Serenity followed Sage through the back of the house and into the sunroom, which was also curtained with the heavy shades. He smiled at her and opened the door that would lead them outside, stepping just behind it to let the light in and give Serenity a chance to see his yard. She tiptoed forward a little, peeking out to see not only a backyard, but a beautiful flower garden as well. She blinked and had to put a hand over her eyes to shield them from the sun as they moved further out of the house, but still managed to peer up at it; the flaming orange ball in the deep blue sky. The warmth from it tickled her skin, and she looked at Sage in delight, forgetting the awkwardness she felt around him.
He smiled back at her and grabbed her hand, excited to be able to share his treasures with someone else like him. "Come on," he urged, until they were almost running over the stone path that lay beneath their feet.
The garden ran the length of the house surrounded by a white picket fence, overgrown with ivy and big leafy plants. Two hefty looking palm trees sat in each corner, and right in the center of it all sat a small, round white table and chairs. Sage had brought out a big pitcher of sun tea and two tall glasses, and at both place settings were two large, prepared papayas.
Serenity's mouth watered at the sight of this, thinking only of that first juicy bite. She couldn't remember the last time anything had passed into her stomach as she stretched into the sun, while her eyes finally adjusted. Oh to breathe in the sweet summer air and what a treat to be away from the dark. How any vampire could survive the night alone without feeling some sort of depression was beyond her. She pulled one of the chairs out and sat down, impatiently waiting for Sage to do the same.
"I figured you would like these," he said, pointing down at the fruit and finally taking his seat. "There's more in the house."
"Oh man, it's been too long," she answered. "I feel like I've been living off of cheap cigarettes and stale booze for a week."
"Well, you know the sun will work it's magic for you, and the fruit as well." He picked up his spoon after Serenity had picked up hers, and dug into the orange flesh, scooping out a bite and quickly delivered it to his mouth. "We need the daylight," he swallowed. "It's what keeps us going. That's why you didn't heal last night when you cut yourself on the vase. You've just been in the dark too long. But you can't let anyone know that…ever. Not even Marko."
Serenity nodded and took a bite of her own, sucking the juice out of the fruit before chewing it. Then she proceeded to pick up the pitcher in front of her and pour herself and Sage a glass of the tea. He nodded in thanks as she took a long drink and looked around again. "I take it your powers go beyond just fighting evil," she suggested, eyeing all the different types of flowers that were growing wildly around them.
Sage shrugged. "I have a thing for plants."
Serenity pursed her lips. "But your…blind." She looked at him with her eyes half open to keep the suns' glare away and startled, noticing that his eyes had changed color and now looked perfectly normal. "Wait, what is with your eyes? One minute they are completely white and now they look normal. Is it some sort of parlor trick?"
"It's the sun," he answered innocently. "They look completely ordinary in it, but I'm still pretty much blind as a bat." He looked away from her and down at the grass as though he were counting each blade. "As for the plants…I can feel them, smell them, somewhat watch them grow. One thing Max will never appreciate."
Serenity thought on this for a moment and shivered from the warmth of the sun. "Max? What does he have to do with any of this?" she asked, waving her arm through the air to clarify that she meant all of his exotic works of art. "And how do you even know anything about him?"
"I had a friend working on the inside at his lab when we were first looking for you. Unfortunately, Max found out and scanned his brain to the point where there was no brain left." He looked melancholy for a second, running circles around the top of his glass with his index finger. "Anyway…he's gone now."
"I'm sorry," Serenity answered quietly. "My mom died in the hands of a vampire. Pretty sure it was Max too. I take it your friend new a lot about plants as well?"
"Taught me all that I know." He tipped his chair back low enough to feel one of the blooming purple pansies behind him. The flowers face looked as though it were smiling. "I'm sorry we couldn't get to your mom before it was too late. But unfortunately our orders are orders. Maybe When this is all over we'll actually be able to live our lives."
Serenity scanned the field for the Black and thought about her racing career. "How is that even possible, knowing what I know now? What if I can't control these freaky powers of mine? What if I die?" She quivered uncontrollably with apprehension and frowned. "I have so many questions about myself I don't even know where to start. And then there's these vampires…vampires that I'm having feelings for."
Sage put his arms across the table as though he would take hold of Serenity's hands. "I can help you with your gifts." He looked down and chuckled quietly. "I helped you before in another life."
"You keep saying that, but you know, if the cross that I wear had actually burned Marko, I'd be dead right now."
"No, no you wouldn't, don't you see? David did kill you, and you came right back because of that incredible gift you have. It's all meant to be, and I know what you're thinking. How can you be with Marko if his power is the night and yours is the sun?"
A single tear ran down Serenity's cheek. "Is he a gift or a curse?"
"Come on think about it. Max's master plan is already backfiring. He thinks he's got his vampire boys on his side, ready and willing to bring you to him, but he's wrong. David is on our side. So be it if he's in it for himself, he's still an ally. We need him just like you need Marko."
Serenity wiped the tear away and blushed. "We hardly know each other."
"You do more than you think. Just wait, when the time is right you'll feel it." He tilted his head and gave her a half smile. "Come on, I have something else for you to try." He got out of his seat and urged her to follow him back down the stone walkway towards the back door again, only instead of opening the door, he pushed aside some of the ivy that grew just to the right of it, uncovering what looked to be an atrium. "I built it myself, course, I'm no plumber, so it took awhile to get the piping right, but when the sun hits it just right, it's a great excuse to take a shower outside."
Serenity ducked under his arm to enter the large archway completely made of glass and covered from top to bottom in larger than life exotic plants. The canopy itself was made of gigantic green elephant ears, a leafy plant only found in the tropics. It would take some crazy magic to keep these bad boys alive in this part of the region. The rest of it housed smaller flowers, including the pink and white stargazer lily, one of Serenity's favorites, and a few feet in from the entrance was a small bench that looked like it had been completely constructed out of sea shells; and above that, a matching shower head. The floor was made of stones designed to capture the suns heat to warm cold toes on a chilly day, and fresh, fluffy towels sat on a wire rack just high enough to keep from getting wet, along with several other toiletries.
Serenity was lost for words. The creepy boy that had greeted them in a matter of hours had completely transformed into something miraculous. "I think that you're amazing, Sage." She looked back at him in awe, tapping the blue-green tinted glass all around her. "This is absolutely awesome. I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like it."
Sage went red in the face and folded his arms. "Well you better hurry up, that's all I have to say."
"Hurry?" Serenity puzzled.
"Yeah, go on…take a shower. I know you're dying to try it out. As for me, I'm going to retire. The night will be here all too soon. I suggest you do the same, after you've refreshed yourself here."
"Oh, ya that," Serenity huffed, having forgotten for a second about the whole doom and gloom issue at hand. "Suppose I'll get right on it."
Sage gave her a pat on the shoulder and yawned. "Then I'll leave you to it," he said, making his leave.
"Wait, Sage, one more thing?" She looked at him doubtfully as if gray clouds had suddenly entered her vision. "Will they find us here?"
Sage shrugged with a little puff out of his cheeks. "Truthfully…the answer is yes, eventually. I just hope there is enough time to get you going on your powers. You will need the Lost Boys help."
"The Lost Boys?" Serenity puzzled. She had never heard that term before. Had he been referring to the vampires? She turned around to examine the shower again and squealed, bouncing around, once again momentarily forgetting her troubles, and delighted to have the place all to herself. She was half tempted to run and jump on the Black for a quick ride before her shower, but thought the better of it; she was quite tired.
She quickly undressed, throwing her clothes to a heap on the floor and turned the shower knob until warm water trickled and then flowed freely over her body. She stretched her arms up into it and let it fall over her face, opening her mouth a bit to drink it in and spit it out. The soaps let off their perfumes from the steam that was created and she wasted no time using them, rubbing each one into a rich lather all over her soiled skin. Oh yes, she thought, this was a delicious treat indeed.
She never did make it back into the house after her shower. Instead, she found an old hammock just outside of Sage's garden and rolled herself into it, falling fast asleep in just her towel, which was a little risqué, since she could easily roll out of it and expose herself to the world, but honestly, life was too short to worry about such things, especially at a time like this…especially if the sun went down and Marko was the first to find her.
At dusk she awoke and snuck back into the house.
He watched her tiptoe up the stairs, holding the towel around her with one hand, her hair a wild, wispy mess, and her skin still aglow from the day's sun. She smelled of hemp oil and coconut butter and he instinctively licked his lips as though he were stalking her like one of his prey, before putting a hand up to cover his satisfied smile, knowing that he had her all to himself at that moment. Slowly, he made his way up the stairs after her, taking care to not make a sound. He hoped that she would not hear his thoughts or sense his presence before he wanted her to.
Serenity slowly opened the bedroom door. It made a small squeaking noise and she cursed it under her breath, praying no one would wake from it. She wasn't ready to face the mortal and immortal chaos of the night just yet, and left the unruly door open, taking a seat on the bed. She watched the candles on the nightstand burn, still tranquilized by the sun and completely oblivious to the presence lingering just outside her doorway.
He waited a few more moments, following the contours of her body hungrily with his eyes before stepping in and shutting the door successfully without a sound. Her lack of awareness amused him. She was almost like a fledgling vampire after their first kill, completely caught in the adrenaline rush and drunken from the ecstasy of blood, only her elation came from the sun.
Another sly grin crossed his face as he moved forward, finally letting his presence be known and slipped a gloved hand onto Serenity's shoulder. He felt her quiver from the touch and without looking back at him, sighed pleasantly, lost in a daydream. When she finally realized someone was actually there, she startled and jumped to her feet accidentally dropping the towel to the floor.
"You scared me." She sounded surprised and a bit angry with herself for letting her guard down.
Marko took a step back but stood unfazed as he watched her reaction with provocative, sleepy eyes. She stood frozen for a moment, self conscious of herself naked before him, but watched as he took it all in with a lustful grin. It caused her to swallow hard before finally taking a breath as her lips awkwardly parted like she might speak again.
He moved towards her and she shivered excitedly, her nipples instantly perky, her heart beating so heavily she thought it might explode when he touched her. He gently placed his hands just above her hips and moved them lightly up over her stomach, just barely caressing her breasts and then up to cradle her cheeks.
"Where were we?" he asked, sending the thought of their last and first kiss from the barn into her mind, before touching his lips to hers.
She closed her eyes, soft and cool his lips felt to her and so delicious she thought she would cry. She couldn't resist leaning into him, putting her own hands on his shoulders at first, and then sliding them up around his neck. He pressed their lip lock further, pushing his tongue into her mouth to explore it and she circled it with her own, half smiling with a delighted sigh against his open mouth before forcing herself to push away. "Are you," she paused and caught her breath. "Is this just because of what Sage said?" she asked, knowing full well the meaning of his actions went far beyond that.
He pushed his forehead down against hers, hypnotizing her with his calculating gaze. "What do you think?" he asked, slowly moving his hands back down her sides to firmly grab her ass and pull her against him, intoxicated by the warmth of her flesh. She let out a hearty sigh when he did this and he kissed her even deeper, almost forcefully.
"I had…to be sure," she answered hoarsely into his mouth, running the tips of her fingers along his jaw line as she pressed her breasts into the soft patches of his jacket and her hips against his chaps and jeans to tease and heighten his arousal.
"I know what you feel," he whispered. His lips regrettably left her mouth as he traced along her throat and down to the ever so sensitive spot on her neck where both he and David had drank. After this night she would be all his with no mark left of David, he had decided, with his sires permission of course, and by Sage's word, she rightfully belonged to him. Her breath came heavy as he wandered, moving his hands up to the small of her back for support as his lips left their mark and trailed a long line of heated, open-mouthed kisses all the way to the center of her breasts, the two pink nipples on either side aching to be teased as they stood erect.
She let herself succumb to his passions in his arms as he sucked her, taking turns teasing each mound with his tongue. An electric chill slid through her stomach and between her legs; she wanted him in her now. She steadied herself and grabbed at his chaps to release the buttons there.
Marko sat her back on the bed while he stepped out of his boots and chaps and then kneeled between her legs as she bent forward to kiss his forehead, nuzzling into the wild soft curls to inhale his scent. It was different, animalistic and spicy and it drove her needs higher as she bent forward further reaching in to nibble his ear. He took her hands and placed them on the front of his jeans again, her fingers working like magic to release his fly and let his erection come to its full extent. She greedily worked her fingers around it, stroking the shaft and teasing the tip with her thumbs. His body shook and he growled in her ear, moving his arms around her to rid his hands of his gloves.
When the task was finished, she mischievously pushed him back and slid her arms through his jacket, playfully pushing his limbs out to the side with a soft purr and slipped it off, tossing it behind them on the bed. She smiled at him wickedly, grazing his lips with her tongue before tearing his shirt off. His eyes beamed down at her, on the verge of amber, and she growled back at him lustily.
He gave her a wry smile and vehemently pushed her back so that she lay sprawled on the bed as he crawled up and over her like a beast in the dominant position, taking hold of her breasts firmly, teasing the outline of her nipples with his fingers before exploring the rest of her by simple touch. Serenity moaned and reached for him, but he growled and refused the idea. Instead he took her hands and placed them over her head, holding them tight while he played, carefully sliding his other hand down to her inner thighs, just barely massaging the delicate moisture between her legs with his fingers.
"It's been too long," he whispered, seductively kissing her body in various places, following her eyes with his, and forcing her to look at him. She squirmed and bucked as he slid a few probing digits further into her heated core.
"Oh, please," she begged, rolling her hips as if recalling their passion from centuries before. "Take me like you used to." The memories flooded back as she pressed herself into the mattress, completely flushed and at his mercy as he continued to massage the damp petals of her most intimate parts.
"I remember," he spoke tenderly, moving down to ghost her stomach with his lips, inching down to that small space just between her thighs all the while keeping eye contact. Her moans escalated up a notch as she opened up to him, and he acknowledged the invitation by letting her arms free and moved to lift her left leg, urging her to the edge of the bed. There he was able to wrap it around his waist, while inching forward to press the tip of his unit teasingly against her inner thigh. He followed her gaze with a crafty smile while he did this loving the fact that he was in control, and she let out another small needing sound as her whole body shook, fighting to take control of her passion.
"Marko…I need you know," she pushed the words out, barely audible, seeking the touch of his body against hers as he slid himself into her. She couldn't keep a loud groan from escaping her mouth. His thickness was pleasure and pain all at the same time.
Marko sank his hands into the mattress to cradle her rear, moving against her with slow heated thrusts so as not to tear her up from the inside. It was almost difficult as the scent of virginal blood caused the animal inside him to want her hard and fast. She was so tight to him and so warm. He pushed deeper into her, and she held her breath, her body rigid, but the sound of pleasure followed and erupted from her throat as her core adjusted to fit his length and the pain lessoned. She rolled her hips against his groin, bucking and urging him on as he pushed even further, fighting back the impulse to come before her, only to pull half way out and then slowly slide himself back in. The fluid motion caused little knocking sounds to be heard against the wall from the headboard of the bed.
Serenity shook involuntarily as the fire in her belly grew to an overwhelming sensation that sent spasms of orgasm straight through her. "Oh. God. Marko," she moaned.
His breathing was labored as well as he rocked with her, pressing in to find that sweet nook of her neck again while savoring the feel of her clamped down around his manhood. He couldn't suppress the change any longer as he gave her one more violent thrust before releasing his need. She vocally let her delight slip through her lips, pressing her legs tightly around his waist as he pumped into her. It seemed as though his cum would last forever and she couldn't help but lick her lips erotically as she swayed with him.
He let his fangs descend, moving with her as her heart slowed, gently kissing along the pulsing artery in her neck before biting down deep. She gasped; unsure, and let her legs slowly slip back to the bed. He let go of her hips, his member still deep inside her despite her movement and snaked his arms higher, moving them up behind her back to lock his grip and keep her from moving away. He stroked her soft blond curls as he drank, pushing soothing mental thoughts into her head. I want you still; mine for all eternity.
She let out a soft sigh, still high from her orgasm and stopped fighting. Take me, she thought, I want to be yours.
Her blood was divine he remembered, like none he had ever tasted and he wanted it all, every last drop. No wonder David had drained her dry, but this time it was his, all his and not just a taste. It glided down his throat like a heavy syrup of sweet nectar. He thrust his hips against her, feeling her heart race again from the pleasure of his bite, but it wouldn't last long, and despite her pleading to be against him indefinitely, he slowly pulled out. She was giving him all she could give, urging her heart to pump more vigorously until her body fell limp in his arms.
He growled and forced himself to pull away, letting the remainder of her blood casually drip down his chin. Her eyes were dull, misted, and half closed, but carefully, and oh so gently, he situated her better on the bed, folding her hands over her chest and sat up beside her to await her wake, almost fearful she wouldn't.
After what seemed like forever she gasped, taking in a full breath and the light returned to her eyes and she looked up at him. He smiled down at her and habitually bit his nails as if suddenly the animal side of him had left a coy boy toy in her presence. She smiled and stretched out like she could still feel the pleasure of him inside her and sat up to kiss his mouth. The metallic taste of her own blood was enough to send her senses through the roof again as she ran her hands down his perfectly chiseled chest and abs. The cherubs in Caravaggio's paintings had nothing on this vampire.
She studied him, watching her with the deep blue-green of his eyes and her heart raced again. He knew her little secret, even before they had started and he smiled back at her wickedly. "Why be ashamed?" he asked. "You never once came across as virginal to me."
She shrugged, dropping her eyes to the bed, only to look up at him sideways, half embarrassed she had admitted it in her mind. "Because, can't you feel it? The bond we have, the animalistic sense we have for each other? The memories go back ages. You're territory I've traveled before." She blushed and gave him a cunning smile. She felt of the tender spot on her neck.
"I've felt it since the moment I saw you in that restaurant, like a calling." He pushed her fingers away from the spot where he had marked her and put his own hand over it. "I couldn't stand the thought of David getting to you first."
"Wouldn't matter. He's never been in my heart, vampire mark or not."
"Yeah, but we're not human anymore, and we're not in the past. There are some things you'll have to learn about us that you may not like," he told her, arching his eyebrows.
She reached up and kissed him, her lips lingering over his and when she opened her eyes to see his, they were glowing amber. She quivered, but didn't back away. "I'm not afraid of you," she whispered.
"Wouldn't matter if you were," he said rather directly, showing a hint of his feral side through his voice. "You're mine now."