Blood & Bourbon

Hunger pulled me into the woods outside my ship. To passersby, it looks like a modern smart home on private property. The facade of my earth-human features was deteriorating from a lack of blood. I was going to have to feed before work tonight. Human blood is rare where I come from. We only get it when a poacher like me travels to one of their settlements in some distant galaxy and brings it back. Many poachers leave, but they don’t always return. Human world’s are seductive. Mixed with alcohol; human blood is an aphrodisiac for my kind. Coincidentally, it has the same effect on its source… go figure. Hunting to maintain my appearance is something I’ve grown accustomed to since settling here. A sweaty jogger headed up the path. Blares electronic dance music from his headphones, covering the sound of my footfalls. I race ahead of him by a few yards, to stand against a tree, spotlighted by the moon. I step out into his path as he approaches. Using my tank top to wipe sweat that isn’t there from my brow. Revealing my stomach and a healthy bulge in my sweats. His jogging slows to a walk as he greets me. Like a moth to my flame.

“Hey handsome,” he says.

“Hey yourself.”

“Great abs…”

“Thanks.”

“Nice bulge too...It’s pretty quiet around here… you want some help with that?”

He says, allowing his sexually open gaze to rake over my crotch.“Always.”

I smile at him, accepting his clumsy kisses while leading him behind the tree. His heartbeat fills my ears as the impatience of my hunger grows. Saber-like incisors appear in my mouth, ready to feed. He’s a walking pheromone and his blood is full of adrenaline. My kisses on his neck become a siphon. I only drink enough to take the edge off my blood hunger. And to maintain my appearance for the night. My bite heals itself as I pull away. And leaves him believing he had a hot quickie on his jog. He kisses me roughly on the lips before trotting away. Fed, I return home. 

“Hi Kalico, what time is it?”

Artificial Intelligence 

“Good evening Hunter. The time is 20:30. The weather is clear skies with a temperature of 47 degrees. You have two unplayed messages and thirteen saved messages. Would you like me to play your unplayed messages?”

“Yes Kalico, thank you.” 

“First unplayed message: Hey Hunter, it’s Michael. You never called me back after my last message, so I thought I’d..” 

“Delete message Kalico”

“Message Deleted. Next unplayed message: Hey Hunter… It’s Patrick. I don’t know if you remember me or not. I hoped that I’d get to see you again and.. Whatever, man. I’m bummed that you quit but, I understand. Rick and those guys can get pretty sloppy with things sometimes. Anyway… the reason I was calling is that I’m coming to your club tonight. I’m not stalking you or anything. The girl I’m seeing recommended the place. I’d never heard of it, so I looked it up and saw that you owned it. I just didn’t want things to be weird when I showed up. I always liked you.. I still do. Hopefully, we can catch up over a drink when I see you tonight. Alright, take care, man. Oh, yeah.. This is Patrick. I can’t remember if I said that or not. Alright, bye. End of message. Would you like to save or delete this message?”

“Save message, thanks Kalico,”

“You’re welcome Hunter. Would you like to hear your saved messages?”

“ No, I’m good. What time is it now?”

“The time is 20:41,”

“Thanks, Kalico,”

Hunter walks across his bedroom to the en suite bathroom to study his reflection in the mirror. Short, tightly coiled obsidian curls adorn his head. Ample lashes the color of coal; frame his clear chestnut eyes. Thick stubble covering his square-cut jaw begs to be shaved, but he’s into the look. He takes extra care to massage and exfoliate his budding beard in the shower. A loofah filled with sweet-scented tangerine Epsom salt body wash fills his nostrils. Mixed with the steam, the rich lather calms his senses. Patrick was going to be there tonight… He liked Patrick. Had a crush on him to be honest, but he was always talking about his exploits with women so he just left that alone.

“Kalico, play A No No by Mariah.”

“Playing Mariah Carey, A No No.”

Bopping to the beat of the music, Hunter finishes bathing and continues his pre-work preparations. After getting dressed, he checks the mirror and lights the joint he rolled to smoke on his way to work. Before leaving his ship, he checks the security system. Satisfied, he gets in his car and heads to work.

That first hit of weed in my system is always my favorite. That grounded lightness that puts you right in your body. The cool night air carries the music from the club on its breeze. I take one last drag before putting my joint out on my boot and stashing the rest in the tube in my breast pocket. Uly, my security guard, daps me up as he lifts the rope to let me in through the V.I.P. entrance.

“Looking good boss! Them snakeskin boots is fire!” Uly says.

His enthusiasm always brings a smile to my face. He’s a good dude. Found him at my old job… He came in as a client and we got to talking. He was just getting his private security firm off the ground. I put him and his entire crew on. They’re all great guys. I can depend on them for whatever I need. The club was getting pretty full… there was a line outside, so that’s a good sign. I check in with my Manager Trish to see how her night’s going before I go over the numbers to make sure we’re properly staffed. 

“ Hey boss.” Trish says, reaching out for a hug.

“ Hey Trish, how’s the night so far?”

“ Pretty good. We’re just picking up. Happy hour was a little slower than usual headcount wise. But folks are drinking tonight.”

“ That’s good. Anything in particular they’re liking?”

“ That new bourbon you put on the menu has been a big hit. We’re down to the last two barrels in the stockroom.”

“ Oh! Okay, I was wondering how they’d react to it. If they like it like that, then I’ll see if my guy can drop off some more.”

“ This late?”

“ What can I say? I got it like that.”

“ Okay.. I see you Hunter.”

I leave Trish for the office to check the patron count and the security tapes from opening. After I’m satisfied that everything is being looked after, I check the stockroom. We’ve got two full barrels, so that should last the night, but having an extra one would ensure it. There’s more brewing downstairs, but it’s not quite ready yet… I’ll check on it in a couple hours and see how it’s doing. The new bourbon is my proprietary concoction. Saying that I get it from a vendor keeps people from asking for the recipe. 

Kenny is spinning tonight! I love his music. He always has the mood right up in here. I take a moment to close my eyes and savor the Hip-Hop beats laced with heavy R&B vocals before entering the booth to say what’s up to my friend.

“ I see you with the throwback Diddy Dirty Money!”

“ I had to. You know how I do!” 

Kenny says with a hearty laugh. His grin revealed his gold and diamond encrusted fronts.

“ What’s good with you baby, how- you feeling?” He asks. “ I’m good, man. Just making sure all my people are okay. That ya’ll got everything you need before I get into my night.”   

“Oh, we -good over here, fam. We always good.” Kenny says, grinning again.

“Aight man. I’m gonna let you do your thing. I’ll see you after closing with your money.”

“ Fa sho…” 

A head nod and Kenny is back in his zone, controlling the sonic atmosphere with his music. As I leave the DJ booth, I spot Patrick walking in with his date. Damn, he looks good. My lust drank him in for a few moments before slipping through shadows into the kitchen. I let my waitstaff and bartenders know that:

“ Whatever they order is on the house. Wear your prettiest smiles and exercise your best customer service. They’re friends, so treat them like family.”

I retreat to my office to watch my club from the one-way glass. So far, so good. We’ve made our goal for the night already from the bar. All sales now are just money in the bank. My gaze rests on Patrick after a while. He looks happier than I remember, and then I realize it’s because he’s on a date and not slaving at work. After he and his date have finished their meal, I approach their table. Butterflies appeared in my stomach as I descended the stairs from my office. So, I step outside to have a few drags of my joint to settle my nerves. A quick stop by the cellar lets me know the bourbon is good to go. I unhook the barrel and roll it up the ramp and into the foyer off the kitchen. One of Uly’s guys sees me and comes over to help lift the heavy keg up the small set of stairs and into the kitchen. 

“Thanks man, appreciate you.”

“No doubt.”

I dap him up and hand him $50 from my pocket for his help. My bartender taps the bourbon and starts serving.

“You read my mind. We just ran out of that last barrel.”

“Damn…I just checked on them not too long ago! Folks are swallowing it up. That’s good.”

“That’s not the only thing that’s good.”

He opens his apron to reveal the massive wad of cash in tips he’s received.

“Damn! I guess I don’t need to pay you tonight. You’re good with tips!” I tease.

“You know I don’t play ‘bout my money, Hunter.”

“I would never! Chill Garrett.” 

I give a little chuckle while making a mental note to stop making that joke with him. Closing my eyes briefly, I take a deep breath and prepare to approach Patrick and his date. Intoxicated club goers shaking their asses to Kenny’s music sends heavy vibrations through the concrete floors. With Patrick in my sights, I weave my way to his table. His shy grin greets me first. He stands, blushing, and pulls me into a hug. Clean skin, scrubbed with Tea Tree oil and charcoal, compliment the scent of his cologne. Something light that marries perfectly with his natural musk. 

“I see you’re growing your beard out.” Patrick says. 

He takes my chin between his thumb and forefinger, stroking my prickly facial hair. Those brown eyes of his are luminous as the party lights overhead dance across his handsome face. 

“I see you are too.” 

I say, cutting  a discreet side eye at his date. He responds with a smirk that becomes a full on smile. Arm around my shoulder, he introduces me to his girlfriend, Bethany. 

“How are you guys enjoying the club?” I ask.

“Oh, it’s great. The music is phenomenal,” Bethany says.

“Good! I’m glad you guys are having a good time.”

“Great time.” Patrick emphasizes. 

“What have you been up to, man? I’m surprised to see you.” I say.

“You know how Rick is… a string of guys have been in and out of the club. New hires he fucked and thought they could slack off because they were sleeping with the boss. The usual.”

“I don’t miss that shit.”

“ Tell me about it. I’m trying to leave that place.”

“Trying?”

“Every time he tries to leave, Rick gives him a two-dollar raise.”

“Two dollars! Come on, Patrick… you’re worth at least.. $2.50,”

“Fuck you Hunter! Everyone can’t buy their own club like you.”

“My bad, I was teasing. Seriously though, you’re worth more than that.”

“Maybe a good friend of mine could use another bartender?”

“Patrick.. I don’t mix business with pleasure.”

“What does that mean?” Bethany speaks up.

“He’s just joking around babe, don’t listen to him.”

“Why don’t we move this to V.I.P.?” I suggest 

Patrick and his girlfriend follow me to my private booth just below my office. There we can survey the entire club and converse without having to shout over the music.

“So, how did you afford this place? I mean, you and I were working at the same club six months ago. Now you have all this?”

“I’m a whizz with money. What can I say?”

“Bullshit! No one can save up that fast unless they’re doing some highly illegal shit.”

“My finances are not indicative of my chosen profession. I worked at Salacious to learn how business works here…”

“Where are you from?”

“No place you’ve ever heard of.”

“Try me. I haven’t been to many places, but I watch television and read.”

“I’m from Bilzeth.”

“Bilzeth… hmm.. That’s in the Philipines right?”

“No, it’s not.”

“Where is it?” “Where I left it.”

“Oh, I see. You ran away from home and you don’t want to talk about it.”

“Something like that.”

Conversation reaches a natural pause as we stare into each other’s eyes. Rekindling the threads of passion that once accompanied our late night shifts together. Patrick speaks again.

“Man, it’s good to see you. I thought I’d never lay eyes on you again.”

“That was the plan, to be honest. But seeing you now, I’m glad you’re here.”

“I’m gonna go to the ladies’ room. I’ll be right back.” Bethany says. 

Patrick doesn’t move his gaze from mine as he acknowledges his girlfriend’s statement with a gesturing of his hand and an:

“Okay babe.”

I take a sip of my drink to mask the smirk appearing on my face. Bethany leaves the V.I.P. booth. The clicking of her heels was barely audible above the club’s music. 

“You are a cruel son of a bitch.” I say to Patrick.

“What’re you talking about?”

“Bethany?”

“She knows I’m fluid.”

“You mean she knows which fluid you prefer?”

“Don’t do that.. Don’t judge me, Hunter. I like what I like. Right now, I’d like some of you.”

Hunter scoffs as he takes another sip from his drink. Swirling the ice cubes around in the short square glass, he appraises Patrick from head to toe. Smooth caramel mocha skin wrapped around artistically toned muscles and that fucking smile of his. Like a damned puppy who’s too cute not to know it. Considering his mood and the energy of the night, he throws caution to the wind and plays Patrick’s game. 

“Prove it.” I say. 

“How?”

“Send Bethany home. Whether she’s cool with your fluidity, it feels hella rude to flirt in her face like this.”

“Alright, let me get her and Uber and send her the… She just texted me. She’s not feeling well, and she caught an Uber back to the apartment.”

“Mmm…mmm…mm… She’s pissed.” 

“I’ll make it up to her later…is there somewhere we can go that’s more private?”

“My office.” 

I say, downing the rest of my drink. Patrick follows me out of the V.I.P. booth and up the stairs to my office. Inside with the door shut, we’ve stepped into a different world. Muffled music sounds from behind bulletproof glass, and the temperature is about five degrees cooler, for now. I stand at the wet bar, deciding if another drink is a good idea or not, and Patrick comes to stand in front of me. We stood just millimeters apart. Hot breath from his nostrils stroked my mustache, making my dick hard. My hips adjust to the decreasing space in my pants and Patrick presses up against me. The warmth of his hardness pressing against my own. A slow sigh escapes my mouth, and he catches it with a kiss. Caught by surprise and knocked slightly off balance, I bump into the wet bar; jostling the arrangement of glass. The combination of alcohol on his tongue and sweat on his skin makes him taste sweet and salty. I rake my stubbled jaw across his face, nuzzling him to feel the smoothness of his flesh beneath my beard. A gentle but firm bite to my jawline is his response. Our eyes meet and we both laugh at the state of us. He’s pulling his t-shirt up and over his head as I’m unbuttoning the sheer sheath of silk hugging my torso. Skin to skin- contact makes me shudder. Driven by mutual lust, we devour each other with kisses and love bites. All while the heat of our loins begs for attention. In one move, he has my pants around my ankles and has swallowed me whole. Stunted exhales of eye whitening pleasure make me reach for support that’s not there. I have to steady myself on the bar and the height of it is awkward. I pull him off me and push him to the floor. Snatching his jeans and underwear to his boots. I use my stubble as a sensory enhancer, raking it up the inside of his thighs to his prodigious penis. His heavy musk fills my lungs and I take him into my mouth, all the way down my throat. His moans bring Uly pounding on my office door to check everything’s alright. 

“I’m good!” 

I yell, struggling to remember how to speak. Returning to my feast of flesh, I bring Patrick to a salty climax. Reveling in his orgasmic convulsions as I siphon every drop of him. 

“No fair! I wasn’t ready yet.” Patrick says panting. 

“I’ve got to get my guys paid and then we can pick up where we left off.”

I say, standing to my feet and fixing my clothes. Uly’s waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs. 

“Sorry boss, I thought you might’ve had a dangerous situation. My bad for interrupting you.”

“You’re good, Uly, you were just looking out for me. That’s why I like you, you’re good people.”

I give him a reassuring shoulder squeeze and continue downstairs to the bar. 

“You want me to come up and do the count with you?” asks Garrett.

“Nah… we gotta do the count at the bar tonight. I have company in my office.”

“That venti shot of caramel coffee that came in with the Wet Seal new year’s eve dress?”

“Stop it! Right now!” 

I say to him, unable to contain my laughter. 

“What? I just call it like I see it.”

“Yes, that one.”

“Damn, Hunter… you just get whoever you want, don’t you?”

“What’s that supposed to mean? You know what? Don’t answer that. I know the venti macchiato or whatever you called him. We’re old friends. We used to work together before I opened this place.”

“I see… unresolved sexual angst.. The nastiest kind. Don’t end up a black-and-white photo on a crime documentary. Wet Seal looked a little cray when she left.”

“That’s not on me.”

“Just looking out for you, boss. You’re a good guy. Don’t let your dick get your ass caught up.”

“Thank you Garrett. I appreciate the warning.”

We finish the count and I hand out everyone’s pay as they clock out. Uly’s guys have finished sweeping the perimeter and locking up the front. The last of them pulled out of the parking lot when that toe fungus Rick showed up with two of his henchmen. I recognize them from the club. A pair of roided out coke heads that would do anything for a little baggy of magic white powder. 

“The fuck are you doing here, Rick?”

“Tsk” Rick sucks his teeth.

“Is that anyway to speak to your old boss? The one who taught you everything you know?”

“You didn’t teach me anything, Rick. Except to not rely on your promises.”“ Aw come on now, it wasn’t that bad working for me, was it?”

“It was.”

“And now you have your own club! Look at you!.. Patronage has been down over at Salacious… even my regulars haven’t been coming in like they used to. I saw one of them in passing the other day and I asked him where he’s spending his nights these days. He told me ‘Hunters’. So I looked it up and who’s picture do I see under the title of owner? Your handsome mug, smiling pretty as ever.”

“What do you want Rick?”

“I want to make you an offer. Twenty-five percent of your door every night for a year. That should cover what I spent and lost hiring you.”

“Get the fuck out of my face.”

“Absolutely, after you give me my money.”

“I’m not giving you a goddamned cent. Take your…associates and get the fuck off my property.”

“Maybe I haven’t been clear about what’s happening here Hunter… after you left, I did a background check on you. You don’t exist anywhere. Who are you running from? Police? FBI? An old boyfriend? Whomever it is, I’m sure that ICE would love to hear about an undocumented business owner making cash hand over fist.”

“You know Rick… I really wished that you’d left when I gave you the chance.”

“There he is!” Rick laughs. 

His goons each pull guns out of their waistband like some 90s gang movie. I close my eyes and zero out my senses. The aspirin like odor of cheap cocaine mixed with the cheesy scent of their unwashed bodies sickens my stomach. One of them flinches, stirring the air enough to draw my attention. The two thugs attack in tandem. I silence the bullet from the first handgun with my palm. Metal burns the inside of my hand as the bullets hit the ground. I take the weapon and whip it across his temple, sending his body to the cement. The second attacker shoots me in the ribs on my right side. I grab his gun and break it in half over my thigh. His throat in my grasp, I crushed his windpipe; cutting off his air supply until his body goes limp. Rick is my last loose end.

“Hey, hey, hey man… it was a joke alright! We just wanted to scare you a little, that’s all! I wasn’t serious about the ICE stuff! Just let me go, okay? I’ll never come back here again, I swear!”

Thick copper spray splashed across my face. The kick I planted in Rick’s face opened up a wide gash in his forehead. His body joins those of his friends on the cement. A quick survey of the area tells me that only the cameras saw what went down. I rush to get the bodies into the cellar below the club. Three large bourbon barrels become the housing for my assailants. Secured with bonds and gags, I leave them to return to my office. 

Patrick is waiting on the leather sofa, butt ass naked. Light and shadow play across his body in a way that steals my breath. 

“You took a long time. I thought you weren’t coming back.”

“Last minute staff meeting… I’m all yours now.” I say, closing the door and crossing the room to sit next to him. The scent of our previous romp lingers in the air, sending urgent signals to my brain to pick up where we left off. I lean in to kiss him and he stops me.

“What’s wrong?” I ask 

“ Is that blood in your beard?”

“ Oh.. yeah.. I kind of got into a fight.”

“Staff meeting, huh? What was the fight about?”

“ A couple of guys saw me handing out cash to my staff and thought they’d get a nice payday for themselves.”

“Bastards.”

“ I should’ve known better. My mind was on something else…I blame you.”

“Well, let me apologize for compromising your judgement.”

His kiss returns my body to a state of calm openness. The dance of his tongue against mine replays Garret’s comment about ‘the nastiest’ kind in my memory. Passion spikes as Patrick helps me remove my clothes and sits his meaty rump on my lap. A sleeve of silken warmth envelopes my hardness as I wrap my arms around him, pulling him as close as I can. The rhythm of our ride sends our psyche’s to a mutual world of ecstasy. We trade the sofa for the floor and I take back control. Giving him my lust in powerful, long strokes. The begging of his deep voice with every thrust sends me over the edge, and I collapse on top of him with my climax. We lay like that for a few moments before he flips over to hold me against his chest. 

“I don’t want this to be the only time we do this,” he says.

“Me either..”

Just then, his phone rings and we both know who’s calling him. I let him take a shower in my private bathroom, call him an Uber, and send him home. After he’s gone, I go down to the cellar to finish tying up loose ends. 

Thanks for reading! Episodes 1-5 are available on Amazon's Kindle Vella. With your Amazon membership you can read the first three episodes for free! After you read an episode be sure to leave a like at the bottom, it really helps me out. I post new episodes every week. Make sure you hit the follow button in the upper right hand corner to find out what happens next!