Chapter 48:

Apologies for not being as consistent as I want to be. Will make up for it in the next chapter though! It's going to be incredibly hot and heavy. No joke. It's going to be intense. Enjoy!

Erin and Larten sat silently on the drive home. Larten had received some odd looks here and there, but most were so preoccupied with their Christmas shopping that they didn't pay much notice to the towering figure in red.

Larten looked at Erin from the corner of his eye. She was chewing on a fingernail, lost in thought. They had gotten the rest of the groceries for Christmas dinner. What was she thinking? Christmas Eve was the day after tomorrow and, in all honesty, he hadn't even thought about a gift for her or Brigid. She wore the necklace he had given her from her birthday every day since, which secretly pleased him more than it probably should, but he still had no clue for Christmas. It's hard for a vampire to think of gifts when you are not used to giving them.

He hated to admit this, but he needed Brigid's help. He couldn't read, but he knew his name and had seen it written on a couple of gifts under the tree. They had gone out of their way to include him as closely and intimately as possible. He couldn't be empty-handed after all the hospitality they had shown him, on top of the point that he truly did care. But what would be appropriate?

"Oh, crap, I missed the exit." Erin muttered. "Sorry. Going to have to take a little detour."

"You should have been paying more attention instead of chewing on your fingers."

Erin shot a narrowed eye glance in his direction.

That had been the wrong thing to say, apparently.

Larten tried to rebound. "A detour is fine. It is not necessary to rush."

"Aren't you uncomfortable in a car? Are there any vampires with driver's licenses?" Erin smirked, trying hard to keep her preoccupation at bay.

Mentioning this did make Larten readjust himself in his seat.

"There is no rule against traveling by buses, trains, or motor cars, but there are some who will not even go near them. Usually they are the ones who are far more traditional, more in line with the old way of doing things."

"The whole wolf thing, huh?"

Larten's head swiveled in her direction, surprised.

"Er, yes."

"I find that one of the more interesting socio-anthropological aspects of vampire culture."

Larten's brow furrowed. Unsure of what to say, he said nothing. Silence fell between them once more.

Slowly they entered the neighborhood, gliding into the driveway. Larten went to open his door.

"Larten?"

He turned in his seat as Erin reached for his face pulling him into a deep kiss.

Larten pulled back surprised, but only for a second. He leaned in continuing the kiss. Erin nuzzled his face softening her kisses, slowly pulling away. They looked into each other's eyes, Larten gently rubbing his thumb across her lips. Erin kissed his hand.

"Time to go in, I think." Erin said quietly.

They walked into the house groceries in arm.

"Finally!" Brigid yelled from upstairs. There was the sound of pounding as Brigid jumped into the kitchen. Erin pushed the sack with Brigid's extensive cereal collection towards her. Brigid peeked in and nodded with approval.

"Perfect! You're the best, sis! What are we having for dinner?"

"Brigid, I just walked in the door."

"Larten, what's for dinner?"

"I-…" He looked over at Erin pleadingly.

"Homemade pizza." Erin sighed.

"Whaaat? That's not Christmas-y." Brigid pouted.

"We're saving Christmas dinner for tomorrow." Erin said, stuffing things into the fridge.

"And Christmas lunch on Christmas!" Brigid yelled excitedly.

"Yes, that, too. It's always the same, Brigid! Every year. Pull out the pre-made dough and get busy."

Brigid reached past Erin. "You're kind of grouchy, aren't you?"

"I am not! I just have a lot on my mind."

Brigid passed Larten, stuck her foot out, and pushed him in the back towards Erin.

"Be useful and make your girlfriend not grouchy."

Larten didn't like being kicked, but something was on Erin's mind, he could tell. She seemed stressed about something. She had the groceries put away and stood staring, thinking, with her hands on her hips. Brigid kept eyeing her as she set the dough on the pizza pan and began saucing it.

"Erin," Larten said abruptly, "would you perhaps like to go for a walk while Brigid prepares dinner?"

"I don't know, there's so much to do." She said absent-mindedly.

Larten laid his hand on her shoulder. "It can wait. Come."

He picked up her coat and held it out for her to slip on, then donned her with her warm hat. He smiled. "There. Brigid, we will return soon." Larten said, guiding Erin next to him towards the front door.

"Take your time." Brigid called out, then made direct eye contact with Larten, nodding in approval.

Larten kept Erin's arm crooked within his as they began walking down the snowy sidewalk towards the park area. Erin breathed in deeply the cold air and sighed.

"Forgive me for my lack of subtly, but what is on your mind?"

"I honestly don't know. I feel scatter-brained, but don't know why." She shrugged. "Must just be one of those days."

"I may know a remedy for that."

Erin looked up at him. "What?"

His lip lifted into a smirk, accentuating his scar. He firmly grabbed her chin, planting his lips over hers. He massaged them with his own, enjoying how she tasted. It made him think of other areas his lips had been, raising his heartrate. Erin must have been feeling it, too, her arms around his neck, holding onto him as close as she could through her thick winter coat and his cloak and undercoat.

They broke away, puffs of breath mingling together in the frosty air.

"Well, that was quite the remedy." Erin said, leaning her forehead against his.

"There is more to it, but I am afraid that small dose will have to suffice for now. Unfortunately." Larten muttered under his breath.

Erin sighed. "Soon. Soon."

Larten felt only frustration. He did not want soon, he wanted now. Vampires were known for their patience, but this was an entirely different matter. How much time did they really have left?

Larten and Erin walked the rest of the way around the park before heading home. Once inside they removed their jackets and boots, Brigid was nowhere in sight.

"Brigid?" Erin called out.

Brigid popped up pulling out the pizza she had made.

"Hey sis, I'm going to have to leave this for you guys. Ellie called and she wants to hang out for tonight before her family comes and the chaos begins. So, can I go spend the night? I'll be back by the afternoon to help you cook for Christmas dinner."

"I guess, yeah. Are you sure Ellie's parents won't mind? I know she has a big family."

"And that's why she wants to hang out so she can hold onto her sanity before they arrive tomorrow."

"I don't see why not then. Just text me when you get there, ok?"

"As always! I'm going to go pack really quick. You guys can have the pizza, I'm going to eat over there."

As Brigid flew up the stairs to her room, Erin went over to the oven to turn it off, and waved a hand over the hot pizza. Larten still stood by the front door in a slight state of shock. Something was growing in his chest and he had to remain in total control. Brigid came down and shoved herself into her winter coat.

"Okay, I'll text you when I get there. Bye, sis!" Brigid gave a quick kiss on Erin's cheek before slamming the front door behind her. The sound of a car drove up, a door slammed, and then there was silence.

Erin and Larten stared in different directions, unable to make eye contact.

Erin fidgeted by the stove, folding a couple of dish cloths.

"Are you hungry?" She forced herself to ask as the tension in the air grew thicker and thicker. It was like a building of static electricity between them. Larten continued to stand completely motionless by the door.

"Erin." He said her name almost as a question.

Their eyes locked.

Suddenly Larten was holding her against him, lifting her up so her legs could wrap around his waist, pushing her against the wall.

Erin gasped when Larten attacked her mouth voraciously. Erin's hands were gripping his head and neck, her chest already heaving rapidly from lack of air.

They broke away, Erin's hands immediately pulling his overcoat off and unbuttoning his shirt and vest. Larten stripped them off leaving his torso completely bare before his sly hands were lifting Erin's shirt off. He picked her up once more and sat on the couch, Erin straddling him, slowly grinding her hips. He trailed hot kisses down her neck and sternum to the cleft between her breasts. Erin let a moan out as he pulled one out and sucked on it, his tongue and teeth causing her nipples to become hard and ultrasensitive.

Erin reached around quickly to undo her bra, letting it fall. She continued grinding against him as he attacked her breasts. They were hot and soft, molding into his hands as he gripped them.

He released one from his mouth to claim her mouth once more. Erin was maintaining as much skin-to-skin contact as she could. They broke away and looked into each other's eyes, irises full-blown, an intense heat making them shine.

"I think I'll take the rest of that remedy now." Erin whispered, out of breath.

"Shush." Larten said sternly, gripping her head, tangling her hair, as he brought his mouth to hers once more.