Chapter 36:

Finally some action I've been wanting to progress to! Taking things to the next level, sensually. Slowly but surely :)

Larten sat three boxes on the living room floor. He had been helping Erin since early evening getting things down from the attic. He would have stayed asleep, but when he heard the attic door open and a ladder slide down and an "ow ow ow", a box crashing, he opened the bedroom door and saw Erin rubbing and rotating her shoulder, sitting on the ledge.

"What do you think you are doing?" He hissed as he stood at the end of the ladder.

"Sorry to wake you." She grunted, "Would you mind if I popped into my bathroom to grab some muscle cream and then you can go back to sleep?"

Larten disappeared and reappeared within a second holding the tube of cream.

"Get down from there." He commanded.

Erin obeyed. He was cranky and even though it was quite adorable when he was, scruffy hair and all, she didn't want to get on his bad side. (Especially since she would need his help.)

Erin went to grab the tube from his hand.

He jerked it away.

"I will put it on."

"I can do it."

"You have Brigid do it. You cannot reach the whole area. Now hold still." He snapped.

Again, Erin obeyed. She pulled her sleeve down to reveal a tank top underneath and slid the strap down.

Larten squeezed some of the cream into his hand and began applying it.

"Tss, ow!" Erin tried to muffle.

Larten stopped.

"No, keep going. I think I must've overextend it more than I thought."

"That is because you do not listen." He plucked her shirt to cover her shoulder once more. It would be later when Larten was sleeping that he would think about his hand on her bare flesh, but, at the moment, he was at his crankiest and he hated the overwhelming smell of menthol in the cream. It burned his vampire senses and he had to wash his hands several times to remove most of the scent.

"Thank you," Erin blushed.

She knelt down, putting things back into the box that had spilled out.

"Go back to sleep. I'll mess with this later once you're up. I apologize."

In the blink of an eye the box and its contents were in Larten's hands.

"I am awake now. Apparently, it seems I cannot take my eyes off of you or you end up doing something stupid." He snapped as he brushed past her down the stairs.

What a mood he was in! (Erin later made a peace offering by cooking him a rare steak which perked him up a tiny bit. He wasn't as dour but, he was still not happy.)

Erin was sifting through boxes pulling out garlands and tinsel and stringed lights. Larten returned with the final box that held the Christmas tree.

"Thank you, Larten." She beamed up at him, "It's nice having a man around to help. Er, I mean, vampire."

Larten did not expect that statement to make his ego spark, but spark it did.

"Okay, let's see," Erin clapped her hands together gazing around the multiple decorations, "we could put the tree up, but will have to wait for Brigid to come home, which should be soon, to decorate. Hmm…okay, tree first."

It was dark by the time Brigid got home from a study session at a friend's house to find Erin decorating the living room and Larten grumpily hanging lights along the mantle.

"Aaaah! Christmas!" Brigid, tossing her backpack aside, scooped a handful of tinsel and threw it in the air.

Erin laughed as Brigid spun around.

"So, vampires do celebrate Christmas!" Brigid hopped over to the mantle.

"Actually, we do not." Larten sniffed.

"Well, you are this year!" Brigid yelled, throwing tinsel at Larten, covering his black jacket.

He growled and brushed off his coat, glaring at Brigid.

"Wow, Larten, please contain your excitement, it's embarrassing."

Larten looked ready to explode.

"Brigid!" Erin hissed at her.

Brigid threw her hands up.

"Okay, don't start the tree until I'm changed." Brigid hollered as she bolted up the stairs.

"I'm sorry-" Erin began.

"Yes, yes, I know." Larten huffed.

Erin walked over to him and picked a stray tinsel off his back collar.

He looked over his shoulder at her.

She glanced into his sharp blue-green eyes.

"I'm afraid you'll have to help us decorate the tree. You're the perfect height to reach the high parts."

"Only so you do not strain your shoulder." He grunted.

"Of course." Erin said, biting her lip, trying to hide a smile.

She brushed her hand along the back of his coat along his shoulder line to clear any leftover tinsel. Larten looked at her out of the corner of his eye.

Well, he really was the only one who was tall enough to decorate that part of the tree…

"Humph!"

Larten returned to finishing the mantle lights.

Erin, Brigid, and Larten stood looking at the Christmas tree. Larten had been given the "honor" of putting the star on top. When he had, Erin and Brigid clapped. He could not stop a grin sneaking onto his face.

"It's perfect." Brigid said.

Larten could not stop himself from feeling a somewhat endearing feeling towards Brigid's childlike happiness. It made him remember foggily the same feeling towards Christmas, though his family had never had anything to really celebrate. But he still remembered the feeling he and his siblings and close cousin experienced during that time of the year.

Erin glanced over at Larten smiling which he returned with a small upturn of the corner of his mouth.

"We just need to get a stocking for Larten now." Brigid said suddenly.

Larten blinked his eyes, completely taken aback.

"There is no need. Vampires do not celebrate Christmas as I have said multiple times. What purpose would it serve?" Larten said haughtily.

"It will be filled with rocks and when you act like an asshole, I will use it to beat you over the head." Brigid said contemptuously.

"Brigid!" Erin said.

"Yeah, yeah, I know the lecture. And I have homework so you can't yell at me! We'll finish final touches tomorrow. G'night sis!" Brigid spun around heading for the staircase.

She made a motion that made Larten notice her without alerting Erin. She pointed two fingers at her eyes and then towards him, mouthing the words, 'I'm still watching you,' before disappearing up the stairs.

Larten narrowed his eyes and frowned.

"We really do need to get you a stocking." Erin said musing to herself, taking no notice of the interaction between Larten and Brigid, "It's not complete without a third one."

"It really is not necessary." Larten huffed.

"Yes, it is." Erin said, turning away from him to sit on the couch.

Larten berated himself in his head. It was important to them for whatever reason and he should respect that.

Larten coughed, picking at the collar of his shirt. Erin was sitting with her legs curled under her, elbow on an armrest, chin in hand, a faraway look in her eyes. Larten didn't know what to do with himself so he sat on the other end stiffly.

"One of our traditions is making s'mores in the fireplace." Erin said, her eyes still faraway.

Larten turned to look at her quizzically.

Erin turned her face towards his, smiling.

"You'll see."

Larten nodded. He felt unsure of himself in the silence that followed.

"And what else should I expect?" He asked awkwardly.

"Oh, plenty of nights with the fireplace going, Christmas movies, hot chocolate, lots and lots of baking." Erin began to list off.

"That all sounds…very nice." Larten struggled to say.

He was feeling frustrated inside. They were very keen on including him as if he were a part of their family.

"You are a part of the family, Larten." Erin said softly.

Larten's neck flushed. She had a flash and knew what he was feeling.

"I-I am honored to be-" He began rather awkwardly. This whole thing was turning out to be awkward and it added to his growing internal frustration.

"Hey," Erin scooted over so she could place her hand on his knee, "It's okay."

This embarrassed him even more and Erin realized her mistake immediately.

"Wait right here." She said, suddenly jumping off the couch.

Larten swiveled his head to see what she was doing. She re-entered the living room with his cloak in hand.

She flopped onto the cushion next to him, throwing his cloak across both of their laps. She tucked her knees in so that they brushed against his thigh. Their arms were touching. She reached for the tv remote and flipped on the tv finding a random channel. She slowly, as if dipping a toe into unknown waters, laid her head against his shoulder.

His body immediately stiffened, but slowly relaxed when she did not remove her head. It was okay. This was safe.

He adjusted himself so that she was more comfortable.

Neither of them paid any attention to the tv screen, but focused solely on the proximity of the other.

Before Larten knew it, he was dozing. Erin's head was now in his lap, her breathing rhythmic, tucked into his cloak.

The weight of her in his lap was comforting and he did not want to move to disturb her. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes, allowing himself to drift to sleep as well.

Erin straddled Larten in front of the Christmas tree. Only the multi-colored lights were on, changing colors of blue, green, and red illuminating both of them. His hands were gripping her hips as she arched into him, hands slowly trailing up his chest, fingertips grazing the open part of his shirt, before being on either side of his face. She looked into his eyes before gently pressing her lips against his. They were stiff and unmoving until they opened, encouraged by the continued massage of her own lips against his, coaxing his mouth open to deepen the kiss. Her hands slowly traveled back down to grip fistfuls of his shirt, pulling him closer. Larten moaned as his hands traveled up her back to pull her even closer against him. Her soft body, every curve, was felt against his hard, toned body. Her hips rocked gently against him causing the expected reaction any man would have.

Erin pulled away to take a breath. They stared into each other's eyes, the darkness illumined only by the twinkling lights.

Erin bit her lip looking shyly into his eyes, worried she had gone too far.

Larten gripped the back of her head with a hand tangling in her hair to draw her back into an even more passionate kiss. It caused her to hum against him and moan. This only encouraged him. He placed his hands under her thighs to shift her. The feeling of her legs around him was exquisite.

He broke the kiss, attacking her neck with intense kisses and nips. She was breathing heavier now, small gasps escaping her lips. Her fingers trailed to the open collar of his shirt touching his bare skin. She started unbuttoning the buttons down to his vest, exposing his upper chest. She delicately placed her hands on his pale, cold skin. Larten shivered at their tingling warmth. The sensation was electric and he felt his skin buzzing under her touch.

Larten continued his kisses down her neck to her collar bone and sternum. He kissed around the necklace he had given her. He finally reached the edge of her scooped-neck t-shirt. He looked into her eyes once more. How far could they allow themselves to safely go in the given situation?

Erin stared deep into his eyes, dark and sparkling. She placed a gentle kiss against his lips, brushing them against his, breathing.

She slowly slid her arms down to pull her top off. She tossed her shirt aside revealing a hot, flushed chest; full, rounded breasts in her demi-black bra.

Larten's breath hitched in his throat as he allowed his eyes to travel her upper body.

Her exposed softness and vulnerability made him growl throatily as he continued his kisses to the newly exposed flesh. Her fingers were in his hair, head tipped back, breathing heavy.

"Larten." She said huskily.

"Larten, wake up!" There was a smack on the top of his head.

He immediately opened his eyes, instinct kicking in.

"It's just me, chill." Came a voice beside him.

Larten stared at Brigid not quite comprehending what was happening.

"Sorry to hit you on the head, but you were not waking up. I'm off to school. I, uh, suggest you go to bed. You can put Erin in my room." Brigid swung her backpack on.

"Oh, and Larten," she said before leaving out the front door, giving him an odd look, "Next time...uh, never mind."

The door shut and the house was silent once more.

Erin had shifted during the course of the night. Her head was still on one of his thighs, but she had stretched out along the couch. She was still sound asleep.

Larten gingerly lifted her head off his lap so he could stand. That was when he realized of a certain uncomfortableness in a certain area of his body. He flushed furiously. He walked over to the Christmas tree to unplug the lights and moved around until it was not so obvious. He felt terrible embarrassment. He should have more control over his body than that.

There was a sigh from the couch as Erin turned onto her other side. There wasn't much else to do, but take Erin to bed and he, himself, go to bed.

Rolling his shoulders and composing himself, he lifted Erin from the couch, wrapped in his cloak and all, and carried her upstairs. He almost went to lay her in her own bed, but stopped himself. He turned and placed her in Brigid's bed. She was still wrapped in his cloak and he could see no way to unravel her in it without waking her up, so he left her in it. Perhaps it would smell like her afterwards…

"Stop it!" He growled to himself.

He closed the door without looking back and went into the cool darkness of Erin's room. He leaned against the door and took a steadying breath. He was a vampire and he was in control, he kept repeating in his head.

He took his time undressing, keeping his mind blank. He stared at the bed and pondered if he should sleep in the closet given the…intensity of his dream. But weariness won and he slid in between the sheets.

He stared at the ceiling trying hard to ignore what was on his mind, but it kept flitting across and making him focus on the details. By the gods, it had felt good and so, so, real. Maybe someday it could be real…

"Quit, you idiot!" Larten thought to himself, tossing onto his side.

Finally, as he focused on clearing his mind and allowing sleep to overcome him, he remembered his past dreams and with a titillating shudder inside, he realized who they had been about.

He forced his eyes closed and buried his face into a pillow as his body began to biologically react and heat coursed through his veins.

"Erin." He breathed her name reverently. "What have you done to me?"