He opened the frosted glass door and held it open for his client. He glanced at the man, who still stood there studying River as if he had two heads. His head slightly tilted to the side, and his green eyes were too focused on River for his liking. What was with everyone and the intense stares?
Vygus finally decided to walk into the room, and River let the door close behind him. The only warning River got was Vygus dropping his backpack to the ground, and then the taller man was on him in seconds, reaching for River, but this was where River thrived. He easily broke the hold the man had on his gi. Surprise showed on Vygus’s face, but only for a moment before he growled and grabbed River again. His hold was shit, but River could tell he was stronger than any human River had ever fought. River relaxed his body and moved with Vygus, throwing off the other man’s footing. They rolled to the floor, and River hooked his leg around Vygus and pushed with his other foot on the mat, throwing all his weight into the rocking motion until he’d flipped them over, making Vygus lose his hold.
It was a mistake River took advantage of it instantly, turning Vygus over and pushing one knee down in between Vygus’s broad shoulder blades. River put all his weight into it, but with inhuman strength, Vygus pushed up. River rolled with the momentum and used Vygus’s strength against him and twisted them until Vygus was pinned once again. River had chosen to learn jiujitsu because it was the best for his body size. He wasn’t tiny now, but he’d been no more than a hundred pounds when he was fifteen. An easy target for people once he’d ventured out into the world. Jiujitsu had been the perfect way for River to learn how to defend himself and gain control over his world.
A growl emitted from Vygus as he fought to get out from under River. He lifted River with a strength that River knew wasn’t normal. River caught the iridescent glow to Vygus’s green eyes. Human was out of the question, but River didn’t think he was a vampire like Caydem. Vygus was too out of control, his movements more instinct-driven than refined. It was as if Vygus had the strength and ability to kill River if he wanted to, but he didn’t have the capability to follow through.
River got a good hold on Vygus that wasn’t easily broken out of. River used the rest of his body to hold Vygus down. An arm wrapped around Vygus’s throat, and River leaned into it until he could feel Vygus try and swallow. River held a thrashing Vygus until the man slowed down. Ragged breaths came from Vygus as his body started to slump onto River. He was too damn heavy, and River wanted nothing more than to move from under the man, but he wasn’t letting go of his hold just yet. Sweat coated both of their bodies. Vygus’s blond hair was tousled to the side and tickled River’s face where it caressed his skin.
River held on longer than he would for any human, but he instinctively knew Vygus was far from being human. Vygus’s body shuddered, and River finally eased up on his hold. As soon as he did, Vygus rolled away from him, getting on his hands and knees as he coughed and tried to suck in much-needed air. River slowly sat up and watched Vygus—his muscles looked as if they were moving on their own under his tan skin, his long claw-like nails digging into the mat.
“Don’t tear the mat. They’ll take it out of my check,” River said.
Vygus’s head popped up, and he stared at River with his green eyes that were more like an animal. His teeth were sharp as an inhuman growl emitted from him. River didn’t bat an eye. It only made sense; if vampires existed, so did werewolves. River ground his teeth. What had he done to ever attract such things?
“You heard me. Unless you’re going to pay for new flooring, put your claws away.” River moved to stand, but a chilling growl came from Vygus.
River sighed. Still he stood, only for Vygus to move faster than River had anticipated. River crashed down to the floor, the breath knocked out of him as Vygus stayed on top of him, one clawed hand pressed firmly in the middle of River’s chest. It was hard to breathe, but River relaxed as saliva dripped from Vygus’s mouth onto River’s face. Vygus’s teeth were sharp points, and his green eyes practically glowed as he growled down at River.
If he was going to die, then so be it. Vygus leaned down, sniffing along River’s throat and chest.
“You smell like the dead,” Vygus growled out.
River just lay there staring up at the ceiling before glancing over to the clock. Vygus still had fifteen minutes left of his private class. River sighed as he waited the time out. There was no panic; in his mind he was clear of all fear. Sharp claws bit into his flesh, and River glanced down to where his gi had opened slightly and Vygus’s claws touched flesh. Blood was already swelling up at the area, and hot needlelike pain radiated from the spot.
Vygus dragged his claws through the skin, and River’s flesh caved like wet paper. River bit down on his tongue to keep from crying out from the pain. Instead he controlled his breathing even through the searing pain. River pulled that quiet box out of his head and wrapped himself in the metaphysical blanket. It couldn’t block out the pain, but it was the best way for River to distance himself from what was happening.
Vygus stopped short. River blinked his eyes open and stared into green eyes filled with confusion. Caydem had reacted the same way. River confused them. He was an anomaly to them, although they were the ones who weren’t supposed to exist. Slowly Vygus’s teeth returned to mostly human, blunt teeth. His eyes dimmed a little, and Vygus tilted his head to the side, staring at River, his blond hair falling to the side of his face.
“You don’t smell of fear.”
River’s steady heartbeat attested to that calm state. “I’m hearing that a lot lately.”
“Why?”
Great Vygus was a philosopher with the questions.
“What do I smell like to you?”
Vygus growled, closing his eyes, inhaling sharply. Still his claws dug into River’s skin.
“Like fucking death.” More blood trickled out of the wounds on River’s chest. “But also, good,” Vygus said on a groan.
River hadn’t expected that, but at that point, he lost all care. Vygus never retracted his claws even as he brought his body down against River’s, moving his hips to drag his clothed hard cock on River’s leg.
River’s body reacted of its own accord. Either River was broken, or the vampire had completely changed River’s body. River sighed but couldn’t help how his cock hardened at the feel of Vygus rubbing against his leg. There was something hot about it. It was different than Caydem, and River couldn’t figure out why he even cared.
His fingers itched to grab the blond strands on top of Vygus’s head. River thought about it, let the idea sink into his mind. His eyes caught on the clock on the wall. There was still time, and grabbing Vygus could be considered a part of the class. As soon as River lifted his hand, Vygus froze and growled at River. Static filled River; where normal people would feel fear, River felt nothing. He pushed his fingers through the soft, damp strands and curled his fingers. River tugged without mercy, and Vygus let out a surprised gasp. River hooked his leg around Vygus’s and turned them over so that he was on top once again. Vygus’s claws left his skin painted red with River’s blood.
“Don’t get the mat bloody,” River said.
Vygus instantly wiped his hand on his shirt, ruining it. River had no idea why Vygus was listening to him, but he didn’t too much care either. River checked the time once more. The lesson was almost over. He thought about getting up but pushed it away at the last minute. If Vygus was anything like the vampire, he was going to push past the allotted time, and River wasn’t in the mood to have his day ruined.