Chapter 1: Secrets Revealed

The only thing she could focus on was his charm, his never-ending charm. That and the way he would always look at her, as if there was just something about her he couldn't get enough of. It was intoxicating.

The flowers lay at the side of the bed as did her other gift, a nude sketch of her. She now lay on her stomach, her long dark hair hanging to the side and her clothes strewn all over his floor. All she wore was her lace panties as she stared at her likeness. She always thought he made her too beautiful in his sketches, telling him that he made her something that she was not. He always argued, telling her he merely portrayed her as she was, that always made her smile.

His kisses roamed up her body as she stared at the drawing. She let him be in control this time. The last time they had done this was when those thugs had attacked them; one was going to rape her. She had been so afraid, but he fought them, he had saved her and she hadn't been able to help the longing for him then, the need she had for him.

She had been in control that time when they had . . . whatever it was. But now it was Steven . . . there was something in his eyes that said he needed this. She didn't want to withhold that need from him, and she wanted him so badly, needed him so badly.

His kisses consumed her flesh with heat and flame. A thin layer of sweat was already beginning to cover her body as his lips went up her legs and spine. The want within her was consuming her, sending chills up her spine. His hands roamed over her, as if searching for something. His nails lightly scratched her soft, humid skin as he continued to discover her body.

He turned her around roughly and his soft lips kissed her chin slowly until he found her face in the darkness. His hands caressed her features, pushing her dark hair out of her face tenderly. He held her back, looking at her for a moment, mesmerized by her beauty. He then kissed her passionately, pushing his tongue into her mouth as he pushed his hips into hers.

He let her go slowly, going down to her neck with his lips, sending more chills down her spine. He breathed in her scent and was dizzied by her warmth, by the smell of jasmine and sweat that clung to her the way that she clung to him now. He began to kiss her again, going up her jaw line and down her neck slowly yet roughly.

His lips kissed between her breasts as his hands grabbed at her sides, holding her closer to him. He could feel her heart beating quickly beneath his lips. She ran her hands up and down his back as he kissed her breasts one by one, softly at first and then a little more roughly as he played with her nipples slowly with his warm tongue.

Her hands brought his face back up to hers. She kissed him passionately and then whispered in his ear, "Steven, come on, please . . ."

He chuckled at her impatience and continued to kiss her as his hands trailed down her body and parted her legs. He teased her over the thin lace, fingers brushing her softly as his tongue continued to plunge in and out of her mouth. He pushed aside the fabric, parting her wet lips with two fingers as she shivered with anticipation. She gasped and arched her back as he slipped a finger into her and bit her chin softly. She moved with his hand, her hips following as his finger moved in and out of her tantalizingly.

She growled, feeling her face flush as the orgasm approached. He kissed her neck as she peaked. She grabbed him by the hair, pulling him closer to her for another passionate kiss, looking him in the eyes as if telling him that they both needed this, telling him that she hungered for his flesh. He pulled down her panties roughly and entered her finally as she tilted her head back in response to the pressure that he put between her legs.

She wrapped her legs around him and brought his face closer to hers. She kissed him with all her might; she wanted him to know she wanted it as badly as he did. He smiled again when she let go and began the rhythm. She ran her nails down his back as he plunged enter her, enjoying the pain he brought her. She bit his shoulder to keep from moaning out his name. Her hands clutched the sheets as he thrust into her again and again, enjoying the mix of pleasure and pain as he began to go faster and harder.

He could feel her body becoming warmer as they continued to move together. She turned her face into the pillow and bit it, feeling the orgasm coming . . . all he could see was every vein in her throat. His rhythm picked up at the sight. He pinned her hands down to the bed as he continued to push into her even harder and faster. She came and she couldn't move with him on top of her and her hands pinned to the bed, his face buried in her chest, not that she wanted to either. He had come with her just like the last time they had done this . . . when they had fulfilled this human need to put lock and key together and let the secrets go. He knew her secret now . . . he had seen it in her eyes and frankly he wondered how he hadn't seen it before . . . she loved him. Now it was his turn to tell the truth, to whisper what may unravel everything.

He raised his face and could see that she was still breathing into the pillow from the aftermath of so much pleasure. He raised her by the hands and moved quickly, tucking them under her and having her completely pinned and unmoving. He had to move fast before he gave in to his other emotions.

She went to turn her head, but he grabbed her by the neck and pushed it gently back onto the pillow. He was gentle but forceful, only with her; not like any of the other victims at all.

He leaned his face in for the telling, for the whisper, for what would ruin it all. He could hear the crinkling of the plastic sheets beneath them as he moved, though he was sure that her ears could not pick up the sound. He could hear the blood pounding in his ears as his lips grazed the powder-soft skin of her neck. He could feel the veins pulsating beneath his lips.

His fangs extended, wanting to taste the flesh, revealing the predator inside him. He held his breath and closed his eyes, hesitating.

"No, no . . ." he thought to himself. "No, I can't, not like this, not to her."

The fangs disappeared slowly and he kissed her neck tenderly, letting go of her. He was instantly sorry that he had ever come so close to taking her life.

He went up to her ear and whispered the other secret he had discovered instead, the secret he had also known since the first time he had ever seen her, "I love you Anne."