Nate cupped Escher's jaw, taking control over the kiss. His kiss was tender, but his hungry lust was leaking through. Escher broke the kiss, tilting his head back as his lip curled to reveal his fangs growing out. Nate licked his dry lips and swallowed. Part of him was seriously questioning his motives. Forcing himself to stay calm, he slid a hand around Escher's neck. His fingers caressed up his neck into his hair, before pulling him back into a kiss. As their lips met in another kiss, Nate felt something defiant and dark twist his heart. Over the years he had grown tired of losing family and friends to things out of his control. To feel alive and in control, he had always defied orders and pushed limits. He felt a war within himself. Just like his clash of bloodlines, he felt torn between the light and dark in himself. He'd always managed to stay neutral... but for the first time, a taste of danger was a rush. It spread like a wildfire in his veins. Grabbing Escher's jaw with his free hand, he coaxed Escher into opening his mouth. When he did, Nate leaned in to suck on one of his fangs. Nate's tongue flicked over the sharp point of his fang, tempting fate. A vampire had ended his family and he found himself curious if he could turn the tables on one. A small wispy moan let Escher's throat, his fang pressing lightly against Nate's tongue.

Nate thought he'd bite him, but Escher kept himself under enough control that his fang didn't break skin. Nate tried to keep going to make Escher breathless... until he realized that Escher wasn't breathing. Leaning back to gasp for air, he panted out. "Now that's just cheating... Without breath... how do you stop?" Escher grinned, his expression making Nate believe he was blushing despite not being able too. Clearing his throat, Escher told him in a smooth tone of voice. "I didn't expect that. I tend to breathe out of habit... but you made me forget. Otherwise, I usually stop because I'm listening to the change in your heartrate. With other vampires... Well, we can go for hours as long as the bloodlust lasts." Nate straightened up, asking a bit sassily between deep breaths. "Bloodlust? Can you even... Get it up?" Escher's eyes narrowed on him, then moving faster than Nate could see, Escher flipped him down across the bed like he weighed nothing. Pinning Nate's wrists above his head as Escher braced over him on all fours, before purring down to him in a calm cool voice. "Oh, Darling... You'll never have better. Once bitten... You'll never experience sex the same again." Nate tugged his wrists uselessly against Escher's iron grip, his legs jerking up to lock against Escher's hips to weakly hold him off.

Escher leaned in to brush his cold lips against Nate's warm neck, causing Nate to yelp out. "Wait!" Escher kissed his throat gingerly, lifting his head to look him in the eyes. Nate's heart was beating out of control now as he asked him shakily. "This bite... Will it turn me?" Escher adjusted his hands to hold Nate's wrists with one hand. Then with his free hand, Escher began unlacing the crossed strands of Nate's light brown vest. Nate could only watch him take his time with the laces, while he told him casually. "There is a fifty percent chance that you could contract a weak form of Sanguinare Vampiris. That's 'if' you survive the feeding and 'if' I bite you. Otherwise, the ancient bloodlines possess all the good stuff... but only the daedric lord Molag Bal creates them. His champions... the Vampire Lords." Nate inhaled slowly upon hearing that. Escher said it in such a calm manner that it was relaxing, but he found himself mumbling out. "Should you be telling me this?" Escher chuckled, flipping the cloth of his vest open to start working on the laces of his faded yellow tunic as he answered in a loving purr. "It's all common knowledge."

Escher's hand tugged Nate's tunic up to reveal his torso, causing Escher to lean in to smell him. Nate sucked in his stomach, then held his breath as Escher kissed a spot over his heart. His cold lips making Nate shiver as they lingered on his warm skin. Escher's long white bangs fell from behind his pointed ears to hide his beautiful face. Shifting Nate's attention to his gold hoop earring that glinted in the candlelight, before calming himself down to ask him softly. "Escher? When you said you wanted a taste of home. What did you mean? What's making me irresistible to you? Is it just blood... or is there something about it?" Escher lifted his head, brushing his bangs back behind his ear. Looking him in the eyes, Escher curiously asked him. "You don't know...?" Nate exhaled, shrugging out uneasily. "Know what?" Escher laid down over Nate, making Nate jerk from how cold he was. Escher winced, rising a bit to pull the fur blanket between them. Laying down over him again, Escher released his wrists and sweetly purred out and he stroked Nate's neck lovingly. "You are special, Nate..." Nate rolled his eyes, until Escher brought his lips to his. Giving him a brief kiss, he whispered to him. "The Elven blood in your veins... It's rare and powerful. Combining it with Nord blood only made it stronger."

Nate narrowed his eyes on Escher. He didn't know much about his elven heritage. His mother had never mentioned them. It was possible that even she didn't know if the line went back far enough. Escher nestled between his legs better, telling him in a lusty undertone. "You're like me. I can sense it in your blood." Nate put his hands on Escher's shoulders, asking anxiously. "What am I?" Escher brushed his lips over Nate's, before answering in the softest whisper. "The oldest race of elven kind. The once great rulers of Skyrim before the Nords. Before the Dwemer laid siege to this land... You've got the blood of a Snow Elf in you. Which makes Skyrim VERY dangerous for you." Nate licked his lips, asking curiously. "Why is that? There are plenty of... Falmer." Escher smirked, showing off his fangs as he answered honestly. "Why do you think I'm like this? The blood of a pure snow elf is a delicacy. While the Falmer are all that remains... they're blood is polluted. Unhealthy. Tastes vile and bitter." Nate slid his legs down across the bed, uttering out in disbelief. "That's why it attacked her...?" Escher nodded, telling him gently. "She probably thought you'd be safer at the school under their supervision. It's possible that she knew it was hunting you..." Nate's eyes widened in shock. That felt awfully bold to say to him.

Escher scooted down his body a bit, calmly adding in curtly. "Young vampires often go for kids. Easier to snatch away. Easier to hide or bury. Your parents probably were seen as powerful threats. Especially since..." Escher took ahold of Nate's wrist to look over his father's ring. Tapping the ring with a nail, Escher continued dryly. "Your father clearly had religious preferences. Probably made more than a few Vampire enemies in his time." Escher released his wrist and Nate became distracted with his ring. He had never really looked at it. The brass dragon that circled his finger had a small diamond eye and within its open mouth was a stain glass disc with a tipped over goblet spilling a single drop. It meant nothing to him. He remembered his father once telling him that it was custom made. The brass dragon representing an ancient and powerful dragon. In Nord culture putting dragons on things supposedly brought them strength in battle. He'd always figured the ring was just more or less his father's good luck charm. Feeling his pants get tugged off, Nate sat up quickly. Escher tossed his pants off the bed, leaning in on all fours to kiss him lovingly. Pushing him slowly back across the bed, Escher never broke the kiss. Keeping their kiss passionate and light.

Nate put a hand on Escher's cold exposed chest, gently pushing on him to stop him. Escher pulled away a few inches, asking in a husky whisper. "What's wrong? Have you change your mind?" Nate shook his head, but said in a wispy voice. "Escher... How do I know that 'young vampire' wasn't you?" Escher's voice turned to an icy seriousness, upon looking into his eyes to answer with a powerful truth to it. "Because I don't kill my kin. Breton or not. I don't even feed from them if I can help it. Now that you've brought this to my attention. I'll be looking into this... 'young vampire' myself." Nate smirked, looking at Escher's fangs as he gently asked. "Didn't you say something about biting me? So, when you say...?" Nate drifted off, letting Escher's features melt to one more guilty before honestly telling him. "It's been a long trip... and Nords are not very trusting. I'm on my own. This is a moment that I can't help. I don't plan to take much. Just enough to get me to one of the safe houses. I don't expect to get it for free. So, I offered sex for it." Nate nodded, nervously chuckling out. "Ya... That's just great. You're using my lack of sex against me? That's not fair." Escher brushed his lips over Nate's, purring to him sweetly. "Well, I could always just take it... But I made the offer because of what you are. Your blood should resist the virus."

Nate tensed a little, turning his head to bare his neck as he muttered out through clenched teeth. "Can't argue with that." Escher chuckled, kissing Nate's neck. Scooting down his body, Escher told him casually. "Relax. It doesn't hurt that bad. It's a bee sting at most." Escher pulled Nate's legs apart, starting to lean his head down between his thighs with his fangs posed for a bite. Jerking upright, Nate stammered out. "Whoa! W-w-what the fuck are you doing?! No fangs down there!" Escher smirked, telling him comfortingly. "Trust me. Testosterone is down here. Turns the blood sweeter... and gets me going faster." Nate shook his head, firmly stating out as his whole body trembled. "I don't care. Nope. That's not happening! Bite me anywhere else. Escher?!" Escher's hand pushed Nate back down across the bed, while his other hand gripped his thigh tightly to keep it still. Nate jerked, kicking Escher with his free leg, but he wasn't strong enough to push him away. Escher's fangs pressed to the flesh high up on his inner thigh, causing Nate to turn sideways to bite a pillow and bury his face in it. He yelled into the pillow with sharp bursts of pain as the fangs pierced his flesh. It felt like he'd pinched the skin HARD in two different spots. Nate's body quivered knowing that Escher's fangs were in his thigh, but the pain was fading quickly.

His thigh felt strangely warm and relaxed after a few seconds. Escher's hand stroked Nate's abs, then stilled to keep him down. Nate didn't understand why he was holding him down anymore, until he felt it. A new sensation was tingling over his thigh. It felt like Escher was tickling him! Nate thrashed a bit, turning into the pillow to squeal and laugh. Nate reached down to grab Escher's hair, trying not to pull on it but trying to stop him from whatever he was doing. Escher took his hand from his hair, holding it against Nate's abs as he continued. When Nate was having trouble breathing, Escher paused in what he was doing. Nate took deep breaths, asking Escher breathlessly. "What are you doing to me?" Escher was still pressed to his inner thigh, unable to answer, but there was a gentleness in his eyes when he looked at him. Giving him a wink, Escher shifted a bit and Nate gasped for a different reason. Laying back against the bed, Nate arched his back as deep powerful moans left him. Unlike the tickling from before, he felt this more in his groin. It was pulling the moans from him and making his cock hard. Reaching down, he grabbed his cock to stroke and squeeze it a little as he moaned out. "Escher... What the FUCK?!"

Escher finally shifted up onto all fours, licking every bit of blood off his pale lips. He licked the wound a few times, then began to undress completely as he told him with a grin. "See? Not so bad, is it?" Nate's eyes could barely focus from how turned on he was. Reaching out, he grabbed Escher's arm and pulled him down over him. Escher chuckled as he laid over him, capturing his lips in a lusty kiss. Nate raised his legs to wrap around Escher's waist to keep him close. He even tried to yank the blanket from between them, but Escher kept it there. Nate didn't even care that he could taste his own coppery blood in Escher's mouth. His lust was overwhelming him. It was as if Escher had forced his body to become a needy lusty shadow of himself. Escher broke the kiss to have Nate suck on his fingers. Nate did it without a second thought. Enjoying the icy coldness of his fingers over his tongue. Leaning close, Escher informed him lovingly. "The tickling you felt was the chemical that my fangs produce to numb your pain. Relaxes the muscle. Which allows me to feed. Most get lightheaded... but since my bite was farther down... it forced your body to send blood to one place. Your body had no chose but to give in to a lusty need. Understand?" Nate removed his mouth from Escher's fingers, panting out in a wave of bliss. "Oh, I don't fucking care anymore. Come here."

Escher chuckled into the kiss that Nate yanked him into. Nate tried to control the kiss and Escher let him. It wasn't until Nate felt Escher's fingers push into him, that Nate jerked back from the kiss to yelp. "Son of bitch! Don't your hands EVER warm up?! You are so fucking cold!" Escher giggled against Nate's throat, upon whispering to him. "Unfortunately for you... no. But your body heat will warm me up a little in time." Nate groaned, shifting uncomfortably beneath Escher. Escher claimed his lips again, distracting Nate from the cold to bring him back into the pleasure of it. Nate wrapped his arms around Escher's neck, enjoying the kiss. Escher's fingers stretched him a bit, until Nate couldn't take it anymore. Not having sex for awhile had tightened him back up, but Nate was confident that he could do it with the little prep they had done. He was eager for more physical contact. Grabbing Escher's arms, he flipped him over on the bed. Straddling Escher's hips, Nate rose a bit to adjust the blanket farther up. Taking a hold of Escher's slightly warm cock, Nate adjusted to sit down on it slowly. Wincing as he took him in, he watched Escher bare his fangs with a soft primal hiss. The moment Nate felt adjusted to his size, he leaned over the blanket between them to kiss Escher and started rocking over him.

Escher moaned, wrapping his arms around him. Nate set the rhythm. Their moans mixing as it steadily sped up. When Nate started slowing because his body was starting to lock up from getting close, Escher flipped him back over and took over. Escher buried his face close to Nate's neck, grunting and moaning as his faster pace brought him closer to his edge. Nate was enjoying himself, even when Escher's nails suddenly scratched down his back. Nate unloaded into the blanket between them, while to Nate's surprise, Escher shot a load into him! Easing off him, Escher laid beside Nate, taking in his horrified look. Pushing his hair out of his eyes, Escher chuckled out. "Let me guess... You didn't know that I could do that?" Nate turned to face him, blushing out as he said completely exhausted. "Don't take this the wrong way... but aren't you... dead down there? How...?" Escher flashed him a gorgeous smile, revealing that his fangs were gone now. Shaking his head, he told him honestly. "You don't study necromancy? It's simple. Everything a male needs to make sperm comes from blood. By drinking yours, it makes up for the lack of mine. Blood makes my body run. Vampire women on the other hand... They are sterile. They can't create life once their bodies die. It's impossible."

Nate narrowed his eyes on Escher, asking curiously. "But you with a human woman? Wouldn't that save your kind?" Escher shook his head, answering coolly. "Not really. It would result in a Dhampir. A half-breed. All of a vampires strengths. None of their weaknesses, except for the thirst. I don't know any vampires crazy enough to do that..." Nate smirked, shrugging out. "Why not? Sounds perfect to me." Escher's smile faded as he told him seriously. "It's not. They drain their mothers dry when they come into this world. Leaving most Dhampirs to become vampire hunters. And Molag Bal doesn't take kindly to those that mess with his original design. Hence why you won't find any Dhampirs in all of Tamriel. He kills them personally." Escher sat up, stretching as he told him in a much happier tone. "Damn, I needed that." Nate propped his head up on his hand, mumbling out. "The blood or the sex?" Escher leaned down to kiss Nate's cheek, chuckling out. "Both. Was it good for you?" Nate sighed heavily with a smile. He did feel a lot more stress free and his body was completely relaxed. Escher patted Nate's hip, chuckling out. "Told you it was worth it." Nate snuggled under the blanket to keep warm, then froze when he saw the ring on his finger. Escher climbed from the bed, starting to get himself dressed.

Sitting up, Nate asked him perplexed. "Leaving so soon? Trying to beat the sun?" Escher rolled his eyes, chuckling out. "I don't... Nevermind. I have to go. It's not safe here for me and... I don't sleep much." Nate nodded, uttering out amused. "You know, I'm usually the one that sneaks out in the morning. You're completely throwing off my routine." Escher snorted, dusting off his clothes as he replied nicely. "Shall I pretend that you kicked me out instead?" Nate shook his head, then quickly asked him. "Escher? Before you go... This ring. What does it mean?" Escher sat down on the edge of the bed, taking his hand to look at it. Pointing to the disc part, he informed him seriously. "Be careful who you show this ring to. The dragon means nothing, but this disc here with the goblet... That is Stendarr's symbol. A god of the Nine Divines. The God of righteous rule and compassion. Bretons often worship him. His followers kill all those that worship or associate with Daedric Lords, Witches, Vampires, Werewolves, and any other creature that preys on humans. They call themselves the 'Vigilants of Stendarr.' Which as you can imagine makes them A LOT of enemies in Skyrim."

Escher let go of his hand, getting to his feet before turning to tell him. "Thank you, Nathan. I hope we meet again someday. Until then... Welcome back to Skyrim." Without another word, Escher left the room like he was in a hurry to get somewhere. Nate didn't feel too bad about him leaving. He was used to one night stands. He just felt weird not being the one leaving. Looking over his ring, he sighed heavily and removed it. He never saw his dad as the religious type. Yet, what Escher had said about it made sense why his dad had refused to just let the death of his mom go. Grabbing a string that belonged to his tunic, he looped it through the ring and tired it around his neck. He wouldn't wear it anymore... but he'd hang onto it. Whether he believed in it or not, it was still the only thing he had of his dad. Feeling drained quite literally, he laid down and fell asleep. When he next awake, his leg felt sore where Escher had bitten him. He could feel the two punctures and it made him cringe to touch them. Dressing himself, he gathered his things to leave. He wanted to get out on the road to Solitude as early as possible. It was going to be another long dreaded ride.

The fact that his leg was sore made the idea of riding even worse. Approaching the bar, Vilod smiled when she saw him. Ignoring the customer that was there to ask Nate hopefully. "Morning! Do you want some breakfast? I just got some fresh milk and fresh bread is cooking." Nate tried to discreetly rub his sore leg as he leaned on the bar, telling her nicely. "Sure. Thank you." Vilod pulled out a bottle of Juniper berry mead, sliding it to him as she nicely asked. "Oh boy... You sound like you had a rough night. Here. This one is on me. Did that guy... hurt you?" Nate chuckled to himself, mumbling out. "I'm fine. Thanks. I'm just not a morning person..." She nodded to him, then left him to collect his order. Nate pulled the cork out and was just about to drink, when the man sitting at the bar stated out to him curtly. "You look like a man that can drink. Care to take me up on a little wager?" Lowering the bottle, Nate looked the man over. The man was wearing a black travel robe and looked to be pretty drunk as it was. The man leaned closer, barely able to stay upright as he told him. "The name is Sam Guevenne and I bet you all the gold in my pockets... That I can drink you under this table!" Nate blinked, replying curtly. "This is a bar. Not a table." Sam grinned, turning to face him better. Sliding his own bottle closer, he told Nate with a playful grin. "What do you say, stranger?"

Nate shifted uneasily, mumbling out. "I don't know. It's early morning and I've got a long ride ahead of me." Sam slid closer, pleading with him sweetly. "Your leg is bothering you, friend. Come on. It will take the edge off. I promise." Nate shrugged, raising his bottle to toast Sam, but Sam took his bottle away. Removing another bottle like his from his bag, Sam set it down in front of him and said excitedly. "Oh no, friend. Not with that. With this. It's a special brew. Very strong stuff. Let's get started." Sam leaned over the bar to remove two mugs and poured the red liquid into them. Raising the mug, Sam said excitedly. "I'll start round one. Down the hatch!" Tilting the mug back, Sam gulped it down, then slammed his empty mug down. Sam looked at him after a hiccup, telling him nicely. "Your turn." Nate picked up his mug and smelled it. Using his magic discreetly to check it for poison, he made sure it was clean before gulping it down. The stuff was smooth going down, but Nate could feel the strength of it as it settled in his gut. His tongue was tingling, and he felt a little buzzed already. Sam patted his shoulder, cheering him on happily. "One down, my friend. One down."

Nate nodded, slurring out a little without realizing it. "No problemesh." Sam poured another set of drinks, immediately gulping his back. Shaking his head after it, Sam coughed out. "Whoa... That one hit the spot. I think I've hit my limit... Tell you what. One more drink and you win the contest." Nate nodded, reaching for the mug. He felt like it was almost too easy. Picking up the mug, Nate found he was a little more buzzed than he thought. The world was tilting a little and he was leaning on the bar more. Determined to hold himself together, he gulped down the drink and slammed the mug down. Other than the world tilting a bit, he felt fine. Sam stood up, suddenly seeming very sober as he said in shock. "Wow. You've really done it. I don't know many that can do that. Tell you what. You can have my staff." Nate blinked as the world tilted more, slurring out. "Thrash grape." Sam put a hand on Nate's shoulder, proudly stating. "You know, you're a fun person to drink with. I know this great little place where wine flows like water. We should head there." Nate hiccupped so hard that he staggered back a bit and lost his balance.

Sam grabbed his arms to keep him upright, asking with light concern. "Hey friend. You feeling alright? You don't look so good." Nate felt the world around him move like a ship on ocean waves and thought he was going to throw up. He felt a sensation like he was going to fall forward... and then everything went dark. To Be Continued...