Chapter 4: Kiss and Control

Ok, I'll admit it. He'd broken the barrier a little bit. Alright, more than a little bit. But once again my practical (ugh…cynical) brain wouldn't just let things be.

So we'd had a conversation. So what. That didn't mean anything. I couldn't let him get into my head. For all I know, all of this was planned the moment he met me. He was bored with Hollywood – I was anti-Hollywood; who could ask for a better diversion. A diversion that could eventually be consumed once she got boring…

It made sense anyways, far more than the opposite explanation. No, as far as I was concerned he was laying down the trap and I wasn't going to walk into it blindly. I just had to mind my own business and it would all go away. Did I mention I live in a fantasy world?

Ben was completely useless when it came to asking for help. He thought all this was brilliant; I was being courted by a mysterious vampire; it was so romantic, blah, blah, blah. I couldn't talk any sense into him. He was more interested in being updated as soon as something new happened than in what that something new might be. He still insisted that I was in no danger. I had to hang up the phone when he started talking makeovers.

Luckily, Jane had her feet on the ground. She thought it was a smart idea to keep my wits about me and not let this go any farther than I could control. Still, it seemed as though she was settled too far on the other side of the spectrum. She wanted me to start staying in every night I could and take someone with me (preferably someone in very good shape) whenever I had to go out after dark. I spent the rest of that conversation trying to convince her that everything was going to be ok.

So here I was caught in the middle; torn between the romantic and the uber-realist. Not that it really mattered; another two weeks had passed with no Lestat in sight. This was probably for the best, though; my mind remained closer to the reality of things. It was getting tiring, wondering whether he was going to show up again at random. Still, it kept my attitude towards him irritated, which I knew was a good thing. At this rate there was no way he'd ever catch me with my guard down, or so I hoped.

Another week went by; I was returning to a state where I didn't feel like looking back over my shoulder every other minute on my walks home. Sadly, my state of mind wasn't meant to regain its natural calm. At least I wasn't alone this time. It was Friday night and Jane and I were celebrating the completion of her latest project. Her client was more than pleased with the results so she'd received a special bonus; which we were now draining down our throats in one of the fancier bars downtown. I even sprang for a nicer shirt and slacks, which made her laugh when the cab stopped in front of my apartment.

"One word out of you and I'm going right back upstairs to change." I quipped with a threatening gesture.

"No! I never get to see you like this!" She calmed down immediately and pulled me into the cab, "You look wonderful!"

"Right, whatever." I had to keep up appearances, but I was glad to see her happy. She'd been so stressed lately between her work and my problems. I pretended not to see her stifling the continued laughter behind her hand. But then I couldn't resist; I punched her in the shoulder.

"Alright, alright," she said between the laughs she was no longer attempting to hide, "It's just strange seeing you like this, and you have the most uncomfortable look on your face. One would think you were being tortured!"

"Well maybe I am!" I had to laugh too…

We'd found a booth near the back where we could just enjoy the ambiance and the music without drowning in it. Jane was in the middle of telling me about another exasperating meeting with the "incompetents" (the two managers who outranked her) when she suddenly stiffened, her eyes widening as her mouth closed mid-sentence. I made to ask her what was wrong, but I wasn't given a chance. A voice beside me eloquently drawled, "May I join you ladies?"

Of course it was him. It was always him. I should have known. Why did he always feel the need to sneak up on me? Damn vampires…

He sat down next to me before either of us had a chance to answer. I guess the question had been rhetorical. I shifted my body as far towards the wall as I possibly could, maximizing the distance between us. Thankfully, he actually respected my personal space and didn't follow.

After a more than awkward introduction, Lestat eased into a conversation with Jane, ignoring me completely. Not that I cared, it's just that Jane was visibly uncomfortable – she kept looking at me like she expected me to take control of the situation and get him the hell away from us. I just looked back helplessly, trying to comfort her with my eyes. Finally a pause from both gave me a chance to cut in, "Lestat, that's enough."

He turned to me, the look on his face edging on surprise and returning to his characteristic cold mask just as quickly. His eyes moved down, and I remembered that the shirt I was wearing was a little low cut. He smiled his toothy smile and said, "I'm sorry, are we jealous at the lack of attention?"

It was like dealing with a middle-schooler who hadn't yet figured out the basics of normal social discourse. "That's not what I meant and you know it – and I'm up here thank you very much!"

He sighed, which was a strange sight indeed. Somewhere in my subconscious I felt more than just an indication that he was giving up this particular game; there was a sort of underlying weariness…

Jane was inching towards the outside edge of her seat giving me a "we're getting the out of here now" look. That was my cue. "Well, it's getting late – we should be going, I'm sure you have more important matters to attend to anyways". Not as biting as it could have been, but that sigh had pulled me away from my senses momentarily.

"Certainly you're not thinking of walking this time?" He was back, god dammit.

Jane was no longer speaking, it was up to me. "Of course not, we're taking a cab."

I should have kept my mouth shut.

"Would you mind sharing it with me, I'm afraid I'm a little out of my element in this part of town."

Of course he would be. We all knew that was bullshit. "I sure a man such as yourself can handle it; we're probably not even going in your direction." Why couldn't I be more forceful? I should have just flat out said no.

"Of course I can, but as we discussed before," he winked at me; I blushed madly, "A gentleman never allows ladies such as yourselves to go off on their own into the mad night."

"Right."

Jane was horrified. Thinking on my feet was definitely not my forte, so I just started walking towards the exit. A cab was already waiting by the curb; Jane was in the door like a flash and madly waving for me to follow. I would have, except that voice behind me wondered out loud whether my answer had been a yes or a no.

Don't ask me how; I blame my inability to be outright mean – even when it's for my own good. I ended up squashed between Jane and Lestat in the back of the cab. I was stiff as a board; nothing was getting me to look in his direction. At least Jane was still thinking clearly, she told the cabbie to drop me off first. Or maybe she just wanted to get away from Lestat as quickly as possible. When it comes to survival, we all consider ourselves first. But before I exited the cab she grabbed my arm and frantically whispered in my ear, "Call me in 20 minutes or I'm calling the police". I did my best to reassure her quietly and turned towards the door.

Lestat was waiting, hand outstretched, to help me out of the cab. I didn't take it. But still he stood there, nonplussed. Jane gave the cabbie the next address and took off down the street, leaving me alone with the last person I wanted to be left alone with. Well, at least now we knew who was the braver one in this friendship. I turned straight for the stairs, only to be stopped yet again.

"I hope I didn't ruin your evening."

Nowthat I wasn't expecting; he had to be messing with me.

"Of course not, we were about finished when you arrived anyways. Good night."

"Always so quick to leave…" his voice oozed charm and bad intentions.

"Good night, Lestat" I said with a tone of finality, and closed the door behind me. I entered my own door, locked it behind me, and started flicking on lights in the kitchen. My apartment was set up such that the kitchen was the first room you entered, a sort of den opening up in front of it with a large bay window facing the street; my bedroom door was off to the left. My den consisted of a large couch and coffee table – both facing the window. My stereo was set up along the right wall. As usual my coffee table was strewn with papers, books, notebooks, and my open laptop. Some people have actual offices, I have my coffee table. I switched on the lamp next to the couch and just about fainted. Lestat was leaning against my window pane poring over my latest short story – which should have been sitting on my now bare laptop.

"How did you get in here…you can't be in here…I…I…never invited you!"

He grinned wickedly as he had the first time we met. "Oh, I suppose I forgot to mention that that rule is just a myth…must have slipped my mind."

Now what was I going to do. The words "shit, shit, shit" flowed through my mind like ticker tape. But the fact that my story was in his hands quickly drew me back to reality. "Put that down! You have no right to read my private work!"

"You know, it's not half bad, have you thought of publishing it?"

"Don't be ridiculous, it's private, as in my eyes only. Put it back right now!" I was getting a little hysterical. When it came to my fiction I was overly protective, it was just for my pleasure, it would never leave this room – I was too self-conscious.

"No," his cat-like grin was getting larger, if that was even possible, "I think I'll take it to a publisher myself."

"Don't you dare! Give them to me, now!" My instincts had taken over; I was running at him trying to grab the packet of papers. But he was too tall for me; he easily held them out of my reach. "This isn't funny!" I screamed, desperately trying to reach my precious work.

"You're the one being ridiculous; this is good and I'm going to get it published!" He was enjoying this far too much. I did the first thing that came into my head – I punched him in the stomach as hard as I could. I must have surprised him, because he actually flinched and let the arm holding my work drop. I grabbed it and ran behind the couch.

"I must say, you are anything but predictable, dear Evie." His grin was back. I tried to put more space between us, but he bridged it in a few simple steps. Clutching my work behind my back I found myself rounding the couch back towards the coffee table. I shoved the story under my laptop – like that was going to stop him, but give me a break, I was freaking out at this point. But he had forgotten all about the work. He had me backed into the wall before I had time to register what was happening. All I could do was stand there like a deer in headlights, I felt completely paralyzed. He was so close; I could feel the coldness of his body contrasting with my natural (living) warmth. He looked down at me, "You aren't frightened, are you Evie?"

"No…" I managed to gasp.

"Your heart is beating so fast…I believe it speaks otherwise."

"That's enough, Lestat, stop." I made to push him away, but he instantly had my wrists above my head. I was stuck. This was it. His eyes were boring into me; I couldn't read them at all. He moved even closer, pressing his body against mine. I squeaked and fought against his iron grip. The he did the last thing I ever would have expected. He kissed me. Hard at first; his lips crushed against mind. My fighting instinct awakened and I continued to struggle. But then his kiss turned soft…I was melting, unwillingly. He caressed my tongue with his and pressed himself harder against me. That woke me up. But before I could resume my struggling he had disappeared. I let myself slip down to the floor, confused, humiliated, angry, breathless. I didn't know what to feel. I managed to stand again, looking around warily to make sure he was truly gone. Then I collapsed on the couch, all the stress of the evening bearing down on me. I was asleep in an instant.

Unfortunately, through all the scuffle and terror, I hadn't noticed the disappearance of another story that had been laying there with the rest only moments ago…