Henry's Offer

Henry watched the wound on his left thumb heal for the second time. He was so frustrated he didn't know whether to kill or kiss the woman sitting next to him. He decided to kiss her. Killing was too permanent. He pulled back from the tender kiss and said, "I can't keep sticking my thumb all night. Either do it or tell me to stop."

She took his left hand and brought it up to her lips saying, "Again, right now, very fast."

Henry used the little pocket knife and opened the vein for the third time. She felt the drop of his blood on her fingers and put the wound to her mouth. She tasted the salty fluid and the coppery iron she expected. Then there was a warm sweetness in her mouth that defied description. It's warmth traveled down her throat as she swallowed. This was not the same taste that filled her mouth when she drank what she had stolen to save his life. Henry was offering himself to give her hope. She tasted his love, the sweetness of him, his iron will, and the shiny copper of his soul.

Henry felt her hot lips on his hand and her tongue lap his blood. He flashed back to the first night he felt a vampire feed. The stirring of his cock in response was more than he could tolerate then and it was even more demanding now, and he wanted all of her. The wound started to heal and the bleeding stopped too soon. She took the hand from her mouth and said, "Even if this doesn't work, tasting you again wiped a bitter memory from my mind." She turned her face to him and said, "I can finally forgive myself for hurting you, but it was worth it stabbing you to save your life."

His right arm was around her shoulders as he pulled her closer he whispered into her hair, "I was more afraid my blood would cause you harm than I was angry. It's not like there were a lot of choices or a lot of time left when you fought the mummy."

She rested her head on his shoulder and felt his warmth spread through her. She kept her eyes closed. He held her until she finally straightened up. She turned to face him with her eyes still closed and commanded, "Put on one of your most dazzling smiles. If I'm going to see anything, it will be your face smiling."

"Why smiling?"

"It's what you told me the first time I was in your condo – Your smile is your best feature."

Henry looked at her with pure love and said, "I'll give you the best I've got." Henry started to smile then started laughing, "I can't."

She started laughing too, "Think of facing a camera and smile!" Her eyes popped open and her hand came up to his face as she said, "You're the most beautiful person I have ever known."

Henry's face changed from one of love and laughter to one of hope, "Can you see me? Did it work?"

Vicki tried to focus then shook her head no. She closed her eyes for a moment then opened them saying, "I want to try again."

"Not now. We're on a dangerous path, you and I. If I give you too much of me, you'll be vampire and I'll lose you at the end of a year."

"Don't you have to drink all my blood first?"

Henry stroked her cheek and said, "Not all your blood, just enough for my body to absorb the essence of you. I've had many tastes of you these past few months. You've been a part of me for a very long time. It's your taking of my blood that puts you at risk."

Vicki mimicked his movement and let her fingertips trace the outline of his lips and said, "What now?"

"We're going to try again in a few days to help your vision improve. I'm not giving up on that idea yet." He stroked her hair and kissed her eyes saying, "Vicki, if I knew we could stay together forever, I'd have you take more from me tonight and turn you vampire."

Vicki licked her lips and found another drop of Henry's blood. "Find a way. I've tasted you and I want all of you."

Henry pressed her close and said, "Let's share what we can for the rest of the night."

Vicki closed her eyes. It felt better to think not seeing was a choice and not a fact, "What about eating? Isn't it about time you fed again?"

Henry rubbed his lips along her throat, "You know me that well?"

"Not nearly well enough. But your touch tells me. You try to hide it, but the vampire makes his wants known." She felt him as he stopped all movement waiting for her to continue, so she asked, "You don't know? No one's told you?"

"I've shared what I am with very few. And it's been decades since I've had this close a relationship with anyone." He placed a hand on her arm and his fingers pressed into the bend of her elbow as he demanded, "Tell me."

Vicki turned her head, opened her eyes wide and did her best to bring his face into focus as she said, "Pulse points."

"What?"

She touched her lips to his and used the tip of her tongue to find his fangs. He pressed his lips tightly together denying her so she said, "You touch the places on me where the pulse is closest to the surface when the vampire is hungry. Just now your lips were at my throat and now your fingertips are over the spot where blood is drawn. The hungrier you are, the more often you do it."

Henry pulled back his hands and sat up straight thinking about all the times he had hunted then fed. He started to deny her words then laughed instead saying, "You're right. I have to be fast and accurate when I feed."

"Feed from me. If I can't have more of your blood tonight, I want your love."

"Vicki I told you before, we're playing a dangerous game."

"You've already won the game. Collect your prize."

Henry looked around her living room checking that everything was locked tight. He moved quickly to turn off lights, then said, "No, Vicki you've won. I can no more resist you than a moth can resist fire."

They walked together into the bedroom with their clothes falling unnoticed to the floor as they tumbled into bed. Her hands and lips teased the man as her blood called out to the vampire. There lovemaking was full of passion as Henry fed. Just before sunrise, Vicki made a request that he was unable to refuse.

She slept at his side until Henry woke up at sunset. He stared at her pale color and sensed one of his own kind. He touched her face as she opened her eyes and looked at the concern in his face, "It's what I wanted. If we have only a year together, let's make it the best year of our lives."