A/N: Just so you guys don't start freaking, this story will get to its "mature content" in the next two-three chapters. Enjoy and REVIEW!

Chapter 2

Skylar

I stood in the shower letting the water pour over me, but not really feeling it. I was numb. I was being hunted by a dragon again. It couldn't be Daniel. Marie buried him almost 400 years ago after he killed Erik and half the village. But how else could I have attracted the hate of a dragon again?

I turned off the water and stepped out of the shower, wrapping up in a towel. I hadn't washed. I'd gotten in the shower mechanically and just stood there, trying to let the water soothe me. I took indoor plumbing for granted anymore. I shook my head and started toweling off when there was an impatient knock at the door.

With a curse I grabbed a robe from the hook on the wall and wrapped it around my still damp body. I was still tying the sash when I jerked open the door. And I almost slammed it shut again.

"What are you doing here?"

Stark's mouth hung open making him look like a large fish, rather than the bear he was. Then I realized that I'd grabbed the wrong robe, and instead of the terrycloth garment I would normally wear after a shower, thin satin clung to my wet skin in a nearly indecent fashion. I gasped and heat flooded my face as I held the robe closed over my chest with one hand and tugged the hem down my thighs with the other one. Had I not been more concerned with my modesty I would've slapped him. I turned on my heel, making sure to keep the robe pulled down over my backside, and stormed back the hall to my bedroom, slamming the door.

When I was decently covered I came back out to find him standing in the middle of my living room, looking around.

"I didn't invite you in."

"I'm not a vampire." He turned to look at me and seemed to frown thoughtfully before smirking. "Wow, you can go from ten to three in two-point-five minutes."

I took me a moment to realize he was talking about my appearance. I looked down at my jeans and blouse then frowned up at him unamused-he actually was head and shoulders taller than me.

"Thank you," I bit out sarcastically. "Are you fifteen? What are you doing here?"

"Your assistant sent me. I'm supposed to be protecting you, remember?"

"I don't need protecting." I crossed my arms and turned away. Of course I needed protecting, I just didn't want him doing it. I wanted… maybe I should just let the dragon get me.

"That's not how it looked when she told you what was after you. You were terrified when you stormed out of that office."

I forced my face smooth and turned to face him, steering the conversation away from me. "There is a guest room down the hall on the right with its own bathroom, and you may have the day to get your things and bring them here; I'm certain I'll be safe in my own home for the day."

I sat down on the couch and took my book from the coffee table, signaling an end to the conversation, but he didn't take the hint. "Are you sure you don't wanna stay with me instead? I may only have one bedroom, but it's cozy. I'm a cuddler."

I stared up at him in shock and disgust for a moment before realizing he'd been joking, then leveled him with a glare as he started snickering. "Get out," I growled, hurling my book at him. "And don't come back till morning."

He threw the book back at me and rolled his eyes as I plucked it out of the air over my head. "Do I at least get paid for today?"

"No," I said flatly.

He glared at me, looking as if he wanted to argue, but I just turned my attention to my book. After a moment I heard him leave and sighed in relief, relaxing into the couch. Finally I could stop staring at the same paragraph.


Stark

That frigid bitch! Why did she have to be such a harpy? I'd never done anything to her. I was willing…well, not willing, but I'm protecting her from this dragon that she's somehow pissed off. She could at least be civil. Granted I did provoke her, but it was easier to tease her than to let her see that she got to me. She's a vampire. If she knew I thought she was hot she'd start drinking my blood and God knows what else. I shuddered at the thought. But she was really hot in that robe. I couldn't help smiling as I remembered how red her face got. She had to be young when she was changed to be that shy. Certainly, though, living as long as she has, she's has sex before. Being that old probably makes you prudent, though.

I realized that I was sitting on my bike staring back at her front door and shook my head. I pulled on my helmet and slammed the key into the ignition. Revving the engine I sped off for home.

Home sat on a bluff overlooking the ocean well out of the hills and twenty minutes from the city. It wasn't much, a one bedroom cottage, but it was enough to live with.

I had no idea how I was supposed to protect her from a dragon. Dragons took a witch sealing them into the earth, didn't they? I suppose you could kill one just the same as any other thing if it came down to it. I just hope it doesn't have too many horns.

The first thing I did was take a very cold shower to get her out of my head, otherwise I'd be on the fast track to getting myself fired before my job even started, if I wasn't already. I was still scrubbing water out of my hair when my phone started ringing. My mind immediately jumped back to her. What did she want now? Did she need me? Was she in danger? Was I fired? But it was my sister.

"Joseph?" she sounded like she'd been crying.

"Mina, what's wrong?"

"It's Mom. She's… They say she had a stroke. She's not doing very well, Joey. You need to come home."

Well that was one way to get my mind off of Skylar. "As soon as I can. I'll be there."

Forgetting I was still naked, I ran into the bedroom and started throwing clothes into a travel bag. I had already lashed the bag to the back of my bike when I realized I hadn't put clothes on. I ran back in and dressed, then was speeding off toward LAX. I was nearly there when I remembered that I had a job I couldn't run out on. I detoured back to her house, trying to decide if I'd have to take her with me or quit.

She opened the door looking just as annoyed as when I'd left her. "I said tomorrow."

"I know. But something's come up."

"Really? Like what? Mommy not happy you're going to go live with another woman?"

She deserved the jab with the way I'd treated her earlier, but now it was a low blow. I could almost feel my hackles rise as my mouth twisted into a scowl. "Actually, my mother's had a stroke and is in the hospital. I need to go home."

She was quiet for a moment, perhaps considering apologizing or what my leaving meant. "Where's home?"

"Italy. Florence." She was quiet even longer this time, and I couldn't wait for her to think it over. "Listen, you can fire me or come with me; I don't care. I'm on my way to the airport now and I want to be able to see my mother before she-"

"Come inside."

"What? I just said I was on my way to the airport. I don't have time-"

"Come inside." Her tone brooked no argument, and I rolled my eyes as I stepped in under her expectant gaze. "Sit," she said and went back the hallway.

I sat on the couch, since I had nothing better to do while she did God knows what. I tried to listen, but the rooms had to be soundproof, since I couldn't even detect her breath. After about ten minutes she came back and sat in the chair across from me. I waited anxiously, but she just stared back.

"Well?"

"Well what?"

"What were you doing back there?! Why am I sitting here and not on a plane?"

She seemed reluctant when she finally said, "You will have access to my company jet at two o'clock. They couldn't get clearance to land in Florence on such short notice, but I can have a car waiting for you in Rome."

I gaped at her. Why was she doing this? "Why are you doing this?"

"Don't expect to be paid for today of the time you're away. You have three days. If I can't write off use of the plane as a business expense, you can expect the fee taken from your total pay."

"Three days. That's not enough, what if she-"

"Three days, or you'll find yourself without a job or a way back, and you'll have to pay for use of the jet."

It wasn't enough. My mother could die and I wouldn't be able to stay for the funeral. It's not like I needed the job, or a way back. But there was no way I would've found a flight that quickly without having to pay an arm and a leg up front. And a jet would cut the travel time in half.

"What about you?" If I took her offer, I couldn't shirk my responsibility. And if she went with me, I could stay longer.

"I have to escort you to the airport so you have clearance at the gate, but you may take the trip on your own; I won't interfere with your family. It seems highly unlikely that anything should happen in three days, but if it should, I can manage myself that long. And if not… Jessica will let you know that you do not have to come back. And you won't have to pay for the jet; consider that compensation."

It would be less stressful without her there, though. "Thank you."

She waved me off. "You board at two, and take-off is as soon as there's runway clearance."

"Truly, thank you." I would've hugged her if I didn't think she'd punch me. I settled for extending my hand.

She stared at my hand skeptically before taking it, but then she immediately jerked back as an electric shock passed between us. She shook her hand, looking wounded, and frowned at me as I stared back. It had been no ordinary shock; the soul deep recognition that echoed through me gave it away as more. Certainly she'd felt it, too, but she only frowned at me.

"Skylar?"

Her name felt as strange as it sounded; she jerked slightly, almost a shudder, and jumped out of her chair.

"It's nearly one o'clock. We should get started toward the airport so you're not late." She bustled around, collecting her keys and her coat.

"Skylar-"

She was out the door before I could say anything, sitting in her already running Jaguar. I rapped on the window, but she didn't even look at me. We needed to talk about this. I stood there for a solid five minutes before giving up. I went back to my bike, and she pulled out onto the street as I started it. This was just what I needed; finding my soulmate, who happens to be a damaged vampire currently running for her life and refuses to acknowledge me, while I have to go back to Italy because my mother may be dying.

I was so absorbed in trying to puzzle out a solution to the situation that when she stopped it took me a minute to realize we were back at her office and she'd already gone inside. I had to run to catch her before the elevator door closed.

"What're we doing here? I thought-"

"Jessica called in the car. I forgot that I had a meeting with my lawyer today. It shouldn't take more than twenty minutes; you could've waited outside." She still wouldn't look at me.

"Skylar, we need to talk. We-"

The elevator ding cut me off, and she stepped out before I could go on. With a frustrated growl I followed her toward the conference room.

"Wait out here," she commanded, but I wasn't in the mood to listen. I followed her in and stood just inside the door as she sat at the table across from two men, one human and the other lamia.

"Skylar, this is Mr. Taylor from immigration," the vampire said, and I could smell anxiety radiating off of her.

"Immigration?" Her voice was tight.

"Yes, Miss Parker. It seems your work visa has expired. You will need to return to France until a new one can be obtained."

"I…I can't be deported."

"Unless you have a valid excuse to remain, you have until the end of the week to vacate the country."

"But… but I'm getting married. I'm engaged. I can't leave now."

She's engaged?

"You're engaged?" the lamia lawyer asked, looking just as shocked as I felt.

"Well, sort of." She turned in her chair to face me, giving me a meaningful look and motioning for me to come to the table, but her voice remained deceptively innocent. "Darling, come here."

I stared at her for a moment before going to the table and taking the chair next to her and facing her. I even found myself trying to keep my disbelief and shock off my face so I didn't ruin her lie.

"Darling, I know the other night I told you that I needed to think about it, and I have. I was going to tell you tonight at dinner, but then we heard about your mother and had to plan this emergency trip." She took my hands, and despite the tingle that traveled up my arms, there was a firm mental block set between us. "Yes, Sweetheart, I will marry you." React convincingly or you can't go see your mother.

My eyes widened at her threat and I bared my teeth in what could've been a smile to someone who hadn't heard her. I suppressed a growl as I leaned in as if to kiss her.

"Eh-hem…" I stopped just short of her mouth, thankful the immigrations officer stopped us. Skylar and I pulled apart and looked over at him, both managing to look angry at having been interrupted. "Is this true, Mister…?"

"Hudson. Stark Hudson." I reached across the table to shake the men's hands. "And yes, it's true. I've loved my Sky from the moment I saw her." I looked back at her and ran my thumb over her cheek, but kept my expression neutral. "I asked her to marry me Friday night, but she said she needed to think about it." I tried to smile, but it was a weak one.

She leaned into my palm where it cupped the side of her face, closing her eyes and smiling dreamily. She was a good actress.

"We're soulmates." To the officer it was the flippant comment of a woman in love, but the lamia looked closer at us as my heart jumped in my chest.

"And what is this emergency trip you mentioned, Miss Parker?"

She jumped as if she'd forgotten they were there. A very good actress. "Oh, umm…" She glanced at me as if for permission before going on. "Stark's mother has had a stroke and is in the hospital. We were going to go see her before… before it's too late."

"And your destination?"

"Italy."

The officer seemed to think it over for a long moment. "Well, far be it for me to keep you from an ailing family member, but I will be checking up on you. Tomorrow I'll be bringing a packet that you need to fill out that your assistant can fax to you."

We all stood and shook hands and the officer left.

"Are you really soulmates, Skylar?" the lawyer asked.

"Of course not, but I had to do something to buy you time to fix your fuck up. One-hundred and fifty years you've been my lawyer and not once have you let this happen. What the hell were you thinking?! This is the last thing I need with a dragon after me."

"A dragon? Skylar-"

"Why else would I have this animal following me around. Jessica seems to think I need a body guard."

"And you're going to Italy with him?"

"I don't have much choice now, do I?"

She turned and stormed for the door, grabbing my shirt sleeve and dragging me behind her.


A/N 2: Please review and go read my other new OCxOC Night World story, Southern Comfort.

Links (replace spaces with periods):

Southern Comfort, Chapter 1

www fanfiction net/s/8815942/1/Southern-Comfort