Crimson and Blood
Chapter 2
Oh woman
Don't love me cause it's danger
Desire owns my heart
Don't need me cause it's danger
A warning from the start
Hey, baby, let go
Passion is my crime
Don't love me cause it's danger
Emotions confined
Go on home
Danger zone
Woman learn to live without me
I'm a man alone
Or your heart will fall into a danger zone
Danger, Gorky Park
Later in the evening, Grace finally broke free of the guests who wanted to dance with her. She wasn't sure her feet could take anymore stepping on. She glided through the crowd making her apologies to those begging for the next dance. She quickly joined Josef at the bar, enjoying a glass of champagne this time.
He smiled at her knowingly, "After centuries you'd think that vamp could dance, but perhaps he was just distracted by all the pawing he was doing."
"Indeed." Grace said irritably. Josef was certainly a welcome sight. "I would like to take a walk through the garden maze to cool off and be rid of the crowd and noise for a while. Would you care to join me, Josef? Afterwards, perhaps we can do that Tango you promised."
Josef was caught off guard by the invitation, but readily accepted.
"Josef, just a walk in the garden, nothing more. Your reputation precedes you. I'm sure there will be talk enough to support your reputation, and damage mine, just by leaving the party however briefly with me. I can smell your lust and desire for me, and while I am pleased by your response to me, I also know that you tend to have that response to many women. I'm sure I can trust you to be a perfect gentleman, can't I?"
"I will be a perfect gentleman, have no doubt. You are different from every woman I have ever met in all my centuries. I will take the time to prove that to you. At this point, I have no sense of urgency. If another suitor comes along, another serious suitor that is, I'm sure my determination to prove myself worthy will persevere." They both enjoyed their comfortable teasing banter. The pull towards each other was strong, but neither wanted to rush something that was so delicate and may turn out to be very important. For now, teasing and mischief would be enough.
The couple approached the open French doors that led to the outside, feeling the cool air hit their bodies. While Josef rarely felt hot or cold, Grace felt warmth and coolness just as a human did. After dancing non-stop and the large number of people in the room, she was quite warm and ready for some cool refreshing air, and considerably less people and noise. They walked out onto a large patio with large teak tables and chairs, as well as teak cushioned beds. To the right was the huge swimming pool, lit up for the night. It had gardenia candles floating in it and was quite romantic. Several couples had escaped the party inside and were relaxing in the poolside beds and chairs. To the left was the garden maze. Grace took Josef's arm, feeling his powerful bicep through his sleeve, and they entered through a wide trellis covered in grapes and grapevines. The maze was made up of various plants from around the world. Several wider places in the maze had benches and animals sculpted out of plants. The maze was a serene and peaceful place and Grace loved it. As they wandered through arm in arm they saw several couples taking a romantic break on the benches. Grace hoped there wasn't anyone in the center of the maze. It was widely known to be off limits except to family and hopefully their guests had taken the warning to heart.
As they walked Grace described how her father had the maze designed for her mother. Since her father could only come out in the evening, it provided a wonderfully romantic place for them to share their love. When Grace's mother died, Valentin had the fountain erected with a sculpture of her mother in the middle.
"How did she die?" Josef asked quietly.
"She died in childbirth. My father was heartbroken. Hence when I achieved a certain age, I was sent away, me and my army of body guards. He says I look just like her and at the time he found it difficult to be around me. Theirs was a passionate love. They lived for each other only. I was simply an unwelcome surprise since a vampire/mortal relationship had never produced a child. For a long time he resented me because she died giving me birth. There is a painting of her in one of the rooms of the house, and he is right. I do look exactly like her. I think his resentment has passed over time, and he has welcomed me back with whatever joy he is capable of feeling."
Josef asked softly, "Why didn't he turn her so she didn't die?"
"My mother refused to be turned. I don't know why given how much they loved each other. I used to see it as some kind of martyrdom, but now I suppose I see it more romantically. I just don't know." Once again Grace found herself sharing very private things with a virtual stranger, things she had never shared before. But he didn't feel like a stranger, however given his reputation she needed to tread carefully and not reveal too much.
"If the assumptions are true and you lose your virginity, you will turn all the way and become vampire. You won't be able to have children will you? I mean vampires just don't have baby vampires."
Grace and Josef had reached the fountain and it was truly breathtaking. It was circular in shape with a large statue in the center of her mother holding a child. Water spouts sprang from various places. The water was clear as glass, and the whole fountain was lighted from below.
Grace answered his question as she gracefully sat on the side of the fountain. "Josef, there are a lot of unknowns about me. I am a one of a kind, hence the reason so many aggressively seek me. No place is safe for me, they follow me everywhere. It is one of the reasons we deal with problems so ruthlessly. Come, I want to walk around the fountain. Can you help me take off my shoes?"
Josef kneeled on the soft grass in front of Grace sliding her shoes off her feet. "These could be considered stakes," as he looked at the heels of her strappy shoes. He ran his hands up her bare legs, touching her in a way had she had never been touched. When he got high enough on her leg she blocked further progress. Leaning over, showing her décolletage, Grace took one of the shoes he had just removed and smiled showing Josef she was always armed. She then stood and attached the train of her dress to the upper part so she didn't trip or get wet.
Before she climbed up the fountain, he asked for a favor. "You are so beautiful. Can we take you hair down so it hangs naturally? I'd like to see it down the rest of the evening." He was taking a risk at being so bold and wasn't sure how she would respond.
She looked at him carefully, reading his intentions. He really did want to see her hair naturally in the evening light. "Ok, but you'll have to help. There must be a thousand clips in here. It was starting to give me a headache anyway." Josef and Grace stood in front of each other, not touching but it felt quite intimate anyway, removing the clips and dropping them on the ground. The diamond clips and platinum bars and stakes were tucked into Josef's jacket. Soon Grace's hair was completely released and created a waterfall of curls and waves made from obsidian and snow that flowed to her waist. Josef thought she was breathtaking. He could only stand and stare.
"See something you like, Mr. Kostan?" Grace teased; once again he saw the mischief he loved in her eyes.
"You are stunning Grace. I want to take you home with me and never let you out of my sight." Josef was sincere, and she could tell. "But I suppose that would cause your father to eliminate me like he plans to Lance and Coraline."
"Someday, perhaps you can take me home, Josef. But that day is not today, and while you I'm sure have earned your reputation as a womanizer, I am unlikely to fall for you too fast. I have avoided seduction for 25 years, I'm sure I can resist even your temptation which is powerful indeed. Shakespeare says 'Tis one thing to be tempted, another thing to fall.' As for Lance and Coraline, my father and I are ruthless, and they have terrorized me most of my life. We are now in a position to eliminate that threat once and for all."
"'Temptations come as a rule, when they are sought.' (Margaret Oliphant). At least you are tempted. I can hold on to that hope. And if you have done your research as you claim you know I can be ruthless as well. Let me help you up." Josef held her hand as she elegantly stepped up to the marble round circle surrounding the fountain.
As she walked gracefully around the circle, Grace watched the marble center piece, looking at the visage of her mother holding a baby Grace in her arms. She could feel Josef's eyes following her around the circle. When she returned to Josef, she offered her hand and he helped her to the ground.
Josef wanted to kiss this stunning woman but dared not. It was too soon for her, if not for him. He decided to take a more sexually teasing route. "So if you aren't wearing stockings, and given the back of the dress, even the tiniest of lingerie would be out of the question, I would hazard a guess you are naked under that almost see through dress."
"Why Josef, your concern over my clothing or lack thereof is a little startling." Grace said teasingly as he put her shoes on again.
"I didn't mean to embarrass you. It is just that with such a major deal being made of your virginity, I'm just a little surprised you are such a free spirit."
"You want another surprise?" Josef nodded in the affirmative. "You are the first man who has ever touched more than my arm. Your hands running up my legs while removing my shoes… the first time. Notice how I have not let any of my dance partners press themselves against me, except you. I am not just a virgin by technicality, but truly."
Josef was speechless. Grace had a feeling that didn't occur very often and was pleased with his reaction. "He that has patience can have what he will. A very wise man named Benjamin Franklin once said that. I sense you are in a rush to add me to your conquests, but I will not be satisfied as another conquest for you. I wonder Josef, how patient you can be?"
"I am a patient man when I want something. I want you and I will be patient. Now, shall we go Tango milady? Much more time spent out here I would fear for your reputation." Josef laughed as they began to walk back to the house.
"Ah yes, no one can doubt my well kept virginity. Spending time with you in the garden is sure to tarnish my reputation. While I have enjoyed our interlude, I suppose we should return. A Tango it will be. You have already started your slow seduction of me. I suspect the Tango will only continue the temptation." Grace kept the mood teasing and light as they walked slowly hand in hand. The draw she felt towards Josef was powerful and while they had said some important things to each other, she needed to pull away from his power to keep her balance. When she looked in his eyes, she thought she could drown. But everything about him screamed DANGER to her. Not danger like Lance, but more of a danger to her heart.
