Chapter 10

By MG

Don't own sm…

Elizabeth combed her fingers through her long brown hair anxiously, gazing though the window with fervor when she noticed a carriage approaching over the hill. With excitement and merriment in her eyes, she looked towards the archway that led to the garden and began to call out.

"Olivia! Olivia!" She cried out into the courtyards with a high-pitched yet soft voice. A woman with long dark ebony hair and radiant blue eyes looked up from the book she was reading and answered.

"Yes Elizabeth, what is it?"

"The carriage is here Olivia, now if you don't get your nose out of that book we'll miss it." She giggled as she snatched the book from Olivia's hands and ran off with it to the entrance of the their small villa.

"Hey!" Olivia exclaimed as she took off.

"If you want it then come!" Elizabeth shouted back as she hiked up the skirts of her long Victorian green velvet dress and ran into an old brick building with vines that were dressed in flowers that climbed the walls. Olivia picked up her hat, hiked up her dark blue velvet dress and followed in pursuit.

*~*

"Is it not wonderful?" Elizabeth exclaimed as she looked at the ocean with admiration.

"It is quite beautiful." An unknown voice entered the conversation, startling the two girls. Elizabeth's breath caught in her throat as she came face to face with a man with long and shiny silvery hair; Olivia merely looked down at her feet and towards the railing of the ship that they stood before.

"Afternoon sir, and what may I ask has given us the pleasure of your company?" She asked with a smile as Olivia stood silently, her shyness taking over; she was not as good with words when it came to men as Elizabeth was.

"Well, you fine looking ladies looked as if you needed someone to accompany you to breakfast this fine morn...and I sought you out as being perhaps your tour guide."

"My name is Elizabeth, and my friend's name here is Olivia." She paused. "We are most obliged by your gracious offer, and we would be more than happy to accompany you." Elizabeth replied just as Olivia jerked her in the arm. "Excuse me, but it seems that my friend would like a word with me in private." Elizabeth replied before following Olivia a little ways ahead.

"Are you insane Elizabeth?" Olivia exclaimed. "We hardly know that man!" Olivia reprimanded.

"You worry over nothing..." Elizabeth scolded while rolling her eyes as she turned to smile at the man; he smiled back charmingly. "Besides did you even take a look at him...he is so handsome. I very much doubt that he would bring any harm to us...and besides, he is only accompanying us to breakfast, not to our rooms." Elizabeth giggled. "But with his size and caliber, I would not to mind if he came to my room." She whispered to Olivia in her ear.

"Elizabeth!" Olivia exclaimed shocked. "That is hardly the behavior for a lady!"

"Oh come on Olivia, I am only having a little fun...besides, you promised that when we finally went to France that you would loosen up." Elizabeth said as she quirked her eyebrow. "He is just being friendly...this is our vacation and first time to France, the city of Romance as they say." She continued. "Let yourself live!"

"Alright." Olivia gave in reluctantly. "I guess it would not hurt to have breakfast with him."

"Oh Olivia you are a saint!" Her friend exclaimed as they joined the man and walked off to the breakfast hall.

~*~

"This is my brother Robert." The man who had introduced himself earlier as Charles said to them. "He will be accompanying us for breakfast as well." Elizabeth took a daring glance towards Robert, and smiled; he smiled back, immediately the sparks began to fly.

"Nice to meet you Robert." Elizabeth immediately replied as she gave him her hand. He smirked back charmingly, his shiny red hair cascading down his head as he bent to kiss her hand.

"The pleasure is all mine milady." He replied.

"So, what brings you two lovely ladies aboard this ship?" Charles asked them.

"We are on a long overdue vacation to France." Elizabeth replied with a smile, trying her best to be spirited with a hint of flirtatiousness.

"Ah, France." Robert replied in a French accent. "The perfect choice I must say...I myself am returning home from business in Wessex." He continued in a subtle voice. "But to be back in France again...it would be heaven." He looked deeply yet dangerously into Elizabeth's eyes, evoking many feelings within her just with that glance.

"France is the place of Romance." Charles noted in the midst of the conversation. "I too am returning from a long business transaction and can not wait to return to the place where love began."

"What is it like?" Elizabeth asked with fervor as she placed her hands beneath her chin, her elbows on the table. She had learned from her classes that dealt with manners that an attentive lady was always considered an alluring lady.

"Well, at night the stars light up the skies and the music softly drifts into the windows of every home, as well as the smell of fresh sourdough bread and sweet cakes."

"Rubbish, I can not imagine that France can be so lovely every night." Olivia interjected cynically, speaking for the first time since they had arrived at the table. Elizabeth felt like reaching her leg under the table and kicking her friend for her open comments. "Especially with that simpleton now on the throne."

"The lady speaks, so she has a voice after all." Robert commented causing Olivia's cheeks to turn a tint of red with anger.

"Yes she does, and she has better things to do than to sit here and listen to two gentlemen talk there heads off about things that that have little to do with romance or even love just so that they can win my favor, and possibly my bed side!" She bit back as she stood from her chair, shocking Elizabeth. "Now if you'll excuse me, gentlemen, Elizabeth, I am going out for a breath of fresh air." She said as she nodded to each one of them accordingly and then was off.

Elizabeth sighed as she witnessed the whole exchange; perhaps she had better go after her. Her thoughts were interrupted when Charles stood up from his chair shortly and placed his napkin on the table.

"Excuse me." He said before leaving. Perhaps that was an even better idea, for she could tell that Charles had taken a liking to Olivia for his eyes had never once left her throughout the whole exchange. All the better nonetheless, she thought as she turned her attentions towards Robert, they were finally alone.

"Elizabeth, shall we go for a walk?" Robert asked with a devilish grin.

"Why certainly." She replied, placing her hand in his.

~*~

They sauntered around the entire ship, playing some of the games aboard, and he was slightly surprised at her interest in them; most women wouldn't think to take part for fear that their clothing would get dirty, but it was obvious to him that materialistic things had not mattered to her. They had talked of many things from life to love, and philosophy, he was slightly intrigued by her knowledge of the topics, and that she could very dutifully take her ground on a subject she gravely believed in. Despite that fact that she was very knowledgeable, he found that she was very spirited as well. Which is why in the end, when he had to escort her back to her rooms per her request, he found it slightly hard to let go.

~*~

Elizabeth smiled as she nervously turned away from him to unlock the door to her room with the key. It had been a pleasant day, and she felt excited about what she was feeling in her heart. She felt like she was a part of one of those romances that both she and Olivia had read many a times in a dark room with only one whicker candle for fear that either parents would catch them.

She could feel the heat rise in her belly as his fingers lightly found their way to her waist and began to move slowly up and down, barely touching, yet enough to send shivers down her spine. Her hand stilled on the doorknob before opening it and turning back towards him, his hands lightly drifting across her body until they were nestled on her abdomen; she could see the fire burning in his dark emerald eyes. Her lips parted slightly, her breath coming out in short puffs, and her tongue darted quickly across to coat them. She had meant to tell him good bye and end their night right then and there, remembering her promise to her mother that she wouldn't do anything that she wouldn't do on this trip, but those words of undertaking were momentarily forgotten when he spoke.

"Do I not get a good night kiss?" He asked her, his pressing his body firmly against her so that she could feel him indefinitely. Her body shivered as she nodded a yes to him, barely aware that she had done so. She felt his hand tighten around her waist and it caused her to feel afraid. "Do not worry...I will not hurt you." He whispered huskily as his lips descended to catch her lips in one quick butterfly kiss. "See, that was harmless." He said as he pulled away slightly. She nodded her head softly, all words stuck in her throat as she realized with something akin to horror that her hand had grasped tightly to his shirt, a sign that the one kiss would certainly not be their last. She looked into his eyes with a newfound desire that she could not discern, but neither wanted to at the moment.

"Will you not come in?" She whispered softly, her breath a feathery touch on the wind.

"You need not ask twice milady." He replied huskily as he planted another kiss on her welcoming lips before backing her into the room and closing the door behind them.

~*~

When they were in the closed and dark sanctity of her room, she trembled slightly, very much aware of how close his body was to her own.

"You are very tense." He stated in a dark voice as his hands found their way to her shoulders. "Allow me to remedy that." He continued with a coolness to his voice that was slightly alluring, yet comforting as well. With the patience of a cat, he made her sit on the edge of the bed and knelt behind her, slowly massage her shoulders in concentric circles. "How does that feel?" He asked her as he continuously massaged. "Better?"

"Mmhmm." She replied, feeling a hot stickiness in her throat that made it hard for her to speak.

"You are very beautiful...you know that?" He continued as his hands mutely found their way to the back of her dress, skillfully undoing the strings as if it was a trade that he knew very well. "And...there is something about you as well...something that I can not discern." He continued, his breath hot against her skin as his lips hovered slightly over her neck. "You are not...like other woman...you are very spirited...willing...fiery...like...like the Greek god of Venus." He paused, his hands finishing their craftwork as they moved to her shoulders and slowly brought the gown down her body. "I have always wanted to meet...someone like you." He continued as his lips began a slow descent down her creamy flesh, causing a very audible cry of surprise to be uttered from her lips.

What was he doing to her? She was mutely mindful of the fact that she was being seduced, but at the same token, her power to stop it was weak; she knew she was under his control, he would take her tonight, and she would not object.

She felt almost as if she was watching what was happening from afar; she was seeing him slowly yet gently begin to move her clothing as if in a dream. Shock registered over her as she saw herself numbly put her arms out so that he could remove her corset; that last constraint freeing her, and conversely, making her a slave to his heated gaze. Time no longer seemed of essence; she was no longer on the ship in the middle of the endless sea. All she knew was of him laying her exposed body to the comfort of the bed below before he began to place light kisses on her lips. She had not even recollected when he had removed his own clothing, but did not care. The feeling of his bare flesh pressed to her own was something she never felt before, this sensation new in many ways; she could feel the warmth begin to penetrate her down to the coils of her belly.

"It is only you, who can compare to the goddess of love Elizabeth." He whispered to her, his lips sending warm sensations down her body as they rested against her ear. "I wish that you could be my Venetian Aphrodite...my Minako."

"If you would only be my prince...my...my Malachite." She uttered softly, surprised at her own words. She had never known herself to be so poetic, let alone passionate. But yet, she never felt herself in the position she was in now...beneath a strong masculine man, his body pressing against her chest, his manhood hard and pulsing against her thighs as in begging for invitation; she never imagined herself falling for someone within a day.

"Would you like to dance...my fair one?"

"I feel there is no turning back...it is strange, I should be afraid, nervous, but I am not..." She finished.

"Then let the dancing begin." He replied before slowly filling her, his lips covering most of her painful cries.

~*~

He showed her everything he knew that night, pleasuring her beyond her wildest dreams, and they had become one over and over again. Sometimes with slow passion, yet other times with fierce lust he would take her.

He had not known how or when it had happened, and neither was really expecting it...but, he could not help himself.

It finally occurred when they came back from the Captain's meeting, and he escorted her to her room where they made love once more. They had fallen together spent for but a moment as passion began to stir anew.

She sighed and moaned slightly as he began to send light kisses up and down her exposed neck. Verily his lips had made attempts to stray from there but always, they came back...and this time the need was strong. She cried out when she felt him pierce her, but she would not let him take her without her consent.

She fought, and she fought hard.

She cried, screamed, and scraped at his back, her nails digging into his skin and her legs kicking the air, as he fought to hold her still, his craving overcoming his soul, mind, and body; one could hear the heavy rumpling as the bed repeatedly hit the wall, a struggle atop as he fiercely entered her, half by accident, half willingly. She cried as his body continuously moved within her, even as he drunk of her until a long while later when she was too spent to move.

She lay lifelessly beneath him as he finally tore away from her, barely coming to grasps with what he had done. His eyes filled with tears as he looked upon her face with stricken horror; he had never meant for this to happen. Her face, too, was wet with salty tears, and he bent his head to lick them away, staining her cheeks a bright red. In fear of losing her completely, he did the only thing he could do; he gave of his own.

He had given only half of himself that night, enough so that she would live, but not enough to change her, and when she had enough energy to think coherently once more, she hated him for it. She cursed him that night and threw him out of the room, telling him that she never wanted to see him again. She had slapped him hard before kicking him out, screaming all sorts of explicatives. He had tried to tell her how he felt, that it was an accident, but she would hear none of it; she would only ask him how could he possibly have a feeling bone in his body after what he had done to her. He had left the room; she gave him barely enough time to throw on his pants before opening the door for him to leave, and falling to the floor after with great tears in her eyes as she began to realize the ramifications of what had just occurred.

But it had been a big mistake, for in doing this, in leaving her only have filled, he had left her with this indescribable need for something that she would not and could not understand...and without understanding it, she had turned to others to receive it. How many nights had he seen her invite men to her bedchambers on the ship so that she could quench a thirst for something when she had not even known what she had been thirsty for in the first place. He had not given her enough so that she could grow the means to feed herself, and if he did not it could very well cost her life.

With dire straight he finally approached Charles with his problem.

~*~

"Haven't seen you in a bit, ever since you went out with Olivia." Robert questioned.

"Well, you know how it is." Charles replied with a grin, before changing the subject. "Elizabeth has turned into quite the promiscuous one." He chuckled lightly, before noticing Roberts's inward wince. "You're not happy with this?" He observed.

"No...in fact...it is all my fault." Robert slumped over the railing of the ship, his hand nonchalantly coming to comb itself within the strands of his hair.

"Now what have you done little brother?" Charles asked. It had only taken him a moment to gauge his brother's inner thoughts and understand the reasoning. "I see."

What do I do? Robert looked at him with hopeful eyes.

If you do not change her completely, she could die from the mere not knowing of what she craves...dear brother...I knew that I should have been watching you instead of allowing you to indulge. He looked to Robert like a parent would a child and shook his head slightly.

Charles...I want things to be right with her...but she hates me.

How many times must I tell you that you do not go changing women to the other side as a life mate without their permission? He gazed at him with questioning eyes.

I know...I know...but it is far too late for that now speech now.

I told you before you came to dinner to have a drink...but did you listen to me?

Charles! This is hardly the time! ...tell me what I should do. Robert turned away with agitated eyes. Any onlookers passing by would swear up and down that the two men were having a conversation the way they looked upon each other with great expressions.

The only thing you can do...tell her everything; let her make her own choice.

With that, the conversation ended as both brothers went their separate ways.

~*~

That evening he had attempted to approach Elizabeth, and he could see through her tired eyes that she was already beginning to show signs of ailment. But when he told her everything, she refused him, told him that she would rather die than become the savage beast that he was. Needless to say, they had not parted on good terms.

~*~

Elizabeth watched as Olivia settled into the carriage that was to take them to the home of their friend, she had touched her lips lightly, an unmistakable grin crossing her features. Elizabeth could only quirk a brow at her and smile as she remembered the heated kiss that her friend had shared with Charles. When they were finally settled in, she immediately shut her eyes, choosing not to let her friend see what was playing in her mind.

So this is what it was like to know that you were dying.

~*~

Weeks later…

"I do not think it wise for us to be walking about at such in hour unescorted…we should have never tried to take leave of your mother's house without permission" Olivia stated, announcing her usual protest at her friend's obvious flightiness.

"Olivia." She chastised, obviously annoyed. "Lighten up!" She giggled, her golden curls bouncing up and down. "The house that is hosting the party is not but so far away...it will be only a few moments and we shall be there. I go there all the time for parties and such."

"Unescorted Jasmine?" Olivia questioned unbelievingly. "I can just imagine." She stated as if she did not for a moment believe that the girl was silly enough to walk through these parts in the dark frequently without an escort.

"Olivia, it is all right, there are three of us, who would attack three girls?" Elizabeth retorted. What does it matter anyway; I know that I shall die soon.

"None of us know the slightest about how to defend ourselves, who would not attack us?" Olivia responded.

"We are almost there...soon you will have to worry no longer." Jasmine stated simply.

"Are you ladies all right?" A man with long black hair suddenly appeared as if from the wind.

"We are fine...we are going to the Lisbon Party." Jasmine said dazzlingly.

"Perhaps we shall escort you...after all, who knows what dangers lie out at this time of night." A second man appeared, his hair of a golden color.

"Oh we are fine." Jasmine continued. "After all, I walk these parts every night...what possible dangers could await us?"

"Anyone in particular expecting you?" Now there were three, the third's hair the color of a chocolate brown; the girls were almost surrounded, the men blocking their path.

"No...not really." Jasmine said nonchalantly yet irritatingly as she tried to step around them.

"Jasmine!" Olivia gasped. "That is not true...we...someone is very well expecting us." She lied.

"Excuse me gentleman, would you please step aside?" Elizabeth objected; her voice was barely in the mood to fight back. She knew exactly what they came for, and was happy that soon it would all end.

"I am sorry, but we can not allow you to go any further." The first man stated.

"If you do mind, we were on our way somewhere." Jasmine protested once more, her voice shaky.

"But then what would be the fun in that?" The second man asked as he opened his mouth and licked his lips, revealing a pair of razor sharp fangs. Both Jasmine and Olivia screamed and all three immediately began to run as the men chased after them.

"Elizabeth!" She heard her friend cry out as she tripped on a log and fell to the ground. No Olivia, please just go, save yourself. She had tried to warn her with her eyes, but Olivia immediately went to help her as Jasmine continued to run away. "Come on!" She extended her hand to help her up, an all too hopeful look in her eyes.

Two of the men had caught up with them in a flash and one had hoisted Elizabeth into the air just as it started to rain causing her to scream.

"Let me go!" She cried. "Please!" Drink to your heart's content…

"Not much, but you'll do for now." He replied as he took her a little ways away where he sunk his teeth into her flesh.

"Elizabeth!" She could hear her friend cry out before she finally left and ran away.

That's it Olivia, run...do not let them catch you. The vampire that held her continued to drink but stopped suddenly and dropped her to the ground.

"Shit!" He cursed. "Your blood taste awful!" He finished as he wiped his mouth.

"Daniel...we must leave now!" The first man replied as he approached his friend.

"What is wrong?"

"These girls were under the protection of the master." She barely heard the man mutter many explicatives before both of them fled with their other comrade trailing behind. She had lain there for an hour or so, lifeless, before she finally allowed her eyes to shut, feeling that her end was near.

~*~

She opened her eyes groggily, barely aware of the dim light in the room, and the comfort of the bed beneath her. One thing she had been aware of in clarity was that something had changed. She looked to her side surprisingly to see Robert sleeping lazily in the chaise and knew at once what had happened.

She watched as his eyes fluttered open to note with clarity, the anger in her face.

"How could you?" She cried.

"I could not let you just..."

"You had no right!" She screamed, tears staining her eyes as she gripped the sheets.

"But you were going to die!" He continued.

"I rather have died than to live like this!" She cried back at him.

"How can you say that...do we not mean anything to you?"

"We?" She questioned as she felt the bitter tears fall down her throat. "There never was a we!" She bit back him, stabbing him where she knew it hurt the most. "The only 'we' that I know of was death and I; I had welcomed him with open arms...and you took that away from me...and I will never forgive you for it!"

"You do not mean that." He stated unbelievingly, shaking his head vehemently at her words.

"I hate you...I hate everything you are...everything you stand for...and everything you did to me! Stay out of my life!" There. She had said it; she had put it out in the cold crisp hair, forced it down his throat, and now he was forced to swallow it whole. Dejected, he walked out of the room downstairs where three vampires sat patiently awaiting council; one of them reeked of Elizabeth's blood.

In an angry farce, he at once searched the house for the presence of his brother, and was slightly surprised to find that he was in bed with Olivia. His visage softened somewhat when he realized one thing, his brother had changed her, and from the feelings that he felt emanating from her, she had accepted it. Sighing slightly, he probed into his brother's mind.

What is going on? He asked.

I am talking to Olivia...just a moment. Robert looked to the three men and fixed them with an evil glare. OK, what is wrong? He heard his brother ask in a now angered tone.

You know... Robert replied. Obviously, Olivia had probably just finished telling him about whatever had occurred the other night; Robert took a few moments to steal that information from his brother's mind as Charles took a moment to probe Robert's mind; he almost lashed out in a fury in front of Olivia.

They are downstairs? He asked angrily. I shall be down in a moment.

~*~

Robert watched languidly as Charles entered the foyer where some men sat waiting for him. As soon as they saw him, they all arose and one began to speak. Robert could see the frustration and anger in his eyes, a feeling that he too was feeling, no doubt.

"Sire...it is not our fault...we did not know." One man pleaded.

"Silence." His brother spoke deeply.

"We were merely going after our next meal as we had always before—"

"I said silence!" He exclaimed a second time, making them all shutter with fear; his brother always had a way with words. He watched impassively as Charles gazed over to where he sat, silently observing the situation. "Robert?"

"Brother?" He replied.

"Kill them." He ordered before leaving the room despite their protests and cries. Before they could count to ten all doors locked automatically, preventing escape. The men shook in fear as a sunroof revealed; they hurriedly scrambled about trying to hide in dark corners to escape the invading light. But there was no where to go, no where to escape as the light engulfed the entire room, their screams short lived as their fleshed burned momentarily before they turned into a pile of dust.

By the time Robert had returned to his upstairs bedroom, Elizabeth was gone.

~*~

Sixteen years later...

Elizabeth was walking about in the dreariness of the night, allowing the sounds of the owls and the breeze of the wind to calm her soul. She had missed him. But when she finally had the gall to forgive him and outgrew her stubborn heart, he was gone, and to where she knew not. She had long forgotten the idea of family, or even friends, as she became a loner, a drifter. She had changed her hair and eyes over the years, preferring to go with a sunny gold cascade and glittering blue eyes so as no one of any remembrance of her would recognize her any longer. She had to learn on her own the ways of the vampire, though before it disgusted her, she had come to accept that it was a way of life. She was about to take her spot on the bench ahead when she noticed a hooded figure lying over it; it's body shivering obviously from the cold. Curious, she went over and shook them.

"Hello, are you all right?" She asked the stranger. She was however, taken aback when the figure turned around to show the features of a young girl. "Olivia?" She said with a shock as she recognized her old friend; yet for some reason she knew it was not she. This girl looked pale and sickly; and the type of dress she wore was definitely not suited for winter weather. The girl shook her head slightly, she was obviously not who she thought she was. "Oh, I thought you were...someone else." She turned to leave; she felt bad about abandoning her out in this tremendous cold, but what life could she possibly live with her? She was no longer human anymore, and who knows what could happen one day if she was to allow this human girl to stay with her. Human. A word that she had once been able to call herself; how they take for granted their every existence. She was walking away when the girl called out to her.

"No wait! Please!" She cried. " Can I come with you? I have no where to go...I...but I will stay out of your way." She continued. " Please...I...I have no where else to go."

"Where are your guardians?" Elizabeth asked. She had to know how this girl had come to live on the streets; she could be a thief or a murderer for all she knew.

"My mother is dead…and I don't know who my real mother is I-" The girl replied softly, bowing down her head. " Though she treated me like I was her own." She finished in tears.

"I do not know." Elizabeth replied unsure. "What happened...are you sure that there is no where you can go, I can not offer you much...do you know that there are places that you could go if you want shelter...I-I really do not think that I can be of much help to you."

" Please." The girl continued, sobs racking her body as she slumped down to bench. "I do not know where I can go and I am scared...and my mother is gone...I have no where else to go...I did not do anything wrong! It was an accident," The girl cried out, her palms covering her face. Seeing the girl like this, Elizabeth couldn't bare to leave her alone; perhaps she could at least teach the girl to fend for herself and then later let her go.

"My name...my name is—" She stopped short and changed her mind. "My name is Minako...come, you can stay with me until you learn to fend for yourself." Minako finished as she turned and began to walk away. "Besides...the park can be really dangerous at this time of night...all sorts of things creep away from their hiding places."

~*~

Minako swayed her body to the beat, the rhythm flowing through her as she lifted her arms above her head and moved her hips. Although she was unsure as to why, she felt as if someone was watching her, her vampire sense allowing her to be able to feel awkward presences that were within a certain radius of her. She wasn't at all estranged to the idea of men watching her, but somehow this presence was different. She couldn't describe it, but only continued to dance as she homed in on the entire dance floor. She slowly moved off the dance floor when the music faded and worked her way to the bar. Once seated, she looked across and dimly was aware of Usagi's presence along with her date Mamoru, and was about to make herself known when they suddenly got up and left; she could always make introductions later.

It was a mere five seconds into her drink when she felt that presence again, coming towards her. For some unknown reason she felt her heart flutter, her temperature slowly rise and sweat began to bead on her forehead. With the agility of panther, she stood up quickly in time to bump into a tall man with medium length white diamond hair, and sparkling silver eyes.

"Elizabeth..." came a low dark and husky moan.

Her breathing stopped.

~*~

He had barely gotten a chance to let another word in edgewise after the initial contact when he felt her brush past him lightly, her movement so quick that any normal man would not have caught up with her.

But he was not a mere mortal man, and he was not going to lose her this easily after centuries of wait.

As soon as he stepped out of the club and into the fresh crisp air, he was shocked to find himself placed within a tremendous embrace. After all these years, centuries even, he had assumed she might still be upset with him. He had not even been sure if she had survived at all, but knew that if he had ever found her, he wouldn't let her go...and he would prove to her that he was worthy of her love.

But all that melted away as he realized that she wasn't running away from him...she was holding him, with tears in her eyes.

"Can we go somewhere to talk?" She asked him softly, her lips trembling as they whispered into his ears. He nodded his head before taking her away, somewhere they could finally straighten things out, and figure out where they stand.

~*~

They fell to the bed, their hands caressing, clothes falling in heaps onto the floor; talking could wait. He could barely contain the joy he felt when he was joined with her, mind and soul, once again.

I love you. You're so beautiful. Many words filtered through her head, as his hands grasped her hips, pulling her to him. Skin so soft, like silk…smell like peaches…love you so much…never stop…never ever stop…She wanted to cry at the beauty of it.

I miss this…I missed you…I'm sorry.

Sorry too…so warm…so tight. His lips pressed firmly yet gently on her own.

So good…I needed…so much…never stop…never ever stop…

Won't…ever…you're mine now! He paused for a moment as she convulsed around him, he wanted it to last as long as he could make it; he shut his eyes tightly. Oh gods…so…so tight…you drive me crazy…gods you're beautiful.

Please…just…just…mmmm. She nearly cried out as her body came back to him and he began to move in her once more, she was a slave to his passion. Need it so much…so much…faster…harder…so much…

Harder…faster.

Need…so much…want…so much…Her body arched beneath his own as he continued to slide purposefully back and forth within her body.

Give you all…mine…you're mine…need you…so happy I found you.

Found you…love you.

Together…mmmm…need more…more…MORE! He shuddered powerfully above her, his hands gripping her tightly as he surged within her that one last time with one powerful stroke. She panted beneath him, holding his body to her as he collapsed atop her; her fingers combed through his short fiery red locks.

Your hair changed back to red. She giggled.

I know…can't seem to control myself around you woman. His hand drifted up to her hair, losing itself within.

Its okay…I like it that way, looks sexy on you…it's the real you…though I must admit that the white diamond was a nice touch.

I've…I've never experienced anything like that before…it was absolutely…

Amazing…She placed a light gentle kiss on his forehead.

But I'm not tired yet…He grinned mischievously as he gazed up at her.

Me either…She smiled as he arose and positioned himself above her. You're not going to bite me again are you? He laughed outright at her playful ways.

"Maybe…" He replied aloud.

"Good…I like the biting." He chuckled before quickly switching their positions and placing her to sit atop him.

You are so beautiful my love…He gazed lovingly into her eyes.

You too…