After a very lengthy discussion, Selene settled herself onto an old hospital mattress. Despite the fact it was ancient and dusty, the sheets that she had found had been surprisingly clean. Michael had remained behind to wrap up the discussion, following her departure with concerned eyes. Selene had been rubbing her temples as though listening to the discussion was a strain. Michael had never seen her react in such a manner when there was work to be done. He had always seen her cool and focused on the task at hand, not easily distracted by any small thing. He excused himself from the discussion after coming to a sort of agreement on what Raze wanted to do. He told Raze he would be the one to run the idea past Selene. The excuse was one to give them a little privacy as well. Catarina had finally resigned herself to sleep, and Lukan agreed to take the door longer so Raze could rest up for the next night's mission.
Michael entered the room, not knowing what to expect. They had been moved to the most private part of the hiding place, and actual storeroom that had once held the formaldehyde that the morticians had used to prepare bodies for their funerals. It had a closing door, and was substantially more private than the curtained partitions that served as makeshift walls. The room was lit by an emergency candle, bathing the room in soft, gold light. Selene's body was curled up tightly, not unlike a cat in repose. The tenseness was clear in her shoulders and the worry lines that creased her face. Even in sleep, she seemed worried. He couldn't resist drinking in the softness of her curves beneath the linen sheet. Not wanting to disturb her, he turned to leave. "Don't," her voice cut through his private thoughts.
"What?" Michael asked, desperate to stay. Now that he had her where he could see her, the thought of being away from her was becoming unbearable. She didn't move from where she lay, but her eyes opened and she was looking into his soul with them. He moved with a force not of his own volition, seating himself beside her. His hand closed on her arms, fingers pressing gently into her skin as he turned her to face him. He stared into her eyes for a long moment before bending down to press his lips to hers. Selene's arm snaked around his neck, and she pulled herself up level with him. His arms went across her bare shoulders, smoothing down the vinyl of her leather top to her slender waist. Her hands subconsciously traced the firm muscles of his shoulders and down his chest. Before long, she had half-undressed him, and all of her concerns and worries were forgotten as he warm breath tickled her neck. They were curled together, half in a stupor, and half-crazed with unfulfilled desire. Selene's eyes had gone electric-blue, and her nails traced lazy patterns down Michael's bare arm. He pressed closer, the heat from his body comfortable against her bare back. As a rule, they had only acted on their desires once for fear of what might happen if they bred. Selene was trying not to think about the implications as she turned to face him. It was then that realization dawned on her. Her body was changing from her bite. Their desire was molding the nature of her change, preparing her body for what was inevitable. She was evolving to bear Michael's child. The nature of the virus was uncharted, and Selene had no doubt that it had something of a mind of its own. No creator who would be long-dead before his twisted plans came into action would leave the idea without the ability to sustain itself. Selene could feel the changes happening gradually, and her instincts were turning her toward fulfilling her wants.
Michael was now staring at her intently, not interrupting her reverie. She turned and kissed him again, all her longing and need that had built up over the past fifty years behind that kiss. Michael returned it with all of his own longing, hungrily nipping and caressing her body. Before long, everything that was going on around them had been temporarily forgotten, lost in the throes of pleasure they were creating for each other. They rested at the threshold of completion, the kind of completion they had only achieved when their inhibitions were forgotten and they were experiencing the primal drive of their kind. Michael hovered over her, eyes reverting to their cool shade of blue for a moment. He was searching for reassurance. Selene's strong hands guided him to her, and all their frustrations and wants that had built up over their separation were released in one powerful burst of energy. The unique dance they worked around one another was deeply meaningful to them both. Selene was accepting the chances of becoming mother to Michael's child with every thrust, and her realization that this was what she had so desperately wanted ever since she had first seen him at the subway station filled her with contentment. Exhausted, they collapsed together in a tangle of limbs, their half-changed bodies relaxing to their more common human state. Selene wrapped them in the sheets, listening to the soft puffing of Michael's breath as it evened out and he drifted to sleep. Selene smoothed a stray strand of hair from his face, watching his long lashes flicker lovingly. For one sweet moment in all the time she had been a Vampire, Selene felt wholly and totally at peace. She fell into the first dreamless sleep she had experienced since the night she had been awakened by the blood feud spilling onto her doorstep. Viktor had stolen her innocence that night, and a small part of her relationship with Michael was bringing that innocence back to her. Every time he held her, or looked at her with his sweet eyes, she found a part of herself that had been in turmoil for so long loosen its hold on her battered psyche.
With Michael, the world's frustrations didn't seem so overwhelming.
A/N: sorry this chapter is so short, but I felt like it stood on its own. I am not one for hoidy-toidy love shtuff, so I tried to keep the fluff to a bare minimum. I can't exactly see Selene as the soft housewife type, can you? I hope the understanding is that a lot of Selene's love is based on desire and the more primal animal instincts of mankind.
Thanks SOOOOOO much for all the reviews I've received. Particularly Sarge1, you keep me motivated, and I keep writing! J