Joe wandered around his house, though at the moment it was quiet as a mausoleum. Karla had left him again, another fight had driven her back to her mother’s place until she calmed down. Everyone else had gone home for the holidays, but Joe was really dreading when they came back. It had been less than a year since they’d lost Steve to the underground world of vampires and no one had really wanted to replace him in the band. It just didn’t feel right.

Joe sighed sadly. At least before the break they’d taken for Christmas, things were finally moving along on the new album. Steve had even stopped in a couple of times, listening with interest to how it sounded. Lyra had been with him, as well as another female vampire that Steve seemed rather fond of named Lisel. Some nights, all three of them would disappear into the room Joe had hidden away in the basement and Joe felt a twinge of jealous when he thought of Lyra in Steve’s arms. And there were those nights she slipped away with Sav. But somehow, that never bothered Joe.

And finally, on those occasions when Karla went to her mother’s or when Joe could find an excuse to stay out of the house, Lyra was with him. He had to admit, he was in love with her. More than he’d ever been with his wife. Yet she would leave again and be gone for long stretches of time that Joe could only wonder what she was doing.

Each time he let her take his blood, he could feel his bond with her strengthen a little more. Even as he thought of her now, he could feel her out there, somewhere. As a matter of fact, she seemed to be getting closer the more Joe thought of her. He shook his head and went into the kitchen to grab a beer, sitting at the table quietly for a moment. He could have sworn he heard footsteps going through the house, but that wasn’t possible. He was here alone.

His head snapped up as he heard music coming from the upstairs. What the hell was going on? Getting up, he headed for the stairs and went to investigate. The sound was coming from his bedroom! Had Karla come home already, trying to make up with him?

He opened the door of the bedroom quietly and peeked in. There standing by the stereo was Lyra, still looking through the small array of CD’s he kept in there. He walked silently up behind her and slipped his arms around her waist, kissing her neck gently. She turned in his arms and said, “Feeling lonely tonight, Joe?”

“Karla got mad and left again,” he said quietly. “But suddenly, I don’t mind it so much!” He lowered his head and gently captured Lyra’s lips with his own, his tongue begging for entrance into the warmth of her. Her lips parted willingly as his hands traveled slowly over her back. She melted into his arms as he pulled her into him. He picked her up gently and carried her over to his bed, laying down beside her and playing with a lock of her hair. Then he looked down at her and said, “You know I love you, don’t you Lyra?”

“Yes, and your feelings are returned completely, Joseph,” she answered softly, running her hand down his arm. “But you know as well as I do, you’re not ready to become part of my world yet. You’re too tied to the human world right now, luv.”

Joe sighed, wondering if he would ever be ready for the life that Lyra could offer him. He wanted her, but to give up everything he held dear? He couldn’t do that, at least not yet. He pushed that thought from his mind, knowing that when the time came, Lyra would be there for him. He leaned down and kissed her again, his hands tracing gentle patterns on her belly as his tongue explored her mouth again. She tugged him to her, wanting the heat of his flesh against hers as their tongues danced lightly together. She pulled his shirt off over his head, letting her fingers trail along his skin. Joe shivered under her touch, his desire raging out of control suddenly. He nearly tore Lyra’s shirt from her body, pulling it roughly off her and crushing her body against him. Then he moved lower, pulling her pants with him as he went.

She felt his rough fingers running lightly up her thighs as his tongue flicked out, teasing the center of her heat. He sucked her clit into his mouth, working it slowly with his tongue as she writhed beneath him. She tasted so sweet! Joe moved lower, his tongue working in and out of her channel as she murmured his name softly. Her fingers dug into the bed, hips moving up to meet Joe’s delicate probing of her most intimate anatomy. He centered his focus on her hard nub as his fingers penetrated her moist box. Lyra felt her climax hit her hard as she rose up to met his fingers.

Before her body could recover from his ministrations, Joe moved quickly and entered her with one rough thrust. She moaned loudly, calling Joe’s name as he rode her body. She felt her body rising into his, meeting him with the same intensity he had for her. They shuddered together, reaching a mutual climax within moments. Her fangs descended, wanting to complete their union but not willing to push Joe. He saw the glint in her eyes, so he pulled his hair away from his throat, whispering, “Take it, luv. I want to give that to you.”

Lyra didn’t need to be told twice. He leaned down, offering his throat to her and she bit ever so gently into him. He barely felt her fangs as they sunk home. They rolled together, locked in each others arms as she pulled his precious blood from his vein. The tingling sensation he felt left him feeling so close to her, he felt like a part of her at that moment. She released his throat and licked his wounds softly, sealing them quickly. Then Lyra looked into his eyes and said, “Thank you, Joe.”

“The pleasure was mine, Lyra,” he whispered, pulling her body into his as they settled down to sleep.

The following morning, Joe woke as Lyra was getting out of bed. “Why are you going so early, luv,” he asked quietly.

“I don’t want to be here when Karla comes home,” she answered, pulling on her clothing. “She’ll be here soon.”

“What? How?” Joe asked, wondering how Lyra could possibly know that.