan didn’t care. He didn’t want Cinaed to stop. A haze overtook his mind, making everything seem surreal. Cinaed’s thumb brushed the small of his back—skin on skin. Jonathan’s breath caught at the back of his throat at the contact. Music blared around them, but Cinaed turned his head, as if he heard the small gasp for air. Jonathan turned too, because he couldn’t stop himself from doing so. Their gazes met. “No one is watching.”

  Jonathan didn’t care if they were. He couldn’t breathe. The iridescent glow he’d seen earlier was back. It was a trick of the light, but Jonathan couldn’t focus on anything other than Cinaed’s eyes. They were so goddamn beautiful. He felt like he was falling into them. Even as the slow song ended and a faster beat began, their bodies didn’t separate. They kept time with the music. Jonathan’s heart raced. The man smelled like heaven. It was sweet yet woodsy—like walking through a forest filled with honeysuckle. His body was hard all over. Seriously. Cinaed might have been skinny, but Jonathan could feel every cut muscle. As his fingers traced their lines, Jonathan realized he’d been running his hands over the man’s body, shamelessly enjoying his sexy frame.

  “I’m about to kiss you.”

  It was so loud, Jonathan shouldn’t have heard him, but he did—like Cinaed was inside his head. His mouth watered in anticipation. Cinaed didn’t move. Jonathan couldn’t take the suspense. Instead of giving the man a chance to change his mind or get away, Jonathan kissed him. Holy shit. The man’s mouth was ambrosia. Cinaed held him. Their bodies still tried to keep time with the music as their tongues clashed. Cinaed’s kiss was soft yet deep. He made Jonathan crave feeling that sweet suction around his cock. The man was everywhere. His hands massaged Jonathan’s ass, moving against him. Cinaed’s erection dug into Jonathan’s hip. In all his life, Jonathan had never instantly wanted anyone like he craved the man holding him. It was insanity. He was trapped in the moment with no desire for escape.

  The images floating through Jonathan’s mind had Cin harder than he’d ever been in his life. This man loved sucking dick like most people enjoyed chocolate. Coming in his jeans was a real fear. Cin forgot himself. The moment Jonathan walked through the door, Cin tossed aside his reasons for being there. One glimpse inside the man’s head had Cin’s feet moving in Jonathan’s direction without another thought. Jonathan was there for the same reason as Cin. That couldn’t be a good thing.

  His fangs grew. Cin pulled back before he gave himself away. He snagged Jonathan’s hand and headed for the door. Jonathan came willingly and without question. Cin didn’t stop until he had the man alone in the dark alleyway between Consume and the long-closed restaurant next door. As he pushed Jonathan against the wall, his senses kicked in. He could see the man in his arms as clearly as if it was noon rather than midnight. Jonathan’s lust coated the air, mixing with Cin’s. It smelled like the inside of a sweet shop, causing Cin’s mouth to water, and making it impossible for him to call his hunger under control. He could hear the man’s heart racing.

  Fuck it. Cin pushed his way inside Jonathan’s mind, confusing the man’s senses. He buried his face in the crook of Jonathan’s neck and inhaled. Jesus. The man was like fine wine. Cin licked Jonathan’s pulse point, savoring the moment. As his fangs pierced the man’s skin, Cin lost control. His fingers sought the button of Jonathan’s jeans. Blood filled his mouth as Jonathan’s erection filled his palm. The sounds coming from the back of the man’s throat had Cin ready to come in his pants. Realization struck. He couldn’t stop. Licking the wound on Jonathan’s neck, Cin quickly sealed the puncture marks before sliding down Jonathan’s body, undressing the man just enough so Cin could get inside him.

  He kept just enough control of Jonathan’s mind so the man wouldn’t see his true nature, ruining their moment. While there, he let the man believe he’d suited up. It was impossible for Cin to contract or spread disease, but he could hardly explain that now. There wasn’t an ounce of unwillingness in Jonathan’s mind. In fact, the graphic images inside Jonathan’s head had Cin wondering if he’d make it inside the man before blowing his wad. This man was a freak. He’d bring Cin to his knees if Cin gave him half a chance.

  Using his inhuman strength against Jonathan, Cin had the man’s feet off the ground and around his waist in a matter of seconds.

  “Don’t worry,” Cin said, soothing Jonathan as his thick crown swiped Jonathan’s asshole. “I won’t let you hurt or let anyone see us.” It was a struggle, spreading his power so wide while he was this turned on, but he wanted Jonathan too badly to search out a more private spot. As he sank inside of the man in his arms, a groan escaped Jonathan that nearly crippled Cin. He’d been alive for a long fucking time and he honestly couldn’t remember wanting anyone more than the man in his arms. “Goddamn, Jonathan. You’re so fucking tight. I won’t last long. You have to come for me.”

  “Give me a reason,” Jonathan said, challenging Cin while shocking him speechless. No one had ever resisted his mind control before now. He’d thought the man’s reactions were all due to Cin’s tight hold on Jonathan’s mind, but Jonathan was still clinging to partial control. Anyone else would’ve orgasmed on Cin’s command. Jonathan was still waiting for Cin to fuck something other than his mind. This man was no one’s toy. Everything slowed. Cin leaned his weight into Jonathan and pumped his hips, sinking deeper. Jonathan held his stare.

  “I’d love to see your eyes during the daylight. They so fucking sexy in the dark.”

  Cin couldn’t breathe. Jonathan was completely lucid and right there with him for every second. “Play with yourself,” Cin ordered, hoping to distract him.

  “Kiss me,” Jonathan said, making his own demands.

  With one hand braced on the brick wall at Jonathan’s back and one hand gripping Jonathan’s ass, Cin leaned in and captured the man’s mouth. With his hunger for blood assuaged, he still couldn’t will his fangs under control. His lust was too much. If Jonathan noticed, he didn’t pull away. Jonathan reached between them and pumped his cock as their tongues clashed. Pressure drew Cin’s balls up tight. He couldn’t come before Jonathan. His pride wouldn’t withstand it. He tried again, pushing his way inside Jonathan’s mind. This time, rather than trying to take control, he let the man see all the different ways he intended to fuck him as soon as he had Jonathan alone.

  A long and loud moan vibrated around Cin’s tongue. Hot cum hit Cin’s chest. Thank fuck. He nearly cried his relief. After shifting positions once more, Cin pumped faster inside Jonathan, needing the relief the man’s tight ass offered. Pressure crawled up his spine and tightened his balls before pushing against his crown. When his orgasm finally hit, Cin was forced to stiffen his knees against it to keep from going down. Jonathan made him weak. Without thought, his sank his fangs deep into Jonathan’s vein, dragging the man’s blood into his mouth as he filled the man’s ass with his cum.

  “Cinaed,” Jonathan whispered, sounding more turned on than any man had the right to be.

  Cin licked Jonathan’s neck a final time. “Most people call me Cin,” he confessed against the man’s throat.

  “Cin,” Jonathan repeated, sounding like he was in a fog.

  Fa
olan. I have to take care of this.

  Och, I’ve told you not to do the mind meld thing when you’re balls deep in ass.

  A low laugh rang through Cin’s head. I have to disappear. You know this man is a priority.

  Aye. Get all up in his shit. Well, you’re already there, but you know—

  Cin shut down Faolan’s incessant rambling before he melted Cin’s brain. Not to mention, Cin was still having some impure thoughts about the man in his arms. He didn’t want to share any part of Jonathan with his boys right now.

  “How far is your room? I’m thinking we’re not finished here.”

  The way Jonathan’s eyes still appeared out of focus had Cin ready to pat himself on the back. He always left his partner satisfied. It mattered with Jonathan.

  “I thought you were working.”

  Cin shook his head. He’d forgotten his earlier lie. It wasn’t like him to lose himself like this. “Don’t worry over it. They can survive the rest of the night without me.” According to Jonathan’s thoughts, he was in town for the next three weeks. It looked like his team would have to survive without him for longer than a night. He didn’t intend to let this man out of his sight until he ushered Jonathan onto a flight back to New York.

  2

  Three weeks later…

  There were close to two hundred emails filling Jonathan’s inbox. He skimmed the subject lines, looking for the most important ones first. It wasn’t like he didn’t have time to kill. His flight back home to New York didn’t leave for another two hours, but still. He hated mundane chores—like opening and reading two hundred fucking emails. There were four from Mike Powers, Jonathan’s boss. Each one wanted updates on the very expensive trip to Tortola the company had funded. That was the nicest of the lot. The longer the man’s emails went unanswered, the uglier they became. Not that Mike was especially civil at any time since Jonathan had dumped him. That wasn’t why Jonathan’s stomach shook, bringing him as close to seasickness as he’d ever been on dry land. The more he read, the more he remembered. Twelve missing women. Almost every one had left from the same club where Jonathan met Cin. Jonathan had gone there, hunting down leads. From there, the world slipped away from him.