Title: Angel's Kisses

Category: Book – Morganville Vampires

Character: Michael x Claire

Disclaimer: I'm not the brilliant mastermind of these characters.

Yikes! I forgot the disclaimer on the first chapter. This is the second chapter of the story. ShanexClaire's fans don't torch me! (Begging)

Chapter 2: Useless

"Upstairs," Michael said softly, bringing her up into his room. He was suddenly exhausted. Brandon had just showed up, wanting Claire. He would probably got Claire and Eve if it weren't for Shane.

"You are a ghost." Claire stated, "Not a vampire?" she asked in confirmation. She was in shock not because she found out about Michael but Brandon, the vampire that had targeted her. She shivered at the thought.

"I eat Shane's garlic chilli. Does that sound like a vampire?" He stated.

"You are not human," she stated again.

"Technically, I still am," Michael said, "I died but somehow I was able to come back at sundown and faded at sunrise, and my moving space is just within this house."

"What happened?" she asked.

"I was a musician, and I was playing in the bar and I got home after that. Someone followed me home and offered a proposition," Michael recalled the night he died, "It wasn't till I let him in that I realised he was," he faltered.

"A vampire?" she asked receiving a nod, "and he bit you," Another nod, "How come?"

He understood her question, "He didn't intent to kill me,"

She gasped, "He was trying to make you?"

"Yes," Michael said, "But he failed and he left me for death. I soon find that I could still come back and disappeared at sunrise as you saw. I was trapped here. I can't leave this house. I'm useless."

Her eyes were filled with compassion for him and wrapped her arms around his waist, "No, Michael, you're not useless. And this is not your fault. Don't ever think that. You have no idea how many times you helped us. I would have been killed if you hadn't let me stay, even if it is temporary. I'm almost clueless about this town. Shane and Eve are great friends but they are rash and hot headed. You have always been the calm and collected one among us. If it weren't for you we'd probably rushed out screaming food to the vampires." She let out a small laugh at the last part, thinking how true it is.

Michael turned and saw the truth and sincerity in her eyes. She was strong and yet vulnerable. When she had moved in, she has been a part of his family, not just friends sharing a house like Shane and Eve. She became close to his heart and he longed for this attachment. Something the other two couldn't give.

"It can't be helped. Vampires are quite persuasive. Just don't go looking into their eyes." Michael said with a sigh as he wrapped his hand around her and leaned into the comfort she offered.

It wasn't that he hadn't touched the others before, but having Claire to know and accept what he is, is a different feeling all together. He didn't expect such quiet acceptance from a person he knew in a matter of days, much less from a child. It felt good to have someone to depend on and he was getting tired, tired of being lonely, tired of keeping secrets, tired of being afraid.

She scrunched up her nose and said, "Well, you are persuasive too. You sure you're not one of them?" she asked teasingly.

Michael laughed, "I could be, but I don't crave you know what," he said as he looked into her eyes suddenly caught in their close proximity and leaned in to touch their lips together.

Claire was shocked when he touched her but it was a good kind of shock. His lips were soft and warm and it amazed her how his lips could send tingles from her lips down to her toes and filled every part of her soul. He moved his lips in a gentle caress and she closed her eyes in respond. Just as she melted into it, he parted from her. By instinct, she leaned in and kissed him again, moving her lips the way she feel him moved against hers. His right arm reached up to caress her hair and gently brushed her neck and cupped the back of her neck to him. She gasped and he slipped his tongue into her mouth and deepened the kiss. She couldn't think clearly anymore. At that moment, he and his kisses was all that mattered to her. Regrettably, they needed air and parted. Michael rested his forehead on hers, taking slow steady breaths.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have-," Michael said as he got back to his senses, but he stopped short when he saw the hurt in her feature. "Claire," he started again but she fought out of his grip and stomped past him. "Claire," he caught her wrist, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way,"

"What way?" Claire bit back, "That I'm a child?"

He turned her and caught her by her shoulders, he sighed, "You are sixteen, but that is not why I apologised," he said and she calmed a little, "I didn't want to take advantage of you and I don't want you to feel that I did and what I did was selfish,"

Claire sighed, "Michael, if there is anyone that I can trust with everything I have, it's you and it's okay, really," The truth is it's not really okay. That was her first kiss and it was wow and ouch! She turned and exited his room.

"And Claire?" he called out. It somehow hurt, watching her leave. She paused at the door but did not looking back, "Brandon is still a young vamp," he said, clearing his throat, "so he wouldn't be able to go into the sun. Come back before dark and stay in, okay?"

"Okay," she said softly as she walked out and into her room.