A/N: I'm so pleased with the positive response I received for my first chapter—thanks ever so to those who took time to review. I'm hopeful you'll like Chapter 2 just as well, and that I can give insight into another side of Josef that we only got brief glimpses into on the show. I believe Josef is a romantic at heart, that his sarcastic exterior is just a cover for his true nature. This is just one of the reasons he and Mick relate so well, in my opinion. I hope you agree.

Chapter 2

Everything was ready for her--Mick would be so proud. There were candles, flowers (her favorite apricot roses), and Champagne chilling in an ice bucket. The bed I only used when Simone came to visit was made up with silk sheets and plenty of pillows. All that was missing was the girl. My employees were out of the house, including my butler, Niles. It would be just the two of us when I killed her. That wasn't really a comfort somehow.

I mean, I'd killed plenty of people—either personally or by contract—so why should this be any different? Sucking someone dry was easy enough. Tasty, too. I'd only have one extra step to take tonight—letting her drink my blood afterwards when her heart was barely beating. Holding her as she crossed from living to dead to undead. Waiting for her to awaken so I could have my first glimpse of her silvery eyes and protruding fangs. But what if those beautiful eyes never opened again? Was I cursed to create half-dead creatures confined to their beds for all eternity?

I hated being uncertain more than anything else. It goes completely against my grain. I've always had the gift of confidence as a vampire and as a businessman, which, of course is why I've been so successful. Not so much in my personal life.

I heard the soft purr of her Porsche and the click of her heels even before I heard her key in my door. I left the bedroom and padded barefoot down the stairs to greet her. My dead heart ached at the sight of her, and I knew this would be the last time I would see her in all her human glory. She stood in the light of the open doorway, beautiful, like an unearthly bride in some floaty, gossamer fabric of deep blue. Her light brown hair hung loose and flowing—she'd let it grow nearly to her waist--and I knew just how silky and smooth it was. The smell of her expensive perfume combined with the other unique fragrance that was all woman. All human.

The reason vampires are first attracted to humans is because of their smell. Blood, hormones, pheromones—all combined to create a heavenly bouquet of delicious humanity. As her scent wafted up to me, it hit me just how much I would miss that about her. And her taste, her luscious human blood—all gone, forever.

"Hi," she whispered awkwardly, as my gaze must have lingered too long for comfort.

"Hello, sweetheart," I said over the sudden lump in my throat. I stood frozen at the threshold, watching her eyes tear up as they met mine. She was the one who finally moved toward me, throwing herself into my arms and finding my mouth with her own. The sweetness of that kiss nearly had me undone, and I poured everything I had into it, savoring the taste that I would soon be missing, hearing her heart pound and trip in passion and fear. I tried to offer her comfort, but she was giving it to me more, I think, as her lips became less aggressive and more tender, her hands moving to my face, then up into my hair.

I was so wrapped up in her that I hadn't heard or sensed Mick's presence until he cleared his throat politely. What the hell was he doing here? I pulled reluctantly away from Simone and pulled her possessively to my side. It was Mick, alright, and he'd brought Beth with him.

"I thought I said no party, remember?" I stated, feeling Simone squeeze me a little roughly at my rudeness.

"I know. We're sorry to interrupt," Beth was saying, "but we just wanted to stop by to see if there was anything you needed. Anything we could do to…help."

"You mean you want to try one more time to talk us out of this," I said, feeling suddenly angry.

"Josef, please," Simone said softly. "They're just trying to be nice." I knew she was right, so I took a deep, unneeded breath, and pasted on a grin.

"Sorry. Just was hoping to…get on with things."

My eyes appealed to Mick's to leave us the hell alone. Thank God he was so perceptive.

"They're fine, Beth," he said, taking her hand in an attempt to pull her back toward the door. "Let's leave them alone."

"Sure. Okay. Just let me say goodbye to Simone. I know it's going to be awhile before I can see her."

"Unless we have you over for dinner," I said, smiling at her startled expression. I caught Mick's twitching lips and smiled even wider, thankful suddenly for the comic relief they'd just provided me.

Simone released me and went into Beth's arms. They hugged like long-lost sisters and I heard Beth whisper into her ear: "It's not too late…"

I felt myself holding my breath, a long-held remnant of my human self. Was I worried she would back down, or hopeful that she would? I relaxed when I heard her soft reply: "This is what I want, Beth. I'll call you as soon as I can, I promise."

Both girls were crying now. "You'd better." Beth hugged her one more time, letting her friend go reluctantly, squeezing her hands once more before turning her attention to me. Next thing I knew, Beth was squeezing me, and the full force of my long attraction to her hit me all at once. From the moment I'd first met her, I was in awe of her angelic beauty, the smell of her rare blood and her fearless loyalty to Mick. Had he not seen her first, I would have found great joy in her arms, I've no doubt. I'd only been brave enough to touch her hand in the past, for fear I would betray Mick in the worst way. Nothing prepared me for the overwhelming sensation of a warm, sweet-smelling Beth in my arms, the feel of her delightful curves pressing against me. I breathed her in deeply, savoring the moment despite the witnesses around us.

"You take good care of her, Josef, or I'll get the biggest stake I can find…" There was an awkward moment when she tried to pull away and I held on a little too tightly. Mick caught my eye and frowned at me, stepping in to free his woman gently from my grasp. I'd successfully hidden my attraction for over a year now, but suddenly my secret was out, and I smirked when I saw the moment realization struck him. I'd have to explain to him later that it was just a physical thing; Simone was the one I loved. His surprised expression was priceless, however, and I laughed aloud.

"Uhh…let's go, Beth." Clueless Beth smiled at Simone and me through her tears as if we were leaving on a long journey, which I suppose, was exactly like what this would be.

"Thanks, guys," I said sincerely, feeling suddenly happy for the first time since I'd decided to do this thing.

"Yeah. Call if you need anything."

Mick looked shell-shocked, and I spoke to him in low-frequency vampire so the girls wouldn't hear. "Don't worry, Mick; I've got my hands full here. You're a lucky man."

He nodded imperceptively and replied in the same way: "You'd better remember that, buddy, or I'll tear your fuckin' head off." Then, to my extreme amusement, he took Simone in a passionate embrace, kissing her cheek lingeringly and offering to rescue her from me if she ever needed it. She laughed and extricated herself from my best friend's arms, taken aback at his uncharacteristic vehemence.

I chuckled again, then spoke aloud for the girls' benefit. "We'll be in touch. Thanks again for coming." I was suddenly even more anxious to make Simone mine. I escorted Mick and Beth to the door.

Simone wiped her tears with the back of her hand. "We love you both," she called after them. "I'll see you soon." I shut the door before they could prolong their painful goodbyes.

It was once again just Simone and me, and I actually felt relieved we'd had the interruption. Things had gotten too intense too quickly, and I felt the need to go slowly with this now.

I smiled tenderly at her. "Now, where were we?"

"About here," she said, walking to me and kissing me senseless.

I decided that we should have the Champagne first, just to relax us both a little more. I popped the cork by squeezing the bottle with one hand, enjoying the sound of her laughter at my amazing feat.

"Will I be able to do that?" Simone asked as I filled our glasses.

"All that and more, my love," I said. Her eyes sparkled at the thought. We sipped our bubbly as we sat on the bed, her eyes meeting mine sexily over the rim of the glass. I was suddenly impatient and took her unfinished drink away, setting them both on the bedside table. I pressed her down on the bed, covering her body with my own. She reached inside the light robe I wore, and I felt like purring like a cat as she rubbed my chest and nuzzled into my neck, covering it with openmouthed kisses that were making me hot and cold at the same time.

I caught her wandering hands in my own, pulling back a little to look into her eyes.

"Simone. I know we should have talked about this sooner, but there are a couple different ways we can do this."

I saw her try to tamp down the sudden fear at the reminder that we were in this bed for more than one reason.

"What are they?"

"Do you want me to just dive in now or uh, build up to the big moment?" She considered this, and I could almost see those lawyer gears working in her head, weighing the pros and cons, thinking six moves ahead like a good little chess player.

"I assume it would be more pleasurable if you built up to it, right?" That's my girl. I smiled.

"Yeah. You'll be more relaxed so I'm sure it will be less painful."

"Less pain works for me." One hand slipped from between mine and reached up to touch my cheek.

"I trust you, Josef." Those simple words clinched it for me.

"Don't be afraid. Everything will be fine." I brushed her lips with mine, believing my own words at last.

I untied her wraparound dress, pleased with this woman's fashion that allowed quick access to her body. Her dainty black lingerie joined her dress on the floor and her hands slipped off my robe, her heart picking up as she realized I wore nothing beneath it. I busied myself with her perfect breasts, taking their tips into my mouth as the sound of her panting filled the room Her hands roamed my body and my excitement grew, anticipation at what I was about to do making the familiar experience sharper, more vivid in its intensity.

"Please…" she breathed into my hair. I knew what that word always meant, and my mouth travelled lower till I found the apex of her thighs. My tongue dipped in to taste her and she moaned as her legs trembled. I was very talented in this area after four hundred plus years of practice, but it was always gratifying to hear the cusswords fall unbidden from her lips as I made her come within seconds, then come again seconds later. I retraced my earlier path up her body to her mouth, kissing her parted lips as she lay there in a daze.

"Such a dirty mouth," I tsked, referring to her very unladylike language.

"Likewise," she murmured, tasting herself on my mouth.

Our tongues met and sparred a moment as her small hand moved southward to grip me, sliding up and down til I thought I would explode. I let her have her fun as she took her turn making me shake and squirm before opening herself to me expectantly. Our eyes met and locked as I entered her and we groaned in harmony. I started a slow, slick slide in and out of her body, her legs wrapping around my waist as she met me thrust for thrust, pushing me more deeply inside with her heels. We built up to a frenzy, but I held back as usual, not wanting to kill her with my strength. I thought fleetingly that this would be the last time I would have to hold back, and the thought sent me over the edge at the same time she let out a string of profanities mixed with love words that never failed to make me smile.

Before she could come down, I knew the moment had arrived. Still joined with her, I moved to her neck, willing my fangs out before licking her sweat-slicked skin in preparation. My fangs slid in as gently as my body had and she gasped with the initial sting, then relaxed into it as I drank. Her warm blood filled my mouth, tasting sweet and thick, our recent passion adding a piquant tang like ambrosia on my tongue.

Normally I would only drink a minute or two, and instinctively she began to move away at the usual time, but I held her gently in place, feeling her heart pound again in heightened panic. I caressed her cheek and hair to calm her, waiting for her to stop me, but she didn't, so I sucked harder, not wanting to prolong this anymore than necessary.

Her last human words to me came out in a faint breath, no louder than the slow beat of her fading heart. "I love you…"

She was at the point of no return and would die forever unless I fed her my blood right away. I withdrew from her completely, rising to my knees and biting my own wrist. I could no longer hear her heart, could no longer see her soft breath pushing her chest in and out. Her body was growing cold now as I let a few drops of my blood drip into her open mouth.

"Drink, baby," I urged when I couldn't detect her swallow. I allowed a few more droplets to trickle in for good measure, beginning to panic myself when she continued to be unresponsive. I wondered if I could still revive her back to her human form, but realized I had no breath myself to save her. If she didn't awaken soon it would be too late.

"Simone! Wake up, sweetheart. Please…" I shook her a little in desperation, wondering how fast I could get her to a hospital. But I knew they could do nothing for her. There was absolutely no heartbeat, and her body was completely drained of any blood that could sustain her.

I sat back, my hands coming up to cover my face in anguish. It was just like last time. Just like Sarah. My God, what have I done?

I don't know when the tears had started falling down my cheeks, but I sat there like a baby, bawling into my hands, my body wracked with pain and guilt. I was an animal, feasting on this beautiful creature, draining her life away as if it had meant nothing. Why the hell did I let her talk me into this?

I lay down beside her still form, wondering vaguely if this was how that poor sop Romeo felt when he found his Juliet seemingly dead in her tomb. I reached down to pull up the sheet over her gorgeous naked body, hesitating a moment before pulling it over her face, looking down at her beauty even in death. I didn't have the heart to cover her completely.

"Ah, dear Simone," I paraphrased, smiling sadly. "'Why art thou yet so fair?'" Willie Shakespeare had been an asshole, but he sure knew how to turn a phrase. I kissed her cheek, my tears falling again unheeded onto her face. I closed my eyes and breathed in her fragrance, gathering her body to mine as I wept silently.

Then I felt it, the sudden presence of another vampire in the room with me. I turned in shock to find Simone's eyes fluttering open, disoriented and deeply silver.

"Josef?" Simone's voice lisped around her newly sprouted fangs. "I'm starving."