The next few weeks were a blur of activity. Henry and Vicki kept their relationship professional at work but after hours was a different story. Their passion grew and was more intense with each passing day. Vicki's changes were slow but noticeable. She wasn't vampire, but she was not longer human either.
Coreen asked her one day, "Vicki, what's up with you?"
Taken aback by the question, she answered, "What do you mean what's up?"
"Well," Coreen circled her like a shark in a tank, "your hair is thicker and fuller, like that's even possible," she rolled her eyes, "your skin," Coreen touched it slightly then jumped back when Vicki frowned, "is almost glowing and," she'd stopped and was leaning on Vicki's desk, "you haven't worn your glasses in weeks."
Vicki cursed under her breath for creating such a monster, "Very observant Coreen."
"Well?" Coreen crossed her arms and tapped her foot.
"You do realize you work for me right?"
"Yep, now spill it," Coreen flopped into Vicki's chair. Realizing she wouldn't get the girl off of her back unless she told her something, she decided to tell her the truth. When she finished, Coreen sat there, unmoving, eyes wide and mouth hanging open slightly.
"So, what do you think?" Vicki asked while she twirled a pen in her mouth.
"I think,"Coreen blinked and leaned in, "that's fantastic!" she clapped and giggled. Vicki rolled her eyes this time and shook her head.
"But, no telling Mike, got it?" Vicki ordered sternly.
Coreen mocked a salute and agreed. As she stood up to leave, Mike opened the office door and called out to Vicki.
"Speak of the devil," Vicki mumbled.
"In here," she called. She shot a look at Coreen again who acted as though she'd zipped her mouth, turned the key and threw it over her shoulder.
"Hey Coreen, "Mike smiled as Coreen bounced back to her desk. Mike thumbed over his shoulder, "Wow, she's a little bubbly."
Vicki raised an eyebrow, "So are you, did you get laid?"
Mike made a face and then grinned, "Actually, I'm dating."
For a reason Vicki couldn't seem to explain, she felt a twinge of jealousy but only a fleeting one, "That's great, who's the lucky woman?"
Mike sat and became serious, "Well, that's why I'm here. I need your help."
"MY help?" Vicki laughed, "What the hell could I help you with?"
Mike cleared his throat and told Vicki all about Paige and when he was done, he said, "But, every morning, she leaves. She won't stay the day with me, do you think she's a…?" Mike asked and made fang motions on his teeth with his hands.
Vicki burst out laughing, "Michael Celluci, have you learned nothing? Vampires are territorial, they can't live in the same city, remember?"
Mike nodded and then said, "Then what? Why does she leave?"
Vicki thought for a moment then asked some questions, "What's her body temperature like?"
"What? Like..as in..what?"
"Is she overly warm, cool, what?"
Mike was quiet then answered, " A little warm but I thought.." he stopped and his face blushed.
"You thought you'd worked her into a hot frenzy huh? Yeah well.." Vicki trailed off, her lips curled into a smirk.
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" Mike was angry and hurt.
"Now, now, I was just kidding. You kept me very satisfied Mike," she said softly.
"Are there any times of the month she isn't available?"
"Well, of course Vicki," Mike snickered.
"Not what I mean," Vicki was furiously typing as she talked, "Here," she turned her screen.
"What?" Mike blinked.
"Oh, you can't be serious," Mike ran his hands through his hair.
Vicki threw up her hands, "Well, Mike, we have seen some freaky shit, haven't we?"
Mike couldn't' argue that but he was terribly uncomfortable at this point, "I better go, thanks a lot, you were very helpful."
Mike leaned over and gave Vicki a very brotherly kiss on the forehead. Vicki's oversensitive smell suddenly went into overdrive.
"Whew, Mike, new cologne?" she wrinkled her nose.
Mike sniffed his own jacket, "No, in fact, I'm not wearing any."
"Then I think you should ask Paige about this," she pointed, "because that smell, it's not human."
Mike stared at her and narrowed his eyes, "Uh huh, and what makes you say that? How do you know what's human and not human? Is Blood Bank donating to you now?"
Vicki shook her head and did her best to look innocent, "Mike, please, I'm out during the day, etc. I've got a great sense of smell, lose one sense, gain another? Remember?" The minute she said that, she wished she hadn't. Would Mike notice her lack of glasses? She held her breath as she waited for his response then relaxed when he seemed to let it go.
Mike sighed and shook his head, bid Coreen a quick goodbye and left.
Vicki glanced at the screen and wondered, was it true? Henry would be up in an hour or less, she couldn't wait to tell him.
**
With the first breath Henry drew, he sensed Vicki and she sensed him. Even across town, their blood bond was strong. It didn't take long for Henry to get ready, grab a quick bite and get to Vicki's office. She smiled before he even opened the door, she knew he was there.
"Hey handsome," Vicki said without ever looking up.
"You feel it too?" he said as he kissed her neck. The action elicited a shudder from Vicki and Henry sensed her immediate desire.
"Mmm.." Vicki closed her eyes and bit her lip then pulled herself together, "Henry, there's a couple of things we need to discuss."
"Can't it wait?" he feigned pouting.
"No, one of them cannot wait another day," she told him. Her change had been over eight weeks ago and she was more alive than ever and now with the information Mike had given her about Paige, Vicki felt it was imperative they got that taken care of.
She quickly explained the situation t him and he stuck his nose in the air,"I thought I smelled something strange but it was so faint, I thought nothing of it."
"So, what do we do? Or do we do anything?" Vicki asked. Henry pulled Vicki into a tight embrace and whispered in her ear when he talked. He knew that made her hot and wet.
"What does the detective think?" Henry's hands moved up to her breasts and fondled her through her think shirt.
"I..well..um.." Vicki struggled to make a coherent sentence then said, "I think he's unsure."
Henry nuzzled her neck, felt her nipples stiffen, put his leg between her legs and pushed. She moaned and ground into him rubbing her most sensitive spot on his leg and arched into him.
"Henry, Coreen is in the next room," Vicki breathed out.
"Let's go to your little bedroom area then," he growled.
"Good idea," Vicki snapped her head around and told Coreen she was taking a break. Henry smiled when he heard, "I'll bet you are."
On the way, as Vicki led him by his hand, Henry asked " what was the other thing?"
Vicki stopped and said, "Oh,…I'm pregnant…"
