Beating Hearts

by Lucretia Stanhope

  She remembered before she left, watching him move, feeling his gentle touch and them kissing, it all felt right. She had been thinking about him that way before anything happened, before she realized he wasn't like them, wasn't a monster. How could she tell him any of that? Did she want to kiss him still? Did he want to?

  She looked at him and watched as he searched her eyes, and then leaned in, kissing him. Just like before, it felt right. Cool, yet full of a passionate heat.

  He kissed her back, amazed by how she seemed to be able to kiss his soul and warm his whole body.

  She pressed against him, kissing him fully, deeply, giving him hot tingles that raced across his nerves.

  “That was magical,” she said, after she pulled away, and watched as he smiled.

  “I'm glad you think so too. I don't want you to feel like… I don't want you to think you owe me anything.”

  She knew what he was saying, what he was asking, and could understand his worry. “Don't think that. Please don't think that. I wanted to kiss you. I wanted to kiss you again since the first time. I never stopped wanting to be closer to you, even when you said you didn't want it.”

  “I'm sorry to be such an awkward bastard.”

  “I think we are both too solitary to be good at this,” she said, and watched as his face started to look worried. “But we can try. I would like to try.”

  He pulled her close again, enjoying feeling her next to him. “I love the way you feel against me. I crave to feel you against me.”

  “I think you might be better at this than you think.” She leaned closer so she could kiss his neck.

  They sat kissing and holding each other, enjoying the way it felt when the contrasting temperatures melted together. It was a soothing sensation, and for a moment they both forgot about all of the troubles that needed dealing with.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “N

  ick?” Kate said, as they both sat in each other’s arms, while they gazed into the fire. “Can I stay with you tonight?”

  He was stumped a moment.

  She had been staying with him, why would she need to ask about tonight?

  Before he asked what she meant, it struck him. “In my room, you mean?”

  “Yes,” she said, running her fingers over his hand.

  He never had anyone sleep in his room, or anywhere near him while the sun was up, human or otherwise. “I'm not sure it would be safe.”

  “Why? I wouldn't open the door.”

  “No, not in that way. I'm not saying that you would do anything wrong. There is no way I could guarantee your safety. I don't know what happens to me, or what I might do to you in that state.”

  “What state?”

  “I don't honestly know. I have no memory of the days. When we came in so late this morning, I didn't even make it to the bed. I woke up on the floor. I think I cease to be all day. I don't know if my instincts would sense you, maybe as danger or food. I don't know.”

  She thought a moment and then her eyes sparkled with an idea. “Can we film you one day and see what happens? It was scary out here alone yesterday.”

  “Oh, sweetheart. No one knows you are here. No one knows I am here. Warren sleeps all day too, remember. I will take care of Warren very soon. I don't like you being afraid. Part of what draws me to you is your bravery.”

  She smiled at him, he was drawn to her. She liked that, it felt good to hear. “What will we do? About Warren and the club? Should I call the police tomorrow?”

  “No, that might only serve to tip him off. Not only is he a powerful vampire, he is a powerful man as well, with a lot of officials in his pocket. If the police were dragged in, justice would come slowly, if at all.”

  “So how can we draw him away from that place? His doorman…” She stopped and shuddered at the memory. “He is awfully strong, and so is the one who watches the place all day.”

  “Yes, I imagine he has many thugs. He always did. He will leave to meet me. We have unfinished business.”

  “How did you get mixed up with him?”

  “I wasn't the same then, Kate. We should focus more on how to do this without you getting hurt any more than you have been,” he said, and took her injured hand in his. He flipped it and looked at the finger. It was bruised, he could see the deep red where the pin had been pushed. It was surrounded by purples and blues from the trauma because Warren had used such force. He gently kissed it. “Warren is going to pay dearly for this.”

  Kate had never known a man to be protective of her. She had always been so independent that she just never attracted that type, but she liked it. Liked that he cared enough to want to avenge the wrong-doing, even if she were going to insist on helping. “I'd like to make him pay too, more than you will understand. More than that, I need to get those people out of there.”

  “I understand that, but we are going to need a very well thought out plan. I couldn't take on Teddy and Warren, not in the same night. I will need recovery time. They are not pushovers. I have no doubt I will lose blood. More than likely a lot of blood.”

  She turned and scanned his face with concerned eyes. “You would be in real danger from those two?”

  “Yes.”

  “But you are stronger than most of them aren't you?”

  “Yes, as are Warren and Teddy.”

  “They are both turned directly from the monsters, like you are?”

  “Yes.”

  She hadn't realized he would be in danger. She assumed he would be able to handle things easily on the vampire side. “We will think of the safest way. I do need to help those people, but I don't want to risk losing you.”

  This was getting complicated, he thought as he looked at the fire. “Can you please not do anything tomorrow? Not until I can think about the best way to do this.”

  “Of course. Can we set up the camera so that we can see what happens to you tomorrow?”

  “Still studying me?” he asked, and then laughed.

  “No. I want to sleep with you, Nick, if it is safe. I would really like to sleep in your arms.”

  He was glad he didn't have warm blood in his veins, or he would have blushed at the thought he had when she said that she wanted to sleep with him. “I would like that very much. I'll carry the camera downstairs.”

  She got up and started to unplug her camera.

  Nick followed, trying not to think about sleeping with her. He wished she had worded that differently, now it was all he could think about. He had been content with kissing. More than content, kissing was magical, warming, delicious, but now he wondered what it would be like to be so close, naked, against, inside of her.

  She carried the cords and followed him to the door to his room.

  He opened the door and started in. “Wait there, let me switch on a light.” He vanished down the stairs.

  Moments later, a dim light shined up from below, and she took the stairs slowly. They were steep and creaked as she made her way down. Once she was down the steps, she looked around his room. It was a small room with only three things in it. There was a bed in the corner, with no blankets, she assumed he didn't need any, since he didn't get chilled. Beside the bed was a little table with a lamp sat on it. It was a simple room for a simple man.

  There was one outlet, so she walked over and plugged in the camera, and then angled it for the bed. As she was adjusting the distance and focus, she noticed there was a picture hanging on the wall, it was the picture she had given to him. She walked over and looked at it, running a finger over the edge of the frame. “You hung it?”

  “Of course I did. It is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me.”

  “I wasn't sure you even liked it,” she said, and turned around looking at him as he watched her.

  “I'm sorry I made you feel unwelcome here. I'm sorry I didn't tell you that you touched me with such a sweet gesture.”

  “You are going to lose your invite to the monsters' ball if you are not careful,” she said in a soft voice, a
nd stepped closer to him.

  He found it was strange to have someone in his private space, but strange in a nice, exciting way. “I'd burn the invite for just one dance with you,” he said, and stepped closer, feeling her warmth in his space.

  She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down into a kiss.

  Just like before, he felt himself melt into her. All of his extra sharp senses loved her. He had been drinking her in visually since day one.

  She was stunning, her perfect features and alluring curves drew his eyes. Touching her skin felt soft and warm, causing sensations of hot pleasure to dance across all his nerve endings at the same time.

  When he kissed her skin and her lips, there was a delicious salty sweetness. From the first moment he neared her on the day she arrived, he noticed her aroma was an intoxicating blend of woman mixed with flowers, and she sounded like life as he listened to her heart beating so close.

  He wanted her with a burning urgency, but he needed her to want him.

  Her hands drifted to his waist and she pulled him to her.

  He allowed his hands to run over the soft skin on her arms and shoulders and felt her skin get goosebumps as he touched her.

  “Is it cold, uncomfortable?” he asked, stopping, not wanting to cause her any discomfort.

  “No, it feels amazing, those are from pleasure,” she said, and kissed his neck, trailing up to one of his ears. “I love the way your touch feels.”

  He held back a growl, he could barely control his desire as it was, but when she said that, he wanted to take her, then, right then. His hand ran under her shirt, feeling the smooth skin of her waist, and he danced his fingers up to her lace-covered breasts.

  She lifted her arms and tugged her shirt off.

  He looked at her standing there, her pale skin calling out to him for another touch. His eyes were drawn to the exposed cleavage between the white lace bra she wore. He knew once he touched her he would want more; he did want more. Dare he touch her there? The passion they were stirring up could fuel hunger, and his passions were already teetering on the edge of being out of control.

  She made up his mind for him when she took one of his hands and brought it up to touch her.

  The heat between them was palpable. He felt like he urgently needed her, needed to see and feel all of her. He ran his fingers over the soft exposed skin and watched as she closed her eyes, enjoying his touch. He reached around and found the clasp, freeing her breasts, and tossing the lace bra on the floor. His hands immediately traced her dark, erect nipples, and he leaned in to kiss them, first one and then the other.

  Kate pulled him closer, running her fingers through his curls. She let out a slight gasp as his mouth enveloped one of her nipples, and pleasure raced all the way to her toes. Everywhere he touched there was a cold shock, that was instantly followed by a rush of heat and a need for more.

  He looked up and kissed her lips, and then she tugged off his shirt.

  Her hands danced across his well-honed muscles. She had seen fit men before, but he was perfection. Every muscle looked as if it had been carved in stone.

  He watched her as she looked at him a minute, but he needed to feel her against him. He pulled her close and her hands laced around his neck again, pulling him into another kiss. The feeling of her soft skin against his was like a thousand pin pricks of white hot desire that reached to his soul, and demanded he take her for his own.

  She pulled back and looked at him, they both had the same need, both wanted it as badly as the other.

  “Kate?” he started, not even sure what to say.

  “Yes, please, now,” she answered his unspoken question, and slipped out of her pants.

  He looked at her as she was standing there in just a pair of white lacy panties, panties that did not hide the dark shadow that he wanted to be lost in.

  She watched his eyes, saw his need and slowly rolled them off.

  He didn't take his eyes off of her nakedness, while he undressed under her watchful eye.

  She had been picturing those muscles under his jeans, and now she could see he was every bit the man she imagined. She took a few steps over to his bed and paused, waiting for him to follow.

  “Are you sure?” he asked.

  She pulled him closer, and nudged him toward the bed.

  He sat, and she pushed gently on his shoulders. He laid back, watching every graceful move as the beautiful woman straddled on top of him.

  She ran her hands over his bare chest, leaving a hot trail everywhere they touched. His skin felt magical to her, and she leaned down to kiss his chest, trailing hot kisses up to his neck. She could feel he was ready, as ready as she was. She nibbled on his ear and slid up slightly.

  He could feel her heat, the hot wet spot that pressed against him. He waited, letting her lead, letting her take this at her pace. He throbbed with anticipation and kissed her deeply, trying to distract himself from how badly he needed to be inside of her. The feeling of her hot body against him was melting away his control. He concentrated on her touch, on her skin, praying to whatever was listening to let the monster in his blood stay sleeping. It was at that moment, but the man in him was fully awake, awake and aching with desire. He was hungry for her in a way he had never known possible.

  “I need you,” he whispered in her ear.

  He felt hot pleasure radiate all over his entire body as she slid herself over him. His hands grabbed at her hips, pulling her to him as he pushed deeper. He had never felt anything so hot, so consuming. He felt like he was going to catch fire from the passion between them.

  He watched her face as she rode him, watched the pleasure as she closed her eyes and rolled her head to one side.

  Her hands gripped his shoulders as she moved faster.

  He was lost in her motion, lost in her warmth, he felt alive. When he felt her tighten around him and heard her sounds of release, he lost what little control he had left, and flipped her onto the bed so that she was under him. He needed to take her, needed to be deeper, there was an urgent need he couldn't deny any longer.

  Her legs started to wrap around his waist, but he stopped them and laced them around his arms, pushing deeper still. Needing to have as much of her as he could. He leaned down and kissed her again, his rhythm quickening. He put his hands on her shoulders and pulled her down onto him, moaning loudly as he did so, and his world exploded in pleasure.

  He stayed on top of her, propped above her, allowing his breathing the time it needed to return to normal, while he watched her perfect face. Then he rolled over and laid beside her, listening as her heartrate slowed back to a steady beat. She was magical. Perfect and magical, and she had given herself to him.

  Kate rolled over and laid her head on his chest. She knew it was going to be different, knew it would have to feel different, but she had no idea it would be such a full experience. She never felt a touch like that, never felt so wanted, so needed, and had certainly never felt an orgasm that made every part of her feel so amazing.

  They both laid there, just enjoying feeling close to each other without saying a word.

  Chapter Sixteen

  K ate propped up on one arm and kissed Nick on his nose. “I need to go be by the fire.”

  He watched her get up and get dressed, and then he did the same. After switching off the light, he followed her upstairs where he gathered a few big logs and made sure the fire was roaring. “I'm going to grab a nip. Can I make you something?”

  “I'll make my own,” she said, and followed him to the kitchen.

  “I thought you were cold, I could have made you something,” he said as he poured himself a meal.

  “I know you would have; you already did that once. You didn't take me to raise I assume.” She reached past him for the cheese. “I'm just going to have a sandwich.”

  “I'll take you any way you'll let me.” He watched her making her food.

  She looked at him sipping his drink. “Did you think about that, w
hile we were making love, did you think about my blood?” She looked at his eyes, waiting for a response.

  He sat his drink down and walked over to her. “Not even once. I haven't thought about tasting you that way since I realized you were special to me. I was worried that I might, but I didn't.” He reached out and put a finger under her chin, raising her head slightly, making sure they were eye to eye. “I promise you that.”

  She was glad to hear him say that, even though she had already felt fairly certain she was safe with him.

  They sat cuddled by the fire the rest of the night, mostly silent, occasionally kissing.

  “Sweetheart, I need to go to my room now,” Nick said. There was sadness in his tone because after what they had just experienced, he wasn't ready to be away from Kate. He felt like there was nothing that he wanted more than to be sat in front of the fire, holding her.

  She turned her head and kissed him gently. “Let me just start the camera.” She got up and followed him down to his room. Once she had it rolling and was sure the angles were right, she kissed him again. “Sleep well, I'll see you tonight.”

  “Take this.” He reached in his pocket, pulled out his wallet and handed her a visa card. “Order a couch, order anything you need to be more comfortable. I have a lot of resources, so please get what you need and what you want.”

  “I will have what I need and want when you wake up, Nick.” She hugged him to her, and enjoyed his arms around her one more time.

  “At least get a couch, my dearest, I don't want to find you at my door on the cold floor again. I set out some smaller logs for you to add to the fire before you go to sleep.” He squeezed her, and stepped back. “I have to go now, I can't wait, as much as I would like to, I just can't.” A frown filled his face.

  She walked back up the stairs and listened as he bolted the door. Suddenly she felt cold and alone. The sun would be up in a matter of minutes, so she went outside with her spare camera to enjoy watching it, wake up, and take some pictures. While she found it beautiful as she always had, that morning she also found it sad, with it rising it took away Nick from her arms. It took away his kiss, and took away the way he looked at her, the way that made her feel like she belonged there.