The club’s name was Ultraviolet, and wasn’t a place Timur knew Nick normally went to. But there he was, looking for him. He had asked to meet for a hookup. The lighting in the club was low, to provide a more intimate atmosphere, or would, if it weren’t for the strobing lights that moved in time to the music. Nick was making his way through the crowd of dancers, where Timur found him first, and placed a hand on his arm. Nick turned, and smiled.
“Dance with me.” Timur said, grinning.
Nick shook his head, but smiled as Timur lead him through the dance floor to a spot sufficiently near the DJ booth before they both began to dance, letting the music guide them. The dance floor was packed, but in the moment it was only them, enjoying the time flirting at one another with body language as opposed to words.
A few songs in, they were still focused on each other. Timur was the first to progress from flirting into action, taking a hand and sliding it down Nick’s chest, while the other reached behind the other man and gave his ass a good squeeze.
“We can go somewhere else, you know.” Nick breathed into his ear.
“Yes, but I am having fun.” he said, toying with the hem of Nick’s shirt before sliding his hand underneath, across bare chest.
Nick leaned down, placing a playful nip at Timur’s collarbone. “Not here.” he stressed.
“Spoilsport.” Timur said, refusing to admit that at this point he just plain wanted the other man.
The pair headed out of the club, into the night air. Timur inhaled deeply before letting the breath out slow.
“Do you want to grab a drink?” Nick asked.
“Your place or mine?” he asked, though he already knew the answer. After all, they’d done this dance a few times before.
“Let’s find a room.” Nick said, walking with Timur to the parking lot. They drove to a basic, clean motel and rented a room. While Nick handled the renting and receiving of keys, Timur texted Sergei to let him know he would be back late, and to keep tabs on Ilyana. Keys finally in hand, they walked to their room.
The room itself was nothing much to marvel at. Basic amenities, but it wasn’t like they needed much. It was still early enough in the evening that they shouldn’t have to worry about securing the room against the sun for Nick.
“Are you hungry?” Timur asked him.
“I can’t, You’ve been drinking.” he said, locking the door.
“Not a drop. I promise.” he said.
By this point, Nick had kicked off his shoes and was making his way toward the bed, where Timur sat, leaning back on his elbows. Nick crawled on top of him and began to kiss him— once, then twice, working his hands under the hem of Timur’s shirt, giving it a tug before pulling it off his head. Timur didn’t protest at all, quickly pulling off Nick’s shirt while Nick tried to tease.
But teasing wasn’t what he wanted, and with his next actions, that was made clear to Nick. All pretense was set aside, as they both gave in to more carnal pleasures. He wasn’t sure about Nick, but it was exactly what Timur had been thinking about for the past few days, but until tonight, he hadn’t been able to meet up with him. There was no lovemaking here, just pure animal instinct taking place, and he was more than happy to let Nick be the top this time.
After the act, they both lay together in the bed next to one another, Timur’s head resting on Nicks chest, just under his arm. Nick was idly playing with Timur’s hair as the man caught his breath.
“You never answered me.” he prompted.
“About?” Nick asked.
“If you were hungry.” he reiterated.
“Kind of.” he admitted. It had been a few nights, but he didn’t feel like alarming the other man.
“I abstained for you.” Timur reminded him.
“You just want to be bit.” he teased.
“Mmm…maybe.” Timur grinned.
Nick shifted down, so that he was now facing Timur. “Only if you’re sure.”
“Da.” he nodded.
Nick leaned in then, burying his face in the crook of Timur’s neck. After a moment, Timur felt a brief, sharp pain— then pleasure. He moved a hand to rest at the back of Nick’s head, encouraging him to take what he needed. The sensation of his blood being drawn to the surface was pleasurable, and he was in a haze of bliss when Nick stopped and licked the place his mouth had previously been. It caused him to whimper slightly, saddened the bliss had gone.
“Did I take too much?” he asked.
“No. Just felt good.” he admitted, still laying back, one arm now draped over his closed eyes.
Nick leaned in, kissing his way along the arm, before pressing his lips against Timur’s.
“Okay, that helps.” Timur admitted with a smile, and they resumed kissing for a bit before Nick laid back as well. There was silence, as Timur debated with himself whether to bring something up, having a good guess at the likely outcome. “I need to tell you something.” he said, finally settling on saying something.
Nick, eyes closed with his head against a pillow, took a minute to speak. “What’s that?”
“I am thinking I have caught feelings.” he admitted.
Nick sat abruptly. “I should go.”
“Don’t.” Timur asked him.
“We have to stop, Timur.” he said
“Do we?” he asked.
Nick sighed. “I promised.”
Timur shifted to his side, propping himself up on an elbow as he watched Nick get up and gather his clothes. “Do you want to stop?”
Nick didn’t answer, but he had hesitated before resuming gathering his clothes, followed by getting dressed.
“Do you always do what he asks?” Timur questioned.
“No.” he admitted.
“Then don’t let him dictate this.” he said.
“I don’t want to lose him again, Timur.” he answered honestly.
“I thought you had open relationship?” he inquired.
“It’s complicated.” Nick pulled his shirt down as he answered, putting his shoes on last before gathering the keys to his truck. “I’m sorry, Timur.” he said, and then left.
Timur sighed, flopping back onto the bed. It wasn’t fair. He couldn’t help how he felt. He hadn’t set out to do more than a hook-up, yet here he was. Grumbling, h is afterglow ruined, he got dressed himself, and grabbed the keys to his car, as well as the jets to the room, and headed out.
His first stop was to drop off the keys before heading to his car, an older model sedan. He began to drive toward home, when he pulled over suddenly as an idea came to mind. Pulling out his phone, he googled an address, then input it into the GPS, and drove out that way.
When he pulled up, he resolved to himself to take Ilyana here sometime. After all, she liked comics. He smiled as he thought of her Super Timur character, and this emboldened him more, to do what he came here to do. He lingered in the car for a few minutes before stepping out, making his way to the door of the establishment.
Behind the counter were two people. One he did not recognize. The other was a tall man with dark, tousled blonde hair, and brown eyes. He wore a gray t-shirt over a pair of dark blue jeans; sneakers on his feet. The man he did not recognize looked up when the door chimed, and greeted him. The other man didn’t look up, being busy with a customer.
Timur could be patient, and chose to be so now. He idly browsed as he waited, keeping an eye on Ryan as he helped the customer. As he watched, he analyzed the man like he might a target he’d been given, but it also gave him time to reflect on why he was there, and what he wanted to say. The customer now leaving, he approached the counter.
“How can I help— oh, hi Timur.” Ryan began. His expression had started cheerful, but had faltered a little when he recognized Timur.
“We should talk. Is there somewhere we can do that?”
“Is this a Nick thing? Is he okay?” Ryan asked.
Timur nodded. “Please, let’s talk.”
“Johnny, man the counter.” Ryan said, and led Timur to his office. He let Timur in first, before stepping in himself, closing the door behind him. Timur opened his mouth to speak, but Ryan held up a finger. After a moment, he banged on the door, and a muffled “Ow” could be heard from the other side. “Dammit, Johnny.” he muttered. “You’ll learn sooner or later. I hope.”
Timur took a seat across from the desk while Ryan sat behind it. “Is Nick okay?” he asked again.
“Nick is fine. Physically, anyway.” Timur responded.
“What do you mean?” he wondered.
“He broke things off with me.” Timur said.
“And you’re telling me this why?” Ryan questioned though his mouth twitched upward in a brief smile for just a second.
Timur leaned forward. “I’ve caught feelings for your boyfriend. And despite your supposedly open relationship, he broke things off with me.”
“That’s his decision.” Ryan stated.
“Is it?” Timur asked pointedly.
“Yes. What’s with the questioning?”
“He is so terrified of losing you, that he will do anything to keep you.” Timur said, ignoring the question. “He would rather make himself unhappy than risk losing you.”
“And you know this how? Did he tell you this?” Ryan asked.
“Not with so many words. But I am good at reading people. I can tell.” he tapped his temple. “I know he’s unhappy about it. So what I want to know, is what’s your deal?”
“I don’t need to tell you anything.” Ryan said, starting to get up.
“Not even if it meant helping your fiancé?” Timur queried. Ryan froze a moment, and sat back down. “Good, you have sense.” he continued. “So what is problem? Why are you so against me?”
“It’s not you in particular.” he began.
“Ah, so is anyone he wants to be with.” Timur nodded sagely, placing his hands together and steepling his fingers.
“Kind of.” Ryan said, saddened for a moment. “I mean, why can’t I be enough?” he said, his tone getting slightly angry.
Timur held his hands up, palms facing Ryan. “Did he say this to you?”
“No.” Ryan admitted.
“What did he say?” he prodded.
“He said he enjoys sex. But he couldn’t explain why sex with me wasn’t enough.” he stated.
“If he enjoys sex, it’s not about the person. It’s about the act. Did you ever think that maybe it’s just about variety? That maybe he’s looking for different experiences in order to learn how to please you better, even? His enjoying sex doesn’t take away from the fact he loves you. Loving other people doesn’t take away from him loving you, for all that goes.”
“I know he’s poly, but…” Ryan began
“But?” Timur prodded.
“I don’t want to lose him either.” he continued.
“And?” Timur continued prodding.
“I don’t want him to be unhappy, either.” he sighed, and buried his face in his hands for a moment.
“Nick I think cares about me on some level.” Timur said. “So I have idea.”
“Oh?” Ryan said without looking up.
“You and me. Date. Tonight. We’ll have fun, get to know each other. You can decide where to go after we get to know each other better.” he offered.
Ryan looked up, but only enough to reveal his eyes. “Why?”
“I told you, I have feelings for Nick. I want to get to know him better, to make him happy. To do that, I need to get in good with you, so we can at least be friends. Da?”
Ryan thought long and hard. “Okay, sure. Why not.”
“Otlichnyy.” Timur said, slipping into Russian.
“Huh?” Ryan asked.
“Excellent.” Timur translated. “Do what you need to do here, then we go.”
Ryan got up from his desk, and took care of some managerial duties before leaving Johnny in charge, and heading out with Timur.
“You drive?” Timur asked.
“I do, but I don’t have a car yet.” Ryan explained. “Can’t exactly go around during business hours to get one.”
“Ask Nick for help. I’m sure he knows a way to do it.” he said matter-of-fact.
Ryan didn’t respond— he just followed Timur to his car, climbing into the passenger seat once it was unlocked.
“You prefer dancing or drinking?” Timur volunteered.
“It’ll be easier to hear one another if we go drinking.” Ryan pointed out.
“Trogat.” Timur said, conceding. “Okay. I know bar we can go to.”
“English, please.” Ryan asked.
“Touché.” he translated.
In silence, they drove to a bar called The Kingfisher. It was a small, dim little place, half full of patrons. It quickly became apparent that it was a gay bar, but Timur just headed toward the bar, ordered a beer and a bottle of vodka with a glass, then took them to a booth in the back. Ryan followed.
“So how do we do this?” Ryan asked.
“I figure we start with basic life story. You first. I drink.” he said, uncapping the bottle of vodka, and poured some of the clear liquid into a glass. “So where you from? What’s family like?”
“I’m from Las Vegas.” he began.
“Oh, Sin City. Nice.” Timur said after taking a drink.
Ryan shrugged. “I’m an only child. Dad was an Army chaplain. Mom was an administrative assistant for a medical office. I had a deadbeat Uncle too— never married, mooched off my parents. They put up with it because it was Mom’s little brother.”
“What was like growing up?” Timur asked, studying Ryan as he spoke.
“My parents were Christian, and strict. I was extremely lucky to have been able to hang out with the friends I have, but only because they lied for me. I even had to sneak comics, because they didn’t approve.”
“When did you figure out you were gay?” Timur questioned.
Ryan shrugged. “From a young age, I guess. I never was interested in girls. I guess I really knew when I started crushing on a friend, but he was straight. Then I started falling hard for Nick.”
“Do your parents know you’re gay?” Timur queried.
“Not until recently. And believe me, they were vile about it.” he said bitterly before lifting the bottle in front of him, pretending to drink.
“When did you meet Nick?” Timur asked, pouring another drink.
“In middle school. We became friends at twelve. We started dating at fifteen. Broke up at eighteen.” Ryan answered.
“Why?” he asked, after downing a good portion of the glass.
“Dumbass wanted to join the military. I was against it.” he explained.
“Why?” Timur repeated.
“I was scared of him getting hurt. I’m against the military in general, I guess because of my Dad.” he admitted.
“Hmm.” was all Timur said.
“What?” Ryan asked.
“Nothing.” was the response.
“You obviously have an opinion.” he pointed out.
“No opinion. Just observation. You both had your reasons. What have you done since?” Timur asked.
“I left my parents’ place and cut contact. Worked at a comics store until the owner wanted to sell it— got out a loan and bought it, so it became mine. Been doing that since I got back in touch with Nick and came here about six months ago.”
“No contact in all that time?” he asked.
“No— evidently we were both under the impression that neither wanted anything to do with the other.” he explained.
“You date much?” Timur asked.
“No— just Nick. Why the third degree?” Ryan said, starting to feel like he was in the hot seat.
“Getting to know you, remember?” Timur reminded him.
Ryan sighed, and pretended to take another drink. “Your turn?”
Timur nodded. “Ask away.”
“I’m guessing you’re from Russia, yea?” Ryan asked.
“Da.” Timur responded. “Born in Moscow. My family growing up was father, little sister Ilyana, and best friend Sergei. We’re like brothers more than friends.”
“What was your life like growing up?” Ryan wondered.
“Not easy.” Timur admitted. “But loving family. Father was a safe cracker, and I learned from him. He was in organized crime. I know— not ideal. But he did what he could to give us good life.”
“What were you like growing up?” Ryan asked.
“Ah, you got a question on me.” he grinned, pouring another drink. “I was athletic kid. I taught myself parkour; thieving skills. Always ready to fight, especially if I needed to protect Ilyana or Segei. Segei was a small kid at the time, so I protect him. I get into trouble a lot, but also get out of it, and get others out, too.” he paused to take a drink, then continued.
“When Sergei and I become adults, we join Russian mob. Is all we knew. We were skilled, and followed orders so we were in good standing. I don’t like hurting people, mind you. I do enjoy the thrill of the job though.” he finished.
Ryan thought for a moment. “I heard you were a hunter.”
“Is more recent thing. Sergei and I, we stumble into it. Is not official title or job or anything— just something we good at. We were good at not getting shocked or surprised when we came up again things you can’t explain. But we build reputation as people to call when weird things happen.” he explained.
“You have any intent to kill anyone here?” Ryan asked.
“No.” Timur confirmed.
“Tell me something personal about you.” Ryan stated.
“I like to be healthy. I’m vegetarian, and I enjoy working out. Not heavy weights, but other things, things that keep me in shape and limber.” Timur took another drink.
“Like what?” Ryan
“Light weights. Calisthenics. Parkour. Cardio. Even pilates and yoga.” he admitted.
“Impressive.” Ryan said.
“Spasibo.” he said. At Ryan’s look of confusion, he translated. “Thank you.”
“No problem.” Ryan said, then cleared his throat for a moment. “So uh…are you gay? Or bi?”
“I like men and women.” Timur answered.
“When did you figure it out?” Ryan said, genuinely curious.
“Probably about same age as you. Young— puberty age, probably. Same for you?” he picked up his glass, waiting for the response.
“Yea.” he nodded.
“Does anyone know?” he wondered.
“Not until I come here. Then Sergei and Ilyana know. Is not safe in Russia to be out.” he explained grimly.
“Damn. I’m sorry.” Ryan said, reaching across the table to give Timur’s hand a quick squeeze.
“Spasibo.” he said, thanking Ryan again. After a moment, he cleared his throat. “Dancing now?” he offered.
“Yea, sure. Where at? Not Arcadia.” he suggested.
“You ever been to Ultraviolet?” he asked.
“No. You ever been to Charlie’s?”
“No.”
“Let’s try Ultraviolet first.” Ryan offered. “Charlie’s is a gay club, just as a heads-up for if we end up there.”
“Nostrovia!” Timur grinned, downing the remainder of the bottle.
“You going to be okay to drive?”
“I’ll be fine. But if it makes you feel better…” he handed Ryan his keys.
Taking them in hand, Ryan walked out to the car with Timur, got instructions, and headed to Ultraviolet. Both were quiet on the drive there, but Timur percolated his thoughts, hoping that what he was doing was making Ryan second guess things, or at least get a passible interest in Timur himself.
At Ultraviolet, they danced, close to one another because they had to be due to a crowded floor. Timur would alternate between a bottle of vodka and a dance with Ryan, encouraging the other man to let loose and have fun. Gradually, Ryan relaxed, allowing himself to untense and have fun with Timur, a man he’d been apprehensive about. When Timur needed to take a break, they sat at a table on the sidelines, while he drank more.
“Aren’t you also food for Nick?” Ryan finally asked.
“Mm, da.” he admitted. “Why, you want some?” he offered, holding out an arm.
Ryan eyes it, before looking at Timur. “Not here.”
“Oh, true. My place or yours then?” he asked, taking a swig from a bottle.
“Is anyone even home at your place?” Ryan asked.
“Ah, Sergei and Ilyana. But they know about you guys. As in vampires.” he added the last as an afterthought.
“My place.” Ryan decided after an internal debate. “I’d rather not be walked in on by people I don’t know. Also, I’ll be home if it gets too early.”
“Good thinking.” Timur said, standing.”Let’s go, comrade.”
Ryan made sure he had the keys before heading out with Timur, surprised at how well he was holding his liquor. They climbed into the car, and drove to the place Ryan shared with Nick. There were no other cars in the driveway or in front of the house, where Ryan parked. Timur was admittedly a little worried about feeding twice in one night, but felts it would be fine. Some rest, some cookies, and some juice, and he’d be alright.
Timur looked around the house, evaluating it as Ryan led him down the hallway to the living room, where they both sat. The house, he could tell, was empty, save for a sleek black cat who perked up an ear and opened one eye from where they were curled up on a cat tree, then promptly went back to sleep.
“How do you want to do this?” Ryan asked him.
Timur sat, leaning back against the couch, and again offered out his wrist. Ryan sat next to him and took it. Timur watches as Ryan’s fangs extended, and he bit into the tender flesh of his wrist. For the second time that night, there was the brief, sharp pain, and the pleasure of the feeding itself.
“Don’t take too much.” he managed to murmur.
“Ryan drank, feeding deeply while Timur wallowed in the sensation. Still, he took less than Nick had, and licked the place where he had bitten. Timur had never understood why this was done, until he noted that the wound was closing.
“Huh.” he muttered.
Nick wasn’t kidding. You’re delicious. More…satisfying.” he confessed.
Timur’s heart felt as though it were beating a bit rapidly, and he was catching his breath, feeling almost like he had just finished a workout.
“Are you okay?” Ryan asked, feeling a little buzzed from the vodka in Timur’s system.
“Da. I think so. You’re the second I’ve fed tonight.” he admitted.
“Who was the first?” he wanted to know.
“Nick.” Timur replied.
“With that much vodka in your system?” he asked incredulously.
“Nyet. I was sober.” he responded.
“Oh. Sorry for jumping to conclusions.” he said sheepishly.
“Is okay.” Timur said, moving to stand, but stumbled, falling back to the couch.
“Careful.” Ryan said, catching him.
“Sorry.” he apologized.
“Don’t worry about it.” Ryan stated. “We’ve got spare rooms, so why don’t we get you upstairs.”
“Okay.” Timur said, not protesting.
He stood again with Ryan’s help, who slung an arm across his shoulders and helped him upstairs to one of the guest rooms. Timur flopped back onto the bed once they got up there, pulling Ryan with him in the process. The other man stopped himself from literally falling on top of Timur, but there they were, Timur lying on his back, with Ryan propped above him. Timur grinned and leaned up to kiss Ryan. Ryan was still for a moment before briefly kissing back, then pulling away.
“You should get some rest.” he said.
“Probably.” Timur admitted. “I have call to make first.”
Ryan nodded, unsure of what to say. Timur chuckled. “You look like you’re blushing.” he said.
“I am not.” Ryan argued.
“You are.” he stated.
“I can’t.” Ryan confessed
“Pfft. You would be if you could.” Timur pointed out.
Ryan huffed. “Good night, Timur.”
“Good night.” he said, watching as Ryan left, closing the door behind him. He felt as though some progress had been made. He removed his phone from his pocket, and texted Sergei and his sister to let them know he was sleeping it off at a friend’s, and would be home in the afternoon, more than likely. After, he set the phone down, reasoning that headway had been made. While he didn’t expect the situation to change overnight, he did expect it to change, and to change the way he wanted it to go.
He lay awake for a while, thinking things over in h is head, though mostly thought of Nick. Ryan wasn’t a bad looker either, and he’d like to get to know him better. As a person, and as a partner, especially if it would help things along. He was just drifting off to sleep when he heard voices in the hallway, and he paused to listen. They weren’t raised, they weren’t loud, but he could tell it was Nick and Ryan, discussing him.
He couldn’t make out everything they were saying, but he gathered that the gist of it was that Ryan was informing Nick of Timur’s being there, and a confession about the evening. Curious, Timur got up to try to listen to Nick’s answer.
“Did you have a good time?” he overheard Nick asking Ryan, his voice casual.
“Yes, actually.” Ryan admitted.
“Good. I don’t see a problem, and you didn’t do anything here.”
“Well…not exactly.” Ryan confessed.
“What do you mean?” he queried.
“I fed from him. And… we kissed.” he admitted.
“Oh.” Nick said. And then, a long pause. “What did you think?”
“You’re right about the way he tastes. He’s… hard to describe, honestly.” Ryan stated.
“And the kiss?” Nick asked.
“He started it.” Ryan huffed.
“I don’t care who started it. Did you like it?” he asked.
“Yes,” he said after a moment.
“I’m not mad.” Nick promised.
“How can you not be?” Ryan wondered.
“Shit happens. If you had planned it, you would have told me. I know this. I do the same for you.” Timur could almost hear Nick’s smile.
“Come on, let’s go to bed.” Nick said after a moment. Not long after, Timur heard a door click shut.
Timur moved away from the door and headed to the bed, and lay back down. Typically, he didn’t eavesdrop, but curiosity had gotten the better of him. He closed his eyes against a pounding headache, and tried once again to drift off to sleep. As he drifted, he remembered earlier in the evening with Nick. The intense fucking they’d had gave way in his mind to a gentler lovemaking. He was enjoying this aspect of the dream, when Ryan’s presence in the dream became known.
The dream reflected his personal thoughts on the two men. Nick was a top, with Ryan playing the role of bottom. Timur himself was a switch, though both he and Nick would top Ryan in this dream.
Timur awoke in the late morning, in desperate need of a cold shower. He knew the homeowners would be asleep, so he scouted himself for a bathroom, and took the opportunity to grab that cold shower, and try to forget the night’s dream, at least for now.
After getting dressed, he hunted up his keys, and headed out, just as another man, Asian, entered. After a brief exchange, Timur left, and headed home. Hopefully, if he were lucky, that dream was more like a foretelling of things to come.
Hey, he could hope, right?