“Does it look like I’m giving you a choice here,” he growled as he tried to get up. 

 “What are you doing?”  I asked, as I put my hands on his shoulders to lay him back down.  It was then that it hit me.  When I checked him, he had no pulse and no respiration.  What the hell is going on here? 

 He jerked himself from my hands and leaned away from me.  When he looked back, what I saw froze the blood in my veins.  His eyes were the same gold, but the look on his face and the structure of his teeth had changed.  I was looking into the face of death and praying that it wasn’t mine.  “I told you to leave,” he said cruelly, “I will only give you this one chance to go.” 

 All I could do was sit there, trying to breathe.  I was terrified, but at the same time, I felt sorry for him.  Yes, I know, absolutely crazy.  It must have been the look in his eyes, a hollow look as though something vital was missing.  In that moment, he changed in my mind from a being of destruction to a lost man searching in the dark. 

 “That’s it!” I said firmly.  “I’m not going to take this from you and you aren’t going to scare me with your little tricks either!  You might as well do what I say and let me take care of you!” 

 It was almost comical the way he looked at me.  His teeth retracted and his face took on an expression of absolute shock.  “Whaa ….I mean…uh…What!” he said in confusion. 

 “You heard me, and I’m not going to repeat myself,” I replied.  “Are you able to get up or is there something I need to do?” 

 “Uh, I’m going to be fine.  It will take a day to heal completely, but I’ll be fine.” 

 “Good, if all of the stories I’ve heard are correct, then I need to get you to some very dark place very soon.  The sun will be up in less than an hour.” 

 “I know, after all this time, it’s not something I’m going to miss comin’ my way,” he said with a wry smile.

 After getting him in the back seat of the car, I raced home trying to outrun the sun.  That was a new one on me.  There have been times that I didn’t want to see the sun, for the obvious hung over reasons, but I never thought I would have to worry about it killing someone.  All I could think of on the drive was, I have a vampire in the backseat of my car!  Am I crazy?  Lovely being that he was, he didn’t help any with his comments, “Guess you know how I feel all the time, now.  Hahaha,” or “Are you sure you know what you’re doing by taking me home with you?” 

 Of course I didn’t know what I was doing.  Who in their right mind tells a vampire what to do and then makes him do it?  Even if said vampire is the most gorgeous creature the person has ever seen.  Even if said vampire has eyes that can make the person weep. 

 Shaking my head at my own stupidity, I asked, “How are you doing back there?” 

 “Oh, I’m just fine,” he replied with more than a hint of sarcasm, “If the sun doesn’t get me, your driving will.” 

 “Fine, be that way,” I whispered to myself, gripping the wheel tighter in my clenched fists, “See if I help you again.” 

 “I heard that!” he said as he started laughing at my fit of anger. 

 “Well, if you don’t shut up and stop being a backseat driver you’re gonna hear more than you ever wanted to know!”  Oh yeah, as if that’s going to deter him, I thought.  Surprisingly, the rest of the drive was uneventful.  In other words, he kept his mouth shut and I didn’t bait him. 

 The sky was becoming noticeably lighter as we pulled from the main road onto the drive leading to my home.  I was beginning to worry that I wouldn’t make it in time, though my passenger didn’t seem all that concerned.  He was laying back in the seat, calmly looking out the window.  Almost as if he was welcoming the day. 

 Coming to a gravel spewing halt at the rear of my house, I jumped out and ran to the door to my cellar expecting to hear the crunch of gravel behind me.  I shoved the key in the lock, unlocking it and throwing the door open in one fluid motion.  Turning back to let him in first, I was shocked to see him slowly sauntering over to the door.  “What are you doing!” I screamed at him.  “Are you trying to get burned to a crispy critter?” 

 He smiled at me and kept walking. 

 Here I was, standing in the door to my cellar, tapping my foot like a mother waiting for her errant son to come inside.  I felt like a fool and the grin on his face made it even worse. 

 He jumped down the step leading to the door and started to brush by me.  I don’t understand what happened next.  It seemed that the door had a mind of it’s own and decided to smack him in the butt. 

 With a low growl, he turned to me faster than my eyes could follow and I found myself nose to nose with a rather upset vampire.  “What did you do that for?” he snarled at me. 

 “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said as I pushed past him.  “Is it my fault that you were slow comin’ in the door?” 

 “Okay, okay, I admit that I deserved that,” he said apologetically.  “After everything you’ve done for me tonight, I shouldn’t have acted like a spoiled brat.” 

 I wasn’t looking at him, but I could imagine him rolling his eyes.  Doing my best to keep the laughter from my voice, I said, “I accept your apology,” having the feeling that it would just eat him up.  I turned back just in time to see the disgusted look on his face before he changed it.  Nothing could have kept my fit of giggling quiet. 

 For just a moment, he stood there gaping at me, and then he took his revenge. 

 I’ve never laughed so hard in my entire life!  He grabbed me, pushed me up against the nearest wall, and proceeded to tickle me until I couldn’t take anymore and was begging for mercy. 

 “Had enough?” he asked, trying to keep his own laughter at bay. 

 “Yes!  Yes!  Please stop!” I screeched through my howls of hilarity. 

 “Good, I don’t wanna have to teach you that lesson again,” he said as he slowed the tickling so I could begin breathing again. 

 As I fought to regain my breath, I realized how close he was to me and a totally different sensation ran through me.  I could feel his body pressing into mine, keeping me against the wall and his prisoner.  The idea that I didn’t fear him rattled me.  This man was a vampire, a creature of the night, a killer, but I didn’t fear him.  What I felt for him was something I hadn’t felt for a man in a very long time. 

 Grinning, I pushed him away and he allowed me to move him.  Yes, “allowed,” I know I couldn’t have moved him on my own.  The strength I felt move me to the wall was all I needed to show me that he was no weakling. 

 “Maybe this would be a good time to get you settled?” I stated more than inquired.  “I’m not sure how much of what I’ve read is accurate, but from what I’ve read, vampires sleep during the day.” 

 “Well you have that one right,” he said still grinning at me.  “We can discuss your other concepts of Vampirism when I wake up.” 

 “Sounds great to me,” I replied as I shook my head at his sarcasm and went about setting up a resting-place for him. 

 Since my cellar windows are blackened from the inside, I was pretty sure that he would be all right there.  I had painted them a few years ago to protect some of the antiques my family had been collecting for generations.  It didn’t take long to put together a makeshift bed for him; an old mattress and box spring that were already in the basement and a blanket and pillow I retrieved from my bedroom on the second floor. 

 “This isn’t much, but I hope it will do for now,” I said as I handed him the blanket and pillow. 

 “Thank you, I’m sure I’ll be fine,” he said, bringing the pillow to his face. 

 “Well, sleep well,” I said turning to go. 

 As I mounted the stairs, I thought I heard him say I’ll see you in my dreams.

 Sleep was not an option by the time I made it up to my room and got a wondrous look at my bed.  Can’t say that it’s ever looked so good to me.  I knew I couldn’t have stayed awake even if a rock concert was going on in the same room, so I gave up and plopped down on the bed.  The next thing I remembered was the dream. 

 I was in a forest… 

 The sun was shining down on my head as I walked among the trees.  A sound nearby caused me to turn around.  I couldn’t see anything, but the sound continued.  It wasn’t an alarming sound, but the sound of another person also walking.  Weaving in and around the trees, I tried to get a look at my companion.  I got glimpses of the person, but only that…glimpses.  Suddenly, a hand grabbed my arm and turned me so that my back was pressed against the trunk of an enormous oak.  The person trapped me against the tree with his body and began kissing me deeply.  I didn’t struggle or fight, it was as if I knew who it was and that I wanted his embrace.  His hands roamed over my body, exciting me, as my hands pulled him closer.  His mouth moved down over my cheek to my neck.  I laid my head back against the trunk of the tree, breathing raggedly, my eyes closed against the glare of the sun.  His mouth left my throat and I opened my eyes to look straight into the eyes of…
 

 I jerked awake with the words Oh My God! on my lips.  I raised myself up so that I was leaning against my headboard.  It was him…in the dream…it was him I thought to myself, trying to collect the scattered remains of the dream.  It seemed so real to me, more like memories than fragments of a dream.
 
 

Sitting here isn’t going to do me any good, I thought as I moved to get out of bed.  The sun was still up since it was only about five in the afternoon, so I didn’t have to worry about my guest.  I have to get hold of myself before he wakes, that’s all there is to it, I told myself sternly.  There was no way that I was going to give my guest the upper hand.  I had to stay in control.  Little did I know that I was preaching impossibilities. 

 After a nice hot shower and a good meal, I felt ready to meet see my supernatural companion.  I still had a couple of hours before sunset so I figured reading up on Vampirism was in order.  He had joked about discussing my knowledge and I didn’t want to appear a complete fool in front of him. 

 Taking my small collection of Vampire books, I went out on the front porch to read.  It was a gorgeous evening.  The sky was clear and the breeze blowing against my skin was warm.  I dropped down into the porch chair, propping my feet up on the railing.  Suddenly, everything felt right.  Crazy as it sounds, I felt calm and safe.  With a grin and shake of my head, I settled down to read.

 “Good evening,” he said, causing me to jump in my chair and drop my books to the floor. 

 “Did you HAVE to do that?” I snarled at him as he eased open the screen door. 

 “Yeah, I did,” he said with a cocky grin planted firmly on his face. 

 There goes the control issue, I thought to myself as he stepped out onto the porch.  I had been so engrossed in my reading that I hadn’t noticed the sun setting.  “How long have you been up?” I asked, trying to wrestle some bit of control back from him. 

 He moved over to the railing, gazing out into the burgeoning night, the last slender rays of the sunset were just disappearing under the horizon.  Though I was worried about him being out while any of the sunlight remained, he seemed to be fine standing there with the last gasp of the day lightly touching his face. 

 Quietly, I rose from my chair to stand by him at the railing.  I was drawn to him.  My eyes traveled across the yard, then to his face.  His look radiated a longing, a sadness for what he could never see again.  Gradually, he turned his head to face me, his lips stretched in a bittersweet smile.  “What was it you asked?” he inquired. 

 “I was wondering how long you had been up,” I said quietly. 

 “Not long, I normally wake up just as the sun is setting.  I like to come out as early as I can and see the end of the sunset.” 

 “So you can stand some sunlight?” I asked softly. 

 “Yes, just enough…” he said, his voice wandering off. 

 “Just enough for what?” 

 Turning fully to me, he said, “Just enough to keep me missing it.”  Then he brushed by me heading out to the yard. 

 “Where are you going?” I called after him. 

 He stopped in his tracks and turned to look at me over his shoulder.  “I don’t recall having to tell you where I’m going or what I’m doing.” 

 “Uh…well…of course you don’t.  I was…you see…uh…oh hell.  I was worried, that’s all.”  I said disgruntled. 

 “I have things I need to do,” he said quietly. 

 “Will you be back?” 

 “Do you truly understand what you’re asking?” 

 “Yes, I do,” I whispered. 

 Tentatively, he turned and walked toward me stopping at bottom of the steps to the porch.  He looked up at me, searching my eyes.  “Are you SURE you know what you’re getting yourself into?” 

 “Honestly, no I don’t know, but what I do know is that I want to see you again.  I want to know you,” I said emphatically. 

 Step by step he came closer to me until he was standing in front of me.  I was looking at the planks in the porch.  I couldn’t bring myself to look into his eyes and risk the look of rejection that might be there.  “Look at me,” he said quietly. 

 “I can’t.  I’m afraid” 

 “What are you afraid of, Querida?” he asked as he brushed the hair away from my cheek. 

 “I’m not sure,” I said glancing up at him. 

 “Do you fear me, or more specifically, what I am?” he asked with a look of pain in his eyes. 

 “No!  I don’t fear you.  I’m afraid of…” I broke off as I lowered my head once again. 

 “Don’t look away.  Look at me.  Tell me what you are afraid of,” he told me as he brought my eyes up to his by holding my face and caressing my cheeks.  Our eyes met and held. 

 “I’m afraid … that I’m not what you want in a woman,” I said, praying that he wouldn’t reject me. 

 Smiling tenderly, he said, “If those are your fears, you have nothing to worry about.”  Leaning down he brought his lips to mine in a gentle kiss.  “I’ll be back.” 

 Before my eyes had opened after the kiss, he was gone.

 I sat down on the steps after he left.  I had some heavy thinking to do.  Oh Lord, what am I doing?  I thought I had everything under control.  My life was just the way I wanted it.  I loved my job.  I even had my family trained to call before showing up.  Why should I care what he thinks?  Why am I not telling him to go and never come back?  He’s a vampire for God’s sake! 

 Sitting on my porch looking up at the stars I discovered something that I had been missing in my life, something that rang hollowly in my soul.  I needed love.  I had no idea if my mysterious visitor was capable of it, but I had to find out.  It didn’t make any sense to me that I even wanted to try this.  He was basically immortal and I was not.  If he stayed, he would see me grow older everyday until eventually I died.  What was I thinking? 

 I stayed there in my confusion until the night winds forced me to find a way of keeping warm.  I didn’t want to go inside so I started walking around the yard venturing farther and farther from the house until the lights were a faint glimmer in the distance.  The trees surrounded me, enclosing me in their protective arms.  I felt safe out there in the natural world.  I felt as if I was a part of the greater whole.  I walked along languidly, running my hands over the barks of the trees that crossed my path, the sensation keeping me grounded to the earth when my consciousness wanted to fly. 

 After a while, I found myself standing in the middle of a small clearing staring longingly up at the stars.  I don’t want to deal with this now.  I don’t want to think.  Slowly I lowered myself to the ground laying myself out on the bed of sweet grass like a sacrifice to the gods.  My mind cleared of everything except the stars gazing lovingly down on me. 

 Time had no meaning for me.  I was part of the universe. 

 A presence encroached on my awareness.  It was a safe feeling, a feeling of security, a feeling of love.  The being moved nearer until it was kneeling at my side.  It drew my attention to it as a flower turns to the sun for the life giving warmth of its kiss. 

 He was there. 

 I felt our souls merge. 

 He was part of me and I was part of him. 

 My arms lifted of their accord to bring him down over me.  He accepted my arms around him and allowed me to bring his head down to mine.  Our lips met and our merging reached another level of completion. 

 His hands touched mine where they held his head and began caressing them, sliding his fingers in and out between mine.  Gradually he worked his way down my arms touching and massaging as he made his way to my shoulders.  As the sensations ran through us, our kiss became achingly tender and deeper.  His tongue leisurely traced my lips as they opened for his entrance.  He could taste the passion of my body and my soul.  Gently his tongue entered my mouth touching and rubbing against mine.  My hands gripped his hair as a deep moan escaped my throat. 

 His body lowered farther over mine as he took control of me through the kiss.  Passion burned its way through me when his hands moved down over the sides of my breasts.  I clung to him moaning, my hands moving down to his back. 

 His mouth worked magic on mine.  His tongue tasting every bit of my mouth as it danced with my own.  He began moving his tongue in a rhythm reminiscent of what he wanted to be doing to me with his body.  I couldn’t keep back the acknowledging moan as my body caught fire. 

 His hand moved to my stomach and he began rubbing it in a circular motion over my lower abdomen.  It felt as if he was touching me intimately at the same time his hand was on my stomach.  Then he moved his hand upward inch by inch continuing the circular rhythm he had set.  I stretched like a cat under him almost taking my mouth away from his as I reveled in the feeling of his hand on my body.  He kept our mouths meshed together loving mine as he would later love me in other ways. 

 When his hand reached my breasts his mouth left mine to begin an exploration of my face.  He kissed and caressed every aspect of my face with his mouth then turned his attention to my ear.  He used his tongue to trace the outline of my ear and teasingly dip into the canal.  I thought I would go mad when he whispered into it, “Mine…now and forever, mine.” 

 He leaned back away from me and I looked up into his eyes, they were golden.  His teeth had transformed as well and he was once again my vampire, but things had changed; now he was also my lover. 

 He bathed me with a tender smile as he lowered his head to my throat.  I wasn’t afraid.  He kissed my throat and licked it deliciously as I clutched at him moaning his name.  He opened his mouth over my neck at the jugular.  I could feel his teeth against my skin.  I felt his tongue running over my skin just before he sucked it into his mouth.  He didn’t bite me but what he did was almost as erotic. 

 At the same time that he was sucking on my neck, he had taken my breast into his hand and gently squeezed it.  Another blaze shot through me from his mouth to his hand on my breast and I quivered under him.  He slowly released my neck and began an exploration that took him down to my chest.  With his hands, he began unbuttoning my top.  He kissed or licked every bit of skin that was given to his view until he could peal my shirt off my unresisting body. 

 He raised me up enough to remove my shirt completely then removed my bra.  I heard his intake of breath at the first sight of my exposed flesh.  Lowering his head he kissed the top of my breasts then brought his head up to kiss my mouth.  “You are so beautiful,” he breathed into my mouth just before melding his to mine. 

 My hands moved from his back to his chest; his breath catching in his throat as I ran my fingers over him.  Slowly, he laid me down once again on the soft grass.  “Relax … enjoy,” he said grasping my hands and placing them to either side of my head. 

 Using his fingers, he sketched the outline of my face paying close attention to every detail.  His fingers glided over my eyelids, down my nose, then over my open lips.  I wanted to bring his fingers into my mouth, but he pulled away as I raised my head.  His sensual smile told the story of what he wanted, and I was more than happy to give it to him. 

 His fingers returned to their exploration of my face, broadening their range as he moved them into my hair.  He massaged my scalp releasing some of the tension that was building inside of me.  My body felt as though it were floating on a sensual cloud high above the grassy clearing where my lover held me.  Leisurely, he eased his fingers out of my hair changing their direction to proceed down my neck.  The path he left behind them tingled with suppressed energy. 

 As he reached my shoulders and went on to my breasts, I shuddered.  His hands enveloped my breasts caressing them, his palm directly over my nipples moving against them.  He released my breasts slowly allowing his fingers to rub against my skin as they slipped from his grasp.  His head lowered to my chest as his hands framed my breasts keeping my nipples erect for his mouth. 

 I watched his mouth open as he descended, his tongue moving out from between his lips as he reached my swollen nipple.  I felt his hot breath bathing it just before his even hotter tongue touched the very tip.  I moaned at the delicious sensations that ran through me.  He swirled his tongue around my nipple, covering every bit of the darker flesh, making it wet.  Gently, he blew against my skin causing the areola to contract and the nipple to harden and lengthen.  A deep moan escaped my throat as he took it into his mouth sucking on it a bit more roughly than I was accustomed to.  At first, I thought it would hurt then the lightning shot through me.  My back arched and my hands went to his head, holding his mouth to me as I gripped his hair, pulling it. 

 A low growl emanated from him as he continued the thrilling assault on my senses.  His mouth moved from one breast to the other showering it with the wonderful heat of his mouth, while one of his hands moved to my chest then began descending towards the top of my jeans. 

 With his passions enflamed, he had no patience for any obstacles to his goal.  As he reached the top of my pants he leaned away from me long enough to relieve me of them, then seemed to freeze as he realized what he had done.  The scene that greeted his eyes was one of feminine beauty.  He sat transfixed gazing upon what he had uncovered in his haste. 

 Almost reverently, he touched me, slowly running his fingers over the skin of my legs.  He looked into my eyes as his fingers crested the top of my thighs and moved up over my abdomen once again.  “Amor mio,” he whispered on the wind, “te quiero.”  His mouth captured mine again for a moment before he began kissing his way down my body, his hands caressing my breasts as his mouth passed over my chest. 

 When he reached my stomach, he moved his lower body over mine easing my knees apart with his own.  He knelt between my parted thighs, his kiss moving closer to the center of my desire. 

 My breathing was ragged and my body trembled under his touch.  I had never wanted the touch of a man so much.  He set my blood to boil and touched my soul.  His eyes reached into mine connecting us in a way I had never known before.  I thought I knew what it was like to be made love to, but nothing could have compared to this. 

 As his head and mouth went lower, his hands came down to my inner thighs and he began squeezing them gently as he pushed my legs farther apart.  He had kept his eyes locked with mine as he moved down my body, now as he straightened a bit, I understood why.  His head lowered to the apex of my thighs while his eyes continued to gaze into mine.  In the same moment his mouth came in contact with my womanhood, I could see his passion flare brightly as I felt my own begin to burn out of control. 

 His tongue moved over me … tasting me … sucking on me.  He brought his hand down between my legs, entering me with his finger.  Starting slowly, he began moving it in and out of me while he lapped at my most sensitive spot.  I squirmed under his ministrations, crying out at the heightened sensitivity he was causing.  I could feel every touch … every breath … every movement of his against my inner most sanctum. 

With every swirl of his tongue, my passion reached a higher point until I was ready to scream.  He took his finger out of me and ground his tongue and chin against me instead.  His hands held my hips not allowing me to move away from his roving tongue as he increased his intensity.  The next thing I felt was his hot tongue sliding inside me.  He began driving it in and out of me mimicking the act of penetration. 

My hands were suddenly in his hair gripping it in a way that must have been painful, though he showed no reaction other than to speed up his actions.  I wasn’t sure if I wanted him to stop or keep going.  My mind was shattering into a million pieces and I was sure my body would soon follow. 

His hands eased from my hips moving up my torso to my breasts.  My body was quaking under his and I was breathing in short pants and cries.  The primal urge of completion flowed through me under his ministrations.  I wanted it.  I wanted him.  I could feel the tension building between my legs and deep inside of me.  His tongue caused it to grow like a fire doused with gasoline. 

Without warning, it was there in all its glory and I was fragmenting.  My whole being shattering with the force of my orgasm.  I screamed my completion as he tenderly continued to love me with his mouth until my body calmed. 

He moved to lie beside me then held me as my breathing quieted, his hands rubbing over my skin.  Pulling me closer, he fit my body to his and kissed me lovingly.

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