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“Can you hold still?” Reid said, exasperated. He dropped McCullum’s bandaged arm, allowing the hunter free motion. Geoffrey was pissing him off and it wasn’t even midnight.
McCullum ignored him and reached into his coat pocket to grab a tin of cigarettes.
“You are going to smoke,” He asked incredulously, “while sitting on my exam table?” Reid hadn’t eaten yet tonight and was feeling snippy. He took a breath, steadying himself. He ignored his prickling skin and and the anger bubbling beneath. Fighting with McCullum was more pointless than mopping up the ocean.
Petulantly, Geoffrey raised his gaze and held the rolled cigarette between his lip, letting it hang loosely in a deliberate show. He struck a match and held it to the paper while Reid subconsciously re-capped the jar of alcohol. A small spider scuttled away into a hidden corner of the room.
“Come on, Doc. It’s for my health.” He took a long drag and exhaled directly into Reid’s face who blinked, unamused. “Besides, it’s better I smoke now before you start your prodding.” He pointed to the wound kit with a relaxed gesture. “Get going. I don’t have all night.”
Reid rolled his eyes and sat back down in his chair. Two weeks ago, Geoffrey had come in after an altercation with Vulkod living in a bombed out warehouse looking worse for wear.
After the events of the Skal pandemic, he had resigned himself to his role as Priwen’s house doctor. Seeing as he wouldn’t walk into their den and Edgar, understandably, wouldn’t allow them a room at the Pembroke, he had turned a corner of his office into a makeshift exam room. He had seen all manor of vampire attacks in the recent months, many of which were infected by the time the guardsmen had the incentive to ‘See the Leech’.
The bites on McCullum’s forearm and leg weren’t infected on the initial visit, but both were deep and jagged. A fair amount of skin was torn away by the lupine creature’s teeth and left too much tissue exposed for Reid’s liking.
It had taken a tremendous amount of restraint to ignore McCullum’s blood for the duration of treatment. With the Skal infestation over, there wasn’t the same supply of ethical food source. Rat blood was barely sustaining him enough to function. He hoped that he didn’t look as bad as he felt. With effort, Reid got through the procedure and sent the hunter packing with instructions to keep the areas dry and to come back in two weeks.
Shockingly, McCullum’s bandages looked to be in good shape when he came back for follow-up. McCullum had refused the exam table his time and instead lounged on Reid’s couch with his arm laid up on the armrest. Aside from that, McCullum was a model patient and Reid was almost impressed. He wasted little time before getting to work. He unwound the bandages on the forearm and was happy not to notice the hallmark smell of infection. The wound itself looked angry, though it had healed as nicely as one could expect.
“Am I going to live?” Geoffrey asked jokingly, taking another breath from his cigarette. He seemed calmer now, his shaking hands stilled.
“Assuredly, though it won’t be pretty.” Reid observed. He began to wipe away the effusions with some rubbing alcohol.
“It’s not my first scar, leech”
“Oh I was referring to your face.” Reid didn’t look up, but smiled as he began removing the stitches.
He worked silently after that. Everything was coming along nicely and there was little need for intervention aside from pulling the many sutures that zigged up McCullum’s arm. He reapplied the bandage and readied himself to start working on the leg. “Could you undress, Mr. McCullum?” He asked in a more professional tone. Reid stood up and busied himself over by the sink to offer McCullum privacy to remove his pants. He could hear the hunter snort at the obvious concern over his modesty. Reid was sure that living with the guard in tight quarters didn’t exactly breed decorum. Still, he felt that patient agency was an important part of the encounter. Even if it was McCullum.
Reid walked back to the table and found the hunter undressed from the waist down. He was wearing cotton boxer shorts that had become so popular after the war, and Reid did his best to focus on the task at hand.
“Sit back a bit and lay down, so I can get a better look.”
“You’re not getting me on my back, Leech”
Reid sighed and knelt on the hardwood, moving the chair out of the way. It was better not to argue with the hunter when he was in one of these moods. He started unwrapping the bandages and frowned at the blood that seeped through the layers. Reid wrinkled his nose at rancid-oily scent in the air indicative of a burgeoning infection.
The Vulkod had snapped McCullum on the calf leaving a particularly nasty bite. This one was worse than the other, with sections still open and weeping. He got to work pulling each of the stitches and went to the cupboard to grab Dakin’s Sodium Hypochlorite solution which had served his patients well in the war. He grabbed the rinse basin and was looking for a towel when he heard another strike of a match.
“Are you serious McCullum?” He snapped. “I understand the addictive nature of cigarettes, but don’t you think this is a bit much?” Reid grabbed a towel and walked back to Geoffrey who was offering a rather vulgar gesture with his good arm. Reid laid out his supplies and began to wash the area with efficiency. Thankfully it looked worse that is actually was.
“Everybody’s got a vice, you know better than most.” McCullum voice was tight with discomfort.
Johnathan scoffed. “Sorry, but I cannot say I relate to that assertion.”
“Come now,” McCullum took another pull. “You can act all high and mighty, but I know the truth. Even before you became a leech, you were a toff. All toffs have vices, be it drugs or wine or whores. And don’t even get me started on your affliction,” Geoffrey added a posh accent to ‘Affliction’ imitating Reid’s own.
He knew that he shouldn’t get into it with the hunter, but he was feeling tense. “And what exactly is that supposed to mean? I am perfectly in control of my dietary needs. Would you consider your need to eat food a vice?” He added, without looking up to see the response.
“We both know that isn’t the same.”
Reid, again, busied himself with his work and when he was satisfied with the wound, he started to bandage the limb. He ignored Geoffrey to the best of his ability. He was hungry, starving even. Once he sent McCullum on his way, he would find something to eat. He knew better than to let that lout get under his skin in such a spectacular manor. Reid quickened his pace and wrapped the last bandage and secured the wrappings with a clip.
“There you go. You should last long enough for the cigarettes to kill you.” Johnathan said snidely. As the soon as comment left his lips, he regretted it. He never would have spoken to a patient this way—much less a friend or whatever complicated mess he and McCullum were.
Reid was about to apologize when the sharp scent of blood cut through the air. Without thought, Reid’s focus snapped to the source. McCullum was looking down at him from his position on the couch, silver blade in hand and a deep gash blossoming over his skin. The bandages and shears clattered to the ground as Reid claws extended. He could feel his fangs descend, unbidden. He held his breath, willing himself to tear his eyes away from the slow trickle that wound its way down McCullum arm until it dripped onto the floor.
Another drip followed.
Reid swallowed, willing his teeth to retract. “We should get that patched up.” Reid kept his voice even and mouth closed, trying to hide both his interest and fangs. “Here let me grab a cloth.” He went to stand when McCullum caught his arm.
“Would be a shame for it to go to waste.”
Reid made the mistake of looking McCullum in the eyes. The man’s eyes were twinkling impishly-- He knew too well what he was doing.
“You are playing with fire, McCullum.”
He laughed. “One taste couldn’t hurt.” His tone was mocking. “I thought blood was like food to you? Nothing to be afraid of Doctor. I’ve never had a problem stopping after one bite. Consider it payment for services rendered to me and my men.”
Reid watched as another drop hit the ground. Rational thought had all but left at this point. He cleared it throat. “I’ll grab a cuvette”
The hand on his arm tightened. “No, leech. With your mouth.”
Reid gave him a hard stare, and let himself breathe in the aroma. After months of rats and decaying vampires, McCullum’s blood smelled like a Christmas banquet. He had only indulged in human blood a few times after his turning and never from a living person. He was able to stop himself then. This couldn’t possibly be different?
“Better hurry, I think it’s starting to clot.”
Johnathan broke eye contact. He would not give McCullum the satisfaction of debasing himself, so he rolled his chair back and sat as professionally as the situation would allow. He looked to McCullum for permission and the smug bastard just leaned back, his bad arm resting on the back of the couch. Reid steeled himself and lowered his lips to the wound.
His world stopped as the first taste exploded on his tongue. This was nothing like the vermin, or the stale leftovers of some half decayed corpse. This was ambrosia, this was life. His throat bobbed as he swallowed his first mouthful. Heaven had never felt so close. His tongue played at the wound coaxing more blood, but nothing came.
He let out a frustrated whine, and opened his mouth to break the flesh with his fangs.
The cold touch of metal on skin caused Reid to pause. Without his notice, McCullum had pushed a knife to his throat. Slowly, while holding the blade, he moved his hand upward to Reid’s scalp and pulled his hair tight to force his head back. Reid looked a sight. His pupils were blown out leaving the iris completely black, his mouth agape and fangs extended. He was gripped by a terrible hunger as he looked pleadingly at McCullum.
“There you are.” McCullum smiled. He held a knife to Reid’s throat. “Now, what were you saying about vices?”
“More,” Reid whispered. He wasn’t in control, he spoke before
McCullum leaned in close, forcing Reid’s head back further. “What was that?”
Reid tried to back down. He tried to silence the starving thing inside him. He opened his mouth to refuse but all that came out was a quiet, “More, please.”
“On your knees, Doctor.”
He dropped to the ground before he had time to think. Absently he heard the chair crash into something behind him. It didn’t matter, a shell could have struck the city and he wouldn’t stray the course.
McCullum ran his hand through Jonathan’s hair, his hand trailing down his neck and tracing the line of his jaw. Reid leaned into the touch, allowing McCullum to pull back his lip exposing one of this fangs. The hunter’s eye brows raised in mock surprise. “Seems to me that I should get something from this deal.”
Reid let out an exasperated sound, one that he would have swallowed if any part of his mind was still functioning. It was breathy, labored, and conveyed too much need for his liking. He closed his eyes and thought about anything to rein in his need. Cranial nerve one-olfactory, nerve two--optic, three is trochlear. Or was that oculomotor? He shook his head feeling a thin semblance of control return to him and attempted to form words from behind his fangs. “What do you have in mind?”
McCullum gave him a half smile and let his good hand fall to his lap. Slowly, he adjusted his position—widening his legs and leaning deeper into the couch. McCullum began to stroke himself lightly through the thin garment, the fabric stretching and yielding, giving Reid a show. He couldn’t look away.
“Let’s say you finish the job here,” McCullum began, his voice deep and smug, “I’ll give you a bit, straight from the source.” He pulled up the short leg of the boxer and tapped on the location where the femoral artery sat.
Reid paused. He weighed his hunger against his self-control, worried he wouldn’t be strong enough to stop himself. He must have stopped for too long and he hunter took notice.
“I washed before I came over here, your highness.” McCullum taunted, but there was a bit of vulnerability in his voice. He was giving Reid an out.
“No, I’ll do it.”
McCullum relaxed again. “No teeth. I’ll gut you like a fish before you get your first taste.”
Reid was already leaning forward. He gripped the hunter’s muscled thighs, strong from years of running downprey. He traced a line of kisses through the dark hair at the base of his stomach down towards the waistband of his pants. True to his word, McCullum smelled of lightly lavender and lemon. It was an expensive blend that he must have nicked it from a target’s house. Underneath the fragrance, he was warm and inviting. It was a deep musky scent that always left Reid wanting more.
He lowered McCullum’s waistband and stretched the cotton over his hips and down to the ground with a practiced movement. He found McCullum’s cock hardening, the foreskin still tight over tip. It was dark against his fair skin of his thighs. Reid took him into his hand and slowly began to stroke from base to tip relishing in the familiar weight and thickness. He thumbed at the foreskin feeling it loosen as McCullum grew harder. He flinched at Johnathan’s cool touch and Reid used his other hand to rub firm circles into the Hunters back.
Johnathan placed his lips to the tip of McCullum’s cock and stilled his hand. He looked up from under his lashes, asking for permission.
“Go on, beast. Earn your dinner,” McCullum commanded, his voice deep and heavy with want. He began to stroke his hand through Johnathan’s hair, coxing him to continue.
Johnathan tighten his grip and took McCullum into his mouth. He wrapped his lips tight and let his tongue softly caress the underside of his cock. He began moving faster and heard McCullum groan with pleasure. The hand on his head gripped his hair and started to pull, encouraging a faster pace.
Suddenly, Reid smelled blood and was worried he had nicked Geoffrey with a tooth. McCullum didn’t slow his pace and Reid continued. Instead, he felt a warm trail running down his forehead to his cheek. The cut on McCullum’s arm had reopened and his blood was now running down Reid’s face, blood mixing with saliva.
Blood began to flow into his mouth and he opened wider at the taste. McCullum took that as a sign and pushed himself deeper. Reid grabbed onto his hips for support as McCullum set a new and brutal pace, pulling out slowly and pushing in with a frim snap, the length dragging along Reid’s throat.
Not needing to breath was an entertaining symptom of his new condition, one that he hadn’t fully explored until now. But as McCullum fucked himself into Reid’s throat with long, deliberate strokes he welcomed the change.
McCullum’s muscles clenched underneath Reid’s grip and the hunter pulled out. He guided Reid to his inner thigh, pressing his face firmly to the skin. Reid’s vision went red and he could see the blood rushing below the surface. McCullum’s heart beat quickly as he neared his climax.
Reid bit down, his fangs cutting through skin and finding the artery with ease. McCullum shuttered as he came, the mixture of pain and venom pushing him past the brink. Reid swallowed greedily. The starving thing that hungered for blood and sex and all manner of vices screamed with glee. McCullum relaxed under him. The venom worked to calm the nerves and dull the mind, and not even a hunter would resist its siren song-- Not that he wanted to.
Mouthful after mouthful, Reid drank. A feeling of fullness he hadn’t known since his transition settled in his stomach and made a home there. Color returned to his vision, and slowly became aware that McCullum was speaking.
“Aye that’s enough, beast” His voice was tender, almost gentle.
Reid released, and awareness came back like a tidal wave. He blinked quickly, centering himself. “McCullum, I’m so sorry. I didn’t think I would get so carried away.”
He grabbed McCullum wrist and saw that the cut had closed again. He used two fingers to feel for a pulse and was relieved to find that it was strong and calm. He turned his attention to the thigh and found that the wound was only leaking slowly as the venom had begun to work its magic. Reid went to find the bandages he knocked over earlier.
McCullum snorted, “Just grab me a towel. I’m fine.”
Reid was about to argue, but thought better of it. He got up from his position on the hardwood and walked over to the sink to refill the basin with warm water and grab a cloth. While it filled, he used the time to clean his face of drool and blood. He checked his appearance in the mirror and frowned. Something wasn’t right. His eyes had changed; the pale blue had darkened around the iris giving a red tinged appearance. Few people met his gaze and he hoped that no one thought of him enough to notice.
Once the basin was filled, he walked back to McCullum who was dozing on the couch. His bandaged arm and leg were undisturbed and Reid moved on to cleaning the new wounds. Both were shallow and thankfully did not require stitches. Still, he sanitized the area and put on a small dressing. The thigh punctures had completely healed and Jonathan took a mental note to investigate the components of his saliva.
“I told you I was fine,” McCullum opened his eyes and shifted his position on the couch. “I look like a pincushion” He gestured with his two dressed arms.
“A handsome pincushion.”
“Hey, don’t think this is going to become a regular occurrence.” McCullum warned without any heat. He washed himself with the warm water and began pulling on his pants. Reid decided to busy himself with packing up his wound kit and moving it back to the makeshift exam area.
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” Reid rolled his eyes. “Besides, you were the one who asked.”
“You were pissing me off.” He stopped as his gaze fell on Reid’s face. “What happened to your eyes?”
“I guess human blood has some physical effects. Hopefully temporary, wouldn’t want to scare off any suitors.” Reid chuckled halfheartedly. He walked back over to McCullum. “It’s a little ghastly.”
McCullum stood up to his full height meeting Jonathan’s gaze. “It’s going to take more than you looking like a leech to scare me.”
Reid swallowed and broke eye contact. “You are going to need to get that leg checked out in a couple of weeks.”
McCullum shrugged. “We will see if I have any openings. Besides, I hear unnecessary follow-ups are just a way for quacks to make more money.”
“I don’t even charge you McCullum.”
McCullum smiled knowingly and let his gaze linger on Reid’s eyes. “Don’t you?”
Reid ignored him and turned his back to the hunter in a huff. If he could still flush, he would have been beet red. “Two weeks, McCullum.”
He hears the sound of the match strike as McCullum lit another cigarette. The smell snaked through the air and hung heavy. “Two week, Beast,” Jonathan heard McCullum take a long drag, “If you can last that long.”