Happy Re-Birth-Day Ch 2

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Characters: Josef; Emma; Beth; Mick; Coraline.

Rating: M Violence; high level sex scenes; strong adult themes; some coarse language.

A/N:The warning from chapter one goes double this time! This is the saga of Josef & Emma Kostan - not Mick St. John and Beth Turner - so if that is not to your taste, then I respectfully suggest that you find a nice MickBeth story to enjoy instead.

Happy Rebirthday. Chapter 2.

As birthdays and anniversaries go, mine was not off to a wonderful start. First thing in the evening, Josef had eschewed his freshies in favour of a different kind of liquid breakfast. I'd stopped counting after he had knocked back four glasses of scotch on an empty stomach. I didn't know if it was even possible for a vampire to get drunk – at least in the human sense of the term – but Josef seemed to have given it his best shot. Consequently, the smell of fine scotch had preceded Josef, warning me of his approach long before I heard his footsteps. I turned my back to the door before he reached it. A serious crying jag will ruin make-up every time, and I didn't want him to see the state I was in.

He cleared his throat, and said, "Emma, honey, your guests are here now. Are you coming downstairs? You don't want to be fashionably late to your own soiree, do you?"

"Um, no – just give me a few minutes, will you please?"

I expected a reply from Josef, but instead I heard Coraline say: "Emma, may I please come in?"

I nodded calmly, even though I longed to simply run to her.

She walked over to me, took one look at my face, and said to Josef quite casually, "Can you ask Mick to come up here, please?"

"Whatever Emma needs, I'll get it," Josef responded coldly.

"What Emma needs right now is Mick," she replied.

I winced at her words and thought: Oh god, Coraline, please don't make things any worse than they already are. Please don't push Josef's buttons. I was afraid Josef would get angry with Mick. And to make matters worse, I had no way of knowing how clearly Josef was able to pick up my thoughts now.

I heard Josef say: "Mick, you're wanted up here, apparently."

I glanced over my shoulder just in time to see Josef put his cell phone back in his pocket; then he glared at Coraline and spat a large mouthful in French. I thought I understood a few of the words and I gasped, hoping that I'd misunderstood.

Coraline took my hand and squeezed it lightly.

"Josef, if you intend to suggest things like that then we should continue this conversation in German since Emma doesn't speak that language yet. Or better still, you can just leave. Thanks."

I wondered, yet again, just what kind of hold Coraline had over my husband that allowed her to speak to him the way she did on occasion – especially in his own home. But before I could say anything, I heard Mick's footsteps as he approached the door.

Even though Josef lowered his voice, he must have known that both Coraline and I heard every word he said to poor Mick: "Just remember who Emma belongs to."

"I'm not gonna touch your property, Josef," Mick responded coldly. "You made your point really clear last night while you were a guest in my home."

While I lowered my head and squeezed my eyes shut, in a futile attempt to stop the tears from flowing, Coraline glided silently over to the doorway and Mick murmured something to her that I didn't hear clearly. Then, even though she spoke very softly in reply, I nevertheless heard almost all of what she said to him.

"... so think in terms of yin and yang, Mick. She needs that polarity. You're right, of course, I am an elder from a noble bloodline, but she was turned by an alpha male who loves her and since her sire is currently derelict in his duties, she needs the comfort of another alpha male vampire who loves her, which narrows the field down to you! And please remember that unlike the rest of us, Emma actually is as young as she looks ... she's just a baby of twenty-five. Now, will you please do your big brother thing and comfort her? I'll be back in a few minutes."

I looked around in time to see Mick nod tersely to Coraline then she slipped gracefully past him and disappeared. Mick walked over to me and smiled.

He wiped my tears away with his thumb, and said, "Hey, we can't have the guest of honour miss her own party, can we?"

I forced a smile that I didn't feel, and said, "Didn't you just tell Josef that you weren't going to touch his property?"

"Yeah, I did. Just remember, you're his wife, and his fledgling – but not his property. Okay?"

My last reserve of strength gave way then and I fell against Mick, with my face pressed against his chest directly over his heart. He wrapped me in his arms; just a little less uncomfortable than he had been the previous night.

Abruptly, it struck me as bizarre that he had no heartbeat and I started to laugh.

I felt Mick shift a little – apparently trying to see my face – and finally he said, "Emmy, are you crying or laughing?"

I pulled away so that he could see I was laughing.

"Well, I'm glad," Mick smiled. "But what's so funny?"

I shook my head and fought to regain my composure.

"I'm sorry, mate–" I paused since I didn't know how to explain my stupidity. "Please don't be offended, but when I leaned against your chest, I felt like a kid again. My dad used to comfort me like that when I was upset and I guess I expected to hear your heart beating because that's what I remembered."

Mick smiled and said, "But Josef's almost as tall as me, so you must have had your head on his chest before ..." He let his voice trail off.

"But Mick, that's totally different. Josef is my husband and sire, not my father." Suddenly my mind went off on a tangent I hadn't considered before, about the similarity between sire and parent. I looked up into Mick's face. "I don't want to dwell on that part of the whole vampire family tree issue, do I?"

"No," Mick confirmed instantly. "Better to leave that thought unexplored for as long as possible, Emmy."

"Um, yeah ... I think you're right ... as usual," I added with a smile. "Well, I suppose I'd better change my clothes now."

"Don't bother."

"But Josef–"

"Josef will have to act his age and deal with the fact that we're close friends. And think for a moment; he already knows what you're wearing so if you change clothes it'll only draw more attention to the fact that we've been in physical contact."

I closed my eyes and muttered, "Damn it."

Mick patted my arm and said, "Don't worry so much."

I opened my eyes and met his steady gaze.

"But Mick, I've never seen Josef like this before. He refused breakfast this evening – he's had nothing but scotch to drink since we woke up."

"He's fine and he's sober. Trust me on that, Emmy. Remember, Josef and I have been friends since before your father was born."

Mick enhanced his comment with a lopsided smile.

Yeah, yeah, Mick; I get it. Everybody knows my husband better than I do! But you've never seen him when he wakes at midday and can't get back to sleep. You've never shared a freezer with him and listened to him while he talked so softly in the darkness. You've never had to try and soothe the fears Josef's too proud to admit he even has...

A fast movement caught my eye as Coraline returned and went straight to Mick.

"You might want to keep Beth company. Josef is being a bit – I don't know..."

She let her voice trail off because Mick had already left the room.

"Is everything alright downstairs?"

"Oh, sure honey. It's nothing Mick can't deal with. Now let's get you tidied up for your party." Coraline held up a small, elegantly decorated bag and said, "I brought you a few of my favourite perfumes from Paris."

I gave her a hug and she held me tightly.

When we parted, she said, "I wish you had come with me ... we would have had so much fun."

"Maybe next time."

Coraline nodded, and then said matter-of-factly: "Honey, you smell like Mick."

"I'm guessing you heard about last night?"

"Yeah. He told me all about it."

I was about to ask which 'he' Coraline was referring to, when she suggested that I wash my face and re-apply my make-up. Somehow, Coraline managed to style my hair into an elegant up-do while I made up my face. When we were both finished, I looked in the mirror and was extremely pleased with the whole effect, which was good considering that my dress had cost more than six months rent on my old apartment in Sydney.

We went downstairs together, and found Beth looking tense standing between Mick and Josef. Things were apparently bad because Beth actually looked pleased to see both of us. I went straight to Josef and he slipped his arm around my waist.

He pulled me hard against him, kissed me on the neck and said, "Well, I grew a beard while I was waiting for you – but at least it was worth it."

"Thank you, Josef."

"Champagne, everyone?" Josef tone was half order, half enquiry.

He popped the cork and poured the bubbling, pale gold liquid into five fine crystal flutes. Then he extended his hand elegantly to me and I went straight to his side, once again. He took my hand gently, and before I had time to protest, he bit into my wrist and then held my arm above his champagne flute as my blood dripped into the drink. Josef licked the blood from my healed wrist and proffered his own to me, so I bit into his arm and allowed his blood to mix with my champagne.

Behind us, I heard Coraline say: "Oh, that's so romantic. Mick, we should do that sometime just for old times' sake."

No-one said a word.

I picked up my champagne, and Coraline's, and went back to the group. Josef followed and handed drinks to Mick and Beth.

Josef raised his glass and said: "A toast to my beloved wife and precious fledgling ... on this very special night ... may this be the first rebirthday celebration of hundreds we will share over the centuries."

The tinkle of fine crystal chimed through the room as five glasses touched and four voices merged, saying: "To Emma."

The combination of Josef's blood and champagne went straight to my head. I actually swooned for a moment but Josef caught my arm and steadied me. I was a little embarrassed but everyone – Beth included – simply smiled.

By the time we'd polished off another bottle of champagne, Beth was looking just a little flushed. And I had started to think it was past time I had something more nutritious than alcohol to drink, so I excused myself and went to the kitchen for a snack. When I returned, Beth and Josef were outside in the garden and Coraline was telling Mick about Paris.

I didn't want to actually interrupt, but I gestured towards the window anyway.

"Beth's fine," Mick said quickly. "She just needed some air and Josef went to keep her company."

I nodded and turned my attention to Coraline. She was a wonderful raconteur and had Mick and me both laughing with her vivid descriptions of the snooty Parisian shopkeepers.

Abruptly, Coraline stopped talking in mid-sentence and we all turned our attention to the door where Josef and Beth had just re-entered the room. Something was terribly wrong. Beth's heart was racing and I could smell her fear. At that moment I realised that Josef was fully vamped-out and standing behind Beth with both his arms around her waist. He was holding both her wrists together with one hand.

Beth whispered, "Josef, please let go – this isn't funny."

It was abundantly clear to Mick, Coraline and me that whatever Josef intended, humour wasn't part of the plan, but we needed to keep the pretence of calm for Beth's sake, since thankfully, she wasn't in a position to see Josef's expression.

Mick made a move towards Beth, but Coraline stopped him in his tracks with the words, "No, Mick. Josef is much stronger and faster than you ... someone will get killed."

Beth started to struggle in earnest then, so Coraline said, "Beth, we all know you're scared but don't fight him. Just stay as calm as you can."

Beth immediately looked to Mick for guidance.

Mick swallowed hard and said, "Do what she says, Beth. Please. I'm not–" His voice cracked. "I'm not strong enough to ... fix this."

Abruptly, the horrible realisation that Beth's life probably depended on my ability to defuse the situation speared through my consciousness.

"Josef," I smiled and tried to keep my tone light. "What are you doing with Beth? I thought this was our special night?"

I ran one finger down my own throat in the hope of attracting his interest.

"Well, Emma, my beautiful fledgling, Beth and I were just having a fascinating conversation out in the garden. She confirmed a few of my suspicions. And you, my love ... you seem to be getting everything you need from Mick these days ... apparently he's so much of a man he can juggle three women at once ... still, I can't help but wonder if he'll be quite so smug when he has three vampires to contend with."

As Josef spoke, Beth's expression shifted from utter confusion to sheer terror, and she tried to tear away from Josef's grip, but only succeeded in making matters much worse. He laughed and scraped her neck with his fangs until he drew blood; it was only a little, but he licked her neck and she started to cry.

I smiled at my husband, and then turned my back on him to face Mick and Coraline. Behind me, I heard Beth whimper like a frightened child. I met Mick's gaze and silently mouthed the words: Do you trust me? He nodded almost imperceptibly. So I added: Whatever happens, save Beth.

My eyes changed to silver and my fangs descended. I gracefully turned to face my husband and his captive.

I pouted and said, "Can I play too? Tonight is my celebration, after all."

Josef laughed, but there was no humour in his voice.

"Emma, don't insult my intelligence."

He was right of course; it was remarkably stupid of me to imagine that I could fool my own sire. I threw a silent prayer in the general direction of God, if indeed such a deity even existed. Beth's best chance of surviving the night lay with me genuinely wanting to kill her.

If the situation hadn't been so desperate, I would have laughed at the irony.

I allowed my thoughts to focus on recent events – in particular, those of the previous night. Beth's cruel words; the way she had called Coraline a whore; the fact that she'd slapped my face. Genuine anger came to the fore then, and Josef smiled. Beth had said that I behaved like I was high and mighty because I am a vampire.

Well, we are the top of the food chain after all.

Josef was right; humans are only good for a few things. I wondered what Beth's blood would taste like; how her throat would feel beneath my fangs; and whether or not Mick would find the balls to turn her after I'd almost drained her.

Josef smiled, revealing the full magnitude of the predator within. He extended one hand gracefully towards me, inviting me to join him. As I did so, Beth looked at me and shrank back against Josef, in a pathetic and futile attempt to find either comfort or safety.

Beth cried out desperately: "Mick!"

"Mick. No," Coraline said calmly but with undeniable authority; she would always be his sire, after all.

The air was so heavy with the mingled scents of anger, terror, hatred, desperation – and love – that I was almost dizzy from the sensory overload. Add Beth's racing heartbeat into the mix and it was all strangely arousing. I took Josef's hand and he pulled me forward, until I was pressed against the terrified human who was now caught between us.

Josef forcefully angled Beth's head to expose her neck for me, and her crying was reduced to a strangled sob. But I felt no sympathy for Beth; my only interest was in my husband. So I smiled and ran my tongue across my teeth.

"I love my present, Josef – yet there's only one thing I want more than her blood right now."

I guided his hand to my breast. Beth shuddered and closed her eyes. Josef easily moved her slightly to one side so that he could lean down and devour my mouth hungrily. I was vaguely aware of the soft touch of Coraline's hand on my upper back, and then I felt Beth slowly slip from between Josef and me. With the annoying barrier gone, I slipped one arm around Josef's neck and ran my other hand down inside the front of his trousers.

I rubbed my hand against his hard cock and said, "This had better be for me, Josef Kostan, or I'll castrate you with my teeth."

He laughed. Holding me with one arm around my waist, he tore my dress from my body. I hadn't worn a bra beneath my now ruined designer dress, and my panties were nothing more than a tattered scrap of lace a second later. Then he slid his hand between my legs and dipped into my wetness with two fingers. I moaned and he kissed me hard.

Still working his fingers in a rhythm that was driving me wild, Josef broke our kiss to say: "And you had better keep this for me and me alone, Emma Kostan, because if I ever catch you with another man – especially Mick – you'll both beg me to kill you before I'm done."

I was so close to coming, my breath was ragged, but I managed to gasp, "Not interested ... in ... Mick! He ... already has ... one ... woman ... too many ... Josef ... oh my god ... oh Josef ... fuck ... Josef!"

I desperately tried to pull my husband closer, and he obliged, so I sank my fangs into his neck.

After a minute I finally thought to ask: "We are alone, right?"

Josef laughed and nodded.

I dropped to my knees in front of him, eager for the taste and feel of his cock in my mouth, but he pulled me to my feet in one effortless motion.

"Oh no! Not after what you just threatened to do to me with those teeth."

"Alright," I said, not even trying to disguise my annoyance.

I grabbed the front of Josef's silk shirt with both my hands and simply tore it off his back.

"That was my favourite shirt."

"And my dress was brand new!"

I put my arms around his neck, pulled his lips down to meet mine – and bit him. I could feel his hands against my bare skin as he quickly unzipped his trousers and freed himself of the last of his clothes. Next he pushed me backwards until I staggered under the sheer force of his momentum and I slammed against the wall. Once I was effectively pinned, he cupped my ass and pulled me upwards. I wrapped my legs around his hips and he lowered me onto his cock. I gasped and screamed his name while he pounded into me with enough force to crack the plaster.

I felt one of my ribs break beneath his hand, but he kept going. Moments later, he reached a shuddering climax and bit down hard on my neck.

Josef carried me over to the sofa and lowered me down. Then he got on his knees, grabbed my hips and pulled me towards him, apparently unconcerned about how the rest of my body fell into place. He pushed my legs apart and without prelude, locked his lips around my clit and sucked powerfully. The intense pleasure overwhelmed the slight, dull ache from my now healed rib, and I screamed and bucked my hips against his face as I came.

He relaxed for a few minutes with his head resting on my inner thigh, but suddenly he stood and grabbed my hand.

"Up!"

I did as instructed and he led me into my office. He turned me around to face my large, elegant, wooden desk and pushed me forward to lean over it. He held my hips steady and entered me smoothly, thrusting deeply in a sinuous rhythm until we were both snarling and desperate for release. He leaned over me and placed his arm in front of me, so I sank my teeth into his wrist. And as soon as my orgasm had run its course, he put his hands on my breasts, pulled me upright and sank his fangs into my neck.

***

By the early hours of the morning, similar events had been played out between us on the staircase, in the garden and finally on top of our freezer.

I was exhausted and I had never felt lonelier in my life.

"Josef?"

He regarded me without smiling.

"Make love to me ... please."

He smirked and said, "What do you call what I've been doing for the past few hours?"

I shrugged and replied bluntly: "Staking a territorial claim."

Josef smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. Then he reached out and took my hand.

"We both need sleep, Emma."

Josef opened our freezer. We both climbed in and he closed the lid. He reached out and pulled me into his embrace then stroked my hair.

"God you smell so good now," he muttered. He ran the tips of his fingers up and down my arm as it lay across his chest, and then said, "The first year is always the hardest. But I'm proud of you ... and the vampire you are becoming."

I nodded against his chest and willed myself into the frozen, dreamless oblivion that vampires call sleep.

*****