And for those of us in the know, the unedited version is presented for your viewing pleasure... ;) RPG SPEC: Dagger of the Mind Sequel to "Hollywood Vampires" Part 55, Posts 541-550 _________________________________________________________________________ Post 541: Brad Brad took the troubled face between his hands and tilted it up to meet his kiss. He trailed soft, lingering kisses all across it, soothing and stroking the tightly clenched muscles of Tom's jaw and neck. Tom was just as tired as he was, though no one would ever get him to admit it. It was time for them both to rest. "What are you sorry for?" Brad kissed away the frown that started to form between Tom's brow. "I was in "this" from the very beginning. I was always the Louis, then came you, and Tony...and the rest, as they say is history." Brad tried to make light of it, but Tom wasn't having it. "Look, Thomas, if anyone's to blame for my being in this mess, it's me. I made the choice to stay and try to help Tony after they did *that* to him. No one else was trying to help him - except for Louis...and Louis' help could very well get him killed!" Brad derailed that train of thought for the moment, not wanting to start a argument about Tom's precious Lestat. "And as for you and I...," Brad kissed Tom deeply. "We'll just take it each day as it comes, and let the sorrys take care of themselves." He slid his hands down the hard curve of his lover's back, and pressed him close. "Of course I'll watch the sunrise with you. Wouldn't miss the sunrise for anything in the world." Brad kissed Tom once more, then broke away, fighting off Tom's roving hands to lead him out to the small eastern balcony where they'd watched the sun rise last night...this morning...? It seemed like years ago, like they'd been together, been this close, for years. "Here we are," Brad said softly. "You say, goodbye. And I'll say hello." "Brad..." Tom began. "What? It's just and old Beatles song. It's been on my mind all day...can't turn around without seeing the Beatles these days," Brad smiled at Tom and then moved to the little lounge and sat. "You say yes. I say no. You say why, and I say...I say..." Brad looked out over the baclony as Tom came to sit beside him and take him in his arms. "No." Brad whispered against Tom's shoulder. "I say no, Tom. Do you hear me? Are you *listening* to me!" "I hear you," Tom whispered into his hair. But he didn't say anthing else, didn't say he would honor that no. "It's really Tony I should be worried about, you know," Brad murmured. "He'll be fine. I don't think Lestat's after him anymore. He showed no signs that he was, anyway, and Antonio was actually doing fairly well with the whole business..." "I didn't mean worry about harm *to* him, Tom," Brad said gently. "Here I am worrying about what you *might* do *if* Lestat makes you into a vampire, and not giving a thought to my best friend in the whole world, who is lonely and miserable, who loves me far too much, who is alreay a vampire - and has had his teeth in me!" _________________________________________________________________________ Post 542: Tom Tom took this in soberly, then raised his head, looking deep into his lover's eyes. "You're exactly right." he said quietly. "On all counts. Antonio needs you now, and you don't dare go near him. Louis... he knew what he was talking about." "What are *you* talking about?" Brad asked, voice tight. "I spoke with Antonio." Tom hesitated, but could think of no way to ease it. "He wants you every bit as much as I do. Brad..." His voice droped to a whisper, nearly choaked suddenly. "You're in a hell of a lot of trouble." Tom felt Brad shiver in his arms, and hated himself for being the cause of that fear. He suddenly hung his head, the night catching up to him in an unexpected wave of exhaustion. The sky paled around them, bathing the balcony with light, blue gray from the mist which still hovered. Once again birds began their dawn chorus. "The sun is rising. It's another day. We've another day... and I don't want to begin it arguing. Especially not with you." Brad nodded, but said nothing. He only moved to wrap his arms around Tom, and the two of them faced the new day. They watched until the sun burned off the last of the fog. Traffic started to appear, sounds of doors opening, dog barking, televisions coming to life could be heard up and down the street. In a matter of minutes the world had changed completely, while the two of them stood and watched, caught in the twilight somewhere between the sun and the moon. Finally Brad loosened his hold, tugging Tom back into a house where vampires slept. Tom thought nothing of it. In fact, he thought of hardly anything at all. Suddenly, all he wanted in the world was a bed, and Brad's arms around him. He watched in rather numb satisfaction as Brad skinned out of his clothes, then turned and very matter-of-factly got him out of his own. However, his detachment ended abruptly when they hit the sheets. Suddenly Brad's hands were everywhere, stirring him to new life. Tom responded immediately, kissing Brad as thought it would be their last time together. "Beautiful one..." he whispered against the heated satin of Brad's lips, "my beautiful one... one more day..." then his words were lost, swallowed by his lover's kiss. _________________________________________________________________________ Post 542A: Brad Tom shifted over so that he lay fully on top of him, the weight of his body pressing him into the mattress. "Do you want me?" Tom asked hoarsly. "What do you think?" Brad choked out. He thought his body was making the answer to that pretty obvious. "I want - I *need* to hear you say it," Tom whispered, his eyes hungrily devouring his face, a silent plea in them as he waited to hear the words. "I want you." Brad said simply. "I want you so bad, it scares me. I want so much and so often that it never seems to end. I'm desperate for you when we're apart, and when were together it's all I can do to keep my hands off you. I want to make love with you until we both pass out from exhaustion. I want..." The rest of his words were swallowed in a throat deep kiss as with a strangled cry, Tom swooped on him. "I want to feel you inside me," Brad whispered when he could speak again. He shifted his legs apart so that Tom slipped down between them. "I've been waiting for this all night. Been to the store and everything..." Brad slipped his hand under the pillow and brought out a large tube of lubricant and waved it at Tom. "You gonna make me beg you?" "No!" Tom snatched at the tube and fumbled it open with trembling hands squeezing a liberal amount into his palms and coating himself throughly. Brad watched with fascination the intensity of Tom's movements, and how the quivering, straining rod of flesh seemed to grow larger and larger as he stroked it. Tom stopped suddenly, bending to kiss him, their tongues twisting and writhing as they tried to devour each others mouths. Brad gasped and then moaned softly as Tom slipped first one, then another, well greased finger inside him. "You like that, my darling?" Tom said with a wicked grin, his eyes glowing like green fire in the dim light. "Ohhhh, yes!" Brad moaned, his body trembling at the sensation. Tom laughed against his lips and trailed wet kisses down the curved of his jaw, sucking gently at his neck for a moment before fastening onto a nipple, drawing into his mouth sharply, scraping it with his teeth. Brad's erection twitched painfully against his stomach, and he could feel Tom's dancing against his thigh. "Please!" he gasped, then cried out sharply as Tom bit down on the nipple and tugged on it savagely, shoving his fingers further inside him and moving them about, forcing him open and preparing the passageway. As he began to whimper softly, Tom realeased the now tender nipple and slid his tongue up across his chest to his shoulder were he again bit down hard, his free hand sliding down to cup Brad and stroke his quivering, engorged erection. Brad knew he couldn't get a coherent word out now if his life depended on it. And what would he say if he could...'I think I'm falling in love with you?' Tom stopped stroking him and eased him over onto his stomach, his fingers still working to open him up. Brad thought he would come right then and there as Tom directed him up on his knees, his fingers thrusting deeper, stroking the sensitive nerves inside his body. "My Beautiful One," Tom breathed, pressing himself against his back, sweeping the hair aside to kiss the back of his neck, trailing lips and tongue down the ridge of his spine, biting into the hard curve of his ass as it rose in the air. Brad pressed his face into the pillow and groaned, shaking violently as his passion overtook him, making him claw at the bed covering as he struggled to control his mounting need. "Oh please," Brad moaned into the pillow. "Thomas, please!" He tried to raise himself up on his hands, but was forced back down, crying out as Tom removed the delicious torture of his fingers at last. He again tried to rise as he felt the throbing heat of his lover starting to enter him. Soft grunts and gasps escaped him as he fought aginst the strong hands that held him steady and forcibly kept him from lunging back. "Slowly, lover. I don't want to hurt you," Tom ground out as he eased into Brad with exquisite care. _________________________________________________________________________ Post 542B: Tom He was on fire. Every inch of his body was flaming with desire. Tom trembled with the effort to go slowly. Only the thought that he might hurt Brad caused him to ease his way into the narrow passage, rather than slamming in full force, embedding himself to the hilt, hard enough for the two of them to truly become one single person... one flesh, one soul... Inch by inch he slid in, nearly loosing his mind each time Brad trembled beneath him. Sweat slicked their skin. He ran his hands over Brad's back as he finally achieved full penetration, the groan from both of them rising unbidden. Tom had never felt anything with such intensity. He felt he'd surely pass out if he moved a single muscle, dizzy from the passion blazing through him. When Brad began to move for him he groaned again, loud and long, giving up the fight. Something as primal as the desire he felt could not be denied. He echoed Brad's tempo then increased it, encouraging Brad to match his passion. Brad needed no urging. With a low growl he half rose to meet Tom, trying to get even closer. He turned just a little, giving Tom a glimpse of his face, eyes closed, lips parted, his expression one of both pleasure and desire. It was all Tom needed to send him spiraling over the edge, exploding at not only the sight, the feelilngs... but in the knowledge that Brad looked that way because of *him*. "My beautiful one... my beautiful one... " the words sprang unbidden straight from his soul as he collapsed next to Brad, seeking out his lips at once, *still* not close enough. "Never close enough to you... my beautiful one, I'll never be close enough." He whispered against the soft satin of his lips, trying to convey some fraction of the emotions which went so much further than a touch, a kiss... a look... straight into and from the heart. "Thomas... look at me." At once Tom opened his eyes, emeralds and sapphires immediately locked together. Brad said nothing further, but instead raised a hand which shook, just a little, to caress Tom's cheek. In a daze Tom wondered if it was physically possible to melt. He moved even closer, feeling Brad shiver as he brushed against his pulsing erection. Still looking into his eyes, he reached down, curling his hand around him, watching those eyes flutter closed at the sensation. The beauty of the man in his arms was too much to bear. It was like a gift... not just the physical perfection but the heart... the soul... Tom once again felt overwhelmed and unworthy as Brad relaxed into his touch. It was a gift which needed a gesture in return, a pledge in kind - mind and body in one. He gently rolled his lover onto his back, shivering as Brad moved without question or hesitation, trusting him completely. Starting at his throat he began kissing, unable to stop the small bite he placed on the pulse, marking him once again, thrilling to the feel of Brad trembling under his hands as he raised the blister on the sensitive skin. Then he worked lower, placing soft kisses and stinging bites at random across his chest and belly until Brad writhed under him, his moan nearly a continuous sound. "I want you, lover." he whispered, low, husky. "I want to taste you." The reaction was immediate and intense as Brad tensed, head thrown back, legs parting at once in invitation. Tom could feel his heart thundering under his lips, felt the rapid rise and fall of his chest. "Give yourself to me, lover." Intoxicated, Tom watched the reactions of his words pour over Brad's body. Again his lips parted and he trembled, hips thrusting slightly toward Tom's waiting hand. Stroking him gently, he noted with delight the heightened color spreading across his torso, the gasp and swallow when he increased the tempo. Finally he could hold off no longer, bending to gently run lips and tongue over him, rewarded by his sharp cry, Brad's body leaping in response, hands at once in his hair, trying to move closer still. Tom took him at once, moving deep, keeping the pace steady, his only regret that he could no longer see his face. He didn't need to, though. His entire body responded, quivering, tensing, bucking under him. Tom lost himself in the motion, in the feeling, time having no meaning. He dedicated himself to drawing the sensations out as long as possible for Brad, taking him to the edge again and again only to hold off, allow him to calm just a little before the next assault began. It was only when the whimpering became a plea, sweat drenching both of them once more, that Tom finally allowed him his release, thrilling in the choaked scream which tore itself from Brad's throat as he came. They were both exhausted. Tom crawled back up until he could hold Brad once more, words as impossible as they were unnecessary. Brad curled around him, slipping into sleep at once, his expression one of perfect contentment. Tom drifted off a moment later, eyes fluttering shut but taking the image of the sunlight on his skin with him into sleep. "For this... it just might be worth it." _________________________________________________________________________ Post 543: Daniel Daniel leaned back against the bed, completely happy for the first time in years. He had gotten his answer from Armand. He still loved him and wanted Daniel in his life. He would begin his new life with Armand...and Marius and Lestat and Louis...and if she would still have him and didn't kill him first, Jesse. "Yes, this is perfection." He smiled to himself. He thought of cloud dancing with Jesse and how magic that moment had been. That's what it would be like from now on. The young reporter, so full of what could be, so idealistic, so in love with the prospect of immortality, was some how reborn in this night. He felt the tug of sleep and looked at the clock on the wall. How long had he been laying there? It was near dawn. He only had a few moments to secure the room before the blazing sun would fill it with it's deadly light. He got up and closed the shade. He would have to tack a blanket to the to be certain that no light would get through. He began to wonder, not for the first time, how much sunlight he could stand before he would be vaporized. With the powerful blood of Armand and the near indestructable blood of Jesse, surely he could at least have a glimpse of the fire demon. He pushed the shade aside and looked into the fading night. A pink and yellowish light appeared on the horizon. So tired. But still he watched, mezmorized by the colors he saw. When was the last time he saw the dawn? Running around with Armand...running from Armand...was a nightshift job. He was too exhausted by the end of the night to have the luxury of sitting up and watching the sun rise. He must have been in his mid twenties the last time he saw one. He continued to gaze, his mind lost in reminiscing. It seemed so harmless, that little yellow dot-- Pain jolted through his entire body, he staggard backwards pulling the shade down with him. The room was exposed and Daniel hadn't the time or energy to resecure it. His eyes felt as though they were on fire and he had to fight himself to keep from ripping them out. He somehow managed to drag the bedspread over his body and crawl under the bed. *Oh God,* he cried *please don't let this be it, not now.* _________________________________________________________________________ Post 544: George Clooney (played by Laura Ann Troise) Vampire movies. Who would have thought? Oh, sure, ER was nice. Even introduced him to Tarantino. But it was *nothing* compared to this. *I play one psychopath in a horror flick and now I get to show my mug in a Scorsese film. Oh yeah, I can get used to this.* George made his way through the lobby of the St. Louis, grinning at those who shied away from the sunglassed, heavily tattooed man until they realized who it was. He looked over at the freshly healed tribal piece on his neck which matched the piece he'd worn in From Dusk 'Til Dawn exactly. *I don't care what my agent says, _I_ like it. And it certainly didn't hurt my chances _here_ now did it?* It wasn't a *large* role, by any means. In fact, it was a role that originally wasn't going to be cast. But the chance to add in another star face in what was already the most highly cast film of the year was just too good to pass up. *Even if the film only technically exists at the moment.* George grinned as he made his way to the elevator and up to the room the studio had booked for him. *But who am I to turn down a paid vacation in New Orleans? Too bad Julianna couldn't come. But who knows? At this rate they'll probably get her to play one of those cemetary vamps.* George laughed at the thought of Jullianna's ER scrubs changed into rotted out 18th century clothing and her hair done up like the Bride of Frankenstein. *I'll have to give her a call about that one. And speaking of calling....* Tossing his things onto the bed, he made his way over to the hotel phone and dialed the number that the studio had given him. He rolled his eyes as he was told to leave a message. "Like anyone expects him to be there," he muttered as he waited for the tone, then quickly switched into his friendliest phone voice.