FROM FANTASY INTO REALITY

CHAPTER 1

With that Thought

Disclaimer: I do not own or hold the copyright on the Hollows Universe or the characters in said Universe. All rights to the aforementioned belong to Kim Harrison. I just really wanted Ivy and Rachel to stop messing around and get down to business.

This takes place in the months between A Fistful of Charms and For a Few Demons More.

I was sitting at the kitchen table looking through my spell books thinking about the other day when I had walked in on Ivy and Kisten talking about the bite in the van. I still couldn't get how good it felt to have Ivy bite me out of my head, it popped in every time I wasn't thinking of something else. I kept trying to tell myself that it was because I wanted to find a blood balance so bad, that was why I couldn't stop thinking and dreaming about it. Right now I was remembering the way it felt to have Ivy pressed against me, the moment her hand started to move up my side. I felt a tingle as if her hand was there now. I thought about what could have happened if I hadn't said anything, just let her be herself. Surprisingly I started to feel warm and tingly, huh, this wasn't the first time I had thought about Ivy sexually. Damn, what could this mean.

I heard the pixy wings just before Jenks flew through the kitchen window.

"Hey Rach, whatcha doin?" Jenks said.

"Just looking again for a spell to destroy the focus."

"You have already looked 100 times, Rach, you aren't going to find anything and you know it."

"I know Jenks, but I have to try." I sighed.

"I just need to think about something besides this mess with Ivy."

"Well that is easy to solve, just catch her off guard, you know, kiss her."

"Jenks, it isn't that easy. I don't know if that is what I want. I mean what about Kisten?"

"Kisten wouldn't mind and Ivy wouldn't expect you to stop seeing him. They would be happy to share."

"I think I know that, but I don't know how I feel about it."

"Well it isn't like there is any hurry, Ivy is obviously very patient and you're already dating Kisten."

"Yeah, I guess I have time to figure it out."

As I was getting ready for my date with Kisten, I heard the lublub of Ivy's bike coming up the road, she must be just returning from last nights run.

I had just finished putting on my boots and was going to grab my newest perfume.

"Rachel come here there is a package on the porch for you." Ivy yelled.

"Coming."

Jenks and his family were asleep in their stump, since it was only about one in the afternoon.

"Did you order something?" Ivy asked.

"Nope."

"Does it say who it is from?"

"Hmmm.. It doesn't say." I said wondering what it was.

"Well I guess we should leave it for Jenks to inspect then, I don't trust mail I don't expect."

"That sounds smart to me." I said with a smirk, knowing I rarely do the "smart" thing.

Ivy laughed, "What are you doing on your date with Kisten?"

"The standard, dinner and a movie."

"What movie?"

"The Dark Knight, I want to see Heath Ledger's performance, I still can't believe he died."

"Some people just don't know how to handle prescription drugs."

Since the package was large and slightly awkward Ivy and I picked it up and took it to the kitchen. The warm air put a slight sheen of sweat on my skin. The smell of Ivy's incense and cinnamon vampire pheromones were heavy in the air and I took a deep breath. When I put down my side of the package I went to get something to drink. Ivy turned at the same time and I bumped into her almost falling. Ivy with her vamp speed wrapped her arm around my waist to keep my upright. Since it had been warm lately I was wearing a halter top and Ivy's arm rubbed along my bare skin. I looked up at Ivy as she made sure I was standing on my own, her eyes were still fully brown, but she took in a deep breath and started to let me go. I grabbed her hand just before her finger tips left my side. My skin was tingling where her hand had been.

"What are you doing Rachel?" Ivy said through clenched teeth.

"I don't know." I said very quietly.

I pulled Ivy closer to me, putting her hand firmly on my waist. I turned to face her completely and moved in close, lessening the space between us. Ivy stood so still, staring at me with a look of confusion. I put my hand on her cheek and ran my thumb along her chin, watching her eyes as my thumb moved up to her lower lip. The brown around her eyes started to shrink and I felt her to start to tremble. I ran my fingers along her cheek and into her hair, pulling her face to mine. I brushed her lips very lightly with mine, feeling the texture, testing the feel of them on mine. Ivy was still unmoving, staring at me. I closed my eyes and deepened the kiss, moving closer to her, I ran my tongue along the line of her lips coaxing her to respond. Her lips barely opened, but that was all the invitation I needed, I slipped my tongue between her lips, tightening the grip on her hair, I turned into the kiss, tasting I ran my tongue along hers. Ivy finally moved running her hands under my shirt and up my back, gripping my shoulders she moved into the kiss. I felt my heart start to race and couldn't believe how amazing Ivy tasted. Her skin was warm under my hands as I moved them down her neck. I felt Ivy start to shift as if to move us, then she was gone. I looked around and she was on the other side of the kitchen against the wall breathing hard.

"Ivy?"

I groaned, it was Skimmer. It couldn't have been anyone else, no it had to be Ivy's current bed and blood partner. Ivy looked at me and shook her head.

"What?" I said, wanting to tell the blonde living vamp to go away.

"Don't say a word." Ivy said with a growl.

"I didn't say anything."

"You want to."

"Oh, yes I do." I said with every ounce of distaste I felt for Skimmer in my voice.

"We will talk about this later." Ivy whispered as Skimmer's footfall grew closer.

"Promise, you want act like nothing happened?"

"Promise." She said.