Disclaimer: Please see the first chapter!
Author's Note: Finally! In more than one way.
Warnings for this chapter: If life gives you lemons... (Oh, yes, my dears, that means there will be sex.)
2. Belle nuit, ô nuit d'amour – The Tales of Hoffmann - Jacques Offenbach
It was probably still another hour to sunrise when they settled on her bed upstairs, both in comfortable sleepwear and more or less ready for bed. Liv had closed the blinds and shuttered the windows as a precaution, just in case they lost track of time. They were sitting opposite each other, Liv framed in the bracket of Godric's legs as she carefully reached for his hands. Godric lightly squeezed her fingers in return, giving her an encouraging smile, and waited patiently for her to start talking. Liv took a deep breath.
"I've been feeling a bit uncomfortable with our… lovemaking recently." She could read the burgeoning panic on his face and continued quickly, "I don't have a lot of experience and it all feels so new and wonderful… and overwhelming. I don't know what to do or how to act or how to touch you or…"
"You can do anything, try anything, Liv," Godric assured her gently and not for the first time.
"I know, I know you mean that," Liv said, her voice growing even softer as she looked pleadingly at the dark-haired vampire. "But I want to make all these experiences with you – together. I want you to help me figure out what I like and show me what you like. I want it to be about us, our pleasure. Right now it feels like I'm in this alone, just flailing around with no sense of direction while you're only there as a passive observer."
"I just want you to feel safe and in control," Godric protested quietly.
"Because of my visions?" Liv asked, just to be sure that they were on the same page.
Godric nodded, carefully cupping her cheek in his hand. "I don't want you to have to deal with my memories, especially during these moments of our intimacy. I don't want Claudius to intrude on our love."
Liv sighed, closing her eyes and enjoying Godric's infinitely tender caress. He broke contact a moment later, before their three seconds of freedom were up. "I don't want that either. But you don't have to give up control just to make me feel safer. It has the opposite effect."
Godric furrowed his brow before he admitted, "I don't understand."
Liv lightly shook her head, taking Godric's right hand between both of hers and smiling gently to take the bite out of her words, "I know you're a vampire. I know you could snap me like a twig, snuff me out before I could even blink. And I suppose it should worry me, but it doesn't because I also know that I could stop you with a word, with less than that, a glance, a skip in my heartbeat. I always feel safe when we're together because I know you're in control – and I don't have to be."
Godric listened to her quietly, a pensive expression on his eternally young face, and froze into complete stillness at her last words. Liv waited a moment, but then scooted a little closer, resting her cheek against his chest and burying her nose against his shirt to breathe in his soothing, earthy scent.
"I'm sorry, Liv. It was never my intention to make you uncomfortable," Godric murmured softly, tucking his arms around her and pulling her to lie down on the sheets, safely sheltered beneath his body. "And I'm sorry I did not take your concerns seriously when you tried to talk to me before. I wasn't ready to admit that perhaps I hadn't unlearned my past as thoroughly as I had hoped."
Liv sighed, glad that Godric was finally opening up to her, though her heart hurt at the pain in his voice. "Do you like sex?" she asked again, as gently as she could.
"I do," Godric replied before he continued with palpable reluctance, "But I don't like to submit. I don't like to give up control. Not even to you."
"Okay. That's okay," Liv replied immediately, gently carding her fingers through Godric's soft hair. "I promise."
For the next little while they just lay quietly in each other's arms, held each other and enjoyed the wordless comfort of being together again, without any reservations or misunderstandings between them. She only realized how strained and tense they had both been, when she suddenly felt Godric relax with some minute, unidentifiable shift and the tension seeped out of her own body in response. They would figure it out. Trial and error was what they excelled at, after all.
v-v
"Let me," Godric asked, moving behind her and helping her to unzip her dress, gently sliding the dark blue fabric down over her shoulders. It pooled around her feet, leaving her naked except for her underwear. Godric lightly traced the strap of her bra with his fingers and leaned down to place a feathery kiss against her left breast. "My beautiful Liv, whatever shall I do with you today?"
"What do you want to do with me?" Liv replied with a smile, well familiar and comfortable by now with the new pattern they had established.
It had taken them some time, patience and many mutual reassurances and carefully picked words till they had figured out how they each wanted and needed to approach their time together. It hadn't been easy, but Liv had done her best to put words to how she was fine with not being in control - actually rejoiced in the freedom it afforded her - as long as she knew what was going on and that she had a choice. Godric had replied with his own timid confession that he found it easier to enjoy himself, during sex and in general, when he was in charge, but had stressed that he was eager to make this experience with her and happy to oblige any of her wishes.
He'd also insisted on taking it slowly, taking their time. Liv had been skeptical at first, but she had to admit that she was glad for it now because it had eased the weight of expectation and made it so that she could simply enjoy all the new experiences Godric introduced her to, without having to worry what they might lead to. And she loved their new ritual where Godric would tell her about his plans for the evening and put them to her for her approval.
"I want to caress you everywhere, without a barrier of clothing, and find out what other delicious sounds I can draw from you," he'd whispered on their first night of this new routine. "Would you like that?"
"I want to kiss every mole, every freckle, every scar, every tiny mark that you consider an imperfection but which to me is only further proof of how beautiful and wonderful you are," he'd declared another time. "If I may?"
"I want to give you a massage and help you relax. And then I want to hold you in my arms as you drift off to sleep," he'd murmured when she had come home after a double shift, tired and exhausted with her muscles tied into a thousand knots. "Do you think you might enjoy that?"
"I want to drive you wild with desire, make you lose all inhibitions, all control and taste the sweet fragrance of your arousal on your skin," he'd whispered to her the next night with a wicked grin. "Can I interest you in that?"
Liv had always answered with a resounding yes, which had led to some very pleasurable and enjoyable experiences. The night before, though, Godric had switched things up by asking her what she wanted to do, seeming slightly bemused but also flattered when she'd admitted that she'd always wanted to trace his tattoos with her tongue and learn their meaning. Liv had been a little worried at first that Godric might draw back into his passive shell, but instead he had all but preened under her attention, turning this way and that to show off his tattoos and repainting the designs on her skin as he'd explained their meaning. It had been very light-hearted and fun and Liv couldn't wait to hear what Godric had planned for tonight.
"I want to spoil you and worship you and make you feel like the goddess you are." He smoothly dropped to his knees in front of her and breathed a feather-light kiss against the soft lace of her slip, and she almost missed his next words because of the surge of pleasure that shot through her veins. "I want to fulfill your every desire, cridiíon imon."
"Oh," she breathed out when his words registered. "Really?"
"Only if you wish to share this experience with me," Godric replied immediately, rising to his feet at her urging. "Do you?"
"Yes, Godric," Liv replied with a soft smile, leaning in to brush a gentle kiss against Godric's lips. "I've wanted that for a long time."
Godric laughed and shook his head. "I think we have very different definitions of what constitutes 'a long time', Liv. Still, I'm sorry I stretched your patience. Let me to make it up to you now."
"Yes, please," Liv answered eagerly, placing a few soft kisses against Godric's smiling lips and pressing herself gently against his body.
Godric took a very, very careful hold of her hip, placing his fingers lightly on the slip of fabric that still protected her skin and then nudged her towards the bed, leading her over the path of red rose petals he had scattered over the floor in a swirling design of two intertwined hearts. He made her sit down on the edge of the bed, on the fresh, crisp linens, beneath a canopy of soft fairy lights, and easily dropped to his knees again.
"Might I take a sip of your blood?" he asked politely, indicating the inside of her thigh as he continued, "And might I take it from here?"
"Of course," Liv agreed immediately, spreading her legs a little wider in invitation.
"I don't want to bring back any bad memories," Godric still cautioned. "Eric wasn't gentle or considerate when he bit you."
Liv gave a negligent shrug, slipping her fingers into Godric's soft hair. "I don't really remember it. But I will remember this."
Godric grinned up at her, a happy, impish smirk with his fangs on full display. He bent over her thigh, breathed a small kiss against her fragile skin and then punched his fangs quickly and almost painlessly into her flesh. Liv threw her head back and tightened her hand in Godric's hair, surprised by the intense wave of sheer lust that shot through her veins.
"What was that?" she asked in breathless wonder as Godric lightly pushed her to lie down on the bed, stretching out above her, but without letting her take any of his weight. "I didn't expect… that."
Godric chuckled, brushing his lips softly against her cheek. "The inside of your thigh is a little more intimate than your wrist or your neck, cridiíon imon. And I wanted to start this night off on the right note."
"You definitely did that," Liv agreed, sliding her hands under his shirt and caressing up his back and over the fine black lines of the ram-headed snake - a symbol of the horned god Cernunnos, the guardian of life, fertility, nature and wealth.
Godric smiled a pleased little smile before he leaned down to claim her lips in a proper, leisurely kiss, applying just the right amount of pressure and adding a few little nibbles to her bottom lip because he knew how much she enjoyed it. He also knew how much she liked it when he kissed her breasts and swirled his tongue around her nipples; how he could drive her absolutely wild by tapping and caressing his fingers gently on her mons veneris; how anything but the lightest touch was likely to overwhelm her sensitive nerves and risked knocking her out of her vision-free zone.
It made everything now feel natural, exciting but without the trembling nervousness of the unknown. She could let go of her worries, the tightly wound hypervigilance that carried her through the day, and just enjoy Godric's ministrations, his absolute, unwavering commitment to her wellbeing and pleasure. Truthfully, it did make her feel like a goddess, just as Godric had planned.
Though there was one thing: "How can it be that you're still fully dressed?" she asked a little muzzily, basking in the afterglow of the orgasm Godric had teased from her body. "It's not fair."
Godric laughed, dropping a kiss to her forehead before he sat up and smoothly pulled his shirt over his head, wiggling out of his pants and underwear in a blur of movement.
He grinned at her, no doubt noticing her appreciative gaze. "Is this better, cridiíon imon?"
"Much," Liv agreed happily, reaching out to draw Godric back down to her level. "I love that I get to see you like this."
He beamed and stretched out on his side next to her, tracing her shoulder and arm, her waist and hip with one single finger as if to chase the shivers of her pleasure on her skin. "I could look at you for the rest of my life and be happy," he confessed, then grinned a little impishly at her. "But that's not what I have in mind for you for tonight."
"Thank goodness!" Liv answered immediately with a gusty sigh and a grin of her own before she wiggled a little closer and placed a row of small, nipping kisses on the stylized black spearheads around Godric's neck, knowing now that the tattoo had been the final step in his initiation into manhood. "I don't want to wait any longer."
Godric laughed, the sound reverberating in his chest against her lips. He gently carded his fingers through her hair and then trailed them down between her breasts and further past her navel with maddening slowness. When he was finally touching her where she desperately yearned to be touched, in the epicenter of her pleasure, it still wasn't enough and she arched into his touch with a desperate little moan. Godric obliged her by gently caressing her folds, dipping just the tip of his finger into her and circling it slowly.
It had been almost too much, the first time Godric had touched her like that, and now too she felt a strong wave of arousal, followed by an even stronger surge of anticipation. Godric hummed soothingly and encouraged her to slow down, still a little too reserved and restrained for Liv's taste. But she knew just how to make him loosen the tight reins of his control. She slipped her hand down between their bodies and skirted her fingers timidly over the velvety skin of Godric's rock-hard erection, smiling triumphantly to herself when he thrust their bodies together and pressed into her light touch. In the next moment, he had rolled her onto her back in one smooth movement, settling between her legs. Liv wrapped her legs around his hips and tried to pull him closer, feeling an electrifying shot of arousal when his erection brushed against her entrance.
"Shh, just one moment," Godric murmured, slipping out of her embrace before she could protest and returning a second later with a box of condoms and another item in his hand. "Do you want us to use a condom?" he offered, though he looked a little skeptically down at the brightly colored box. "Eric showed me how to put one on."
His words created a rather mind-boggling image in her head and she didn't quite know whether to be aroused or jealous. Godric laughed, no doubt noticing her conflicted expression, and dropped a quick kiss onto her lips before he elaborated, "About 65 years ago. I never yet had occasion to put that knowledge to practical use."
"Oh," Liv breathed out, a little surprised, a little sad, a little relieved, pushing up slightly so that she could cup Godric's smiling face in her hand. "Maybe we could save that experience for another night, then? I'm all for safer sex, but we don't really need to worry about that, do we?"
"You will always be safe with me," Godric promised, furrowing his brow a little as he stumbled over her use of terminology.
"I know that," Liv replied with a reassuring smile, caressing his cheek and leaning in for a soft kiss. "I meant that we don't need to worry about sexually transmitted diseases. So what else have you got there?"
Godric held up the other item, a small tube of lubricant, for her inspection. "It has a warming effect to balance out my low body temperature and help your muscles to stay relaxed."
"That's very thoughtful of you, thank you," Liv murmured, stealing another kiss from his smiling lips.
"Eric suggested it," Godric said and Liv gave him a good-natured eye roll, squeaking in surprise when Godric retaliated by pushing her back down onto the bed with a wicked grin. "Enough of that. We're now returning to our regularly scheduled program."
Liv was startled into a bright laugh, the question how and where Godric had picked up that phrase already on her tongue when Godric wiped all these distractions from her mind by nudging his thumb lightly against her clitoris while simultaneously pressing one slick finger into her. Liv arched with a muted shout, a wordless plea for more, and Godric was only too happy to oblige.
He stroked and caressed her with infinite patience, gently easing his slickened fingers into her tight passage and spreading warmth and pleasure all around. She made a sound of protest when he pulled back, but he soothed her with a kiss, tilting her chin up so that she would meet his gaze.
"I'd like to take another sip of your blood before we continue," he murmured. "All right?"
Liv briefly wondered how much time had already passed and listened into herself for the tell-tale pressure of an impending vision. There was nothing, not yet, but she trusted in Godric's judgment and gave him a small nod. Godric covered her neck and throat with soft, feathery kisses, sending shivers through her body when he lightly scraped his fangs over the delicate skin.
She slid her fingers into his soft hair, encouraging him to take as much of her blood as he wanted, but wasn't surprised when he barely seemed to nick her skin before she heard the soft snick of his fangs retracting. He placed a few more kisses on her neck, humming in approval when she returned the favor and lightly nibbled on his ear.
"Godric," Liv whispering, arching her body again. "Please."
He smiled at her, so openly and tenderly that it almost managed to temper the raw desire in his eyes. It made her feel treasured and powerful at the same time, reaffirming the confidence Godric always inspired in her. She moaned and thrust her pelvis up against his heavy erection, grappling at his shoulder and then tugging on his hips to finally get him into position.
Godric allowed himself to be maneuvered for a moment, but then gave her uncoordinated jerks a new direction, pulling her to sit up between his own spread legs and encouraging her to throw her legs over his hips. It made it so that they were facing each other, both encircled in the loose frame of the other's legs, their sexes only a breath apart.
"Put your hand on my neck, cridiíon imon," Godric instructed her gently, placing his own hand on her waist and nudging her a little closer, the tip of his erection nestling into the soft curls of her pubic hair. He froze and his eyes closed for a second, such a stark, desperate look of longing flashing over his ageless features that she couldn't help but kiss him.
And just like that, Godric's patience and restraint snapped. He surged forward into the kiss, claiming her lips as if he had only now realized that he was allowed to touch her, that she was truly his. And then he slid into her, so slowly, so carefully, whispering compliments into her ear to make sure that she knew how much he loved and cherished her – pausing when he was finally fully inside of her and allowing her to catch her breath as his hands caressed gently up and down her spine and spread the pleasure that was already tingling through her body.
"How are you feeling?" he asked. "Are you in any pain?"
Liv panted, shifting slightly and feeling the heavy girth of Godric's erection against her inner walls. She threw back her head as her muscles clenched instinctively and a fresh wave of dopamine flooded her brain. "Full - no, that's not the word, complete," she finally answered then broke off into another moan. "Guh, please don't make me talk right now."
Godric laughed, giving her a few more moments to calm her breathing before he started to move with a slow deliberate roll of his hips, thrusting smoothly up into the tightness and warmth of her body. An entire galaxy flashed before her eyes. She clutched closer to his neck, needing that connection so that she wouldn't be lost completely in the fireworks of her pleasure even as she inexorably tumbled over the edge, swept through the swirling intensity of her orgasm.
Godric pushed up into her body one, two, three more times before he grasped her hips and held her snug as his own release bathed her insides, cool against the heat generated by her own body and the lubricant, but not as cold as she had feared. It felt right and perfect, and her heart swelled with emotion, with a fierce love and possessiveness.
"I'm yours, cridiíon imon, and you are mine. Forever," Godric vowed, as if reading her mind, blowing a soft kiss against her lips and then very carefully slipped out of her, murmuring an apology when her overstimulated nerves gave a twinge of protest.
"I feel like we're floating," Liv commented hazily. "Are we floating?"
"No," Godric replied and she could hear the amusement in his voice though she didn't quite have the energy to open her eyes.
"Feels like it," Liv insisted, snuggling in against his chest. "'s nice. I think I'll stay here."
Godric chuckled, gathering her close and pressing her gently against himself, tenderly caressing over her back and buttocks as he waited for her to ride out the aftershocks of her orgasm.
"Is it always like this?" Liv mumbled eventually, running her nose over Godric's cheek, along his hairline. "Because if it is, I don't think I ever want to leave this bedroom again."
He grinned at her, tenderly brushing her wild hair out of her face. "It can be, though I had rather planned to make the experience last a little bit longer next time."
"I'm sorry, I know I kind of rushed to the finish line without you," Liv murmured, relieved when Godric shook his head immediately.
"You were perfect, Liv. I love how responsive you are for me." He gently sealed her lips with a kiss and smiled. "And despite how often you reproached me for dragging my heels and being a tease, I would not have wanted to wait even a second longer."
"I'm glad we took it so slowly before," Liv admitted, sighing happily when Godric carefully lay her down on the bed and wrapped her in his strong arms again. "This was so intense, all of it, not just tonight, and if it had come at me all at once it would have been too overwhelming. I wouldn't have been able to enjoy it. So thank you, Godric, you're wonderful."
"You're very welcome," Godric answered, gently pulling the blanket up over her nude form when he noticed her shiver. "You don't know what a gift you are to me, Liv. Every single moment with you is a moment I treasure."
"I feel the same way about you," Liv replied softly, returning Godric's beaming smile with one of her own. "This was so much more than I had ever hoped for – and so are you. I love you, Godric."
"And I love you," Godric replied, gathering her in his secure embrace and brushing his lips over her forehead. She buried her nose against his chest and closed her eyes, feeling content and settled and pleasantly lethargic.
"You can go to sleep, Liv," Godric murmured a little bit later. "I'll take you downstairs when it's time."
"No," Liv protested, not caring in the least that she sounded a bit whiny. "If I go to sleep this night will be over. And I don't want it to be over. I want to enjoy it and share it with you."
Godric was quiet for a moment, but then gave in, just as she had known he would. He smiled at her, placing a soft, teasing kiss on her nose. "In that case, I'm a little curious what you did hope for in a lover, in your ideal man, if I managed to surpass your expectations so thoroughly."
"I don't know," Liv answered before she gave his question serious consideration. "I guess most of the time, I did my best not to think about it because it would only have made me sad." She rolled around, folding her arms over Godric's chest and resting her chin on her hands so that she could look at him properly and would know immediately if her words upset him in any way. "But probably a bit like Eric – flirtatious and carefree, with heaps of charism and confidence to spare. Someone who could make me laugh and who would take me on adventures." She grinned and shook her head at her own younger self. "But you know, in my imagination I was different too: I didn't have these visions, for one, and I was fearless and rambunctious, with a witty comeback for everything and quite a few feminine wiles."
"Your dream self sounds like a proper vamp," Godric murmured, grinning at her surprise. "Eric explained that expression to me. Apparently it's a very apt description for many of his female acquaintances."
"I can believe that," Liv replied with an amused smile. "But I don't think it's me."
"Oh, I don't know," Godric answered teasingly, capturing her hand and pressing a kiss to her wrist. "I'm very impressed with your feminine wiles, cridiíon imon."
Liv laughed, but then broke off suddenly when she felt a sharp twinge in her temple, the mounting pressure behind her eyes. "Godric," she whispered, pushing away with an ataxic jerk and Godric reacted immediately, sliding out from beneath her and kneeling down at the side of the bed instead so that there was no risk of them making skin contact.
Liv took a deep breath and sat up slowly, masking her disappointment with a timid smile. "That came on a bit suddenly - I guess we must have lost track of time. But I'm okay, I promise. I'm still more than okay."
"I thought we would have at least five more minutes," Godric answered with an unhappy furrow between his brows.
"We still have the rest of the night," Liv pointed out gently, reaching for Godric's hand and briefly intertwining their fingers. "Come back up here, please, so that I can finish answering your question."
She smiled, gently carding her fingers through Godric's soft brown hair and leaning in to steal a quick kiss when he once more joined her on the bed. "You see, you're just as charming and funny and dashing as the man of my fantasies. But you also have this immense capacity for goodness that just leaves me awestruck. You're genuine and kind and infinitely patient and you always manage to make me feel more sure of myself. And when you pay me a compliment I know that you're not just saying it to be polite or to butter me up. I know you mean it."
"Of course I do," Godric murmured, lightly stroking her cheek before he had to break the connection. "You're the light of my life, cridiíon imon, you're strong and beautiful and kind. A moment of utter perfection in my dreary existence."
Liv smiled through her blush and pulled Godric in for another kiss before she answered, "And the fact that you think that makes it so that I can actually start to believe those things about myself. Though, I do hope you don't still think of your life as 'dreary'."
She mock-glared at Godric, who only grinned and blew her a kiss. "How could I think so after I just made love to the woman of my dreams for the first time?"
Liv laughed happily and snuggled down next to Godric, pulling the covers up between them so that they could enjoy their closeness for a little while longer.
v-v
Liv pulled the car into the garage and cut the engine as the gate lowered automatically behind her. She got out and listened for a moment, waiting to see if either Godric or Eric would come and greet her like they normally did. When the garage remained quiet, she walked around the car and opened the boot before turning towards the door that connected the garage with the main house.
"Could I get some help with carrying this in, please?" she asked at a normal volume, knowing that either vampire would be able to hear her if they were home.
A second later, Godric appeared at her side, looking at her as if she had personally hung the moon and all the stars in his universe and as if he couldn't quite believe that she was actually there. She felt much the same way about him.
"Hi," she whispered and made no attempt to tame the besotted smile that she could feel stretching her lips.
"Hi," Godric murmured back, mirroring her smile with one of his own and gently enclosing her in his arms. "I missed you, cridiíon imon."
The way he said it brought a flush to her cheeks and she quickly leaned in for a kiss in lieu of a verbal reply. Godric hummed happily, returning the kiss with gentle pressure and lightly caressing along her back. He pulled back a moment later, gave her another tender smile before he danced around her and started to load himself with shopping bags.
Liv also reached for one of the bags – the one with the coffee since that was the item which had sent her out in the first place. When she turned back around, she startled slightly to find Eric stood just behind her, with a deep scowl on his face. "You still smell nice."
"You say that like it's a bad thing," Liv remarked, not sure whether to be offended or merely confused.
"Eric was expecting your natural scent to have changed after last night," Godric offered lightly, already on his second round of shopping bags, and dropped a soft kiss into her hair before he disappeared into the house again.
Liv smiled after him before she turned back to face Eric, a sharp retort already on her tongue. Her anger evaporated immediately when she noticed the stiffness of his posture and the way he was very obviously holding his breath. "Does my smell bother you that much? Eric?"
Her question seemed to shake Eric out of his stupor, at last, and in the next second she found herself smushed against his broad chest as he inhaled deeply against her neck. "I just wasn't expecting it. And I think we both would like to avoid a repetition of the last time I enjoyed your scent a little too much."
"I'm not worried about that," Liv replied softly, wrapping her arms around Eric's waist and resting her cheek comfortably against his sternum. "I could use a different deodorant, one with a stronger fragrance, if that would help?"
Eric laughed, the noise rumbling in his chest. "You know it doesn't work like that. I guess I'll just have to invest a little more time in your further corruption, since Godric taking your virginity didn't quite do the trick."
"That's not funny, Eric," Liv gave back, detaching from his embrace and glaring up at him when she saw his smirk. "I mean it. This entire concept of 'virginity', of my level of sexual experience being something that can be lost or taken or corrupted is offensive, misogynistic and has absolutely no medical or scientific basis. Please try to remember that."
"I like it when you get mad at me, all hot and flustered - I might almost get the wrong idea…" Eric replied with a tooth-bearing smirk that only got wider at her unimpressed scowl. "Relax, little dove, your objection has been duly noted, though that doesn't change the fact that virgin blood does have something… a little extra. The taste of innocence, for lack of a better word."
Liv rolled her eyes, realizing that she would never win an argument about blood against a vampire, but still very much in disagreement. "But my scent hasn't changed, you admitted so yourself."
"Correction, my dear Liv, I only said that you still smelled nice," Eric replied with a smirk, moving close again and taking another deep sniff against her neck. "Very nice. I think we're going to keep you."
Liv's eye roll turned into a squeak when Eric suddenly swung her up into his arms, groceries and all. "Hey, what are you doing? Eric! Let me down at once!"
Eric grinned down at her, holding her a little tighter. "But you asked us to help you carry things inside."
"And I clearly meant the groceries, you big doofus," Liv protested, biting back her laughter.
"Now, is that any way to talk to the man of your dreams?" Eric teased, shielding her head as he moved them into the kitchen and then setting her down gently.
"Are you ever not listening in on us?" Liv asked, slightly exasperated. She took a moment to find her footing again before she got the coffee out of her shopping bag and handed the rest over to Godric. The older vampire had his own storage system, one where food items, cooking utensils and tableware changed places sporadically and seemingly at random, so it was best if she just let him put the groceries away where he wanted them to go.
Godric gave her a chagrined look. "I told Eric about our conversation last night. Was that not okay?"
Liv leaned in to smooth out his frown with gentle fingertips, smiling slightly. "Of course you can talk to Eric and I don't mind if you want to share private details with him. But I'd rather do without Eric giving me a performance review for last night."
Eric laughed, handing her a cup for her coffee from one of the upper shelves. "How small-minded of you to assume that my feedback would be anything but constructive. For example -"
Liv nudged him gently in the side. "I don't need an example, thank you. And you know that I'm grateful for all your help, right?"
"Oh, so you liked the lube? You're welcome, of course. And you know if you're interested in other supplies, you only need to say the word. I'm happy to share," Eric handed her the milk with an exaggerated leer that only got more wicked at her eye roll. He didn't give her a chance to reply, instead swiveling away to follow Godric through the kitchen and switch of appliances as the older vampire pulled a small loaf of bread out of the oven, took two pots and a pan from the stove and grabbed a bowl of salad from the fridge.
Once Godric had assembled all the food on a plate, he set it on the table and gentlemanly pulled a chair out for Liv, giving her a hopeful smile. "Would you care for some dinner, cridiíon imon?"
"I would," Liv replied with a smile, accepting the bottle of Tru Blood Eric had handed her and popping it into the microwave next to the state-of-the-art coffee machine before she slid into her seat. "This looks and smells amazing. Thank you."
Godric beamed at her, leaning down for a sweet little kiss and murmuring a soft thank you before he also took a seat, Eric following a moment later.
"So what are our plans for tonight?" Liv asked after she had enjoyed the first few bites of her salmon steak, the still warm bread, steamed carrots and spinach.
"Nan has scheduled me for another interview," Eric offered, sounding none-too-pleased. "Her form of petty revenge, no doubt."
"Maybe she just realized that you're very telegenic," Liv suggested mildly. "You were very charming and relatable in the last clip, even my aunts thought so. And half of my colleagues have decided to visit your club as soon as possible."
"You did say that business at Fangtasia has started to pick up again, that you have fewer protesters blocking the doors since you made the first public service announcement," Godric added helpfully. "And you know that Russell burned too many bridges as that we could rebuild them over night."
"Yes, and the AVL is paying Sophie-Anne to fix that," Eric replied, unimpressed. "Nan is just sore that she's been demoted to public relations coordinator and so she's decided to paint a target on my back. There have been two attempts on my life just this last week." Liv's heart missed a beat before it started to race in protest and Eric threw her a chiding look. "Don't do that. I'm absolutely fine, as you can see."
"Eric wasn't supposed to tell you about this," Godric offered, for once thoroughly missing the mark. "We didn't want you to worry."
"I'd rather worry about your safety than about you not telling me the truth," Liv gave back fiercely, sending him a glare for good measure.
Godric gave her a chagrined look. "I had not thought about it like that. I'm sorry, Liv. If we have any cause for concern in future we will tell you, I promise."
She fixed him with her eyes for a moment longer to make sure that they were really on the same page before she nodded decisively and turned to Eric. "Good. Let me see, then."
She reached for Eric's wrist, lightly resting her fingers against his radial artery as if to take his pulse. She closed her eyes and quickly pushed through the first layer of silence, dismissed the by now familiar images of Eric's past that flitted before her inner eye like annoying gnats and instead tried to sneak a peek at what might await him in the future. There was nothing to see, though, and she pulled out of her vision and released Eric's wrist with a soft sigh of relief.
"As I said, I'm fine," Eric commented, pretending to be annoyed, and got up to get the bottle of Tru Blood from the microwave.
Godric stood up as well, leaning over her and pressing a kiss into her hair. "I'm proud of you."
"What, why?" Liv asked, still a little surprised as both vampires slid back into their seats.
Godric smiled tenderly at her before he explained, "You've come a long way from the woman who was afraid of touch."
Liv also started to smile. "I really have, haven't I?" She carefully took Godric's hand in hers, feeling him return her light squeeze as they beamed at each other.
"Could you two stop being so obnoxiously happy?" Eric groused, taking a large gulp of Tru Blood and grimacing in distaste.
"No," Liv and Godric said in unison, grinning a little bit wider; Eric rolled his eyes and huffed out a sigh, but Liv still noticed a slight upward twitch of his lips and an amused light in his eyes and knew that he was also happy for her, for them.
"I picked up your clothes from the dry cleaners. They're still on the backseat, if you want to wear one of your suits for the interview," she offered placably, sending Eric a gentle smile. "When do we have to be at Fangtasia?"
"We?" Eric asked, after acknowledging her info about his clothes with a nod.
"We're coming with you," Liv said and gently nudged Eric's shin with her toes. "Just to keep you company, of course. I know you don't need us to hold your hand."
"Aww, now you disappoint me, Liv," Eric gave back. "One night of sex and already you're stiffing me on affection."
"I don't think that's what Liv meant, Eric. That phrase has a more broadly defined idiomatic meaning," Godric corrected, looking to Liv for confirmation and then glancing at Eric again. "Oh, you made a joke. I see. I don't know if it was very funny, though."
"You made it funny," Liv assured him with a soft smile, pressing a kiss to the corner of his mouth as she got up and gathered her plates to put them in the dishwasher. She lightly buzzed Eric's cheek on her way back, just to make sure that he had no cause to feel left out. "Thank you for dinner. It was fantastic as always. I especially liked the bread."
"I've made dessert as well," Godric offered in a hopeful way. "I tried out that recipe for espresso risotto that you thought sounded good."
"I still think that it sounds good," Liv replied, smiling to herself at Godric's fingers caressing tenderly across her back before he moved to get the dessert from the fridge. The dish looked even better than the picture she remembered from one of Godric's many cookbooks, freshly garnished with a light dusting of brown sugar and a dollop of cream. And it tasted heavenly, the slight bitterness of the coffee blending perfectly with the sweet caramel flavor of the sugar, creamy and not as filling as she had feared. She still promised herself that she would add a few extra minutes to her weekly run.
"And it tastes even better," Liv said in answer to Godric's patiently inquiring look. "You have to make this when my aunts come to visit. Beth will absolutely love this."
"Then I will," Godric promised, quietly pleased. "I added a bit of vanilla because I know you like it."
"Thank you, love." Liv smiled. "You always find ways to make me feel special."
"You're welcome and you are special," Godric murmured, lightly bumping his knee against hers.
"Yes, yes, we went over this already," Eric interjected, looking up from his cellphone to let them see the full effects of his eye roll. "Liv is a very special snowflake and you're the embodiment of all her innermost wishes. Let's move on, then. Liv, could you stop by the club Thursday evening?"
"I'm working on Thursday. We're organizing a blood drive together with other hospitals and clinics," Liv answered, taking another bite of dessert. "Which reminds me, would you mind if I donated blood?"
"It's your blood and it's your body," Godric replied gently. "It's your decision."
"I know, but I'd still like to hear your opinion," Liv answered just as gently, knowing already that she wouldn't do it if Godric wasn't a hundred percent okay with it.
"I don't mind, Liv," Godric said. "I'll pack you some extra lunch, though."
"Perfect," Liv agree with a grin, leaning in for a sweet kiss. "I also thought I could bring some of your pies – we're offering drinks and apples, but I have a feeling we're going to get more volunteers if we can entice them with some of your food."
"I'll make some sandwiches as well," Godric offered immediately. "Some of them might want something hearty instead."
"Thank you. That would be great," Liv agreed happily before she turned back to Eric's original question. "I guess I could come by afterwards if you need me to. But why?"
"You'll see," Eric just replied vaguely. "Shall we say nine o'clock? Perfect. Well, then you better get ready. And do let me know if you two want to use my office." He waggled his eyebrows suggestively before speeding out of the kitchen and leaving them to their own devices.
"I wonder how long he's been waiting to use that line," Liv commented softly to Godric, smiling when he pulled her into his arms and breathed a kiss against her cheek.
"About three weeks," Godric answered, his eyes crinkling up in amusement. "But he's been saving a lot of his jokes because he didn't want to make you feel uncomfortable or self-conscious. He wants us to be happy."
"I know." Liv smiled, resting her head against Godric's chest and closing her eyes. "I am."
"So am I, cridiíon imon, so am I."
And I hope, so are you :)
