My Sexy Kitten

Summary: Anita, Mica, Jean-Claude and Damien have to go away to a formal gathering. Nathaniel had tried to help Gregory and was badly injured so he was unable to attend. Anita asked Asher to stay and take care of Nathaniel while they were away.

Nathaniel was asleep when Anita leaned down and kissed him goodbye, followed by a kiss on the forehead by both Mica and Jean-Claude. �

Leaving the room quickly, they shut the door and made their way to the stairs that would take them to the upper levels of the Circus of the Dammed. Once there Anita hugged Asher then reached up and placed a kiss on the scarred side of his face. �

She said softly, �Take care of him for me. We will be gone for a week, tell him we will try to call.��

Smiling softly Asher replied, �I will protect him with my life.��

�We must go.� Damien said from the doorway.�

Anita reluctantly let go of Asher and taking Mica�s hand in hers the two of them walked up the stairs.�

Asher went back into his and Jean-Claude�s room. The two had decided to share a room once Anita had accepted that they were involved and had agreed to the arrangement. �

Closing the door softly as to not disturb the sleeping man, he made his way over to the chair that had been placed at the bedside and gently lowered himself into it, content to just watch Nathaniel sleep.�

***********************�

A while later Nathaniel started to toss and turn on the bed and Asher moved to set beside him and take the warm hand into his cold one.�

�Shhhhhhh,� he said softly, �It�s alright Nathaniel. You are safe at the Circus.��

Moments later those lavender eyes opened and sought him out. There were tears of pain in the eyes which caused Asher to hurt for the pain the other man was in.�

�Be still Nathaniel,� he said, placing his hand on the heated body in the bed. �you are still healing from your injuries.��

�What happened?� he asked softly. �All I remember is getting a message that Gregory was in trouble and needed help, so I went. Is he alright?��

�Gregory is fine. He was in trouble, yes. His father had caught Gregory alone and hired men to kidnap him and bring him to his father. He managed to make a phone call before the thugs found him. He called Anita, hoping she would be home, but she wasn�t. You answered and he told you what was happening and you went to help.� Asher explained.�

�I remember the call and I remember going to the house, but I don�t remember anything else.� Nathaniel said.�

�From what we can gather, you arrived only a few minutes after Gregory was taken and you were able to follow his scent to the house. His father had summoned something to punish Gregory for daring to leave the family and then telling what happened. You interrupted the power transfer and it attacked you instead of Gregory.� Asher said. �

�We didn�t know anything was wrong until Damien collapsed. Then we knew that you were in trouble and we went to get you out. Thankfully we could follow the power trail to where you were. Jean-Claude arrived first.��

�Jean-Claude attacked Gregory�s father, breaking the base power supply and I went to you. Gregory had tried to help but he had been injured in the kidnapping so he was of little assistance.� Asher explained.�

�We managed to free you, but losing it�s power source, the thing turned on Gregory�s father and killed him before returning to where it came from. Then we brought you back to the Circus. Gregory was able to change and heal, but it was decided that you were not well enough to change. Dr Lillian said that the change would cause more damage than healing naturally.� Asher told the young man.�

�Where is everyone?� Nathaniel asked looking around the room.�

�They had to leave for the conference a few hours ago.� Asher said softly, somewhat cautious of how Nathaniel would take the news that he was left back.�

�The conference,� the man in the bed said softly. �We were supposed to leave at dusk.��

�Anita asked me to stay and look after you and make sure you recovered fully.� Asher said. �I told her it would be my honor to take care of you and I would guard you with my life.��

Nathaniel looked at Asher with uncertainty. There was something different about the vampire, but he couldn�t figure out what that was, and he was really too tired to think about it.�

�I don�t know why Mica didn�t just force the change, or if he couldn�t why Richard didn�t.� Nathaniel said softly.�

�It would have caused to much permanent damage to your body. Dr Lillian said that in a day or two you would be sufficiently healed enough that you could change with no permanent damage being done. But for the first day you really needed to just be still and rest.� The blonde said.�

�So I am bed ridden for two days?� Nathaniel asked in a moment of defiance.�

Asher looked at him in shock. He had never really seen this side of the younger man before. �

/The little kitten has discovered his claws./ he thought to himself, not particularly disliking the idea.�

Smiling playfully at the petulant man Asher said, �Never fear my sexy kitten, I will stay here and play with you.��

Nathaniel�s head shot up at Asher�s words. Never had the vampire said anything like that to him, and he did not know how to respond, so he said nothing.�

Taking the silence as well as the fact that Nathaniel would not look at him as a sign of rejection, Asher�s face fell and his old heart broke a bit.�

Standing up he began walking to the door and said softly, �I am sorry that I made you uncomfortable with my careless words. I will have Stephen come keep you company until you are able to change and heal yourself.��

With the speed and grace that only a vampire has, Asher was out of the room before Nathaniel really had time to register what the old vampire had said.�

***********************************�

A part of him was terribly saddened by the vampire�s exit, and another part of him was confused. He was contemplating his feelings when the door opened and Stephen walked in, coming straight over and giving him a comforting hug.�

�I was worried about you.� He said as he sat on the edge of the bed.�

�I�ll be fine as soon as I can change.� Nathaniel reassured.�

�Asher asked me to stay with you for the next two days until you can change.� Stephen said, �He said that he upset you so it would be best if he stayed away.��

Stephen knew of the attraction that Asher felt for Nathaniel and he hoped that his young friend would realize that he felt the same way. �

Watching Nathaniel closely he asked, �What happened?��

Nathaniel looked down at his hands and shrugged. He knew that Stephen was stubborn and would wait him out for an explanation. Sighing in defeat a few moments later Nathaniel gave up.�

Looking up at Stephen with confusion and uncertainty he said, �I don�t know what to say to Asher.��

�What do you mean?� Stephen asked.�

�He called me �My Sexy Kitten� and told me he would play with me until I could change.� Nathaniel said with a blush.�

Stephen smiled. �And what did you say in return?��

Nathaniel looked up at Stephen and realized that the werewolf liked what had happened. �I didn�t say anything. I couldn�t even look at him. He caught me off guard.��

�No wonder he acted the way he did.� Stephen said softly.�

Nathaniel looked up at his best friend and asked, �How did he act?��

Not one to keep things from his best friends Stephen said, �Like he was rejected.��

Nathaniel sucked in a deep, sharp breath, instantly sorry for not saying something to Asher at the time. The pain of hurting his friend much worse than the physical pain that the breath caused.�

�I didn�t reject him!� he said in horror! �He caught me off guard and I didn�t know *how* to respond! I still don�t know how I feel about Asher! He�s beautiful yes, but do I want him? I don�t know. Hell I didn�t know he had feelings for me until a few minutes ago!��

Nathaniel was now distraught at the thought of hurting the handsome vampire.�

�You are the *only* one who doesn�t know how he feels about you. Even Anita knew back when she and Mica went to Philadelphia.� Stephen said softly.�

Nathaniel lay in the bed looking at his best friend with shock in his wide lavender eyes. �

�It�s not true!� he said in defiance. �I would have known!��

Putting his hand over the bandaged one of his friend, Stephen chided softly, �Would you have? Really?��

Nathaniel started to nod his head but Stephen stopped him.�

�I love you Nathaniel, you know that.� Stephen stated. �But for the past few years you have lived and breathed Anita. You have not really noticed anything or anyone else since moving in with her.��

Again Nathaniel started to deny his best friends words, but again he was stopped.�

�No. Think about it rationally for a moment. Think back over the past few years. You�ll know it�s true.� Stephen ordered.�

Nathaniel wanted to prove his friend wrong, so he began to think back over the last few years to find examples. But the more he thought, the more flustered he became. He could not think of one time in all the years he had known Anita that he even considered anyone else.�

But something else also happened when he began thinking back. He could remember Asher being there for him, doing things for him and he knew then that he had rejected the beautiful vampire at every turn. He looked at Stephen with tears in his eyes.�

�I have hurt him,� Nathaniel said softly with tears in his eyes. �What can I do to make it up to him?��

Stephen sat quietly, watching his young friend come to the realization that the older vampire had feeling for him. �

�First you need to figure out how you feel about him,� Stephen said softly. �If you do have feelings for him then I can help you get him.� �

At seeing the look on his friends face, Stephen grinned wickedly and couldn�t help the laugh that escaped. �

�I�I�do think I�may have�feelings for him.� Nathaniel stammered softly. �B�but what a�about Anita?��

Stephen reached over and said softly, �Don�t worry about Anita Nathaniel, she only wants you to be happy, and if being with Asher makes you happy then she will be thrilled for you.��

Nathaniel looked at the other man for a few minutes, fighting with himself as to what he wanted to do. Then a few minutes later, he smiled softly and looked through his lashes at the blonde.�

�I think I do have feelings for Asher.� The young were-leopard said softly.�

Grinning brightly Stephen said, �I knew you did, I was just waiting for you to realize it. Now�Let�s get you two together.��

For the next few hours the two men talked about what they would do to get Asher and Nathaniel together. Stephen told Nathaniel that he would have to make the first move with Asher, to prove that he was interested in the vampire, and Nathaniel agreed to it.�

�I have rejected him so many times the past few years; it�s the least I can do to prove my feelings.� Nathaniel said. �But how? I would say fix a romantic meal with candle light and some soft music, but�well�That won�t work for the obvious reason.��

Stephen laughed, �True, but you can still do that, with the exception of the meal. You can make up a romantic evening without the food. We are dancers; we can create a dance that would be seductive and sexual enough to let him know that you are interested. We can set the room up with candle light and rose petals and the music ready so when he wakes up you can begin.��

�You don�t think that would be too sappy?� Nathaniel asked uncertain.�

�Nathaniel, I think that as soon as Asher walks into the room and sees you he will be completely enamored with you and under your spell.� Stephen said.�

The two men talked for a few more minutes and then Nathaniel gave in to the fatigue that had been trying to claim him for the past while, leaving Stephen to watch over him while he slept.�

**************************************�

While Nathaniel slept Stephen went about arranging everything for Nathaniel. He had decided that he did not want to wait the two days it would take Nathaniel to heal so he could change to the two men together. �

Stephen�s plan was to send a message to Asher asking to meet him as soon as possible, then bring him to the room when Nathaniel woke, leave them alone and let the two work it out. This way they could have at least one full day alone before everyone came back.�

Smiling to himself, Stephen looked at his watch and noticed it was getting close to Asher�s wake up time. Since marking Anita himself the vampire had been able to wake earlier and walk during sunlight hours, so he usually only �slept� until two or three in the afternoon. It was 1:45 so Stephen set about fixing the room up and making his plans.�

*****************�

As if like clockwork Asher was approaching Stephen at 2:30. Stephen smiled to himself and bid Asher a good afternoon.�

�What�s the matter? Why aren�t you with Nathaniel? Is he okay? What happened?� Asher threw out the questions in rapid succession.�

Stephen chuckled and put up his hand. �Easy Asher, Nathaniel is fine. But I need to talk to you for a few minutes.��

Asher sighed in relief. When he got the message that Stephen wanted to talk to him he was terrified that something had happened, so he didn�t even bother with his daily routine, he just grabbed a pair of jeans and a shirt and hurried to see Stephen.�

Stephen looked up at Asher and said matter of factly, watching his responses. �He does have feelings for you Asher. You caught him off guard and he didn�t know how to respond.��

Asher looked down and refused to give in to the hope that sprang to his heart. �

Stephen put his hand on Asher�s shoulders and said softly, �You really need to give a person a few moments to recover when you make a pass at them Asher. Especially if that person is our little Nathaniel. He�s had so little experience as it is and most of it bad.��
�
Asher looked sheepish. Stephen knew that he had not fed otherwise he would have seen a blush and that made Stephen smile even bigger.�

�We talked about it a lot, and he knows that he has to make the first move.� Stephen said. �He realizes he hurt you with rejection after rejection and he wants to make it up to you.��

�He doesn�t have to.� Asher said softly.�

Stephen smiled, he hoped this would be easy and it was turning out to be easier than he planned. �The plan we came up with was to wait until he was better and then he would dance for you and seduce you. But while he slept I decided that you both needed at least a full day together before everyone, well Anita, comes back and starts mothering him. If you and Nathaniel are together when she returns hopefully she will stay back enough to not smother the poor boy.��

At this Asher did look up, hope filling his eyes. �Are you sure?� he asked softly.�

�Very.� Stephen replied. �He should be waking from his nap at any time; I suggest you be there when he wakes up. I know he would like that.��

The smile from Asher was enough to brighten the Circus for years and Stephen was glad that he got to see it. He knew that Nathaniel would grumble at him, but he also knew that he would be grateful and happy to spend some time alone with Asher as well.�

�Feed on me.� Stephen said abruptly as he remembered that Asher had not fed yet.�

�I have another I can use.� Asher informed him.�

�You�re not going to have the time. Nathaniel will wake soon and I want you to be with him when he does. So feed off me.� He said.�

Asher understood the reasoning behind Stephen�s demand and as he leaned in and his fangs came out, Stephen put his hand on Asher�s chest and said softly, �Just don�t roll me; I don�t need to feel the pleasure right now. I still have things to do today.��

Asher nodded and then sank his teeth into Stephen�s neck. Stephen gasped but stayed still and closed his eyes. He loved feeding the vamps, pleasure and pain were wonderful for him and as much as he would love to have been rolled, he would not be able to stand guard if he was rolled.�

He felt Asher lick the bite before he stepped back. �

Reaching out to caress Stephen�s cheek softly Asher said, �Thank you Stephen. I will never forget what you have done for us.��

Stephen watched in shocked as Asher leaned in and gave him a breathtaking, albeit light, kiss. The energy behind that kiss from Asher curled Stephen�s toes and had he been in wolf form would have singed his hair.�

Doing the only thing he could think of Stephen reached behind his back, turned the knob, opened the door, pushed the slightly stunned vampire inside then quickly shut the door. Smiling to himself he got his iPod out of his jeans pocket, put the headphones on and settled in to stand guard outside the door. No one was going to ruin this for his friends, he would see to that.�

Leaning his head back he gave himself to the music and the memory of the kiss.

*********************************************�

Asher stood just inside the doorway, stunned. �

The bed that Nathaniel was sleeping on was covered in black silk sheets and blood red roses. The room was candlelit and Nathaniel was sleeping peacefully on the bed. It took Asher�s breath away. �

If he wasn�t already in love with Nathaniel he would have fallen hard and fast at seeing him the way he was. �

He approached the bed and gently sat down on the seat placed strategically next to Nathaniel�s hand. He wanted to reach out and touch but he was afraid to wake the injured man, so he just sat there and patiently waited.�

****************************�

Nathaniel felt like he was being watched, but he didn�t feel threatened so he didn�t hurry with waking up. He figured it was Stephen waiting for him to wake up. Nathaniel was surprised when he opened his eyes and found Asher sitting on the chair beside the bed watching him.�

�Hi,� Nathaniel said softly. �

�Good afternoon.� Asher responded, �How are you feeling?��

�I�m feeling okay, getting restless though.� Nathaniel said. �

Both men were quiet for a few moments and Nathaniel got restless.�

�Asher, I�m sorry for earlier. You caught me off guard and I wasn�t sure how I felt.� Nathaniel said. �

Looking up Nathaniel met Asher�s eye and said, �Until now. I think I love you Asher.��

Asher smiled and was about to say something when Nathaniel stopped him. �I mean, I know I care greatly for you, but I�ve never had anyone to be in love with before�Other than Anita of course, but I think that I am more infatuated with her than in love with her. But�I think�I think I love you, and I would really like to give *us* a chance. If you would like to of course.��

Asher couldn�t help himself any longer. He leaned forward and captured Nathaniel�s lips with his own. �

The kiss lasted until Nathaniel had to breath and when Asher pulled away Nathaniel tried to follow him. �

Asher chuckled, �easy Love, we have plenty of time for kisses. Stephen told me of your plan, but he wanted to give us a little bit of time before everyone returned.� �

Nathaniel smiled brightly and put his forehead against Asher�s. �Remind me to thank him.��

�I think we both owe him big thanks!� Asher said. �Now I know you are still too injured to do anything but we can at least hold each other until then.��

Nathaniel patted the bed next to him and lifted up the sheet, �Please come and hold me.� �

�With pleasure My Sexy Kitten, with pleasure.� Asher said as he climbed up onto the bed and drew Nathaniel into his arms. �