There's actually a scene missing from this chapter. I didn't finish it like I was supposed to, but the next scene can wait for next chapter. This one is dedicated to Kanilla, because I said so and...yep. Just read, kay?

Waiting Up

Time, after the incident in Los Angeles, seemed to fly by unimaginably fast, especially compared to most other points in my life. Much faster than it had gone back in my normal life, and several times faster than it had gone while I was initially with Armand. I did find myself busy now, throwing myself into the most menial of tasks simply for the sake of forgetting (or doing my damnedest to try) we’d ever been back. Forgetting that Terry had pressed his lips so sweetly against mine. In some ways, it had worked; in others, not so much, but nothing is perfect. At the very least, Armand and I had gone back to the situation that did its best to pass for normal. And it could be given a little credit at least- someone walking by wouldn’t notice anything amiss.

Particularly, or so I figured, in our current location. After L.A., we’d ended up in England, upon my request. If I had to go somewhere else in Europe…it had seemed a fair location. A fair amount of well-known Hunters were from England. And maybe trying to use England to forget what time was going by had something to do with my successfully not noticing that Christmas was fast approaching until it was the week before.

Or maybe that really shouldn’t be considered a success.

“Epithalamium.” I real aloud, presently sitting alone in a library chair. The dictionary sat in my lap, the tiny font only a little bit difficult to read in this position. “A song or poem in honour of a bridge or bridegroom, or of both; nuptial song.”

“Excuse my interruption, kitten.” Armand seemed to appear before me from thin air- not that this was anything new. “But may I inquire as to what exactly you are doing?”

“Hi.” I smiled brilliantly when I looked up at him. My fingers lifted the book from my lap and set it down on the end table, allowing me to stand up and take one of his hands in mine. “You were gone, Brandt is busy teaching Kristen something-or-other about the ways different people of other countries celebrate this time of year until Eve comes to get her, and so I decided to kill time by looking up random words in the dictionary.”

“And you came across the word…epithalamium?” He lifted his eyebrows and I bobbed my head. “Perhaps you ought to write one for me, hm?”

“How about not?” I snorted, letting him embrace me. “That would denote you’re getting married, an idea I refuse to represent or participate in. Regardless of if my decision is to stay with you, we’re not getting married. And if you have plans to marry someone else, you and I have a problem. Okay, stupid vampire?”

“Pet, I hardly feel calling me stupid is doing any justice.” His tone was serious, but he laughed at the end of his sentence. “Now, if you’ll allow me the pleasure of telling you why I came to see you…?”

I heaved an overly-dramatic tortured sigh. “I guess I can let you talk to me. What do you want?”

“Christmas is next week. Five days away, to be exact. I wondered if perhaps you would like to go Christmas shopping with me and I felt dinner afterwards would be in order. London is by no means as lovely as Paris by nightfall, but it is nice enough and offers its own pleasures. And we have not gone anywhere together since what happened in Los Angeles. I will admit to the fault- I have not offered you the opportunity. Still, I thought you may be interested.”

“All right.” I agreed. “Just- don’t most people get their Christmas shopping done a whole lot earlier than this? I don’t think we’ll find much. Besides…I don’t have any money to spend on anyone, or any idea what to get them. Hell, who am I going to be buying for?”

“Anyone you want, kitten.” The vampire murmured, cupping my face. His thumb brushed just against the place beneath my eye. In response I sighed and let them both fall closed, listening to his soothing voice. I still thought it was more like dark chocolate and honey than anything else. “You may choose gifts for anyone you wish. Please do not concern yourself with costs. Lord knows I Have more than enough money.”

“Okay…So do you have anywhere in particular we’re going to go?”

“I have a few places in mind, yes. The restaurant I am intending to visit after is lovely, assuming of course you will be hungry for dinner afterwards. Do you believe you will be?”

“Yeah.” I opened my eyes and tugged his hand away from my face. “We’re going now?”

“Unless you’re doing something else you find more engaging.” I couldn’t possibly miss the hint of amusement in his voice. “We are indeed going now.”

Resulting from this conversation, half an hour later had me standing at Armand’s side in an antique shop. Both of us were doing the same exact thing: studying a set of incredibly old vases. This was the third wed investigated, and to my surprise, doing this was somehow interesting. Maybe it was just the idea of Christmas shopping with a vampire that made it interesting.

“Do you suppose he would prefer this one?”

I turned my head a little, peeking at the specific vase he referred to. It was nice…for a vase, at least. The design was simplistic and pretty, an Asian flower painted delicately on each side. Probably a creation of Japanese origin, but I was too lazy to read the card beside it. “It’s all right. I would go with the Egyptian urn set we saw over near the back of the story though. Then again, you have known him longer than I have.”

“The urns?” Armand straightened up from studying the vase and set off toward the set I’d referred to. I hurried after him, knowing just where to go. I’d made the suggestion, after all. “Ah, I see. I must say I agree with you. Besides, I think Brandt see fit to injure me if I purchase him only one. The set is indeed better. All right, we shall purchase the urns. Perhaps the Asian vase I showed you would more befit Kristen?”

I made a face. “The little girl likes antique vases too?”

“Brandt turned her on to them.” His voice wry, Armand shook his head. “He’s quite the character, my Brandt. He would never fit into Kristen’s present household, of course.” He paused thoughtfully. “I suppose when the child is Bonded she’ll have to come and live with us. Eve certainly won’t be pleased.”

I held my tongue at the mention of ‘us’ and instead said, “All right, I get Eve, and I sort of get Kristen. What about Isabella and Lauren? What do they do? Considering how into beauty you guys are, I don’t even see why Isabella is with such a scarred woman.”

“They were together before becoming what they are.” The vampire spoke to me carefully, seeming to watch his words. One of his hands came up, fingers stringing through my hair. I released a contented breath, imagining his other hand coming in lower- and immediately pushed that thought away, focusing on his speech. “I am the oldest of those who keep my company, kitten. I have watched their situations and much as I complain about that, I have always tried my hardest to help them- I was the one to turn Darrick, in fact. When it comes to Isabella and Lauren- knowing each other beforehand is what one would refer to as a special case, for few of us really have. It is not within my rights to explain further, much as I would like to. My apologies, pet.”

“No, it’s okay.” I shrugged a little bit, dancing a little sidestep to stand in front of him. I dragged his arms around me and snuggled into him. “You’re so warm. It’s freezing outside. How the hell are you so warm, especially when you’re dead, technically?”

“We aren’t dead the way you like to think. It’s a justification,” he murmured, dipping his face to nuzzle my neck. “A justification your people invented when they began hunting us. If your time with me has taught you nothing else, you should have learned not to think everything you’ve been told in your life is the truth.”

“I-” a yelp escaped me when he nipped my skin gently. “Don’t do that! We’re in public!”

“No one is watching.” He whispered, teeth closing again in almost the same place. “I don’t believe anyone will be at any point in the near future. I can touch here just fine, kitten.”

I wrestled myself out of his grasp and glowered indignantly at him. “Perverted vampire.” I grumbled. “Can’t you at least wait until later when we’re not in the middle of the store to molest me?”

“Oh, that does bode well. It certainly sounds as though you’re going to let me touch you later.”

“I have been, haven’t I?” No matter I’d just escaped, I moved forward again and let him wrap me in his arms. Being there was okay, nice even, if he wasn’t molesting me. Damn vampire. But all things considered, well… He wasn’t too bad. “Since we came to the agreement that you don’t just think you have the right. There’s no chance, though, of me just quietly letting you try to rape me in public.”

“I would hardly call it rape.” He chuckled. “Besides, if you allow me to touch you, I hardly expect you to be quiet about it.”

“You’re disgusting.” I informed him under my breath, setting off at a brisk trot to find the single person who was working, listening to the sound of Armand laughing behind me.

“I’ve gotta ask again- you’re absolutely sure Isabella and Lauren will like the stuff we got for them?”

“Yes, I promise.” The vampire reassured me for what was very likely the millionth time since we’d come into the restaurant. He sat across from me, spoon in hand, a bowl soup before him. I hadn’t given him much opportunity to eat it so far. “Kitten, do you hear yourself? You are obsessively questioning whether a vampire and her Bonded will appreciate your Christmas presents. Are you quite sure you’re feeling perfectly well?”

“I’m fine.” I near-snapped. Giving myself a much-needed moment, I used my fork to shove a bit of my chicken into my mouth. Chewing as slowly as was excusable, I watched him take a sip of his wine. Mine remained untouched- he’d allowed me to pour it for myself, but I could hardly trust myself to think rationally when I wasn’t alcohol free. I didn’t want to run any risks by drinking. Finally, I said, “It’s easier than worrying about if it’s even okay to send the presents to my family and Terry.”

“Why would it not be?” He asked curiously, eyebrows lifted. “I do not see any issue with Christmas gifts, of all things.”

“It’s a potentially huge problem.” I set down my fork and reached a hand across the table. Armand covered it with one of his. A smile twitched onto my lips, only to vanish a moment later. “Because, Armand, we faked you kidnapping me a second time. It was bad enough running into that Hunter in Paris when I went out the one night. If I have the freedom to buy them Christmas gifts, why the hell hadn’t I gone home? I want them to have the stuff, but how can we possibly explain that?”

“You worry far too much.” He replied soothingly, fingers drawing my hand to him so I was forced to lean forward as far as I could go, pressing his lips to my palm. “I’m sure I can come up with some solution, Alister.”

Feeling like a dumb little kid, I swallowed and asked, “Promise?”

“I promise.” He offered his usual charming smile. “I promise, all right?”

“Thank you.” I whispered. “Can we go back ho- to your house, please?”

“If that’s what you want.” The vampire called for the check, polishing off his drink in the time it took for them to bring it to us. He left a tip, which, in my opinion, went well beyond generous, and guided me to the car. I’d momentarily wondered how boring it was to be the driver, just sitting out here in the dark while Armand and I enjoyed a meal. Then I’d been distracted by Armand, whispering in my ear in the backseat. “Now what is it you want, Alister?”

I let my body rest against his, mumbling, “You’ve been calling me by my name a lot more lately. Why is that?”

He kissed my forehead. “It is what you want, is it not?”

“Yeah, but-“

“I choose to do what it is you want. You are important to me so I’m putting my efforts into keeping you with me. Is that a problem?”

Just something else to make resisting you impossible. I shook my head, raising it to kiss him softly. He allowed me the gentle moment, and when I pulled back I spoke quietly. “You’re making this so damn hard on me, Armand. You might not be trying to, and maybe you are trying to- I don’t know. Either way, you’re making me want to stay with you. Ass.”

“I may well be an ass, kitten, but do you know what I feel makes me a rather unique ass?”

“What’s that?”

“I am an ass quite gifted at wrapping Christmas presents.”

I couldn’t help smiling and laughing at him, snuggling into the unnatural heat of the vampire’s body.

“Seriously. What the hell did you guys get for me?”

“Seriously.” I peered at Brandt from my position beside the window. I’d been sitting there, watching the London street, just as busy now, the day before Christmas Eve, as it had been every other day since we got here. The Bonded man stood behind me, hands on his hips. “I haven’t told you any other day, so why do you think I’d tell you now? Also, you’re standing like a woman.”

He dropped his hands immediately, making me chuckle. “You stand like that sometimes too, kid. And you’re the one who was walking around in a dress, not me. Watch your mouth.” He carried on before I had the opportunity to tell him to ‘shut the fuck up’ like I really wanted to. “Now answer the damn question.”

“The answer’s still no. Us comparing each other to women didn’t change that.” I shook my head and turned back to the window. “Now leave me alone. Go call Kristen. And before you go, have you seen Armand lately?”

“Shopping, I think.” Brandt passed me a look of disgust (I guess he really wanted to know what we’d gotten him) and left the room.

At least he was gone. I exhaled deeply and dropped my forehead against the cool window. Felt nice. Despite the icy temperatures outside, Armand’s house was kept nice and warm. A little too warm, in my opinion, but I did my best not to complain. He went shopping? But we did that already. What’s he…? My face flushed a warm and bright red at my next thought: maybe he’s shopping for me. Much as I shook my head, determinedly trying to push away the fuzzy, cloud-nine feeling spreading through my insides, I couldn’t eliminate the new colour my face had taken on.

Eventually giving up at the idea of getting rid of my new skin tone or waiting for Armand to come back from wherever he’d gone, I hopped to my feet and moved for the front door. I scribbled a tiny note on the pad of paper lying on the front hall’s table (Brandt told me he left them there in case the cleaning ladies who came in once a month wanted to make a note of something) that I was going out and would be back by seven or eight at the latest.

Outside it was cold as hell and while I regretted not grabbing a coat, I was too stubborn to go back in for one. More, I had no clue at all where I wanted to go, or what I’d do when I got there. So what happens now?

I crammed my hands into my pockets and felt a thin piece of plastic slide against my fingers. For a moment I was confused until I remembered Armand had given me one of his credit cards. I’d sort of taken it to be a trust thing- he knew well I could purchase myself a plane ticket, or check into a hotel and let my parents come for me, or something else to ease the process of leaving him. He just believed I wouldn’t. A few months ago, I would have taken the card and left him without a second thought. Now? Somehow he was right to trust me, and the thought that he did filled me again with that wonderful cloud-nine feeling.

I strode down the street, stirring ideas about what I could possibly do just now. If I kept walking long enough, I theorised, I’d come across somewhere worth stopping. So a block away I made a left, and found myself on a street with a fair number of shops. People were scurrying from place to place, ignoring the cold and maybe ignoring the date.

On my way into the first shop I saw that looked any good, a bookstore, I paused to watch a couple of boys my age walking together. They went along hand in hand, laughing, stopping together to kiss. When the stopped, one slid an arm around the other’s hips and I envied them their freedom as I turned to keep on my way. Still thinking about the couple I’d seen and just how happy they seemed to be, I found myself drawn to the Homosexual Literature section without even considering it. Once there, I bit my lip, staring at the shelf with no real clue what I was doing there. I reached out a hand and slid my finger down the side of a book that looked like it probably had a lot to do with sex. I shivered and chose to leave that section without wasting any time.

Maybe I could buy him a book for Christmas? I mused, strolling down the aisles with no real destination in mind, thinking of the credit card in my pocket. No, I wouldn’t know what kind of book to get him. Besides, I can’t buy him a present with his own money. Shit, I didn’t think. Maybe I should just go back and wait after all.

“Alister?”

Surprised to hear someone speak my name, I turned my head and saw Dane standing with his eyebrows raised at me. Huh. Someone I knew. What were the odds? “Oh.” I said casually. “Hi. So, uh…any clue what kind of books Armand would want?”

The Bonded looked confused for a moment and then seemed to remember what day it was. “For Armand? He prefers nonfiction, or you could get him something about vampires as a joke. But if I were you I wouldn’t worry about it. I mean, I think the fact you’re with him at all will be enough to keep him plenty happy.”

“You think so?”

“Trust me. I’ve known him for way longer than it’s actually healthy to know any single person. I know as much about him as I do about Darrick’s favourite sex positions, which is quite a bit.”

“That was- you have no idea how much I did not need that mental picture.” I felt my eye twitch.

Dane laughed, grasping my shoulder. “Thank me later. Now come on. Don’t worry about a present for Armand, and I’ll buy you lunch.”

“Armand?” On Christmas Eve, I awoke to the sound of movement and the feel of the bed shifting. I opened my eyes and found him exiting the bed. One of my hands reached out for him, but he was too far away for me to do more than trace a finger down his back. “Where are you going?”

“Out, my kitten.” The vampire turned to me and brought me to him with fingers wrapped around my wrist. “I have something important to be taken care of.”

I squirmed, wriggling enough to lay my head in his lap. “It’s Christmas Eve. What do you have to do?”

“Shh.” He murmured, leaning down to plant a kiss on my forehead. “Do not worry about it. I will tell you later, I promise.”

“Tell me now.”

“Afraid not.” Armand chuckled and shook his head. “If I tell you now, I believe you’ll insist I stay here rather than go.”

“If you already know that I’d prefer you to stay, why don’t you just not go?” Yawning, I pulled myself into a sitting position and leaned against him instead. “Damned annoying vampire… Well, if you’re going to go no matter what I say, kiss me first.”

“But of course.”

His lips met mine and I was back, floating in the clouds again. I slipped my arms around his back, holding him close to me and refusing to let go until I ran completely out of air. Even then I didn’t want to. He pulled back when he knew my lungs were starting to hurt. I pulled in a breath and used part of it to whisper, “Again?” The vampire obliged me with another kiss- another murder of my air supply and again I asked him to do it again when we broke apart.

Again the vampire shook his head, pushing his mouth instead to my forehead once more. “You cannot try to keep me here by kissing me again and again. Then again, I suppose trying is exactly what you’re doing. It won’t work, I’m afraid.”

“I hate you.”

“I know you do. Please, tell me something you haven’t.”

“Uh- when I was fourteen I killed my first vampire completely by accident with a sniper rifle when she was sneaking around our backyard while I was practising my aim. We all thought she must have been pretty stupid to be hanging out in a Hunter’s yard, but maybe she knew I was the only one home and thought I’d be easy. Her mistake.”

The vampire laughed. “All right, pet, you certainly hadn’t told me that before. I do believe I heard of the incident though. Her name was Blair. Ordinarily she was quite intelligent. If I recall correctly she was trying to impress one of Kendrick’s new creations. Recklessness. I wondered what kind of Hunter had killed her.” He traced a fingertip across my face, outlining my cheekbones. “SO it was you. And to think that at the time, you would not have even been considered an official Hunter. I’ve never heard of something so lovely.” He dipped his head, drawing his tongue along the hollow of my throat, dragging out a noise that wasn’t quite a moan. “You’ve no idea how much I desire you. Now, is there anything you would ask of me before I leave?”

“Yeah.” I breathed, trying to scowl and failing miserably. “Tell me why you have to leave me alone with Brandt on Christmas Eve.”

“I’m sorry.” He murmured, pressing a final kiss to my forehead before leaving the bed. “For now, call it a tradition, and later I’ll explain to you exactly where I’ve been.”

“Okay.” I said reluctantly, watching him go.

Awhile after he left, I finally convinced myself to get up and take a shower. Or at least the plan was to take a shower. Instead I ran myself a bath and sank contentedly into the water, staring at my kneecaps above the water level, just like to little islands. Ugh. I sank myself a little lower into the water, hiding them from myself. That’s a terrible comparison. I dipped my head back, staring up at the ceiling. Hell…What do I give him? What does he even want? Oh, why did I go and get myself involved with a vampire? If the whole drinking-blood thing weren’t enough, how do you choose a present for someone who’s been around a few centuries and has the money to buy himself a goddamn island?

I cupped some of the bathwater in my hands an poured it down my face. The heat felt wonderful on my skin and very refreshing. I’d needed that to help clear my head. Ordinarily I wouldn’t be spending Christmas Eve mentally debating what to do for a vampire; I would be home with my family, arguing with Elijah about something stupid, like which colour of Christmas light was best, blue or red. Still feeling a little confusion, I spilled another handful of water over my face.

You’ve no idea how much I desire you. Armand’s words streamed through my mind, and I fought against my insides to not turn bright red. It wasn’t exactly the most successful of battles: when your blood rushes to your face it’s hard to prevent it. But Armand’s voice struck a chord in my head, and I didn’t doubt the honesty of what he’d said. He probably did want me more than I’d realised- or he seemed to, anyhow.

I took in a deep gulp of air and slipped beneath my bathwater, letting it envelop me completely. Could I even consider something like that? I hadn’t before but- what if it was really the only possibility? Maybe even if there were a few, what could possibly be better to him?

It was either that or buying him something pointless with his own money.

I swallowed hard and rose from the tub twenty minutes later, pulling a towel around myself and heading back into Armand’s bedroom. I started for the dresser, having every intention of pulling on a simple outfit, until I noticed something rather odd- Eve, sitting on the edge of the bed. Managing to stop myself from jumping, I tugged my towel closed more tightly and glared at the vampiress. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Eve smiled in a manner that might have been pleasant if she weren’t…Eve. “Hell, Alister. Where’s Armand?”

“Obviously not here.” I grumbled, opening a dresser drawer and tugging out a pair of jeans. “So get out.”

Ignoring the last part, she asked, “If he’s not here, where did he go?”

“He wouldn’t tell me. Now seriously, get out. Before I find something to throw at you.”

“Oh, I’m terrified.” Eve rolled her eyes. “All right, if he’s not here I’ll leave. Just tell him for me that we’re all planning to be here somewhere in the vicinity of noon tomorrow.” She stood up and swept toward the door.

Before allowing her to leave me alone in peace with my clothing, I called, “Hang on, Eve. I was wondering- if you were me, what would you give Armand for a present?”

She took a moment, a weighing expression sitting on her exquisite face. “The best option, if were you, Alister, would be to tell him you’ve decided to become a permanent fixture for all of us. If you still won’t look at that as an option, I believe anything you choose to give him will be viewed as perfect.” With that, she left, giving me no time to say anything else.

I definitely wasn’t about to stay with him permanently. Of that much I had no doubt. I found myself left with just one option, and a whole new question: how the hell do I go about initiating something like that?

By the time the front door opened it was nearly midnight and I’d become a mere bundle of nerves. This house, though situated in a place I could only assume was awfully close to the dead centre of London, had not been resistant to the snow. Flakes had started coming down in a heavy, steady downpour almost like rain. The snow had piled up quickly, turning the city, or at least our part of it, into the perfect image for a Christmas card. I didn’t’ dare imagine how cold it must have been outside.

I clenched my fists at my sides when I heard it, nails digging into the surface of my palms. He was home. My throat had gone dry, perhaps an hour ago, at the thought of exactly what I intended to offer him. Really, I still had the option of not doing anything. He’d have no way of knowing; it wasn’t like I had told anyone.

But…I can’t take it back. I made my decision. Even if no one else will know, I will.

I reached out for the glass of water I had had the foresight to place beside the window. A single sip worked wonders for my throat. It was by no means perfect, but somehow I didn’t think I could do any better. My ears pricked to help me hear basically anything, I listened to Armand entering the room, fancy shoes making almost no noise on the carpet. Still, I didn’t turn to face him, keeping my eyes locked on the snow outside.

“Kitten.” His voice held several notes of surprise. “What are you still doing awake? I expected you to have gone off to bed awhile ago. I was rather disappointed, in fact, believing I would be unable to kiss you goodnight.”

“Brandt did, but I… I ah…” I paused, licking my lips nervously. My next words came out quiet. “SO where did you go?”

His face reflected in the windowpane on his approach. The vampire closed his arms around my hips, pulling my body against his own. “I was informed of Kendrick’s presence in the country. We have a tradition, you see, of spending this day together. I rather hoped he would ignore it this year, but he disappointed me. I felt it best to visit him before he came here. You know my feelings on having him anywhere near you.” He smiled, moving to drag several strands of hair from my face, positioning them behind my ear. “I do apologise, kitten, for being absent on your Christmas Eve. Might I make it up to you?”

“That’s actually- I wanted to talk to you about that. Well…not really about making it up to me, but about something I- I’ve been thinking about the Christmas thing…” Words were tumbling out of my mouth much more quickly than I’d intended. So quickly I could hardly comprehend them myself. Armand’s face, however, told me he was listening, understanding perfectly each syllable I voiced whether I could do the same or not. “I just…what is it you want more than anything else?”

“You’ve known that answer for months.” He pressed his lips to the edge of my forehead, just touching on my hairline. “It is you, my kitten.”

Exactly the answer I had expected. One last time I inhaled, knowing what my next words had to be. “I thought because it’s Christmas Eve, so…uhm…Tonight I-I’m yours.” The vampire blinked and I added. “You can have me tonight, but…I’m not making any promises for after Christmas.”

To my surprise, Armand didn’t smile yet. He murmured, “Kitten, are you quite sure? I’d rather you not regret this later on and be angry with me. Reassure me.”

“I’ve been considering it since you left this morning.” Somehow I was able to speak more clearly now. Maybe it was the fact he hadn’t started molesting me the second I’d said he could have me. Not to say I wasn’t still just a little afraid. “I’m positive, okay?” And then I turned my face, grasped his chin to shift his, and kissed him gently. It was an easy kiss, even when he twisted me in his arms and pressed his tongue into my mouth.

My fingers curled around the cloth of his shirt. I hissed when he released me from the kiss. “Armand,” I breathed, “Upstairs, please…”

“Of course. I find the floor of the front room may be a rather unpleasant location, particularly your first time.” Armand lifted me bridal style in his arms, to carry me to his bedroom, kissing me the entire way.

When he placed me on the bed I initially refused to let go of him, clinging to his front. His voice murmured beautifully in my ear, “You must let go, kitten. I will go slowly for you. Trust me.”

I felt his lips slip over my earlobe, his teeth nibbling softly, and let my fingers unclenched. Trust you? I asked myself, if only in my mind, how I was supposed to do that. But…I’m letting him have me. I must trust him somewhat, right? He’d set me down for just a moment before starting on my throat, removing his long overcoat and dropping in into a chair.

Now, true to his word, he certainly was going slowly thus far, his lips, teeth and tongue simply mapping out my throat, tracing out each available bit of skin. His hands slipped beneath my shirt, running up and over my chest, his fingers moving in slow, easy circles around my nipples. I shuddered in response, moving my hands from laying uselessly beside me to grasp his wrists through the fabric of my shirt.

“Stop.” I said, squeezing my eyes closed. “Don’t do that…”

The vampire chuckled, nipping the place just at the bottom of my throat. He paused the circular motion, instead pushing his hands higher and lifting the shirt off of my thin frame, forcing me to raise my arms to help him. “Are you really so sensitive, lovely?”

My eyes shot wide at the painfully delightful sensation of his teeth closing around a nipple, my fingers moving around his back until I finally clenched those of one hand around his hair, the other digging into his shoulder. His teeth let go, tongue flicking out onto the released skin for a second before he spoke again. “It would seem you are. How, I wonder, did I fail to notice before?” He drew his hands over my sides, mouth moving against mine in one of the most gentle kisses we’d shared yet. “And more importantly, what should I do to you next?”

He moved again, slipping down my body to dip his tongue into my belly button and I spoke in what was little more than a stream of air escaping my lips. “I hope you don’t expect me to answer that…”

Somehow he understood me, apparently. His nose nuzzled just at my waistline. “I do not, kitten. Even were you able to speak properly, unless you have been doing research without telling me, I doubt you know much at all of these matters. Or am I wrong?”

I forced my thoughts away from his fingers, playing with the button of my jeans. “No…Armand, wait…”

In a matter of seconds, Armand had ceased his actions and moved up, fingers instead running through my hair. “What is it, lovely? Is something wrong? Would you like me to stop?” His lips moved over my face, almost as though he were trying to comfort me, though it wasn’t comfort I needed just now.

“No, that’s not it.” I whispered with a smile, using the hand still buried in his snowy hair to adjust his face, making him actually kiss me. When we stopped I managed to speak in a tone slightly more leveled out. “Armand, I- okay, I’m not stopping you. I’m trying to…I don’t know…I want to show you that I do trust you. Otherwise why the hell would I still be here? So I want to-“ I broke off, realising I really hadn’t thought this sentence through.

“It’s all right, Alister.” The way he said my name sent a tremble down my spine. He just sounded so goddamned sexual. It was the only word for it, and in this situation it at least made sense. “Say anything you wish. I’ll not laugh at you, I promise.”

“Okay, I…I thought I could try what you did to me before…if you want.”

As promised, he didn’t chuckle, though a smile piqued his lips. “Lovely as that offer is, kitten, I must say no. It simply isn’t necessary. You may be the one giving me this gift, but I believe I’d prefer to offer you the pleasure. You are welcome, however, to unclothe me as you have done before.”

“O-okay.” Fingers shaking, I reached out for him and touched his shirt. The button was smooth under my touch, and when I had undone the first few, Armand’s stare began to unnerve me. I looked away from his face, focusing my own stare on the final few buttons of his top. I pushed it over his shoulders and then turned my attention to the button of his pants. “Stop staring at me.”

“No.” he pulled my face up with a finger and pressed his lips to mine for just a second. “I refuse. Or would you like to stop?”

“No.” My voice caught a little, but I was firm- determined to let him have me. I was the most stubborn person in my family. Armand could make me melt, but right now I doubted that was his goal. With that I tugged his pants down, though he himself was the one to offer a complete removal. “Armand?”

“Yes?” He pushed me completely back, lithe fingers undoing the button of my jeans, slipping between the boxers underneath and my skin.

Knowing he’d seen me in the nude prior to this kept me from flushing bright red again when he removed my pants. I was beyond being embarrassed at this point. He didn’t seem bothered at all, so why should I? “How badly does it hurt the first time?”

Surprise reared in his eyes. Then he smiled a gentle smile and touched his mouth to the top of my chest. “Your people truly do neglect the topic of sex.” He murmured. “It hurts, kitten. I will hurt you, and I apologise. But it only hurts at the beginning. It will improve quickly. Then you will love it.”

A few months ago I may have spat in his face. Now I just believed him, and so nodded. He pressed his body close to mine, skin warm on my own. I kissed his shoulder, the easiest thing for me to reach by only tilting my head. “What happens now?”

“Now?” he repeated musingly. “Now I prepare you.” Before I could ask what he meant, (really, sex was never the topic among Hunters, as everyone assumed we could figure it out on our own), Armand had used both hands to spread my legs and one of his fingers probed at my entrance. “Tell me if it becomes too painful for you, kitten. I am more than willing to stop.”

I found myself unable to speak, simply squeezing my eyes closed and inhaling a shuddering breath as that finger slipped inside of me. My hand returned to clenching his hair, buried and almost digging into his scalp. I felt that finger move, brushing my insides gently before he pulled it out and pushed it back in. When he added the second I gasped, tears pricking my eyes and I threw myself wholeheartedly into the kiss he offered me. And though when he finally added a third I wanted to release a sob, I didn’t ask him to stop.

He twisted and scissored those three fingers, stretching them farther into me, and at some point the pain I had felt began to subside. My response was to shift my hips a little, tentative and careful, and when he stretched his fingers just a little more I felt him touch something that made me moan, long and low.

“Armand…” I breathed again, feeling myself move my hips a bit more confidently, hearing myself moaning and detecting his lips at my throat.

“Alister, you look beautiful this way.” His mouth left my throat, voice coming directly into my ear. “Absolutely beautiful.”

His name slid from my lips over again, slightly higher than before. I forced myself to dig into my brain and figure out words that weren’t his name. “Please,” I said softly, “Please…I’m ready…”

“Are you quite sure?” His fingers kept moving, crooking within me and giving me the odd sensation that perhaps it would be possible to die of pleasure.

It was all I could do to get myself to nod.

“All right.” The absence of those fingers left me feeling oddly empty and I opened my eyes to watch him, to distract myself. His hands slid down my body, to the underside of my legs, lifting them and placing them over his shoulders. Fearing the risk of them falling off, not knowing exactly what this was going to be like, I hooked my ankles together and reached for his hands, looping my fingers into his.

Armand smiled at me, offering an immediate quelling to the slight churning in my stomach. A smile twitched onto my face in return. Then he thrust his hips forward, pushing into me, and the look on his face, eyes closed into slits and one of his lips just covering the other, distracted me from crying out in pain. It wasn’t too bad a feeling as he’d prepared me well, and as he began to move, I became quite glad that I’d hooked my ankles the way I had. I heard myself moan, fingers grasping more tightly to his.

As he continued to move his hips, once again growing in confidence I did the same thing. I hissed his name, voice rising. I’d never thought something could feel so damn good in my life. Whenever he would offer a particularly deep thrust he hit a place that had me seeing stars, crying out and arching my back.

“Alister, you’re…so good…” His voice was ragged, coming out in a way I’d never heard it before and the thought that I was the cause filled me with some kind of feeling I didn’t recognise. His pace increased as he spoke, giving me no time to think about it as a wonderfully long stroke, the feeling of him inside me, moving so perfectly, nearly overwhelmed my senses.

I groaned desperately, realising I wasn’t about to last much longer. “Please.” I whimpered. “Armand, please, I…”

“Yes.” He nodded at me, for once tightening his hold on me rather than the other way around. His hips kept moving and with one perfectly timed thrust, he had me crying out in release as he came inside of me. I let my eyes fall closed, panting, and dropped my legs back onto the mattress. Armand leaned down and when his mouth met mine I didn’t hesitate to return his gentle kiss.

Several moments later had him resting behind me as I faced away from him in the bed, considering what exactly had just happened. I hadn’t thought a single thing of perfection existed in this world- too many things were of the bad variety. But maybe I’d just been very much disproven. That had certainly been…If anything was perfect, it was that. “I didn’t know that much pleasure was even possible.” I told him.

“I did tell you quite some time ago that you would enjoy it.”

I rolled over with a yawn, snuggling into his chest. His arms added to the comfort of the position, wrapping around my body and lending me a distinct feeling of satisfaction. “You’re lucky I like you. Now’d be the perfect time to kill you.”

“While I am basking in the afterglow of that exceptional encounter? I suppose that method wouldn’t be on your usual lists, hm? Still, it is a fine admission on your part, to say that you like me.”

“You thought I didn’t like you?”

“You’ve certainly never said any such thing.”

“Mm…but I’m still with you, aren’t I? Should show that I like you a little.” My fingers danced across his chest. His nudity, and mine, no longer made me uncomfortable. Not after what we’d just done. “And you’re a bastard. You know I like you, and I know you were just trying to make me say it.”

“Need I point out then, that you went along with it?”

I smiled a little. “Maybe I wanted to say it.” My face fell a little when I looked up at him, beginning to wonder something I hadn’t considered before. Would he still want to keep me? No- keep sounded as though I were still merely his pet. I wanted to know if he’d still want me to be with him, now I’d given him the sex he’d been after for months. I started carefully, not knowing right off how to word these thoughts. “Vampires… you’re all really into sex like this, aren’t you?”

“The majority of us, I suppose. Being immortal does give one a taste for life’s more sensual pleasures.” Armand lifted his free arm, thumb pressing against my lower lip. “You have a pleasantly blank look on your face, kitten. May I assume I put it there? Ah, no matter- why did you ask me that?”

“I just- I’m wondering if maybe you’re finished with me, since I finally allowed you to have- well, all of me. I don’t…” I Had to struggle with the next part. “I don’t want to leave you yet, Armand.”

For a long moment there was only the near-silence of our breathing. Then he used both hands to pull me up by my cheeks, the absence of his arm leaving a part of my skin uncomfortably cold. I hardly noticed the chill once he pressed his mouth to mine in a long, slow kiss that made a pleasant shiver work it’s way up my spine. I pressed my palms down on the mattress, pushing myself toward him further, one of my legs sliding between his.

Upon pulling away, he said, “Silly pet. I don’t have all of you yet. I love you, Alister. Do you love me?”

I didn’t hesitate to shake my head. “No.”

“Then you see what I mean. It’s a part of you as much as anything else. More than your body, beautiful as that particular aspect is. I want everything you have to offer me. And once I have it, you and I will speak again about keeping you with me for as long as I can.”

“Oh.” I whispered. “Okay.” I paused, nuzzling at the base of his neck. “…Armand?”

“Yes?” His arms both settled around my waist, holding me firmly in place against his body.

“My birthday’s coming up next month. I had been wondering…well, I don’t think I could handle seeing my family on my birthday of all days, and I don’t want to spend it with just Brandt, so…you’ll stay with me that day, right?” I hadn’t really been wondering. It had occurred to me just then.

“Just tell me when.” Again, Armand kissed me slowly. “It’s adorable when you sound so shy, kitten.”

“Shut up.” I mumbled. “Go to sleep. Your dumb friends are coming over tomorrow.”

“This coming from the boy who was worried they wouldn’t like his presents. Now yes, Alister, let’s go to sleep. See me in the morning. Please don’t go downstairs without me.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

And I’d be damned if that weren’t the truth.