Love and Vampires

by Kirk Baldridge

The same day, from two different perspectives.

2. Chapter 2 Ivy's Day

NAME: Kirk Baldridge

EMAIL:

TITLE: Love and Vampires

DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of these characters, names, places, etc. They all belong to Kim Harrison, and I would just like to take this opportunity to thank her for creating them.

FANDOM: The Hollows

PAIRING: Rachel/Ivy

RATING: R (Though not overall R, there are several explicit scenes)

SUMMARY: Two different views of how both Rachel and Ivy finally get what they want.

SPOILER: Set an unspecified amount of time after FOR A FEW DEMONS MORE.

CHAPTER 2 – Ivy's Day

'Bored now.'

I toss the remote aside and rise from my favorite chair, not bothering to keep my robe closed. There's no reason since I am alone in the church right now. Jenks is with Rachel on a run, and I don't expect to see either of them until later this evening. Even the pixie children were not underfoot, after I caught Ji and several of his brothers peeking at me in the shower and snarled at them I think they are all hiding in their stump with Matalina. Only Rex is around, curled up in the corner and snoring.

I walk over to Kisten's pool table, stroke the felt, and take a deep breath. His scent lingers, though not nearly as strongly as it once did. It smells more like Rachel and I now. I sigh as her beautiful face flashes through my mind. 'Rachel.' A couple of months ago, I kissed her and gave her an ultimatum; no more blood balance, it was all of me or nothing, and she's made it perfectly clear she doesn't want that kind of a relationship with me. As much as I hate to admit it, since she has been keeping her distance from me, I do find it easier to concentrate. I miss her but at least now that I know the score, I am better able to play the game.

'Enough moping!' I decide I need some coffee, and am heading toward the kitchen when the door bell rings. I'm not in the mood for company but I pull my robe closed and tie the belt. Not the best way to meet a potential client, but then again this is an unusual hour so I don't think I can be blamed for not being properly dressed. I open the door, and freeze, wide-eyed.

Skimmer, wearing an extremely low cut white blouse and perhaps the tightest black pants known to human or Inderlander, grins just enough to tease with her fangs. "Hi, V." I haven't seen her since I testified on her behalf at her trial for killing Piscary, and she was released on a technicality. She left town to help Rynn Cormel's transition. "You gonna invite me in or are we just gonna stand here and stare all day?" I think she knows I'm not wearing anything under my robe. "Because I don't mind."

"Oh, sorry." I step aside. It's not like I'm not happy to see her I'm just surprised. "You look good." As she scoots by, I detect the familiar lingering scent of blood. I know from personal experience what kind of state feeding puts Skimmer in. My breath quickens and my heart beats a little faster as it dawns on me why she is probably here. "Skim…"

She puts a finger to my lips. "I came to be with you, V, not to talk." She wraps her arms around my neck. "Or you can tell me to leave." She begins moving her torso to gently grind our breasts together. "Entirely up to you."

'Damn she's good.' This is how she eventually got me to sleep with her back in high school. As roommates, it was expected we would share blood as a matter of convenience, but a couple of months into our first semester she felt me up while she was feeding and I realized she wanted more. She got progressively insistent after that, and while I resisted for the longest time, I somehow ended up with her breasts in my mouth early in the second semester. We never looked back. "Skimmer..." I stop myself. Why shouldn't I accept what she is offering? My roommates aren't around and I have been lonely lately. "..come here." I kiss her, hard.

Skimmer reaches for my belt and without looking begins to undo the knot. "That's my girl." She slides the robe off me, grabs my breasts, and begins to nuzzle my neck. "My god. You smell delicious."

I shudder as her fangs sink into me. "Skimmer." I feel my face flush and I know my eyes are black, but it doesn't matter. I clutch at her shoulders and moan. "My turn." I shove her back into the pool table, dislodging her fangs, and begin tearing at her clothes. Her blouse goes first then her pants and I find myself grateful she has apparently not gotten her long-standing aversion to underwear. I drop to my knees and sink my own fangs into the hypersensitive flesh of her upper thigh.

Skimmer clutches my hair, throws her head back, and moans in pleasure. "Goddamn it, Ivy! Stop teasing me!"

I withdraw my fangs and stare up toward her heaving breasts. I can't actually see her face but I can tell by the smell and feel of her body that she is close. "Yes ma'am." I lean forward to bury my face in the warm, wet blonde curls between her legs, and plunge my tongue deep into her core. Her hands spastically clutch at me as she screams in climax.

Skimmer's legs give out and she collapses to the floor, taking me with her. She twists her body around so her head is between my legs and she snakes her tongue into me. My whole body shudders. 'Damn she's good.'

Eventually, Skimmer and I drag our sweaty, half-drained, yet still immensely aroused, bodies to bed. As the two of us stumble, naked, down the hall I half take note of the fact Rachel's bedroom door is closed. The thought it was open before, and the seeming relevance of this, is lost on me as Skimmer's teeth find my left breast and I after that I barely remember to kick my own door closed. We do eventually make it on to the bed itself, although sleep does not come for quite some time.

When I wake up I immediately roll over, but am disappointed to find my bed empty. Pouting, I sit up and stretch, virtually every muscle aching but completely sated for the first time in a long time. "Skimmer?" Either she's gone to the bathroom, or…my nose twitches as I catch the combined scents of deep roast coffee. We use a lighter blend, so I assume it must be something Skimmer brought. 'Is she making me breakfast?' I climb out of bed and reach for my robe. I can't help grinning like a bit of an idiot as the first thing I see when I walk into the kitchen is Skimmer…talking to Rachel? This stops me cold. I knew she'd come home at some point, but I hadn't warned her Skimmer was going to be here, how could I, and I knew she didn't like surprises first thing in the morning.

"Morning." Oddly, Rachel's emotions seem to be locked down. I can't read anything from her.

'Crap on toast. What do I say?' I feel the blood pounding in my head. All I can get out is "Morning." I glance nervously from Rachel to Skimmer and back. I feel like I need to explain. "Rachel…"

Instead, the witch goes first. "Skimmer and I were just discussing breakfast."

"That's right, V." Skimmer wraps her arms around my neck. I'm too stunned to stop her. "I know you must be starving." Just before I lose myself in our kiss, I could swear I see Rachel close her eyes and turn away.

Breakfast, consisting of French toast, eggs, and bacon, is…well, I would say tense, but given the circumstances that word seems so woefully inadequate. Skimmer is, as usual, all touchy-feely after our night together, even more so here, because I think she is showing off. I can't help smiling, my heart beating faster whenever she touches me, and then I catch a glimpse of Rachel scowling, or staring while trying to look like she's not, and every time guilt washes through me. 'Why? What's wrong with you, Tamwood?' I have nothing to be ashamed of. I kissed Rachel once, that's all. It's not like we're together, or ever will be. 'Damn it.'

The awkward silence is shattered by Skimmer's cell. "Oops. Sorry. Hello?" After a few moments of listening to an unfamiliar man's voice, she nods. "Right. Excuse me. I have to take this." She glides out of the room.

I glance at Rachel, who seems to be deeply contemplating her coffee. I look away just before her head starts to rise, but my gaze continually drifts back to her beautiful face. I feel disappointment, even a little sadness, coming off her. I want to ask her if everything is all right, yet I just can't seem to find my voice. We sit there, silent, until Skimmer comes back.

"Sorry, V. That's was Cormel's people. Apparently, the man has some issues he needs addressed. Gotta go." Skimmer grabs my hair and yanks my head back to kiss me. I sink into the pleasure, sighing when she pulls away. "Love you."

Once she is gone, I'm not at all surprised Rachel is the one to finally speak up. Her first words aren't what I expect, however. "So, you and Skimmer, huh?" I sense a stab of embarrassment from her. I try not to smile. "You seem happy."

I shrug. I feel fantastic. Sex and blood do that. However, while what Skimmer and I have is great on one level, I'm not sure it is anything more than sex and blood. Once upon a time, that was enough. "She…it's complicated."

"Hey, feel free to tell me to butt out, but if you ever want to talk…" Rachel puts her hand on mine and my heart beats faster. Skimmer's still lingering pheromones have left me in a hyper-aware state, and I have to center myself to keep from reacting to what I feel coming from the witch. I don't think she even knows she's doing it. "…I'm here for you."

'She's being nice. Damn it!' I slip my hand out from under Rachel's and lean back, crossing her arms over her chest in an unconscious attempt to protect myself from her. "Rachel, please don't. I can't handle this right now."

"What? Ivy, come on, talk to me."

I can't quite get a handle on what I'm sensing from her, and I'm not sure if its because she is confused about something, or if it's simply that I'm distracted. Which, given the circumstances, is understandable. "Skimmer showed up last night." I vividly remember every detail of what happened in the living room. I blush. "I wasn't actually looking, but she can be very…persuasive."

Rachel smiles. "You don't owe me an explanation on that."

'By the Turn, how is it possible for someone to be so sweet?' I can tell she is upset. I think I know why. Why isn't she saying so? "Yes I do. I should have warned you. This is your house too."

"Oh." I sense a stab of disappointment from her, which surprises me. She shakes her head. "Don't worry about it." She reaches across the table to cup my cheek, and in spite of myself, I lean into it. My pheromones are flowing, and I know she tastes them, but she doesn't pull away for a change. "I saw you when you came in, Ivy. You were smiling. Hell, you were glowing. I haven't seen you this happy is a long time, and if Skimmer is what you want, who am I to stand in the way?"

I wince. 'My everything.' I stamp the swelling emotion down. 'Damn it!' I can't do this again. I won't. I focus my mind on Skimmer. "She makes me feel good." Sad too, because it's not Rachel. "As a vampire and as a woman. We were always good together." I sigh, a part of me still believing Rachel and I would be even better, and knowing it's never going to happen. "I don't know what the future holds. I just know that for the first time in my life, I like where I am." My brow furrows. 'Damn it, I can't take this all on myself.' I look her directly in the eye. "But every time you look at me, it hurts, because I see what I always wanted."

Rachel blinks. Surprise and disappointment wash off her. I don't think she expected to me to say that. "Ivy, I'm sorry."

My senses are being a bit overwhelmed and I shake my head."It's not your fault. I know you don't do it on purpose. I told you before that I was ready and willing if you ever wanted to…but you didn't. You made it perfectly clear." 'Damn it to the Turn!' I stand up. I need to get out of here. "I got the message." I spin on my heel and dart out of the room.

I head to my room to get dressed, but am distracted by the combined scents of Skimmer and I all over the sheets. It makes my head spin as I think back to our first time. I had never been with a woman before but Skimmer obviously had and as a teacher, she was both very supportive and generous. The two of us spent so much of that semester having sex and biting one another we both very nearly failed, but thanks to Skimmer and my distance from Piscary, it was one of the happiest periods in my life.

I select my favorite black jeans and a tight, sleeveless maroon top from my closet, then my knee-high studded boots, which had been nicknamed ass-kickers by Jenks, and finally my leather jacket. I have a run. I had made the arrangements earlier in the day before Skimmer came over, and I wasn't about to break the contract. I reach for my cell phone when it rings. "Hello?"

"Hey V, it's me."

My heart beats a bit faster. "Hi Skim. What's up?"

"I'm going to be busy at least part of the day doing paperwork for Cormel, but after I'm done I was wondering if you wanted to catch an early dinner? Or we could just go back to my place."

I check my watch. "I have a run, but I can meet you. How about four?"

"Okay."

"Where are you going to be?"

"Piscary's."

I blanch. Not exactly what I would call a romantic rendezvous. In fact, it's safe to say Piscary's is pretty much the last place on earth I ever want to go again. Skimmer knows this. Come to think of it, she's probably counting on that. Being at Piscary's will amp up my emotions, which should make things more interesting for both of us. "Okay. I'll see you there."

Rachel is in the kitchen when I come out of my bedroom, and her eyes drifting to my top. For a moment I let myself imagine she is staring at my breasts, but I know it's really just because she gave me this top for my birthday and I think this is the first time I have worn it. "Hey. I have a run. Do you know where Jenks is?"

"He took the family over to Keasley's to help Ceri." Rachel arches an eyebrow. "I can go get him if…"

I wave her off. "No, it's all right. I just like to let him feel useful." I slip on my jacket. "Oh, by the way, I'm meeting Skimmer afterwards, so I don't think I'll be back 'til late, unless I stay over at her place." I'm halfway out the door when I am hit by a wave of unmistakable jealousy coming from Rachel, and it stops me in my tracks. 'Calm down, Tamwood. She's straight. Even straight people can see how good Skimmer and I are together and want to be a part of it.' I center myself, quickly taking a deep breath; and hope to hell my eyes are not black as I realize there actually is a legitimate reason for me to turn around. "Forgot my helmet." I grab it. "See you later." I need to get out of there, before I do or say something both of us are going to regret.

My run doesn't go the way I was expecting.

I was supposed to reclaim an artifact from a living vampire and give it back to the angry Weres he stole it from, but he wasn't at home and I couldn't find him in any of his usual hangouts. I spend half the day running from end of the city to the other on false leads, and when I finally do manage to track him down, he hands the statue over without incident. I'm a little disappointed, I was kind of hoping for a fight, at least that would have made the day a little more exciting. More annoyingly, when I bring the statue back to the Weres they don't seem particularly interested one way or another, they just pay me and send me on my way.

'If I didn't know better, I'd swear they were testing me.'

Climbing onto my motorcycle, I check my watch. It's almost four. Though I'm still not wild about the idea, I head to Piscary's. I know Rynn Cormel is taking it over, closing the club, and moving himself and his people in, and I hope to hell he gets rid of the name. The more I can disassociate the place with that monster, the better.

When I arrive, I am surprised to find Rachel's car in the parking lot. I never told her I was going to Piscary's, which means she isn't there to see me, and after witnessing their encounter a couple of months ago I know she and Skimmer don't exactly get along, so I can't imagine what she would be doing here. 'What are you up to, Rachel?' I hang my helmet over the handlebars and start inside, but just as my hand touches the knob, I smell a rush of burnt amber and feel the air crackling. Someone, and I'm pretty sure I know who, is tapping a line. I fling the door open in time to see Skimmer being thrown into the far wall. 'Oh. My. God.'

Jenks is fluttering in the air, his wings pale blue as he sees me. "Crap on toast."

Though my mind is on Skimmer, I nevertheless sense Rachel's emotions as she turns, her embarrassment becoming shock as she lays eyes on me. She says exactly what I would expect her to say. "This isn't what it looks like."

I snarl in order to center myself. "Shut. Up." I run to check on Skimmer. She's conscious, so I help her back to her feet. I don't think she's too badly hurt, we living vampires are pretty tough, but she is clearly dizzy and seems to have a hard time standing. "Are you okay?" She nods at me, glassy-eyed. "I'm sorry I didn't get here sooner." Maybe if I had been, I could have stopped this. Whatever this was. I feel Rachel approaching and my blood boils as I glare at her. "Stay away from her, Rachel."

"Ivy, please listen. I didn't mean to…"

I do my best to ignore her as I help Skimmer toward the rear door, and the private rooms downstairs. Rachel is giving off sadness and fear and it stirs my instincts. For some reason, it also makes me angrier. 'Damn her.' "I don't know what's gotten into you Rachel, but this is a side of you I never knew existed. Don't you dare touch her again."

Skimmer, who has been fading in and out of consciousness, stirs as I put her to bed. Her arms come up, reaching for me, yet she doesn't want a hug, the black of her eyes and her exposed canines tell me she is in a blood haze. It will pass with a good night's sleep but there is a faster and easier way, so I hold still and let her sink her teeth.

I moan. I know this is medicinal, not pleasure. I can't help it though. This is so different for vampires than it is for humans or witches. I feel a renewed stab of anger at the thought. 'Damn it, Rachel! Why would you do this?' Skimmer grips my shoulders and yanks me down, wrapping her legs around my waist to hold me close and tight. 'God, that's…' Incense fills the air and I feel my anger fading as my lust and blood pressure rises. Thoughts of Rachel fade as I give in to my instincts.

Sometime later, I reluctantly have to get up to use the bathroom. As I'm washing my hands, I swear I hear Skimmer talking to someone, but when I emerge, she is sprawled out naked on the bed and staring at me. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"Saving my life, feeding me, fucking me senseless." I feel my cheeks heating and Skimmer smiles. "Take your pick."

I sit down beside her. "I don't know about the saving your life part, but you're welcome for the other stuff. Skim, what happened? I've never seen Rachel go off like that, and least not to anyone who wasn't a demon."

Skimmer snorts. "I think she thinks I am. She's doesn't like me, V."

"I don't know that that's true." Except, it was. I'd seen the proof firsthand. That argument before and now this. Rachel doesn't like seeing us together, and Skimmer thinks I want to be with Rachel more than her. 'I did. Do I still?' The fact that I don't actually know how to answer that question scares me a little. "You guys just haven't spent much time together."

Skimmer sits up. "The thing is, normally I wouldn't care. I mean, she's just a witch, so what does it matter what she thinks?" She looks at me and sighs. "Except, she's not just a witch, is she? She's important to you. What she thinks does matter, at least to you, and that's what I care about." She touches my cheek. "You should go talk to her, V."

I stare at her, wide-eyed. I wasn't expecting that. "I can't, Skim. I'm too angry with her. Why would she do that?"

"She was just defending herself. I didn't give her much of a choice." I sense a change in Skimmer's emotions; a swell of anger is tamped down and quickly replaced by what feels like reluctant compliance. "I know you, V. You'll go over this again and again in your head until you somehow bring it back around to being your fault. It's not. It was Rachel and I. She pushed and I pushed back. Go on, V. Go talk to her. I'll still be here, you know I will, but you don't want to risk losing her, do you?"

I lean back from her. I did want to know what was going on in Rachel's head. 'Why didn't she just set a circle? Why did she have to throw Skimmer like that? She could have really hurt her.' I had just gotten past Kisten dying twice. I don't know what I would have done if I had lost Skimmer too. 'Rachel. Damn it!' I sigh. "No, but I don't want to leave you either, Skim."

"I'll be fine. It's just a little concussion. Having you inside me…" She licks her lips. "…makes it all better."

Though I'm still not sure about leaving, I do eventually stand up and start to get dressed. I do want to talk to Rachel. I need to know what the hell is going on. 'She'll probably have a good excuse for this. She always does.' I lean down to kiss Skimmer, who puts her arms around my neck. "Okay, I'll be back, but this may take a while."

Skimmer nods. "I know. I'll see you later."

By the time I arrive at the church, I have burned off a great deal of the anger I had been feeling, though I have also developed a new annoyance as a result. Distracted, I was riding a great deal faster than I should have, my vampire reactions the only thing keeping me from losing it, and ended up getting a speeding ticket.

Inside I'm surprised at first by how quiet it is. Jenks and the other pixies aren't around. Either they're hiding, or Rachel asked them to stay out of her hair for a while. I toss my helmet and leather jacket on the pool table and head for my room. Smelling Skimmer and my scents still lingering is firing my instincts, and I need to center myself before anything else happens. It doesn't register that my door is open until I am standing in it, and my whole seizes as Rachel's scent slams into me.

'God, what was she doing in here?' Easily piercing the darkness, my eyes scan the room. 'Oh crap.' Rachel hadn't just been in my room, she was still there, wrapped up in my sheets, asleep. Or rather she was, until I arrived. Now she is beginning to stir. Something tells me I should just run, as far and fast as I cab, but I don't. She smells so good. 'Damn it!'

Rachel pales when she sees me. "Ivy."

'I can do this. Just focus Ivy. Ignore the scent, the rise and fall of her breasts…damn it!' I take a deep breath before speaking. "Rachel." I can tell my voice has a timbre familiar to both of us. "What. Are. You. Doing?" She scrambles off the bed and backs as far away from her as she can, but all it does is spread her scent deeper into my room. 'No!' My heart pounds a mile a minute. I have to fight every instinct not to charge into the room and take her. I'm trembling from the strain. "Damn it, Rachel! You should know better than this. Especially after what you did to Skimmer." I shake my head. "I came to talk to you. She asked me to. What are you doing to me, Rachel?"

"I'm sorry." She was, I could feel it. "About Skimmer, about this…it's not you, Ivy. It's me. I came to Piscary's to talk to Rynn Cormel only I found Skimmer, and she overheard me talking to Jenks." I wonder why she would care about that. "She got angry and attacked because she saw me as a rival for your affections." Again, why? "That's what you walked in on."

Having gained a slim measure of control over my instincts, I move slowly into my room. I see her glance worriedly at my face and assume my eyes are black. I don't care. I want to know what's going on. "What are you saying?"

Rachel takes a deep breath. "Ivy, I love you."

For a few moments, I stare blankly at her. 'That's it? That's all she has to say?' I've known for a long time that she loves me; she's just not in love with me. It seems we're falling back into old, familiar patterns. This doesn't annoy me as much as it used to. Our relationship, whatever it was or could have been, stalled a long time ago, and I no longer have the desire to try and kindle the flames. She wasn't going after Skimmer deliberately, I can tell that much now, and the anger smoldering within me fades. I sigh. Maybe we will be able to talk about this rationally after all. I was actually worried about that. "I love you too, Rachel. What's going on?"

Rachel shakes her head. "No, you don't understand." I can feel her resolve growing as she takes my hands. 'Oh crap. Is she breaking up with me? Wait, we're not going out. Focus, Ivy!' "Ivy Tamwood, I am in love with you."

I jerk away from her. I don't mean to, it's just the emotions coming from her are so raw it startles me. "Rachel." I back toward the door. 'Damn it damn it damn it!' It was a joke, right? She was kidding. She had to be. This couldn't be happening. Now like this. Not now. "I don't know what game you think you're playing, but I won't be sucked into it. Not again."

Rachel nods. She is scared, apologetic, and a little angry. "Ivy, I'm sorry. I'm sorry about what I did to Skimmer, I'm sorry for all the times I hurt you, and I'm so sorry it took me this damn long to figure it out but I am not sorry about how I feel." She moves slowly toward me. "Maybe you hate me now. Maybe you don't want to hear this, but I am in love with you."

'Hate? Damn it witch, I've loved you for years. You know that.' I glance toward the door. 'Damn it, I have to get out of here.' As I am calculating how far I can get before she blinks, Rachel grabs my arm and I freeze. 'I won't cry. I won't.' My subconscious never listens to me and does it anyway. "Don't do this, Rachel. Please. Let me go."

"I can't, Ivy. If you run, if we don't do this now, I'm afraid we won't ever. Whatever's going to happen, we need to work this out." I lower my head and close my eyes to try and center myself. I'm afraid too, that if I look at her right now, I might lose myself in her. "I'm in love with you and I know that scares you, hell, it scares me."

'Oh god.' She smells delicious. "Rachel." My vision is starting to tunnel. I've never felt like this before. Something is happening, and I don't know if it's wonderful or terrible, and not knowing scares me. I want to kiss her, not bite her. Oh god, I want to kiss her so much I feel like I'm going to die if I don't. "You have to let me go. Otherwise, I'm afraid I'll…"

"What? Bite me?" Rachel shakes her head. There is no fear from her this time, only muted joy and acceptance. "It's okay. I want to share everything with you, Ivy. I love you. If that's what you need to do…"

'She's serious. She's not pushing me away, not running. Oh god, she really does want this.' I know it's a mistake. I know this isn't going to end well, but I don't care. 'I'll take what I can get. God forgive me.' I shove Rachel down on the bed and straddle her. I kiss her hungrily, my tongue snaking into her mouth. 'Stop me, Rachel. I know you're going to. Stop me.'

Rachel moans. Our breasts crush together and her hands come up to clutch at my shoulders. She's really getting into this. I can feel her lust boiling, it mirrors my own. "Ivy…" she whispers. "…please."

'Let's see how far you want to go with this, witch.' I nuzzle the side of Rachel's neck opposite her scars. I smile as I feel the pleasure rippling through her. My hands drift down to the ties of her top. I'm trying to be smooth, but damn it, why do these ties have to be so frustrating? I meet her gaze and she nods. 'Thank you.' With minimal resistance, her blouse tears all the way down to her belt. 'Holy crap! She's not wearing a bra!' Her breasts are beautiful, full and firm and not nearly as small as she seems to think. My breath catches in my throat as I see her nipples hardening, and my hunger grows. "Last chance…stop me…"

"I won't, Ivy. I swear." Rachel's whole body is quivering. "I want this. I want you. I love you."

'By the Turn, I must be dreaming.' If I am, I don't want to wake up. I lean down to kiss the sensitive flesh between Rachel's breasts and she arches her back, mewling in pleasure. 'Mmm…salty redwood.' I slowly kiss my way up her left breast, watching her face the entire time, waiting for her to freak out and push me away, but when she doesn't I gently take her nipple into my mouth and suckle. 'My favorite candy.' I feel her body temperature rising as I repeat my inspection of her breast, and find it just as delightful. 'Damn, she's close already.' I bring my hands down to her pants and shred them like so much tissue paper. Her panties go with them. She's now fully exposed to me for the first time, and I feel like I'm going to climax myself just from the sight. 'Oh god, please, don't stop me now.'

"Ivy…" Rachel is practically whining with need. "…please!"

Relief floods through me. 'Thank you.' Too aroused myself to hold back any longer, I forgo any pretense of seduction, forces her legs apart and descend, my tongue plunging deep into her core. Her whole body goes rigid. 'This is it.' Rachel screams as her climax erupts and god help me, hearing and smelling and feeling and tasting hers triggers my own. I hold her hips until her convulsions finally subside and slide my body up the length of hers until we are face to face again. "Are you all right?"

Once Rachel catches her breath, she nods. "That was…oh God, Ivy. Is it always like that?"

"If you're lucky, dear heart." I rest my head on her shoulder. "You're still here."

"What?"

I blink. 'She doesn't get how scared I was. How much a part of me still is.' I shake my head. 'Stop it, Ivy.' I take a deep breath. "You didn't run." I grin. "You said you wanted to be with me, and you're still here."

Rachel cups my cheek. "I love you, Ivy Tamwood, and I swear by the Turn I am not going anywhere."

We doze, my arms wrapped around Rachel's midsection.

It still feels like a dream, only I'm beginning to realize this is very real. I can still taste her essence on my tongue, in my throat, and a ripple of pleasure goes through me. 'Hot, spicy redwood.' It occurred to me I'd never had sex with a Witch before. Vampires and Humans sure, even a couple of Weres, but this was a first. My tongue was sore, happily so, and I remembered reading somewhere that female Witches had an unusual internal anatomy, which I think I had experience firsthand. 'I could get used to this.'

I hear a quiet noise. 'Knocking?' My thoughts are overridden by a sudden surge of lust from Rachel, and I open my eyes to see her leering at me. "My god, witch. You're insatiable." I lean up to kiss her. "Then again, so am I."

Rachel is initially into the kiss, but then she reluctantly pulls away and caresses my cheek. "Except, I think Jenks is here." That gentle rapping comes again. "Or we have woodpeckers in the church."

I roll my eyes. 'Stupid pixy.' I hop out of bed, heedless of the fact I am naked, and as I head for the door, I can feel her eyes on my ass. I wiggle it just for her and hear her gasp. I smile. I could definitely get used to this. "Umm, not that I mind, but you might want to put some clothes on before you…" She pauses as I throw the door open. "…never mind."

"Tinks' diaphragm!" Jenks doesn't wait to be invited in; he flies over my bare shoulder and into the bedroom, circling the air around the light fixture in the ceiling. His gaze lingers momentarily on Rachel, and I suspect he is checking to make sure I haven't hurt her. We were at it all night long, so I'm sure he and the brood know what was going on in here. Rachel will be embarrassed when she finds out just how far her voice carries. "Sorry to interrupt but, umm, there's someone here to see you."

"Can it wait?" Rachel asks. "As you can see, I'm a little busy. Tell them to come back tomorrow."

Jenks shakes his head. "I don't think he's going to take no for an answer. It's Rynn Cormel."

I gasp. 'My new master is here? Now? Oh crap.'

"And he's here for both of you."

Rachel stands, wrapping the sheet around herself. "Okay, umm, he can't come into the sanctified parts of the church. Get him to the living room and tell him we'll be right there." The pixie nods and darts out of the room. "I better go get dressed."

I can't move. I'm scared. 'Why am I scared?'

Rachel's concern wafts off her as she looks at me worriedly. "Are you okay?"

It occurs to me, that if Cormel is here, he's been to Piscary's, and he's probably not alone. His scion is here, or at least nearby, but I imagine he and Skimmer also had a long talk about us. "Skimmer is here."

Rachel blinks. "You can smell her?"

"No, but she's working for Cormel. She's his lawyer." I can't see her right now. I feel horrible. 'Skimmer. Damn it.' "I forgot about her. I left her waiting for me back at Piscary's. She told me to come and talk to you, to try and work this out, and then we…" I takes a deep breath. "Damn it, Rachel. What I am supposed to tell her?"

"What do you want to tell her?" I don't answer that, I can't, and she senses it. "It'll be okay, Ivy. Whatever you decide."

I need a minute. I can't concentrate with her right here and naked. Hell, I want to push her down and have her again, but my master vampire is waiting for me. "Go back to your room, Rachel. I'll see you in a few minutes."

"Okay." To my dismay, Rachel pauses in the doorway. "Umm…shouldn't we bathe first?"

I roll my eyes. 'Duh!' We smelled like sex. The whole room did. Even the most pathetic living vampire with a head cold could taste it, and Cormel probably already knew it from the other room. "Of course, but we don't have time." I sigh. "What happened last night wasn't me, or you, it was both of us. We willingly started this journey together Rachel." I pray she isn't going to use this as an excuse to bolt, though a part of me couldn't blame her if she did. "We're just going to have to deal with where it takes us."

Once she's gone, I can breath a little easier. I stand in my closet and look around. Rynn Cormel is a master vampire. More than that, he is in charge of my camarilla. He has already accepted me and mine, so I don't technically have to please him, but I figured the happier I can keep him the better off the rest of us will be. I choose an outfit Kisten bought for me years ago, which I have never actually worn. It shows off the parts I want Cormel, and Rachel for that matter, to see what I am offering. Cormel can still have me if he wants, he is my master and it is expected, but even though I know it's going to hurt Skimmer, my heart belongs to Rachel.

Seeing my witch in the hallway, my heart skips a beat. 'Holy crap.' I want to take her right there. My brow furrows. She is staring at my breasts and I feel her pulse increase yet there is no scent. "Rachel, your pulse just shot up, but I can't smell you." She shows me the special bottle of perfume I bought her and I can't help smiling. "That's brilliant." I spray a little on myself. "Skimmer and Cormel are smart. It's still clear we're hiding something, but at least we won't be so blatantly obvious." Speaking of obvious, she seems mesmerized by my cleavage and I snap my fingers. "You keep that up and you're the one who's going to give us away."

"I'm sorry. I can't help it, Ivy. You look gorgeous." She shakes her head. "You never dress like that for me, or Skimmer."

"Cormel is taking over my camarilla. He may not officially be our master, but we have to treat him like he is." I adjust my collar just to make my breasts jiggle. "It's a show of respect. I have to make it at least appear I am willing to offer myself to him, even if I actually belong to someone else." Rachel grins at me, and I blush slightly. "Shall we?"

My eyes meet Skimmer's as soon as we walk into the living room.

'Oh crap.' She and Cormel may not be able to smell Rachel on me, or me on her, because of the perfume, but she knows firsthand what I look like when I'm sated. I'm sure she can see it in Rachel's body language too. 'She knows.' Her eyes narrow and she turns her head slightly to scowl at Rachel, actually daring to bare her fangs. 'Damn it.'

Rynn Cormel rises with a slow, easy grace and turns to face us, flashing the million-dollar smile that kept the world from falling apart. He is an imposing figure, though young for an undead, incredibly handsome and charismatic. "Ms. Morgan. Ivy." I try not to shudder as he practically purrs my name, and in spite of myself, I blush. He's the leader of my camarilla, my master by proxy if not blood, and in spite of the fact Rachel is right beside me I know I could not refuse anything he might ask of me.

Rachel speaks up. "Mr. President…"

He holds up a hand, and I see her tense slightly. "Rynn, please."

Rachel nods. "All right. Rynn. I don't mean to be rude, but is this a social call or is there something we can do for you?"

I want to warn her to watch her tone, but I just can't find the words. Cormel's pheromones are completely under his control, unlike Skimmer's or mine, so I know it's not anything he's doing. It's just…him.

"As I'm sure you are aware, I have taken Piscary's camarilla as my own. This brings Ivy and Skimmer here into my circle of influence, and places you on my radar as well, Ms. Morgan. It has come to my attention that you are endeavoring to find a way for vampires to maintain their souls following their first death, is that right?"

I lower my head. I know Rachel is looking questioningly at me, and I can't bear it. We never discussed keeping the issue private, but I think a part of her expected it was just going to be between us. Cormel had sensed I was hiding something during our first meeting, and after his fangs sank into me, I was ready and willing to tell him just about anything.

"It's true I have been looking," I hear Rachel say after a few awkward moments of silence. "But so far I haven't found anything that even remotely resembles the kind of miracle you're asking for."

"Give it time. Ivy has considerable faith in you, and that is good enough for me." Cormel arches an eyebrow. "Speaking of Ivy, she and Skimmer are my responsibility now, and seeing as their well-being is one of my primary concerns, I also stopped by to determine the nature of your relationship." I find myself speechless as he looks from Rachel to me and back again. "Although, that question clearly no longer needs to be asked." He approaches Skimmer, whose eyes are pure black, and places a hand gently on her shoulder. She snarls, but remains still. His legendary sexual prowess won't work on her, she can't stand guys that way, but being our master is enough to keep even her temper under control. "I have no objection, so long as it doesn't interfere with your responsibilities."

"Thanks for your permission." I tense. Skimmer does too. Rachel clearly doesn't understand the kind of forces she is dealing with here. While Piscary radiated power because he liked to show off, Rynn Cormel has it without even trying, and I think she is overlooking the fact he could snap her in half without even thinking about it. "I'm sorry for that, Rynn…" Okay, that at least sounded sincere; even though we can all still taste barely checked contempt. "But whatever Ivy and I have is private."

Cormel steps back and smiles slightly, baring his fangs. "You're quite right." His eyes lighten, and I relax as much as I can in the presence of my master, knowing the immediate threat is over. "Forgive me, Ms. Morgan." He turns gracefully. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have other business I must attend to. Come along, Skimmer."

I want to chase after them, to grab Skimmer and apologize, or at least explain, but her gnashing teeth deter me. We're going to have to discuss it at some point, and that is not a conversation I am looking forward to.

Rachel breathes a sigh of relief. "I'm glad that's over."

For Skimmer and I it's not, of course, but one lingering worry I was having is gone. Rynn Cormel saw Rachel and I together and ostensibly approved. I was actually worried about that, because a word from him could have easily ruined everything. Best of all, Rachel Morgan has finally said she loves me back. I can't help it. I start to cry.

Jenks and family apparently take this as their cue and leave the room.

"Ivy." Rachel leads me to the couch and sits us both down. "What's wrong?"

Wiping my eyes, I smile. "Nothing."

"I'm confused."

"You always were a little slow." I strokes Rachel's cheek and feel her relax. Just being able to do this little thing without her freaking turns me on and I see her responding to my pheromones. "Cormel is okay with us. I know why you said…what you said, but I don't think you understand what permission from him really means. I'm still going to have to deal with Skimmer at some point, and I'm not looking forward to that conversation, but this really does take a load off my mind."

Rachel nods. She's appeasing me. I don't think she knows what I'm talking about. "So, umm, what now?" I stare at her hungrily, and my instincts rumble within me as her scars flare. "Why Ms. Tamwood, are you trying to seduce me?"

I scoop her up into her arms. 'Damn I love this woman.' "Trying? No." I whisk us away to the bedroom.

THE END

Of this story. Not theirs. J