Disclaimer: I do not own Moonlight. I only hope to write well enough to do justice to Trevor Munson's creation.
Thank you for the wonderful reviews. I am honored that you say such nice things.
Chapter 12
On the drive to the morgue, Mick told Beth what he had learned about Christa Boyer and in return Beth filled him in on the little she knew about Tammi Montgomery's death. When they arrived, Beth led the way into the body storage room with Mick right behind her. Guillermo looked up with a grin at the couple.
"Beth, Mick, I've been expecting you although I figured I'd see Beth first," he announced.
"You were expecting Beth?" Mick asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Sure," Guillermo answered. "Word came down that we should cooperate with the DA's office on the Montgomery case and the grapevine said Talbot was turning the research over to Beth. I was relieved to know she was going to be the one digging around. I should have known that if Beth showed up that you'd be tagging along," he added to Mick.
"Tagging along? What is that supposed to mean?" Mick snorted.
Guillermo tried to look innocent but couldn't wipe the smirk off his face.
"What can I say Mick, everyone knows you and Beth are an item. I knew if Beth had a possible vamp case that you would be working with her," the shorter man said with a shrug. Beth giggled at Mick's expression.
"What, is this written somewhere? Who is everyone?" he demanded.
"Anyone with a nose amigo. We can smell you all over Beth," Guillermo chuckled.
"Hey!" Beth exclaimed, suddenly not finding this humorous anymore. Then she switched gears as what else he said sunk in. "You said "possible vamp case"; does that mean she does have bite marks? Can we see the body?"
"Sure," Guillermo said leading the two over to the bank of drawers in the wall. He pulled one out, revealing a sheet covered body. "I don't know for sure if it was the vamp that broke her neck but she had definitely been around several." He drew the sheet back and Beth was struck by how very young the dead girl looked. She knew Tammi was twenty five but this pale corpse didn't look older than nineteen. He eyes were drawn immediately to the girl's neck, seeking the marks.
"So…..are those bites?" she asked.
"Yes they are," Mick confirmed and Guillermo nodded.
"How do I hide this?" Beth groaned.
"Don't worry Beth," Mick answered. "Right now the humans don't recognize what they are. We'll find out who did this and deal with him."
"The cause of death was a broken neck, correct?" Beth asked Guillermo. "Were there any other injuries on the body?"
"Some bruises on the wrists and upper arms but nothing extreme," he replied as he drew the sheet back further. The bite marks on her forearms were clear.
"If you can smell Mick on me then why can't you identify the vampires who were with Tammi?" Beth asked suddenly.
"I know Mick, I know his scent," Guillermo said quickly. "I don't know the scent of every vamp in LA. Besides, the body was contaminated by the garbage in the dumpster it was found in."
"Thrown out like a piece of trash," Beth murmured in disgust.
"I promise we will find the guy," Mick promised her in a low voice. He felt his own anger building against the unknown vampire who most likely killed this girl. He was a careless danger to all of them.
"We'd better or we may be back here viewing Christa's body soon. I can't help thinking the two cases are related," Beth said softly.
Mick touched her shoulder lightly and then nodded to Guillermo.
"Thanks for the help buddy. Let us know if anyone gets curious about the bites. We'll be in touch."
"Sure thing man. Beth I'll let you know when the final report is in," Guillermo said as he drew the sheet back over the body and shut the drawer.
"Let's go back to my place and go over the information," Mick suggested once they were in the hallway.
"Sounds great," Beth agreed happily. Excited shivers ran down her spine at the prospect of working a case with Mick.
"Good, I need some advice on something," Mick added cryptically.
"My advice? On what?" Beth pounced on his comment.
"You'll see," he answered evasively and opened the car door for her.
On the ride back to the apartment he refused to supply any more information and Beth's curiosity grew as they rode up the elevator. Mick directed her to the apartment, not his office once they reached the top floor. Once inside he took her hand and led her to the staircase.
"What …..?" Beth began but shut up as they headed upward. Anticipation fluttered in her stomach as she began to guess what his surprise was.
They stopped at the open doorway and Mick motioned for her to look inside. In a rather bare room sat a queen sized bed made up with plain white sheets.
"I need some advice on bedding. I'm out of practice when it comes to buying blankets and such," he confessed with a sheepish grin.
"You got your bed all ready," Beth said in awe.
"It was delivered today," Mick answered. "Think you can help a bachelor vamp pick out some nice blankets and whatever?"
"Of course," Beth replied enthusiastically and patted his arm. "I happen to be an expert shopper. Nice bed."
"I liked the style," Mick said indicating the dark, cherry sleigh bed. "And they said it's one of the best mattresses on the market," he grinned as he led her into the room and over to the bed.
"Very stylish," Beth approved as she ran her hand along the smooth wood of the footboard. "I still can't get over the fact that you've done this just so I can stay over here."
"I want you comfortable here, in my place," he said as he gathered her close in his arms and buried his face in her hair. He inhaled greedily.
"I am comfortable with you Mick, always," she murmured against his shirt. She wrapped her arms around his waist.
Reaching down, Mick tilted her chin upward with his fingers and kissed her gently. The kiss took Beth's breath away.
"Wow," she sighed when their lips parted.
"So….should we get back to our cases?" he asked with a devilish smile.
"And they say that women are teases," Beth groaned.
"You are," Mick asserted as he scooped her up in his arms and set her on the bed. "You have been teasing me all day with images of you on this bed. That makes you a terrible tease." His fingers went to work on the buttons of her blouse. "We will have to get back to work…later."
"Then I guess we will just have to test your new mattress out so that you can concentrate on work…..much later," Beth replied huskily as she reached for his hands. She tugged him downward and with a small smile Mick allowed her to draw him down beside her. His hands went to her waist as his mouth closed over hers.
*M*M*
Later, Mick raised himself up on one elbow and watched as Beth dozed beside him. He could not keep his gaze from straying to the beat of her pulse in her neck and he could feel his fangs pushing downward, urged on by the steady beat beneath delicate skin. Common sense said for him to get up and get some blood to drink but he couldn't bring himself to leave Beth's side.
Each time with her was making it increasingly difficult to refrain from biting Beth during sex. The vampire within him was getting closer to the surface every time and twice now he had bitten his own arm and hidden the fact from Beth, thankful he healed quickly. Fear was growing within him that his control would slip and the vampire would burst forth in the middle of their passion. He couldn't risk not only hurting Beth but terrifying her as well.
A soft sigh escaped Beth and she stretched slightly, her eyes fluttering open to gaze at him lovingly. She became more alert as she focused on his serious expression.
"Hey, are you okay?" she inquired in concern.
"I'm fine," he lied.
"I find that difficult to believe," she said softly, sliding up to meet his eyes straight on. "Please talk to me Mick."
Mick closed his eyes as panic swept over him. He wasn't ready for this discussion. Beth's fingers on his cheek made him open his eyes and meet her very direct stare.
"You can tell me," she coaxed.
"I don't want to frighten you," he said roughly.
"I'm not afraid you," she reassured him, her fingers stroking his skin. She saw his eyes flash silver briefly before he squeezed them close again. Suddenly Kira's words echoed in her head and she was sure she knew what was bothering him. "This is about biting during sex, isn't it?"
Mick's eyes flew open in surprise.
"What?"
"I understand that vampires feel the need to bite during sex. We do need to talk about this," Beth said calmly.
"I do not want to bite you Beth," Mick protested.
"That's not true. Kira explained this to me. You are a vampire Mick, biting is part of what you are," she answered patiently.
"Kira said that? Just what is that woman filling your head with?" he asked incredulously.
"She's been honest with me. I love you Mick but you cannot keep burying your nature just to shield me," Beth explained. "We need to talk openly."
"I don't believe this. Do you want me to bite you?" Mick asked in shock, not sure how he felt about his conversation.
"I don't know what I want yet. Kira says you can make it very pleasurable. She says there is no big risk of my being turned by mistake and it is part of sex for vampires," Beth recited a smile on her face.
"Kira has been a very talkative vampire," Mick growled lowly.
"She was only trying to help," Beth said in Kira's defense and leaned in to kiss him. "We need to deal with this."
End chapter.
The talk has begun. I hope you liked the beginning. This will not be resolved easily so don't expect Mick to get a snack just yet. I would love your opinions. Thanks for reading.