Chapter 9 – Nights In White Satin

It was just after midnight in Collinwood when Elizabeth was roused from a deep sleep by a soft creaking sound.
She sat up, blinking sleepily as she looked around for what had awoken her. Her eyes widened slightly when she saw the wall panel at the other end of the room slide inwards, revealing a passage just big enough to walk through.
A moment later Barnabas slowly walked out of the dark shadows lining the passageway. He looked paler than usual and his eyes were almost black. Clearly he hadn't fed for a while.
"Barnabas…" she softly, starting to feel a bit more alert. "You shouldn't be here. Its dangerous…" she pointed out. They had been so careful not to cross the line… not to go too far. And they had an unspoken agreement that neither would come to the other's room, particularly after dark,
"I am terribly sorry Elizabeth…" he said. "I would not have awoken you if I did not fear I would do something dire if I did not. I do not wish to lose control…" he said in a rather hoarse voice. Looking closely at him she could see the slight tremble of his body as he thought to hold himself in check.

Elizabeth slowly nodded and he walked quickly around the bed. She couldn't help tensing slightly as he sat on the bed next to her. He went as if to go for her neck but she held out her wrist. She didn't quite trust him with her neck in his current state.
He took her wrist and leaned down to brush his lips against it. She closed her eyes, bracing herself for the sting of pain as his fangs pierced her skin. When it came it was more gentle than she'd expected. She slowly relaxed, giving into the almost pleasant sensation.
Just as she was starting feel slightly lightheaded his fangs withdrew. She felt his tongue on her skin as he licked the blood that had trickled down her wrist. It sent a slight shudder down her spine.
Barnabas's dark eyes met hers as he slowly raised his head from her wrist. There was a different hunger in his gaze now. A look that was not vampire but simply male.
Barnabas's fingers closed around her wrist, pulling her toward him. His lips met hers and she could take the coppery tang of her own blood on his mouth. She felt one of his hands slide into her mussed blonde curls as he kissed her more deeply.

His skin was cool to the touch but his lips were warm and soft. She heard a muffled sigh escape her own lips as he pushed her gently down on the bed, his body above hers.

Elizabeth felt him on top of her and realized his body was already reacting to her. The knowledge wrecked havoc with her already shaky self control. She knew she should pull away and stop this before it went any further but she couldn't seem to do it. She wanted him too much.
She found her hands sliding up to the collar of his shirt, tugging it undone so she could start to undo the rest of it. He made no move to resist as her fingers slid down his chest, undoing his buttons then sliding his shirt of his shoulders.

His hands slid up to her chest, gently caressing it through the thin silk of her nightdress and drawing a low soft moan from her.

He broke the kiss so she could take a breath and she could see his eyes were almost black. They usually only looked like that when he was desperately thirsty. It scared and excited her at the same time. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest.
"Elizabeth…" he said, voice husky and night dark. "Tell me to stop. Tell me not to do this. Tell me to leave this room right now…" he said, sounding like a man putting everything he had into holding himself in check.
She looked at him for several moments, trying to say the words but they wouldn't come. His eyes widened slightly as she leaned towards him and pressed her lips to his.
His hands moved to her legs as he kissed her back, sliding up them and pushing up the silky fabric of her nightgown. She felt the cool air against her skin, felt his fingers brush her legs as he fumbled with the front of his pants.
None of the reasons they shouldn't do this… the reasons they had taken care not to do this… seemed important anymore. All she could think of was the feverish desire that had both of them in its grip.
A soft groan left her lips as he slid the nightgown so it was bunched up at her hips and pressed his body firmly against hers. She felt him shudder slightly as her fingers traced the line of his bare back.

Then he was pushing himself inside her and she heard moans and soft gasps from both their lips. It felt so delicious… so sinful the way their bodies fit together.
Elizabeth looked up at him. His eyes were black as coal, reminding her forciably that he wasn't human. She knew he could snap her like a twig if he lost control completely but she trusted him not to.
Her back arched and a low soft groan escaped her as he started to move inside her. Long slow, even strokes that sent small shudders of pleasure through her body. Her head fell back, blonde curls fanning out on the pillow as her eyes fluttered half closed.
She could feel him holding back, feel him fighting to keep his rhythm steady and even as his body pushed into hers. He couldn't help a moan as she moved her body against his, meeting his thrusts.
The only sound she could hear was her own rapid breathing and the slap of skin against skin as his thrusts became harder, faster and less controlled. His eyes were unfocused and the expression on his face almost frenzied.
His lips brushed the side of her neck and his teeth nipped her skin lightly as he thrust even deeper inside her, pushing her closer to the edge.
The rhythm broke as he reached his peak and she was only moments behind him, back arching and body tensing around his. His lips brushed hers softly as she started to come down from her intense high and she felt him move off her to lay next to her.
A contented sigh escaped her lips as she let her eyes slide closed. It occurred to her that it was strange not to be able to feel his heartbeat with his body so close. One arm slid around her and a smile curved her lips as she drifted off to sleep.