I quietly went to my bedroom door and listened, it was quiet so Rachel was probably sleeping.
As I opened the door I could see Rachel curled up sound asleep. Her fiery red hair a mass of red curls and tangles framing her face.
She took my breath away. This would be the first time I would be sharing a bed with her without sex. I just hoped I could contain myself.
I knew she laid there under my blankets wearing only one of my silk pajama tops and nothing else. I have to stop thinking like this.
I am so tired that maybe I can manage this. My other option is to sleep somewhere else, but I really didn't want to, and she may need someone to hold her and comfort her if she should wake.
I got myself ready for bed, putting on a pair of silky pajama bottoms. I loved the feel of her against my bare chest when we cuddled so I left my top off.
As I climb in I realize Rachel is sleeping on the side I usually slept on. She had her face buried into my pillow.
I would have to inform the maid to hold off on washing my bedding, guaranteeing it would smell like Rachel after her night here. I loved the thought of my bed smelling of her redwood scent.
I climbed into the strange side of the bed which felt foreign to me. I had a rather large over sized bed. Don't know why since I've never shared it with anyone including Ellasbeth.
Granted she was a cold bitch and wanted her own room and bed in the very beginning, but once she warmed slightly to me I refused to give up my privacy and did not allow her into my personal bed.
I gently pulled the covers back and caught the scent of Rosewood as it wafted up, stirring something inside of me. I eased myself into bed.
Finally laying down in my comfortable bed felt amazing. I tried to move closer to Rachel's sleeping form without too much movement.
I snuggled in behind her just barely touching her still body.
I suddenly felt Rachel's body go stiff.
I felt someone tap a line.
Oh shit I thought to myself as I saw Rachel's hair float a bit.
Before I could react I heard her begin to mumble something.
Not sure if it was a curse, I jumped out of my bed and dropped to the floor while yelling, " Rachel it's me, Trent!"
"Trent?" Came Rachel's questioning voice.
"Yes it's me. I'm sorry I startled you, I was trying not to wake you." I said peaking up over the side of the bed seeing Rachel on her knees on the bed with a ball of energy in her hand.
I had to admit to myself although she just scared the crap out of me, she looked really hot sitting on her feet with her hair floating around her, holding a ball of energy. My deep blue pajama top with the top two buttons undone. Her legs bare. I knew she had no panties on although I couldn't tell by sight.
I could feel myself stir and scolded myself. She has been through a lot tonight already, I needed to stop thinking like this.
I slowly moved back to the bed as Rachel released her hold on the line and began to relax.
"I am so sorry Trent." Rachel said quietly.
I got into bed and Rachel began to settle back in the warm bed.
"How long did I sleep?"
I moved closer and she moved to her side facing away from me. We've been together for such a short time, but we already knew what positions we liked together.
We laid on our side spooning with my front to her back and my arm wrapped around her middle.
"It's around 5:30. You slept for maybe an hour. Ivy just left a short time ago."
"Ivy left?" She asked.
"Yes, I offered to let her use a room, but she said she needed to get back to Nina, but she said she would be back around breakfast time?" I thought she slept like Rachel so hearing her say she would be back at breakfast time confused me.
"Our breakfast time is you lunch and nap time." I could feel her smile as she told me this.
"Ivy was here all that time?" Rachel asked.
"Yes, we talked for a while." Rachel tried to look back at me with that.
"You and Ivy talked? About what?"
"Ahhh, a lot of things. Look I have to admit when Jenks said Ivy was here, you sounded so happy, I just, I felt jealous I guess." I admitted.
This time instead of turning just her head to try and look at me she turned in my arms to completely face me. She looked worried with her brow creased. So I laid a few soft kisses on her brow hoping to ease some of the tension.
"Trent?"
"No it's okay, and our conversation didn't get heated even a little. Ivy is actually pretty amazing, complicated, especially for a living vampire. Most living vampires seem transparent, worried about sex and blood and not much else. No, I see why you and Ivy are close. It's good."
"I ahh, guess I thought there was more to your past relationship." I could feel the heat rise to my ears. Good thing there was just a slight dim light of the coming morning.
"Well, we did try to share blood a couple of times, but it just didn't work." Rachel confirmed.
I Pulled her closer into a hug so I didn't have to look at her when I said this. "Yeah but people say you've shared more than blood." And I left it at that.
Rachel pulled away to look me in the face. "Oh. My. God. You didn't ask Ivy that did you?"
"Ah, it did kind of end up coming up." I said while playing with her hair so I didn't have to look her in the eyes.
I took a deep breath and finally met her eyes. "Look I think we finally understand each other and maybe even respect each other, it was good. And don't worry she reminded me before she left that if I hurt you she will still kill me. So were good."
Rachel buried her head into my neck. "Hmmmp"
After a few moments of silence Rachel finally approached the subject of what happened.
"Trent I can't stop thinking about all that happened tonight." She said while still buried into my neck and chest.
"Ssshhhhh." I tried to sooth while stroking her hair.
"Trent if he could have he was going to rape me. And than kill me." She sobbed.
"Shhhhhhh, I know baby. But it's okay, he can't hurt you anymore."
Rachel looked up with a tear streaked face. "No he can't. You and Ivy, y you...killed him didn't you."
Still stroking her hair, "Yes we did. Ivy and I both rid ourselves of our attackers and saw him on you. In the few seconds before we came over to you, we looked at each other and both had a moment of clarity. We looked at each other and agreed we could not allow him the chance to ever hurt you again and we took him out together."
"How?"
"Rachel, does that matter? We made sure he would not be able to be brought back."
"How?" Rachel asked more firmly.
I stared at her for a few more momentes.
"I grabbed him and held him while Ivy took...his head off. It was quick and probably almost painless. Not at all what he deserved, he should have had a slow painful death. But we couldn't put you through that."
"You mean I would have ended up stopping you." She sobbed.
Rachel cried while I held her.
Once the crying finally stopped I figured we needed to get to sleep. I kissed her forehead. "Let's get some sleep."
Rachel kissed my neck than nibbled on my ear. Oh so not good for sleeping. My ears were very sensitive, and it is a big turn on. Goddess what is she trying to do to me.
"Trent I need you. Now." I was surprised after all she had been through.
"Please make love to me" She pleaded. "Slow and gentle." She glanced up at me.
I shook my head, "I can do that" I said as I began slowly kissing her.
This time we took our time and made love. And this was just as amazing as when we had wild, hot, passionate sex.
I finally woke the next day. The light outside was bright, and Rachel was with me. I glanced at the clock and did a double take and tried to clear my eyes. It was almost 12:30. I don't know that I have ever slept this late except when maybe I was sick.
I laid still not wanting to wake Rachel, than heard a noise. The chirp from Pixy wings. I was starting to get used to hearing the sound of Jenks wings when Jenks was coming but now remembering last night he said he wouldn't be able to fly for maybe a week or more. I peeked over by the door and saw the little pixy at the door.
Quietly he said "The guards called and Ivy is on her way up. The way she drives she'll be here in like five."
"Okay, thanks Jenks."
"Yeah you may want to shower first cookie maker, you stink. God even after last night you still had to boink her."
I closed my eyes and let out a small groan. Slowly opening my eyes back up "Jenks it wasn't like that, she needed comforting."
"Ahhh, Jenks leave him alone. God what time is it. Why am I being woken up?" Rachel grumbled pulling the sheet over her head.
"Ivy is almost here."
Rachel pulled the blanket down and seemed to brighten a little. "Ivy's here now?" Then looked at me with a guilty look.
"It's okay. Yes, she should be here in a couple of minutes. Do you want to shower first?"
Rachel gave me a little smile. "Mmmm a shower sounds nice, but I don't have time for the kind of shower I'm thinking of."
"Oh for the love of tinks contractual hell don't you ever get enough." Jenks turned to go back under the door. Before ducking under the door he yelled, "Ivy's here." Then left.
We both decided to shower later.
We walked out to greet Ivy. I caught an exchange of looks between Ivy and Rachel.
Ivy raised her eyebrows at Rachel and Rachel just shrugged with a small smile.
Ivy smiled back with a knowing smile and sat as far from us as possible.
I knew from our ride out west that the smell of blood was a turn on, but now I wondered if the smell of sex was almost as bad. She had a sultry look and her eyes had a little too much black showing.
I glanced at Rachel and tried to ask quietly. "Should I go ah, shower?"
"No ." Came from Ivy too quickly. "I'm getting used to the smell of you guys combined. Starting to like it actually."
I didn't even know what to say to that. I thought I knew how to deal with living vampires but apparently I knew nothing about dealing with them, and even less about one as complex as Ivy.
How Rachel has been able to live with the living vampire for years and not give in to her, I cannot understand. I have great restraint, but day after day with...that, I just could not imagine.
Of course Ivy is not at all my type, but if not careful a vampire living or dead especially one like Ivy could probably bring the pope to his knees begging.
I suddenly realized everyone was looking at me. I quickly got up and tried to recover.
"Let me get breakfast started then we can talk about our next moves."
I went to the kitchen to find Maggie.
"Already on it Trenton, dear. Nice to see Rachel back." She said with a knowing smile.
RPOV
I stared at Ivy then Trent who was retreating to the kitchen. I was throughly confused by the exchange. "Ivy?"
She just shrugged.
"Sooo you guys talked last night?"
"Yup. I set him straight." This made me a little nervous, set him straight about what I couldn't help but wonder.
"About what?" I asked.
"Everything. I think he just might eventually fit in." Ivy said glancing at the kitchen.
I raised my eyebrows, "And meanwhile what? You are going to toy with him?"
"No, he just has to learn how to deal with the people in your life." She grinned showing a little flash of fangs.
Trent came back in the room, and I didn't fool myself that he heard most or all of our conversation.
"Breakfast will be served shortly."
As we were all getting settled on the couch Maggie brought in a tray with a choice of tea or coffee.
It was heavenly. I needed my coffee. There were also scones and muffins.
"I will have breakfast served in twenty minutes."
"Thank you Maggie, you've out done yourself as usual." Trent said.
"Okay," Ivy said leaning forward, "first let's isolate our current problems and then we can try to brain storm ideas on a plan."
Trent glanced at me with a raised eyebrow.
"Ivy's our planner." I said with a smile.
"Ellasbeth is our main problem, and most of the information we get from the group we are holding will be useless once they realize we have them." Trent opened his mouth to say more, and Ivy held up a hand.
"First problems, then solution."
"Elllasbeth problem one."
"We have what three dead bodies?" Jenks said.
"Four actually, and guaranteed they have already been taken care of." Trent said not meeting my eyes. Oh yeah, he's used to dealing with dead bodies. I couldn't help but frown.
"The other four we have locked up." Quen added in. "Good morning every one, I just got the girls down for their nap.
I could see the look of guilt on Trent's face at relying so heavily on Quen over the last few days to take care of the girls.
"I think everyone is forgetting Newt is now down another familiar. Once she remembers she will be pissed." I added.
Trent grinned with an evil smile that gave me chills. "I think we can solve two problems with one solution. I have four replacements for Newt's familiar."
Ivy looked at Trent with a raise of her eyebrows and grinned with a small flash of fang. Then looked at me and her smile faltered.
"I can't hand people over to Newt. That would be horrible."
"Rachel if they had a chance you would be dead now." Trent said watching me.
"No!" I said.
"Rachel!" Trent pleaded.
"No!" I said again.
"Maybe with the four of them we could also get her help."
"You mean give her all four, are you completely out of your mind." I yelled.
I could see Ivy gripping the arm of the couch.
"So, what do you suggest, we just let them go?" Trent asked.
"I don't know." I said quietly.
"Rachel with offering the four of them I bet we could get Newt's help and get Ellasbeth to back off once and for all."
"Great Trent and then you will be known for working with demons." I reminded him.
And as they all just looked at me I remembered. "Oh yeah, I guess they already think that don't they." Damn to the turn Trent was already screwed because of his association with me a day walking demon.
I needed some fresh air, so I got up and went to Trent's private office and opened the door to the balcony.
I heard someone behind me and could smell incense and knew it was Ivy before I turned around.
"You know he is right? Right? If they are let go, they will only come back with more. It could help show how serious we are about protecting ourselves. And maybe Newt can help with the Ellasbeth problem."
"Even if I said okay, then Al would be pissed because I refuse to let him take others over the lines to use as familiars."
Ivy leaned on the railing. "Then call Al too. Let Newt have her choice, then if Al helps he can have the rest."
I sighed. "I can't."
"Why?" Ivy asked with a thoughtful look.
As I went to open my mouth Trent answered for me. "Because he is angry with her."
I looked at Trent.
"No, I could not hear your conversation, but I could see your face. I got it that he is pissed at you because of our relationship."
Trent pulled a chair out. "So if not Newt, then I make a deal with Al, maybe by my making a deal with him he will lay off you about our relationship."
I thought about this a little. I am so not alright handing people over to demons to use as familiars.
"Even if I agreed, what could Al do to convince Ellasbeth to leave us alone?"
"I don't know yet, but I'm sure we could come up with something." Trent said looking at Ivy.
I didn't like this, I was starting to feel like they were ganging up on me.
"Actually Rachel why don't you sit this one out. We will handle everything." Trent said calmly.
"Oh no, you are not making deals with demons without me there."
