Here starts the action of the story! I couldn't have Mick and Beth dancing around for too long, but I want you to notice that it is not just Mick who feels weird about their relationship. And I wanted to show that Josef likes Beth and cares about her, not only for Mick's sake.
Enjoy!!
How Old is Too Old?
"Sometimes when you look back on a situation, you realize it wasn't all you thought it was. A beautiful girl walked into your life. You fell in love. Or did you? Maybe it was only a childish infatuation, or maybe just a brief moment of vanity."
-Henry Bromel
Beth had fallen into a tormented sleep long after Mick had left. She had stayed awake for hours contemplating every possible scenario as to why Mick hadn't reacted to her like she imagined he would. She had been on the verge of calling Josef when she fell asleep, well, unconscious was more like it.
As she woke, she realized she was still holding the phone in her hand. She set the phone on the bed-side-table and headed to the bathroom. She needed a hot shower and a good breakfast.
Before she could make it to the bathroom, there was a knock at the door. Unsure of who would be calling on her at six in the morning she grabbed her robe and headed to the door. Josef swept into her apartment before she reached it though.
"Oh, you're awake."
"Yes," Beth answered suspiciously.
"When you called and didn't say anything I was…worried."
Beth nearly laughed. "You, worried? About me?"
Josef took a defensive posture. "Yes. I saw Mick earlier and it was clear that you two had…hooked up." Beth looked away at his comment. "When you called, I thought…maybe something went wrong, maybe you were hurt."
Beth didn't know what to say. Josef had been trying to protect her. "Thanks," she mumbled. "But it was nothing. I called you for a different reason."
"Really? Why?"
It all seemed stupid now and Beth tried to think of a lie quick, but nothing came. "It was…it was nothing, really."
"Just tell me, Beth. It's not like you could shock me."
Beth sighed and sat down on the couch. Josef noticed her neck for the first time and tilted her head to get a better look. She winched, but let him examine Mick's bite.
"He was a little rough with you," Josef commented. Beth blushed again, but Josef just chuckled. "Nothing to be ashamed of, honey, first times are always a little extra passionate, especially with all the built-up tension between you two. Next time will be better, I promise or else I will beat his sorry butt."
Beth smiled. It was nice to have Josef protecting her too. She hadn't felt so safe since before her mom died, ironic that it was because of two vampires.
"That's just it," she blurted out. "Mick wasn't passionate; at least it didn't feel like he was. He seemed…restrained."
"That's because you're human, he can't give in totally."
"I know that. He told me that, but, cock it up to a woman's intuition, but I don't think he enjoyed himself."
Josef stopped. He knew better than most to trust a woman's intuition, especially in matters of love. "He could have been nervous, it has been a while since he…"
"But that should have made him more passionate or un-skilled."
"You just said he didn't please you, so what's the problem with that theory?"
"I said he didn't enjoy himself, not that he didn't please me. Because he pleased me." Beth blushed. "Repetitively. It was like he was using every skill he had to please me, but was taking none of the pleasure for himself, and then this morning…he left without so much as a kiss."
Josef didn't respond. He had found Mick's earlier mood strange and his actions even stranger. He couldn't deny that what Beth was telling him was not new news.
"I'm worried he doesn't like me," Beth admitted.
Josef saw the tears in her eyes and instinctively wrapped his arms around her. "That's not true and you know it." Josef said as he stroked her hair, thrawling her ever so lightly. He felt her start to relax in his grip. "Mick's just confused. He was when I ran into him earlier. This is all new ground for him, so you're going to have to give him a chance to adjust."
"But why? He's been in relationships before."
"Yes, but times were different then. You didn't sleep with women you loved before marriage. He could be fighting against his own morals, and we both know how much he sticks to his antiquated morals…"
Beth snorted a laugh between tears. "But what…what if he's still harboring feelings for someone else?" Beth finally asked what she'd been dying to ask.
"He has no feelings left for Coraline." Josef assured her.
"I know, but what about someone else? Another vampire, perhaps?" Beth egged Josef on, hoping to get some answers.
Josef stiffened. How much does she know? "That's not possible. Mick made that clear long ago."
Beth's mind went into overdrive. Josef knows something! He knows about another woman in Mick's life and he's not telling me. Beth opened her month to protest, but stopped. The confusion in Josef's eyes humbled her. Maybe he doesn't know his friend as well as he thinks he does…
Josef ran his hand down her back one more time for good measure then stood up. "Mick is a mystery, much like women, and since I won't be any more help to you, I need to get going."
Beth stood-up. Sad that he was leaving, his presence had been very calming. "Thank you for coming, Josef. It means a lot."
Josef smiled. "You're my best friend's girl, that makes you family by association and I protect my family."
Beth smiled widely. She rather liked the idea of two vampire guardians. Josef took her hands in his and leaned into her neck. Beth stiffened, Was this normal family behavior with vampires? Are girls shared?
Before Beth could shy away, Josef's lips were on Mick's bite and she felt an odd, cooling (almost soothing if it hadn't been for the circumstances) sensation spread over the bite. Until then, she hadn't noticed how much it was hurting her.
Beth relaxed and closed her eyes at the feeling, but as fast as it started, it was over. Josef pulled back still examining her neck, then he looked up at her face and chuckled. "All better."
"What?" Beth was confused. She grabbed at her neck, but the bite was gone.
"There'll be a slight scar, not that any human can see, but it will make a nice possessive mark."
"Scar…mark…" Beth was still shocked that her neck had healed.
"Yes, a vampire bite can open many a shut door." Josef grinned and squeezed her hand then he headed for the door. "Beth," he turned to face her, where she was still standing in shock. "I'm not just here for Mick. You're family now, if you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask." And with that he was gone.
Josef swept out the door and down the hall. He nearly ran into Mick in the stair well. Good, now I can have that conversation with him, before he smells me on Beth…
"Josef?"
"Yes, Mick?"
"What are you doing here?"
"Making sure you didn't mess anything up."
"What do you mean?"
"You don't leave a woman alone after you slept with her. She was vulnerable and worried about your rejection."
Mick stiffened knowing that Josef was probably right; he'd made some mistakes where Beth was concerned. "I-"
"Don't try and explain. Just fix it." Josef continued down the stairs, then looked back at Mick. "Oh, and next time, seal the bite, I don't want to have to continue cleaning up your messes."
Mick looked down the stairs, but Josef was gone. Did he? Did he just say what I thought he did? Did he seal… Suddenly, Mick's urge to see Beth increased tenfold. He was not worried so much for her safety as for her mental health. The kiss of a four hundred year old vampire could leave some deep marks…
Beth was still standing in the living room, when Mick entered. She looked at him, like seeing him for the first time, her hand still covering the bite on her neck. Mick crossed the room to her side in an instant. He lowered her hand from her neck and inspected the bite.
Josef had been good to his word. Mick could smell him all over her and he leaned in to kiss the spot Josef had kissed moments earlier.
Mick's lips brought Beth out of her stupor and she wrapped her arms around him. "Missed you," she moaned into his year as Mick started to suck on her neck.
Mick pulled back to smile at her. "Missed you too. Sorry about this morning, I just-"
Beth silenced him with a finger. "It's okay. Josef explained everything."
"Everything?" Oh, God! What did he tell her? What does she know?
"Yes, he said it's been awhile and that this is all new to you. He said you needed some time to clear your head."
"Oh, well, yeah." Mick looked sheepish, but couldn't help smiling when he looked at her face. "But I'm here now and I'm not going anywhere." He kissed her, soundly, to emphasis his point.
Beth tightened her grip on him and pressed her hips to his. Mick felt that familiar tightening in his pants and ground his hips into her. This is getting easier, Mick thought as he backed her to the nearest wall. Although it could be because she is covered in Josef's scent…
Beth liked the way Mick reacted to her. Her previous doubts were thrown out the window and she prepared herself to be amazed, again. But as Mick captured her arms and kept them hostage above her head she didn't feel right.
Mick was kissing her with all the passion she had wanted from him the night before, but somehow it felt…wrong. Like kissing you dad, except you didn't kiss your dad with tongue. He is old enough to be my grandfather…What are you thinking!
Mick sensed Beth unease and let go of her hands, backing away from her. He retracted his fangs, as best possible. "Sorry, Beth, I didn't mean to get carried away."
"No, no, it's not you." Mick gave her a funny look. Beth sighed. "I just…I'm not feeling it."
Mick was a little taken aback. Sure he had only been kissing her, but he was sure he was much more passionate than the night before and he had been thrawling her. "Oh, okay. Do you want to get breakfast or something?"
"Sure, that sounds nice." Beth headed to her bedroom to throw some clothes on and Mick grabbed their coats as they headed for the door. "Mick," Beth started. "I'm really sorry, it's just-"
"No need to explain," Mick cut her off with a quick kiss.
Beth nodded, but Mick could feel the waves of shame and embarrassment rolling off her. He led her to his car and they headed out for breakfast.
Mick walked Beth back to her door after breakfast. She fumbled with her keys which Mick knew meant she wanted him to kiss her. Mick obliged and cupped her cheek with his hand to lift her head up, kissing her softly. It took only a moment for Mick to realize that neither she nor him where behind the kiss.
They broke apart and looked at each other. There was a brief moment of awkward silence, before they both broke down laughing. Beth opened her apartment and they entered. Mick collapsed on the couch and Beth went to the kitchen to get a glass of water.
"Do you think we are forcing this?" Beth asked.
"Maybe," Mick replied. "We both have a lot of baggage that doesn't get dropped easily."
"Yeah," Beth sighed as she plopped down on the couch next to Mick. "So do we take it slow?"
"Yeah," Mick smiled. "I enjoy being with you, even if it's not about sex."
"Everything's about sex," Beth replied, grinning.
Mick laughed. "You sound just like Josef."
Beth chuckled. They sat in silence for a few more minutes. "Do you think this will ever be normal?" Beth asked.
"Between a vampire and a human? Never, but it will get easier, I promise." Mick leaned over and kissed her lightly. She kissed him back and they started a slow dance with their tongues. Soon Beth was trapped beneath Mick on the couch and their legs were tangled in a heated battle for dominance.
Suddenly, Mick's phone rang. He ignored it the first time, but as it started to ring again, Beth pulled back. "You should answer that."
Mick looked a little shocked, but he nodded and sat up, taking a deep breath to calm himself he reached for the phone. Beth straightened her shirt as he looked at the caller ID.
Josef? Why is he calling? He knows I'm with Beth. Mick picked up, annoyed with his friend. "What?"
He got no reply. Mick's anger boiled up. "What is it Josef?"
There was a long pause and just before Mick was going to hang up he heard a stifled sob and a choked up voice cry out, "Sarah."
Dun, dun dunnnn...so the adventure starts!
