The Fury of the Night
Chapter 11: Control
David watched as Raven disappeared down the passageway and grinned. She was so enchanting and his want of her was great. The physical call was stronger than anything he had known, but the call of her herself, all that she was, all the knowledge and power and strength of will that she contained, was stronger yet. He wanted to know all of her, not just her flesh.
"Hey Boss, you want to play?" Paul asked, pulling David's thoughts back to the cavern where he stood.
David gave a half-smile and replied, "No. Not right now. Continue on." and he turned down the passage to his room.
Raven basked in the feel of the clean water as she stood underneath the shower. Having thirst and hunger completely sated relaxed her so completely that fire flowed freely down her body. The yellow-orange tongues of flame let forth heat as she desired, making steam fill the air when cold ocean water met her skin. The air became warm and heavy creating a delightful cocoon around her. She sinuously stretched her arms and turned slowly under the spray; her eyes closed, head tilted back, a small grin on her face.
David entered the bath quietly, laying the bundle of clean clothing he carried down on the bench. The entire room was filled with thick heavy steam, but he knew where she was. He could hear the sizzle of water against fiery flesh and as he slid his boots off, he caught a glimpse of a pale arm outstretched with wildfire dancing along it down to the exquisite fingertips. He smiled, removing the rest of his clothing, enjoying the feeling of her heat. Vampires were cold by nature, having no need of an internal heating core-it simply wasn't needed-however heat was a pleasure that could be enjoyed or ignored, each to his own liking. David was enjoying it much as he moved slowly forward. Now a flash of a pale, perfect thigh; the graceful curve of a small hip; a bare shoulder begging to be kissed; all lightly dancing with fire. He stepped behind her and slid his arms slowly around her small waist and was instantly enveloped in her flames.
Raven had sensed his presence as he came to her and was so glad for it. He was drawing out the best in her; making sure she kept herself fed and strong; letting her know he would not let her dwell in comfort too long before addressing the business that brought her to this place…He was good for her. He was strong, protective, giving, and he understood her. The answers she had obtained as she had knelt before the great altar earlier flowed through her mind. She let the knowledge twist and dance in her thoughts briefly, giving her further peace. This was where she was meant to be at this time, and the dangerous blonde night- god she was growing closer to was in her future as well as her present. She felt arms of steel slide around her and let those thoughts slip away as she leaned back against David's broad chest.
He tightened his arms about her as she leaned back into him and closed his eyes, letting the scent that was uniquely her, amplified by the steam, rise to his nostrils. Lowering his chin, he ran it across the top of her head, back and forth a few times, then let his cheek come to rest against her. She was so small that his arms crossed completely around her easily; his left hand gently caressing her right hip and vice-versa. Her skin was so soft, so very soft and smooth and perfect. The sizzle of the water against her provided an added sensation that was indescribable.
Raven turned herself in his strong arms, placing her own around his neck as she gazed up at him. He opened those eyes of ice blue then to peer down at her, seemingly captivated by the twin crimson pools. She reached a hand to his face and ran it over the blonde stubble there, then ran a thumb across those sinful curved lips. Her flames still encircled both of them and now purple hues joined with the orange and yellow. She stretched herself up onto her toes to reach his mouth and softly kissed him then lowered herself again to lean her head against his chest.
David slowly ran his hands under the thick wet mane of hair and gently rubbed her back, thinking this to be one of the most pleasurable moments of either of his lives. This simple "togetherness" was magical.
Raven leaned back slightly in his arms, letting his emotions enter her, and found herself nearly overcome with delight that he felt as she did. She reached out into the steam and drew back a bar of soap that released the smells of leather and musk into the air. Rubbing it between her small hands, she soon had lather up to her wrists and taking one of David's hands from her waist, she began to wash him.
"She is the most sinfully erotic thing I've ever known." his mind whispered as her hands, slicked by soap, slid up his arm and over his bicep. Warm fire continued to make cold water pop and sizzle over them both, while steam swirled around and between their bodies, ensconcing them in a private heaven.
Pausing occasionally to re-lather her hands, Raven cleansed his body, admiring the lean muscles that occasionally twitched beneath her touch. She did not shy away from any area of him, although he had become obviously aroused at her ministrations and a low rumble came from his chest on occasion; she simply took care of his form. When she had finished, she held the bar of soap out to him and then stepped slightly back, looking up at him.
David smiled, taking the bar from her and lathering his own hands. He stepped behind her, providing her the same care she had given him. His hands were strong but slid over her skin softly and with care. When he turned her around to face him, she looked up at him with trust in her eyes. He washed her neck, admiring it's curve when she tilted her head back to give him ease of access. His hands then slid down to her chest, gliding over her firm high breasts. He lingered over them a moment, cupping them gently in his hands, running his thumbs over her nipples and feeling them respond to his touch; pleased when she let out a low moan of her own. He willed himself to continue, washing her flat stomach and then kneeling before her on one knee. He gently took one of her legs and rested her foot upon his upraised knee, his hands soaping her lower leg, then up her thigh. He did the other leg then, his hands full of lush lather. David paused ever so briefly before sliding his hand between her thighs, touching her in her most intimate of places. He felt her suck a huge breath into her lungs and looked up when she finally released it, watching violet flame pour from her mouth. Holding on to his will of iron, he slowly, ever-so-gently, cleansed her and before he stood, he placed a feather-light kiss on one hip bone. Tossing the soap aside, David reached for a bottle of shampoo and pouring some into his palm, he began to lather her glorious mane from crown to the ends, noting when a few clots of dried blood from their dinner came loose and turned the water briefly red. He took her head in his hands and tilted it back as she closed her eyes, rinsing it well, then bringing her forward out of the spray.
Raven's eyes opened, dark red with pupils a bare slit, so heavy with contentment was she. David stood before her, watching her intently with a small grin on his face, one dimple showing. She stepped forward and touched a palm to his cheek.
"Thank you, My Night King. That was most relaxing." A smile lit up her beautiful face then, making something in his chest that had been long still, jump.
"It was my pleasure, My Bird of Darkness. My pure pleasure." He smoothed back wet hair from her face and placed a kiss upon her forehead. "May I give my thanks in return?"
"You are most assuredly welcome." she replied.
David turned and, reaching behind her, shut the shower off. Raven's flames and heat remained, giving the small cavern an otherworldly glow and ambience. He then moved to take an oversized towel from a shelf and wrapped it around her, chuckling when it engulfed her.
"You would laugh, M'lord?" she teasingly replied.
He grabbed a towel for himself and began to briskly dry off as she did the same.
"Never, M'lady. It's just that it's hard to reconcile the smallness of your frame with the damage you can do." David smiled.
"Hmmm. There's an old adage about that, I believe. Something about dynamite…" Raven quipped. She had situated the towel about herself and moved to the vanity, searching for a comb. Her flames continued to dance about, though becoming smaller. David moved to stand behind her with his towel wrapped about his waist.
"Sit." he commanded, sliding a stool behind her. Raven grinned and took a seat as he picked up a comb from the vanity.
"I've never done this before, so instruct me if I do it wrongly." he rasped in a low voice. David began to comb her hair then, hesitantly at first, then more confidently as she watched him in the mirror.
"You have yet to do wrong in my eyes." Raven answered, her eyes sparkling. David took his time, liking the feel of the heavy silk curtain of her hair as he ran the comb smoothly through it.
When he was finished, he threw the comb on the vanity and met her eyes in the mirror.
"Yes?" he asked, seeking approval.
"Yes." she nodded. His mouth tilted in that half-grin she loved and he turned away, snagging a pair of black sweatpants from the bench and tugging them on, tossing his towel atop a small hamper nearby.
Raven stood and stretched, content and at ease.
"Did you happen to bring anything for me?" she asked, tilting her head with a smile.
David turned and handed her the lavender camisole set he had purchased for her and Raven immediately donned it as he took a moment to run a comb through his blonde spikes. He turned back to her and was taken by her beauty as the last of her flames flickered around them. The color looked even better on her than he had imagined it would, and David moved to stand before her. Reaching out, her took her into his arms, running his hands over her back and down over her curves. The silk of the fabric over the silk of her skin was too much, and he lowered his lips to hers in a kiss that began slow and ended deep.
As he leaned his forehead against hers, both of them breathing deeply, Raven whispered,
"Thank you, David. For this night. For this pleasure. For this comfort. For everything."
When he could speak, he answered lowly. "You're welcome, My Raven."
He then stepped back and handed her something else from the bench. To her delight, it was a long silk robe to match the camisole set that she had not even seen him choose. He held it up and she slid into it, spinning in delight before him and smiling with pleasure.
She no longer could vocalize her happiness and let out a deep purring sound. He was immediately before her, hugging her to him. Looking down and meeting her crimson gaze, he growled "Mine."
Raven placed her hands on either side of his face and answered in kind.
"Mine."
They gazed into each other's eyes for a minute that felt like a day, and finally David pulled back, taking her hand.
"I must make contact with the others before bed."
Raven nodded in agreement, also being a leader who liked to know her house was in order before putting herself down to rest for the day.
With an onery grin, she poked David in the ribs.
"Race you." she whispered and was gone in an explosion of air.
David had been reaching for her even as she had reached out toward him, her thoughts giving her away. He had the briefest sensation of a small, cool wrist in his own and then he was off, chasing her through the passageway, snarling in mock threat. Raven's laughter echoed off the stone walls as she ran faster than light itself, and David delighted as he breathed in the scent she left behind. He could have trailed her to the ends of the earth based on that alone, he thought; her smell unique to her alone and as potent to his senses as a dose of narcotic to a drug addict.
Dwayne, Paul, and Marko had quit their trivia game and were engaged in helping Star adjust the gauze curtains around her sleeping space when Raven burst into the cavern, pausing for a split second to look around, then launching herself into the air to alight atop the chandelier, her robe of lavender silk silently floating down around her.
David erupted into the room a moment behind her, his eyes flashing ice blue. The four who were witness to the event were still looking at each other in confusion when David's head lifted, his eyes lifting to where Raven perched on the steel rim of the huge light fixture. He began slowly walking forward, his eyes locked on hers, pretending to stalk her.
Star had begun to back up slightly, not wanting to be caught in any mayhem, but the boys picked the mood out of the air easily and started to smile amongst themselves.
Raven remained as still as one of the stone gargoyles on her apartment building in New York, only her eyes moving as she watched David cross the cavern slowly, looking up at her.
He stopped beneath her perch and growled up at her. She hissed back in mock defiance.
"You do not want me to come up there, Little Bird. Trust me." he said in that low baritone that made her shiver in delight at times.
Marko, ever the instigator, hollered out "Go UP there, man! Go UP there! I wanna see it!"
Paul naturally had to pick up the teasing. "Man, do not go-I think she can take you!"
Dwayne simply watched with a smile while Star began to relax a little.
David couldn't help but chuckle and Raven let out a laugh of her own.
"Come down and I'll tell you a bedtime story…" David grinned charmingly, holding his arms out.
Raven flashed a huge smile and suddenly flipped herself over and down, landing perfectly in David's outstretched arms.
"I'm a sucker for a good bedtime story." she said in a serious tone, wrapping her arms around David's neck. Laughter flowed all around the room from everyone, even Star.
David settled her more comfortably against his chest, then cast his attention to the boys in all seriousness.
"Everything tight and all right?" he asked.
"All is well. We're secure." Dwayne replied promptly.
"Good. Finish whatever you're doing and get to bed." David replied.
"Yes, Boss." Marko answered. Raven called out a thank you to the boys and to Star for bringing her packages to the cave and for their continued hospitality and wished them all a pleasant rest. Star answered back with a soft "good night" and the boys gave the same sentiment only with more gusto.
Still holding Raven in his arms, David headed down the passageway to his room. When they got there, he set her gently on her feet and smiling, asked if she was ready to retire.
"What happened to my promise of a bedtime story?" she asked, arching a brow at him.
"Hmmm. That's right. All right; tuck in." he said, nodding toward the bed.
Raven tried not to grin as she shed the beautiful robe, laying it carefully across the back of a chair. She slid between the cool sheets of the huge bed and laid back against the softness, watching David as he moved about, first lighting a cigarette from one of the candles then rounding the bed. She watched as he removed his sweatpants and climbed beneath the covers, admiring his lean naked flesh.
"Come on, little one. Get comfortable." he said, holding out his arm. She immediately moved into his embrace and he brought her against his chest with one arm while reaching over to a small table for his ashtray with the other.
David took a long draw on his cigarette and as he exhaled the smoke, he took in the feel of the night creature tucked into his side, her head resting on his chest, her body curved into his, her hair a silken weight over his arm. The candles went out with a small breeze and he could feel her smile against him as he began.
"Once upon a time, there was a beautiful deadly girl with long black hair…"