A chapter of nothing much but fluff...because I felt like writing it :p Enjoy!
Chapter Eleven
Waking in the huge comfortable bed, I stretched my body dreamily, the cool silk sheets soft against my bare skin. Hang on? Bare skin? I lifted the sheet and peeked underneath to discover I was only dressed in my panties. Henry and I hadn't….made love again last night, had we? I puzzled over the memory, sure I wouldn't forget it if we had - he was pretty memorable with his love making skills after all, I grinned to myself. And then I realised that I didn't even remember coming back here last night.
Rolling over, I expected to find him still in his vampire day sleep beside me, and could maybe have some fun with touching him. But his side of the bed was empty. Either something was terribly wrong here, or it was much later than I thought. Clambering from the bed I pulled his hoodie on again that I had draped over the couch in the bedroom and went to find him, hoping things were alright. Couldn't we just have one quiet night together? Please?
"About time," I heard Henry's voice as I stepped from the bedroom, zipping up the hoodie. He was sat at his desk in the studio, busy drawing. "I've been wondering whether or not to wake you, was starting to worry." he looked up at me, putting his pencil down.
"Worry? Why?" I asked moving beside him and placing a kiss on his cheek.
"You've been asleep for hours," he sighed. "Was starting to wonder if you were alright." his hand cupped my cheek and then gently tried to tame my sleep tousled hair.
"Sorry, guess I was just catching up. I don't even remember coming back here last night." I confessed through a slight yawn and glanced at what he'd been drawing. I knew he was touchy about people seeing his work before it was complete and I'd always complied with that, but I liked to watch him work.
He laughed. "That's because you fell asleep in the car before we even got back to Vicki's. Had to carry you up here."
"So, erm…you undressed me too?" I realised with a hint of a blush, which seemed ridiculous considering how intimate we'd been with one another. But, knowing I was asleep changed things.
"Uh huh…and think yourself lucky it was almost daylight….because it was hard to control myself," he winked cheekily. "But…figured you'd be more comfortable than sleeping in your clothes."
"Thank you." He received another kiss to his temple.
He beamed at me and picked up his pencil again, carrying on his drawing of some character he was creating. I stood beside him in silence, leaning on his desk for awhile, just watching him draw and he didn't seem to mind. When something caught my eye on the other sheets of paper scattered around the desk, drawing's he'd completed, sketches he'd made and ideas he'd doodled.
"Henry…" I began, reaching for the piece of paper. "That's…that's not meant to be me, is it?" I held the sheet up and studied it.
"Erm…" he looked at the sheet I was holding. "Erm…yeah," he admitted and it was obvious I wasn't supposed to have seen it. "I wasn't going to put you in my books or anything, I was just…messing." he shrugged, a little embarrassed.
"But…it's far too flattering," I objected. The drawing of me had a perfect womanly figure, curves in all the right places and no wobbly bits. Gorgeous neat curls adorned my head, not the unruly bush my actual hair tended to be. And the dress he'd drawn me in was something I could never have gotten away with wearing - I looked almost like a princess.
"What do you mean? Too flattering?" he took the sheet of paper from me and admired his own work.
"Well…I just, I don't look anything like that." I screwed my nose up.
"But you recognised yourself," he pointed out.
"Well…maybe a bit. It's just…more like a fantasy version of me or something, far too beautiful."
He dropped the sheet then and took my hand. "But you are beautiful," he insisted. "And that," he nodded at the drawing, "is how I see you."
"You smooth charmer, you," I scoffed, never having been able to take a compliment.
"Don't be so cynical," he gently held my chin between thumb and forefinger, looking into my eyes. "Trust me, you're beautiful." He ran the pad of his thumb over my lips.
"Beautiful huh? Henry, I'm stood here wearing your hoodie and pink panties…how…"
"I forgot to add sexy…" his eyes took on a seductive appearance as he playfully tugged at the zipper on the hoodie.
"Hey," I stopped his hand and gave him a bashful smile, as his hand curled around my neck and drew my head down towards him. He placed his lips softly on mine and kissed me. My hands held onto his shoulders to stop myself from falling into him as our lips and tongues toyed together.
We parted and he rested his forehead against mine as he inhaled deeply. "Far too distracting," he whispered before lifting his head and kissing my lips again fleetingly.
"In that case," I ran my hands down his arms from where they had been grasping his shoulders. "I shall leave you in peace."
"I didn't mean you have to go," he looked almost alarmed that I was leaving him.
"Just for a couple of hours. I was going to go get dressed and then go out to find something to eat," I explained.
"Oh. I'm sorry…" he looked down and picked up his pencil again, twirling it between his fingers.
"For what?" I frowned.
"That I never have anything in for you to eat. Food is superfluous to me, but I should consider your needs when you're here."
"I don't expect you to." I kissed his forehead lightly. "I'm capable of finding myself something to eat. Besides, I kinda like the excuse to go to Starbucks every day," I laughed.
"Want me to come with you?" he offered..
"No, you get on with your work," I brushed a stray curl of hair off his forehead. "You want me to get you anything whilst I'm out?" I wondered, backing away towards the bedroom.
"You going to bring me back something to eat too?" he asked, his eyes full of mischief.
"Erm….no. Well, only me," I grinned at him, having this mental image in my head of me dragging someone down the street and home for him to feed from. And then I wondered. "Do you…need…"
He shook his head. "I was just teasing. I went out after I woke."
"Oh, good…I mean…whatever," I shook my head tentatively, still trying to get used to the knowledge that he had to go out and basically seduce blood from strangers for his very life. " So, there's nothing else you need whilst I'm out?" I turned the subject back around.
"Been taking care of myself for a long, long time. You don't have to do things for me." he protested.
"Perhaps I want to?" I returned.
He softened some and smiled. "No, I can't think of anything. But thanks."
"I'll just replace the things I've used in the bathroom then," I decided, heading for the bedroom to get dressed.
"You don't have to!" he called.
"Henry, just…let me alright? You allow me stay here and share your bed, be with you. So let me contribute."
"I let you stay here and share my bed, because…I like having you here…and because…you're my…lover." The last word was spoken so quietly I almost didn't hear it, almost.
"Oh…I am, am I?" I smirked and my heart leapt. For the first time he'd admitted more than just caring about me. I stepped back towards him.
"Uh huh," he grinned and before I knew it we were kissing again, his mouth devouring my lips. Deeper than before and less tender, but just as satisfying. "Damnit," he breathed as we parted. "I'm never going to get any work done. Shall have to tell them to blame the hot woman staying with me if this issue is late."
"Okay, my naughty boy, I'm going…I'm not going to get blamed for anything." I stuck my tongue out at him and disappeared to the bedroom finally.
"Your naughty boy?" He called after me incredulously.
I just laughed in response to his utter astonishment of my new name for him.
"Good evening miss," a voice spoke to me as I stepped off the elevator.
"Oh, hi," I looked up from fastening my coat and flashed the doorman a brief smile.
"Mr Fitzroy not joining you tonight?" he wondered, laying his rag of a newspaper down on the reception desk.
"No…he's working. Best to leave the artiste in peace for a couple of hours." I joked.
He smiled at me. "I see…so, you have moved in with Mr Fitzroy now?" he assumed.
I frowned, wondering what business it was of his and why he always looked at me so strangely. "Moved in with him? I…I am, staying with him for awhile, yes. But I haven't moved in." I tried to be polite, not wanting to cause any hassle for Henry living here.
"I see…" he nodded. "So, you and him are…friends? Lovers?" He pried.
"I'm sorry?" I was shocked he was asking me such a personal thing.
"It's just…I haven't seen many of his erm...other 'friends' visit for awhile, well apart from Ms Nelson."
"Vicki? She's my cousin, and Henry works with her on some…things. And I don't mean to be rude, but what business is it of yours who visits Henry or stays with him?"
"Sorry, I didn't mean any harm. I just wondered if he was perhaps settling down, forgive me. So...do you work nights too? I mean, we don't see much of either of you during the day," he added then.
I rolled my eyes, wanting to get away from his annoying interrogation. "Well no, that's usually because we're sleeping off the incredibly hot sex from the night before. See you later!" I waved and left the building stifling laughter and him with a shocked expression on his face.
"Oh no…" I groaned, returning to Henry's apartment and finding Vicki sat on the couch.
"Charming, nice way to greet your cousin that is," she mocked.
"Please don't tell me you found some more freaky ass to go kick or something?" I moaned, dumping my bags and pausing by Henry's studio alcove. "Hey you," I greeted him.
He looked up and smiled, brushed his lips against mine fleetingly, before returning to his work. I left him to it.
"Well, that depends, you wanna kick Henry's ass?" she asked derisively.
I stuck my tongue out. "His ass ain't freaky, it's sexy." I flopped into one of the chairs opposite her. "And it's firm and delicious and…"
"Lalalala! Too much information!" Vicki stuck her fingers in her ears as I laughed at her and Henry smirked at me from over in his corner.
"Alright, so…what does bring you over here?" I asked once she'd pulled her fingers from her ears.
"I have to have an excuse now? I was, just bored, alright? It's been a really quiet day. That, and I can't deal with Mike calling to yell at me anymore," she groaned and rolled her eyes. "Why," she eyed us both warily. "I'm not interrupting any of your dirty plans, am I?"
"I haven't the faintest idea what you mean by that," I feigned innocence. "Though I was thinking of taking advantage of Henry's huge…." I emphasised the word huge as I watched in amusement as her eyes grew wide in horror at what I was about to say. "Bathtub." I finished and collapsed in giggles at the look on her face.
I could hear Henry chuckling over in the corner.
"That was just mean," Vicki pouted.
"Well, you asked for it. You're as bad as the doorman." I added nonchalantly as I removed my jacket and laid it over the back of my seat.
"The doorman?" she looked confused.
"Yeah, whatsisname downstairs. Asking me stupid questions and giving me weird looks, he gives me the creeps." I cringed.
Henry rolled his chair back from his desk so as he could see us from his alcove. "What did he ask you?" He seemed a little apprehensive, whether that was concern over the kind of questions he was asking, or the fact he'd been hassling me, I wasn't sure.
"Oh," I shrugged. "Just being nosey. Asking if I'd moved in here with you, whether we were just friends or lovers…and then asking me if I worked late too because neither of us seemed to be around during the day."
"What's that got to do with him?" Vicki asked, sounding rather indignant about it.
"That's what I asked him. Anyway, I think I shut him up." I chuckled to myself.
"How?" Henry wanted to know.
I snorted, "I , erm…told him he never saw us during the day because we were busy sleeping off the mind-blowing sex from the night before," I laughed. "He never spoke to me when I got back, just gave me a nervous smile and looked away quick."
"Great…," Vicki threw her hands in the air. "He'll probably think we're having threesomes up here now," she bemoaned.
I started laughing again and Henry found that amusing as he tossed his pencil back onto the desk and came over to join us.
"Sorry, are we disturbing you?" I apologised as he perched himself on the arm of the chair I was sat on.
He gave a slight shrug in forgiveness, "I've made a start."
"So, you're taking a break?" I asked.
"I guess, too distracted by you two anyway," he sighed and folded his arms, but the smile on his face gave away the fact that he wasn't really annoyed by it.
"Well, good…because…I kinda wanna talk to you both." I started.
"Both of us?" Vicki looks confused, wondering what on earth could apply to lover and cousin.
I nodded. "You know…that erm, well that I'm supposed to be going home next week?" I began.
Henry looked up at me promptly, an almost dismayed expression haunting his handsome features. "You are?" he spoke softly.
"Yeah," I sighed sadly, speaking only to Henry now. "I was only supposed to be visiting. But…for some reason I can't bring myself to leave, and I know you're both aware of the reason." I looked from Henry to Vicki. "So…I was wondering, do either of you mind if I stay on?"
"For how long?" Henry asked curiously, the sulky look still on his face.
"I was….kinda thinking, maybe…indefinitely?" I looked up at them both for a reaction. "I mean, I'm not sure on the laws in me staying here, but…I really want to, I'm…"
"Your Mum is going to kill me!" Vicki gasped.
"She won't, I'll go home and visit, maybe go back for Christmas, that's only a couple of months away." I shrugged, secretly hoping she would be alright with it. "I mean, she's always saying that all she wants for me to is to be happy, and, right now I am….and apart from my cat, I have nothing to go back to, so…"
"You're welcome to stay here as long as you wish," Henry offered instantly, a huge grin now gracing his face.
Vicki sighed. "And I guess I'll check the laws on you staying legally. Don't want you getting deported." she gave in. "Just make sure your mother knows this was all your idea!" she warned me.
"Thank you," I grinned at both of them. "Guess I can confess that I already cancelled my flight home," I shrugged.
"So if we'd said no, you'd be living on the streets? Great idea!" Vicki scoffed.
"Well…I was kinda hoping that at least one of you would have reason for wanting me to stay," I peered up at Henry and bashfully lay my hand on his thigh.
He looked down at me, smiled and placed his hand over mine and I hoped he wanted me here as much as I wanted to stay with him.
"Oh, well, I suppose you were quite handy with that banshee thing the other night," Vicki decided, having missed the gesture between Henry and I. "Suppose you might even be of some value to this team we have," she teased and then yawned. "Anyways, I think I'm going to go home and get an early night for once…" she stood and checked her watch, realising it was already almost 11pm.
I rose from my seat as well. "And I shall go for that bath now and let Henry get back to work," I added.
"You know, I could just join you?" he whispered, suddenly right next to me.
"See…now I'm definitely going." She stepped away from us, almost afraid of catching something.
"Oh, and get the blame when you're behind with your work, I don't think so mister." I poked his shoulder, answering him and not hearing Vicki's comment.
"Ha! You lost your irresistible touch," Vicki laughed, heading for the door.
"She knows she'll give in eventually," Henry adding cockily, his eyes fixed on me.
Vicki rolled her eyes. "Anyway, if you manage to drag your lazy ass out of bed before him tomorrow," she nodded towards Henry, "call me and we'll do something together, alright? I hardly seem to see you since he kidnapped you from me."
"Okay, I'll do that. Night Vicki."
"Night….and erm, both of you, behave! Don't go scaring the poor doorman!" she laughed and waved as she headed down the corridor for the elevator.
"Night Vicki," Henry closed the door after her and then turned to me. "So…is it bath time?" he asked, with his hands clasped behind his back whilst looking me up and down with eyes full of mischief.
"Ah, but you have work to do!" I turned him around and gave him a little push towards his studio with a pat to his backside before I sauntered off towards the bathroom alone, giggling.
The bathroom was billowing with scented steam and subtly lit by candles placed randomly around the room, as I leant back and relaxed in my hot bath, closing my eyes with a contented sigh. Things were alright in my world, at least for now. Henry had wanted me to stay - the look on his face had betrayed his evident feelings. Then earlier he'd called me his lover and made my heart soar. And maybe, just maybe even Vicki was beginning to accept the idea of us being together. Yes, things were, for the first time in a long time, just fine and I smiled.
I hadn't been lying about Henry's huge bathtub, a large, white corner style tub with whirlpool jets - made for long, girly bubble baths. I doubted it was used all that much, Henry only ever seemed to shower, and then not all that often - I guess maybe vampires didn't need to? Something I knew from reading novels, when vampires woke, they usually reverted back to their former state of appearance from when they 'died'. Or was that another myth? Maybe I'd have to actually ask him some of this stuff some day?
Lifting the sponge to run hot, soapy water over my naked body, I relished in the comfort the warm water brought. And then, I sensed something different about the ambience I'd created for myself in here.
"I thought you were working?" I spoke out loud, my eyes still closed.
"How…did you know I was here?" he asked, curiously.
"I sensed you," I smiled and half cracked open an eye to peer at him.
"Oh…yes, I forgot, my little witch aren't you?" he teased, kneeling by the bathtub.
"Yours, maybe…but the only magic used was that of love…I felt you. Well, that and you're blocking some of the light from my candles, it got darker." I smirked at him.
He leant over the side of the tub and kissed my forehead.
"So, why aren't you working?" I repeated my question.
"I tried," he began, his fingers trailing down my arm under the water. "But…my mind kept coming back here, to you."
"Any excuse," I grinned at him and closed my eyes again as he splashed some of the water over me.
Suddenly I felt his face close to mine, and then his breath upon my cheek as he inhaled sharply. His nose touched my skin then as continued to sniff at something around my neck, the back of my hair that was pinned up on top of my head and back to my cheeks.
"Henry, why are you sniffing me?" I wondered, a little wary of his actions.
"This scent…it's…familiar…seductive, exotic, something …ancient…" his fingers ran down my skin now, following the path his nose had taken, delicately caressing me and causing my body to break out in tiny goose bumps.
"I…it's patchouli," I replied, a shiver running down my spine as he stroked me.
"Ah…yes, that's it. Should have known." His voice was soft, mesmerizing, barely a whisper and then his lips joined in the game, kissing my neck, around the back of my hairline, causing me to squirm in the water. "Been around for centuries, and always has…turned me on," he whispered, his lips now at my throat as his fingers trailed down under the water to my breasts.
"Henry…" I half moaned and half gasped.
"Mmm?" he mumbled, his lips on my skin.
"Are you…just going to, ahh…tease me. Or are you, ohh….joining me?" I wondered, enjoying his touch and wanting more, needing all of him.
His lips kissed mine then, before he stepped back and stood beside the bath. I opened my eyes and making sure I was watching him, he undressed himself completely, carefully removing the charms around his neck, though the rings on his fingers remained.
And then I smiled as he leant down to kiss me and threw one leg over the side of the tub as I moved forwards, allowing him room to climb in behind me. Settling himself in the water, his legs either side of me, he pulled me back to rest against his chest and wrapped his arms around me. I sighed once more, I had been wrong, now everything was just fine in my world, right here in his arms.
For awhile, we simply held one another, my hands on top of his, my fingers laced through his, toying with his hands, stroking his fingers, my thumb rubbing across the back of his hand. He had the smoothest skin, and so sensitive. And then I lifted his hand in mine, to study the rings on his fingers. He watched me intrigued and allowed to me twirl each one around each finger, pausing over the one he always wore on his thumb.
"I like this one," I told him, speaking softly so as not to spoil the mood.
"It was my father's," he answered, "an heirloom."
"Really?" I was impressed. "It's beautiful." I twisted it back into position, laced my fingers through his once more and brought his hand to my lips, whereupon I sucked his thumb into my mouth. His eyes widened and drew in a quick breath, taken by surprise.
Releasing his thumb from my mouth, his hands slid down my body and gently cupped my breasts. I sighed and closed my eyes as his thumbs from each hand began to stroke a nipple. Damn him - he knew my sensitive zones better than anyone and instantly I became aroused.
Slowly, one had left my breast and tickled down my body, across my tummy, fingers danced around my belly button for a moment, and then slowly delved between my legs. Readily my thighs parted as his fingers gently slid into the moist groove and circled the hard bud.
I moaned and lay my head back on his shoulder, my eyes tight shut as he continued to stimulate me, two fingers circling me. Fingers probed me as his thumb continued to rub the sensitive nub gently and my body jerked, being rushed towards climax under his expert touch. He knew exactly where to touch me, how intense the touch needed to be and exactly when climax was going to hit. And as my orgasm bubbled to the surface I felt his head move slightly, his free arm encircle my shoulder to hold me and then his mouth at my neck, shortly followed by four razor sharp teeth. I gasped against him in that momentary flash of pain as he pierced my skin. But as he began to drink my blood, an astounding orgasm crashed enormously within me and around his fingers as I moaned loudly, gasping his name and my body undulating under him, all the time aware of his hardness against my back. He only sucked for a few moments, keeping to his promise of only having a small taste during our love making, before he withdrew, his tongue bathing the small, neat lesions to heal them and then kissed my neck tenderly as I panted in his arms, slowly coming down from my own intense orgasmic high.
His hands returned to my breasts, keeping me on the brink as I turned my head and realised my face was nestled in his neck. After sharing his secret with me the other night, I grinned to myself and licked along his skin. He hissed and his body jerked. Spurred on, I kissed his neck, nibbling him gently, running my tongue from his ear and down, nipping at his earlobe, and then feeling decidedly wicked, I bit him.
"Oh god…" he hissed and his body rippled against me, his hard length once again nudging my back.
Grinning to myself, I moved out of his embrace, turned around and straddled his thighs. He opened his eyes and watched me as I reached down to grasp hold of his thick shaft and lowered my body to meet him. He entered me easily after his previous ministrations upon my sex and I began to move upon him, his thrusts rising to meet mine. The water sloshed around us as we worked together, both rushing towards a climax, him holding off until he knew I was ready. And once he sensed my imminent climax, simply from the sounds of my heartbeat, he let himself go and we came together amongst moans, groans and hissed expletives.
I collapsed onto him then, and he held me in his arms, covering my shoulder repeatedly with tiny kisses, hands running up and down, caressing my back softly.
"You minx! I can't believe you bit me!" he breathed against my ear.
I pulled back to see his face, the movements causing him to twitch inside me and I shivered deliciously. "But, you liked it," I replied, grinning at him.
He cupped my face then and pulled me towards him, kissing me passionately, devouring my lips with his own. Parting, I kissed his lips again briefly before climbing off of him and sitting between his open legs in the bathtub, facing him. With a self satisfied little sigh, he climbed out of the tub then and finding a towel, he draped it around his waist, before holding up another for me. I stepped from the bath into his arms as he wrapped the towel around me and then swiftly swept me off my feet as I gave a giddy scream.
He carried me through to the bedroom and placed me gently on the bed, before he returned to the bathroom, coming back seconds later with his chains and clothes. Rapidly he dried himself off and began to pull his clothes back on. Bending to swipe his shirt from the bed, he paused and kissed my lips quickly, before pulling the shirt on and I watched him in slight dismay as he began to leave the room.
"Where you going?" I asked him, rolling to my side and raising myself up on one elbow.
"I have work to do," he replied, as though that was obvious.
"Yeah…now you've scratched your itch," I mumbled in a huff, wrapping the towel tighter around myself, feeling a little cast aside.
"Hmm…" he turned around. "M'lady is not pleased…what to do." He spoke to himself in a mock grand fashion. In a flash, he was back on the bed beside me, the black shirt still gaping open as he crawled over me. "Can not go disappointing m'lady," he murmured and began covering me in tiny baby kisses, my cheeks, my neck, shoulders, the top of my chest, my cleavage. At first I tried to ignore him, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of giving in so easily. But, his kisses were so light they were almost tickling me, combined with his soft curls caressing my skin, I couldn't help it, I began to squirm underneath him and giggles burst from my throat. Knowing that he was getting to me, his hands joined in his onslaught upon me, tickling at my waist as he giggled against my skin himself.
"Henry!" I spluttered amongst a mouthful of giggles. "Stop it," I tried to push him away, my hand coming into contact with that glorious naked chest of his.
He raised his head and laughed, but the hands continued their merciless ambush.
"Get off me you daft idiot!" I pushed him away again, struggling underneath him, I hated being tickled, but I couldn't stop giggling. Realising there was only one thing for it, I tangled my hands in his hair and yanked his head down towards me and rather unceremoniously covered his mouth with mine and stuck my tongue down his throat. Slightly taken aback, his hands slowed, coming up to cup my face as he began to kiss me back, brushing his tongue against mine, licking my lips, pulling back and going in for another kiss.
Until eventually we parted with a happy little sigh and smiled at one another.
"Is m'lady pleased now?" he smirked.
"If you don't start tickling me again, yes." I poked my tongue out at him.
He ginned at me, obviously pleased with himself.
"That should be a lethal weapon you know."
"What?" his tongue ran the length of his teeth, checking for his fangs.
"Your smile…" I touched the corners of his mouth. "You know damn well all you have to do is flash me that grin of yours and I'm putty in your hands."
"Thanks for the tip," he winked.
"Like you didn't already know." I rolled my eyes at him.
"Well, my smile if my best feature," he grinned again.
"Go on," I pushed on his shoulders, "go get some work done." I knew if he lay atop of me and grinning at me much longer, we'd be back to square one.
"Are you not going to sulk?" He chuckled at me.
"I'm a hormonal woman who is being ignored by her lover, of course I am." I stuck my tongue out at him again.
"Unless you plan on using that, put it away," he tried to catch my tongue with his mouth for another kiss.
"Go on - go work." I shoved him and he rolled off me with a groan.
"You do know you're a big tease, don't you?" he looked down at himself and my eyes followed, alighting on the slight bulge that was evident in his trousers.
I laughed. "Well, you started it mister!" and I climbed off the bed to go get myself dressed, leaving him lying there.