Chapter 16
Lust
The knock on the door had me stay right where I was. Who could possibly be visiting the cabin now? I had waited for Ethan for twenty minutes and being bored and alone, I decided to shower before the storm showed up with force.
“Kera. It’s me—Erika.”
I nodded. Least it wasn’t Tristan.
Opening the door shyly as Erika greeted me with a smile, holding a basket to my view.
“Thought, I’d bring a few things, since you’re going to be here awhile. Magazines, chocolate, a couple of books and bathroom essentials, and a brush. Girls got to have a brush.” She glanced behind me. “Where is Ethan?”
Checking the border …
“That rat,” she teased entering in and placing the basket on the table. “Well, good thing I brought nail polish. I can do your nails while we’re waiting.”
Sure … um … where’s Marcus.
“Well, he was keeping an eye on Mavrick’s gang, who are nothing but a pain. Pity they had to come and annoy you.”
Sitting on the sofa, I watched the fire as Ericka unpacked the basket. Moments passed and she was sitting next to me with a bag of nail grooming cosmetics. She reached for my hand. “Oh, you’re going to need a manicure first.”
Um … okay. I bit my lip, lost in thought and her actions as she started filing my stumpy nails. Thanks, I guess. You don’t have to.
“No problem. I do miss my salon in the city. Might have to look into opening one here. Seems there isn’t much in Kenneth. Well, girl places that is. One hair salon, tugh. So lame.”
You own a nail salon … in the city?
“Yeah. I have a franchise of salons. I like to keep myself busy. Fashion stores are annoying though, since fashion changes and what’s hot isn’t hot for long. But nails. Everyone wants nice looking nails.” She brushed the nail dust filing from finger to finger with ease and in no hurry. It was soothing, not noticing her cold fingers and sure, a vampire. She was too nice to be dangerous. “So why did Ethan leave you all alone?”
Where do I start, I said. It was too much kissing, or the fact he wanted more or I wanted more or he didn’t want more … I don’t know. I managed at last, not bothering to bore her with all the details.
Her thin brow raised on her delicate Elvin face. Something in her look suggested she’d heard me.
“Your thoughts are intriguing. Almost as if you want to say what’s on your mind. Ethan seems to have a talent for reading you completely. I know what you’re saying. Lustings are best between two vampires,” she said. “Not to worry, you’ll feel the effects just as much through his bite.”
I blushed. She was forward—like Melody would be.
“It’s not that bad. It’s not actual sex. Just a high dose of endorphins that act in a way that make you want to have sex.”
I nodded. And that’s a bad thing between vampires and humans.
She tilted her head. “Before I became a vampire, near on two hundred and fifty years ago, I fell in love with the most perfect prince. He was everything I wanted—thought I wanted. Course, sharing a lusting with him before I understood it, it made me want him more. It is hazy to me now, since I met Marcus a hundred years ago. Seems unimportant.”
But … you … did share.
“Yes. It was nice and wonderful. I loved my prince at the time, and he turned me into a vampire on my nineteenth. I was under his spell for an entire year, and a few more after that. Judith is the one you should talk to about human and vampire relations. Caleb and Judith fell in love when she was human.” She moved from my right hand to my left, filing away as she talked. “They were a love story made for plays. Four years after their meeting, she became ill. Caleb had to make the choice, to save her, or join her. And their love never changed.”
He saved her, turning her? I asked, Erika nodded.
“Being a vampire is more rewarding, since a human doesn’t need blood to live, tasting it isn’t their desire. To you it wouldn’t be nice. But for him … well, it would be more than nice. Plus, him biting you—that’s a mark of true commitment. Something Ethan has never had or found.”
You mean a love bite?
“For vampires it’s important. Like an unspoken word between us that you would be his, and no one else’s.” She laid my freshly filed nails on a towel and started rummaging through for colours of polish.
There were over a dozen to choose from; holding each as she went and I shook my head to eleven shades, until she held silvery white to view. I nodded.
“This is your colour.”
I watched as she delicately applied the colour to each nail without making one mistake. No shake in her hands, no accidental marks on the outside—wow and she was skilled since they were perfectly applied.
Do you … are you upset with me and Ethan for liking each other.
“Course not. I am happy for him. He has lingered in the shadows for too long. He’s had bad days … years of bad days. Brooding away in his room. Sometimes he gets out, goes to a school or tries for a job. But most times, he just sits around … till you came along. He smiles, he talks, he laughs and sings too. He started playing the piano the other night. Shocked us all too.”
He can play the piano?
“And possibly any other musical instrument, being immortal with timeless opportunity gives him and many of us, plenty of time to heighten our skills. We all have a balanced lifestyle. Caleb likes helping others, Judith loves baking, I love fashion, Marcus loves helping out with sport stars and Ethan … he didn’t like much in the way of doing anything. Least till you came into his life.”
Did you try and keep him away from me.
“He was the one keeping us away from you.” She paused, starting on my left hand, fanning my fingers apart to start work on the nails. “And when you stared at us through the window at lunch; we got the message clear enough. Like moving images.”
You can all read my thoughts … everything I think.
“Hmm … not everything. Mostly it’s in images, sometimes, like now, it’s in thought voice. Still with images, though, I am sorry I didn’t try and talk with you more on Thursday. Ethan took off on us, and I know you wanted to ask me where he was. He needed time to work out what he wanted. And he just wanted to keep you all to himself. But I told him, if you’re to be his, and all of his. You’d be a part of us … someday too.”
You mean … a vampire.
“Well, that’s something to think about isn’t it? I doubt that you’d hesitate. You have to understand. We are immortal. No sleep. No aging. No children either. Your family will grow old and die, and it is a big step to walk away from them before that time. Not to mention the blood lust. You are lucky to have the choice, not have it robbed from you.”
I would choose Ethan, I said without a care. He’s all I want. I know … it’s been … a day of really knowing him. But I don’t care. I told him that and if biting me while making out is what he wants, I want it to.
Ericka smiled, applying the silver polish on my left hand. “Well, let’s get you to live a little first before we cut all ties with humanity. Protecting you from Tristan is the main thing right now.”
Will he find me?
“Not here. You’ll be safe for the week or two. We’ll work on a long term location in the next few days.”
Days. What about school and my mum. What if he tries to hurt my mum?
“He won’t. Judith is with her, talking wedding plans about you and Ethan I think. You know she is happy for you. Finding Ethan, talking to him as she thinks you are.”
She thinks I’m talking to him … I mean. She knows I can’t talk.
“No. She is one who believes in the supernatural. Your father was a Fae, possibly an original Fae. She knew he was different, and she loved him, but she shows no sadness to his absences. Fae have a way to control a mind. Making one see things differently, when they are not.”
If I become a vampire. Will I lose this … Fae power?
“Not sure. Most Fae
usually die before they can be a vampire. The blood … your blood is intoxicating to taste. Ethan said so himself. But he knew he didn’t want to feed off you.” She finished off the final coat, added another clear sealer on it, and dried them with light blows of her cool breath.
Holding them up, I wiggled my new coloured nails, when Ethan standing at the door, caught me off guard.
You’re back, I beamed wide.
“Course. Nice Erika. Spoil her with your talents I see.”
“Yep. And you shouldn’t have run off on her. Poor thing was close to tears when I got here.” Erika tucked a curl around my ear as Ethan came closer, his jaw clenched.
“I didn’t mean to. I … I won’t leave.”
“Darn right you won’t.” Erika stood, packing away her cosmetics. “I will keep watch. I like running on my paws now and again.”
“You don’t have to sis, been out and around. Nothing has changed. And Marcus said Tristan and his group haven’t moved.”
“Then I will go and annoy him, give my wings a stretch. You two have fun. And Kera. Your nails are beautiful.” She winked and stepped out the door before I could thank her.
Ethan ran a hand through his hair, watching after her. A look I couldn’t place lingered on his features.
So, what do you think?
“She’ll nag me forever to get you to meet the others.”
I mean about my nails.
“There … nice … Like the colour.” He winked.
I was thinking of Spirit and how his coat was shim—oh … sorry. I mean. You … I frowned, pulling my thoughts inward. He was Spirit. One and the same.
Ethan walked to the lounge, sitting beside me; he placed my hand in his, as his thumb brushed along the new polish. Trying to ignore the sizzling touch was impossible.
His silver green eyes stared deep into mine. “I’m your spirit.” His lips touched mine. “But it’s easier if I hold you.” He smiled playfully.
You mean you will. But I thought … you didn’t want to be … close.
“I am … a young man, with desires like any other. Holding you, loving you, being with you … is all I want. I just can’t get too wrapped up in it. You’re not a vampire. And you’re not my flesher.”
I can be your love. Right.
“You are my love. Always mine.”
Good. Because I want you to bite me, mark me as yours.
“Kera …” He heaved. “I could hurt you. The endorphins that linger there; they could be a poison if I’m not careful.” Leaning towards him, he pressed his hands to his brow. “It could go wrong.”
I trust you. I reached towards his face.
“I know what I am. I crave blood. And I crave you. I know the difference between feeling and feeding. But I could go too far.”
But it’d be just a taste. You bite me. I don’t have to take your blood.
“Kera …” he whispered my name. “Biting you would be marking you regardless. It’s a big step.”
Was he fighting the idea or fighting the hope too. He wanted to do it as much as I did. I could feel it, even if I couldn’t read his mind.
I know you want to try it. I stood, pulling him from the lounge, and walking him towards the bedroom.
“If … we were …” He paused at the doorway.
I turned and placed my finger on his lips, leaning in I inhaled deeply. Forest spices, rustic and water drops of freshness lingered on the edges of real and not. His body quivered with my touch and my actions.
“I … Marking you would be …”
The right thing to do Ethan. To show our love for one another. I am yours and I want others to know that. All vampires to know that.
“Erika told you about that.”
She did. And I want to be yours.
“I …” He tried to speak, but I shook my head. I stepped closer. Placing my hand on his face, to palm his perfect cheek and pull him towards me, brushing my lips to his. I wish I could speak, I wish I had voice, but all I could do was mouth it.
I love you.
He cupped my face, his eyes deep in thought as I gazed into them. His sigh was heavy. “I want to. I’m worried. I know what I am. I don’t want to frighten you. When I change into a demon … I don’t want to scare you. It will frighten you. It will. Your instinct to fear me will come through. You won’t be tranced in a dream-like-state. There is no trancing in a lusting. Once you see me. Fear will be there and you will fail in wanting to give me your blood, in wanting to be with me like that.”
I trust you Ethan. I understand. I saw you before. I am not frightened by you. I trust you.
“It will be a marking of us. The passion will be strong.” His jaw tilted up in unease.
I know. It’s what I want, I want to give you what you need … and I want to know. Please. This is what you want, me.
In less than a heartbeat, his lips pressed to mine, wrapping his arms around me, he lifted me into his arms, breathlessly walking towards the bed. Lowering me onto the covers, he gazed down, trembling as I was. My palm pressed to his face, bringing him closer to kiss, as our bodies tangled in a fever of passion. His hands glided around my body, caressing me, holding me as I was reaching for him; feeling him. He had me on the pillow, his weight pressed to my body as his mouth moved with mine as a moan of pleasure escaped. He paused, staring into my eyes.
“Are you sure? Are you sure you want this?”
Yes, I whispered. I want you as mine.
The lightning flashed, shadowing his silhouette into darkness. The storm raged on, casting lengths of light with the passion rising in us both. He pressed his lips to mine. For several moments, he didn’t move them, and slowly he did. With the desire from before, doubling to a heat that I couldn’t stop until our bodies were pressed so tight that if it wasn’t for the clothes, I’d say sex was possible.
When we parted, I gazed into his eyes, and suddenly I was overwhelmed with the love I felt for him, the glow of passion was so real. His hands slipped around my body with ease, caressing my neck, my sides, my arms, hips and legs. Poised in that moment, we both paused. Gazing deep into my eyes, lost to the sensation, the tingles and all that I was feeling. He kissed me. Moving along my jaw, around to my cheek, to the side of my ear and nibbling on the end of my ear lobe. He breath was warm on my ear. “Do you trust me?”
With all my heart, my thoughts whispering.
Our bodies were alive with the passion. His mouth travelled in small circles, leaving velvet soft tingles in their wake. His body tremble, in the darkness; the lightning showed his face. Veins spiralled around his cheeks and brow; pulsing across his skin as the glow of his eyes held like cat eyes at night; silvery in that flash of light. They stayed that way even after the lightning vanished. Another flash showed me his fangs, long, sharp k9’s.
His brow creased in worry.
My heart pulsed with the sight.
The smallest fear that should have been there, vanished instantly. It was still Ethan in my eyes. I held my hand to him, gracing his face; feeling the lumps along his cheeks. Seeing him in another flash of lightning, his body trembled at my touch and the position of his desire, and mine, wanting him to taste me. His form had changed; his voice in my head was strong, clear.
“Are you ready, my love?”
I kissed his neck. He leaned closer, hidden from me.
I love you, Ethan. I trust you.
His mouth teased my skin and a sting of white pain entered at my neck as his fangs entered, smoothly, easily, perfectly. Ohhhh! Bliss instantly tugged my thoughts. With the need to give him my blood and the love I was feeling for him, I didn’t hesitate.
My lips pressed to his neck, lost to the passion and endorphin high from his bite. My heart raced with the adrenalin; seconds lingered and the moan from his voice vibrated the lust inside of me. I hummed on the desire as our bodies pressed closer. Loosing myself to the sensation as a humming pulsed like electricity. Wrapped in his arms, his moan echoed mine. It thrilled me, seduced me into a heaven of bl
iss. Locked into his embrace, our bodies melted together as if there was no beginning or end. The throbbing of his fangs pulsed on my neck as his desire, satisfaction, passion and pleasure, doubled. The quivering of his body, the feeling of his heart beating echoed mine. And then, his fangs withdrew. His lips stayed on my neck as his tongue brushed across the wounds; making me tremble at the sensation of the mark, which had him smiling wider. I was his. He was mine.
Mine. I repeated in the darkness. Finding his lips, in a heat of passion as our love tangled our bodies, my blood, his bite … it was all we need. Ethan, I whispered.
“I love you.” He kissed with passion, rolling into the movement of our love, our rhythm. I was light headed, trembling with each touch, each graceful movement. Holding one another, entwined together. “You’re mine.” The passion of his words and the lusting, was taking us to an even higher level than before. We were in the sky, surrounded by stars, shooting comets and fire burning hot and strong in both of us. The glow of light was shining over him. His love and mine was all that mattered … the passion, the power. His lips were soft and strong, moving with mine. Endlessly, awakening me, stirring me, and releasing my passion.