Journeys – He Makes Amends – Chapter 3
Henry was grinning as he flopped on his back and pulled Vicki over him and she looked at his silly smile saying, "What's so funny?"
He reached up and made sure he captured both her hands before he spoke, "You. Me. Us. We're good together." She tried to pull her hands free as he said, "I'm not letting your hands go and don't even think of pulling your knee up. Relax."
She eyed him suspiciously but held still, "If I promise not to hit you, will you let go of my hands?"
Laughing out loud he said, "No."
Vicki started laughing too, "Okay. I'll behave as long as you start talking."
Henry opened his hand and Vicki pulled back both of hers, thought briefly of giving him a poke but decided it was a bad idea.
Henry could smell and feel her moods change. He rubbed his other hand up and down her back as her cheek rested over his heart. "I'm happy, Vicki. For the first time in years, I'm truly, honestly, happy."
"Because of a little sex?"
Henry sat up, "Some times I could give you a punch. You damn well know what I mean!"
Vicki pulled herself up beside him and leaned back against the headboard, "I have commitment issues."
"I thought we got past that?"
Vicki put the pillow behind her , "They're going to keep coming back until I get it all worked out in my head. In case you haven't noticed, I look almost ten years older than you. I've spent most of my life running away from anyone that uses the "L" word."
"You look beautiful to me and you're not going to run this time. I love you." He smiled and nibbled on her ear, "Repeat after me 'I love you'."
Vicki smiled, "You don't hear what you don't want to hear, do you?"
He mentally back tracked over her sentence before answering, "Nope. Now say the "L" word."
She closed her eyes and mumbled, "I love Henry."
"Louder!"
"I LOVE HENRY FITZROY!"
"There, that didn't kill you!"
She crossed her arms under her breasts, "Could have."
"But it didn't." He kissed her and added, "I have to go for a few hours. I'll be back before sunrise. By the way, am I in the closet again?"
"Either that, or under the bed. Your choice."
"I'll take under the bed. At least I'll be flat."
"Why can't I come with you?"
He turned his face away saying, "I left some personal things unfinished when I walked away."
Vicki put her hand on his chin and turned his head back so that he faced her, "I don't like the answer."
"Let me take care of tonight's business alone, and I'll let you help with the rest."
She held out her hand and said, "Deal."
He took it in both of his, "I know you Nelson, give me your word you won't follow me tonight."
Vicki placed her other hand on top of his, "I won't. If you must know, the night blindness is getting worse."
He let go of her hands, stood up and hunted for his clothes. He didn't dare give her the sympathy he felt and the shadows hid his pity from her sight while he dressed.
"I'm going out to meet the vampire that owns this territory now. I have to get permission to stay for an extended period of time and hunt. I don't need to have her on my back while finish up the my business."
Vicki had gotten out of bed and was standing close to him as she asked, "It's not Christina, is it?"
Henry kissed her cheek, "Not Christina, and I've never had a relationship with this vampire. It's purely territorial issues and with a great deal of tact on my part, there shouldn't be any problems for us from Renelle."
"I could sit in your car as back up."
He picked her up and threw her back onto the bed. Laughing, he landed on top of her, "You're staying here and I'm coming back."
"Be quick Henry, I want some more quality time with you before sunrise."
Henry was at the door in a heartbeat and called out, "So do I."
Vicki got up long enough to find the pillow Henry had used during the day. She returned to bed, pulled up the covers and hugged the pillow that smelled of Henry close to her nose and whispered, "I love a 500 year old vampire that looks like he's 23 and I'm thinking about letting him turn me vampire. Am I nuts or what?"She pounded on the pillow a few times then breathed deeply remembering his kisses and the feel of them making love. "I'm not nuts and I never wanted normal in the first place. He fills my empty places. He lets me be myself and all he asks is that I accept him for what he is."Out loud she said, "I'm going to make this work!"
Henry used his cell and placed a call and said, "Queen's Park in 15 minutes."
He reached the park first and looked around thinking about previous encounters, the feedings and sharing sex with strangers. It had been a good life but it had changed. With change, comes new opportunities and losses. He had left before closing all the doors to his past life and he planned on doing that now, but he needed another's permission to be in this town.
He wasn't sure if he smelled her or heard her first, but his body tensed and as he prepared himself for the encounter with one of his kind.
She stepped out of the darkness and Henry felt an uncomfortable hardness.
The almost six foot goddess stood smiling, allowing her fangs to be seen and her green eyes flash in both warning and welcome, "So you're the famous Henry Fitzroy."
"I'm not so sure about the famous part but yes, I'm Henry Fitzroy, and you're much more than I expected."
She threw back her head and gave a smoky laugh, "Renelle at your service. Most men and some women say that about me." She was tall with flowing auburn tresses, cleavage that made men weep, a tiny waist that made women weep, gently curving hips and legs a mile long. She wore a scoop neck hunter green tee and tight black slacks.
Henry shifted from foot to foot trying to ease the pressure in his groin, "You don't have to vamp your prey. They must come begging for you to take a bite. Impressive."
She studied his crotch, "I'd say you're impressive too."
He let his vampire show and with one of his most charming grins said, "I have my moments. I didn't think you liked me from what I heard from Augustus."
She walked over to a near by bench sat down and crossed her long legs and patted a place beside her, "Truce. Sit and let's talk it out." Henry sat and had to stand again pulling at his jeans to make more room for his attributes. "Henry, you haven't always left a good impression behind after you've left a place and you did kill the vampire that made me."
Henry nodded in agreement to her words, "Different centuries, different times. I'll admit I've had some problems blending in, but I believe your parent attacked me first. I try to avoid our kind if possible."
Renelle smiled and said, "He needed killing, so thank you for eliminating a problem." He gave a shrug as she continued speaking, "I've got it made here. Being a stripper explains working nights and sleeping days, plus food is in good supply and easy to get. You're right when you say men fall at my feet and I'm very careful no one dies."
Henry smirked thinking about the male half of the population, "That sounds like a good life. I'm here to get my mate, say farewell to one or two friends and there's mess the demon left behind that needs cleaning up."
Renelle reached out and fingered the tips of Henry's hair, "I could spend an hour or two checking if we could overcome the territorial issues." Henry held himself rigid as she touched him. It would be bad form to start a fight. She pulled her hand away, "No, I think not. I sense that you have a real commitment to someone. You won't violate it for sex. That's good. I can respect that." She stood up and pointed, "Hunt in the southwest portion of town and tell me when you're leaving. I'd like to meet your mate before you go."
Henry stood first and held out his hand to her, an echo of a different times and more formal manners. She smiled and took his hand as she gracefully stood beside him. Almost a head taller she leaned forward and down as she bit the side of his neck while he lifted her wrist to his mouth and broke the skin. They took a single taste of each other and repeated ancient words, "A truce acknowledged by the willing giving and taking of blood will not be broken."
They turned their backs on one another feeling safe. Renelle knew from now on she could rely on Henry if there was a need, and Henry knew he didn't have to worry about the vampire of Toronto as he closed too many open doors.
Henry wandered around the city checking to see that the ones he needed to talk with were still living in the same places. He looked at his old feeding grounds and came to terms with the knowledge they weren't his anymore.
Henry slipped back into Vicki's house an hour before dawn, he's quiet movements through the rooms not waking her. He studied her while she laid on her side hugging a pillow to her breasts. He noticed it was the one he had used for his head when he spent the day in her closet and he got undressed quickly and pulling the pillow out. Still asleep, she tried to reach for it and ended up with her arms full of Henry. She rubbed her nose along his bare chest snuggling closer and said, "You're back. How did it go?"
He kissed her forehead. "I'm back and the meeting went better than I hoped. You'll like Renelle."
Vicki woke the rest of the way, lifted the covers and said, "I'm thinking I need to do an equipment check before you crawl under the bed with the dust bunnies."
Henry laughed with his unpredictable woman, "I'm sure a few adjustments are needed."