NOT SO SWEET REUNIONS

Tyler was sitting with Ryan in the conference room when he was told that he had a phone call on his priority phone. It had to be Murdock. He dismissed Ryan and told him to close the door behind him.

When he was alone, he opened the phone to see Seth Murdock's face. He was in the craft. "Mr. Rose," he said, his voice sounding cool and formal.

"Murdock. What's the news?"

"We have the prisoner," he said.

Tyler's hand tightened on the receiver. "Is he alright?"

"He's fine, so far. He's going to have a sore arm probably. The drug had an immediately effect."

"Is he secure?"

"Yes, Sir, as you instructed. He's in chains and inside a double locked security cage. He has yet to regain consciousness."

Tyler bit his lip. "Are you sure he's alright?"

"He's breathing, that's all I can tell you."

"And the others?"

"We were unable to complete that part of the mission, Sir. The others left the premises and we were unable to locate them. They just disappeared."

"You can explain it to me in detail when you arrive. When shall I expect you?"

"Tomorrow morning, Sir. I will bring him to the place you instructed. May I be permitted to ask what you intend to do with him?"

"No, you may not. Take him directly there and then come to me. I will be waiting."

"Yes Sir." Tyler closed the communication.

Sitting back in his desk, he closed his eyes. Dino. How I long to see you. How I long to touch you. How I long to...no. He would pay. He would not be swayed by sentiment. He was his now. His torment would end.

THE ROOM

Tyler watched Seth Murdock as he paced up and down in front of him. "Say it, Murdock, get it out of your system."

"Is being a...vampire...his only crime?"

"No," Tyler replied.

"He was a great man, Mr. Rose, a war hero. He wasn't even here in Ruby City. Why did we have to hunt a...?"

Tyler stood up. "This is between Donavan and I. I take full responsibility for what happens to him. Forget about it. Is he in the room?"

"Yes."

"Is he still inside the cage?"

"Yes," Seth swallowed.

Tyler nodded. "Good. Go now."

Seth took one long last look at Tyler Rose, then headed for the door.

"And, Captain," he said, "I know people think I'm insane. I a.s.sure you I'm not."

Murdock nodded at him and left the room.

Dino opened his eyes and tried to focus on his surroundings. He recognized the room immediately. He had brought Tyler here years ago, a couple of times. The last time they were here together, they had made love. He remembered every second of it. In fact, he hadn't forgotten anything about Tyler Rose in all these years. The pain of loving a man he could never have, weighed heavily on his heart.

He tried to move, but then realised that his wrists and his ankles were chained together. And he was in some kind of a cage, like an animal.

When the lights went on, his eyes flashed red. His body tensed like an animal ready to pounce. He tried to sit up but was having some difficulty. His head felt heavy and unclear. He hissed.

Tyler walked across the room. He tried to control the emotion that gripped him as his gaze first landed on him. He looked exactly the same. His broad muscular chest heaved now with apprehension.

Dino's eyes narrowed, not sure who they were looking at. Then he calmed. "Tyler," he said.

Tyler couldn't speak for a moment. He forced the tears back and swallowed the pain.

"Tyler," he said again. "What...why...what am I doing here?"

"You are a dangerous creature," Tyler replied tensely. "I have a responsibility to protect the galaxy."

He narrowed his eyes. "I can't believe..."

"Can't believe what?" Tyler lifted his chin, coming closer to the cage. "Can't believe that I would do my duty as the supreme leader and have you captured?"

His jaw fell open. He was serious. "What's happened to you?" he whispered.

"You," Tyler gave him a cold smile. "You happened to me."

"But I left to..."

"Yes, you left," Tyler said bitterly. "You left after giving me everything I'd ever secretly desired. You left without even so much as a goodbye. You left me knowing that no lover could ever satisfy me after that." He didn't realise he was screaming until Dino said, "Calm down, Tyler."

He was shaking. Ten years of frustration and pain ripped through him like a surgeon's knife.

"I can explain," Dino began.

"I don't want your explanations. Your actions spoke for you. You didn't say goodbye and you never came back. I waited and waited, thinking that surely you meant what you said to me that night. You said that you loved me."

"I do..." he whispered, closing his eyes. "I do love you, Tyler, more than you know."

He laughed.

That hurt. Dino winced. He saw the look on his face. He knew that nothing he could say at this moment would make any difference. "Now what? What are you intending to do to me?"

"First you will satisfy this ache you left me with. Then, when I'm through with you, I'll give you to the science lab to experiment on."

"Dead, or alive?" he asked, lifting an eyebrow.

Tyler paused. He didn't expect that. It was humour, so typical of him. It brought back so many memories.

"That depends," Tyler said, struggling now to hold on to the edge of his anger.

"On what, Tyler?" he asked him, his deep voice silky and seductive. "On how well I satisfy that ache you mentioned?"

Tyler glared at him. "It's too early to say."

Dino c.o.c.ked his head. "When do I get to satisfy this ache of yours?"

"I wouldn't be so anxious if I were you," Tyler told him hotly. "You will simply be an instrument of pleasure. I plan to use you. Don't think I'll give you anything in return."

He leaned back in the cage. He had given up trying to sit up. "Even the slightest touch of your hand will give me the entire world, Tyler."

"Give it up, Vampire," Tyler sneered. "Your charm is wasted on me."

Dino smiled. "I don't think so."

"Still c.o.c.ky as they come."

"Do you plan to feed me?" he asked him. "Or will you starve me? I won't be much use to you without any strength."

"I'll get you what you need." Without another word, Tyler turned around and left the room.

Dino smiled. I need you, Tyler. I've always needed you, and always will.

A few minutes later, three bodyguards entered the room. When he saw the gun pointed at him, he knew they intended to drug him again.

Without a word, one of them fired and a bullet whizzed through his shoulder. That hurt like h.e.l.l. He growled at them.

It took a few minutes for his eyes to close. He thought of Joey. His face blurred with that of Tyler's. He smiled. You can do anything you want to me, but touch me, he whispered in his dream. Touch me.

Tyler entered the room a few hours later and nodded in satisfaction. They had done exactly as he'd instructed.

He had begun the design on this room the minute Seth Murdock had left on his search for Dino. Three weeks ago, the engineers had finished building it. No one asked what it was for.

The room was adjacent to the very room where Bryce had taken him over ten years ago at his grandfather's request. It was a relatively small room and totally soundproof. At first glance, there appeared to be nothing in the room but iron clasps hanging from every angle and a long table, just big enough for a person to lie down on. But the panel that was installed on the side of the wall made it into a virtual s.e.xual playground where someone could be displayed at all angles and switched into various positions without ever having to be released from their constraints.

In the corner of the room was a closet which was stocked full of every conceivable s.e.xual apparatus ever invented. Further, with a touch of his finger, he could slide back the walls to reveal full length mirrors.

Dino was still out from the drug. He was fully dressed, his arms spread out at his side and secured by his wrists to each side of a movable wall. His legs were spread wide, his ankles shackled and connected to rings which also extended from the wall. Tyler had made sure that the chains were extra strong.

He walked over to him. His head was slumped forward on his chest. Tyler reached out and touched his hair. His hand was shaking as he stroked it. Tears came to his eyes. He chastised himself, withdrawing his hand.

He wrapped his arms around him and buried his face in his neck. He held him tightly, squeezing his body closer to him, then released him. He turned away. Take hold of yourself, Tyler. Remember how he left you.

But I left you because I love you, Tyler. I wanted to protect you.

Tyler glared at him. "You're waking up, it seems."

Dino lifted his head. "Yes. I'm groggy. That drug you keep shooting me with leaves my head feeling heavy."

He moved his head around, eyeing the chains on his ankles and wrists. "So, what is this?"

"I made it especially for you," Tyler said softly, reaching out and running a finger down his chest.

"How nice," he said.

Tyler walked over to the panel and pressed a b.u.t.ton.