Midnight Skies are Brightest

I awoke alone. Or at least, Laurenz’s body wasn’t next to mine. But his mind and presence remained in the room. The air was thick with his pride and happiness, all the while floating around me as though he himself were present. When I sat up to take in my surroundings, I found the canopy drawn down. I pulled the golden chord, and I gasped aloud.

White roses and petals adorned the whole room, which had been refurbished to an even better condition than before. Some of my own furniture had been moved into the room, including my prized vanity at which I’d sit for hours. My jewelry boxes and pretties were arranged upon it, as though awaiting my return.

Swinging my legs over the bed, I stepped down onto the petal-covered floor gently. Their gentle perfume misted around me, and in a trance I glided toward my vanity. A silken box waited expectantly in the center, and with trembling hands I opened it. A golden locket the shape of a heart twinkled up at me brilliantly. Picking the thin, golden chain from the velvety cushion, I clicked the heart open to look at it. Our pictures were set within the heart halves, and the images blurred as tears rose in my eyes. The classic gift was just romantic enough, and Laurenz knew how much of a sucker I was for romance.

Without hesitation, I slipped the necklace on and examined it in the mirror, its pure beauty making me smile. As I fingered the smooth gold, I spotted a folded card at the corner of my vanity. Knowing more gifts were to come, I picked it up and kissed the black L on the front before I opened it.

For you, my love. So that you may always have the chance to see how beautiful you really are.

-Laurenz

My heart gushed with pride, and my cheeks flooded with embarrassment. Laurenz knew I appreciated my gifts and possessions, and I guess this was a sign that he wanted me to appreciate myself. Before I could be reduced to a blubbering mess of romanticism, I giggled and stood to get dressed.

I stepped into a pair of my own boxers and rummaged through Laurenz’s drawers for a shirt. I came across a simple, black button-down, and I slipped it on. Hurrying back toward my vanity, I sat and ran a brush through my hair. I knew Laurenz would probably love seeing my hair tangled from sleep, among other things, but since he’d beautified the room, why couldn’t I beautify myself a little? So, on went the eyeliner and mascara, just enough so my eyes appeared stunningly big. Finished with my petty fumbling, I fluffed my hair once and hurried from the room, eager to find Laurenz.

As I made my way down the stairs, I could hear voices and clattering all throughout the house. Men hustled from room to room with broken and brand new furniture alike, but there was no sight of Laurenz. Silently, I watched as they passed by me and continued with their work, observing the new items with interest. It was obvious that Laurenz hadn’t wanted to waste any time with refurbishing the house, but it was odd that there were other vampires helping him. Didn’t they all think he was dead?

I shook the thought away and greeted the people who passed me. Some smiled, but most of them stopped their rearranging and stared after me. A blush rose in my cheeks when one man dropped the bookshelf he was carrying, making it fall on his partner’s toe. He gaped at me as I rushed out of the room, with his partners angry curses of pain following me.

Entering the main dining hall, I found Erik putting up a brand new chandelier. I approached the ladder and waited for him to finish, not wanting to startle him.

“Hello, Jessica,” he said without stopping his tinkering with the wires. “How do you like the house?”

“Very elegant,” I replied. “Do you know where Laurenz is?”

He climbed down and looked me over, his blue eyes pausing at my legs. Erik took my fingers and kissed the back of my hand. “You look stunning this lovely night.”

I giggled. “I just woke up.”

Erik shrugged. “That doesn’t mean anything.” He jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “Laurenz should be in the library.”

Thanking him, I rushed out of the dining hall and into the library. I once again seemed to attract the looks of the working men, but my presence didn’t seem to hinder their work. I weaved throughout the bookshelves and looked for Laurenz, but I was without luck. I eventually slipped into Laurenz’s private library to search for him there.

Sure enough, I found him. With his back to me, Laurenz sought to place an oil painting above the fireplace. The painting hovered in midair, occasionally gliding to the left or right to find the center of the wall. It was an old fashioned oil painting, with me sitting on a chair and dressed in Victorian clothes. Laurenz found the perfect spot and hung it. He sighed and wiped his hands before turning around.

Laurenz stopped in his tracks when he spotted me. His eyes sparked with surprise, but the look quickly changed with desire. Laurenz beamed as he looked me over. He strode toward me with his arms spread open.

I rushed toward him and leapt into his embrace, giggling softly. Laurenz swung me around before kissing my neck, his hand slipping down to cup my bottom. Sliding me down his body, he set me down on my feet and kissed my nose.

“What are you doing up so early?” he asked.

Not what I’d expected, but I was far from hurt by the question. “I could always go back to bed,” I teased, moving toward the door.

He grabbed my arm and tugged me back. “Oh no, you don’t,” he growled. “Not looking like that, you’re not.”

That comment got me. “You don’t like it?”

Laurenz pulled me onto the library sofa and stretched the both of us out. “Are you kidding? Look at you!” His fingers threaded through my hair. “Wearing nothing but a pair of boxers and one of my shirts? You look mighty ravishing, and you think I’m gonna let you walk around my men like that?”

I blushed. “I already did.” My hand rested on the expanse of his chest, and I propped my elbow up.

“I know, and I don’t like it.” Laurenz grabbed my hair and kissed me, his lips tugging at my own. “Mine,” he grumbled. “No sharing.”

Laying my head on his chest, I snuggled down onto him. “I love you.”

Laurenz murmured his approval, his lips too busy kissing my hair to actually respond. I picked his hand up and entwined our fingers. He squeezed my hand and pecked my forehead, stroking my hair with the other hand.

Wriggling from his kisses and touches, I gazed down at him. “Why were you shocked to see me?”

“I wanted it to be a surprise, you seeing the house all fixed up.”

“Sorry,” I mumbled, feeling disappointed that I’d ruined his surprise. As I flipped my hair over one shoulder and readjusted myself, the golden locket slipped from the folds of Laurenz’s shirt. Laurenz reached up to brush my hair back, and I watched as the gold twinkle caught his attention.

He paused, those big, green eyes widening. He looked from my face to the necklace and back again. I felt his fingers slip down to unbutton my shirt. His hand pressed against my sternum, trapping the locket on my skin.

“You’re wearing it,” he muttered. “Christ, you’re wearing it…already.”

Puzzled, I rested my hand over his own. “Of course I’d wear it. It’s beautiful.”

He’d flipped us over so fast I didn’t realize what had happened. “No,” he snarled as he ripped at my clothes, “you’re beautiful.” A pink flush stained his cheeks, and Laurenz dragged my head upward for a kiss. “And I want to see you wearing nothing but my necklace,” he growled on my lips. “Mine.”

The familiar thrill from his possession sparked through me, and I kneaded his muscles through his shirt. “Yes, Laurenz,” I gasped breathlessly, “Yours.”

His fangs penetrated my skin in the next instant. Laurenz pushed his hips between my naked thighs, his jean-clad erection brushing against my clitoris. I let out a wail of tortured bliss. A muffled growl vibrated against my neck, and Laurenz grabbed a fistful of my hair to keep me in place.

Erik’s voice intruded upon our privacy. “Laurenz, I just wanted to let you know--”

Laurenz lifted his head with thick blood dribbling down his chin. “Out!” he roared. “Get out!”

Upside-down, I watched Erik spin away and shut the library door behind him, muttering curses at himself. Laurenz’s heated snarl caught my attention again, and I looked up to find his eyes flash red. I stroked his cheek lightly.

“Laurenz,” I cooed. “Easy.”

His fiery gaze returned to me, and his chest heaved violently.

“Easy,” I repeated. “Gentle.”

The crimson hue disappeared from his eyes, and Laurenz kissed my forehead. He rolled off the sofa and landed on his back, providing me with his body to cushion my fall. Laurenz nuzzled my temple and pulled my hair from my face.

My fingertip stroked his high cheekbone and down his strong chin. “Pretty,” I whispered, using all of my power to soothe him.

“Beautiful,” he answered back.

Laurenz pulled me down beside him and draped his arms around me. I snuggled into them, welcoming the warmth of his body. Goosebumps rose on my skin, and I shivered.

“Cold?”

I laughed. “Well, yeah. You kinda ripped off the clothes I was wearing, and they weren’t even mine.”

Laurenz captured my mouth with his own. “Oops,” he replied, sounding not very apologetic at all. Nonetheless, he lifted me up and carried me before the fireplace. His eyes flashed and the hearth jumped to life with heat, and Laurenz laid me down on the fur rug. He draped a dark green blanket over me, bundling me in thoroughly before he wrapped me just as tightly in his arms.

“What’s your favorite color?” I asked.

“Red,” he replied, without hesitating.

Giggling, I pinched his muscular bicep. “Seriously!”

Laurenz growled and rolled me onto my back. “I was being serious.” He kissed my nose. “Do you hate me for taking you away?” he murmured.

I ran my fingers through his hair. “I did. I felt like you robbed me of everything I was and took me away from everything I had.”

A single tear spilled from his green eyes, and I wiped it away. “Don’t cry,” I hummed gently. “It’s not like that anymore. I just wish you would have let me see my parents one last time. To tell them I was okay.”

He mumbled apologies and damnations anyway, and I succeeded in stopping him only by grabbing his head and kissing him to death. I didn’t want him to regret anything, to be sad about anything. I didn’t care that he’d taken me away. I wanted to be with him, now, in that moment, forever.

“What were your parents like?”

Laurenz sighed. “She loved her job as a mother, cooking and cleaning. I’ve never met anyone like her,” he said softly, his eyes glazing over. “Mother was so protective, brooding over what kind of a wife she wanted me to have. She never forgot to remind me of morals, and that all I should ever do in life is be happy, and work hard. I did anything Mother asked.

“And Father,” Laurenz laughed, “he used to whip me good, with all my troublemaking. But he’d always comfort me later, telling me to be a man and keep my chin up. He used to come home from the field or from a war, and he’d throw me over his shoulder, spin me around in the air…He treated Mother like the Queen herself. I remember the first time he sat me down to talk about girls. And the one thing he always reminded me of was to treat my woman like treasure….”

He shook his head and looked down at me. “Do I--?”

“Yes,” I interrupted. “You treat your woman like she’s everything to you.”

Grinning, he buried his face in the curve of my shoulder. I felt his nose rub against my skin, and the tip of his tongue lashed out against my pulse. “You are everything. I don’t want to treat you any less than what you are--perfect.”

“Aw,” I crooned, feeling self-conscious and grateful at the same time. “Thank you, but I’m not perfect, silly.”

His teeth clamped down on my neck. Laurenz nipped my skin in punishment. “Yes, you are.” Nuzzling my ear, he rubbed my arms. “And don’t think about arguing, because you know it won’t work.”

Pushing him back, I snuggled close to him. Laurenz settled on his back and wrapped an arm around me with his chin resting on my hair. I sighed and rubbed his chest, pulling his shirt up to run my palm along his bare skin. Laurenz emitted a great purr, before taking my hand and kissing my fingers.

“Beautiful,” he sighed against my palm.

I yawned and blinked slowly, suddenly feeling tired. He rubbed my arm and caressed my back, a sign that told me that it was okay if I slept. I shook my head, burying my face into his shoulder. His warm scent drew me in, and the comfy smell made me want to nap all the more.

“I told you,” he teased softly. “I knew you’d gotten up too early.”

“Five minutes,” I mumbled in his shirt. “Just…wake me up in five minutes.”

Laurenz’s chest began to rumble, his voice vibrating in a melodic tone. The song was pretty, tantalizing, as it wrapped around me and sank deep into my skin. I felt my eyes closing, my breath slowing, my mind wandering…

My eyes opened. I was back in bed, and Laurenz stood frozen above me. His hands still clutched the edges of the blankets he’d pulled over my body. I turned my head and smiled up at him.

“You stopped singing,” I whispered.

He smoothed the blankets and bent over, kissing my forehead. “Go back to sleep, love.” Laurenz sat back on the chair that sat beside the bed.

Blinking, I stretched my arms and rubbed my eyes. “You didn’t wake me up,” I accused softly.

Laurenz pushed hair away from my temple. “I know.” He looked me over and met my eyes with humor pulling at his smile. “You can hate me if you like,” he murmured.

I giggled. “No. I’d rather be wasting my energy doing something else with you.” Biting my lip, I tugged him down onto the bed with me, rolled over so I straddled him. It was then that I noticed the silky purple nightgown I wore, and the material wisped over my skin like a hidden promise.

His hands slid up my bare thighs, the bulge in his pants growing from seemingly always ready to bring it on in a heartbeat. Fire erupted in the depths of his eyes, and I watched him as he parted his lips with desire. The tips of his fangs flashed within his mouth.

“I knew that gown would look good on you,” he rasped.

Both my body and mind screamed for sex. I wanted him, as I always did. But I wanted him at my mercy for once, I wanted to watch him find his pleasure as I took him there. His eyes flashed when he heard my thoughts, and suddenly his hips were gyrating into mine.

Moaning, I pressed harder down on him, and I shuddered as the rough material of his jeans scraped along the sensitive flesh between my legs. I grew moist and ready for him, and the sensation deepened as Laurenz tugged the silky nightgown past my waist. He leaned up to take hold of my breasts, pulling one into his mouth with a husky purr.

The jarring blare of the telephone disrupted the moment, and with a sigh I reached over to grab it. “Hello?” I coughed, my voice still raspy. Rolling off his body, I turned my back and tugged up my nightgown.

“Jessica,” an equally rough voice answered, “find you senses again?”

I recognized his voice and gasped. “Louis! Oh, Louis, I’m so sorry.”

He laughed through the phone, his patchy chuckle sliced by a cough. “No need to apologize. The only thing we feel insulted about is the fact that you have not said thanks for our generous hospitality.”

“Oh, well…” I struggled to push Laurenz from my back, who’d decided to crawl behind me and quietly tease me with sensuous stroke and kisses. “I’m sorry about…everything. We just need…” My hand grabbed at his fingers, which had been sliding farther up my thighs. “…a little…time.”

When I turned my face to shoot him a warning glare, Laurenz planted a kiss on my lips. I mouthed a Stop it at him. He protested with a low rumble and sat back. Louis’ voice echoed from the headset, and I jumped and turned away again.

“…time is short,” he said. “We need you over here as soon as possible.”

Laurenz’s presence grew wicked once more, and I tensed as I felt my neck sear with heat. His lips moistened my earlobe. The peaks of my nipples hardened at his husky whispers.

“Yes, Louis. I’ll tell him. Feel better.” I hung up and threw the phone down. “You’re a jerk!” I screeched, pouncing on him.

He warded off my blows and trapped me beneath him. His retaliation was to shower my face and neck with kisses. I wrestled with him for several moments, our bed play sending us to the floor. Laurenz used his body to cushion my fall. The sheets fell over us, and we laughed and kissed between breaths.

“Can I be a jerk later?” he inquired against my ear. “Because right now I want to be inside you.”

Blushing, I pulled at the strap that had fallen down my shoulder. “Louis said it was important.”

Laurenz growled in protest. “Making love to you is important. Feeling you around me is important. Hearing you moan is important. Louis can’t have anything that could compare to that.”

I giggled and slid down to lay on his body. “You’re hard to persuade.”

He removed this hands from underneath the nightie, and he smoothed the material without meeting my gaze. “I’ll never force you to make love with me if you’re not in the mood. I can be pushy with you about a lot of things, especially if I know you’ll be capable of something, but never when it comes to our relationship.”

Guilt and appreciation swept over me at the same time. “I just…don’t want you to grow bored with me.”

“That’s not possible,” he swore gently. “You aren’t something that can grow ragged and be thrown away.” A cheeky smile grew on his face. “Besides, there are still hundreds of different ways that I can fu-”

I kissed him before the vulgar word could pass his lips. Laurenz eagerly took the kiss further, sliding the straps of the nightgown back down my arms. He rolled over and took me with him, and my fingers buried in his hair.

“I love you,” he groaned, his lips kissing my neck. “I love you, I love you.”

I lifted my hips in agreement and moaned, knowing that I should be telling him to stop, that Louis needed us right away. Laurenz took advantage of my silence, pulling fervently at his zipper. A pang of desire shot through my belly, and I let out a pleasured gasp as his manhood pushed against me.

“Louis can wait,” he grunted. “It’s time for us.” Laurenz bent his head and took my breast into his mouth, pulling my nipple against his soft palate.

“Us,” I repeated breathlessly, as we sank onto the floor and became one.