Author's note: Again I wish to disclaim any ownership of any SVM character. They are soley the property of Charlaine Harris; I just borrowed them for a moment. My characters; including Katy Dumont, her parents and in-laws and friends, etc. are solely the creation of my own overactive imagination.
I want to thank all of you who have read Dark Desire, especially those who have taken the time to comment on my story. As an author, I appreciate each and every one. I also want to thank all of you who have made my story a favorite or put it on story alert. It makes writing this fic worthwhile.
I am having a lot of fun writing about Eric. He has so much to work with.
Dark Desire – Chapter 16
The following morning, Katy woke up at noon, dressed and walked out into the hallway. She asked a human guard standing outside the bedroom door where the kitchen was; she was hungry. After obtaining the directions, she walked down the back stairs and into the large kitchen. Four women in domestic uniforms were inside the kitchen performing various tasks, one person was standing over a large stove, one was washing dishes and two others were sitting peeling potatoes and shucking corn.
At the head of a large table, a tall, striking, well coiffed, black human woman was speaking in fluent French to another woman dressed in a maid's uniform. She was reviewing something from what looked like a ledger. She was muscular and fit; her ebony skin was flawless, and her black eyes gleamed with vitality. She oozed an air of authority and confidence. She looked like a no nonsense sort of person, used to getting what she wanted.
"Good morning, Doctor. I am Mrs. Madrid, King Eric's Chatelaine. I manage his household and his human staff, except for the telepaths, of course. By the way, do you wish to be called Dr. Jones, or Dr. Dumont? King Eric gave me both names, and I am a little confused how to address you," she admitted. Her accent was not quite Louisianan; Katy guessed that she had been born here, but had spent many years away.
"Dumont is my maiden name, but Katy is just fine," Katy replied.
The woman continued, "No, that wouldn't be appropriate. I will call you Dr. Dumont, if you don't mind. His majesty left a message for me explaining who you are. I am to make you feel at right at home. I would like to introduce you to my staff and show you around after you have had your breakfast, if that is okay. What would you like to eat this morning?"
Katy smiled and responded as she sat down at the kitchen table. "Dr. Dumont will be just fine. I would love to see the house and meet your staff. A bowl of cereal and some fruit will do, along with some black coffee of course,"
Mrs. Madrid signaled to one of the the kitchen staff who brought over a cup of coffee. Katy began to drink and look around as the other woman continued her conversation with the maid. A few minutes later a bowl of oatmeal, a small pitcher of milk, two slices of toasted homemade bread, butter, jam, fresh fruit and the morning paper were placed in front of Katy, and she began to eat.
After finishing with the maid, Mrs. Madrid refilled her cup from the teapot that sat on a cozy in front of her and began to talk. She explained all of her duties which were quite extensive. One at a time, she began to introduce the kitchen staff to Katy. The women shyly said their names, what they did and bowed slightly to Katy; that made Katy feel a little strange.
Although she took pains not to be obvious, it was clear that Mrs. Madrid was very curious about the strange redhead that the king identified as his human; in fact, all the other women were as well. Still, she did her best to make Katy feel welcome, and soon Katy was enjoying a pleasant conversation.
After finishing her meal, Katy reflexively got up to take her dishes to the sink. "Oh no, Dr. Dumont. The king's human does not do domestic chores. Sally will take care of everything; she nodded to the same woman who had served Katy just minutes before. Sally came over and took the dishes away. Both Mrs. Madrid and Katy rose from their seats. "Would you like to get started?" the Chatelaine asked.
It took more than three hours for Mrs. Madrid to show Katy the house and the grounds around the palace. As they moved from room to room, Mrs. Madrid gave Katy a little history of the place. The palace was relatively new, having been built by the former queen, Sophie Anne Leqlerc, some fifty years ago.
It was a sprawling three story brick and marble U-shaped mansion with twenty two rooms furnished in mostly French provincial antiques and amazing works of art. The first floor included two large parlors, the largest of which was used as a throne room, a huge dining room and kitchen, a morning room, one large office used by Eric, a large recreation room used by the vamps, a library, a well appointed gym, three bathrooms, and an indoor pool. On the second floor, a large three room master suite, including an elegant bedroom, bathroom, and a sitting that room had a door to an adjoining guest bedroom and bathroom, occupied one win. Four smalerl offices, a modest bathroom, and four large guest bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, took up the front and the other wing. The large third floor attic was a warren of small rooms that were once intended as servants quarters, but were used only for storage now. Mrs. Madrid explained that no human servants slept in the palace at night. Next to the heated indoor pool, was a glass house that was filled with a variety of beautiful, exotic cultivated flowers and trees.
Outside in the back was a ten car garage, large parking space, a tennis court and a heated Olympic size pool situated off a fabulous three level Italian tile patio that took advantage of the graceful sloping lawns. In the front and the sides of the mansion, there were well tended flower gardens, a beautiful circular drive way and an expansive well manicured lawn graced by a a huge flowing marble fountain.
"This place is huge. Do you manage it all?" Katy asked.
"I am responsible for running the household and managing all the human household staff, the gardeners, chauffeurs and garage attendants. I report directly to Daniel Brady who is the King's Second in Command. All of the security guards are ex Special Operations Officers, and they are the best at what they do. One of Daniel's human lieutenants manage their day to day operations, but I am responsible for making sure their human needs are met. Right now, I am responsible for more than forty human employees."
"How long have you worked for Eric?"
"For more than a year now. For three years, I partnered with Daniel in New York on the police force many, many years ago, before he left, so he knows me well. About twelve years ago, I moved back to New Orleans and joined the force here. I was born and raised here; both my parents were ailing, and I am their only child, so I felt I had to come back. They both died within two years. I stayed and got married, but I am a widow now. I never liked New York all that much: it's too cold for me."
"My parents both worked for the former Queen, Sophie Anne; in fact, generations of my family have worked for her in New Orleans, and before that in Haiti. I am familiar with the palace since I spent so much time here when I was a girl. I was ready to retire from NOPD, when Daniel looked me up after he became the King's Head of Security. The pay is so much better than the Police Department, and the working conditions are better. Daniel and the King are really good to work for, and I like it here."
"What did you think when you found out he was a vampire? Did that bother you?" Katy asked because she was curious.
"As I said, my parents worked for Sophie Anne since I was a little girl. I have known about vampires all of my life. I actually met many of them here in this very palace. Queen Sophie Anne was interested in me, but I definitely did not share the feeling, so I went away to college and never came back. I ended up on the police force in New York, and as I said, at one time, Daniel Brady was my partner. When we were cops together, we trusted each other with our lives many times. He was a good man, and I got to know him well. He hasn't changed from the person I knew; he's just a vampire now, so it didn't really bother me at all."
All during the tour, Constance Madrid had been taking Katy's measure. She been a cop for more than twenty five years, and she was a good judge of character. Katy wasn't like anything she expected. She had expected a jumped up fangbanger. Connie loathed the desperate women and men who hung around court to service the vamps. They were obsessed with the vamps and were no better than whores or drug addicts. They were unreliable and good for nothing as far as she was concerned.
The woman beside her was clearly intelligent and clearly a lady. She intuitively knew that Katy was not a fangbanger. She intuited that Katy loved Eric Northman the way any woman loves her man. Katy was classy, well educated and well spoken. Daniel had told her Katy's story when she arrived at work before dawn this morning, and it was a real doozy. She was glad the woman had been found and was safe.
"How long have you known the king, if you don't mind my asking? Are you the one he was looking for? If you are, you should know that he was hell on wheels to live with when he couldn't find you. You really got to him. I never saw him like that before," Connie grinned. She was beginning to like the quiet reserved woman she was escorting through the house.
"About two months, I guess, and yes, I suppose I am. Sorry for that," Katy replied sheepishly.
The two women chatted amiably as they strolled. They walked back into the house through the elaborate front entry. Once inside, Connie turned to the right and walked into a large parlor.
"This is where the fangbangers hang out at night. Don't worry, Dr. Dumont. they will never be allowed to bother you or come near you. Between the two of us, I wish those whoring skanks were not allowed in the palace at all, but Daniel says they are necessary for visitors and the vamp staff. They keep the vamps happy. I guess that what's important," she said as she shuddered in disgust.
"I'd appreciate it if you would call me Katy. I really don't like the idea of having them around either, but due to Eric's position, I guess they are necessary. I plan to talk to him about that. Perhaps they could be placed somewhere else."
"Please call me Connie. Daniel says that you are going to start treating the humans on staff. I think that is a great idea. All of my employees make more than minimum wage, but most of them can't afford to to buy medical insurance. Many just can't afford to pay for regular doctor visits or needed tests, so they use free clinics or emergency rooms. As a doctor, you know what a hassle that is. Having you treat people here on site will mean a lot, but I recommend that you charge a small fee to make it seem that they are getting something. We have some rooms in the back that we could convert into a waiting room, a temporary office and treatment room. If you want, we can take another look at them."
"Well, I may charge something equivalent to a small co-pay to help cover some of the expenses, but it won't be much. Eric will susidize the rest. Of course, major problems will still have to be handled at a hospital. Perhaps I can talk Eric in to providing some sort of major medical plan for hospitalizations and the like. I plan to ask a friend who is a nurse to help me out. If this works out, eventually, I hope to open a larger clinic not far from the palace to handle Eric's other human employees," Katy replied as Connie showed her the rooms in question. Katy thought they would do nicely.
Katy continued her tour with Connie at the lead. Everywhere they went, Connie introduced her to the other human employees. Again most of them bowed a little as they were introduced.
"Why are they doing that?" Katy asked curiously.
"You are the king's woman. They are just showing you the respect your position deserves," Connie answered. Katy didn't want the women to bow to her, but she had a strong feeling that it was what Eric wanted, so she said nothing.
"Every human who works here knows that Eric Northman is the Vampire King of Louisiana, but all of them are glamoured so none of them will ever betray him. Both Daniel and I do a thorough background check on each person before they are hired. No fangbanger are allowed on my staff. One of the telepaths sits in on the interview, so we all know they can be trusted. Even so, except for the security guards and a couple of my assistants who have worked for vampires before, all my human staff must leave at least a half an hour before sundown each day. It's just safer that way," Connie continued.
Around four, the tour was over and Katy went upstairs. She met the she met the three telepaths who were in their offices. Jillian Brown was in one office, and Marcy and Robert Godwin shared another. The two women and one man were long time friends of Judith Vardamon who had told them much about her. All three of them tried to read her mind; all three of them failed.
Katy guessed immediately what they were trying to do, but she didn't mind. They were just doing what comes naturally to them. Anyway they seemed nice to her, and she liked them. She guessed that if Judith liked them, they must be okay. After she met them, she went to the bedroom she now shared with Eric. She wanted to be on hand when he awoke.
Later that night, Eric introduced her as his bonded human to his vamp staff. They all looked at her curiously and with obvious sexual interest. Vampires did not often share their blood with a human, let alone bond with one, and that piqued their interest. Plus, the effect of Eric's blood gave her an extra glow of vitality and health. They could smell Eric on Katy, and that alone made her far more enticing than other humans.
Katy paid them no mind, but jealousy and a strong sense of possessiveness made the viking clench his fists as he watched the other vamps react to her. He decided to limit Katy's exposure to vamps to only Daniel, Judith and Bill.
"It's for her own safety, of course," Eric told Daniel when he ordered him to keep the vamps away from Katy.
"Of course, boss," Daniel replied, but he snickered quietly behind Eric's back when he wasn't looking.
Around midnight, Katy was with Eric in his office, when Daniel walked into the throne room with Gwen Jameson who was clearly under his thrall. He had found out where she lived and waited outside her house until she returned home from a date.
Daniel held Gwen by the arm so tightly she couldn't move. When Eric questioned her, she admitted that she had been working for a vamp named Dante Capelli. She had met Capelli the night Peter Kenyon attacked Katy at the bar, and she had been feeding him information on Katy ever since.
Both Eric and Daniel reasoned that Capelli had followed Peter Kenyon, his then boss, to New Orleans where he learned that Gwen Jameson was a federal marshal in the Witness Protection Program. Capelli waited for her to return home that night to try and get information, much as Daniel had done tonight. Capelli was thrilled to find out she was actually Katy Dumont's handler. He glamoured her into working for him. Gwen had no idea who Gaetano Califano was, but she was definitely responsible for the three attempts on Katy's life.
Uncontrollable fury made Eric let loose a stream of invectives at the federal agent. That shocked both Daniel and Katy because Eric didn't ordinarily curse. Gwen shrank in fear as the big, blonde vampire jumped up and grabbed her. His hands closed around her throat and began to squeeze. He was ready to rip her head off when Katy begged him to stop.
"Eric, no. Please!" she begged.
"But she almost got you killed, Katy. She deserves to die!"
"I don't disagree, but if you kill a federal marshal, you will bring the FBI down on you like a ton of bricks. I have heard them talk about that often, and they never, ever, stop looking for the killer; it's like a religion with them. I don't want that for you. Besides, Gwen can be of more use to you if she is alive. She can be your eyes and ears in the bureau, and she may be able to get information from that Capelli vamp that is useful to you. Tell him, Daniel," Katy pleaded with the sandy haired vamp beside her. Daniel flashed her a smile. "She's right boss," he said approvingly.
Katy went on, "Besides, I want her to inform her bosses that I am no longer of use to them. I want a formal letter from the FBI releasing me from Witness Protection, and telling me that I am not a suspect for anything. I want a formal letter from the FBI releasing any claims to my parent's estate. I don't know why Califano is after me, but I want him and those other men to know that I am not a threat to them in anyway. Besides, I want those bastards in the FBI to be completely out of my life forever." Anger suffused Katy's face when she said that. She hated the FBI and Gwen Jameson with every fiber of her being, but she didn't want Eric to kill her.
Eric carefully considered Katy's request, and he relented. When she left the palace, Gwen Jameson had been glamoured so hard that she didn't remember even being there. She was simply consumed with an overwhelming urge to protect Katy Dumont, and to notify her bosses that poor Katy Dumont was no longer useful to them. She was also overcome with the urge to help Katy get her parent's estate transferred to her as soon as possible.
On Tuesday, Katy contacted Mary Lebron and asked her to come to the palace. Mary drove Gene's pick up truck and brought several boxes of Katy's clothing, her medical bag, CDs, sketch pads and other personal possessions that she had packed up when Katy disappeared.
The meeting didn't go as well as Katy hoped. Mary was nervous about being in a vampire's home even in broad daylight. After Katy told her everything that had gone on in the last few weeks, Mary sympathized with her. She asked Mary to work for her as a nurse or physician's assistant at the palace, but Mary refused Katy's offer, even though it meant a sizable increase in salary. It all boiled down to the fact that she was deathly afraid of vampires.
"I'm happy that you have found someone to protect you, but I have two young kids and Gene to think about, Katy. I hope you understand. If you do move the to a location outside the palace, please call me. I would be happy to work with you again. You are welcome to visit me anytime," she told her friend. Katy was saddened when Mary left. She didn't think she would be visiting her anytime soon, and she wondered if she had lost another friend.
For Katy, the next two weeks passed pleasantly. She spent her days getting set her office set up and ordering the equipment she needed. She began exercising with Jillian and Marcy in the gym every morning around nine. If they were around, she had lunch with them, Robert and Connie. Katy and the four other humans got along very well.
Marcy had been a physician's assistant before she agreed to work with Eric. Of the three telepaths, her gift was the weakest, and she often found herself sitting around the mansion with nothing to do. When she found out that Katy needed a nurse, she jumped at the chance to be useful.
After clearing it with Eric, Katy hired her first staff member. On Thursday, their first patient was the cook who had cut her hand deeply with a paring knife while preparing lunch for the human staff. Katy and Marcy worked together to stitch the cut up. The rest of the week had been filled with routine services which was good since it would take weeks to get some of the equipment she ordered.
Katy became a familiar figure in the mansion. To the human staff, she was known Doctor Katy. They smiled at her every time they passed her; they all liked her a lot. The vamps, all except Daniel, began to call her Lady Kathryn; they showed her the respect due to the king's bonded mate.
The only ones who didn't seem to like Katy at all were the fangbangers, especially a blonde called Tiffany Coulter. They resented Katy and her almost complete run of the house while they had to stay penned up in the front parlor until called. They were jealous of Eric's obvious affection for her. They knew she not only had sex with Eric, but she shared his bedroom; they were a little in awe of that. They loathed her for the the time she spent with him. They loathed her for the fact that Eric loved her. "Why her? She's not so special," they all told each other.
The female fangbangers were especially jealous of the pictures of Katy and Eric in the local newspapers as he escorted her around town to various functions. He even occasionally took her to Fangs II, but Katy definitely didn't like the atmosphere of the bar. They had heard the rumor that she was bonded to Eric, but they didn't believe it. They all thought they were much better looking than the tall, thin woman that fascinated the king. They all agreed, she wasn't good enough for him. It was a good thing that Katy never allowed herself to be around the fangbangers long enough to hear the names they called her. It wasn't only Tiffany who would have been happy to see Katy dead.
Katy made it a practice to be in the bedroom when Eric awoke at sundown. They made love every night, but it wasn't the marathon sessions like at first. Because of the bond, he was more attuned to her body and realized how much those sessions tired her out. So, he limited himself to no more than two or three times a night, but he made those two or three times really count. The vamps quickly learned to leave Eric alone for that first hour or two with Katy, unless it was an emergency.
He didn't give her anymore of his blood, although he took a few drops from her every night. When she asked about that, he told her he wanted to be careful; he didn't want his blood overwhelm her. He assured her, they would exchange blood again when he felt it was safe.
Katy played little love games that delighted him. Some nights they would each try to see who could hold out the longest before they succumbed to passion. Eric always won, but he was pretty sure that she let him. He loved the way her body would twist and turn trying to hold back the little quakes of pleasure as he touched her until she could withstand no more.
One night, using a pair of handcuffs she got from Daniel, Katy handcuffed Eric to the bed while he slept. When he woke up, she was astride him and laughing. He was already hard and erect. Sliding him deep inside, she had her way with him. She gasped with delight as she rode his erect shaft until she brought him to the peak of orgasm. Eric seemed to struggle mightily to get free and embrace her, but she wouldn't let him.
She laughed at his struggles until, with his own laugh, he merely flexed his wrists and broke the metal handcuffs as easily as a hot knife slicing through butter. Eric got the last laugh as Katy moaned with pleasure underneath him, telling him she loved him and calling out his name. It was that night, that Katy began to understand the full measure of Eric's strength. Later than night, Daniel teased Eric about the handcuffs. Eric laughed, but said nothing.
Katy chafed at having to stay at the palace unless Eric was with her, but she understood the situation. She wanted to go shopping, to the hair dresser, to go to lunch with Mary, to do anything on her own, but it was not to be, at least for a while. A hairdresser, manicurist and a masseuse was hired to come to the mansion on her second Friday at the palace. By the time, they were finished with her, she felt like a completely different woman.
Katy looked and felt better than she had in many weeks. Her hair was back to its natural color, honey blonde with golden highlights. It had been layered and styled into a breezy easy to care for do. In the past two weeks, the good food she had consumed helped her regain the weight she had lost. With her diet and exercise regimen combined with Eric's blood, Katy looked beautiful, in fact, she looked better than she had in years.
That night, just before sunset, Katy undressed and got into bed with Eric. She lay naked on top of him, her face just inches from his own, waiting for his eyes to open. Eric, of course, felt her on top of him and flipped her over underneath him the moment he awoke.
"Who is this strange blonde woman in my bed?" he growled in mock ferocity as he teased her. He ran his hand through her newly styled hair.
"Just the woman you love," she answered.
"Yeah? Who says so? I can't love a tall, skinny woman like you; you have no breasts, and besides you have freckles," he said as he kissed every freckle on her face.
"I've filled out quite nicely in the past two weeks, don't you think?" she asked. She took his hand and placed it on one of her breast. The small, round globe completely filled up the palm of his hand. "See, it fits just right. Anything more than a handful is just a waste," she teased him back.
"Mmm. I don't know. Let me see that," he said as he removed his hand and rubbed his cheek over the soft flesh. Taking one erect, sweet, rosy nipple in his mouth, he pointed his tongue, circled it several times and drew it back and forth over the tips of his teeth. He began to suck, pulling a little at the sensitive nub. He laughed low in this throat as Katy jumped as if she had been shocked by electricity. The small button began to swell and harden. Wetting his thumb and forefinger, he began to roll the other needy nipple around in his other hand. Extending his fangs fully, Eric bit her her breast gently. He lapped at the tiny beads of blood that pooled on her skin.
Katy bucked up against his mouth as an exquisite electric sensation sent waves of pleasure rippling out from her breast to her groin where a warm welcome wetness prepared her for him. Breathing heavily, she began to sweat as a sweet fire that burned like a sun heated her body. Her heat warmed up Eric's cool skin.
"Like that, huh?" he gloated as he bit again under the nipple, licked, moved to the other breast, and did the same. The feel of his gentle bites, and his cool, wet, slightly rough tongue touching her heated flesh made her feel like she would explode. She squirmed under him, lighting a fire in his body where ever they touched. "Mmm, yes, I like," she managed to choke out breathlessly.
Eric moved slowly downward trailing kisses and using his tongue to trace every rib, and every muscle. When he got to her navel, he painted the small depression with his tongue and nipped a little more as she trembled from his touch.
Suddenly, his arms surrounded her waist. He held her so tightly, she almost couldn't breath. Sensing her discomfort, he relaxed a little, laid his head on her stomach and inhaled over and over as an unexpected storm of emotions churned chaotically through him. Happiness, love, contentment, lust, fear for her safety, possessiveness, jealousy and a sense of total helplessness reeled around and around in his brain.
Eric knew that every time they made love, the bond between them grew stronger and stronger. It had only been two weeks, but he needed the heat of her body as he fell asleep with her in his arms every morning. He needed the way she woke him up every night with her little games. He needed the way her eyes adored him as she watched him whenever she thought he wasn't looking, or they way they shown with love as he made love with her. He needed her with him, always.
He was truly happy and content for the first time in more than a thousand years, and that made him afraid. He wondered how he had ever lived without Katy. He wondered what he would do when her frail mortal body succumbed to disease, age and death. He hated the thought of that.
Katy thought she could feel dampness on her stomach. "What is it, love? What is wrong?" she asked.
He didn't say anything for long seconds, but finally he said, "Nothing is wrong, lover. Everything his perfect," he said; he realized it wasn't time to bring the subject up, but someday he would. He was terrified of how she would react.
He continued his journey down her body and finally, he reached his destination. Gently spreading her legs and with slow deliberate strokes of his tongue, he began began to lick the folds of her sex, nipping gently with his fangs. He found her swollen blood engorged clit and began to suck lightly. Katy gasped as her hips automatically rose to greet him.
He slid two fingers insid, and she began to move hard against his fingers trying to drive them in even deeper. Eric coolly stroked her once, twice, three times, slowly, agonizingly, moving his fingers in, out and sideways against the walls of her vagina until a long sibilant moan of pleasure escaped Katy's lips as her juices streamed into his mouth.
Slipping a third finger inside, Eric began to move fast, mimicking what he would do later with his long, hard shaft. After a few moments, he moved his hand and grabbed the soft mounds of her of her buttocks and pulled her close, sucking at her sensitive sweet spot once more. Katy moaned with a sense of abandonment as his fingers withdrew. Her moan was cut short as his mouth captured hers for a long searing kiss.
When Eric drove himself deep inside her, Katy shouted with joy. It was if he was trying to attach himself to her. He buried himself hard up against the mouth of her womb. Hesitating for a just a moment, he began to move so fast he was a blur of motion. Katy tried, but couldn't keep up; she was overwhelmed with pleasure, love and lust. She let the delightful sensations carrying her away.
By this time, neither one of them could longer form a conscious thought as their bodies slammed hard into each other. Katy drenched them both with sweat. Their bodies made glorious smacking and sucking sounds until they came both hard together. Great tremors of pleasure repeatedly rumbled through them both until they screamed out together in release. Eric's essence flooded into Katy; he kept coming and coming and coming.
In their lounge on the floor below, ten vamps felt the ceiling and walls rattle as if an earthquake had hit. The headboard knocked against the bedroom wall as Eric furiously pumped into Katy. With their hearing, the vamps heard Eric's deep voice call Katy's name as his orgasm came. They heard her lighter voice answering with his name. As if hit by a powerful gestalt wave, ten pairs of fangs ran out at the sound and the strong smell of raw, primal sex. The vamps were growling and hissing.
The fangbangers heard it too. They began to become aroused and instinctively began to move toward the vamps. Seconds later, they poured into the lounge. The humans had no time to undress before the vamps were on them. The vamps and the humans went at it on the sofas, on the chairs, on the tables and on the floor in a fantastic orgy of sex and blood. The room resounded with growls and cries of lust and passion for at least an hour.
No one got hurt. They all got what they wanted. They didn't care who saw or heard them one bit.