Liquid crimson Read Online Free Page A

with calling me Fido, because I know you’re just kidding, but I wouldn’t try it with any of the other wolves. Their sense of humour isn’t the same as mine.”
    “Hmm, sensitive are they? I’ll have to remember that.” They walked in companionable silence for a long stretch. “So what’s that used for?” Michael asked, pointing to a massive round stone building.
    Gunnar veered off the path towards the building. “Come on, I’ll show you.”
    Michael walked to the left and just behind Gunnar. He had no doubt the man was the alpha of his pack. The wide expanse of his chest and shoulders tested the seams in his T-shirt, while his body tapered down to perfectly trim hips.
    “Stop lookin ’ at my ass,” Gunnar admonished.
    Red faced, Michael mumbled, “But it’s such a pretty ass.” He moved his attention to the building in front of him. “So, you haven’t told me what this is.”
    Gunnar opened the ornately-carved set of double doors. Michael stepped into the room and sighed. “Shit, it must be at least twenty degrees cooler in here.”
    “Twenty-seven,” Gunnar corrected after checking the thermometer on the wall. “This is the wine tasting barn. We have groups out occasionally to sample the wines for mass distribution.”
    Michael looked up at the heavy wooden beams. “This place is awesome. Maybe I’ll start sleeping out here at night.”
    Gunnar chuckled. “The boss does tend to keep the house a little warm, doesn’t he?”
    “Damn, I thought it was just me. What’s up with that?”
    Shrugging, Gunnar led Michael out of the building and shut the doors. “I think it has something to do with him being a vampire. He’s always cold. I heard Joseph tell Neo it wouldn’t be as bad if he’d drink blood like he’s supposed to.”
    “What do you mean like he’s supposed to?” Michael knew what it looked like when vampires fed from their donors by watching Daniel dine. “Does Neo have a particular human he feeds from?”
    “No,” Gunnar said, shaking his head. He looked around the area before continuing. “I probably shouldn’t be talking to you about this, but I doubt you’ll ever find out from Neo.”
    Gunnar motioned to a bench under a shade tree. “See that building way down there with the red roof?” Gunnar asked, pointing off into the distance.
    “Yeah.”
    “Around here we call that the blood bank. Folks from the area sell pints of their blood to Neo. He does something special to it. I don’t know all the particulars since he won’t allow anyone but Joseph to mix it for him, but the result is something he calls, Liquid Crimson. I think it’s donor blood mixed with different stuff, including wine. Although blood has been his only source of food since he was turned, Neo still doesn’t like the taste unless it’s mixed with something else. There is a pleasant side-effect though. Liquid Crimson is the only thing I’ve seen that can get him drunk.” Gunnar shrugged. “That’s not to say he’s always drunk, of course. Neo doesn’t indulge very often. Mostly he just drinks enough to stay alive.”
    “No shit? Why does he do it that way? I’ve seen vampires feed, and I gotta say, it’s hotter than hell.”
    Gunnar covered his eyes and chuckled. “I can’t believe some of the things that come out of your mouth. I think you’re just what this place needs.”
    “Oh yippee. I’m so glad you approve, now answer my question.”
    Gunnar stood and looked out towards the ‘blood bank’. “I’ve known Neo for hundreds of years, and I’ve never heard of him drinking directly from the source.” He looked over his shoulder at Michael. “If you know what I mean.”
    “Why?”
    “Shame, I suppose. I think it’s when the shame gets too much that he indulges in more of the Liquid Crimson than what he needs to stay alive.”
    Michael’s first reaction was to wonder if he’d been given some of Neo’s special wine hours earlier in the study. Naw , no way, he decided, but his