When I returned home just as the sun started to rise on the horizon, Dwayne was the only one awake.

"Did you do it?" Dwayne asked from where he was seated in the ancient wheelchair.

I threw his keys so that they hit his chest and stepped into the dim light, "It's done."

With the gaunt and hollow look on my face, it was a lie that was easy to believe.

"That's good," Dwayne swallowed as he took a swig from the bottle in his hand.

I pursed my lips together and gave no hint of a response, "Is David in my room?"

"No. He went with the others," Dwayne said as he got to his feet.

"Go wake him for me, will you?" I asked as I started the descent to my bedroom.

Dwayne hummed and nodded, "Are you sure you're all right, Rhi?"

"I'm fine," I hissed. "I just want my fucking boyfriend."

I didn't turn back around as I disappeared passed the open curtains into the bedroom. With the lack of further comments from Dwayne, I felt that the anguish of killing my caller was sold. I tossed my bag onto a chair and pulled my wet clothing off to drop onto the floor at the foot of the bed so that I was only left in my boots and undergarments.

"Shit," I ran my hands through my damp hair to untangle any knots that formed. I dropped down into the chair at the vanity table and mirror in the corner – which was useless without a reflection – and rested my elbows on the gold trimmed glass.

It had taken far too long to learn how to do my hair and makeup without being able to see myself.

At least Jeremy knew enough to be helpful for the first few months… well, years.

"Mm… Hey, beautiful."

I turned to see David leaning against the cracked rubble doorway with his arms crossed over his chest and a lazy smile on his face, "Hey." I pushed myself back to my feet and rested my hands on my hips. "Close the curtains."

David arched an eyebrow and reached one hand back to pull at the strings holding the curtains back while the other ran through his tousled blonde hair. Once the black drapes blocked us off from the rest of the underground, he took a few steps forward, "You look delicious. I don't have to tear Dwayne a new one for waking me up now."

"Heh," I chuckled as I met him in the center of the room and draped my arms around his shoulders. I tilted my head forward and flicked my tongue at the corner of his lips, where a small smear of blood remained. "I'm glad you didn't wait for me to bring you a snack."

"When it hit 3:30 AM, I thought I'd handle my own meal," David wrapped his arms around my waist. "How was your night out?"

"Fine," I hoped I hadn't answered too quickly. "I had dinner, shopped and spent a little time with Triny."

"How is the little flower child?" David asked.

"High and swooning over Paul," I teased. "Poor little lamb."

"I wouldn't worry," David's grip tightened. "You never let him close enough to her to do any harm."

My hips arched towards him, "Too bad she doesn't like Dwayne. That union I might approve of." I laced my fingers through the hair at the back of his head. "David…"

David let out a hum at my wavered tone, "What?"

"I…" I shook my head and the thoughts with it. "Take me to bed."

"My pleasure," David made a noise close to a purr as his nails dug into my skin and he reversed me so that the backs of my thighs hit the raised mattress. He pushed me down onto the bed and crawled so that he hovered over my figure. "Mine."

I let my lips curl up into a natural smile that came with his primal possessiveness as I curled my legs around his waist and pushed my short heels into the small of his back, "Say it."

"Say what?"

"You know what."

David wrapped one hand around my throat as his eyes yellowed at the dull pain, "I love you."

xoxoxoxox

When I stirred after dusk, the first two sensations I felt were cold against my front and a sting on my back.

"Mm," I cracked my eyes open and found that I was draped over David, who looked more than peaceful in his sleep. With his arms curled around my waist, I wasn't afforded much mobility, but I was able to crane my neck enough to see the ends of deep cuts on my back. I assumed they were made by David's long fingernails – that explained the sting.

David let out a noise and tightened his grip when I tried to untangle myself from his grasp, "No."

"We can't lie here all night," I murmured as I rested my hands over his head and placed my face into the curve between his neck and shoulders.

David twisted his legs around mine so that I was completely trapped, "Why not?"

I arched an eyebrow and pressed my lips against his skin, "You'll want to eat."

"Marko can pick us something up – dinner in bed."

"And let you get more blood on my sheets? I don't think so."

David laughed as he traced the pointer finger of his left hand down my spine so that my back arched under the touch, "Are you sure?"

"Positive. I want to go down to the boardwalk and dance."

"Mm, fine. Let's go play."

I lifted my head and smiled down at David, "I win… again."

"Do you?" David kept a straight face as he gripped my hips and flipped our positions so that my sliced back was pinned to the bed. "I'm not so sure."

"David, come on," I struggled against his grip. "You agreed and I know you're starved. Now is not the time for some macho man pride thing."

David's smile was dangerous, "Hm…"