Chapter 2

This story takes place after Mick's foray into the realm of humanity, but Maureen was not killed and Beth is still working for Buzzwire. I love constructive criticism and reviews! Please keep them coming. - Laurelin

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Vampires really do have more fun, Josef thought to himself as he sat there with Beth, completely still as only a vampire can be. Her steady heartbeat and even breathing reassured him that he had not taken too much blood from her, but that he had instead sent her into a blissful sleep. They needed to talk about what had happened between them tonight, but she looked so peaceful there in his arms that he couldn't bring himself to disturb her slumber. At that moment, Josef became aware of just how beautiful Beth was, not just in the pleasingly proportioned face and healthy physique way that he had noticed the first time he met her. Seeing and feeling her like this made him feel like he caught a glimpse of her soul, if there even was such a thing, or maybe the person she was inside. She reminded him so much of Sara, laying there content in his embrace having just trusted him enough to willingly give in to his hunger, relying on him to keep her safe. He tried to reconcile the conflicting feelings in that instant of mourning for Sara and wanting Beth, both envying Mick and hating him for hurting her like he was doing every minute they were together. No matter what had transpired this evening, Beth was not his. She was in love with Mick. Even though he had a wing of his house full of beautiful young women with gourmet blood who were only too happy to join him in his bed, Josef couldn't help but feel very alone at that moment. He wanted what he couldn't really have… the woman who had just shared her blood with him after crying on his shoulder over the vampire she did love, and the woman who couldn't cry at all in New York. Emotionally this was not a place that Josef liked to be.

Deciding it was time for him to go before he was forced to spend any more time with introspection, he carefully picked Beth up and headed for her bedroom. Once the sheets were pulled down, he set her down carefully with her head on the soft pillow. Seeing her there like that gave Josef a momentary flash of her naked on those same sheets, offering herself to him as he stood by the side of the bed, and of him pinning her to the bed and ravishing her. Shaking his head as if trying to clear away the image, he gently removed Beth's shoes and pulled the blanket over her. After one last stroke of her cheek Josef steps back, intent on heading for the door but Beth's hand closes around his and stops him in mid step.

Josef doesn't turn around to look at her, he can't; he merely waits. "Josef, don't go, please."

He closed his eyes for a moment, gathering all of his control before turning around. With his cloak of sarcasm and presumed self-satisfaction mostly back in place, Josef looked at Beth as he replied, "yes, my little freshie?" It wasn't meant to wound as he had said it with affection, but he hoped it would help to solidify the distance between them that needed to be there if she was going to continue to be Mick's girlfriend. As much as he hated the thought, this had to end at him reassuring her that there was nothing wrong with her, only with Mick, and that somehow he would guide Mick into doing the right thing.

Beth looked confused. "What's a freshie?"

Josef smiled and rolled his eyes as he sat down on the floor next to her bed. Beth propped herself up on one elbow, but Josef wasn't convinced her motor skills had completely returned as she wobbled for a second. "Mick hasn't told you? Jesus, he really is trying to keep you out of our world in spite of his absolute obsession with you. A freshie is a willing blood donor, much sought after and highly appreciated by vamps of any sophistication." He gave her his cocky smile and in spite of himself kissed the back of her hand with a very chivalrous nod and wave of the other hand. It took him several seconds longer than it should have to relinquish the touch of her skin, though he forced himself to remember why he must.

Beth seemed just as distracted by that small contact, but when Josef finally let go she searched his face for an answer to the question she had asked before she offered her neck to him. The vulnerability and loneliness she saw written into his timeless features surprised her more than her desire for him at that moment.

"What is it, Josef? What's wrong?" That small voice of panic in the back of her mind roared back to life. It was her blood that was stopping Mick.

The increase in her heart rate wasn't lost on Josef as he remembered he'd never verbally reinforced what their bodies had told both of them with regard to Beth's blood. Disgusted with himself for the lapse of his usual façade, Josef snapped it back into place and gave Beth the most reassuring, carefree smile he could muster.

"Absolutely nothing, Beth, your blood is exquisite, delicious in a way that is not open to personal preferences where vampires are concerned. Mick may not say it, but he had to have enjoyed the taste of your blood more than he'd ever admit. Any vamp would consider your blood a rare gift, but I'm surprised Mick never told me you had such an unusual blood type. Then again, he probably figured if he did I'd have been after you sooner." Damn. Did I really just say that out loud? That I was after her? Trying to cover his mistake he quickly added, "even though Mick is completely in love with you, obsessed really, he erroneously believes you'd be better off with a human. The only reason I can think of that Mick wouldn't want to drink from you, oh, every minute you're together is that he might become hopelessly addicted to your sweet blood. So don't worry." Josef stood up again to go, trying to reconcile himself to the trip home to his freezer, alone.

"Are you, Josef?" she asked quietly, knowing he could hear her easily.

"Am I what?" he quipped, raising his right eyebrow and trying to look amused in spite of what was going on in his heart.

"Addicted to my blood?" Beth wasn't sure what she wanted the answer to be.

"But of course I am. No vampire could resist you, Miss Turner," he replied, knowing he had to get to the door of her apartment before she did or said anything else that might make him want to stay. Vampire speed had its benefits. Let the effect of his sudden disappearance add to the mystique of the visit, but he couldn't stay a minute longer without joining her in the bed and showing her just how irresistible she was.

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Having slept better than she had in weeks, even if it was in her clothes, Beth felt refreshed and ready for another day covering whatever celebrity had passed out in their own vomit overnight. She had promised Mick to stay away from the murders and kidnappings while he was away, saying something about how Josef wasn't a PI and didn't really care about what humans did to each other as long as it didn't hurt his business or involve vamps. Mick had promised to make it worth her while if she complied with his request to stay away from the dangerous stuff, and especially after last night Beth had every intention of holding him to it.

The two neat fang marks on the side of her neck were smaller than she thought they'd be as she examined them in the mirror. A tingle went through her body as she remembered the feel of Josef's strong arms encircling her, his soft kisses, the barest sharp pain when his fangs pierced her skin, and the overwhelming pleasure that immediately followed. If those sensations could be combined with great sex, there was no way she was going to let Mick get away with his excuses any longer. But what if the pleasure was something only Josef could do? Beth remembered feeling pain when Mick bit her that day in the desert, but maybe that was only because he was on the verge of dying, wasn't it? She found herself wondering if the situation were more controlled and Mick wasn't as hungry if he could make her feel the way Josef had, and what it would mean if he couldn't.

Last night was illuminating to say the least, but now Beth found herself with more unanswered questions. While relieved to know that her blood wasn't worse than the morgue blood that Mick regularly drank, there was still the matter of her safety during sex. Even if Mick's bite couldn't compare to Josef's, Beth still wanted to be with him, and badly at that, but she was forced to agree with Mick that she'd also like to be able to sleep with him more than once. That wouldn't be happening if she died during the best part. This meant she was going to have to go back to Josef to get some answers.

Beth waited until late afternoon to call, hoping that Josef wasn't sleeping. She made a mental note to consult Miss Manners for Vampires about when was the best time to call a vamp out of their freezer. Maybe it was in the same section as "catching a bite to eat", and "how to ask a vampire's age without being rude".

Her again. Josef sat quietly and studied his cell phone, debating whether to answer it or just let her go. Damn. I promised Mick. Okay, he threatened to drive a stake through my heart if I didn't help Beth when she called, but this was getting ridiculous. Just before his voicemail answered Josef picked up the phone. Time to keep up the distance.

"Neck Biters Anonymous, Josef speaking."

"Very funny, Josef," Beth replied.

"I thought so," he said with his usual air of self-satisfaction. Josef was nothing if not patient from his four hundred years of experience, but Beth hesitated on the other end of the line. Time to press the advantage with her hesitancy and stop her before she actually got out whatever it was that she was trying to get the courage to say. "What is it, Blondie? I'm a little busy here." Truth was he was sitting at his desk in the office populated only by stock quoting computer monitors, trying desperately to focus on making money for the last four hours instead of Beth. Josef suddenly had a lot more sympathy for Mick; he knew he had to stop any possibility of more intimacies with Beth but was finding it very difficult actually accomplish. Mick was resisting for stupid reasons, but Josef was at least trying not to mess it up for them.

"Wow, someone got up on the wrong side of the freezer today. What time do you get up anyway?" Beth asked, doing her best to sound light-hearted.

"Well, let's see. Today I got up two nights ago. I'm sure the dollar's weakness and its resulting negative impact on the Asian markets has you just as sleepless."

"Actually I slept better than I have in years," she said quietly.

The awkward silence that stretched between them convinced Josef that she wasn't going to just let this drop. It was so much easier when both parties could just pretend that nothing happened.

"So what's new in the world of trashy gossip today? Anyone go into rehab, violate their parole, or do something stupid while drunk?"

"Well, Maureen was going to let me go for the day after Brittany's court hearing, but as I don't have anything to do this evening, or anywhere I need to be, I thought I might work late and go check out that murder scene from East L.A. I heard that it was gang-related." The exaggerated excitement in her voice was purely for Josef's benefit.

Josef laughed in spite of himself. This girl was clever. Mick obviously hadn't figured out just how clever yet or he would have just given in already. There was no way for either of them to win against this woman. "Very funny. Now I know you promised Mick that you were only going to cover the fluff pieces while he was away, so don't even think about it."

"Hey Maureen!" Josef heard Beth's editor in the background. "Get me that camera crew for the East L.A. murder. I'll be ready to go in ten." She waited for Josef's response, wishing she could see the look on his face. "It was nice talking to you, Josef, but I really need to get going so I can alleviate my boredom by taking excessive risks."

"Fine, Beth, I give up. You win." Losing might be more fun that he ever thought. "I"ll pick you up at 6:30. Wear something… casual… preferably in blue." He hung up before Beth could even answer, knowing full well that she wouldn't be anywhere near a crime scene tonight.