I had been watching her for some time, hiding away in the shadows and drinking in her form. Tonight was a chilly one and yet she was dressed lightly in the most scandalous of attire. Yet it suited her, it was so beautiful and garishly red, each of the carmine sequins sparkled in the moonlight. Then there were her shoes which were horrendously high making her seem taller than she truly was and like the rest of her attire they were scarlet and shiny. She tapped her heeled foot in annoyance and impatience, continuously checking a thin maroon watch she wore.

"Ugh I swear that bastard is always late!"

I grinned to myself at her light swearing, knowing full well she was capable of more than that. She cursed often like a sailor spitting into the salty briny blue like it's a spittoon. It was not at all ladylike but I would have her no other way. I stuck to the darkness, keeping my eyes on her and wondered to myself why she hadn't noticed my presence yet. Perhaps she was too enveloped in her own world to notice, which was per the norm. She could scarcely care about anything other than herself and what she deemed important.

That of course meant little old me was not so important to her, never had been but I won't say I never will be. Tonight would change all that. I had waited more patiently than she ever could for the moment to strike like an angered scorpion, filling her with a sweet poison that would have her succumbing to me. The darkness peeled apart to reveal me as I started swaying over to her, the dim lighting of the street lamps illuminating my visage. Once her phosphorous green eyes met me, she jumped a little, frightened out of her skin by my sudden appearance. My eerie laughter echoed across the empty streets and most likely chilled her to the bone.

"What on earth are you doing here of all places, you creep?!" She hissed out at me between those ever sharp teeth of hers.

"Why me? I'm just taking a midnight stroll, m'dear. The real question is what you are doing out here? You seem to be waiting for someone. Have a date then?"

"I wish! But no, it's just me and Ronald were supposed to go out to a party together. Yet again it seems he stood me up for some hedge creeper."

I giggled at the phrasing. "Oh my…and does our strutting cock always leave you for a poor pheasant?"

"Too many times to tell. I don't know why I'm surprised I'm standing here alone yet again. Yet again my night is ruined."

"It's a cold night, yeah? You should go someplace warm before you freeze your catsticks off."

"Catsticks?!" She growled out at me, tossing her long cherry tresses behind her. "How dare you call me thin when you are no more than a twig yourself!"

I couldn't help the laughter that bubbled out of my mouth. "Yes indeed I am a skinny bloke but I have reason to be, living the way I do with not but a crust to eat given how little I get paid."

"That's your own fault for always asking for special payment instead of taking cold, hard cash. You've got no one to blame but yourself for your lifestyle. Regardless I'm not that lean. Hmph. The nerve of you to insult me like that! I should use my trusty death scythe to cut you to ribbons!"

"Ah I meant nothing by it. You know me, can't help myself but to make a jest. Truly your legs are quite lovely, as hairless as a fly rink and most likely as soft as silk."

That got her revved and running just like her trusted chainsaw she usually always has on her person. A mild blush appeared on her cheeks, a reassuring sign that my wooing was doing something. I was not yet done though; I would have her bending to the very sound of my voice the way she does to that so called butler she always fawns over. Truly he was not a good match for the lass, handsome of course but not exactly what you would call the truly romantic type. He was a philanderer, nabbing women's hearts and burrowing into them like a worm does a dead body only to leave them there miserably yearning for him. It would not do for my scarlet sweetheart to be with that type of man.

Then there was her other choice, the superior of the reaping world known as William T. Spears. He was too much of a stick in the mud, a lover of only one thing and that was the cut and dry rules he always followed. A hum drum bibliophile with no emotion in his heart and needlessly cruel and cantankerous too. He could never feel anything for her other than contempt and resentment, and I've seen how he treats the beautiful countenance she has.

Often he steps on her visage, marring it most violently and treated her with disdain and disregarded all her obvious advances. It was beyond me how any man could ignore her; such a stunning beauty was she and a rare one too. A rubied rose such as she was deserved to be cherished, worshipped, and lavished with undying affection. I would give her that and then some, fully intending on having this flower blooming, spreading its petals widely to receive my water drenching her. Funny though, I live in such a dark damp place, I do wonder how she will blossom there.

"Wha-what did you say?"

"I believe I said something to the effect of a compliment to you about your long luscious legs. However that isn't the only thing on you that is nice to look at, is it my bricky beauty? Take for instance this hair of yours," I cooed, slowly taking said hair in my hands, twirling the now curled ends and running my fingers through the base of it. "Only a bellibone such as yourself could have such stunning locks. This coloration of it is most exceptional, like the color of fresh blood."

I briefly, when she wasn't paying attention, took the hair to my face and sniffed it deeply. It smelled of heavy perfumes that were flowery in essence and a slight fruity undertone. Just perfect for her.

"You old codger…the things you are saying…" She hummed with a deeper blush, biting her lip. How I yearned to be the one catching her lower lip with my own teeth. I also desired for her to set those razor blades she calls teeth on me. Scar up my already scarred body. She put a slightly pointed and painted wine colored nail to her chin and tapped it there. "Who knew someone like you could say such things?"

"I am indeed a dew beater but even one who has lived as long as I have can appreciate something beautiful when I see it. You are a work of art no even that description isn't enough. You are a gorgeous goddess, like Venus or Aphrodite."

"Goddess? Moi? Now I know you are just playing with me. No one ever calls me a woman and means it…they usually say it in a mocking tone all around work. Don't tell me I have to expect such treatment from you too now?"

"Do I sound like I'm mocking you?" I asked her sincerely in a sweet soft whisper right against her ear. She seemed to shiver and I'd like to say that it was because of me and not the cold. "Now why on earth would I do that? I mean every word I say. Poor dear…always teased and belittled by so many. How could you think someone who jokes around so often is serious? How can I prove to you that what I say is sincere, Grell?"

She swallowed nervously and started to shake a little more. Blushing deeper now and shying away from me. I chuckled into her ear.

"What's all this now? You've gone quiet and just look at you. I've never seen you shy before, lovie. I feel proud to have accomplished that all by my humble self, to see this secret side of you no one else gets to see."

"Hush…I'm not shy it's just…well to be completely honest with you it's not often I hear people singing praises about my looks….if at all."

"That I know all too well. I've seen how William and Sebastian treat you, always stamping their heels into your attractive face and bashing about your curvaceous body. Sebastian always goes on about how much of a gentleman he is, right to the core is it? I believe just like any demon he spouts dishonesties, cajoling his prey until they are trapped and he devours their precious souls. After all what kind of gentleman harms a lady as beautiful as you?"

"It's fine…I like when he hurts me…it doesn't bother me at all," She spoke to me, twirling the beads for her glasses in her fingers.

"Don't you go about lying like that. I know you like pain in some regard but not to that degree. No rather you just want someone to play roughly with you in the bedroom, am I correct?"

"Oh yes! I want so badly for someone to take me in their arms and to ravage me throughout the night!"

I laughed lightly. "So passionate you are. No man could hope to match you…no mortal man anyways but you aren't after mere humans, are you?"

"Blech! Humans aren't any fun to be with anyhow. I've sampled a few and they never can never keep up! Either they complain too much or they are…frightened of me. Sigh. Alas, it seems I'm destined to be alone."

"Don't be so certain of that, my pet. I have a recommendation for you and we'll see if you try it. It is nippy out here as I said, how about we go back to my place and warm up over a nice cup of tea? I'll even throw in some biscuits to go with it."

"Hmm…just tea though? That sounds like a rather boring way to spend my time especially with a man."

I snickered then placed my lips closer to her cheek, giving it a light peck. "Oh I never said just tea, my dearest. I have much more fun ways of warming up that splendiferous body of yours."

"Such as?" She asked, turning her head towards me and batting her eyes, now obviously flirting with me. I had never had the pleasure of being the target of her flirtation more than once. I reveled in the fact that I was able to do so without showing her my full face and hearing my normal voice and not this one I donned.

"For starters…this," I explained, closing the space between us with a kiss. She made a muffled exclamation into my mouth at first but then melted into the kiss. I brought her face closer to mine, grasping her and passionately kissing her, full of all the love I had saved up for her over the time I had watched and known her. She reciprocated and forced her tongue into my mouth, I was too glad to join mine into the dance. My hands went from her face to her hips, bringing her as close to me as possible. She broke away from my mouth to look at me with a flustered but serious expression.

"Forget the damned tea! I want you…right now!"

"You have no idea how long I've waited to hear you say that," I admitted fully, then scooped her up in my arms. I made my way over to my shop where I made sure the closed sign was up and the door was locked. I looked all over the place to see where I could put her but there was nowhere that was comfortable enough for a lady such as she. I sat her down in my chair and told her to wait while I got some blankets and pillows to at least spread out on the floor but she barred me from going anywhere, standing in my way and then leaping onto me, covering my face and mouth with kisses.

"No you mustn't leave me in this state! I need you to just take me here as I am."

"But my dear you shan't be comfy on the floor or desk. I don't want your first time with me to be like that."

"I don't care! Just take me now!" She hotly demanded, starting to remove her glimmering dress until she was almost naked before me. She was trying to remove my clothes too, frustrated by the multitude of buttons I had on my coat. My long grey scarf found its way onto the floor as did my signature hat, she was giving it her all to undress me.

"My but you're in a rush. Have a little patience, sweetie."

"I can't…! Don't you see how flushed I am? How heavy my breathing is? Can't you tell how badly I want you?"

"Such a wanton woman…you're making it quite hard for me not to just mercilessly maul you."

"Oh please yes! Give me that sweet release! That divine kind of death only an undertaker such as yourself could give me!"

"Alright then…since you want it so badly, I suppose I can't make you wait any longer. Take your position and I'll take you. It doesn't matter where."

She began to do as I did when I first came into my abode and looked around herself before settling on the table that held a few odds and ends like a skull and my ink pot and quill. She knocked the ink pot over causing black ink to drip onto the floor but I didn't care. She began to wiggle out of her racy red panties, still keeping those high heels on, then bent herself over on my desk, moving her voluptuous bottom around most enticingly. I licked my dry lips at her naughty display. I was usually a patient man but I was so riled up by her that I could no longer help myself. I disrobed quickly and entered her causing a glorious cry that delighted me.

"Ahh what a sound to make! Would you be so kind as to keep making them? Oh and do be a dear and say my name, won't you?"

"Un…Undertaker!"

"No my dear, not that name…my true name," I huskily murmured into her ear, letting her and her alone know my real name. Even now there were people who didn't know it that had known me for eons but I trusted her with this secret and with it my heart. She screamed it out loud for me as I thrusted causing me to grunt back her name. We made hot passionate love through the night, our cries reaching the barren streets of London.

I gave it to her just the way she liked it, very rough but also incredibly loving too. There were even times where she said she couldn't keep up or couldn't take it but I kept going anyways. Once it was done and we were spent we both collapsed onto the floor in a pile of clothing and panted heavily, drenched in sweat. She fell asleep in my arms, curled right against my chest, sleeping peacefully like the angel I saw her as.

I never knew such sound sleep was possible for me, given my frightening past that I won't divulge into, but for the first time in a long time I was able to rest like well…like the dead. I usually toss and turn, wake up too early, and have various nightmares. My eyes held dark circles around them and yet I operated at full capacity when it came to my job, firing on all cylinders. In actuality I was running on fumes but tonight I went into a deep slumber, dreaming of her and all the wonders she would provide me in my once lonely life. Once I opened my peepers, I smiled to myself and looked to the side, only to have that smile vanish completely. She wasn't there. I should have known better than to trust her and let her not only into my home but into my heart as well.

I should have known that she would leave come morning light. She used me just as she uses the other men she sleeps around with. Coquettish strawberry tart. Am I really that much of a joke to her? Should have known she would break my heart, it's all she seems good at doing is breaking things. Why did I bother romancing her? I knew it would turn out like this, with me empty inside and her gallivanting off into the sunset, looking for some other prey to sink her teeth into. She was no better than the demon she lusts after. I'm truly a fool for thinking she could love me back. That spiteful, ungrateful, ill tempered, cynical, untrustworthy, garrulous, maddening-

"Good morning, darling," I heard from off to the side and out of my peripheral. I turned my head around to see her draped in rosy hues, a thin satin robe covering her thinner yet curvy frame and yet it hid nothing from view. Underneath that she wore her carmine undergarment and that was all, her feet bare and crossing the cold flooring of my domain. In her hand was a cup of something steaming, more than likely tea given where we lived and that I knew she didn't much care for coffee. "I'm afraid my time as a butler didn't serve me too well but I made the best tea I could manage for us both."

She bent to me and handed me a cup of tea, causing me to sit up and take it. My mouth was agape and my heart was dancing. All I could think was, "My Grell my Grell you stayed you stayed." It resounded and rebounded around in my head for a long time and so I wasn't able to speak. She pecked me on the cheek then sat down next to me, her own cup in hand. She then leaned up against me, leaning her full body weight on me, head on my shoulder. I shakily raised my hand and brought it around her shoulder, snuggling us close together.

"I'm not that great with big words but last night was stupendous, truly remarkable. I had never received such pleasure before and felt such ferocity. You're an incredible lover."

"Is that why you stayed?"

"It's part of the reason but another part is because I remembered all the nice things you said to me, about how beautiful I am, about how sweet I sound, about everything. No man has ever tried to court me and much less with the grace you do. I thought I would take a shot at being yours, what harm could it bring me?"

"You…being mine…yes I do so like the sound of that."

We stayed there together just staring out into the distance, watching the sun rise over the sleepy town of London. We shared a gentle kiss and then looked into each other's eyes. I set down the now empty tea cup on the floor then proceeded to make love to her again only a few minutes after. I had secured my love, the one who I will spend eternity with. I would no longer be lonely anymore. It is impossible to be in the darkness when one has such a flame.