Chapter 1: Play time
As I held her in my arms, I thought that there couldn't be anything better than this. Of course, that's when she proved me wrong.
"Wait." Beth said softly as the door shut quietly behind them. At Mick's look of hurt and confusion, she hastened to continue. "There's something I have to say first." Mick nodded and let her guide him to the couch. "Do you remember when I told you I couldn't marry Josh because there had been someone else? Well I assume by now you understand it was you. It was always you. Do you know why I hated you so much after he died? It was because I felt so guilty for being thankful it wasn't you. I hated the fact that when I kissed him I felt like I was cheating on you and I'm so sorry both of you had to go through that. I should have said this long ago, long before my feelings were even close to this strong, but I was scared. I didn't want to hurt anyone and no matter what I did, someone would get hurt." When Mick's hands came up to comfort her, she held him off. "No, I'm okay. I can finally admit it to myself and to you something that was true a long time ago, something that I realized but wouldn't acknowledge when you were dying in the desert. I love you." With that she raised her gaze to collide with his. She saw it all there, the lover, the concern for her, and the realization of what her words meant to him.
"Oh, Beth." He ground out before he crushed his lips to hers. Beth's surprised cry was drowned as he deepened the kiss. Beth ran her hands up Mick's chest marveling at the strength she felt beneath her fingers. She trailed her hands upward and curled them around his neck. She twisted her fingers in the hair at his nape. She put all the love and passion she could muster into the kiss moaning softly when he forced her mouth apart and his tongue probed deeper. She curved herself intimately in his embrace enjoying the feel of him surrounding her. She couldn't seem to get close enough. Suddenly he pushed away and turned his face from her curious gaze.
"Mick?" she asked tentatively. She felt him tense when she put her hand on his shoulder. "Mick, what's wrong?" She tried to hide the hurt in her voice at his rejection, but it was more than difficult. She put her hands on the sides of his face and made him look at her. Suddenly understanding dawned as she gazed into the clear gray eyes of her vampire lover. He tried to remove his face from her perusal, but she held on.
"I don't want you to see me like this." He stated surprised by how calm his voice sounded.
She drew his gaze once more. "Like what?" she whispered. "I only see the man I love." As she spoke these words, she lifted his face to hers and kissed him softly. When he stiffened, she deepened the kiss. She caressed his fangs with her tongue to show him that she loved all of him, not just the human part.
Mick felt relief and wonder at the absence of fear he felt reflected in her kiss. He gave himself over to the passion building between them. He lifted her from the couch and carried her to the bedroom. Gently he laid her down and covered her with his body. Beth pulled his lips back down to hers branding him as her possession just as he was doing to her. She tugged at the edges of his jacket throwing it carelessly to the floor in her haste to be closer. Her fingers moved to the buttons of his shirt, shoving the fabric aside. She trailed her fingers along his chest.
Mick was just lifting the shirt to pull over her head when his phone rang. He growled quietly at the interruption and rested his forehead against hers trying to regain some measure of control. Before he could reach down to turn off the offending noise, Beth pulled the phone from his pocket. She chuckled softly as she read the caller ID.
"It's Josef."
Mick rolled his eyes. "He sure has great timing." Mick said sarcastically.
"Let me answer it." Before Mick could refuse, Beth had the phone at her ear. "Can I help you Josef?" she purred into the phone using her escort voice, stifling the giggle she felt rising in her throat.
"Good evening, Beth." Beth could hear the restraint in his voice. "May I speak to Mick for a moment? You can remind him he was supposed to meet me at my office half an hour ago."
"Mick's busy at the moment." She spoke softly again holding back her laughter. Their recent activity made busy seem an understatement.
"What's he doing?! Damn it, this is important!"
"Actually, he's busy with me. You see Josef, you kind of interrupted our--" The phone was ripped from her hand before she could continue. "Mick." She complained reaching for the phone. Mick laughed and kissed her lightly before turning away and sitting on the edge of the bed.
"Yes Josef?" he asked impatiently.
"Well, hello Mr. No-show, what were you and Beth doing? If I didn't know better, I would have thought I had interrupted a fairly passionate love scene."
Mick sucked in his breath when he felt Beth behind him, her hands moving around his waist, holding him close to her. Her lips were near his ear, the one unoccupied by the phone, as she whispered to him. Her warm breath against coolness of his flesh made him shiver. "Well you came pretty close." Mick admitted to Josef.
Shocked surprise followed; however, Mick knew his friend wouldn't remain silent for long. "I knew eventually one of you would break those silly rules you've created." Mick heard Josef chuckle to himself before he continued. "Well, as happy as I am for you both, we have a problem. The police will be asking about Emma and Jackson's escape. Although the cleaner did a great job covering up the scene, suspicion will still fall heavily on those involved." As Mick listened, he felt Beth move closer. She began to kiss the side of his neck leaving a fiery trail from his jaw line to his shoulder. Mick resisted the urge to hang up on Josef and take Beth into his arms. As much as he wanted her, this couldn't wait. "Mick?" he heard Josef's impatient voice. "Mick, you sound a little distracted. Please tell Beth that the…" he paused looking for a good word, "…reunion will have to wait. I expect you here in twenty minutes or I'm coming to get you myself, and you know Beth won't like that." With that he hung up.
Mick turned to Beth behind him. "Sorry, love, but this will have to wait." He looked at her longingly. "Josef wants to talk about how to keep our name clear in the upcoming investigation the police will no doubt be conducting after the disappearance of a murder of a star athlete." He smiled apologetically.
"Hurry home." She purred kissing him with all the promise of what was to come.
Mick grunted and pulled away. "I'll call you when I know more. I love you." He bent down to retrieve his jacket from the floor and walked out the door.